Being a groomsman is more than showing up in a tux and drinking with your buddies, it is a role rooted in history with a tradition that has grown to be shaped into what it is today.
As a groomsman, there are numerous things to take care of to ensure the wedding is a raging success. Take your role as a groomsman seriously, especially if your friend or brother’s first wedding was at a city hall and he’s new to the process. Give him the wedding he deserves this second time ‘round!
Below we’ve listed the top groomsmen duties and all the responsibilities that go along them. Check each off, mark down the details, and make sure you know what your role entails from top to bottom.
The Top Groomsmen Duties Detailed
Pay For Your Formalwear
As with the bridesmaids, you’re expected to pay for your formalwear. Whether it’s a full-blown tuxedo or a Hawaiian shirt, shelling out the cash is necessary.
Shop wisely, as with the growing costs of weddings the average cost of a tuxedo has increased, and even be more expensive than a bridesmaid’s dress.
Tuxedo rentals are a way to lighten the financial burden, but make sure you get fitted–after all, you don’t want a jacket that’s too big or pants that are too, um, tight.
Attend All Pre-Wedding Events
Attend every single pre-wedding event the couple throws:
- The engagement party
- The bachelor party
- The rehearsal dinner
If the couple is holding a shower together with the full bridal party and applicable guests, then you have to attend that too. But hey, you get to chow down on free food and enjoy free booze.
Help Plan The Bachelor Party
Speaking of bachelor parties, help the Best Man plan the shindig. Go for the traditional dinner-and-strip-club thing or something adventurous such as a weekend hiking trip or time at the local race track.
If your Groom has anything he’s ever wanted to do that can be converted into a bachelor party, that would also be a great way to create a memorable last night before the big day.
Give a Great Speech
Try not to embarrass yourself and the groom with your bachelor party shenanigans. If you want to know how to give a great best man speech, sprinkle just enough jokes in between bringing the bride to tears.
Decorate The Honeymoon Car
Work with the rest of the bridal party to decorate the honeymoon car. This is obviously one of the last things you will do before the wedding, but the more outlandish or fun the decor, the better.
For a great host of ideas on how to go about decorating the honeymoon car, visit the Knot.
Perform Ushering Duties
Perform ushering duties if necessary and escort people to their seats. Tradition states guests of the bride sit on the left side, and guests of the groom on the right. That and where the restrooms are is pretty much all you need to know.
Note: It would be advisable to not only consult the seating chart in advance but have a copy on you to more easily escort people around the reception area to their seats.
