Asking Your Best Mate To Be Your Best Man

Asking your best friend to be your best man can be nerve-racking, but it's also an opportunity to show your appreciation for your friendship and get them excited about the future. Whether you're planning a dramatic proposal or keeping it low-key, there are many creative ways to pop the question. From cards and personalised gifts to experience-based proposals, the options are endless. So, get ready to make your best mate feel special as you ask them to be by your side on one of the most important days of your life!

Cards

• Rustic Best Man Card – £3, Norma & Dorothy: This card has a pretty kraft finish and is perfect if you're planning a rustic wedding. The same style of card is also available for groomsmen, page boys, and ushers, so you can use the same design for everyone.
• Best Man Gold Foil Card – £3.50, Eliza May Prints: This stylish card with gold foil detailing is an elegant way to 'propose' to your best man. The card is available in navy or white and is blank inside so you can write your own message.
• Scratch Card Best Man Proposal Card – £2.75, With Puns: Add a fun element to your best man proposal with this unique card. It can be personalised with your best man's name, and they have to scratch off the gold heart to reveal the hidden message.
• Funny Best Man Card – £3.50, Wordplay Design: Keep things light-hearted with this fun card. It's bright and the perfect way to ask your BFF if he'll be there for you on your wedding day.
• Gold Foil Best Man Card – £2.26, Zazzle: Keep things simple and elegant with this gold detail card. You can choose the same style on a range of card shapes and add your own personalisation on the outside and inside of the card.
• Best Man Definition Card – £3.95, The New Witty: If your best man is a novice when it comes to weddings, this card is a funny way to let him know what is expected of him and the varying expectations of the role.
• Chalkboard 'Will You Be My Best Man?' Card – £3, Norma & Dorothy: This card has a textured finish and a brown envelope, making it feel more formal.
• 'Will You Be My Best Man?' Calligraphy Card – £2, Sarah Burns Prints: An affordable yet elegant card, you can tailor both the script and envelope colour to suit your wedding theme.
• Top Job Best Man Card – £2.80, Joanne Hawker: This card conveys exactly what your best man means to you and how much you appreciate him.
• Secret Message 'Will You Be My Best Man?' Card – £4.50, Here's To Us: Why limit your best man to one envelope-opening experience when you could give him two? This card prolongs the excitement.
• Simple 'Will You Be My Best Man?' Card – £3.50, Too Wordy: Contemporary hand lettering makes this elegant card stand out. If your best man is a straightforward guy, he'll love this one.
• The Gentleman Notecards – £20 for 10, Papier: These cards are both fancy and understated. Writing your 'will you be my best man?' message by hand is a thoughtful move, and you can send notecards to everyone from other groomsmen to colleagues when you buy a set.
• 'You'd Rock It In a Suit' Card – £3.50, Wordplay Designs: A little tongue-in-cheek, this fun card will bring a smile to your best man's face.
• 'Simply The Best' Card – £3.50, Poppy's Papercuts at Papier: Serenade your best man with this Tina Turner-inspired card. He's about to be simply the Best Man, after all.

Gifts

There are many ways to ask your friend or family member to be your best man, and one of the most popular ways is through gifts. Here are some gift ideas to help you pop the question to your best friend:

Gift Ideas for "Will You Be My Best Man?"

• Cards: A simple yet thoughtful way to ask your best friend to be your best man is through a card. You can opt for something funny, personalised, or sentimental. If you're looking for something more affordable, a card is a great option to express your feelings.
• Best Man Proposal Gift Box: If you want to go beyond a simple card, consider a gift box filled with goodies. This can be a fun and exciting way to pop the question. You can include items like a pocket knife, an engraved flask, a personalised gift, or even a bottle of their favourite drink.
• Personalised Gifts: Adding a personal touch to your gift can make it even more special. Consider items like personalised bottle tags, shot glasses, pint glasses, hip flasks, or even a pair of socks with "No Cold Feet" written on them. These little details will make your best friend feel extra appreciated.
• Luxury Gifts: If you want to splurge on your best man, consider a luxury gift like a Hugo Boss gift set, a leather wallet, a suede belt, or even a pair of walnut wood sunglasses. These gifts will not only be useful but will also add a touch of style and sophistication to your wedding day.
• Practical Gifts: For something more practical, opt for items like cufflinks, collar stiffeners, a pocket watch, or a leather wash bag. These gifts will not only be appreciated but will also come in handy during the wedding and beyond.
• Alcohol-Themed Gifts: If your best friend enjoys a good drink, consider a gift that incorporates their favourite beverage. You can go for a whiskey tumbler, a beer mug, or even a bottle of their favourite liquor, like Jack Daniels or Grey Goose Vodka.

Remember, when choosing a gift, consider your best friend's personality and interests. You can also incorporate your wedding theme or colour scheme into the gift to make it more personalised and memorable.

