The best man is usually one of the groom's closest friends or relatives, as the maid of honor is usually the bride's most special girlfriend or sibling. However, why exactly do grooms have a best man?

The Best Man in History

Before, the grooms did not court and woo their ladies into the altar. It was usual for a groom to kidnap a fair lady to become his bride. On his search for a bride, a groom usually took with him a trusted friend or soldier.

The best man was the groom's lookout and spy. He was also tasked to help the groom succeed by driving away the bride's relatives. After all, the groom was kidnapping his bride, usually from other tribes or clans. The bride's relatives wouldn't have given her up very easily and there's bound to be trouble. Thus, the groom took with him somebody - his best man - who could fight with him, protect him, and help him accomplish his mission.

It's hard to imagine today's best man wielding a sword and wearing armor to protect the groom from harm, but that was just what the best man of times past did. That was the best man's first and foremost role, then.

The Savvy Best Man

The best man of today has exchanged his sword for a champagne glass and his armor for a tuxedo. You'll see the savvy best man in weddings everywhere giving out a gay and usually embarrassing (for the groom, anyway) speech. Indeed, the best man's role in modern times is drastically different from his traditional role. However, one thing remains the same - the best man is still important in a wedding's success or lack thereof.

The best man is still the groom's best man, the groom's trusted right hand. From day one until the end of the wedding ceremonies and post wedding ceremonies, the best man is the groom's one-man support system and his trusted adviser.

The best man is in charge of making preparations for the bachelor's party that every groom (as well as his set of rowdy friends) expects to get before he ties the knot. The best man will have to think of the theme, the venue, the entertainment, the food, and the attendees of the bachelor party.

On the wedding day itself, the best man is tasked with the job of making sure that the groom will arrive on time for his wedding. He will arrange for the groom's transportation, even acting as the groom's personal chauffeur if necessary. The best man is also "Keeper of the Ring." This means exactly what you think it means and this is not in any way related to Frodo in the Lord of the Rings. During the ceremonies, he'll be passing the bride's ring to the groom.

During the wedding reception, the best man will have to give a toast to the bride and the groom. After the wedding, if no other arrangements were made, the best man will drive the newlyweds to the airport or wherever they wish to be dropped off. He can also be the one tasked with the return of rentals as well as the safekeeping of belated wedding gifts.

The best man is important in weddings for he has various responsibilities that can make a great difference in how a wedding turns out. More than his 'assistive' roles, however, the best man's most important role of all is bearing witness to his best friend's or close relative's marriage.