Best men

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I crave being asked to be someone's best man, or godfather to their child. I was almost a godfather at 14, but they decided that was too young. Is it just a pathetic desire for reasurance?

Godparent etc. tales a-plenty, please!

― Mark C (Mark C), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 11:11 (twenty-two years ago)

I was asked to be a god mother, but then they emigrated to Australia within 8 days of the service :0(

I got a package from them today though, with some very cute photos, and I've got a reason for a holiday there now, and somewhere to stay.

more scarey was being asked if they could put us down as legal guardians in their will, if anything ever happened to them...

By New year I'll have been a bridesmaid 4 times, and a witness at another wedding. I think it's time to announce my retirement!

― Vicky (Vicky), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 11:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I am a proud godparent (although I have never been asked to be anyone's best man! boo!) and I have to say I love it. I was asked on my birthday & it was the best present ever. The christening was quite an odd affair as there were 5 godparents (they could not choose between a few people)but I enjoyed being part of it. I love the feeling of being kinda important in my godson's life. That said, I think I feel that it is a more important role than the parents of said godson. When I ask people to be god parents to my children, it will be a very important things indeed.

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 11:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Being a bestman is a pain in the ass job, but a great honor. I was bestman two years ago at my friends wedding and am bestman in another friends in October.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 11:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I really enjoyed being a Best Man, in fact I liked it so much I picked 2 people to be mine!

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 11:17 (twenty-two years ago)

just like in Friends eh?

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 11:19 (twenty-two years ago)

So are we allowed to post pics of our cute godchildren?

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 11:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Everyone knows Tico bases most of his life decisions on friends episodes.

― Pete (Pete), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 11:20 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't ever want to be a Godparent though. It strikes me as an unneccessary addition to the yearly present bill which could be better spent on pear cider.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 11:23 (twenty-two years ago)

We went a Christening at the last weekend. Since HSA's family is SO FREAKING HUGE!!! I don't understand why they had to have godparents on top of the already massive assembly of aunts and uncles and cousins and more cousins, but hey. These things are important I guess, not so much for the religious aspect (my god, they found this country vicar who went on and on about god and the Queen and all this stuff, to the aghastness of the assembled Guardian types) but for the community aspect.

I mean, I have to admit that when Things Went Horribly Wrong, it was my godparents that took me in and gave me a place to live and everything, and if they hadn't, I really would have been on the street. So I do see the point of Godparents.

― kate (kate), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 11:31 (twenty-two years ago)

I would like to be a godparent (I would have quite liked to have one too, but I wasn't christened) but I don't want to be called 'godparent'. Having 'god' in any word that describes me seems inappropriate.

― Archel (Archel), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 11:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Kate I am pleased that your Godparents were so charitable but that kind of potential responsibility makes me shudder and clutch my pear cider even more!

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 11:51 (twenty-two years ago)

the word "gossip" is derived from the word "godsibling"

― mark s (mark s), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 11:53 (twenty-two years ago)

i've been a godparent since i was 12, weird eh

― Chip Morningstar (bob), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 11:56 (twenty-two years ago)

When I was asked to be a godparent, as far as I was concerned, I had undertaken the responsibility of the child if anything ever happened. That said I would imagine I am about 10th in line, but before the other godparents though. I would only ever ask someone to be my child's godparent if I thought they were taking it seriously & would someday be prepared to take them on (as such) if the situation arose.

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 12:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Can you be a godparent-in-law?

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 12:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Technically I don't think so, but if I had to take on my godson, my s/o would have to take on the responsibility aswell, so I guess so!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 12:15 (twenty-two years ago)

i am a godparent to my lil sister and take the role really seriously to but that is more so because she is my sister. I was also recently a best man and i loved the role - i gave my speech and was fighting really hard to hold back the tears as it was emotioonal beyond belief, i loved it.

― james (james), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 12:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I've never been a best man and probably won't, as most of my closest friends are all wishy-washy new-age-y down-with-polygamy 21st century freaks.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 13:10 (twenty-two years ago)

I'll never be a best man as I don't think anybody wants catty remarks being made about their relatives at the wedding reception :-(

― j0e (j0e), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 13:14 (twenty-two years ago)

My brother was my best man. His main task was to make sure I didn't lose my shit, but I ended up being less nervous than he was; somehow I didn't communicate/he didn't remember that the best man is supposed to toast the couple at the reception. (Still he managed to improv the best toast I've ever heard at a wedding.)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 13:17 (twenty-two years ago)

i love my godson and was honored beyond words when they asked me to be his legal guardian if anything ever happened.

of course i had a mini crisis afterwards thinking 'bout 'ok, now i have to change my lifestyle, its not just me' before realizing that they were alive and well and i could return to my regularly scheduled debauchery.

trying to post pic here, hope this works

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/bc/harefeaine/vwp?.dir=/My+Photos&.dnm=Dylan+dancing.jpg&.src=ph&.view=t&.hires=t

― H (Heruy), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 13:24 (twenty-two years ago)

grr, ok link
http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/bc/harefeaine/vwp?.dir=/My+Photos&.dnm=Dylan+dancing.jpg&.src=ph&.view=t&.hires=t

― H (Heruy), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 13:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Awwww!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 13:34 (twenty-two years ago)

I was really sweating the toast when I was to be best man for my best friend. I have had crippling stage fright in the past, but somehow I managed a relaxed toast and rather enjoyed myself actually. I kind of half-assed everything else.

― Aaron A., Wednesday, 16 July 2003 14:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Can you be a God-parent if you are not christened?

