We’ve all heard horror stories about the unruly or obnoxious best man.  He gives an inappropriate speech at the wedding rehearsal dinner, makes passes at all the bridesmaids, drinks too much, laughs too loud, and makes everyone generally uncomfortable.

One of the best ways to prevent this nightmare from happening at your wedding is to address it before it becomes an issue.  If you’re the bride and you’ve got concerns about how the best man will behave (or misbehave) at your wedding, ask your groom to have a talk with his friend beforehand.  Explain to your fiancé how much this day means to you, and how unhappy everyone would be to have it ruined by the slip of an inappropriate tongue.  You might want to point out that a wedding makes memories for a lifetime and since all of your relatives and closest friends will be in attendance, the both of you want those to be happy memories. 

Try to keep the conversation from turning into a personal attack on your fiance's best friend. Bear in mind that the best man is your groom’s choice and for the most part, you should respect his decision.  You may find that your other half is quick to respond with "Oh, that's just Jack, it's how he is!" However, ask that if the best man has any practical jokes to play or bawdy stories to tell, he should save them for the stag party. 

If you still have concerns, assign a couple of "chaperones" to keep an eye on him.  Choose someone who can distract him from the bar, angle him away from any unattached females, and generally keep him occupied and under control.  It might not be fun, but it's an ideal task to assign to a member of your wedding party who understands the situation and is happy to help make your day run as seamlessly as possible.

If the horse has already left the barn, that is, if the event is already in full swing and the best man is acting up, solicit help from the other groomsmen, a favorite uncle, or some other even-tempered male in the wedding party.  Ask them to either gently interrupt the embarrassing story by telling a funny one, or to find some other way to distract the troublemaker.  You might also cue the band or DJ to start the music which will prevent guests from hearing him.  If possible, have someone find a fairly discreet way to escort him to a quiet corner or another room and advise him that it would not be best for him to cause distress for the otherwise happy couple.   

Most importantly, remember that your wedding is several hours long and the best man is only center stage for a few minutes.  If you don’t make a big deal out of it, chances are your guests won’t either.  More than likely, they will shake their heads at the bad behavior and once the attention is off of him, they will continue to enjoy your beautiful wedding.