Grooms pick their wedding attendants - that's easy enough. But what if the groom wants to pick a best man or a groomsman that's...well...a woman? (gasp!) Here's how to have a "Best Woman" and "Groomswoman."

There was a time when the best man and groomsmen were men. Stout fellows who would just as soon raise a barn as throw a party. Over the years, the mojo of this band of brothers has been pared progressively to make room for the bridal touches of a modern wedding. But at least you could always count on one thing: groomsmen were guys.

That time has passed. Today female groomsmen are becoming more and more commonplace, and a funny thing has resulted: the earth has continued to turn. If you're one of the many thousands of grooms who want to bring a female into the fold on your special day, you may be heartened to learn this no longer represents a radical choice. Still, you'll want to read on for a primer on coed groomsmen etiquette.

The reaction of the bride

Unless you live on Mars, you may anticipate some issues with your bride. These can range form simple concerns about photographic symmetry to deep-seated hatred if the lady in question happens to be an ex. (Of course, you're not going to ask an ex.) Chances are, you're probably thinking of an old friend (ideally of the nonthreatening variety ) or your sister. Your bride may have a de facto veto.

What about dresses?

When it comes to groomswomen, there are two options with respect to what she'll wear. She'll either match the bridal party or attempt to fit in with the groomsmen. As the rest of the groomsmen are likely to be wearing tuxedos, a black dress may be the right option (even though it is a bit, well...dark). That said, GroomGroove.com suggests matching the groomsmen as she's your groomswoman, and not to be confused with a member of the bridal party.

If your bride can think of a fellow to fill out her side, all the better. That will make walking down the aisle much easier. It may be awkward to have a bridesmaid linking arms with a groomswoman. Or not.

They're your wedding attendants

Your wedding party should be made up of your favorite people in the world - all the friends who got you to this point. If one of them happens to be a female and your bride likes her style, you should have no compunctions about bringing a coed to the altar. Just make sure you give her a present that is gender-appropriate. And not just what the bridesmaids are getting!

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