what to put in a best man speech uk

How To Write A Killer Best Man Speech (With Templates)

A funny, heartfelt speech from the best man is one of the most memorable parts of a wedding. Here’s how to give a great toast (without embarrassing yourself).

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A best man speech is the perfect way to send your brother or friend the best wishes in their marriage, but standing up in front of the crowd can be super nerve-wracking. If you’ve been invited to be the best man at a wedding but have no idea what to say in your speech, you’re not alone! 

Over 75% of the population cites public speaking as one of their biggest fears. Thankfully, it’s a people skill that anyone can develop. A great event toast can be a game-changer and make you feel like a celebrity amongst the wedding guests. 

Watch our video to learn the best (and worst) speech openers:

Here’s how to overcome your public speaking anxiety and give a knockout best man speech that will incite laughter, smiles, or even sentimental tears. 

Quick Answer: How to Write a Best Man Speech Fast (with Template!)

A killer best man toast has a formula:

• Start with a funny or complimentary introduction
• Lead into a short story
• Add a dash of vulnerability
• End with genuine congratulations to the bride and groom. 

You won’t want to wing the speech after you’ve had a few drinks when you feel strapped for time before the wedding. Instead, take just 30 minutes of planning and note-making to save you (and the bride & groom) the embarrassment of an excessively long or inappropriate ramble. 

If you want to write a best man speech fast, follow this brief template for a great toast. Your toast should be roughly 3 to 5 minutes long. You can use numbered index cards to jot down the highlights of each section. Then, rehearse a few times in the mirror in the days leading up to the event. 

The most straightforward speech outline includes seven main components: 

• A great one-liner : This could be a funny joke, a compliment, or an inspirational quote about brotherhood or marriage. The first 15 seconds of the toast should capture the audience’s attention and leave them excited for more. Modify this:

“I’d like to begin by congratulating the groom for his superb taste in choosing the best man [chuckle].” 

• Compliment the wedding : Build your respect with the guests by highlighting things you like about the wedding. For example, you can compliment the beauty of the venue, the delicious food, or the great choice of music. Modify this:

“All jokes aside, this is a beautiful wedding. The bride and groom look like a movie star couple together. And if you didn’t taste the cake, you are missing out!” 

• Express gratitude : Say “thank you” to those who made the wedding possible and show appreciation to the groom for choosing you as his best man. Modify this:

“I am so grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Zimerman for hosting us here today, and thank you to the bride and groom for inviting me to be part of their special day.” 

• Tell a story : Did you and the groom meet as kids on the baseball field? Were you there when he first met his bride? Did you share a funny experience in college that is appropriate to share? The “meat” of the speech will be a short story about your relationship with the groom. A great story sounds like this:

 “When I first met Jeff, he was in a period of transition in life, like we all go through. He had just started a new job at my office in San Francisco, and we met because of our mutual addiction to double shot espressos (iced with a little cream) at 6 AM every morning from the corner coffee shop Bob’s Cup O’ Joe. When we both arrived at the office at the same time, 3 days in a row with eyes like this [widen eyes big], I knew we would be friends for life. A million espressos, meetings, and after-work beers later, I am so proud to call Jeff my best friend. When he told me about meeting a beautiful blonde named Anne at Bob’s Cup O’ Joe a few years later, I knew something would become of it. She even drank the same double shot espressos, iced with a little cream!”  

• Admire the couple : Strengthen your bond with the newlyweds by expressing your support for their marriage. If you know a bit about the bride and groom’s relationship, list a few things you admire about their bond. You may emphasize how the bride has positively impacted the groom’s life or how they make a great team. 

“Jeff and Anne are a perfect pair, and it seriously warms my heart to see a couple so amazingly in love. They compliment each other in every way and radiate joy when they are together.” 

• Summarize your thoughts : Before you wrap up your speech, go back and highlight your key ideas. You can pre-write 2-3 crisp sentences summarizing your support of the couple’s marriage. Modify this:

“I wish I could say I predicted this day would come, but Jeff’s incredible character and charm won Anne over. I am so grateful to be friends with both of them and to join you all in this celebration.” 

• Toast to the future : At the end of your speech, raise your glass for a toast to the couple’s love. Modify this: 

“Please join me in raising our glasses to a lifetime of happiness and espressos for Jeff and Anne Allison!” 

Here is an awesome example of a short and sweet 4-minute toast that left the crowd cracking up:

It’s best to memorize your speech, but there is no shame in bringing a few index cards in your pocket to reference if you get nervous. Don’t forget to prepare and rehearse in advance. 

For a more in-depth speech, see our step-by-step guide below. 

What to Say in a Best Man Speech (Do’s and Don’ts)

A best man’s speech traditionally takes place at the wedding reception after the maid of honor gives her speech. The best man’s speech should be positive, respectful, and congratulatory. It can last 3 to 5 minutes and should focus on a central theme or story about the groom. 

Remember, a best man speech is not the time to “wing it.” If you do that, there may come the point when everything suddenly goes silent, and a crowd of 50-100+ people is staring at you, waiting for what you’re going to say about the groom. You probably don’t want to end up with a cringing audience while telling a story about the groom’s previous relationships:

Instead, remember these key best man speech tips for a successful toast: 

Here are a few examples of what you should say in a best man speech:

• How did you meet the groom?
• What is one of your favorite memories with him?
• How did the groom meet the bride? Were you there?
• What is special about the groom?
• What do you like most about him? 
• What are his positive traits? 
• Playful banter : You don’t want to be too corny and cheesy with your bro. Depending on your relationship with the groom and the culture of the wedding, you may want to throw in a little banter with your dude. For example, you might make a funny joke about how much the groom loves going out to eat:

You should also avoid some key topics in a best man speech. 

Do not mention:

• The groom’s past relationships
• Sexual jokes
• Drugs, alcohol, or past mistakes
• Insecurities of the groom
• Financial or personal information 
• Insults to the bride or the wedding guests 
• Overly embarrassing stories
• Teasing the bride
• Anything that could potentially harm your friendship

Keep things positive and lighthearted. While a little witty banter or playful teasing can be fun (depending on your relationship with the groom), you should avoid insulting him or highlighting any major insecurities. The “playful” part of the speech is an excellent fun icebreaker, but it shouldn’t hurt anyone’s feelings or make them feel publicly embarrassed in front of their wedding guests.

How to Write a Best Man Speech for Best Friend or Brother: Easy Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re ready to prepare something more in-depth than the quick ideas above, this step-by-step guide can help you write a thoughtful speech that the groom may remember forever. After all, being named the best man at your friend or brother’s wedding is a tremendous honor. But like any honor, it comes with some responsibilities. After you finish all your bachelor party and wedding duties, an epic best man speech can be like the fireworks at the show’s end. 

Here are 5 simple steps to make it count:

#1 Start with a theme

Before you start writing and rehearsing your speech, it helps to decide on a theme for your talk. This will give a nice flow to the speech. A theme ensures that you stay on track to communicate your congratulations and appreciation to the groom. 

What is the main message you want to get across? A few theme ideas include:

• Anecdotes : Best man toasts center around storytelling. This theme is the easiest way to stay on track because you are telling a simple story from beginning to end. 
• Humor : Whether you’re naturally funny or working on your jokes ,  your speech is the perfect opportunity to get the audience laughing. Best man speeches are known for getting a little saucy, but you must be careful about offending the crowd or making crude jokes that might insult the bride and groom. If you want to tease the groom with some witty banter, it helps to make fun of yourself or reference an appropriate inside joke.
• Inspirational : Have you and the groom achieved an important business goal or accomplishment together? Do you have a shared role model or favorite motivational book you both read in college? This speech theme can leave the audience feeling inspired.
• Morality : Use your speech to highlight the great person the groom is. Perhaps you give examples of his integrity, trustworthiness, or generosity. You can emphasize how lucky you are to know the groom and how glad you are that he found a woman to spend his life with. 
• Sentimentality : When humor and storytelling aren’t your fortes, it doesn’t hurt to get a little corny. Sentimental speeches require a level of emotional vulnerability, but they can leave a huge impact on the newlyweds and their attendees.

#2 Create an outline

You wouldn’t go on a road trip without a navigation system, so don’t go into your speech without a plan. The best toasts and speeches follow the same structure. Pull out a piece of paper and brainstorm some ideas using this format, then use the following steps to fill in the details:

• Hook/Opening statement : The opening statement should be a 1 to 3-line description about the groom. The first 7 seconds of the speech should hook the audience immediately. It warms them up to you and makes them want to pay attention to the amusing stories. You’ll find an abundance of opening-line ideas in the next section. 
• Background context : Now comes the why of your speech. This is where the context of your relationship with the groom comes in. You can throw in some funny jokes and a few details about your experience with him. Use this intro to build up the anticipation for the story to come. Write down a few ideas of stories you can tell. 
• Tell the story : Choose 1-3 short stories about the groom that is funny, slightly embarrassing, or interesting. Jot down a few of the sensory elements you want to reference, like the smelly locker room or the squeaking of tire wheels. Most stories follow a bell-curve pattern—they start with an intro, lead to rising action, peak with a capstone moment, then tie back to the beginning. Keep this in mind as you brainstorm and follow the story-planning steps below. 
• Take-home message : After you get a good laugh or “awww” out of the audience, you’ll want to bring the story back to the beginning. What do you want them to remember about your speech and friendship with the groom? 
• Thank the wedding party : Use a quick sentence to thank the wedding party and hosts. Express your genuine gratitude for being invited. 
• Closing toast and congratulations : After wrapping up the story and thanking the wedding party, you should invite the audience to toast the bride and groom with you. For an extra cheery finale, act as if you are speaking on their behalf and include lots of well-wishes for the newlyweds. 

Pro Tip : Before filling in your outline details, watch this video for an overview of how to give a memorable toast. Human behavior expert Vanessa Van Edwards explains the most common mistakes (don’t start with “I,” “me,” or “my”) and a few secrets to getting the audience to perk up in their seats. 

#3 Nail the opening line 

Once you have your outline, it’s time to dig into the details. People decide their first impression of you within 7 seconds, so it’s extra important to nail the opening line of your speech. Best men use this opportunity to crack a joke, compliment the wedding, or set a sentimental tone for the speech. 

Avoid making the first lines about you. No “me”, “I”, or “my”. Instead, start with a juicy or mysterious line about the groom, for example:

If you need a little inspiration, here are some hilarious and quirky best man speech opening lines: 

• “Caring, loyal, honest, good-looking, and an all-around-great guy… OK, enough about me, onto the groom…!” 
• “This is the perfect chance to tell you about [Groom] and how talented, special, smart, good-looking, and… sorry, man, I can’t read your handwriting here.” 
• “I’d like to give a toast to the bride and groom.” [pull a piece of toasted bread from your pocket and give it to them]
• “[Groom’s name] is the kind of person you call when you lock yourself out of the dorm bathroom without any clothes on.” 
• “The bride and groom asked me not to share embarrassing stories or crude jokes during my speech… so that’s it from me! Thanks for listening, everyone.”
• “I’d like to start by congratulating the groom for his excellent taste in choosing the best man.” 
• “[Groom] had a tough time choosing his best man. First, he called his most handsome friend, but he said no. Then, he called his smartest friend, and he said no. Then, he called his most successful friend, who also said no. Then he called me, and I said, ‘Bro, I can’t say no to you four times.'”
• “What can I say about [Groom]? I guess I’ll start at the very beginning. He was born on [groom’s birthday]. Our parents were hoping for a girl, but I’ve always said… close enough.”

Here is a genuinely funny opening line from a best brother wedding speech:

Pro Tip : Don’t forget to pause for laughter. If it doesn’t come, you can chuckle at yourself and cue the audience that they are supposed to laugh by saying, “This is where you are supposed to laugh,” or joking, “Sound guy, can you please cue the laugh track?” Then, keep going with your speech.

