If you are Best Man then come the morning of the wedding your mind is sure to be whirring with a mixture of tension and adrenalin, with all that going on in your mind it is perhaps understandable if you overlook something. 

There are certain things the Best Man cannot afford to overlook, his Best Man speech being a prime example.  In order to ensure that you overlook nothing I have provided a checklist below that should prepare you for the day while a previous post on duties for the Best Man on the day of the wedding is also worth reading.

A Wedding Day Checklist For The Best Man

• have a list of key contact phone numbers with you in case any are needed at the last minute.
• make sure you look the part, you are the Best Man after all.
• call the Groom see if everything is good at his end and ask if there is anything you can assist with.
• call the other Groomsmen to make sure there are no last minute hitches with anyone.
• check you have your Best Man speech with you, and bring a copy to give to a friend or relative in case you lose your own one, that’s how important it is.
• if you are using props in your Best Man speech then make sure they are brought to the wedding. 
• should you be the person driving the Groom to the ceremony then the keys of the car would be helpful.
• similarly if you happen to be transporting the ring to the ceremony, then double-check that you have it, without it there won’t be a wedding.
• a piece of paper with important names such as the family members of the happy couple will be handy.

Being as well prepared as possible will have you in confident form on the wedding day and this will bode well for your Best Man speech. You should be doing everything you can to avoid a last minute crisis, so help yourself in that regard by remaining calm before delivering an awesome Best Man speech to massive applause.

As regular readers are aware I advocate giving short Best Man speeches rather than longer ones after all there is a definite truth in the saying, be brief, be brilliant, be seated. A short Best Man speech will ensure your speech doesn’t reach a lull at any stage and should have the listeners entertained from beginning to end.

                                                                                                                                               The opening section of a short Best Man speech.

- an icebreaker for a short Best Man speech.

- welcome guests to the wedding.

- mention what a wonderful occasion the day has been.

- praise the families of both the Bride and Groom.

                                                                                                                                               The middle section of a short Best Man speech.

- compliment the Bridesmaids.

- compliment the Bride.

- tell a short funny story about the Groom.

- then compliment him by referring to the qualities that make him a great friend..

                                                                                                                                                   The closing section of a short Best Man speech.

- tell a short story that showcases why the Bride and Groom are made for each other.

- read any faxes or emails that have arrived, include a fake funny one of your own.

- provide your own humorous advice on marriage to the newlyweds.

- finally offer an uplifting Best Man toast in honor of the Bride and Groom.

                                                                                                                                                      When it is broken down like that the Best Man speech is not as daunting as many people believe it to be so don’t let nerves get the better of you.  You should also include a short Best Man joke here and there but as ever make sure these jokes along with your funny stories are suitable for all, given that there is sure to be children at the wedding.

One of the most important decisions you will make, along with the Groom’s input, is where you should have the all-important Bachelor Party.  There are certain factors that need to be taken into account when deciding what type of Bachelor Party to have, the 2 most important factors are making sure you know who will be invited and also what budget you have to work from. 

The reason the budget is important is self-explanatory whilst knowing who is coming is vital because if the Father of the Bride plans on coming then that rules out a certain type of Bachelor Party, you know what I mean guys!

• 　 Bachelor Party City Trip.

This type of Bachelor Party entails travelling to a city/resort for a fun-filled night or weekend to celebrate the Groom’s last major night out as a single man. Las Vegas, Atlantic City and New York City are amongst the most popular destinations for this type of Bachelor Party.

• Activity Bachelor Party.

If the Groom is the sporty or competitive type then a good option to consider is a Bachelor Party based around an activity such as white-water rafting, fishing, golfing or similar. It is worth remembering that you should go easy on the alcohol if taking part in an event like white-water rafting of course.

• Trip to a sports event.

If the Groom is a fan of a particular sports team then another good idea is to take a trip to watch that team in action followed by a night partying in that town. If it is a local team then maybe try to make the effort to watch them play when they are away from home just to see enjoy nightlife out of town.

• Go to a concert.

The concert may play second fiddle to the tailgating beforehand but a trip to see one of the Groom’s favorite bands followed by a party afterwards is sure to leave memories to last a lifetime. For added fun rent some whacky costumes from a fancy dress shop and revel in the attention you will receive on the night.

• Limo evening around town.

For the more nostalgic among you who want to visit bars you are familiar with in your area then have the luxury of a stretch-limo to take your party from location to location and include a fancy restaurant for a bite to eat along the way. Enjoy a bit of luxury on the Bachelor Party and travel in style to celebrate the Groom’s final major night out before he becomes a married man.

Despite the temptation to try to get the Groom in trouble on his Bachelor Party avoid it, if anything goes wrong it is your neck on the chopping block when you get home not his so be responsible, have a great time just make sure to stay safe.