Groom’s Distant Stepbrother ‘Demands’ to be Made Best Man Over His Best Friend

A man turns to the Reddit community for advice following a family fallout over his wedding plans.

The 24-year-old groom-to-be says he is now questioning his choice for best man after his stepbrother and stepmother confronted him about it.

The man explains that picking his best friend, “Charles,” was “a no-brainer” because his relationship with his stepbrother, “Pete,” has never been close.

“Yeah, we’re step brothers, but we never lived together,” he shares. “I used to live with my mom and he lives with my dad and step mom.”

According to him, the two never went to school together and only spent limited time together when he visited his dad. “Even then, the times he came out of his room when I was over were few and far between,” he writes. “Even in the last 6 months, I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve talked to Pete.”

In contrast, his bond with Charles is deep and long-standing. “Whereas I’ve talked to Charles pretty much every day in the last 6 months,” he writes. “I used to invite Pete to do things with me and call to chat so we could actually have a brotherly relationship but he never accepted any of my invitations or answered any of my calls so I gave up trying.”

He notes that Pete “made it clear” he didn’t want much to do with him, while Charles has been a constant presence. “Charles and I have known each other for 11 years and we used to hang out pretty much every day,” he explains. “He chose me as his best man for his wedding.”

The groom describes Charles as “like an older brother” and someone he has turned to for guidance many times. “If I’m being completely honest, I see Charles as a brother while I don’t really see Pete as a brother, or even a step brother, just the son of the woman my dad married,” he writes.

He insists he has nothing against Pete personally and that his stepbrother will still be at the wedding. “He seemed like a decent guy and he was (and still is) invited to the wedding,” he shares. “He just wasn’t in the wedding party because he’s basically a stranger.”

But tensions escalated when Pete found out about his choice for best man. “He said he was hurt that I didn’t choose him, then he demanded I make him my best man,” the groom recalls. “I apologized and said I was sticking with Charles and he messaged back, saying he wasn’t coming if he wasn’t my best man.”

Roughly 30 minutes later, his stepmother called, and the conversation quickly turned heated. “She went off on me for not choosing Pete as my best man,” he writes. “She said I should have chosen him because ‘we’re brothers.’ ”

The call ended with an ultimatum. “She ended her rant by saying she wasn’t coming if Pete wasn’t my best man, then she hung up,” he writes. Shortly after, his father texted, urging him to give in to “keep the peace.”

Now, with only two weeks until the wedding, he admits he is torn. “There’s this little voice in the back of my head that’s wondering if I should just make Pete my best man,” he writes. “AITA for choosing my best friend instead of my step brother as my best man?”

The post has sparked a wave of support for the groom’s decision to keep Charles in the role. One commenter tells him, “This is your day. Charles sounds like the BEST MAN for the job. Tell your family that you’ll miss them at the wedding, but Charles is it.”

Another points out that Pete had years to build a relationship but didn’t. “The stepbrother had many opportunities to be closer to the OP over the years and never met the OP half way,” the commenter replies. “The OP made the right choice as best man because he picked someone who he is actually close to not because they are ‘family.’”

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The groom’s story resonated with many readers who see his choice as a reflection of genuine connection over obligation. While his family pressures him to alter the lineup, his bond with Charles remains the strongest argument for his decision. “Charles and I are really close,” he adds. “I’ve been there for him when he needs me, and he’s been there for me.”

Whether or not Pete changes his mind about attending, the groom seems to know who he can count on when the big day arrives.