Origins of the best man’s syndrome

In modern times, the primary role of the best man is to help the groom get ready for his big day, safeguard wedding rings in addition to other duties prescribed by the groom.

Centuries ago the best man was trusted with a very different responsibility.

The tradition of a best man originates with the Germanic Goths, where it was customary for a man to marry a woman from within his own community.

When the "local" women were in short supply, eligible bachelors would seek out and capture a bride from a neighbouring community.

This was not a one-man operation and the groom-to-be would be accompanied by a muscular male companion, as raw power was needed to accomplish the risky undertaking.


There also remained a real threat that the bride’s family would attempt to forcibly take her back, so the best man remained at the groom’s side throughout the marriage ceremony, fully alert and well armed.

He stood to the right of the groom, having his hand on the sword, fully prepared to protect the couple from any probable threat.

German folklore has it that beneath the altars of many churches of Goths, Visigoths, and Vandals lay an arsenal of clubs, knives, and spears indicating that these were there to protect the groom from possible attack by the bride’s family.

Fortunately, few best men today are required to perform such precise military tactics to earn their place on the high table.