Don’t worry. You need not be a jokester to give a great opening line. If you want to go the nostalgic or tearjerker route, be sure it is highly personalized and thoughtful. Here are some sentimental opening line ideas:

• “There are friends, and there is family, but friends also become family. This is so true for [Groom] and me. We’ve been best friends since we were X years old, and I’ve always considered him my brother.” 
• “There’s an old Irish proverb that says a good friend is like a four-leaf clover—hard to find and lucky to have. I think that’s true. Good friends are hard to find, and I’m lucky to have called [Groom] my best friend for the last X years.” 
• “I’ve heard that the best relationships come from the foundation of a deep friendship. Experts say that laughter, mutual respect, and enjoying each other’s company are the ingredients for a long-lasting, joyful marriage. After knowing [Groom] and [Bride] for X years, there is no doubt in my mind that they will make a great pair.” 
• “In Good Will Hunting , Robin Williams said, ‘It doesn’t matter if the guy is perfect or the girl is perfect as long as they are perfect for each other.” Anyone who has seen [Groom] and [Bride] together can agree that this is true for them. I haven’t seen a perfect pair, and I’m happy to be part of this celebration of their love.” 

To learn more about the best speech openers, use this guide on How to Start a Speech: The Best (and Worst) Speech Openers . Some top tips include:

• Avoid starting with a lackluster nicety like “thanks for having me.” 
• Don’t mention your nervousness.
• Avoid mentioning technical difficulties like the microphone or saying, “Can you hear me?” 

Bonus Tip: Learn the Art of Stage Presence

Did you know that public speaking is actually a skill? Many people struggle with stage anxiety because they feel they ‘missed the memo’ on public speaking or they are lacking because they do not have a natural stage presence. Not true!

Stage presence and public speaking are skills you need to be taught—very few people have them naturally. 

Watch our video to learn 7 steps to overcome stage fright and beat performance anxiety:

Here are all the aspects of public speaking you can master.

• How to make a first impression with an audience
• How to have stage presence
• Powerful body language
• How to speak with a commanding voice
• What to do with your hands while speaking

For every speaking skill you add to your toolbox, the less speaking anxiety you will feel.

If you want help really diving into your presentation skills, be sure to sign up for our course…

Master Your People Skills

• Create a Memorable Presence
• Communicate with Confidence
• Achieve Your Goals

Have a question about the presentation or People School? Email Science of People support .

#4 Background context

Now that you’ve grabbed the audience’s attention, it’s time to give them a little background on why you are giving a speech in the first place. This is another sneak peek at some details you’ll cover in the speech. 

The whole point of this part is to tell them how you know the groom—but it isn’t about you. You’ll often hear wedding speeches that start with a drab, “I met the groom in college” or, “My name is ___, and I’m the best man.” You can do better than that! Try saying:

• “The groom was the first friend I made on the high school football team. I had no idea we would become roommates in a bachelor pad throughout college.” 
• “As little kids, the groom and I were known to be a dangerous duo in the neighborhood. He always carried the eggs and toilet paper, then instructed me where to throw them. But you can guess who always took the blame for his antics….” 
• “The groom and I have been friends and business partners for X years, and as you’ll hear shortly, he is the main reason I broke my arm during the last office basketball game. But first, I want to tell you a less embarrassing story….” 

Pro Tip : Focus on the groom, and don’t make it about you. One of the biggest mistakes people make during wedding speeches is talking too much about themselves. Your speech shouldn’t discuss where you’re from, what you think, or how you ended up at the party. The best man’s speech is a time to focus on the groom and his bride. 

#5 Tell the story  

After your punchy opening line and background info, it’s time to tell the perfect story about the groom. Depending on the length of your speech and the details of your story, some best man speeches cover 1 to 3 short stories. 

Reference back to the memories you wrote when brainstorming. Pick a story that includes the most of these captivating elements:

• A little bit of embarrassment : Whether it’s you, the groom, or a mutual friend, it helps to poke some fun at someone in the story. If you fear being offensive, the best person to joke about is yourself.  
• Audience member references : You can get major bonus points if you bring wedding guests into the storytelling moment. You might say, “Mom, you might want to close your ears on this one!” or, “Brian, we’re talking about you!” 
• Sensory details : What did the scenery look like? What were the prominent smells, sounds, and tastes at the moment? A great story should make the audience feel like they were with you. Don’t forget to mention the frigid cold lake you jumped into or the outrageously spicy food that left you both panting and crying for water. 
• A final punch line : Ideally, the best story ends with a shocking moment or funny line. It should leave the audience laughing, crying, surprised, or even gasping. For example, in an epic adventure story about you and the groom on a hunting trip, you may end with, “Just as the shark was about to bite the line, Joe reeled in the massive bluefin and yelled, ‘I think we’re gonna need a bigger boat!’”

Pro Tip : If you have to ask, “Is this appropriate?” it probably isn’t. Some stories are better for late-night beers than they are for weddings. Avoid telling stories related to sexual topics, drugs, alcohol, illegal activities, or anything you wouldn’t want grandma to hear. 

#6 Take-home message

When the story finishes, you’ve hopefully elicited some laughter or maybe some tears. All jokes aside, there is a reason you were the best man, and you are probably a significant person to the groom. This is a great time to emphasize the best qualities of the groom and why you’re so happy for his new love. 

Here is an excellent example of tying together the opening and closing lines with a heartfelt message about finding the perfect soul mate:

#7 End your speech with a heartfelt toast

We’ve all heard “let’s raise a glass to [Bride] and [Groom]” before. You can do better than that! The final toast is like the fireworks at the end of your best man speech. Instead of something mediocre, invite the audience to join you in a genuine, thoughtful congratulations. Examples include:

• “Please join me in raising our glasses to the beautiful bride and handsome groom. May your lives together be long, healthy, and happy. We love you so much and are excited for you. Cheers!” 
• “Lift your glasses to thank Mr. and Mrs. [Bride’s Parents] for hosting this beautiful wedding. Let us all toast to the perfect union of the bride and groom. We wish you a bright and beautiful future. Cheers!”
• “Here’s to the past, for all you’ve learned. Here’s to the present for this beautiful moment we all share. Here’s to the future for all you’ve got to look forward to. Cheers to the happy couple!” 

Pro Tip : Make your toast inclusive and communal, so the audience feels like they’re cheering for the couple with you. Use words like “we”, “lets”, and “us”. This congratulation invites them to join as if you are speaking on their behalf. 

#8 Use a best man speech template

A template makes things simple if you’re still feeling uneasy about writing your best man speech. You can take the structure of an example speech and incorporate your ideas and stories to make it your own. 

Best man speech example for a best friend :  

“Tonight, you’ll learn why the groom was destined to marry [Bride]. The year was 2002, and we were all in a bar with friends on New Year’s Eve in New York City. Snow was falling outside, and we were sipping champagne, waiting for the big ball to drop. Seemingly out of nowhere, a woman with a red dress entered the room, and everything seemed to stop. All the bachelors in our group were captivated, but only [Groom] had the guts to walk up to her. Rumor has it that his first opening line was ‘

Everyone talks about a woman’s glow when she’s falling in love, but I swear that [Groom] was smiling from ear to ear from the second they met. We could hardly get him to stop talking about her by the following week. We’d be watching football and drinking beers only to have [Bride’s] name brought up every 5 minutes. 

Fast forward 3 years, and we’ve all seen how much [Bride] has positively impacted his life. When he came to me to tell me he was proposing, my only response was, ‘ Finally, dude !’

There’s something extra special about these two. They go together like peanut butter and jelly. They love and respect each other so much. [Bride] was the one for [Groom] from the second they locked eyes in that hazy NYC bar. We are all so happy to be here for your big day. Let’s raise our glasses to the beautiful bride and groom! Cheers!” 

Another Best man speech example for a best friend :  

“The groom was the first friend I made on the high school basketball team. He wasn’t very good [pause for laughter]. I was the tallest player and obviously had the best free throw, but I was majorly lacking in the ladies department. Thankfully, [Groom] took me under his wing and showed me how to be a true gentleman. That includes opening doors for women and carrying their bags instead of just running in with my own. What would I have done without you, man?

Even though he was no good at basketball, [Groom] always had his head on his shoulders. He’s a respectful, intelligent, and relatively clean-cut guy. All joking aside, it’s no surprise that he ended up with a woman as intelligent and beautiful as [Bride]. You both deserve a lifetime of love, happiness, and success together. Please raise your glasses and join me in congratulating the bride and groom! We love you!” 

#9 Practice your body language

Public speaking isn’t only about what you say but how you carry yourself. Your body language can drastically affect your confidence, your delivery, and how the audience perceives you. Use these body language hacks to take your speech to the next level: 

• Signal “friend” : Smile and show your open palms to send the message that you are the audience’s friend. This makes people feel more comfortable with your presence and more likely to listen.
• Stand up straight : When you look confident, you also feel more confident. Check your posture if your voice is a little shaky before the speech. Roll back your shoulders and tuck your shoulder blades down towards your back. Slightly lift your chest and chin as you speak. 
• Make eye contact: Throughout the speech, you should change your eye contact with different audience members. As you mention specific compliments or thanks, make eye contact with the bride, groom, groomsmen, bridesmaids, and the bride’s father.
• Genuinely smile : Smiling may seem obvious, but it’s easy to forget when you feel so focused on a perfect delivery. At the same time, you don’t want to look like you’re fake smiling throughout the speech. Use these 9 Simple Tips to Smile Better (in any situation!)
• Use your hands : It’s easy to let your nerves get the best of you and feel like a “deer in the headlights.” Instead of tucking your hands in your pockets, widen your stance and take up space. Use your hands and gestures while you talk to show that you are comfortable and happy during the speech. 

Want more tips? Here are 17 Body Language Presentation Cues to Use in Your Next Speech . 

#10 Rehearse before the big day

Experts say you should rehearse a speech 10 times before performing it. Research also shows that people who mentally prepare themselves before a speech by imagining it going well are more likely to perform fluently and easily. So before you get in front of an audience, be sure you’ve gone over your speech at least 10 times, either in your head or out loud. Better yet, practice in the mirror, on camera, or in front of a trusted friend. 

It also helps to review the gist of the speech with the groom (without giving away any secret details) to make sure it’s alright with him. A few weeks before the wedding, you may pull him aside and ask, “Hey man, is it OK if I tell the story about ____ in my best man speech? I think it’ll get some good laughs.” 

Although this example is long, this best man very clearly rehearsed his speech for a near-perfect performance without any notes:

Key Takeaways: Express Gratitude and Sentimentality in 3-5 Minutes

Ultimately, a best man speech is an opportunity to make your best bro look good in front of all his friends and family. Your speech should demonstrate how much you value your brotherhood or friendship. At the same time, you can enjoy 5 minutes of wedding fame without making things all about you. A great toast can make you a memorable celebrity at the wedding and have people laughing at your

Before jumping up at the reception and speaking off the cuff, remember to:

• Outline and plan your speech ahead of time. Use notecards if needed.
• Focus on the groom and his bride. Don’t go on and on about yourself. 
• Nail the opening line with a funny joke, quote, or teaser that leads into a great story. 
• Avoid inappropriate or cringey topics that could embarrass the groom.
• Express gratitude to the groom and wedding hosts. 

Giving a toast or speech is an essential social skill that can make you one of the most likable people in a room. If you want to learn more about the art of giving showstopping toasts, read this guide on How to Give an Awesome Toast: Advanced Strategies for Speeches . 

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How to Write a Best Man Speech: Examples, Templates, & Opening Lines

Whether it’s for a friend or family member, we have tips for how to write a best man speech. We’ve rounded up everything that goes into an inspiring, entertaining crowd-pleaser: jokes, quotes, themes, opening lines. From icebreakers to start and toasts to finish, here are ideas for your best man speech.

What should a best man speech include?

At the end of the day, you’re just telling your friends you’re happy for them (and the fact that the wedding is all about them should take away some pressure). So when you’re deciding what to include in your best man speech, remember: Humor is memorable, but honesty is meaningful. So aim for a combination and try to hit these key points.

• Personality: You were invited to be yourself, so don’t worry about performing. Are you a treasure trove of charming stories? Are you the calm lighthouse in a storm? Be inclusive and sensitive but be you. Let it flow.
• Examples: Be specific rather than general. Unpack the qualities you admire about the couple and when they’ve occurred (how have they demonstrated kindness or loyalty?). That will make your speech more personable vs. a list that could apply to any couple.
• Gratitude: Say thanks for being chosen as the best man and the chance to stand by their side. Toss in a few thank yous to everyone for attending, those who raised the couple, and those hosting the ceremony. It grabs your listeners, and a little schmoozing never hurts.

How long should a best man speech be?

Like the saying goes, “Be brief, be brilliant, be gone.” A best man speech should always be under 5 minutes, usually three. To keep the attention of your audience, fit it all into 750 words.

