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Being asked to be someone’s best man is one of those phone calls (or these days, WhatsApp messages) you’ll never forget. It’s an honour, a responsibility, and let’s be honest, a little bit of pressure too.
Whether you’re the groom’s brother, his best mate, or a lifelong partner-in-crime, this role isn’t just about showing up in a fancy suit and giving a toast. You’re the groom’s right-hand man from the months leading up to the big day until the last dance at the reception.
So, what exactly does the job involve — and more importantly how do you get it right? If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t panic just yet, we’ve put together a great guide to help you. Let’s break it down:
Who Really Is the Best Man?
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Traditionally, the best man is the groom’s closest male confidant — often a brother or best friend. But times have changed. Some grooms appoint a sister, cousin, or even their father. In those cases, the role might be referred to as “best person.”
What hasn’t changed is the significance of the role. You’re there to guide, support, and sometimes rescue the groom when nerves, logistics, or unexpected hiccups appear.
In South Africa and many other places, the best man has also become something of a cultural figure — the one who rallies the groomsmen, plans the bachelor party, and makes sure the groom doesn’t arrive at the altar with mismatched socks (usually).
Pre-Wedding Duties That Matter:
Let’s get into the pre-wedding duties that require some of your attention:
Organize the Bachelor Party
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This is the part most people think of first, and yes, it’s on you. But don’t make it about what you want — consult the groom. Some gents may want a big night out, while others prefer a weekend golf trip. Others want a relaxed braai whilst the rugby or football is on with their closest friends.
Your job is to plan, coordinate, and make the bachelor party as memorable as possible without making it stressful. Don’t overthink it.
Suit Up and Show Up
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Helping the groom choose his attire — and making sure every groomsman has their suit fitted and ready — is a very important part of your role. In some cases, you might even be the one running around collecting cufflinks, ties, or emergency items on the morning of the wedding.
Lead the Groomsmen Gift Effort
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It’s common for groomsmen to give the groom a thoughtful gift. The best man usually collects contributions and makes the purchase. Whether it’s a vintage bottle of whisky or a personalized keepsake, it might seem like a small gesture but could really mean a lot to the groom.
Be the Emotional Anchor
Weddings aren’t just logistics. They’re emotional, sometimes stressful, and often overwhelming for everyone involved. One of your most important roles as the best man is simply listening to the groom, offering reassurance, and reminding him that everything is going to be fine.
The Big Day: Your Time to Shine:
Here’s what your role entails on the big day:
Keep the Day on Schedule
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You’re the unofficial timekeeper. From getting the groomsmen dressed to making sure everyone gets to the ceremony on time, the groom will rely on you to keep things running smoothly, so try not to let him down.
Guard the Rings
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This might be the most nerve-wracking responsibility: guarding the rings. And you – yes you, will hold onto them until the big moment arrives and the couple say “I do”. No pressure at all.
Witness the Marriage
Most couples need two witnesses to officiate their marriage, and the best man is usually one of them. Bring a pen, just in case.
Deliver the Toast
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This is where you’ll stand in front of everyone and tell stories, crack a few jokes, and most importantly, celebrate the couple. Your speech will need to balance humor with heartfelt sincerity. Whilst you may want to put a lot of emphasis on how wonderful your mate is, don’t forget to say something nice about the bride too.
Keep the Party Alive
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From hitting the dance floor early to making sure the reception flows, the best man often acts as the groom’s social wingman. You might even need to step in as emcee if things go sideways — a little charm and humor go a long way in keeping things lively on the couple’s big day.
Handle the Details
Whether it’s collecting gifts, handing out vendor tips, or decorating the getaway car, you and the maid of honour will be the ones tying up loose ends so the couple can focus on enjoying their night. So try to work alongside her and not annoy her.
Why the Best Man Matters
In many cultures, the best man is more than just a role. He represents loyalty, friendship, and brotherhood. In South Africa, for instance, it’s not uncommon for best men to weave cultural traditions into their duties, whether that’s including family elders in the bachelor party plans or ensuring speeches are given in more than one language.
Social media is filled with clips of emotional best man speeches, hilarious bachelor party adventures, and touching moments where the groom’s nerves are calmed by his closest friend. It’s proof that this role carries weight, both on the wedding day and in the years of friendship leading up to it.
Are You Ready to Step Up?
If you’ve been chosen as best man, remember: you’re not just a supporting character. You’re a cornerstone of the wedding experience. From planning to partying, from calming nerves to delivering speeches, your presence shapes the groom’s journey into married life.
Do it with care, do it with humor, and do it with heart, and do it with love. Because, being a best man isn’t just a job, it’s a privilege.
