The Best Guide to the Best Man's Duties

After the groom's brother or best friend says "I do" to being the best man, what exactly are his responsibilities? Sure, he's supposed to plan the bachelor party, but what other best man duties does he need to know about? There are more things for him to take care of then he might have realized!

So, what does a best man do? In short, he's your groom's right-hand man. The best man role revolves all around lightening the groom's load before, during and after the wedding. Read on to for a breakdown of exactly what's expected of him.

Photo by Trejo Photography

Pre-Wedding Best Man Duties

• Help the groom choose and rent (or buy) wedding formalwear, and coordinate the other groomsmen's rentals. The best man may also be asked to help arrange accommodations for out-of-town groomsmen. If it's a more casual wedding, help groomsmen find the outfits online or in store.
• Organize the bachelor party (but recruit the other groomsmen to help). Also, the cost should be split among everyone who attends the festivities.
• Coordinate the groomsmen's gift to the groom.


Attend the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner and perhaps make a (low-key) toast.
The best man provides emotional support, patiently listening to the groom's complaints, confessions, and questions without any judgment. He's the reassuring best friend that every groom needs. The best man will pat the groom on the back, and keep him focused and his head in the game.

Best Man Responsibilities Day-of-Wedding

• Keep an eye on the clock the morning of the wedding to ensure the groom and all the groomsmen get to the ceremony venue on time.
• Wrangle the groomsmen throughout the ceremony and make sure they're in the right place at the right time, organized, and presentable. (The best man will also make sure the groomsmen's aren't glued to their cell phones and any flasks are out of sight!)
• At the ceremony, hold on to the wedding rings for safekeeping.
• Help welcome guests to the wedding ceremony.
• Serve as a witness during the marriage-license signing.
• Give the officiant his fee (placed in a sealed envelope) after the ceremony, unless the officiant is a friend, in which a handshake or a hug should suffice.
• Be the emcee in a pinch. Let's say the DJ or the band cancels at the last minute or shows up late—a good best man will step in and crack a few jokes, get the crowd to the dance floor, and introduce the key players so the party can go on as planned.
• Offer the first toast to the newlyweds at the reception (his biggest responsibility!).
• Mingle at the reception to make sure guests are having a good time.
• Dance with the bride, the maid-of-honor, the mother of the bride, and the mother of the groom during the reception.
• Collect any gifts and cards guests may bring to the reception. Ask the bride and groom (before the wedding) where they'd like you to store the presents.
• Decorate the getaway car (again, enlist the groomsmen and bridesmaids to help!).

Photo by Cavanaugh Photography

Post-Ceremony Best Man Responsibilities

• Take care of the groom's clothes after he changes out of his wedding attire.
• Make sure all of the groom's wedding-related expenses are taken care of (really, the vendors should have all been paid in full one month before the big day, but in the event they haven't been, it's the best man who makes sure everything is settled).
• Coordinate car transportation for the bride and groom to leave the reception.
• Make sure any rented tuxes are returned on time (and intact).

See the full article at Brides.com.

DIY :: For Richer or For Poorer Chocolate Favors

Everyone loves chocolate, so embrace your vows with this sweet, DIY wedding favor idea! All you need is some sticker paper, chocolate coins, treat boxes and our darling, free printable labels. Easy to make and budget friendly, these favors will definitely bring a smile and maybe even a chuckle to your guests’ faces!

There are loads of candy + party stores that carry chocolate coins and there are actually loads of different colors of foil that they come in. I chose to stick to the classic silver to actually look like money, but if you find coins that match your wedding colors – I think you should go for it!

SUPPLIES:

• 2.4″ Clear Square Treat Boxes
• 8.5″ x 11″ White Sticker Paper
• 1″ Chocolate Coins
• Scissors
• Our FREE printable labels at the end of the post!

How To:

• Download our FREE labels at the end of the post
• Decide on your favorite label shape and print onto 8.5″ x 11″ sticker paper
• Cut out the labels
• Assemble the treat boxes (you could use bags instead)
• Fill the boxes with chocolate coins
• Remove the sticker paper backing from the label and adhere to the box – done!

These boxes held 4oz of chocolate, which was exactly 30 coins.

Colored Paper Optional

You don’t have to use white sticker paper for these labels! You can easily use colored paper to match your event, as the color will show through the design. Adhere with scrapbooking adhesive and you’ll have yourself a truly custom favor!

Click here for the "For Richer or For Poorer" labels.

Click here for the full article at Something Turquoise.

Happy Anniversary :: Christina + Brian

Christina + Brian

July 5

Christina + Brian had an elegant Catholic church ceremony followed by a red and black reception. They included a Mexican lasso tradition as part of the wedding ceremony, as a nod to Christina's heritage. Beautiful ceremony to see! The day was topped off with the best finale of all....after dark, everyone stepped outside the reception venue to see fireworks! We provided day-of coordination and flowers for this amazing event...permanently in the memory books as a magical day! Congrats on your beautiful family Christina + Brian, and best wishes for many more years of happiness! 

 

 

July Special :: 20% Off Candy & Dessert Stations

Whether for a small business event with 20 employees or a large wedding with 300 guests...take 20% off any of our candy and dessert stations through the month of July! These are great for any parties or get-togethers, both personal celebrations and business events.

(Please note: With this special, your event doesn't have to be in July...you just have to reserve the station with a deposit by July 31st. Your station can be ordered for any date and for any event.)

Stations start at $4.95 per person and have a minimum order of a 20 person station. Email info@michellevents.com or call (469) 475-7089 to book.

Happy Anniversary :: Brittany + Bryan

Brittany + Bryan

July 3

Brittany + Bryan are an amazing pair! She knew exactly what she wanted and we were able to provide flowers and décor rentals for her elegant and cozy ceremony and reception. Baby's breath was the center of attention, and her bouquet in red was stunning! Such a beautiful and gracious family to work with, and I wish it could have lasted longer. Best wishes to Brittany + Bryan!

Happy Anniversary :: Anastasia + James

Anastasia + James

July 3

Anastasia + James had a gorgeous Greek Orthodox wedding ceremony followed by a turquoise accented ballroom reception. We handled the flowers and décor for both, and it was such a beautiful event to be a part of! Happy Anniversary and best wishes to Anastasia + James!

Planning Tips :: ENJOY Your Engagement!

You're engaged! Congratulations! You're in love, and this is one of the most exciting times in your life! Your mind will be completely focused and engulfed with wedding ideas, and that's totally expected! Brainstorm away and come up with all the amazing ideas you can! But sometimes after the initial engagement brides are off to the races in order to start buying and doing. Let the ideas flow, but don't jump start the work and the spending that soon! Take the time to enjoy being engaged!

Photo by LMAC Photography

After you become engaged, before anything else you should establish your budget. It's critical to create that mark before you begin any spending for any reason. Then you should set a date. Your wedding date is going to be the next most critical piece of information when booking and planning. Next, look into hiring a wedding planner. They can guide you in the right direction for the entire process based your style and budget, help you stick to that budget, and make the planning process less work and more enjoyment! Then, look for your photographer.

Photo by EM Event Photography

Your photographer will start working with you on your engagement photos, then your bridal photos, and then onto the big finale...the wedding! It's best to select someone who you absolutely love their work and their style, and have them follow you the whole way through.

Have engagement photos taken, send engagement announcements, have an engagement party, announce your engagement in the newspaper....make your engagement time period long enough to enjoy the full engagement process! Don't skip past the engagement part and rush into the married part! You only get to be engaged once....so take your time and revel in it!