Length increases boredom, not sentiment. Trimming your speech down to its essentials means you prioritize quality, which will make your words more impactful and easier to remember. Staying short and sweet can also help with any fears of public speaking because it’ll all be over soon.

How to Write a Best Man Speech

Find a theme.

• What’s your point? What do all your heartfelt details have in common? Commitment? Fun facts? Opposites attract? This will help narrow down your anecdotes. Your theme can also influence how you structure your best man speech, like a unifying metaphor or a rhyming hook to keep it engaging.
• A few themes off the menu: Inside jokes, sabotaging roasts. Basically, anything that’s too obscure or anything that would embarrass or expose the couple. From an audience perspective, these are painful and awkward. You’re honoring the couple for making it down the aisle (a huge success) vs. reminding them of their failures or what could have gotten in the way (emotions can be high). Everyone looks good and feels good when you stick to why the couple’s bond is unbreakable.

Create an Outline

• Congratulations: The easiest intro and the whole reason you’re speaking.
• Connection to the Couple: Did you watch your childhood friend become a better person because of the relationship? Did you play a part in their romance? Did your paths cross in unexpected ways?
• One or Two Stories: Everyday moments, grand gestures. Polish these up to be intentional. How do they tie to the occasion and your theme (eg. examples of how they always showed unwavering support toward one another.).
• Acknowledge the Spouse: Dropping in compliments for the partner can emphasize why they’re a match. It helps concentrate on their union as a whole rather than a half, even if you only know one of them well.
• Cheers: You did it! Now applaud their courage to weather life’s storms together. Raise a glass and invite everyone to do the same.

How to Start a Best Man Speech

A greeting and a hearty congratulations kick things off. Here are a few prompts to start your best man speech.

• Intro: “It’s truly an honor to stand before you as [Partner’s Name]’s best man. My name is [Name], and I’ve had the privilege of being [Name]’s partner in crime since [college, childhood, etc.].”
• Embrace the Occasion: “On behalf of [Partner’s Name] and [Partner’s Name], I want to extend a warm welcome to all of you as we come together to celebrate this beautiful union.”
• Share a Quote: “As [Partner’s Name] and [Partner’s Name] embark on this exciting journey, I’m reminded of a quote by [Author] that says, ‘[Quote].’ And today, we’re here to witness the embodiment of that sentiment.”

Opening Line Ideas

After a “good evening” or a “hello,” here are a few transitions to get to the good stuff. Brainstorm with a written or verbal stream of consciousness to help identify your feelings. You can pare them down later.

• “I first witnessed their connection when…” / “I saw sparks flying during…”
• “If we were to start with the first chapter…” / “Let’s rewind the tapes to…” / “Let’s take a trip down memory lane to a time when…”
• “As I stand here, I can’t help but think of a memory that always makes me tear up/smile…”
• “Of all the unforgettable moments I’ve shared with [Name], there’s one that stands out—”
• “If there’s one memory that never fails to bring a smile to my face/tears to my eyes, it’s the time…”
• “When they first introduced me to [Partner’s Name], I saw that look. The one that says…”
• “When they first met [Partner’s Name], they couldn’t stop talking about…”
• “None of us could have anticipated…”
• “There’s a moment when you see two people together, and you can’t help but realize…”
• “I knew [Name]’s heart had found its home the moment I saw…”
• “Everything changed in their relationship when…”
• “I could tell they were ready to face the world as partners in life when…”
• “I can’t help but reflect on the beautiful journey that [Their Names] have taken together…”
• “Their love story has taught me that [qualities] are the foundation of a long-lasting partnership.”
• “Their relationship has taught me that love isn’t just a destination; it’s a journey filled with…”

How to End a Best Man Speech

Whether you give your best man speech at the wedding reception or rehearsal dinner, you can always end it with a toast. To finish on a positive, uplifting note, here are a few concluding thoughts for well wishes and looking ahead.

• “May your journey together be filled with endless love, laughter, and a lifetime of cherished memories.”
• “May your love story continue to inspire us all. Here’s to new beginnings.”
• “Let’s look forward to the adventures that await [Names]. We hope this will be the most beautiful chapter of your story together.”
• “May your journey be filled with a love that only grows stronger with time.”

Speech Tips: Do’s and Don’ts

There are standards for speaking at a ceremony. Here are the rules to live by when you want your best man speech to be unforgettable for the right reasons

• Do use notecards to feel prepared, calm the jitters, and remember all that you want to say (as long as you remain present and make eye contact). Don’t read from your phone , in case it locks in the moment, loses charge leading up to the speech, or the lighting affects photos.
• Do reference your ties to the couple. Nod to when and how you met but ultimately keep the focus on their relationship. Don’t make your best man speech about you. You were invited to share your perspective, so it’s a classy move to keep things relevant and selfless.
• Do share your unique insights. Your experience adds to the audience’s understanding of the couple as partners and as individuals. However, don’t be inappropriate. You might know the skeletons in their closet but skip anything they wouldn’t want shared or would warrant an apology — like their past relationships. It’s mostly to ensure your anecdotes would play well across any age, culture, or relationship context (grandparents, work friends, flower girl).
• Do speak from the heart. It’s sweet, sincere, and makes speech writing that much easier. But don’t force emotions. Whether it’s jokes or mushy stuff, if neither are in your wheelhouse, you don’t have to be anyone other than the person they invited.
• Do rehearse out loud at least two months in advance so you can practice tone, timing, and pacing. They can all aid your confidence. You might even run your speech by a friend or film yourself for feedback. And since it’s a big day for the couple, don’t wing it. With words at the ready, there will be less risk of feeling flustered or saying something cringe.
• Do take it seriously. It can still be lighthearted, but it’s a huge honor to be asked to speak at a wedding. Proof of some time and effort in your speech returns the thoughtful gesture (the same goes for limiting yourself to one drink beforehand). Don’t be nervous. Even if you’re afraid of public speaking or not usually one for getting sappy, try to see your best man speech as an exciting opportunity.

Example Prompt Ideas

Here are a few best man speech ideas to keep the atmosphere light and joyful while celebrating the couple’s uniqueness.

Nothing wrong with straightforward and authentic.

• Timeline: The couple’s love story from how they met to their engagement. Emphasize the nostalgic moments that made their relationship special. You can highlight their growth as a pair or as individuals — how they’ve changed since they’ve met, and/or what has stayed the same.
• Shared Interests: How their passions have brought them closer together and how they’ll continue to enjoy them in married life.

Depending on the formality of the guest list and the wedding venue (beach vs. church), you can loosen your black tie when it comes to humor. But you’ll want to be respectful and give the couple a heads up.

• Predictions: Playfully imagine scenarios for what the couple’s future might hold.
• Old Photos: A fun way to remind them how far they’ve come.

Whether it’s from a role model in your lives (coach, relative, etc.), or an adage from another language, it’s common to borrow a bit of filler for your best man speech.

• Wisdom: Advice for a successful marriage based on experiences or observations. You can customize fortune cookies for laughs.
• Famous Words: Pull from any movies or authors with guiding tidbits, e.g., “Love is not just looking at each other, it’s looking in the same direction.” “Love is not just something you feel, it’s something you do.” “Love is not about finding someone you can live with, but finding someone you can’t imagine living without.”

Best Man Speech Templates

Memories of your time together through thick and thin, and how your friendship has remained constant.

“[Friend’s Name] and I have shared countless adventures over the years, and our friendship has survived every challenge, even [memory]. They’re the kind of friend who’s always there when you need them, whether it’s [example]. That’s why I know they’ll be an amazing partner to [Partner’s Name].”

For Younger Brother:

As an older sibling, look to your brother’s future. Talk about the exciting things that lie ahead: travels, career accomplishments, life milestones, etc. Share your pride.

“I can’t believe this day has finally arrived. It feels like just yesterday we were [childhood memory]. But as the years went by, I watched as my little brother met [Partner’s Name] and transformed into the incredible person they are today.”

For Older Brother:

Speak to how their support has shaped you, or what you learned by watching them face life’s challenges first.

“[Brother’s Name] has always been more than a brother to me. I’ve always looked up to [Brother’s Name] for [their characteristics], and now they’ve found a partner who [balances or complements these traits]. That’s why they’re perfect for each other.”

For Cousin:

Express your happiness for their partner joining your family traditions or how they’ve become an integral part of them.

“Growing up as cousins, [Cousin’s Name] and I had a bond beyond family ties. So when [Partner’s Name] came into the picture, I knew my cousin found their missing puzzle piece. I’m so excited for [Partner’s Name] to join our family vacations and holiday gatherings.”

Talk about the importance of togetherness; how the couple’s union represents two families merging to become one. Or offer tongue-in-cheek parental advice.

“My father has always been dedicated to family. He was always willing to go the extra mile for his loved ones. The love he shares with [Partner’s Name] is a testament to the trust and respect that you’ve instilled in our family.”

Final Thoughts

A best man speech is a rare chance to dig deep, get vulnerable, and tell those close to you how significant they are in your life. These prompts and templates can all get you started, but with the nuances of your relationship and theirs, you can make the tradition all your own. Best of luck!

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How to give the best man’s speech of your life

The Royal Wedding is mere weeks away with Prince Harry confirming Prince William as his best man, returning the favour from his own nuptials in 2011. Accustomed as he is to giving speeches and working a room, it’s unlikely Wills needs much guidance, so here’s a foolproof guide to all the best men who need a helping hand.

Who are you?

OK, so Prince William may not have to do this because he is pretty famous, but many best men forget to open with who they are and why they’re doing the speech. Most guests will not have a clue who you are – you could be a waiter about to announce a mix-up with the gluten-free option for all they know.

Don’t do it drunk

One shot for Dutch courage will do if you’re struggling. Slurring your way through it will make everyone remember you, yes, but for the worst reasons.

Ditch the autocue

Reading from a sheet of paper risks losing the personality in your voice and betraying your nerves thanks to shaky hands. Get something in your hand – cue cards maybe, not a tequila – and glance at it rather than recite. You’ll look more natural and nobody will mind if you break their gaze every now and again for a quick check.

Read the room

If a couple of jokes miss the spot, don’t panic, and don’t mention just how badly you’re dying up there. Repeatedly signposting that your gags are landing as smoothly as a hot air balloon touching down in a hurricane only reminds everyone how terminally unfunny you are. Watch their reactions and try a bit of improvisation to work in things that got a good reception. You don’t have to be funny all the time, either – it’s not an open-mic night.

Workshop your speech

Don’t labour over this all by yourself. This is an honour, not a chore. Get information or favourite stories about the groom from other friends. This helps you present more than one side to him. You’ll also get an idea of some of the truly awful stuff people think appropriate for a best man’s speech. Consign bants to the bin. That said, don’t censor yourself too hard – there's nothing worse than a bland speech packed with plaudits and zero spice. If in doubt, immediately disregard the most salacious and the most sensible and go for something in between.

Remember this isn’t about you and your life – one of the worst speeches I ever witnessed was the bride’s father guiding us through an overlong autobiography in which his daughter was a mere appendix. However, it’s not just about the groom, either: if he’s a humourless drone and you’re desperate for anecdotes, take inspiration from current affairs or celebrity culture. Just remember the grannies might not know who Gemma Collins is, though; keep those references A-list.

Avoid mentioning at all, especially if they’re still friends and actually at the wedding. Plus it’s not the Seventies, so swerve sexism and using language like bunny boilers, psychoes and slappers to describe women who passed on the chance to be in the white dress today: you’ll lose the crowd immediately. As far as the guests should be concerned, both bride and groom were hatched from an egg seconds before the ceremony and have never so much as touched another human intimately.

Embarrassment is fine, utter humiliation maybe not

Overall, your tone should be good-natured and positive – you’re painting a picture of the groom, not trying to ruin his life. The stories you tell are ones he should half expect to come up anyway. Avoid scatological humour; it’s a wedding, not the stag do. Reminders of criminal activity are verboten unless it's from childhood, petty and victimless. Anything that happened on the stag weekend is not for here. Nobody cares how big his penis is except his wife and she very likely already knows. Also, this is probably not the time to talk about when you both went through the wrong door in a club in Berlin and only found your way out three weeks later.

Compliments are compulsory

It’s mildly sexist and absolutely ridiculous, but you’ll be expected to reiterate several times just how beautiful the bride and bridesmaids look. Please don’t use the word “stunning” unless they’re carrying taser guns in their bouquets, and express appreciation of their beauty as you would a striking painting, rather than a glamour model. Nobody cares if you “would”.