Source: Pinterest There’s a moment every bride-to-be has—standing in front of the mirror with her dress hanging nearby, thinking, “Am I ready?” It’s not just about how the…
Planning your wedding in South Africa this year? Selecting the right beverages is crucial to complement your celebration. From elegant wines to refreshing cocktails, here’s a guide to help you choose the perfect drinks for your 2025 wedding.
Sparkling Wines: Cap Classique Leading the Way
Cap Classique, South Africa’s answer to Champagne, has seen a resurgence in popularity. Produced using the traditional méthode champenoise, these sparkling wines offer vibrant acidity and rich fruitiness. Notable producers include Graham Beck, Pieter Ferreira, and Krone, offering a range of styles from brut to rosé. Their affordability and quality make them a top choice for wedding toasts.
White Wines: Fresh and Food-Friendly Selections
For white wine enthusiasts, consider these popular South African varieties:
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Chenin Blanc: Known for its versatility and food-pairing potential, offering flavors from crisp and dry to rich and honeyed.
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Sauvignon Blanc: Offers zesty acidity with notes of citrus and tropical fruits, perfect for warm-weather weddings.
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Chardonnay: From un-oaked styles with fresh fruit notes to oaked versions with buttery textures, catering to diverse palates.
These wines are widely available and pair well with a variety of dishes, making them ideal for wedding receptions.
Red Wines: Bold Choices for Evening Celebrations
Red wines can add depth to your wedding’s drink offerings:
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Pinotage: A uniquely South African variety, offering flavors ranging from smoky to fruity.
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Cabernet Sauvignon: Full-bodied with dark fruit flavors, suitable for evening receptions.
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Cinsault: Emerging as a standout, known for its juiciness and light body, making it a versatile option for various dishes.
Signature Cocktails: Personalize Your Celebration
Adding a signature cocktail can give your wedding a unique touch:
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Safari Sunset Sipper: A vibrant cocktail featuring Amarula, rooibos tea, marula fruit-infused vodka, and lime juice, capturing the essence of South Africa’s landscape.
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Lavender Love Martini: A floral gin-based cocktail with lavender-infused syrup and lemon juice, offering an elegant touch to your celebration.
Collaborate with local mixologists to create a drink that reflects your personal style and wedding theme.
Non-Alcoholic Options: Inclusive and Refreshing
Ensure all guests are catered for with these non-alcoholic beverages:
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Virgin Mojitos: A refreshing mix of mint, lime, and soda water.
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Fruit Punches: A blend of tropical fruits, offering a sweet and tangy flavor.
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Iced Teas: Flavored with herbs or fruits, providing a cool and refreshing option.
These drinks can be served alongside alcoholic options, ensuring inclusivity for all guests.
Tips for Serving Wines and Drinks at Your Wedding
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Pre-Wedding Tasting: Organize a tasting session to select wines that match your menu and personal preferences.
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Chill Wines Appropriately: Serve white wines and sparkling wines chilled, while red wines should be at room temperature.
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Professional Service: Hire experienced bartenders and sommeliers to ensure proper service and presentation of drinks.
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Themed Drink Stations: Consider setting up themed drink stations, such as a Cap Classique bar or a cocktail mixing station, to enhance guest experience.
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Celebrating an anniversary is a special occasion that deserves a meaningful gift. In South Africa, couples in 2025 have a plethora of options to choose from, ranging from…
Featured Image Source: Globe Soccer on X
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez are officially engaged after nearly a decade together, but the news of their romance milestone has quickly been overshadowed by rumours of a prenuptial agreement. With Ronaldo’s $671 million fortune and Georgina’s rise as a global influencer, the reported contract has set social media abuzz.
A Fairytale Engagement with Business Like Undertones
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On August 11, 2025, Georgina confirmed their engagement on Instagram, showing off a diamond sparkler worth an estimated $5 million. Her caption, “Yes I do. In this and in all my lives,” had fans swooning. But behind the romance lies practical planning.
Portuguese magazine TV GUIA claims a prenup has been in place since 2017, shortly after the birth of their daughter Alana Martina. According to reports, the agreement ensures Georgina would receive over $114,000 every month for life if the couple ever part ways. She would also reportedly retain ownership of Ronaldo’s Madrid mansion in La Finca, valued at more than $5.6 million.
Why a Prenup Makes Sense for Ronaldo
For Ronaldo, now the highest-paid athlete in the world thanks to his $230 million Al-Nassr contract and lucrative endorsements, such measures aren’t unusual. High-profile athletes and celebrities often take a “business-like” approach to their personal lives to protect vast fortunes while ensuring their partners and children are secure.
This alleged prenup reflects a balance: Ronaldo safeguards his empire, while Georgina is guaranteed stability as the mother of two of his children and stepmother to his three others.
Fans React: Romance or Calculation?
