How To Be The Best, Best Man: A Complete Must-Have Guide for Every Best Man

By Ron Scribner

Finally! A must-have book that will make your special day even better.

This book is a complete guide on really how to be the very "best man" for your special buddy, the future groom. Once your brother, best friend, work associate, or whoever asks you to be his best man, it is a very special and significant time for both of you. I have stood at several weddings and was the Best Man in two of them. Being the Best Man is not just a title you obtain after saying, "Yes, of course I will!" It is a huge responsibility with many duties to conquer. Yes, believe it or not, there is much more to just start thinking about the bachelor party, which I've since learned from experience. Did I forget some things I needed to do for my pal? Of course I did. Even after the second time. So I started writing down everything I could think of and learned so much more from extensive research. And remember, yes, there is a lot involved and much to do, but enjoy the process. It only happens once. This book will make the future bride and groom very happy with their decision to choose you to be the best person they could have ever asked to have this honor. So get ready to be the very best, best man you could ever be!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Newman Springs Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: May 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9781684987382

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Introduction

1: What Is a Best Man?

The Modern Duties of the Best Man

2: The Bachelor Party

Why a Party at All?

What Does the Groom Want from the Experience?

The Trends

What Can You Reasonably Afford?

The Most Common Approach

The Bachelor Party Checklist

A Streamlined Method

Have Fun, Man!

3: One Week Out

Gifts and the Groomsmen

Gift Etiquette

Top Gifts for Groomsmen and the Best Man

Dealing with Clothes

The Many Pieces

Getting Fitted

Give a Printed Schedule for Clothing

Tying a Real Bow Tie in Seven Easy Steps

The Groomsmen's Checklist

Best Man's Checklist

Where to Keep Things

Tracking Down the Documents

The Rings

Tips for Handling Rings Successfully

4: The Speech

Dos and Don'ts

Sample Speech Formula

Good Quotes for Toasts

5: The Rehearsal

Presenting Gifts

Packing the Groom

The Night Before

Uh-oh, Dude Is Panicking!

6: The Big Day

Prewedding Ceremonies

Getting Dressed

Paperwork Essentials

Transportation

Your On-Site To-Do List

Relaxation Tactics

A Private Moment

At the End of the Ceremony

7: The Reception

The Toast

All the Dancing

Decorating the Getaway Car

Getting Them Out

Working with the Maid of Honor

8: After the Wedding

Gathering Up the Gifts

Returning the Rentals

The Problems

9: Inspiration

Social Media

Follow Traditions

Customized Plans

Best Man Master Checklist

About the Author

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How To Be The Best, Best Man

A Complete Must-Have Guide for Every Best Man

Ron Scribner

Copyright © 2023 Ron Scribner

All rights reserved

First Edition

NEWMAN SPRINGS PUBLISHING

320 Broad Street

Red Bank, NJ 07701

First originally published by Newman Springs Publishing 2023

ISBN 978-1-68498-737-5 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68498-738-2 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Introduction

The high point of every bromance is when your bud turns to you and asks you to help him through one of the biggest challenges of his life.

Running the Ironman Triathlon? No. Talking to the hottest girl in the bar? No. Doing his taxes? No. It is when your closest male friend, a guy you may have known your whole life or for a heck of a long time, asks you to get him through his wedding by being his Best Man. Although he may more tell than actually ask you, it is still a pretty significant moment. It is also a moment that can be pretty hazardous because there are many things that could go wrong.

You could blurt out that he can't seriously be marrying that chick.

You could just splutter in shock and leave him wondering what is wrong with you.

You could burst into tears.

The point is that it is a big deal to both of you, as in major. To be asked to play this important part on any wedding day is huge. The Best Man is the rock, the person who must keep it together no matter what goes wrong. He is also the person that has to actually be there for his friend.

Here's what I mean: No one is at their best in the weeks or months leading up to their wedding. Even if it is a small affair, there is a lot to do and a lot of pressure. There will be times when you think you don't even know your buddy anymore. He might suddenly become temperamental or whiny. He might suddenly become a real skeptic, a true nonromantic. He might start reminiscing about your bachelor days.

Then again, your friend might suddenly become a guy who talks about napkins, flowers, and the bridesmaids' shoes. This is a wedding after all, and if he is a stand up kind of guy, he is going to get involved in the planning. He is definitely going to get you involved in it too, and so this guide is going to show you how to prepare yourself for the roller-coaster ride ahead. It will tell you what you need to do, and how to avoid the biggest hazards, pitfalls, and blunders. Along the way, you are going to learn how to help your friend if he gets cold feet, panics at any time during the planning or actual wedding, and generally how to be the best friend he knows you to be.

The Best Man has a lot of duties, but he also has to just look out for his buddy. It seems like a huge amount of responsibility, but I can guarantee you that it will be an experience you never forget and one that you treasure. Many people get all kinds of inside jokes out of their wedding experiences, and most walk away with some incredible memories.

So let's start learning all about your role as the Best Man and discover everything you need to know to get him successfully down the aisle!

1

What Is a Best Man?

What Is a Best Man?

Okay, bust out your best Braveheart impersonation, dust off your clubs and daggers, and channel your inner warrior because you are about to begin your studies in being the most authentic best man.

Huh, you say? Well, it seems that today's best man is a far cry from the original role. Historically, we know that the best man first appeared in the 1500s, where Germanic Goths would make raids into neighboring villages or regions to capture women suitable for marriage. They didn't just ride in and grab women left and right, but it was a challenging enough venture that the man who had his sights on a particular lady would often have a friend help him to retrieve her for the wedding. Hence, he would ask the Best Man for assistance.

There were also times when the lady's family was not thrilled about the groom, and again, the Best Man would have to help his best friend to fight for his lady fair! As time passed and people began to move into developed towns and cities, the need for kidnapping a bride disappeared. What is interesting is that the role of protector did not yet disappear for the best man.

In the earlier days, the days of kidnapped brides, the best man would patrol and guard the area around the wedding. This would prevent anyone from stopping it from happening. Later, the best man would still stand to the right of the groom and keep his sword ready at all times. This would protect the couple from any threat and allow the wedding to occur.

Wow, right? Now before you get your hopes up about wearing a sword during your buddy's wedding, you already know it isn't likely to occur. The thing is, you are still stepping into some pretty serious shoes, so to speak. You will be ensuring that the wedding happens by protecting the groom. You won't let him have too much fun