Easy on the toasts

One of the most annoying parts of any wedding speech is being asked to raise your glasses every two minutes in honour of all manner of stupid things. Brides and bridesmaids, yes, fine, and dead relatives if you must, but Doug the chauffeur, the clergy, the speed-dating hostess who introduced them, the DJ playing at the club where they first kissed and Joanna Lumley can probably be left aside.

It’s very popular, for some sad reason, for best men to suggest they’re in love with the groom or vice versa. This only works if you’re both gay, and even then it doesn’t actually work because the other groom will spend the rest of his big day wondering if you’ve actually done it and/or worrying you will tell everyone that in fact he’s the one who’s done it with you. Anyway, jokes about bumming or homosexual longing – however dressed up in “bromance” or “man crush” or other depressingly heterosexual ways go trying to express affection – are an absolute no-no.

Ten minutes is fine, honestly. You’re holding up the dancing and the waiting staff are always reluctant to work the room while speeches are going on – it’s usually their only opportunity for a quick cigarette or a vicious roasting of everyone’s outfits round the back of the marquee – so patience will be limited and glasses may well be empty. Never go on longer than the father of the bride . If you’re worried your speech is too long, skip all the in-jokes or pretend to faint after exactly eight minutes.

The perfect best man’s speech is a balance of one-liners, the revelation of a couple of secrets and, best of all, a tear in the eye at the end. If you are emotionally stunted, then rounding off with “he’s like a brother to me”, thanking him for everything he’s done and a hearty double handshake (clutch your left hand over both your right hands) plus man-hug should get everyone dewy-eyed by the time you raise your glass for the final time.

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How to Write the Perfect Best Man Speech

So you’ve been chosen to be your best mate’s best man. Congratulations! It’s time to go crazy planning the stag do, right? Well, yeah. But you have another, far more important thing to worry about as well: the best man speech.

Contrary to (unfortunate) popular opinion, a good best man speech comprises far more than a few cheap jokes you found online and an embarrassing story involving the groom and a stripper in Las Vegas. Actually, it shouldn’t comprise any of the aforementioned elements.

Although a really, truly funny best man speech can be a great addition to any wedding, it’s far more important that you tick the necessary boxes with your speech. Make a few jokes and rib the groom a bit, by all means. But you also need to ensure that you say some more heartfelt things about him, say plenty of flattering – but not lecherous – things about the bride, and remark on how wonderful the day has been.

Expert advice on how to write and deliver a best man speech you’ll be proud of

This is the last of your best man duties, and quite possibly the most significant one (besides not losing the rings, of course). Think of it this way: it’s going to be part of the wedding video that your best friend and his wife show their children one day. So, don’t screw this up.

Feeling the pressure now? Good! But, you’ve come to the right place. Luckily for you, we’ve consulted experts on making your best man speech absolutely perfect and have compiled their best tips.

Best Man Speech Structure

Introduce yourself.

This should go without saying, but we’re still going to say it. It can be easy when you’re nervous to speed right past telling everyone who you are. Not everyone will know that you’re the best man (unless you made an ass of yourself earlier in the day.)

Take this opportunity to begin your speech calmly and to introduce yourself formally as the best man. You can also quickly introduce the bride and groom and make a comment about how you know the groom.

Robert, from My Wedding Speeches , tells us, “I try to make the introduction personal by usually introducing the bride and groom and within the first five or six lines I then crack some sort of joke about them. The jokes must be personal, though.” Using a generic one-liner as a speech opener is a fantastic way to start off on the wrong foot.

You probably know the groom better than a lot of people in the room. Therefore, it is up to you to talk a bit about his personal history. Make some jokes at his expense, by all means, but your speech should not be about destroying the groom.

Adrian of All Speeches Great and Small points out, “This is by far the most common way best men come unstuck. They think that they’re not doing their job properly unless the groom has been thoroughly embarrassed and emotionally tortured.” Instead, make sure you’re laughing with him, not at him.

You can also elaborate a bit more here on how you met and became such close friends. Or, if you’re family, you can joke about how you ended up being forced into each other’s lives.

The most important thing here is to not waste too much energy trying to be funny, especially if it doesn’t come naturally. “I know best man speeches are meant to be funny, but try to be sincere as well as comical,” says Robert (My Wedding Speeches).

How he’s changed

At this point, you can start to bring your speech forward into covering present day.

“A great best man speech is simply a really good story,” says Adrian (All Speeches Great and Small).

You can discuss the groom’s career here or perhaps how life hasn’t gone how you’d always planned it. There is the option to be a bit sentimental here about how much he’s grown, especially if he’s been through one or two major life events, or you can continue to be light-hearted.

Again, though, the emphasis should be on honesty. Don’t make up events just so they fit into a joke you want to tell, because it won’t be funny. Often, the most comical anecdotes are the most painfully true ones.

His dating history

Now, before we go any further, we must warn you to exercise caution when it comes to this topic. Know your audience and how they, particularly the groom’s parents or the bride, will react.

If the groom has any particularly problematic exes, leave them out. Similarly, if there were any girls his parents didn’t know about, now is not the time to tell them! And absolutely do not reminisce about any of his exes whom you found attractive.

In fact, mentioning exes altogether should be considered the ultimate taboo topic for your speech, according to literally every speechwriter interviewed for this article. Robert says that “mentioning exes is especially important to stay away from if the groom has been divorced.”

Instead of naming anyone specific, tell some funny stories about when he was woefully unsuccessful at pulling in a nightclub. Or, about how girls would dump him the second they saw how untidily he kept his flat. End this with humour like, “So how he’s actually gotten someone to marry him, I will never know.”

The blushing bride

Your comments about the bride should be nothing but thoroughly complimentary and flattering, without being creepy. It’s great if you find her attractive, but this is not the right time to let her know. (There’s never a right time to let her know, actually, so just get that out of your head now.)

“Always tell her how lovely she is and talk about what sort of person she is rather than making it superficial,” says Robert. Stay away from remarking on her looks and it will go a long way to making her feel valued.

Talk about how she’s changed the groom – for the better, obviously. Don’t start whining about how you and the groom never get drunk together anymore because she doesn’t like it, no matter how true that might be. Reiterate the fact that she looks beautiful and that the groom is a lucky man and you’ve pretty much done your job in this area.

If you have a decent relationship with the bride, you should speak to her about the speech. Oliver of I Am The Best Man suggests that, “Not only will she have good material, she will also be able to fill you in on the important biographical information about their relationship that you might not know.”

At this point, you can bring in some funny stories about your relationship with the groom over the years; even about your relationship with the bride if you two have become close. This needn’t be sappy, however. If you have some genuinely funny stories to tell about what a mess the groom used to be, or an experience the three of you shared together, you can include them here.

Don’t go on forever, though, and make sure the underlying message is about their positive impact on each other’s lives.

When it comes to deciding which stories to share, take advice from Patricia of BestManSpeechWriter.com : “It is the funny anecdotes and personal stories that make a speech unique to the best man and the friendship he shares with the groom. The trick is figuring out which stories are appropriate to share and, most importantly, which should be left in the past.”

In other words, stay well away from anything that could be considered risqué or #NSFW. Don’t forget who will be in your audience. Plenty of friends of the newlyweds who are your age will be there, yes. But there will also be parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and little cousins present.

“Jokes about sex might be good between friends, but they don’t belong in a speech,” says Oliver. This is still a common pitfall of best man speeches, though, so be careful you don’t make this mistake.

Tradition dictates that, towards the end of his speech, the best man imparts some marital advice on the happy couple. However, take this with a pinch of salt.

If you’re already happily married then by all means say a few words about what you think makes marriage great. But if not, don’t suddenly pretend to be some sort of marriage guru as it will come off as disingenuous.

Similarly, don’t lean on a generic, sexist joke, inappropriate comment, or stock line like, “Just say ‘yes dear’ to everything”. “I would avoid giving ‘hilarious’ advice, if at all possible,” echoes Adrian (All Speeches Great and Small). So, either take the opportunity here to poke fun at yourself for not being married yet or just skip this bit altogether.

Hopefully the most straightforward part of your best man speech, the toast only needs to be a couple of lines. Toast the newlyweds, wish them love, health, and happiness, and down the rest of your bubbly.

Best Man Speech Tips & Tricks

Timing is everything.

This ought to go without saying, but long wedding speeches have never contributed to a good wedding. No matter how funny or heartfelt you’re planning for your speech to be, your audience’s attention is extremely finite. They’ve more than likely already hit the bar, and probably want to get back to drinking as soon as possible.

Exactly how long is too much is up for debate, and the pros we spoke to have slightly differing opinions. While Oliver advises around 10 minutes, Adrian and Robert advise 5-7 minutes, and Patricia says you can make do with as little as 3 minutes. Take from these opinions what you will, but definitely keep it to fewer than 10.

Writing an over-long best man speech is a common mistake, according to Oliver. “People get over excited when it comes to content. They underestimate or forget that they’re the last person of at least three and they try to crowbar in too much. If you go on for too long, you’re just going to lose people.”

Avoid joke websites

It doesn’t matter how funny you find the jokes when you’re reading them to yourself on the toilet, packing your best man speech with jokes you found online is a TERRIBLE idea.

Generic jokes never sound natural and will come off as obviously scripted. They also never illicit anything more than groans, especially from the newlyweds.

The groom picked you to be his best man because he loves and trusts you; don’t make him regret it.

Laughter is the best medicine

That being said, it’s perfectly natural to be a bit jittery prior to giving your best man speech. However, as all the experts we spoke to agreed, knowing you’ll be giving a funny speech can be the best reassurance.

“Telling jokes goes hand-in-hand with gaining confidence. You want to know you’ll be able to deliver a speech that’s funny and worthwhile,” says Oliver.

Of course, you may not be naturally funny, and that’s okay too!

Add at least a couple of quips to your speech in order to break the ice if nothing else. “We believe that every speech should contain humour,” says Patricia. “But the amount of humour we insert into the speeches we write is very much tailored to our client.” Lesson learned: be funny, but only as funny as you feel genuinely comfortable with.

Practice and edit

Knowing your best man speech through and through is hugely important. It’ll make your delivery smooth and last-minute stage fright is less likely to get the better of you. Write index cards to have on hand to remind you of your main points, but don’t rely on them completely.

Memorise your first line, at least one middle line, and your last line. This way, if you blank out or lose your place, you’ll have some idea of what comes next!

You shouldn’t be afraid to edit, either. Practice a few times in front of friends and, if a certain line (or 5) consistently falls flat, delete it. “A lot of people write a speech in isolation and won’t get any feedback on it and are then surprised that their jokes fall flat on the day. Getting feedback is really important and will help you to figure out what’s funny and what’s not funny,” advises Oliver (I Am The Best Man).

Remember to breathe

Breathing is one of the human body’s automatic functions and, in most situations, is impossible to forget to do. However, for whatever reason, when they’re faced with the task of public speaking, one can actually forget to breathe.

If you’re a nervous public speaker, it’s important to constantly remind yourself to take breathers during your speech. These will give you natural pauses and time to collect yourself, especially if you’ve stumbled over any words. And don’t worry, no one will notice! Those few seconds it takes to take a deep breath and a sip of water will feel completely normal to the other guests.

So, to all the best men out there, we hope this has given you the guidance and reassurance you need to write and deliver a best man speech you can be proud of. We have more speech advice for the groom and the father of the bride !

2 thoughts on “ How to Write the Perfect Best Man Speech ”

• Pingback: Wedding Speeches Advice - Who to Get to Do The Speeches | HD moments

Best part of the day when your a wedding photographer is the best man speech. They are so nervous throughout the day and then after they have done their speech its like a big relief and their personailty really comes out

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how to  write the best best man speech ever*

9 top best man speech ideas and tips to make speech stand out..

*subjectively

You’re the Best man. As part of your duties it’s now up to you to write the best Best man speech ever. But before we get onto that, let’s take a moment to revel in your awesomeness:

You’ve been selected out of all of the Groom’s mates to receive the dubious honour of being Best man. Congratulations! Well done you! I don’t know how you accomplished this. Perhaps you grew up together. Perhaps you have some dirt on him from that Highland camping trip you took a few years ago. Or perhaps the groom has no other friends. Regardless, you are now arguably the third most important person at this wedding. Traditionally, if something were to happen to the Groom today, as best man you would be marrying the Bride in his stead. Lucky for you, most people tend to ignore this tradition. They just rely on the best man to hold on to the rings, keep the groom sober/drunk and make ineffective passes at bridesmaids. Oh, and also write the best, best man speech ever.

