I'm looking for some advice. A good friend of mine has asked me to be his Best Man at his wedding in Warsaw. He is English, and the bride is Polish. I believe the wedding will be quite traditional, and by the sounds of it, very formal and lavish.
I haven't really been given any indication of what the Best Man's role at a Polish wedding is. In the UK, I would be expected to organise a Stag Night, look after the rings, be a witness, and most importantly, give the much anticipated "Best Man's Speech" at the Reception.
How much of this is expected in Poland? Are there other obligations that I need to fulfill?
As a proud Scot, I will be in full Highland dress - kilt and so on.
Please give me some advice on what is expected of a Best Man at a Polish wedding - anything, no matter how small, will be gratefully recieved. Are there people on here who could maybe help me out with a translation, if I need to prepare a speech?
I've been warned to watch out for the girls determined to find out if anything is worn under the kilt..... I can assure them, there's nothing worn: it's all in perfect working order ;-)
Seriously, my wife says they'll need to climb over her first to get to me!
I've never been a 'best man', but I think there's not much difference there in Poland. You need to take a crash course of Polish to give your speech, though :)
LOL - i drove to a friends wedding in a kilt one summer when an unwelcome stripy visitor decided to fly up it. Fearing for my manhood and momentarily distracted i took my eyes off the road and went straight into the car in front. Man in front jumped out of car looking irate. I jumped out of car flapping kilt furiously. Man in front got quickly back in car.
OK, so it seems I don't have to do the "Big Speech" like in UK. However, I'd like to have a couple of good traditional Polish "toasts" under my belt. Can anyone give me a few good toasts to the bride / groom / anyone else that I can use? (Translations into English would be appreciated!)
I do hope nobody tells me any bad stuff, like in Monty Python's "Hungarian Phrase Book" sketch! Please?
Thanks
Nobody got any toasts, then, or is just a case of throwing vodka down your neck, no matter what?!?!
There is a word that I've heard (in, I believe, the second person singular informal imperative) that is quite vulgar, with the meaning 'eat!' or 'drink!'. I won't tell you what it is in case it's the only word anyone gives you. I think I could even put it in the plural probably, but don't encourage me please.
well i have been to Polish wedding and the best man, done nothing actually, i was very surprised, no looking after rings, no speech, no toasts... i actually wondered what he was needed for at all..
Good Luck / cheers = Na Zdrowie!!! then down a neat vodka shot and make sure to maintain your composure afterwards.
The role of the "starszy drużba" (best man) incldues organising a stag night, assiting at the ceremony, providing the wedding rings and in general helping to coordinate thigns and assist teh bridal couple in whatever way required.
At teh wedding banquet venue, following the bread & salt welcome, after all the wedding guests have been seated adn grace (optional) has been said, the best man rises, glass in hand, to propose a toast, which might run something along these lines:
„Zgodnie z tradycją, jako starszy drużba przypada mi w udziale miły obowiązek wzniesienia toastu za zdrowie i pomyślność Państwa Młodych. Myślę, że wszyscy tu obecni chętnie dołączą się do tych życzeń. Powstańmy wszyscy i życzmy miłej Ani i jej oblubieńcowi Bartkowi, aby żyli długo i szczęśliwie w miłości i zgodzie małżeńskiej, wspierali się w trudnych chwilach i doczekali się licznego, zdrowego potomstwa. Niech dobry Pan Bóg ich pobłogosławi, obroni przed nieszczściami i obdarzy obfitymi łaskami na nowej drodze życia. Za Młodą Parę!”
(Translation: „According to traditon, as best man it is my most pleasant duty to propose a toast to the health and happiness of the Bride and Groom. Let us therefore all rise and wish lovely Ania and her beloved Bartek a long and happy life together in love and marital harmony. May they support one another through difficult times and bring forth many, healthy offspring. May the Good Lord bless them, protect them from misfortune and shower them with His bountiful grace along their road through life. To the Newly-Weds, Ania and Bartek!”)
Depending on whether the best man was a school mate of the groom, brought the couple together or has other relevant insights into their early days, he may expand the toast to include such reminiscing and various humorous touches. A bit later, he may also propose toasts at intervals to the parents of the bride and groom, their godparents and other venerable guests.