Reactions online have been split. Some fans argue that a prenup is a necessary step given Ronaldo’s global profile, calling it a “smart move” to avoid messy financial battles later. Others, however, see it as a reminder of the transactional side of celebrity relationships, with one X (formerly Twitter) user writing, “Five million ring, million-dollar prenup — feels more like a contract than love.”
Still, many supporters highlight that the couple has weathered nearly ten years together, far longer than most high-profile romances. For them, the prenup doesn’t cheapen the love story but shows the pair are grounded enough to handle the realities of their lifestyle.
A Modern Love Story with Old School Caution
Whether or not the full details of the prenup are true, one fact remains: Ronaldo and Georgina have built a life that blends romance, family, and empire. Their decision — if confirmed — speaks to a cultural shift where even the most glamorous couples acknowledge that love and law often go hand in hand.
For Ronaldo fans, the engagement is a fairytale moment. For Georgina’s followers, it’s another chapter in her remarkable journey from shop assistant to global icon. For both, it’s proof that love stories in the age of billion-dollar fortunes look a little different, but can still be just as real.
When planning your wedding in South Africa, one of the key decisions is whether to buy or hire suits for the groom and groomsmen. Both options have their…
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Weddings in 2025 Are Getting More Personal
The modern wedding is no longer about following a checklist of traditions. In 2025, couples are throwing out the rulebook and rewriting what it means to celebrate love. Across the globe, including here in South Africa, weddings are becoming smaller in size but bigger in personality. Instead of being dictated too and trying to please everyone, couples are curating experiences that tell their own story. Through culture, design, food, and fashion.
Couples want their guests to feel immersed in their world, whether that means sipping cocktails under a canopy of flowers, sharing a locally inspired feast, or dancing barefoot under the stars.
Here’s a list of wedding trends in 2025 that couples have embraced, and some that you might want consider implementing at your wedding:
1. Food as Priority Number One
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Food has moved from an afterthought to the headline act. Traditional three-course dinners are being replaced by interactive stations, grazing tables and roaming chefs. Couples are weaving in family recipes, cultural favourites and locally sourced seasonal dishes to reflect their story. Beyond taste, food is becoming an experience—something that engages guests while telling a bigger story of who the couple are.
2. Reduced Guest Counts
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After years of massive guest lists, couples in 2025 are keeping it small again. Fewer invitations means a bigger budget to focus on creating meaningful moments, from personalised welcome bags to multi-day celebrations.
Wedding weekends are thriving, with couples hosting pre- and post-wedding events that allow for extra quality time with their nearest and dearest. Smaller guest counts don’t mean less celebration—it means richer experiences and more thoughtful details.
3. Floor-to-Ceiling Décor
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Décor is going big—literally. This year, ceilings and floors have been transformed into dramatic design features. Couples are asking florists and planners to fill every corner with creativity. From floor to ceiling drapery, to bold colour palettes to lush floral aisles. Expect immersive spaces where blooms, textures and unexpected elements (think fruit and candlelight) create a feast for the senses.
4. Tradition-Free Weddings
The bouquet toss, the cake cutting, the formal speeches—these are no longer compulsory. Couples are rewriting rituals, choosing what feels authentic and discarding the rest. That might mean getting ready together, combining parent dances into one, or hosting speeches at the rehearsal dinner instead of the reception. Weddings in 2025 are about authenticity, not obligation.
5.Gen Z Spotlight: Court Wedding Ceremonies
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Gen Z couples are redefining the courthouse wedding. No longer just a quick signing of papers, court ceremonies are now curated and stylish. Searches for civil ceremony photography, chic courthouse wedding dresses and court wedding outfits are on the rise, showing that this generation is turning intimate ceremonies into highly aesthetic celebrations.
6. Nature-Inspired/ Soft Glam Make Up Looks
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Bridal beauty is embracing natural radiance. Searches for no-makeup looks, soft-glam bridal make up, glowing skin and groom makeup are rising. Brides are also turning to florals and natural textures for added authenticity and ethereal edge to their hairstyles.
Whimsical nail art completes the look, proving that bridal beauty in 2025 is about enhancing what’s already there with romantic, nature-inspired touches.
7. Gen Z Ring Revival
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Engagement rings are moving away from the standard solitaire. Gen Z couples are choosing vintage silhouettes, coloured stones and playful stacks of mixed metals. Pink, chocolate brown and champagne diamonds are trending, showing that this generation wants individuality and artistry on their fingers.
8. Nostalgic Wedding Looks
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Fashion is looking back to move forward. Brides are falling in love with 1990s silhouettes, couture-inspired designs and vintage Vera Wang gowns. Grooms are stepping out in bold burgundy, champagne and forest green suits. Gender-neutral styles like jumpsuits and tailored pantsuits are also becoming mainstream, proving that nostalgia and modernity can coexist on the aisle.
