As a woman, this writer can only imagine the feeling you'd get when asked to be someone's best man. Best. Man. What an absolutely baller title. You're the best! Better than everyone else at the wedding! Or, OK, at least every other man at the wedding. You'd spend the whole day on a superiority high, surely. In contrast "bridesmaid" or even "maid of honour" implies a pretty weird level of servitude. Sure, you're there to attend to the bride but then why not just be a bridal attendant? Or brideswoman? Or best woman, if you're feeling particularly bold? Pop culture has trained us to think of bridesmaids as resentful of their roles and jealous of bridal attention, so whether that's true or not it's an unfortunate image to be carrying around. The whole "women stick with women and men stick with men" thing feels pretty old-fashioned anyway in an age with increased marriage equalities and unconventional weddings. Why not change up the terms and leave everyone feeling empowered to have a good time rather than feeling like they might spend their evening mopping up spills? Or do away with the terms entirely and just call everyone in the wedding party "those matching ones up front"? Everyone will know who you mean.
Brydie is an Australian writer and performer living in London and she complains exactly the same amount about the weather as every other Australian living in London. Yes, that is her natural lip colour, no, she will not be taking any further questions at this time.
