Who is the best man?
The best man is usually the brother or best friend of the groom. He can also be the groom’s father, uncle, son, cousin, sister, or granddaughter. Basically, he is someone special to the groom who can handle the responsibilities of the job.
What are his responsibilities?
The best man is the groom’s sidekick and the ringleader of the groomsmen. Along with providing support to the groom in whatever ways he needs, the best man’s responsibilities can include:
- Planning the bachelor party
- Helping make attire decisions for the groomsmen
- Ensuring all the groomsmen get fitted for and order their wedding attire on time
- Attending pre-wedding events like the rehearsal dinner
- Carrying the bride’s ring to the ceremony
- Making sure the groom gets to the ceremony on time
- Giving a toast at the reception
Most importantly, the best man makes sure the groom doesn’t get highlights an hour before the ceremony.
What does he pay for?
Depending on the logistics of your wedding, who pays for what may vary. But there is usually some cost associated with being a best man. Generally the best man is financially responsible for:
- An engagement gift
- Part of or the entirety of the bachelor party (he may also split it with the other groomsmen)
- His attire for the wedding
- A wedding gift
The best man should plan on spending some amount of money to fulfill his duties. To help all of your groomsmen save money, consider suggesting that they rent their wedding attire instead of buying new, and that they throw a more casual bachelor party, like a barbeque or a game night.
Can there be more than one?
Sure! Do you. If you have two special people and you can’t choose between them, go ahead and have two best men.
While definitely not mandatory, having a wedding party is a great way to honor your most important people. Take some time with your partner to learn about the traditional roles of the wedding party. Think about if and how those traditions are important to you, and who you want to stand beside you on your big day. Then, by all means, make it your own.