Writing the best man speech is a daunting task. A lot of people see the best man speech as the main attraction. Sure, everyone has come to see your mate get married. But they also want to hear you dishing the dirt and give them cause to grin. It’s the reason that the Best man speech is usually left till the end of the speeches. So, no pressure then.

But here’s the thing that no one tells you about writing the Best man speech. It’s not about you. So You can stop worrying about all of those expectations. Because it’s not about you. The best man speech is about your mate and his new wife. If you keep your focus on them it will help you write the best Best man speech ever (from your perspective anyway).

These ten tips will also help you to play to your strengths and write a best man speech that that’s truly great.

2.  Don’t find your best man speech jokes online

If you’re really intent on writing your Best man speech to be funny, don’t Google/Bing/Yahoo/Alta Vista your jokes. If you type Best man speech jokes into any of your favourite search engines, you’re going to get all the same jokes. Anyone who has ever been to a wedding will have heard those jokes before from the last Best man who Googled his jokes.

The other thing is that they’ll stick out. Unless your speech is full of clever one liners and witty puns, it’s going to be painfully obvious to everyone there that you “asked Jeeves” for your jokes.

If you must use a pre-written joke, don’t pick any of the ones from the top half of the list. Make sure that any jokes you include are seamlessly woven into your speech. If you are desperate to include that joke about the Groom’s football team saying he’s useless in all positions make sure you’re already talking about his life in football. And for the love of all that is good please remember… we’ve all heard the one about the cake being in tiers.

3.  what do i put in a best man speech?

What actually goes in a best man speech? The best man speech is a tricky to write because unlike the father of the bride and Groom speeches, there isn’t an unspoken expectation of what needs to be included.

You have to say something about the Groom. Traditionally it’s the best man’s role to toast the bridesmaids as well. But beyond that, the content is variable.

Some best men string a bunch of stories together. Some best men focus on the groom’s qualities. Some come up with a running gimmick (like an interrogation or a resume reading) to link it all together with props and visual aids.

Honestly, So long as the guests aren’t bored by your speech you’ve probably done a good job. But if you’re not sure what to actually include in your Best man speech, consider the past, present and future method.

Past . Tell people about how you and he met. Who was he back then? Does he still have that awful haircut and baggy chinos?

Present . Talk a little about who he is now. What are the qualities that you find hilarious in him and are there any you admire? What’s he succeeding at in life? And what’s he failing at? (don’t be a dick though)

Future . Today is the beginning of your mate’s new life with his new wife. How has their relationship changed him? What can you see in their future?

If you can find an interesting way of linking all of that together then that’s great. Even without, just looking at those three sections, you’ve got a solid speech right there.

4.  Dont be a dick

As anyone who’s ever been on the receiving end of an ill-judged jibe will tell you, there’s a fine line between funny and mean.

On the one hand, there are probably elements of the groom’s lifestyle and personality that are obviously wierd and need pointing out. On the other hand, it’s possible to take the joke too far.

You know your friend best. If you think there’s the possibility that one of your jokes or observations might actually offend him, then take it out. It doesn’t really matter if you offend the rest of the room, but if you genuinely upset the bride or groom for the sake of a laugh, you’ve missed the point of the speech.

Remember, this is not a roast of the groom. This is a light grilling. This isn’t the place to point out all of his faults and encourage a roomful of people to ridicule him. This may seem obvious, but I once went to a wedding where the best men spent most of their speech telling everyone how much of a loser the groom was… not in the fun way. He smiled through it, but to all onlookers it just looked like two grown men being playground bullies.

 5.  The best best man speech stories

Following on from not being a total dick, we need to talk about your best man anecdotes. To write the best best man speech you need to tread a fine line. This isn’t just when grilling the groom, but when telling stories about him too. You need to make sure that you don’t make him look like a complete dick.

Let’s say you have a story about him setting fire to a tenner in front of a homeless person. Firstly, that’s despicable and you need better friends. Secondly this story makes the groom look like a complete dick. The only way this story is going down well is if all of their family and friends are complete arseholes too (unless it’s the first chapter of an epic tale of redemption)

If you know that there are stories and moments in his life that the groom seriously regrets, then don’t bring them up. Remember that this room is full of the bride and groom’s closest friends and family. The Groom doesn’t want you to tell the story about his sleeping with the Himalayan prostitute, especially not in a room that includes his gran and his new wife.

If it’s not a story that the Groom would wilfully admit to after a few drinks, then it’s probably not for this audience.

The best stories are usually about light hearted public embarrassment, mischief and minor rebellion. Just remember though, if there’s a videographer present, it’s going on the record… So, don’t say anything that’s going to get anyone arrested!

 6.  creative best man speeches

You’re the best man. What are you the best at? Creatively speaking. Can you sing? Can you dance? Can you rap? Can you write poetry? maybe a dirty limerick?

If you have some creative bones in your body… use them. The best best man speeches I’ve seen have been memorable for their creative moments.

A few years ago, I saw a speech where the best man wrote a short play detailing the bride and groom’s relationship. He’d gathered a few of their closest friends to perform the skit. It made for a truly memorable addition to his speech. The bride and groom simultaneously laughed uncontrollably and cringing hard. I’ve seen my fair share of Best men perform raps, songs and poems, there’s even been a little illustration and painting thrown in the mix.

If you’re good at something creative, maybe there’s a way of getting it into your speech. Even if you’re not great at the creative arts, adding in a little creativity is a good way of making your speech fun and memorable (plus it’s usually good for a few easy laughs)

 7.  The best man with a plan

“I’m just going to get up there and wing it” the two people you LEAST want to hear this from are your surgeon… and the best man.

Some best men have a gift. The ability to hold the attention of a room using nothing but the power of their vocal chords. This, combined with a mind that automatically places all of the right words in the right order, creates a sublime piece of oratory art. Crowds applaud. Women swoon and men hold up camera phones in an effort to capture something of this vocal marvel.

I’m sorry to say, that you are most likely not one of these rarities. The majority of the time when a best man says “I’m just going to wing it”, the following half hour is a meandering mess of misremembered misadventures and mistaken memories.

But fear not. With a little preparation, you can make it seem like you are Gods gift to the spoken word.

Planning and practice make perfect. Either write out your speech word for word or bullet point it on a few cue cards. Practice your speech in the mirror a few times. This will help you identify any sections that are going to trip you up and help get you familiar with your best man speech. It will also give you an indication of how long your speech is. The sweet spot for any speech is eight minutes, though you’ll probably go over a bit when delivering it. Just make sure it doesn’t tip past the twelve-minute mark as that’s when people’s attention begins to … did I feed the dog?

If you’re writing out your speech in its entirety then you can either learn it or read it from the page. If you’re reading your best man speech from the page just be careful not to hold the page right in front of your face… or in anyone else’s for that matter.

 8.  Booze makes even the best man… mediocre

 Remember that fine line I keep talking about? The one that separates hilarity and being a dick? If anything is likely to accidentally make you cross over that line, it’s fermented hops/grapes/rice/grain/potatoes/turnips.

There’s a temptation for a lot of best men to get absolutely hammered on the wedding day. You’ve got to be funny for your speech, right? And you’re hilarious when you’re drunk right? Sorry to burst your alcohol induced bubble here, but I’ve only ever seen one good best man speech from a hammered best man. He only got away with it because was hilarious even without alcohol and read the majority of his speech directly from cuecards.

Getting wasted before your speech will mean you’re more likely to trip over your words, forget what you were talking about… and cross over that line. You were adamant that you weren’t going to mention your Himalayan encounter… but now you’ve got a bottle of Jack down you, the story is too funny not to tell… even if it is definitely crossing our hypothetical line.

A drink or two to calm your nerves is fine, even a drink or three. But you need to be able to stand up and actually read your tiny cue cards. So, keep it together.

Again, if there’s a videographer present or anyone with a camera… this is getting recorded and played back to you at a later date.

 10. Why are you here?

The last thing to remember is something we’ve already covered. It’s the most important thing to remember so, We’re covering it again.

Remember why you’re writing this best man speech. It’s not about you. It’s about them. Your best mate and his wife are about to start a new life together (or carry on the old one with a certificate and some new tax breaks). The wedding day is a celebration of their union. You and your speech are just a part of that.

It doesn’t matter how bogged down you get in writing the best man speech. So long as you can say a few words that help them celebrate their day, you’ve done your job. Don’t fret, don’t worry and don’t freak out. Don’t tell yourself that it’s all riding on the best man speech. It isn’t. You’re just a part of their big day and if you follow this advice you’ll write the best best man speech ever*.

Planning a wedding?

 It’s all a little overwhelming isn’t it?

We’ve been there. If you want a little help or some ideas from people that go to weddings… a lot, then we can help. We’ve sat down and written loads more wedding planning advice for you here . 

If you’re planning an amazing wedding, y ou’re probably going to want an amazing wedding film as well. Something that showcases all of the hard work that you’re putting in.

It just so happens that we specialise in amazing wedding films! Invite us along and we’ll make you a unique film that honestly captures something of you and the day that you had.

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How To Write A Best Man Speech

Speechwriting can be daunting, especially when it comes to the best man speech, i.e. often one of the most talked about moments of the day. Whether you’re the best man in question, or getting married and looking for something to give your best man a nudge in the right direction, our list of simple top tips will make sure your speech goes off without a hitch. For more inspiration, check out our wedding readings podcast episode, and article on funny wedding readings . If you’re giving a speech in an alternative wedding role , a lot of this advice will still apply, so stick with us!

WHAT IS A BEST MAN SPEECH?

Traditionally, the running order of speeches goes: father of the bride, groom, best man. However, as the Rock My Wedding saying goes: it’s your day, your way! You can throw this malecentric lineup out the window and have whoever you like speak at the reception. Rules were made to be broken, baby. We absolutely love a bride’s speech , and the rise in popularity of the best woman .

Ultimately, the best man speech serves to bring everyone together, tell the newlyweds’ epic love story and raise a final toast to their future. We recommend keeping it between 3-5 minutes long, but if public speaking isn’t your forte, there’s nothing wrong with making it short and sweet. So, without further ado, here are our top tips for writing a best man speech that everyone will love.

INTRODUCE YOURSELF

First thing’s first: a massive thanks to the previous speaker and another round of applause, giving a wedding speech is no easy job! Before you begin your epic best man speech, you could also share any messages for the happy couple from those who couldn’t be there on the day.

When it comes to introducing yourself, people will always want to know how you came to be best mates with the groom. The goal is not just to give a cracking speech, but for the guests to connect with you too. First impressions are everything, so we’d advise pacing yourself on the bubbly ahead of your speech to avoid any mishaps. You’ve got the rest of the day to enjoy a few drinks, so don’t let your hard speechwriting work go to waste by getting wasted yourself.

KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE

Now everyone knows who you are, but do you know your audience? One of the most important aspects of a best man speech is for it to be enjoyable for everyone, so keep the content appropriate for all audiences. This isn’t to say you can’t be a bit cheeky of course, but be mindful that grandparents, young children or colleagues could be there. There’s nothing more cringeworthy than an inappropriate story about the groom being met with a few nervous titters (save it for the afterparty). If you’re second-guessing yourself on any anecdotes, it’s likely best to leave them out. Topics that are generally a no-go zone include money, sex, politics, religion or past relationships.

MAKE SURE YOUR JOKES ARE FUNNY

Keep things upbeat; it’s a toast, not a roast. This is the happiest day of their lives and one joke too far could really ruin the mood. Being best mates, of course a few friendly digs are to be expected, but check in with the couple before the wedding so you know exactly where the line is.

There’s nothing less engaging for an audience than listening to too many in-jokes that they can’t understand. Avoid any ‘you had to be there’ moments - your job is to tell a story that makes the guests feel like they were there anyway!

TELL THEIR STORY

The key to a great speech? It’s got to flow. Rather than string together a few choice anecdotes, your best man speech should tell a story - their love story. Find a theme, identify your key messages and build your speech from there. Include some variety, a few tales to make ‘em laugh and cry. Sadly, you can’t fit everything you want to say into a few minutes, so make it count.