Proposal ideas

Asking your best friend or brother to be your best man can be a nerve-wracking experience. You want to make it memorable and fun, but also want to ensure they say yes! Here are some proposal ideas to ask your best mate to be your best man:

Gifts

Gifts are a great way to ask your best mate to be your best man. You can give them a gift that is related to your relationship, such as a book on cycling routes if you are both cycling enthusiasts, or a bottle of their favourite whisky. You could also give them a gift that is related to the wedding, such as a tie that matches the wedding colour scheme, or a pair of personalised cufflinks.

Cards

A card is a simple and heartfelt way to ask your best mate to be your best man. You can include a personalised message, inside jokes, or even a photo of the two of you. You could also include a gift with the card, such as a bottle of liquor or a pack of beer.

Food and Drink

A fun way to ask your best mate to be your best man is to write the question inside a pizza box! You could also write the question on a note and attach it to a bottle of liquor or a pack of beer. This way, you can celebrate with a drink after they have accepted.

Memories

Asking your best mate to be your best man is a great opportunity to reminisce about old times. You could write the question on the back of an old photo, or create a collage of photos of the two of you. You could even create a puzzle with a photo and have them put it together before reading the question.

Ask with your Fiancée

If your best mate is also close with your partner, you could ask them together. You could give them a gift, such as a t-shirt or boxers, with a fun message or inside joke. This is a great way to strengthen the relationship between your best mate and your partner.

Ask your Boys as a Group

If you have several close friends that you want to ask to be groomsmen, you can do it as a group! You could get a few large pizzas and write the question on the box, or give each of them a card. This is a great way to get all your friends together and help them get to know each other before the wedding.

Timing

Allow Sufficient Time:

Propose to your best man at least eight months to a year before your wedding. This gives your best man and groomsmen enough time to plan and prepare. They will have busy schedules, and some may need to request time off from work or make travel arrangements. This lead time ensures they can fulfill their responsibilities effectively.

Avoid Last-Minute Requests:

While it is an honour to be asked, being a best man is also a significant commitment. Asking too late may put your friend in a difficult position, especially if they have other commitments. It also reduces their ability to actively participate in pre-wedding events and support you fully during this period.

Consider Pre-Wedding Events:

The best man often plays a central role in organising and attending pre-wedding events like the bachelor party or stag do. Therefore, you should propose early enough to allow sufficient time for planning and executing these events. This ensures your best man can be actively involved and that your pre-wedding celebrations are well-organised and enjoyable.

Factor in Delivery Time:

If you plan to give your best man a personalised gift or card, make sure to account for delivery times, especially if you're ordering from a small business or a custom product. You don't want your proposal to be delayed or rushed due to last-minute delivery issues.

Choose a Quiet Moment:

When proposing to your best man, pick a moment when you can have a private conversation. This could be during a quiet drink together, a walk, or a casual get-together. A calm setting allows you to express your thoughts and feelings without distractions and gives your friend the space to respond thoughtfully.

Personalisation

When it comes to popping the question to your best mate, it's essential to make it personal and memorable. Here are some ideas to personalise your "Will you be my best man?" message:

Cards

A card is a simple yet thoughtful way to ask your friend to be your best man. You can opt for a funny, sentimental, or personalised card. If you're planning a rustic wedding, consider a rustic-style card from Norma and Dorothy. For a touch of elegance, go for the gold foil card from Eliza May Prints or the gold foil detail card from Zazzle. If you want to add a fun element, try a scratch card proposal card from With Puns, where your friend can scratch off a gold heart to reveal the hidden message.

Gifts

If you want to go beyond a card, there are plenty of gift ideas to personalise your proposal. Here are some options:

• Personalised Gifts: Engraved items, such as hip flasks, pocket watches, or cufflinks, add a special touch. You can also personalise items like beer bottles with tags, shot glasses, pint glasses, or even a wooden box filled with their favourite drink.
• Practical Gifts: Socks, sunglasses, luggage tags, or a leather wash bag are practical gifts that your friend can use on the wedding day and beyond.
• Luxury Gifts: For a more extravagant gesture, consider a Hugo Boss gift set, a leather wallet, or a pair of walnut wood sunglasses.
• Experience Gifts: Sometimes, an experience can be the perfect backdrop for your proposal. Consider a sports event, a day at the races, or a gourmet dinner together.
• Memory-Lane Gifts: Incorporate inside jokes or themes from your shared experiences into the proposal. For example, if you both enjoy a good dram, a single malt whisky could be a fitting gift.

Proposal Boxes

If you want to go all out, create a personalised proposal gift box filled with goodies. Include items like a pocket knife, engraved flask, cufflinks, a tie, or even a book that could provide inspiration for the big day.

Remember, the key is to make your "Will you be my best man?" message personal and meaningful. Think about your relationship and shared experiences, and don't be afraid to add a touch of humour or sentimentality.

Frequently asked questions