Who Should Be The Best Man: Father Or Friend?

The father of the groom can be the best man. It is not uncommon for the groom to choose his father as the best man, especially if they are close or share a special bond. The groom can choose anyone to be his best man, and if he wants his father by his side on his special day, that is reason enough. While it may not be considered traditional, it is still the groom's choice, and it is an honour for the father.

It is your wedding, so you can choose anyone you want to be your best man

There are some benefits to having your dad as your best man. For starters, since dads are naturally older, that commands authority and respect from your wedding party. This means that if they ask the wedding party to do something, they will listen. You'll have a built-in ringleader for the group when you choose your dad, which can be helpful.

However, the age difference can be a con for some people, especially if your wedding party includes more people than your best man. Being of a different age means your dad won't necessarily be on the same page with regards to bachelor parties, attire, or silly moments getting ready. The vibe just may not be cohesive depending on your dad and the rest of the group, which can be very awkward for you, your dad, and the rest of the wedding party.

If you do choose your dad as your best man, one thing to consider is the processional and recessional during the wedding ceremony. You will need to think about when, how, and with whom your dad will walk down the aisle. There's no correct answer here, but it is something to keep in mind.

Since a wedding reception typically includes a father of the groom speech and a best man's speech, you may want to ask an additional person, such as a friend or family member, to deliver a speech to make up for it. Or, just stick with the best man/father of the groom speech combo if that works for you. Either way, dads can get creative with their best man speech for their sons. A nice combination is to have a little roast speaking to the son's past and childhood, but also sharing some wisdom and wishes for his child and partner.

Finally, you will need to consider the bachelor party. This can get pretty wild with drinking, partying, and crazy antics, which may not be very dad-friendly. One option is to have the party with just your friends. Or, if you want your dad at your bachelor party, perhaps a more mellow, non-traditional celebration would be better suited. Or, you can skip a bachelor celebration altogether. Again, there's no correct answer. It comes down to what feels best for you and makes everyone comfortable.

It is not uncommon to have your dad as your best man

The benefits of having your dad as your best man are that he is likely to command authority and respect from your wedding party. This means that if he asks them to do something, they will be more likely to do it. He may also be able to help with keeping on top of the best man duties and father of the groom responsibilities, ultimately creating less stress and coordination for you.

However, the age difference can be a con for some people, especially if your wedding party includes more people than just your best man. The vibe may not be cohesive depending on your dad and the rest of the group, which could be awkward for everyone involved.

If you are unsure about whether to have your dad as your best man, it is important to consider your relationship with him. If he is your best friend, the person you are closest to, and the person who knows you the best, then having him as your best man is likely the right choice. It also comes down to what matters most to you. If having your dad as your best man is the most important thing to you, then you should do it and figure out how to make all the other details work.

In terms of logistics, the father of the groom would typically stand next to the other groomsmen during the ceremony. If the mother of the groom wants to be escorted down the aisle, the groom can walk with her, help her be seated, and then go to stand at the front with the groomsmen.

It is considered a great honour to have your father as your best man

There are benefits to having your dad as your best man. His age commands authority and respect from your wedding party, making it easier to get everyone to cooperate. He can also give a unique speech, with a combination of funny stories from your past and childhood, and wishes for the future.

However, there are some considerations to keep in mind. The age difference might mean your dad is not on the same page with regards to bachelor parties, attire, or silly moments getting ready. It is important to think about how your dad will fit into the wedding party dynamics and how everything and everyone will flow together on the day.

Ultimately, it comes down to what matters most to you. If having your dad as your best man is the most important thing for you, then do it and work out the other details later.

Your dad may be the best person for the role if they are your best friend or the person you are closest to

Ultimately, it is your wedding, and you can choose anyone you want to be your best man. If your dad is your best friend or the person you are closest to, then you should definitely choose them. However, if you are choosing them because you don't want to pick someone else, that might not be the best reason.

There are some benefits to having your dad as your best man. For starters, since dads are naturally older, that commands authority and respect from your wedding party. This means that if they ask the wedding party to do something, they will listen. You'll have a built-in ringleader for the group when you choose your dad, which can be helpful.

On the other hand, the age difference can be a con for some people, especially if your wedding party includes more people than just your best man. Being of a different age means your dad won't necessarily be on the same page with regards to bachelor parties, attire, or silly moments getting ready. The vibe just may not be cohesive depending on your dad and the rest of the group, which can be very awkward for you, your dad, and the rest of the wedding party.

With that in mind, it comes down to your dad and their personality. Your dad may get along just fine with your wedding party and be great at keeping on top of all the best man duties and father-of-the-groom responsibilities, ultimately creating less stress and coordination on your part.

If you're unsure whether to have your dad as your best man, here are some things to consider. One thing to think about is the processional and recessional during the wedding ceremony. Specifically, consider when, how, and with whom your dad will walk down the aisle. There's no correct answer here, but it is something to ponder.

Another thing to consider is the bachelor party. Generally, bachelor parties can get pretty wild with drinking, partying, and crazy antics, which may not be very dad-friendly. There are some ways around this, though. One option is to have the party with just your friends. Or, if you want to have your dad at your bachelor party, perhaps a more mellow, non-traditional celebration would be better suited. Or, you can skip a bachelor celebration altogether. Again, there's no correct answer. It comes down to what feels best for you and makes everyone comfortable.

So, now that you have these considerations in mind, how do you decide whether or not to have your dad as your best man? Jamie Chang, a wedding planner, says your relationship with your dad is the most important factor in your decision. "If they're your best friend, the person you're closest to, the person who knows you the best, and is the person you want by your side, then having your dad as your best man/man of honour is the right choice," she says.

The one factor that may or may not be a deal-breaker for some people is how your dad will fit into the wedding party dynamics. So be sure to think about how everything and everyone will flow together leading up to and on the wedding day before deciding. Most importantly, it comes down to what matters most to you. If having your dad be your best man is the most important thing for you, then do it and figure out how to make all the other details work. As Chang notes, it is possible to have everything you want; it just may not be "traditional", and that's okay.

It is not customary for the groom's father to be the best man, but it is the groom's choice

While it may not be traditional for the father of the groom to be the best man, it is becoming more common, especially in the Southern United States. Ultimately, it is the groom's choice and he should choose whoever he feels closest to, be it a friend or family member.

Some grooms may feel that their father is the obvious choice for best man, particularly if they have a close relationship. In this case, it can be a great honour for the father and a decision that is not regretted years later. Having the father as the best man can also help to avoid conflict between friends who may expect to be chosen.

There are some benefits to having your dad as your best man. Wedding planner Jamie Chang notes that dads naturally command authority and respect from the wedding party, which can be helpful for the groom. However, the age difference can also be a con, as the father may not be on the same page with regards to bachelor parties or attire. It is also important to consider the processional and recessional during the wedding ceremony and when, how, and with whom the dad will walk down the aisle.

If the groom's father is to be the best man, he would typically stand next to the groom and the other groomsmen during the ceremony and may give a speech or toast at the reception. He can also escort the groom's mother down the aisle and then loop back around to stand with the bridal party.

Frequently asked questions