My 'best friend' duties now apparently include secretly bankrolling another groomsman.
By @karaagain · Friends
My best friend is getting married, and he just asked me (the best man) to cover another groomsman's entire share of the bachelor party because the guy can't afford it. Oh, and I'm not allowed to tell anyone, especially not the other guys who are chipping in.
The full story
So my best friend, let's call him the Groom, is getting married. I'm the best man, which so far has mostly meant nodding along to terrible wedding color schemes. But now we're in the thick of planning the bachelor party. The destination of choice? Vegas, obviously. Because nothing says 'lifelong commitment' like losing $500 on a Tuesday. The budget is already getting a little insane, but everyone agreed to it. Or so I thought. Yesterday, the groom pulls me aside and tells me one of the other groomsmen lost his job a month ago and is completely broke. He's too embarrassed to back out of the trip, so the groom's brilliant solution is for *me* to just... cover his share. We're talking over a grand for flights, hotel, everything. The groom says he'd do it himself but wedding costs are wiping him out. His ask is that I just pay the extra amount without saying a word, so the other friend doesn't feel weird and the other groomsmen don't get mad that someone is getting a free ride. So I'm supposed to lie to my friends and secretly subsidize this guy's Vegas vacation? Part of me gets it, trying to look out for his friend. But the other, more rational part of me is wondering when being a best man started requiring a covert financial aid application.
How people voted
- OP Is Right — 26% (100 votes)
- Both Messy — 43% (164 votes)
- OP Is Wrong — 31% (118 votes)
Readers say “Both Messy” (43%) — 382 votes and 7 comments so far.
What people are saying
@remywelp — This happened with my cousin's wedding. The maid of honor paid for another bridesmaid's flight and it got so awkward when everyone found out.
@nicomaybe — lol if you pay for it i hope the guy at least wins big and gives you a cut
@reeselol — Why doesn't the groom just have an honest conversation with everyone and scale the trip back?
@willakindof — Very cool to be given a secret thousand-dollar problem to solve.
@remyhm — That's literally the job of the best man. You solve the problems. You're supposed to be his most trusted guy, so act like it.
@remywelp — What a terrible position to put you in. Your friend has good intentions for the other guy, but he's being a bad friend to you by asking this.
@danaactually — So wait, the groom is broke but picked an expensive Vegas trip for everyone?
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