You've Been Chosen as Best Man. Now Live Up To It.
By Editors@ungroomd

If you were living in the dark ages, you would be asked to defend your closest friend's honor with a sword and shield. Today, being a best man still has it share of responsibilities from being the ring bearer to getting singles at the strip club. Play it smart. After all, you are being counted on to put together a clutch performance as THE right hand man! Here is an outline to get you started.

The Bachelor Party

YOU are the one who organizes the bachelor party. You can recruit as much help as you want, but in the end YOU get it done. The bigger the better, and it must have surprises. Surprises inject fuel. It can go from dinner & drinks, to an NFL game. Today, complete bachelor party packages can be customized online in just an hour at unGROOM'd sister site, bachelorparty411.com.

Find out what the groom wants. Now spray whip cream on it. You want to make his bachelor party bigger than big. This may be the last one of his life.

Start early. Like a big test, that moment of taking it will come. Don't cram for it. Give yourself time to organize the event. It really is never too early. Even if the marriage falls apart, you'll throw the biggest party to celebrate it.

Go over the list of invitees with the groom. You'll want to ditch father-in-laws and any loose-lipped relatives who might sing like a canaries during the next-day interrogation.

Include the invitees on cost BEFORE the party. This eliminates the dead-beats.

DO NOT designate a designated driver. A sober guy is a guy who doesn't have fun, is a guy who talks. Hire a limo.

Rehearsal Dinner

Because this typically happens a day before the wedding, your pal will have much on his mind and doesn't need to worry about detail. Contact all the groomsmen and make sure they are attending the dinner, are on time, and have directions to the site.

The Wedding Day

Keep the groom on schedule. The schedule is typically organized by the bride's side who distribute copies ahead of time. Go off her schedule and die.

You drive the groom to the ceremony site one hour before wedding photographs begin. Be in your tux for photos as well.

Arrange to take the checks for the clergyman, musicians, photographers and other service-providers. Non traditionally speaking, this responsibility can also be given to a wedding consultant, father of the bride, or even one of the bridesmaids.

Witness the signing of the marriage license. Keep the groom's hand steady--he probably will be shaking like a farm animal preparing for slaughter.

When you're backstage with the groom, help him prepare for the final call. (Yes, you might see your buddy cry for the first time. Just make sure his tie is straight and assure him there's still time to get the Hell out and that the motor is running.)

Hold the bride's ring for the groom (if there is no ring bearer) until called. Check for holes in your pockets first, and DO NOT fumble the hand-off!

Drive the newlyweds to the reception if there is no hired driver.

Prepare to dance with bridesmaids and relatives of the bride and groom.

Drive the newlyweds to the airport for their honeymoon if there is no hired driver. You're catching on by now that you should be prepared to some diving, SO FILL UP THE TANK AND CHECK THE OIL AHEAD OF TIME.

Speeches & Toasting

You begin the toasting. That's the tradition. If you've never been a good publish speaker, you need to practice. Do not drink more than one glass before this toast or you'll reveal the groom's sexual history. Trust us; you will. This occurs This usually occurs before the dinner.

UnGROOM'd also provides customized best-man speeches written by David Pitlik ungroomd.com/toast.this/ for $49. Give David a few details and he'll construct a perfect speech right down to the tone.

During the reception, you also might offer to MC a schedule of toasts and speeches.

Find out if you will be speaking from a podium, platform or table.

Make sure you're amplified. If not, than make sure everyone can hear you.

Out of Town Guests

Offer to pick them up at the airport.

Be prepared to do some entertaining with guests before the wedding day. (Hey, maybe you'll get lucky with the groom's cousins.)

Formal Wear

Your last major task is to return all tuxedos to the shop. Make sure all groomsmen and ushers give you tuxedos in good condition and on time.

Congratulations! Like Angelo Dundee was to Mohammed Ali, so is the best man to the groom.