Need to know if I need to invite the family of my best man to wedding.

Question

I am going to get married and was told by my fiance that my best man's family needs to be invited because it is tradition. I really do not know them like that. He is not married nor has kids and he still lives with his parents, so we would be inviting his mom and dad and brothers and sisters. She explained to me that it's a way to say thank you to his family for allowing him to be part of the special day. Is this true or is it just more wedding tradition myths. Please help. His family would consist of 5 more plates!

Answer 1

I wouldn't do it.

To this day I haven't met the parents of our best man.  I've met his siblings, but not his parents.  

Don't worry about it.  If he is single, have him bring a guest/date and leave it at that.

Answer 2

Definitely not! Only invite them if they are very close to the groom.

Answer 3

As far as I know from planning my own wedding, there is no etiquette rule about his parents. The rule deals more with a spouse and children. I invited my husbands best man's family because they were like a second family to us.If you don't now them I wouldn't invite them It would likely be very awkward for everyone. Check out

http://www.emilypost.com/weddings/weddin...

for the answer from etiquette specialists. Also have your girl check it out too it might help her as well.  

Answer 4

Not if he's over 17 you don't.  

Answer 5

I have never heard of that.Is your fiance close to them if not why should they be their.

Answer 6

I think his family should be there, if your maid of honors familys there.

And when you get your final bill, 5 more plates isn't going to cost all that much. If your that cheap have hot dogs and baked beans and chips!!

Answer 7

I have never heard of that traidition. We are not inviting the Best Man's family. If your fiance's culture dictates it maybe it wouldn't hurt, it's only 5 plates, right? Maybe compromise and only invite his parents?

Good luck!

Answer 8

I've never really thought of it as tradition, but i thought it would be a polite thing to do, but it is a way thanking i guess. I just compromised, my fiancee's best man, i invited just his parents to the reception instead of the ceremony because thats so much more personal and put them on a table where i thought they'd be comfortable.

But certainly dont feel you HAVE to... At the end of the day it's YOUR day and YOUR money. I'm sure if you explained to the best man that you're not inviting his family because of money and space and he should understand... if not who cares? xxxx

Answer 9

Unless you are close to the family, I don't think it is necessary.  She may think it is a 'tradition' because people will frequently choose people they grew up with to be attendents.  And if you have spent alot of time with someone as a kid, you probably spent time at their house and got to know the whole family pretty well.  If that is not the case, I don't think there is a need to invite them to the wedding and reception.  If it is, then you would have them on the guest list anyway.

If his fiance insists, you may try to compromise and invite just his parents.  

Answer 10

No, there's no such tradition.

Invite who you want to invite.

Answer 11

If you don't know the family, or if you are trying to keep the number of guests small, you do not need to invite them. I never invited my maid of honours family to my wedding. It is different if he is married, he is not, why would you invite his perents, i am sure he will have a better time without his perents there.