(Image: Blend Images)The practice dates back to the 16th Century, and has very dark roots
If you've ever been to a wedding, you may have noticed the groom normally stands on the right and the bride on the left.
Understandably, most people just dismiss this as one of those little quirky traditions that don't really mean anything...
However, as it turns out there was a very specific reason this tradition came into practice - and it's not in the slightest bit romantic.
The tradition dates back to the 16th century and a very alarming practice called "marriage by capture" - which is how it sounds... basically kidnapping.
In those days men would sometimes actually KIDNAP a woman to make her his bride. Which understandably caused major uproars in lots of scenarios.
So what does standing on the left or right have to do with this?
Well, given the majority of the population is right handed, the groom would need to have his right arm free to grab his sword and defend himself should the bride's family or a rival suitor came charging into the church to save the bride.
It's also thought the role of the best man was to essentially 'stand guard' and look out for trouble makers, according to History Wedding.
A little darker than the modern role organising of stag do's and funny speeches the best man is given now... Crazy stuff!
