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The men you choose to be part of
your wedding party are for the most part your closest fiends.
Categorizing them into the best man, the groomsmen, and ushers is one of the
harder decisions you’ll have to make. But luckily, there’s no limit to
the number of ushers or groomsmen (except maybe the size of your altar).
In fact, there’s no law that says you can’t have more than one best man, or
that you can’t have a woman in your wedding party (though she probably won’t
want to come to your bachelor party)! In making your decision,
however, you’ll want to remember that each job comes with its own
responsibilities and implications.
Your best man should be
someone you can count on to make sure everything runs smoothly. It's
customary to choose your brother or your best friend for the job. You
may even give the honor to your father. The best man’s main
responsibilities ore:
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Planning the bachelor party.
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Attending the rehearsal.
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His own tuxedo rental.
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Helping you get dressed on the day of the
wedding.
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Standing with you at the altar.
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Presenting the bride's ring.
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Serving as one of two witnesses signing
the marriage license.
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Giving the officiant his or her "gift"
before the ceremony (before the rehearsal dinner is also acceptable).
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Proposing the first toast during the
wedding reception.
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Returning your tuxedo the day after the
wedding.
You may also want to
ask him to handle tasks, including:
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Making sure the men in the wedding are
fitted for tuxedos.
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Picking up out-of-town guests, at the
airport.
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Arranging for your transportation after
the reception. Packing your luggage in the car and filling it with
gas.
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Making sure the other groomsmen return
their formalwear.
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Helping deposit cash wedding gifts in the
bank.
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Your other brothers,
your fiancée’s brothers or any of your close friends can serve as
groomsmen. Each will be paired up with a bridesmaid whom you fiancée has
chosen. The groomsmen's responsibilities include the following:
Friends and relatives
can serve as ushers. You'll want to have at least one usher for every 40
to 50 guests. The usher’s responsibilities are as follows:
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Escorting people to their seats-your
guests on the right side of the chapel, the brides on the left.
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Offering a helping hand to the florist,
photographer, musicians, or anyone needing last-minute assistance.
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Helping out-of-town guests find
transportation from the wedding ceremony to the reception.
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A younger brother, relative or friend who
is between 4 and 10 years old is a perfect addition to your wedding
party. He walks in the processional and carries a small white pillow
with a ring sewn on (not necessarily the wedding ring). An especially
young ring bearer who might not make it down the aisle can stand in
the pew with his parents and be included in any wedding portraits.
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