Additionally, this speech isn’t solely about your relationship with the groom - as close as you may be - it’s about their epic love story. Give everyone an insight into their lives and who they are as a couple. Don’t be afraid to get emotional! Whilst searching the internet for best man speech inspiration is a great place to start, make sure yours is ultimately authentic and personal. Think about your relationship with the both of them, any memorable moments or tales from when they first met. If you have a sweet story that their other half may not know, like how nervous the groom was on their first date, that’s perfect. You could even include a quote from their favourite film, poem or book.

BE PREPARED

Practise, practise, then practise some more. Look up examples and templates online, or search YouTube for epic best man speeches. Reading your speech aloud and in front of others will help you figure out what works in terms of timing, anecdotes, and your delivery. Ask for feedback and keep going until it’s perfect.

Top tip: having your speech printed or written down on paper automatically makes you look a lot more prepared than reading it from your phone. Plus, it’s a nice memento for the couple to keep if they wish.

TAKE YOUR TIME

Public speaking certainly isn’t for everyone, it’s totally normal to be nervous. The best advice we can give for beating those pre-speech butterflies is to pace yourself; take time to pause, breathe, and leave room for audience reactions. You don’t need to tell every funny story or joke one after another, either. Find the right balance between emotional anecdotes and witty banter. If your comedic timing is just right, those snappy one liners will land even better after a touching story.

Your hours of practise should help you keep your cool. However if, on the day, you’re flagging and a joke just isn’t landing right, don’t be afraid to go for an easy positive reaction. Ask everyone to give the happy couple another round of applause or a big cheer for someone who has helped put the ceremony/reception together. Just take a breath, and get back on track.

If you want to make sure guests are completely hooked, practise strong eye contact, upright posture and voice projection. If you’re closed off and mumbling, people will sense that you’re uncomfortable. Even if you’re not the most confident public speaker, a smile and some eye contact goes a long way!

RAISE A TOAST

Always finish by reiterating how much you love the newlyweds, how happy you are to be a part of their special day and ask everyone to raise a glass to their happiness. Then, get ready to hit the dance floor!

Now you've nailed your best man speech, it's time to organise a bit of fun. This 60 questions game is great for both stag-dos and on the day. Plus, this wedding at Steeton Hall has some great groomsmen & groom wedding photo inspiration.

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The Best Man Speech Guide

You are here because you have received the honour of being the best man – congra­tula­tions!

There are many jobs and respon­sibi­lities that come with being a best man. Planning the crazy, unforgettable stag do , helping the groom prepare for the wedding and of course writing that all important best man speech. But writing a speech is one of the most important best man duties . It's more than putting pen to paper; you want to make it captivating, funny and perfect for the newlyweds. We understand how this can become quite a challenge, so we’ve put together a guide on all things best man speech related, with speech structures, joke ideas, the dos and don’ts of a best man speech and everything in between.

Get our Best Man Speech Template for FREE here...

What Makes a Great Best Man Speech?

Whether you are the groom’s longest friend or writing the best man speech as a brother, there are certain paths that everyone goes down when it comes to putting their speech together. As soon as you find out you have the important role of best man, you instantly think about your speech. And writing a best man speech can be hard! The most important thing to remember is adding some humour, heartfelt words and a bit of banter.

9 Rules When Writing a Best Man Speech

1. Make sure it’s no more than 1,000 words – that equates to around 7 minutes

2. Add some humour, but don’t go over the top

3. Only use one reminiscence or anecdote

4. Mix humour and friendly digs towards the groom

5. Complement the bride

6. Do NOT swear

7. Try to memorise your opening line

8. Speak loudly and slowly

9. Make the last thing you say memorable

6 Types of Best Man Speeches

A great way to make sure that your best man speech ends up being legendary is by ensuring you've nailed the structure and overall theme of your monologue. So, if you are still stuck for ideas to start from, here are a few different types of best man speeches that you can take inspiration from:

1. Light-Hearted

• Grabs the audience’s attention
• Be fondly remembered for years to come

2. Edgy/Witty

• Full of the gags and one-liners
• Usually centre on topics that would usually be serious or a bit taboo

3. The Roast

• Make sure you and the groom are close enough
• Don’t expect to be on the good side of the groom after the speech

4. Poking Fun

• Good for sneaking some light laughs into your speech
• A good, gentle but fun option
• Acceptable to shove even more digs and jokes in
• Usually an advantage for everything

6. Sentimental

• Easy on the laughs and the fun
• Praises the bride and groom

Best Man Speech Opening Lines

Even the shortest best man speech needs a cracking opening line. This is the opportunity to get everybody’s attention, and the best way to do that is with some humour! The opening line will give an indication as to what type of best man speech route you are going down. It’s important to introduce yourself whether you want to make the introduction humorous, sincere or edgy the choice is yours. It’s also important to explain how you and the groom know each other.

Opening Lines to Begin Your Best Man Speech

1. "Hi guys, my name is (best man) and as best man, it’s my job to tell you the truth about (groom)."

2. "Most of you may wonder why out of everyone, I was chosen to be the best man today. To be honest, I am the only one of (groom)’s friends who can read and write!"

3. "I’d like to make a toast (brings out a piece of toast)"

4. "I was taught by my parents that if I had nothing good to say about someone don’t say anything at all (pause)"

5. "Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to thank you all for coming today, especially everyone who knew I’d be doing a speech – it’s great that you decided to still come."

6. "My name is (best man). Today it is my job to praise the groom, but in fact, whilst writing this speech, I’ve found it impossible to praise him at all!"

How to Structure Writing a Best Man Speech in 10 Simple Points

Once you’ve got your opening line out of the way, you will be onto the rest of writing the best man speech. There are a variety of different thing you can include into your best man speech depending on the type of speech you’re going for. Most of the topics below are what everyone puts into their best man speech. Once you’ve got all these figured out you’re well on your way to writing a best man speech that will be memorable!

1. Introducing Yourself

Unless you’ve done this in the opening line, you will need to let the audience know who you are. You could do this introduction in a number of ways.

• Alternative

2. Relation to the Groom

Make known who you are and your relationship with the groom; it’s the perfect opportunity for banter, roasting and explaining why you love ‘em.

3. Friendship Reminisces

The Essential part of your speech should be best handled using heartfelt remarks alongside a dribble of humour.

Things to consider mentioning:

• How you met
• How long you’ve known each other
• Being great mates
• Your first impressions
• Reaction to when he proposed
• Your favourite/­­funniest memory

4. The Praise

Pay tribute to the star of the show (the groom); the obvious stuff to mention is:

• What a great friend he is, and why
• How honoured you are to be the best man
• How delighted you are for the groom
• Pledge your support to the groom
• Some meaningful words
• How the groom inspires you?
• Explain why the groom will be good husband material

5. The Roast

There are 4 key ingredients you need to serve up the perfect roast:

• Personality trait

6. Add a Joke

Make sure the next section of the best man speech is humorous, perhaps talk about:

• Honour of being the best man
• Preparing the speech
• Cost of the wedding
• The stag do
• Best man duties
• Anxious moments

7. Compliment the Bride

The bride is equally the biggest part of the day as the groom so she deserves at least a mention in the speech.

There are a few things that can be said to compliment the bride:

• Admiration for the bride
• Bride’s qualities
• Groom’s happiness
• Like to know her better
• Recognising bride’s efforts
• Bride’s bettered the groom
• Wish her luck

8. Compliment the Couple

Once you have praised and complimented them separately, it’s important that you compliment them as a couple.

9. Closing Lines

Things to include in a sentimental closing line:

• Your belief in their marriage
• Your own hopes in the marriage
• Sum up the day
• Your place in their lives now
• Your congratulations
• Your best wishes
• Wise words for the future
• Amusing presents
• Jokes about the honeymoon
• Wedding costs

10. ‘Thank You’ & Toasts

Talk about the following topics:

• The honour of being chosen to be the best man
• For being involved in the wedding personally
• To all the contributors to the wedding
• To the guests for attending and all the gifts they’ve brought along
• Toast to the couple’s future

Best Man Speech for Brothers

Apparently, 1 in 4 best men are also a brother of the groom. So it makes sense why a best man speech for brothers are so popular. There is a lot of pressure on the best man with writing a speech but since you are the brother, you’ve got a serious advantage. If you are the brother, there are a lot more grounds you can talk about and cover without treading on anyone’s toes. Talk about how you are best friends, your childhood memories etc.

You can even get the parents involved more when you’re writing a best man speech as a brother! After all that is the biggest thing you and your brother have in common so mentioning them in the speech might be a nice addition. Some healthy sibling rivalry is also a great way to add some humour into the best man speech. Poke fun at him and some of the healthy competition you had growing up.

As the brother, you can also add something a lot more heartfelt than any other best man could. As well as complimenting the bride and everything else around the couple, you are also welcoming the bride into the family as your new in law.

6 Rules for Writing a Best Man Speech for Brothers

1. Use the fact that your brothers to your advantage as it will make your speech unique

2. Don’t add too many inside jokes as it could leave people confused

3. Don’t swear

4. Keep it clean, remember your parents and grandparents will be listening

5. Speak slowly and pause for laughter

6. Don’t be afraid to use cue cards if you think you might forget some parts of the speech

Funny Best Man Speeches

As soon as you have been given the position of best man, it goes without saying that writing a funny best man speech runs through your brain. Of course during the best man speech, you want to add some emotion, compliments and heartfelt words. But the funny parts are the most important obviously. But of course when going for funny best man speeches you want to make sure you don’t overdo it.

4 Rules for Funny Best Man Speeches

1. Remember where you are, you don’t want your jokes going down a controversial route or to offend anyone

2. Steer away from jokes that only a select few people will get, you want to engage your whole audience

3. Make sure you don’t have to over explain any jokes as that’s when the joke isn’t funny, keep everything short and sweet.

4. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, your audience aren’t expecting a comedy show off Jack Whitehall!

Short Best Man Speeches

Whether you are the groom’s longest friend or your writing the best man speech as a brother there are certain paths that everyone goes down when it comes to putting their speech together. As soon as you find out you have the important role of best man you instantly think about your speech. And writing a best man speech can be hard! The most important things to remember is to add some humour, heartfelt words and a bit of banter.

1. Introduce yourself to the audience

2. Tell some jokes relating to the groom

3. Congratulate the happy couple

Best Man Speech Examples

By this point, you should have a good idea of how you want to structure your best man speech. However, the next part is probably the hardest - getting some original words of your own written down! Here’s a few best man speech examples you can take inspiration from to get you started:

1. The “Thankful” Speech

“It’s a pleasure to be here as [groom’s] best man tonight. I’d like to start off by thanking you for the opportunity to stand by you and [bride] today and share this special moment with you. [Groom] has always been someone I look up to and respect, and it makes me happy to see that he’s found someone to share the rest of his life with. Cheers to a lifetime of memories and happiness”

2. The “Good Idea” Speech

“I’ve known [Groom] for many years, and we’ve shared a lot of laughs and good memories together. However, it’s said that with old friends, you can afford to be stupid with them! Yet despite how many funny stories we have, I have to praise [Groom] for all the smart decisions he’s made in his life – His friends, career, and you, [Bride], quite possibly the best decision he’s ever made!”

3. The “She’s the One” Speech

“When I was first introduced to [Bride], I knew instantly that she was perfect for [Groom]. Even if he wasn’t aware of the fact that they’d end up here today, it was clear to his friends that he was captivated by her. Even when [Bride] wasn’t there, [Groom] would still manage to talk about her every five minutes! And now, today, we see how far they’ve both come and how perfect they really are for each other.”

Best Man Toast Ideas

Regardless of the occasion, no great speech is complete without a great toast! Have a look at a few best man toast examples here to help you out with rounding off that awesome monologue you’ve just written!

1. “I’d like you all to join me in wishing the new Mr and Mr/Mrs [surname] all the wealth, health and happiness in the world. To the happy couple!”

2. “To [NAME] and [NAME] – here is to a lifetime of love and happiness”

3. “Raise your glass and join me in a toast to [Bride] and [Groom] – may you always be friends as well as lovers”

4. “To my best friend and his beautiful bride: the new Mr and Mrs/Mr [surname]”

5. “Here is a toast to a perfect couple – to a long life together filled with happiness, adventure and lots of wonderful memories”

Best Man Speech FAQs

Of course, you might still have some burning questions we haven’t covered yet. But don’t worry, we’ve listed a few best man speech FAQs for you here so you don’t get caught out!

