Traditional Responsibilities of Groomsmen
If you will soon be serving as a groomsman in a friend or family member's wedding, it is important to familiarize yourself with the traditional responsibilities of groomsmen. By forming a solid understanding of what will be expected of you, you can play a pivotal role in making the wedding an event to remember.
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Bachelor Party
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Before the wedding ceremony is underway, groomsmen are responsible for planning the groom's bachelor party. This will require you to have a strong understanding of the groom's taste in music, food, drinks and entertainment. In addition, groomsmen are typically expected to foot the bill for the party.
Ceremony Preparations
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On the day of the ceremony, groomsmen are expected to seat guests and distribute corsages and boutonnieres to relatives of the bride and groom. Once all the guests have been ushered into their respective seating sections, groomsmen must then escort bridesmaids down the aisle as the ceremony commences. While the vows are being exchanged, groomsmen must stand respectfully to the side of the groom. To ensure that you are familiar with the seating arrangements and know which bridesmaid you will be escorting, make a point of arriving at the site of the wedding well before any other guests.
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Vehicle Decoration
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Immediately after the ceremony, the groomsmen must rush to decorate the car in which the bride and groom will travel to the reception, also commonly referred to as "the wedding chariot." This generally involves painting the phrase "Just Married" on the vehicle's rear windshield and tying empty cans to the back bumper.
Reception Schmoozing
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At the wedding reception, groomsmen must sit on the groom's side of the table of honor. During the celebration, they should make humorous and flattering toasts to both the bride and groom. If the reception is not being held at a restaurant or private banquet hall, the responsibility of post-ceremony cleanup falls on the groomsmen.
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References
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