Talk:Best man

wy does the bridegroom need a best man in his wedding?

Originally, it was to help him to steal the bride from her family on the wedding night. Rick K 23:46, Jan 17, 2005 (UTC)

Since the groom plays little or no role in the modern wedding (he must merely show up, sign some forms, and later successfully engage in coitus with his new wife), the best man serves as the bridegroom's agent and assistant. The bunk about helping the groom steal the bride is nonsense. -Acjelen 6 July 2005 00:04 (UTC)

Acjelen's attitude is the majority of nonsense in this frame. "Merely show up for successful coitus..." is that what we've come to? Is that the best we can do? How about be a true friend. Be a man for a man becoming a man too?

In older times, wasn't the best man also supposed to fight, in a gentlemanly manner of course, the person who spoke up when they asked: "Does anyone have any reason why these two should not be married?" Hence Best Man is the best man for the job?? And the reason the Best Man is a close friend or brother.

List if duties?[edit]

Acting as the officiant if the wedding ceremony is paid

Anyone any idea what this means?

I think what this is supposed to say is "making sure the officiant of the wedding is paid". One of the best man's jobs is to take the money from the bride and groom and pay the pastor/offcial marrying the couple on the wedding day if it is someone who is marrying them that requires payment.

Stocking the men's room at the reception with mints and soap

This is no part of a bestman's duty that i've ever heard of? Any consensus on this?

--Brideshead 11:40, 7 August 2006 (UTC)[reply]

groomsmen gifts at the rehersal dinner?

I agree with removing Stocking the men's room at the reception with mints and soap. There are other duties that I disagree with as well, such as sleeping in the groom's bedroom the night before the wedding. I found the list of duties more humorous than informative, and that's NOT what I want to see on Wikipedia (especially as I'm soon going to be the best man at a friend's wedding). Please someone who has been to plenty of weddings in the U.S./England help clean this list up.

--Takaitra 20:10, 5 November 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Why is this 'not' capitalised? I feel it should be edited to normal capitalisation. "...NOT at the expense of the bride and groom" 83.99.12.55 19:59, 2 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]