The best man in a wedding is generally the brother of the groom. If the groom does not have a brother or stepbrother, then he may choose either a close friend of his or the brother of the bride, if she has one and if the two men are close.
It is the job of the best man to be the groom’s right hand man. He is the person who takes care of the groom’s needs and must be a responsible individual who is good at organizing. The role of best man is one that must be taken seriously.
It is the best man who throws the bachelor party for the groom. He can accept input and help from other people involved, but the crux of the responsibility falls on his shoulders. The best man must buy or rent his own tuxedo and shoes for the wedding, and in most cases he must pay for his own travel and accommodations if he is coming from afar.
He also is expected to act as a guide or leader for the groomsmen in making sure that everything to do with the tuxedo fittings goes as smoothly as possible, including making sure each one knows the date, time and place.
If the groomsmen are acting as ushers in the wedding, then the best man needs to be able to organize the gentlemen and coach them on their jobs where he sees fit. The best man and maid of honor traditionally are supposed to work together in organizing any special dinners being held for the bride and groom and/or the wedding party. It is their task to decide on a location and a date and time, as well as any extras that are needed for the occasion. The best man and maid of honor typically pay for the meals of the bride and groom while each member of the wedding party pays for his/her own meal.
In some weddings the best man escorts the maid of honor down the aisle. It is also the best man who gives a speech at the reception and makes a toast to the newlyweds. Of course, the most important job of the best man’s is to be a friend and confidant to the groom!
