Best Man Faints During Wedding Ceremony as Officiant Keeps Going
Best Man Faints During Wedding Ceremony as Officiant Keeps Going
Ashlyn RobinetteTue, June 2, 2026 at 7:48 PM UTC
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Drayton Williams; Drayton Williams (center) with groom and groomsman
Credit: Newsflare (2)
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Drayton Williams fainted during his best friend's wedding ceremony on May 24 in Austin, Texas, after locking his knees
The officiant continued the ceremony despite the incident, which went viral on TikTok with more than 6 million views
Williams recovered quickly, gave a speech at the reception, and says the couple laughed to help ease his embarrassment
A wedding took an unexpected turn when the best man passed out.
Drayton Williams, 28, momentarily stole the spotlight at his best friend's wedding ceremony in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, May 24, when he suddenly collapsed.
About 10 minutes into the outdoor ceremony, Williams abruptly fell onto the ground. The shocking sight and loud thud of Williams' body took everyone by surprise. As guests gasped, the groom and another groomsman rushed to Williams' aid and helped him back up.
"I had locked my knees," Williams told Newsflare. "That mixed with being nervous made me feel a bit dizzy, but I just thought it was the nerves in general, not that I was going to pass out. All that said, next thing I know, I was getting picked up by my friends and trying to stand upright after losing consciousness for a split second."
Locking the knees while standing straight can cause vasovagal syncope, a common type of fainting in which blood pressure and heart rate suddenly drop, because blood may pool in the legs and reduce blood flow to the brain, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Despite Williams temporarily losing consciousness, the officiant didn't let the medical episode interrupt the ceremony. He quickly glanced at the commotion, then continued his speech as if nothing had happened.
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Drayton Williams passes out during wedding
Credit: Newsflare
When Williams posted footage of himself passing out a few days after the wedding, the clip went viral with more than 6 million views on TikTok. Many users commented that the officiant's unbothered reaction was the funniest part. "Schedule must’ve been real tight😭😭😭😭," one person joked, with someone else writing, "The definition of the show must go on."
Of the bride and groom's reaction, Williams tells PEOPLE, "They genuinely laughed because I was just embarrassed and they wanted to make me feel better."
After the ceremony, Williams nourished himself with food and water. With just a "stiff neck," he was good to go, and gave a speech at the reception half an hour later.
Drayton Williams passes out during wedding
Credit: Newsflare
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Williams tells PEOPLE that he never expected to go viral and that the past week has been a "whirlwind."
"I thought the video would get like 10,000 views tops, but everyone has an opinion on it, so I think it’s catching traction based off comments alone. I genuinely think everyone can give the officiant a break now though. It was hot, and all of us wanted to get through the wedding," he says, adding with a laugh, "Clearly I did."
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
