Q. I have two friends who are like brothers to me, making it almost impossible to choose a best man. I'd rather just not have a best man at all, but my fiancee says we have to. Is she right?
A. Of course you can get married without a best man!
The only downside is that this might make a little extra work for you, but if you're up for it, then by all means. Tell your groomsmen from the beginning that you aren't choosing a best man, since this will give them a heads up to share some of the typical best-man duties like planning the bachelor party and picking up the tuxes.
You'll also need someone to sign the marriage certificate as a witness, whether it's a close relative or a groomsman, so ask in advance.
If your fiancee is still a bit nervous, put her at ease by choosing the same number of groomsmen (even sans best man) as her bridesmaids and maid of honor so that you don't have mismatched sides.
Here's another idea: Have two best men. There's no rule saying you have to have one, and there's certainly nothing wrong with choosing two, especially if they're both that important to you.
(Carley Roney, co-founder and editor in chief of The Knot, the nation's leading wedding resource, advises millions of brides on modern wedding etiquette at www.theknot.com.)
