Part 2 of this series can be found here.
Best Man Duties at the Wedding Reception
1. Stand next to the bride in the receiving line
A receiving line is a formal way to greet guests as they enter during cocktail hour. They aren’t super-common these days, but if the couple decides to host one, the best man typically stands next to the bride and groom while saying hello to arriving guests.
2. Be announced with the maid of honour for the reception entrance
Once the reception begins, the wedding party will typically make its “grand entrance,” with the DJ or bandleader announcing everyone by name as they enter the party. The best man usually enters the reception alongside the maid of honour.
3. Play host
During the wedding reception, guests may look to the best man for random tidbits of information—from knowing where the restroom is, to when the cake cutting will occur. Since you should have the timeline of wedding-day events handy, you hopefully should be able to answer their questions. If not, direct them to the venue coordinator or wedding planner.
4. Dance with the maid of honour during the first guest dance
It’s a tradition for the best man to dance with the maid of honour when guests are welcomed onto the dance floor. If you and the MOH would prefer not to go this route, that’s fine, make sure that you’re one of the first people on the dance floor and encourage the other guests to join you. If you look like you’re having a fantastic time, the rest of the couple’s family and friends will follow suit. Another good move on the part of the best man? Make sure you dance with the bride, too.
5. Make sure the groom eats and drinks
The groom will be pretty busy during the ceremony, but try to help him out by making sure he has a bite to eat and stays hydrated (and not just with shots).
6. Give the best man speech
The best man typically gives the second toast after the father-of-the-bride. Our advice: Don’t procrastinate when it comes to writing your best man speech, speak from the heart, and keep it short.
7. Decorate the getaway vehicle
If the couple is not hiring wedding transportation and using their car, the best man and groomsmen traditionally have a little fun by decorating the getaway car with cans, streamers, etc. Make sure the couple is cool with this before going to town on their vehicle.
Duties After the Wedding
1. Help organize and safe-keep gifts
Even though the party is over, there are still a few more things for you to accomplish. The couple probably received many gifts during the wedding. Make sure that the gifts are collected and kept in a safe location until the couple returns from their honeymoon.
2. Hand out vendor tips
The couple may ask the best man to hand out tips to vendors after the reception—make sure that the cash is organized into labelled envelopes, and you’re aware of the exact person you should hand the tip to.
3. Ensure the return of the rented attire
If you’ve coordinated a group tuxedo rental, you’ll need to make sure that all of the tuxes are returned in a timely fashion. This may require a few messages to certain groomsmen, to ensure you don’t get charged for late returns.
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