When Does the Best Man Speech Happen?

The best man speech usually takes place during the wedding reception after the maid of honour has said a few words to the newlyweds. However, some couples may choose to schedule this for during the reception meal. Make sure to stay up to date with the order of the day and check in with the groom regularly if anything changes.

How Many Speeches is the Best Man expected to give?

Just one! Once you know when the timeslot for your speech is, be sure to put plenty of time into memorising it as best as you can. Best man speeches that have had lots of time and effort put into them will be reflected during the delivery.

What is the Purpose of a Best Man Speech?

The idea behind giving a best man speech is to give the audience an insight into the newlyweds and their relationship through your unique perspective and standpoint as his friend or relative. But remember, the speech should mainly be about the relationship between the couple, rather than you and the groom.

4 Best Man Speech Websites

1. the best man speech |  website.

Claiming to have the largest collection of best man speech material on the web, this website definitely doesn’t disappoint! The Best Man Speech takes you through the basic elements that every speech needs, shows you the latest trends and gives you tips on how you can personalise your speech to impress the groom and make the bride cringe. The site even offers a navigation system that starts with the opening line, so it’s practically writing the whole thing for you.

2. I am the Best Man |  Website  

A popular one, I Am the Best Man is really a one stop shop of all the things you need for your speech and more. Here, you’ll find a best man speech checklist so you can make sure you’ve got everything covered, great one liners you can personalise and even a quick guide to conquering your nerves. If you’re feeling extra lazy, the professionals over at I am the Best Man will even write your speech for you?!

3. Simply the Best Man |  Website

Simply the Best Man is really what it says on the tin – it’s a website that will truly turn you into the best…best man out there. This site breaks down your best man speech into 7 phases so you can focus on each and end up with an epic speech that the groom will be talking about for weeks. To top it off, the site offers free downloadable guides so you can print them out, edit them or whatever you fancy.

4. All Speeches Great & Small |  Website

If you can’t trust a specialist in every type of speech under the sun, who can you trust we say! All Speeches Great & Small are the connoisseurs of creating the perfect speech for any occasion. They have a whole section for best man speeches, with a bunch of different tips that home in on the sections of a speech. They also discuss the length of your speech, how to tackle awkwardness and who you need to address when you’re making it.

Download the Best Man Speech Guide

If you are liking our Best Man Speech template and wish to print it off, feel free to download it by pressing the link below!

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Best Man Speech Structure: Creative Examples & Ideas

A good Best Man speech structure will flow, get more laughs and make the speech seem shorter than it is. It also will help you write it. When you’ve got your outline, it’s a great guide as to what to include and what to leave out.

Another advantage of a clear Best Man speech structure is that it’s like a hidden clock. As you pass from story to story or section to section, the guests can intuitively feel at what point they are in the speech. “Ah. It’s a stag do story…we’re probably nearing the end of the anecdotes.”

Knowing they are in good hands – and the speech won’t last till hell freezes over – the guests will relax. And relaxed listeners are more likely to laugh on the big day .

Now we’ve established that, what’s the best order of a best man speech ?

Well, let’s read on. This blog post will cover the basics of best man speech structuring, some fun ideas of what to include, and some creative ways to structure your best man speech .

How To Structure A Best Man Speech : The Basics

Before thinking about your best man speech format, you need to know your building blocks. What to include and what to leave out.

Things to include:

•       A decent range of stories so they are not all “one-note” e.g. wall-to-wall drinking stories.
•       Some heartfelt lines about what the groom’s friendship means to you.
•       The bride! Even if you don’t know her well, do include at least a line or two about her or directed towards her. It doesn’t need to be poetry, just complimentary.
•       A toast to the bride and groom

Things you DON’T need to include:

•       A long list of thanks – the Father of the Bride and/or Groom will have already welcomed and thanked everyone.
•       Toast to absent friends. Again, usually done by the Father of the Bride or Groom.
•       Last thing , the stag do – don’t feel obliged to cover it. If there’s a fun and repeatable story or two to relate, great. If not, no one will notice or care.

OK. We can move on to how to structure a best man speech . In a nutshell, you should save the schmaltz till last. It’s the dollop of sweetened cream the groom deserves after the preceding roast.

Here’s an outline for a traditional best man speech :

•       Light-hearted remarks at the top of the speech
•       Who you are and how you know the groom
•       Your main stories, including some embarrassing stories – see below for how to order these
•       The bride entering the groom’s life and why they are a great couple
•       Some heartfelt lines about the groom
•       A best man toast to the bride and groom

A winning best man speech template really can be as simple as that.

How Long Should A Best Man Speech Be?

The old joke is a speech should be like a dress – short enough to be attractive and long enough to cover the bare essentials. Here are some hard numbers on how long a best man speech should be.

If you have 10 – 15 minutes of bitingly funny, well-structured material, that length is probably fine. If you’re confident with public speaking , don’t know the groom so well or are one of a huge roster of speakers, then 5 – 6 minutes is fine too. In the majority of cases, I’d default to the average length of a best man speech , which is 7 – 9 minutes . This will allow you to cover lots of stories, without the fear of overstaying your welcome.

If there are lots of speakers at the wedding, you might be asked to restrict the length of your speech. This is usually to stop the speeches lasting into the middle of the night. So, if your 5 minutes becomes 6.5 minutes, don’t worry. It’s not the end of the world.

A Classic Best Man Speech Format That Always Impresses

What’s the best Best Man speech format? Easy. It’s the one that works for you and the guests. It could be slightly higher concept (see next section for examples) or it could be the classic best man speech layout below.

Let’s run through it.

Light-hearted remarks at the top of the speech

So first, we need some opening jokes or humorous one-liners . It’s here you establish who you are – friend or brother – and what you intend to do. Will you slowly roast the groom; is this revenge for when he was your Best Man? Set out your parameters early and be ruthless. Cut out all the fluff. It’s here you’re showing this speech will be lean, mean and keen.

Things to consider include:

Does the groom have a nickname? You could start with his formal name then switch to how you’d usually address him and why. It’s a good chance for an early gag.

Are you one of two Best Men? Perhaps there’s a joke about his decisiveness.

Is his timekeeping terrible? Near the top of the speech could be a good place to drop this in.

Things you don’t need to include:

Thanking people for the organisation. This feels like padding and will have usually been covered by others. Unless you’re going to turn it into a joke, of course. Thank goodness the groom didn’t get involved in the planning…!

Check out our blog on best man speech opening lines for some more inspiration.

How you know the groom

If you’re friends, how and when did you meet? For example, did you meet at school and you’re still trying to shake him off? If you’re brothers, are you older or younger, with any inside jokes ? We’re still near the top of the speech so turn this info into humour where you can.

Your main stories

Ordering your stories is one of the key elements of your Best Man speech format. Essentially you need focus and flow. Here are some ways to nail your Best Man speech layout.

• From cradle to rave

Everyone loves a funny story of infant silliness, teenage surliness and early adult adventures. Ask for stories from his parents or siblings and put them in rough order.

It could be the time he somehow broke a collarbone while sitting down. Or how he would not be separated from this teddy bear till the age of 12. Then there’s that time he thought wrestling was real. Wait till he finds out about Santa Claus…

It’s a bite-size biography that can be introduced as: “ Ladies and gentlemen , buckle up as I now present to you: the uncensored life and times of Joe Bloggs/John Doe.”

• Groom’s qualities

Write a list of various aspects of the groom’s personality. They could be positive, negative, serious or comical. For example, hardworking, scatter-brained, ambitious, accident-prone, frugal, sensitive.

Now brainstorm your stories and link them to the most appropriate quality. You now have ready-made sections for your structure.

Start your main section explaining how the groom is a great guy with a kaleidoscope of qualities, a jewel of many facets, a total nightmare! Then clearly introduce each section, e.g., “It’s now time to look at “John The Scatter-Brained.”

The virtue of this Best Man speech format is that it comes 100% from the groom’s qualities and won’t feel forced.

The bride entering the groom’s life and why they are a great couple

After your main stories, you can introduce the groom meeting the bride. Was it at work, online dating or in a bar? Is everyone still pinching themselves he’s managed to find such an amazing woman?

This section is a great chance to mix the sincere and the humorous. You could talk about how the bride has been a great influence on the groom. Or you could say she has basically had to domesticate a wild animal.

You might also have stories about how the groom has or hasn’t changed after he was struck down by Cupid’s arrow. Has the club monster become a sofa-dweller? Does he now have young kids? Perhaps he still goes to bed with sick on him, just no longer his own.

If you know the bride and groom well as a couple, you could even include some stories that involve both of them.

Some heartfelt lines about the groom

Come on, he has earned it. He really has. You’ve mocked his manners and exaggerated his eccentricities. It’s now time to show some love. The extent to which you do this is obviously dependent on the nature of your friendship. But there’s one big note here: less is more. One or two short paragraphs on what a great person, friend or brother he is will have more effect than a mini-essay.

A toast to the bride and groom

And to round off any Best Man speech format, it’s the toast. You could use it as an opportunity to squeeze in another line, e.g., “Before GROOM starts bursting into tears at all these kind words said about him, I think it’s time to raise a toast….”

The simple option is just to ask people to be upstanding as you raise a glass to the newly weds / to the bride and groom / to NAME and NAME.

A Creative Way To Order Your Best Man Speech

If you’re looking for something a bit higher concept, here are some other best man speech outline ideas.

One of the simplest is the Best Man CV as it doesn’t take too much set up.

Best Man speech CV

So, how does the Best Man CV idea work in a speech?

Start your speech as you normally would. Introduce yourself and use an icebreaker or opening line to get people warmed up. It’s now time to introduce the idea of the Best Man CV.

The bride is clearly a catch. She’s lovely, funny and kind. And the groom is… well, he’s the groom. So how on earth did he manage to get such a wonderful woman to sign on the dotted line? It’s time to take a look at his skills, talents and gifts and ask ourselves – do any of those words deserve to be used in the plural?

Generate your raw material

Brainstorm your ideas about the groom. Whether it’s big or small, just get it down. It could be the time he fell asleep in a pub toilet. His obsession with true crime documentaries. His joy at beating an 8-year-old child at table tennis.

The more ideas you generate, the more potential patterns will appear. For example, the groom might always seem to set himself the challenge of getting home with no money, no co-ordination and no spatial awareness.

So, we now move on to the next stage: linking the ideas to Best Man CV headings.

Best Man CV examples

You could draw up a list of typical qualities you see on a CV or profile. Things like attention to detail, team player, highly qualified or problem solver. Alternatively, you can look at the material you’ve got then think up a skill, talent or quality that matches it.

If he’s always late, you could have a section about how he is a “Creative timekeeper”. Most conventional people think “meet at 7pm” means 7pm. The groom thinks it means leave the house at 7pm then leave it to fate.

Here are some ways to match a heading with an idea.

• Always goes the extra mile

Forget self-sacrifice, the groom knows this means falling asleep on the train or night bus and missing his stop.

• Attention to detail

Like light from a black hole, nothing escapes the groom’s brilliant mind. His memory is the eighth wonder of the world. Just ask him what things he’s left behind in the pub and he’ll dazzle you with his recall: gloves, sunglasses, an iPad, his passport, his dignity.

• Excellent budgeting

The groom loves to explore the boundaries and possibilities of finance. Like how much you can spend on things which aren’t food or rent. He is a man who knows how to restrict his spending to the essentials, such as video games, vinyl, golf equipment and beer.

The groom is a man of such focus and determination that he sometimes forgets about the everyday things. Like having food in the fridge or remembering his friends’ birthdays. He much prefers to concentrate on life’s higher more spiritual goals like watching the latest Netflix documentary: “America’s Hottest Female Shoplifters”.

• Likes a challenge

In his 20s, he clearly realised he was such a catch that when he went out on a Saturday night, he insisted on wearing the worst clothes imaginable to give the other guys a chance.

• Putting others before himself

Nowhere is this more evident than in the pub. When it is suggested that it might be the groom’s turn to buy a round of drinks, his nobility shines through: “No. I believe it is others first.”

• Work-life balance

Groom’s approach to this is admirable. Start each week with 100% leisure time then slowly introduce small amounts of work. On one occasion, it was so successful he managed an entire day in the office – albeit his lunch break lasted three hours.

