Did your friend or family member recently ask you to be their best man?

First, congratulations! Being asked to be the best man is a huge honor. It also comes with a lot of responsibility.

Did you know, for example, that the average best man spends more than 8 hours planning the groom's bachelor party and 6 1/2 hours writing their wedding speech?

A lot of time and effort goes into being the best man, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed if you've never done it before.

If you're not sure what your best man's duties are, you've come to the right place. Read on to learn everything you need to know about being a killer best man.

Before the Wedding

In the months leading up to the wedding, the best man is responsible for carrying out a few very important tasks. These include the following:

Getting Fitted for a Suit/Tux

The groom will likely have a dress code that he wants all of the groomsmen (including you, the best man) to follow.

He may ask everyone to wear tuxedos, or he may be more relaxed and just want everyone to wear a white shirt, dress pants, and matching ties. If he does require everyone to wear tuxedos, a stylish pocket watch is an excellent choice to complement your outfit.

Whatever his requirements are, you'll need to make sure you dress the part and are wearing the right clothing. This might mean getting fitted for a suit or tux with plenty of time to spare before the big day arrives.

Planning the Bachelor Party

This is one of the biggest responsibilities of the best man. As the best man, you'll need to decide where the bachelor party is thrown, who is invited, and what kinds of activities you do. Some best men organize a bachelor beachside party weekend trip, and Florida is always a good option, where Myrtle Beach exotic dancers are a very popular form of entertainment.

You ought to read more now about your options for a bachelor party, and don't forget to consult the groom before making any decisions. Remember, this party is about him, not you. Make sure your plans line up with what he wants to do and feels comfortable with.

Attending the Rehearsal

Usually, a day or two before the wedding, there will be a rehearsal with the bride, groom, officiant, and the bridesmaids and groomsmen.

The point of the rehearsal is to ensure that everyone knows what they need to do the day of the wedding so that everything goes smoothly. As the best man, you'll definitely need to attend this event.

Attending the Rehearsal Dinner

There will also likely be a rehearsal dinner afterward. This is a chance for everyone to spend some time together and get to know one another before the wedding.

You might be expected to make some kind of speech or toast at the rehearsal dinner, so be sure to ask the bride and groom what they want you to do ahead of time. 

During the Wedding

When the wedding day arrives, you'll have more work to do. The following are the tasks that you'll most likely have to assist with during the event:

Get the Groom What He Needs

Your main job in the hours leading up to the wedding is to make sure the groom has everything he needs. He might be feeling a little anxious about the wedding, so it's your job to keep him calm and help him get excited.

Keep the Groomsmen in Line

You also ought to make sure all the groomsmen are ready to go. This includes checking that they've all dressed appropriately.

You may also have to hand out boutonnieres and check that they're pinned on correctly before everyone gets ready to walk down the aisle.

Hold onto the Rings

Unless there's a ring bearer in the wedding party, it'll be your responsibility as the best man to hold onto the rings. Ensure you put them in your pocket and don't lose track of them before the ceremony.

After the Wedding

The work doesn't stop for you when the wedding's over. Once the ceremony's complete, you'll have to carry out a few other responsibilities at the reception:

Deliver a Speech

During the wedding reception, you'll likely be expected to deliver a speech.

Spend plenty of time preparing this speech before the wedding day arrives. After all, you're going to be addressing your good friend or family member, and they'll remember this speech for the rest of their lives (hopefully). You want it to be a good one.

If the wedding reception includes alcohol, limit the number of drinks you consume before you deliver your speech. That way, you'll be in control and won't have to worry about misspeaking or going off-script when your time comes to talk.

Get the Party Started

At some wedding receptions, the guests are a little hesitant to get up and dance. As the best man, you can play a key role in getting people excited and out on the dance floor.

Make an effort to bring people to the floor and get them involved in the celebrations. This makes the wedding pictures look a lot nicer, and it's more fun for the bride, groom, and their guests.

Decorate the Car

Finally, you'll need to help decorate the getaway car with the maid/matron of honor and the other bridesmaids and groomsmen.

You'll likely need to coordinate with the maid/matron of honor to bring supplies and decide on how you're going to decorate it. You may also need to reign in the rest of the bridesmaids or groomsmen if they start getting carried away with their decorations.

Time to Nail All Your Best Man Duties

As you can see, there's a lot that goes into being a great best man.

If you've been feeling a little anxious about handling all your responsibilities, keep this list of best man duties in mind. It'll help you ensure you don't forget anything important before the big day arrives.

Do you need more help making sure your friend or family member's special day goes off without a hitch? Check out some of the other wedding-related articles on our site for additional information and advice.