Best Man Wedding Facts & Trivia

In Sudan in 2006 a man caught having sex with his neighbours goat was forced to marry it and pay a dowry to its former owner.

A fuming Scottish bride decked her hubby when he sat on her knee and left and skidmark on her pristine wedding dress. Like a true Scotman Angus McClure didn't wear anything under his kilt when he married Sarah Grant in Greenock, Scotland.

But things went slightly awry and her right hook sparked mayhem between the two well refreshed clans. Police were called and in total 7 arrests were made. Angus and Sarah kissed and made up, no doubt he'll be getting a pair of boxer shorts this Christmas.

Has the groom been moaning about how much his bride-to-be is already planning on spending on her big day? Well he should count himself lucky. The most expensive marriage recorded was that of Sheik Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum's son to Princess Salama in Dubai in May 1981. Not wanting to be outdone by a certain Charles and Diana who wed that year the Dubai wedding cost over £22 million and included a purpose-built stadium.

In the UK on average it costs the Best Man £500 to fulfil his role. This accounts for the stag do, suit hire, travel, wedding gift, etc.

Beware of the bubbly! Statistically more people are killed around the world each year by champagne corks than poisonous spiders.

In ancient Egypt Egyptian men preferred not to deflower their brides personally. Instead the hired a servant to undertake the chore.

A Malaysian man holds the record for being the best man at over 1000 weddings.

Despite the claims of many internet sites it’s not true that the role of best man comes from having helped the groom kidnap his bride during Anglo-Saxon times or in ancient Scotland. Pagan weddings traditionally never included a Best Man. The role’s earliest inclusion came during the middle ages at Christian weddings, during this time the groom was not permitted to bear arms in church so he would appoint his “best man” for his and his bride’s protection, this would be his best fighter or most trusted friend. For many showing he needed protection was more a matter of status rather than because they were in any real danger.

In battle when armies formed shield walls (interlocking shields in a long line), a fighter’s right arm held his sword while the left gripped his shield meaning the left side of his body was the most protected while his right side was the most vulnerable to attack hence the need to have his best fighter or most trusted friend stood on his right hand side. This is also where the term “right hand man” originates. This is one of the reasons the Best Man stands on the right hand side of the groom.

However even if things get tense on the big day and battle lines are drawn, its best not to let out a blood curdling scream and leap into battle with your friend’s soon to be mother-in-law no matter how much she might resemble Hagar the Horrible.

In Germany friends of bride and groom kidnap the bride and the groom has to find her. The search starts in a local pub. The groom pays a drink to everyone who wants to join him in the search.