9. Silver Screen Photography
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Photography has become one of the most important elements of weddings in 2025. Couples are seeking out editorial, documentary and film-style photography to capture magazine-worthy moments. Many are also bringing in wedding content creators who provide social-ready content alongside the professional photographers, ensuring memories are shared in real time.
10. Coastal Continental Getaways
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When it comes to honeymoons, couples are turning to Africa’s coastal gems. Cape Town offers culture and natural beauty, while Zanzibar and the Seychelles promise postcard-perfect beaches. These destinations allow newlyweds to balance luxury with adventure—whether that’s wine tasting in the Cape Winelands or diving into the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean.
11. Tropical Destination Weddings
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Beyond honeymoons, destination weddings themselves are trending in tropical hotspots like Bali, Costa Rica, Brazil and Goa. Couples are leaning into laid-back elegance, bold palettes and scenic backdrops that make the entire celebration feel like a holiday for everyone involved.
12. Minimalism with a Twist
Minimalism hasn’t disappeared. No, far from it… It’s just evolved. “Luxe minimalism” is the phrase of the year, blending opulence with simplicity. Couples are investing in fewer but higher-quality details: a single dramatic floral arrangement, carefully chosen materials and intentional design. It’s about quiet elegance rather than excess.
13. Artistic Arrangements
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Florists are taking creativity to the next level. Bouquets and centerpieces are becoming art installations, mixing unexpected materials and sculptural shapes. Candlelight, fruit, vegetables and bold colours are all finding their way into arrangements. Couples are choosing statement floral art that feels personal, modern and theatrical.
14. Embracing Your Culture
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While this is not entirely new in South Africa, more than ever, couples are weaving their cultural roots into their big day. From traditional attire to rituals, music and cuisine, multicultural weddings are embracing heritage in ways that feel modern and celebratory. For South African couples especially, this means weddings that highlight our diverse traditions while creating something fresh and contemporary.
15. Wedding Content Creators
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The rise of TikTok and Instagram has made real-time storytelling part of weddings. Couples are hiring wedding content creators to capture candid, unedited footage alongside the photographer and videographer. It’s a trend that blends memory-making with social media sharing, making sure every laugh, tear and dance move is caught.
16. Cinematic Wedding Films
Wedding films are no longer just a recap—they’re cinematic love stories. Videographers are crafting documentary-style films that capture not just the big moments, but the small, intimate ones that reflect the couple’s personalities. It’s about telling the story of the day in a way that feels timeless and emotional.
17. Candid Captures
Photography is moving toward fluid, in-between moments. Couples are less concerned about staged portraits and more interested in images that capture emotion, atmosphere and connection. It’s about documenting the entire environment of the day, from the décor to the guests, with authenticity.
18. Aesthetic Food Experiences
Food design is going artistic. Expect roaming oyster shuckers, pasta bars, gourmet grazing tables and even caviar shots. Couples are blending fine dining with theatrical presentation, making the meal an interactive and memorable part of the day.
19. Artistic Cakes
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Wedding cakes are becoming real works of art. Forget the traditional 3 Multi-tiered designs, piped flowers and extravagant fondant finishes are all trending in 2025. The cake is no longer just dessert—it’s a centrepiece of the reception.
20. Bold Colours
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Muted tones are taking a step back as bold shades come alive. Couples are embracing red, orange, green and yellow across stationery, décor and fashion. Colourful invitations and place cards are setting the tone from the very beginning, creating celebrations that feel vibrant and joyful.
21. Pre-Loved Bridal
Sustainability and individuality are driving brides toward pre-loved and vintage fashion. Unique, one-of-a-kind pieces not only reduce waste but also add character. Vintage accessories and gowns are bringing back timeless glamour while keeping the bridal look personal and fresh.
22. Bold Groom Suits
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Grooms are stepping out of the shadows of the classic black tux. Expect daring suits in champagne, burgundy and forest green, paired with fun accessories and unconventional silhouettes. The message is clear: if brides can go bold, so can grooms.
23. Minimalist Hair
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Bridal hair is embracing clean, sleek styles. Ballet buns, low ponytails and smooth blow-dries remain favourites, offering elegance with minimal fuss. Sculptural twists are being introduced for brides who want a modern edge while keeping things polished.
24. Slow Stationery
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Stationery is slowing down and becoming more sustainable. Couples are choosing eco-friendly designs with calligraphy, handmade textures and timeless layouts instead of single-use plastics and wasteful materials. It’s stationery that’s both beautiful and kind to the planet.
The Big Picture: Weddings That Truly Belong to You
Weddings in 2025 are about freedom, creativity and authenticity. Couples are creating celebrations that reflect their love stories while embracing culture, sustainability and artistry. In South Africa and around the world, this year’s weddings are intimate, immersive and unforgettable—designed not to follow tradition, but to honour love in its truest form.