Whether or not you saw it coming, you're the groom's best man, and you're probably not as prepared as you need to be. That's okay, because we've assembled a list of Best Man Duties to make sure you're prepared and ready for battle. From pre-wedding arrangements to the big day itself, you will be supportive, responsible, and whatever else the big guy needs you to be. He won't regret choosing you as his best man if you don't let him regret it. Check out these best man duties to knock his socks off and make sure everything goes smoothly.

Unfortunately, the best man duties you're saddled with don't just include the fun stuff like planning the bachelor party, and it's not just the easy stuff like greeting guests at the ceremony. There will be a lot of dealing with schedules, a lot of dealing with tuxes and bow ties, and a lot of dealing with the bride and bridesmaids as well as the groom on the stressful days leading up to the big day. You may be up to the challenge of performing these best man duties, but it doesn't hurt to have a little help. Your old friend, and maybe even your brother, is counting on you. Here's how to not let him down.

The planning doesn't end here. For more tips on planning a DIY wedding, check out our free eBook, The Ultimate Wedding Guide: Wedding Planning Timeline, Wedding Etiquette and Advice, Maid of Honor Duties, and More.

Suggested Best Man Duties

Table of Contents

Before the Wedding Day

The Day Of

Before the Wedding Day:

• Help the groom pick out his tuxedo. It might be a tux he already owns, or he might need to go out and buy a new one. Be his second opinion, but ultimately, the decision is up to him.

• Help the bride and groom with the seating chart.

• Be at the groom's beck and call, always. Especially if you've been married before, you are his most valuable resource, and you may know of some technical details he might be missing.

• If the groom is paying for the wedding, help him manage his finances. Always include the bride in this conversation, especially if the two have a joint bank account. Offer some budget-friendly alternatives to the more expensive details of a wedding.

• Help the groom manage his end of the guest list. Make sure he has contact information for everyone he's inviting, and help him manage the RSVPs. The maid of honor should also be helping the bride with this task.

• Make sure the groom has all his arrangements together for the honeymoon, from where they're going to how much money they have set aside for the trip. Planning a trip is difficult, and the bride and groom can use all the help they can get.

• Help the bride with any wedding planning details that the groom asks of you. You're there for your best friend, but you have to be there for his other half, too. Sometimes the groom will have everything taken care of, but the bride will be melting down and in need of help.

• Plan with the bridesmaids and groomsmen a wedding day surprise to say "thank you" for choosing you to be a part of the ceremony.

• Pick out an amazing gift. You've done so much as the groom's best man that the couple might not be expecting a gift, but that makes the surprise even better. Even if it's not expensive, the roughest man will appreciate a meaningful present.

• Help the groom pack for his honeymoon. Seriously, don't let him forget socks.

• Throw a once-in-a-lifetime bachelor party. Make sure you communicate with the groom and bride ahead of time to learn what their expectations are for the party, and what is and is not off-limits.

• Find hotels and accommodations for groomsmen coming from out-of-town.

• Keep a schedule together for yourself and the groomsmen for the bachelor party, any other pre-wedding events you may be involved in, and the wedding day itself. It may seem over-the-top, but a schedule will make all of your lives a million times easier.

• Go to the rehearsal dinner, and take it seriously. Even though it's not the real thing, it's a preview of what's to come, and the groom wants to know you're as serious about the wedding as he is.

• Keep track of the groomsmen and make sure their tuxedos match or fit the theme, make sure they're coming to the bachelor party, and make sure they make it to the wedding. Serve as the medium between groom and groomsmen.

You're fortunate enough to have this checklist, but the maid of honor is going to need one, too. Share this Maid of Honor Duties list with your female counterpart.

The Day Of:

• Be there with the groom while he's bringing his things to the wedding site. Make sure you have a list of things he'll need and pack them.

• Get him there on time; it's easy to fall behind schedule during a wedding.

• Be ready to make a quick getaway back to his house or hotel room to pick up anything he's forgotten. Everyone can be a little scatterbrained, but he doesn't have time to go back once he's at the ceremony.

• Help calm down the groom; a lot of men have second thoughts on the day of their wedding. Have some nice things about his relationship with the bride prepared in case this happens.

• Make sure groom has his marriage license with him at the ceremony.

• Be the gatekeeper at the groom's dressing room. A lot of people might want to come in and congratulate him, but unless they're not absolutely necessary, don't let them in. He's got plenty to worry about right now.

• If there's no ring bearer, carry and present the bride's ring. If there is, make sure the kid knows his responsibilities.

• Sign as a witness in the marriage.

• Once the ceremony is over, give the officiant his money. You don't need to pay the fee, but be sure to grab it from the groom so you can hand it over. He'll be too busy escaping with his new bride into his getaway car.

• Help collect the gifts on the gift table. Take the envelopes and keep them either yourself or with a trusted member of the groomsmen; there could be serious money in there.

• Do whatever the groom needs you to do to help guests find their place cards, get them to their tables, and get them seated.

• Charm and distract relatives; they're going to be all over the groom who probably wants some special time with his new wife.

• Make the greatest best man toast ever. This is absolutely essential. Make sure it's rife with memories that aren't too embarrassing or R-rated, but encapsulates both your friendship with the groom and his love for the bride.

• Make sure the groom has the time of his life at the reception. He only gets one wedding, theoretically.

• Have a drink with the groom during the reception and tell him how happy you are for both of them!