Best Man's Wedding Expenses: Who Pays For What?

Being the best man at a wedding is an honour, but it also comes with a lot of responsibilities and costs. The best man is the groom's right-hand man and is expected to pay for certain things. These costs include the wedding outfit, the bachelor party, and a wedding gift for the couple. The best man may also have to pay for travel and accommodation, depending on the location of the wedding and pre-wedding events. It is important to discuss expectations with the groom in advance to avoid any misunderstandings or financial difficulties. While being a best man can be expensive, it is also a chance to show support and love for a friend or family member on their special day.

Wedding outfit

As the best man, you'll want to look sharp and feel confident. Your wedding outfit is an important part of fulfilling your role and supporting the groom. Here are some tips and suggestions for putting together a stylish and appropriate wedding outfit:

Choosing the Right Suit

The type of suit you choose will depend on the wedding's dress code, season, venue, and time of day. If the wedding has a black-tie dress code, a black tuxedo is recommended. For black-tie optional, a dark suit and tie or a midnight blue tuxedo are good choices. A creative black-tie wedding gives you more flexibility, and you can opt for a white dinner jacket tuxedo or a colourful suit.

For cocktail attire, a medium-dark suit, like navy or blue, is a safe choice. If the wedding is casual, a light grey or blue suit with a dress shirt and dress shoes is appropriate. Beach weddings often call for tan or khaki suits, but you could also opt for light grey or blue. Garden weddings pair well with subtle floral patterns and light-coloured suits.

Consider the season and temperature when selecting your suit. For fall, layering with a vest is a good option. Spring and summer call for light-coloured suits to combat the heat. Winter weddings often mean formal attire, and a black tuxedo or a velvet jacket can be a stylish choice.

Accessories and Details

Accessories are a great way to elevate your wedding outfit. Cufflinks, a matching pocket square, and a patterned tie that complements the wedding colour scheme can add a stylish touch. If you're attending a rustic wedding, consider a wool necktie or a simple plaid linen bow tie. For a nautical wedding, incorporate stripes and stick to navy, blue, and white colours.

Shoes are an important detail, and brown leather or suede shoes are versatile choices for many wedding themes and seasons. If you're attending a beach wedding, you might opt for brown suede shoes. Black patent leather shoes are ideal for black-tie events.

Timing and Planning

It's recommended to order your wedding suit between three months and six weeks before the wedding. This gives you enough time for alterations and exchanges while also ensuring you don't experience significant changes in body sizing.

Additional Tips

Remember that as the best man, you play a crucial role in supporting the groom with their wedding attire. You can help the groom choose their outfit and ensure it complements your own. Also, don't forget to plan and allow time for suit alterations if needed.

By following these guidelines and paying attention to the wedding's specific details, you can create a stylish and appropriate wedding outfit that will make the groom proud.

Bachelor party

As the best man, you will be responsible for organising the bachelor party and footing the bill, along with the other groomsmen. Here is a breakdown of the costs:

Transportation

If the bachelor party is in the same city, the best man and groomsmen will usually cover the cost of transportation during the party, such as Ubers or a dedicated limo or party bus. This ensures that everyone stays together, safe, and on schedule. However, guests are expected to pay for their own transportation to the party, whether it be by bus, train, or plane.

Lodging

Guests are also expected to pay for their own lodging. If you are renting a house or an Airbnb, guests should split the cost evenly. It is a good idea to send out a list of accommodation options with varying prices and let the group decide on one that is comfortable for everyone.

Food and Entertainment

The cost of food and entertainment depends on the event. For casual meals, guests may split the check or pay for their own meals. For more formal or pricey outings, the group may decide to treat the groom. The groom may also buy a round of drinks or a meal occasionally. It is recommended to limit the number of expensive outings to one or two to avoid overextending guests financially.

Props and Giveaways

The best man and groomsmen typically cover the cost of decor, branded drinkware, and other props. These items are usually given as a surprise to the groom and are not too expensive.

Collecting Payment

The best man can decide whether to collect payment from guests before or after booking and transportation and accommodation. It is important to communicate the cost details to guests in advance to avoid any confusion or disagreement.

Other Considerations

When planning a bachelor party, it is essential to consider the financial situation of all guests. Some people may not be able to afford extravagant trips or expensive meals. It is important to be considerate and flexible, ensuring that everyone feels included and comfortable with the expenses.

Additionally, the groom's preferences should be taken into account. While some grooms may want to be surprised, others may prefer to be involved in the planning process. It is crucial to have open communication and ensure that everyone is on the same page regarding expectations and costs.

Wedding gift

While the best man at a wedding has a lot of responsibilities, from planning the bachelor party to holding the wedding rings, one of the most important things they can do is provide a thoughtful wedding gift for the happy couple.

Although the best man is already likely to be spending quite a bit of money on things like travel, accommodation, and their wedding outfit, it is customary for them to also purchase a gift for the bride and groom. This gift can be something creative or sentimental, or it can be something from the couple's wedding registry. If the best man is attending the wedding with a plus-one, it is customary for them to spend a little more on the gift, with an average expected spend of around $120.

If the best man is struggling to think of a gift idea, they can always consult the couple's wedding registry for inspiration. Alternatively, they could club together with the other groomsmen to purchase a group gift.

Some popular gift ideas for the groom from the best man include the groom's favourite drink, such as a vintage bottle of wine or a bottle of high-end bourbon, scotch, or tequila.

Ultimately, the best man's gift to the happy couple is a way to show their love and support, and it is sure to be appreciated no matter what it is.

Travel and accommodation

As the best man, you are expected to pay for your own travel and accommodation. If the wedding is in a far-flung location, the couple may choose to pay for selected activities, such as a group sailing trip, or provide transportation to and from the ceremony and reception sites.

If you are a groomsman, it is customary for you to pay for your own travel and accommodation. The couple may offer to help with some travel-related expenses by booking a hotel room block or splitting the cost of accommodations, but this is not required.

If you are a groomsman travelling to a destination wedding, you should expect to pay for your transportation and hotel room. It is considered good etiquette for the couple to provide options and hotel blocks as a courtesy.

The cost of being a groomsman can quickly add up, especially if flights and accommodation are involved. Groomsmen should expect to pay somewhere between $500 and $1000, depending on location, travel, and events planned.

If you are the best man, it is a nice gesture to present the groom with a sentimental gift from his groomsmen on the wedding morning. You can chat with the ushers and the stags and see if anyone would be up for putting in a bit of money towards it.

As the best man, you may also be asked to help with any set-up at the venue, so be prepared to pitch in and help wherever you can. The more jobs you can alleviate from the couple, the better.

Officiant's payment

Officiants Payment

The wedding officiant is one of the most important vendors a couple will hire for their wedding. The officiant is the person who leads the ceremony and works with the couple in the months before the wedding day to craft the ceremony, which may include personal vows, readings, music selections, and more. They may also provide premarital counselling.

The officiant must be legally ordained to perform weddings in the state where the wedding is taking place and understand the jurisdiction's laws regarding the marriage license. On the wedding day, the officiant will fill out and sign the marriage license along with the witnesses and send it back to the relevant authority for certification.

The type of officiant a couple chooses will depend on the type of ceremony they want. Civil officiants are those in government roles who can legally perform a marriage ceremony in accordance with state laws. Religious officiants serve as leaders within their particular area of faith and usually perform wedding ceremonies at their place of worship. Professional officiants, also called celebrants, are licensed and experienced professionals hired to perform the marriage ceremony.

The best man is not usually responsible for paying the officiant, but he may be asked to hand over the officiant's fee in a sealed envelope after the ceremony.

Frequently asked questions