Choosing someone to be your best man may seem like a straightforward decision. Generally, apart from your brother or cousin, an old friend that has been part of your life on an almost daily level is a good choice. On the other hand while you are trying to be loyal with close friends and family, remember that this person has to be reliable and up to the task. The responsibilities of the best man goes beyond keeping the ring so be wise when making your decision. We have come up with some tips that will help you in making the best choice.

#1. Responsible

First of all, you need to come up with a list of responsibilities that the best man is expected to take up. The responsibilities could include keeping the ring on the wedding day, making sure you are relaxed, organizing the bachelor’s party, running errands here and there and so on. Make sure that the person you choose has the ability to handle all responsibilities and even unforeseen ones and under pressure. An irresponsible best man is a no -no. what if he loses the rings, or forgets to pick up the suites?

#2. Friendly

It usually is a good idea to pick someone that your friends and family are familiar with. One of the responsibilities of the best man includes organizing the bachelor’s party and for this to turn out fun, there should be that relationship between him and the others. The best man plays a major role in setting the mood for the party therefore his interpersonal skills matter a lot.

#3. Available

In most cases, the best man assists the groom in picking the wedding ring, picking the outfits, and running some errands when they come up. Apart from helping with the errands, the best man is also expected to attend all wedding rehearsals to be kept up to date. For this to happen you need to get someone that does not have a lot on his plate and is willing to make the time. Avoid someone who is out of town.

#4. Approved by spouse

If your wife to be does not approve of your choice then forget it regardless of her reason. If you pick someone she’s not happy with, chances are your wife will be irritated the whole day because the best man is always going to be around you. The wedding day should be a happy one for her and anything that would get her upset should be avoided. This might seem unfair but sometimes we need to make sacrifices for people we love.

#5. Out spoken

On the day of the wedding the best man will be expected to give a speech. Your best man should be able to face the crowd and say something short, sweet and humorous about you and your wife without freaking out. Before then, the best man is in charge of putting certain things in place and if he sees that those things are not In order he  should be able to voice them out.

It’s your wedding so don’t feel obligated to ask any particular person to be the your best man. Of course the criteria above, shouldn’t only be the basis on which you pick your best man, but they will go a long way in helping make the right decision.