This is weird. If the groom isn't the best man present, why is the bride settling? She should at least THINK the groom is best. Giving an inconsistent title to one of the participants doesn't work.
It reminds me of the old custom of dueling, where each participant had a "second" who served as his assistant. Do we really want weddings to resemble duels? Do we really need to bring backup?
2007-03-25 02:29:40 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
The tradition of a best man has its origin with the Germanic Goths, when it was customary and preferable for a man to marry a woman from within his own community. When women came into short supply "locally," eligible bachelors would have to seek out and capture a bride from a neighboring community. As you might guess, this was not a one-person operation, and so the future bridegroom would be accompanied by a male companion who would help. Our custom of the best man is a throwback to that two-man, strong-armed tactic, for, of course the future groom would select only the best man he knew to come along for such an important task.
2007-03-25 08:08:21 · answer #1 · answered by ? 6 · 29⤊ 1⤋
The best man is the groom's best man, not the brides. It's like dog's a man's best friend, the bride should be he best lady friend, and of all men, the best man is the groom's best friend of all his fellow men.
The bride's man is the father who gives her away. Her friends are her bride's maids. There aren't many groom's maids, but you have the best man and the ushers, as the men who are the same age as the groom.
A best man could be seen as a cross between "right hand man" and "best friend" of the groom. And it's not only German. Wikipedia is crap, click on edit and you can change the description to Chinese fireworks if you want.
2007-03-25 09:40:53 · answer #2 · answered by dude 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
The best man goes back days when arranged marriages were common or when in raids (yes like in the Renaissance and such eras). The best man was the "hench man" or helped the groom by protecting him and the bride or just him if the bride was "stolen or kidnapped".
See the Wikipedia online for more extensive research.
2007-03-25 19:14:19 · answer #3 · answered by joy_052081 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I don't think it is ment that way. best men are usually the groom's best friend or brother, uncle someone close to show support. he is usually the guy that helps the groom keep track of things like the rings, getting his tux and small things, just like the maid of honor is resposible for helping the bride get ready
2007-03-25 12:55:12 · answer #4 · answered by ? 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The purpose of the best man is to tackle the groom is he tries to make a break for it.
2007-03-25 13:40:25 · answer #5 · answered by eric l 6 · 8⤊ 0⤋
The role of best man was introduced by the Germanic goths at approximately 200 AD. Due to a shortage of women, Goth men frequently resorted to bride kidnapping to procure wives. When the groom went to the bride's house with the intent of carrying her off, the best man was dispatched to help fight off the relatives of the bride.
GO TO:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Best_man
2007-03-25 09:35:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 11⤊ 2⤋
we have best men incase the groom passes out in the middle of the wedding so the best man has to take his place and marry the bride!
2007-03-25 22:06:21 · answer #7 · answered by rocky b 1 · 3⤊ 2⤋
It is kind of weird but the best man is there to give a toast and to be the 2nd host if the groom is not availible.
2007-03-25 13:12:51 · answer #8 · answered by nicky B 3 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Hmmmm interesting half silly/half serious question . . .
Well, explain to me why the bride's maid or matron of honor is being honored, and not the bride.
Weddings are extremely reminiscent of battles, not duels. You have two sides who are facing each other, ready to attack if one of their "leaders" runs from the altar.
OK, so much for that piss-poor attempt at an analogy.
2007-03-25 09:35:37 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 6⤋
LOL. weddings are steeped in tradition. It used to be the "best man" was the one who took over taking care of the wife and any children that came along if anything should happen to the groom such as death from diseases or from going off to war, whatever. It comes from that. The best man is someone the groom chose to take his place if something ever happened to him. It's your wedding, you don't have to have a best man if you don't want to
2007-03-25 09:36:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 7⤋