The opposite of bridesmaid is a groomsman.
A groomsman is first someone who is important to the groom, and whom the groom wants to be a visible part of his wedding. He may be a close friend, brother, cousin or father. These days, he may even be a she; more men are asking female friends to be part of their attendants (although they are usually called honor attendants, rather than groomsmen, and can wear a dress rather than a tux).
But a groomsman does more than stand around and looks pretty. He also serves as advisor to the groom beforehand, helps the groom be organized, aids with any wedding planning details he can, and helps seat guests at the wedding.
While a groom will want to have his best buddies and the men in his life that means the most to him, he should also make sure that he has a group that is responsible enough to handle their duties, or at least one person willing to pick up the slack for the others.
There's more to being a groomsman than just showing up in a tux. Here's the rundown of the duties shared by Theknot.com.
Tip! Unattended at the moment? Find out who’s who and what they do with this wedding party cheat sheet at Theknot.com.