A Man Of Honor: Unconventional Wedding Party Roles

More and more couples are breaking from tradition and making their own rules for their weddings. One way to do this is to ask a close male friend or family member to be a 'man of honour'—a male version of the 'maid of honour' role. This role can be crucial, especially if your best friend is male. It's all about choosing who will make you feel good on the most important day of your life.

It's unconventional and fun

Having a man of honour is a fun way to put a spin on traditional wedding roles. It's a great way to include a close male friend or family member in your wedding party and can lead to some creative and memorable twists on the usual wedding formula. It's becoming more and more common, as couples break with tradition and make their own rules.

Guests will be pleasantly surprised to see this unconventional twist on your bridal party, and it will make for some fun photo opportunities. It's a great way to make your wedding unique and memorable, and to ensure that your wedding party truly reflects who you are as a couple and the loved ones who have supported you.

There are also some practical benefits to having a male attendant. There won't be any complaints about dresses, and he might be more laid-back and less concerned with tradition throughout the planning process. He can also bring a different perspective to the planning, and you can get creative with attire, for example, having him wear a tie that matches the bridesmaids' dresses.

If you're worried about how your choice might be received, remember that it's your day, and you can explain your decision to anyone who questions it. You can also enlist the help of parents to smooth things over with any older or more reserved relatives who might be opposed to the idea.

You can have both a man of honour and a maid of honour

Having a man of honour at your wedding is becoming more common as couples break from tradition and make their own rules. But what if you want to include both your male and female best friends in your wedding party? Well, you can absolutely have both a man of honour and a maid of honour!

Double the Fun

Having both a man of honour and a maid of honour means double the fun and double the help with wedding planning. It's unconventional in the best way and will make for some fun photo opportunities. Plus, you don't have to worry about choosing between your closest friends.

Sharing Responsibilities

The man of honour and maid of honour can share the traditional responsibilities of a maid of honour, such as planning the bachelorette party, keeping track of vendors, and toasting the couple. The man of honour can also take on some of the more heavy-duty tasks, like heavy lifting and day-of decorating.

Making it Work

To make this work, it's important to define roles and responsibilities clearly and ensure that your man of honour and maid of honour are able to work together harmoniously. Be prepared for some guests to be surprised by your unconventional choice, but remember that it's your wedding and you can choose who you want by your side.

So, if you want to include both your male and female best friends in your wedding party, go for it! Having a man of honour and a maid of honour is a great way to ensure that you have all the support and help you need on your big day.

He can plan a great bachelorette party

So, you've decided to break with tradition and have a man of honour at your wedding – fantastic! Now, it's time to think about the bachelorette party. Planning this event is one of the key responsibilities of the man of honour, and it's a great opportunity for him to put his own unique spin on things. Here are some things to consider:

Know what you want

First, it's important to be clear about what you expect from your man of honour when it comes to the bachelorette party. Do you want his help and input at every step of the planning process, or is his role more ceremonial? If he's uncomfortable taking the lead, you could ask a close female friend to step in and help with the planning details or take on certain tasks.

Make it a joint party

If you're already going off-script by having a man of honour, why not take it one step further and have a joint bachelor and bachelorette party? This can be a fun way to mix things up and create an even more memorable event. Imagine your man of honour joining forces with the groom's best man – now that could be a recipe for an epic pre-wedding celebration! Combining the two parties can also simplify the planning process and save some money. To get everyone on board with the idea, sit down with your wedding party and discuss how they feel about it.

Choose a theme or activity

There are plenty of options for a co-ed bachelor/bachelorette party, such as a music festival, camping trip, day at an amusement park, or a competitive scavenger hunt (boys vs girls). Or, for a more traditional party, opt for a good old-fashioned bar crawl with matching t-shirts, shots, karaoke, and dancing.

Get creative with the guest list

If your man of honour is uncomfortable planning an all-female bachelorette party, suggest making it a couple's shower instead. This way, he won't be the only guy at the party, and it can be a fun, inclusive event for everyone.

Let him surprise you

If you're open to it, let your man of honour take the reins and plan a night to remember. It could be a fun surprise for you and your bridesmaids!

Remember, the most important thing is to choose someone who is organised and coordinated to ensure that no detail goes amiss. With a little creativity and planning, your man of honour can plan an incredible bachelorette party that reflects your unique style and creates lasting memories.

There won't be any dress complaints

There are plenty of benefits to having a man of honor at your wedding. One of the main perks is that there won't be any complaints about dresses! This is one less thing for the bride-to-be to worry about.

The man of honor can wear whatever the groomsmen are wearing, or he can coordinate with the bridesmaids. For example, if the groomsmen are wearing grey suits and the bridesmaids are wearing navy dresses, the man of honor could wear a navy suit. Alternatively, he could wear a tie or pocket square to match the bridesmaids' dresses. If the couple wants all the suits to match, the man of honor could wear a tie or pocket square that sets him apart from the other men on the groom's side.

If you're worried about your man of honor feeling uncomfortable, you can ask one of your close female friends to help with the planning of the bachelorette party. It's also a good idea to be prepared for guests' reactions. Some people might be surprised by your choice, but it's your wedding, and you can have whoever you like by your side!

There's no reason not to

There are plenty of benefits to having a man of honour. Chances are, your man of honour will throw you an awesome bachelorette party, won't bring drama, and there won't be any complaints about what type of dress to wear. You can also tweak his responsibilities to play to his strengths. For example, he can help with addressing envelopes, choosing a colour palette, and selecting flowers to match the tablescape. He can also be in charge of day-of decorating, using his heavy-lifting skills to delegate larger tasks.

If you're worried about your wedding party or guests being surprised by your unconventional choice, don't be. It's your wedding, and you don't have to explain your choices to anyone. However, if you anticipate any potential issues with older or more reserved relatives, you can always ask your parents and in-laws to have a friendly chat with these relatives before your big day to smooth things over.

Ultimately, your wedding day is about celebrating your love and surrounding yourself with the people who matter most to you. If that includes a male friend or family member, then go for it! Ask him to be your man of honour and create a wedding party that truly reflects your unique dynamic.

Frequently asked questions