Duties of the best Man
When you accept the role of the best man in a wedding party, your responsibilities may vary. Some couples will ask for your assistance with event after event, from trying on tuxes to scoping out rehearsal dinner sites, while other couples pretty much won't need your involvement until the reception. It's best to be prepared for anything, though, so here are a few of the basics you can expect:
1. Planning and hosting the bachelor party.
Yes, hosting means that you pay for all the guests. Perhaps some of the groomsmen will be willing to chip in, but in any event you must take care of the coordination so that the groom can just show up and have a good time. A bachelor party is like a shower; the guest of honor is not supposed to request one. You should take the initiative to propose hosting the event, wrangle up some support (for the planning and hopefully for the budget as well) from the groomsmen, and confirm the date and guest list with the groom.
2. Giving a toast at the reception.
This is the classic best man role. It's your chance to inject a personal touch into what is often a long and ornate affair for everyone involved. Think of giving a good reception toast as the ultimate wedding gift to the groom and his new wife (although giving them a physical gift as well is customary). Put some thought into your speech. Make it original, specific to the couple, and appropriate for the setting, and you're sure to pass this step with flying colors.
3. Miscellaneous other duties leading up to the ceremony.
Your other duties can range from helping with the rehearsal and/or rehearsal dinner to getting the groom to the ceremony site on the actual day of the wedding. You might be asked to greet guests as they arrive and mingle a bit before the ceremony starts. If there won't be a ring bearer as part of the wedding party, chances are you will be the one in charge of both of the rings.
4. Miscellaneous other duties after the ceremony.
You will probably be expected to stay through the end of the reception, help load up any wedding gifts that guests have brought to the reception, see the couple off at the end, and maybe even be the one entrusted with getting said gifts to a predetermined location. If there are leftover favors, flowers, or other items that don't belong to the reception venue, you might be one of the people asked to help take care of them. Just try to be open-minded and flexible when you offer to help as the evening starts to wrap up.
Your main job, of course, is to be there for the groom and support him however you can, from the planning process until he and his new wife leave the reception. Make sure you ask him ahead of time what expectations he has of you and the groomsmen. Let him know that on his big day, you've got his back, and he will rest assured that his best man really is the best.