― jel -- (jel), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 15:36 (twenty-two years ago)

My uncle has been best man so many times that he has a canned best man speech.

― Ally (mlescaut), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

"I'd like to raise a toast to [Insert Your Name Here]..."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 16:16 (twenty-two years ago)

It's true though. Everyone in the family has heard it at least three times now.

― Ally (mlescaut), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

technically no but that can be ignored. it even goes beyond christening.

my godfather is catholic so according to the ethiopian orthodox church he should not have been my godfather, and vice versa my father should not have been godfather to his son (which would have prevented a rare and unique relationship known as being god-brothers)

with my god son we did no church stuff, i'm just supposed to guide him into adulthood and serve as a good example (hahaha)

ok, that link doesn't seem to be working so i'ma try to post the pic of my godson again

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/bc/harefeaine/vwp?.dir=/My+Photos&.src=ph&.dnm=Dylan+dancing.jpg&.view=t&.done=http%3a//f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/bc/harefeaine/lst%3f%26.dir=/My%2bPhotos%26.src=ph%26.view=t

― H (Heruy), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 16:21 (twenty-two years ago)

arrgh, i give up. will try link again

― H (Heruy), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 16:26 (twenty-two years ago)

I have never been a best man, and don't imagine I ever will be - not that many opportunities, past or future I think, but also I don't think there is anyone for whom I'd be their first choice. I am godparent to two people, now both well into adulthood and needing no help from the likes of me. One, living in Canada, must be about 30 now!

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 19:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I like being a godfather.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 19:49 (twenty-two years ago)

H, he's gorgeous!

― luna (luna.c), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 19:52 (twenty-two years ago)

holy crap, that's a ridiculously cute picture H.

― teeny (teeny), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 19:54 (twenty-two years ago)

I was Best Man at my father's sixth (!!!!) wedding this past January. Because of the speech I gave (which, I assure you, wasn't offensive in the slightest...ask anyone), he and I are no longer on speaking terms. True story.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 20:00 (twenty-two years ago)

dammn, what'd ya say alex?

(and thanks teeny and luna. you can tell my influence already in his fine choice of garb)

― H (Heruy), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 20:10 (twenty-two years ago)

The speech in its entirety, given during the reception after the ceremony:

"I know it's customary at this stage of the proceedings for the Best Man to get up and give a speech that is basically designed to both embarass the groom and entertain the gathered throng, but lemme tell ya....when the groom happens to be your father, the task takes on a new twist. So, despite the wealth of information I could dip into, I'm going to take the high road....not just because I happen to be classy guy, but because it's Saturday night, and I don't want to get grounded. So with that, may I ask you all to please raise your glasses to the happy couple. May their years ahead be happy."

That was it. You tell me what was offensive about it. Moreover, I don't recall anyone gasping or pulling me aside, telling me how out of line it was.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 20:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Maybe you should've said "Honor the fire!" at the end. He was possibly just disappointed.

(I'm teasing obv. sweetie, I still think that is the most ridiculous thing that happened to you)

― Ally (mlescaut), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 20:23 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm at a loss. thas very restrained in light of what best man speeches can be and i don't see anything in there to spur that kind of reaction. sorry.

― H (Heruy), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 20:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I am a godfather of two beautiful twin nephews and I was the best man at two of my dearest friends' weddings which were three moments of my life where I was.

When my sister and brother-in-law asked me to be the godfather, I was so overcome with emotion and happiness that my eyes welled up, my throat swelled, and my chest . My sister told me "We can't think of a better role model for them." [background: I have never not once in my life been happy with my accomplishments so I was confused and astonished, and as much as I love my sister and as well as I know her, I had no idea she thought this way]. I am still in disbelief to this date (they are 15 months old and are, i assure, the best kids you have ever been around).

Best Man is great fun too, you get to plan the bachelor party (my ideas were rather tame because I knew the brides-to-be too well), babysit the groom on the wedding day and make sure everything is taken care of for the wedding, and best of all, (as i explained to tracer hand), your customary duty is to pony up for the bar bill (four digits yo). but it was worth it for the great experience of being part of your best friends' special days.

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 20:32 (twenty-two years ago)

gawd, am i a hallmark card today or what? wtf is wrong with me?

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 20:32 (twenty-two years ago)

We need you to be full of hate. ;-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 21:26 (twenty-two years ago)

i just noticed i didn't finish a few sentences there, please feel free to madlib at your leisure.

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 21:28 (twenty-two years ago)

the best man has to pay the bar bill?

― teeny (teeny), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 21:37 (twenty-two years ago)

the best man has to pay the bar bill?

I didn't. Maybe that's what's buggin' him. Doubt it.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 17 July 2003 00:01 (twenty-two years ago)

i honestly thought gygax's contribution was a cut-and-paste mockery. but anyway!

― Aaron A., Thursday, 17 July 2003 00:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm the godfather of my own brother, which is odd. I haven't been christened so when the vicar asked I lied thus further stoking the theoretical private hell which awaits. The ceremony was further enlivened by my intoning the "speak along with vicar" highlighted bits of text in an overblown superhero-style voice ("With the help of GOD we will!") but more so by my three year old brother Miles, who proceeded to loudly call the vicar "a stupid man" for ten minutes without pause, his reasoning was soundly based on the incontrovertible fact that "he's wearing a dress and dresses are for girls".

― Matt (Matt), Thursday, 17 July 2003 00:17 (twenty-two years ago)

I think I like Miles a lot.

― luna (luna.c), Thursday, 17 July 2003 02:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Fashion Fascist!

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 17 July 2003 02:37 (twenty-two years ago)

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