What does the Best Man do and from where does his role originate?
Wedding guides are a little circumspect on this one, most of them suggesting that the Best Mans job is to protect the groom from bad luck. The origins are ancient and the role was one of friend and protector. In modern times, the interpretation of that is ensuring that the groom doesnt end up with a black eye the night before the ceremony, and also avoids being chained naked to a lamp-post or put on a train from Norfolk to some far-flung destination on his stag night. The best man is required also to give a speech at the reception, carry the rings and get the groom to church on time.