• Best Man speech CV conclusion

When it comes to your Best Man speech structure , the beauty of the Best Man CV is that it’s simple and flexible. You have a natural end point too. All these “qualities” mean the groom DOES deserve the bride. Especially when you end with some sincere remarks about what a good friend or brother he is.

Rules about the groom

This is another simple Best Man speech outline . Imagine the groom is like an exotic pet. What are the rules needed to deal with and look after him? Take some of your main stories and extract a simple Do or Don’t from each one.

For example:

•       Don’t give him alcohol after 11pm – into nightclub story where he ended up sleeping in the toilets.
•       Don’t encourage his ambitions – into story where he bid a tearful farewell to all common sense
•       Do buy him clothes… as often as possible – a chance to discuss some of his crimes against fashion

If you list the number of rules near the top of the speech, you’ve got an automatic way for everyone to know if they’re near the middle or the end. This does make a big difference.

Whichever Best Man speech format you use, remember this: it’s to serve the material and the stories, not to gain you kudos for being clever. If in doubt, ask yourself this about your layout: Does it add clarity? Does it aid the humour? If you don’t get a “yes”, give your potential layout a “no” and choose another one.

Need Help Structuring Your Best Man Speech ?

Even with tips on how to structure your Best Man speech , it can still feel daunting. Or perhaps you feel you can do it, but just don’t have the time. Either way, no problem. I offer a best man speech writing service where I can write you a speech that flows from top to bottom.

You give me the info, I write and structure the material and you get a speech you can’t wait to deliver. So why not take a look at my Best Man speech writing packages or get in touch now ?

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Best man's speech

Everything you need to know, the ultimate best man's speech guide.

You’ve arranged an amazing stag do for the groom, and he’s now ready to be sent off into marital bliss. But as the best man the stag do is just one of your duties (admittedly it’s the most fun one of them). On the big day you’ll have to pull out the big guns and deliver the ultimate best man’s speech.

Now you could put it off until the morning of the wedding and wing it, but like a great stag do, a great speech needs some planning. So starting writing your speech with a few weeks to spare, you’ll do yourself – and the groom – justice and go down as a legend of a best man!

With that in mind, we’ve put together the ultimate guide

Quick Links

Best man speech structure

Best man speech jokes

Best man speech one liners

Best man speech examples

Best Man Speech Structure

Start with a bang and end with a big payoff. Connect emotionally with the audience and take them on a journey. Make them laugh, make them cry. Remind everyone how special the day is and make your best mate look good (not too good!). Be pithy and don’t ramble. Keep it all under ten or fifteen minutes and the guests will thank you.

It's a lot to keep in mind, but don’t be nervous, with a solid structure you'll get to hit on all the essential notes. Below is The Stag Company formula for speech success:

Opening Line

An opening line is all about setting the tone. Fail to nail this and you've lost your audience before you've ever started. Generally, a top joke puts everyone in the right mood. There's a few ways to approach this; traditionally you'll be speaking after the groom, so a joke insult about his speech or at his expense is always a winner. However, if you're speaking after the bride's father we'd say steer clear of that and instead - go down the self-deprecating route. A line about how nervous or unprepared you are is a great way to get in an early laugh and get the audience on your side.

Introduction

It might seem a little obvious to introduce yourself. Obviously the bride and groom know who you are. But at a big wedding there's a decent chance that many of the relatives and more distant friends might not. So breaking down how you all know one another is a great way to add some substance and context. This is also a fantastic opportunity to pay some compliments to the bride and the bridesmaids. Anything about how beautiful they look is a sure fire way to set the bride and her family at ease.

This is always one of the key bits. You're really here on behalf of the groom, so a whole section dedicated to him is essential. You'll be talking about your relationship with the groom, but remember to keep in mind that this is about HIM not you, so the focus should always be on him. This is a great chance to build up the comedy and regale the audience with funny anecdotes, maybe about how you met. Keep in mind your audience - the time the groom pulled a 'girl' in Thailand is probably not kosher subject matter for a wedding. And remember that this isn't just jokes at the groom's expense, you're here to make him look good not roast him, so throw in a few lines about what a great guy he is.

Thou Shalt Slow Down; and Stay Sober

A great best man's speech should flow. It's all in the delivery. You want to skip from Point A to B to C in a brisk but not rushed manner. Feel free to take a pause when you feel like it, the audience is listening to them so command their attention. Don't rush through your speech at a million miles an hour. If you do you'll mumble and gabble and your jokes will fall flat.

And just as important? Don't be responsible for the dreaded drunk speech. People will call it ‘memorable' for all the wrong reasons. Hitting up the bubbly early can seem like a great idea to control your nerves but it's a mistake. Remember that you've got all the time in the world after your speech is over to take advantage of the free bar!

The Wedding Day

Once you've exhausted all your clean material about you and the groom you'll want to move onto the day itself. Highlight the effort that's gone into the day and make sure you pay particular attention to the contribution of the bride's parents - after all there's a decent chance they paid for it! If you're talking about the particulars of the day an off-the-cuff observation about the ceremony so far, or the menu or something along those lines makes your speech seem less scripted and more improvisational.

You should be hitting the middle of your speech around this point, and it's where you should probably start to move the tone away from comedy and to something a little more ‘feeling-y'. Unlike the groom, if you're making any jokes at the bride's expense it's not going to go well, and you might upset here on her big day. That's not to say you can't keep the comedy going, feel free to regale everyone with how you the first time you met the bride you thought she was too good for the groom and by the second time you were certain. That sort of thing. This should all be about how amazing she is and how she's made the groom happier than ever. That sort of soppy stuff.

We're in full soppy territory here. Talk about how good the bride and groom are together. Drop in a few anecdotes here, talk about how they've affected everyone's life and how happy everyone is to see them together. If you have stories that are likely to turn on the waterworks, then this is the time! Things not to mention in this section range from past girlfriends (or wives), arguments, and chances are anything that happened on your Eastern Europe stag.

Thou Shalt Avoid The Clichés

Try to be original. Clichés are overused and tired, avoid them like the plague (get it?) . If your opening line is anything like "The last time I stood up in front of a room of people I was found guilty" or "My name is ____ and I'm an alcoholic -wait, wrong speech." Is an absolute no-no. The same goes for tasteless jokes about the wedding night. And if we hear "It's been an emotional day – even the cake is in tiers.", one more time we're going to find whoever first wrote that and make sure they end up in tears.

Philosophise

Here you might want to talk about love in general. Mention the other couples (such as the parents of the bride or groom) as an example of who the new couple can look up to. You've got to toe the line here, things can easily get a little sickly sweet, so finishing with a strong joke can be essential here. After all it's your job to make everyone laugh, and the subject area of love and successful marriages is hardly a comedy goldmine!

Well done! We're in the home straight now! You've done it! The ending is where you summarise everything that you've covered in the speech. And this means that it's a great chance to call-back to some earlier jokes for a few more laughs. Leave your best jokes 'til now to ensure that everything ends on a happy note. Offer some advice to the couple, wish them all the best and ask the audience, along with you to raise a glass for the...

The best toasts are short and sweet, but that doesn't mean that you should put less effort into them. A good toast should take as long as the rest of your speech to come up with. It should reflect the tone of your speech. If you've been heavy on the comedy, a suddenly philosophical line about love can seem out of place. And equally if you've been all about the wonders of love, cracking out a one liner seems jarring and odd. After a fantastic closer it's time to take the praise for a fantastic speech.

Thou Shalt Not Read Off a Script

There’s no more sure fire way to lose the audience’s attention than to be pausing every few minutes to ruffle through hastily written sheets of A4. Reading off a script takes away all the natural feel of a speech, you’ll look like a kid reading a report with the paper a few inches away from their face. If you’re worried about forgetting a line here or there, then we suggest using cue cards. Instead of having the entire speech on them they just have the key points for you to hit. Instead of starting at a sheet of paper you’ll be engaging with the audience.

Best Man Speech Jokes

At times during your best man speech you might want to turn up the emotional side of things, but whatever anyone says the main duty of the best man is to get everyone laughing during the speech. But we've all been to plenty of weddings where the jokes are cheesy, poorly delivered and with a worse sense of timing than a broken stopwatch, the kind of speeches where you're much more likely to cringe than even get a few pity titters.

To make sure that your comedy routine doesn't die a laughless death there's a few things to keep in mind, there's the tone, your delivery and ensuring that you've learned them off by heart so you're never floundering for a punchline.

Tone of Jokes

Put simply, remember where you are . If there's any chance that one of your jokes might go down a controversial route, or offend anyone then take it out. You're not Jimmy Carr, you're not Frankie Boyle, you're here to make everyone laugh, not give nana a heart attack.

It's all about the audience. This means steering clear of inside jokes that only you and the groom will get, he might have a chuckle but everyone else will be puzzled at mention of the 'Noodle incident'.

Don't bore people , when you're telling a hilarious story, it stops being hilarious when you over-explain every part of it. How relevant is it to the audience to know that this particular incident happened when you were 18 in 2004 at 4:07am on Tuesday the 7th just off Second Street and the weather was a little bit rainy, not very rainy but a little bit...

Delivery of Jokes

If there's one thing show business got right it's 'fake it til you make it', good comedy has to be delivered confidently, so even if you're packed with nerves and shaking like the proverbial leaf just pretend that you're confident and you'll find the punchlines come off smother than a really smooth thing.

Furthermore, confidence isn't just about your voice. It's about your posture. Some best men end up looking so rigid they seem like they've had something shoved where it shouldn't. Focus on relaxing your limbs and your body, it won't just put you at ease, it'll make everyone watching you more relaxed too.

Be yourself . Don't make expectations for yourself too high. People are expecting to have a little chortle, they aren't expecting a comedy barrage. So if a joke or two fall flat, don't worry about it and move on. Half the people here are your nearest and dearest, so they won't care and chances are the other half will be too drunk to remember anyway!

Embrace The Applause

It is a natural reaction for many to sip their drink and quickly sit down the moment you finish the speech, but this is the exact opposite of what you should be doing. You've worked hard to write the talk up, learn it all off by heard (even if you did use some notes) and delivered it with aplomb. Soak up all the attention you get and make the most of it. After a few seconds of drinking and smiling, you then need to pass the microphone on to whoever will be speaking after you. This is often the groom, so just check beforehand who you should be passing it to and work out a quick opener to get them a rapturous applause.

Best Man One Liners

Here's a list of best man speech one liners that can be put in your best man speech.

"I heard there is a sweepstake going on the length of the speech. I bid on 1 hour, so good luck!"

"I'm a little bit nervous, but fortunately I received a few wise words in the build-up. I was told that talking to an audience is much like being at a nudist beach, it's only hard for the first few minutes."

"I'm going to ask you to keep laughter and applause to a minimum. I would appreciate it as I've got a bit of a hangover. I know it's inappropriate to drink before such a big day, but I couldn't leave the groom drinking alone."

"I heard somewhere that the speech shouldn't take longer than it takes the groom to make love. Well, that's all from me."

"For those of you who don't know me, my name is Tom. I have been Marcus's friend for 1 week now, he found my advert on Gumtree as he hasn't got many friends so had to hire someone for the day."

"John had a hard time choosing his best man. First he asked his funniest friend, and they said no. Second he asked his smartest friend, and they said no. Third, he asked his most handsome friend, and they said no. Finally, he called me up and I said "John, I can't say no to you four times.""

"I met the groom's parents earlier this year. And they told me to take some inappropriate stories out. So thank you very much, that's it from me."

"So where do I start with Dan? He's handsome. He's intelligent. He's witty. He's cha-... charm... what does that say there Dan? I can't make out your handwriting"

"There's some really important people here tonight. Some of whom you'll meet throughout the evening, and without whom none of this would be possible - so I hope you'll join me in toasting the barman."

"A husband is a lot like a hardwood floor. Lay it right the first time and you can walk all over it for the rest of your life."

"The Oxford English Dictionary describes a wedding as 'a fusing of two metals using a torch'"

"I wish them well on their honeymoon in Wales. What’s that? The honeymoon isn’t in Wales? I could’ve sworn the groom said he was going to Bangor for two weeks?"

"Nick, you really are lucky to have found such a beautiful and caring woman to become your wife. Nicola… at least it didn’t rain today."

"I did ask for a microphone. But unfortunately one could be provided. So if you can’t hear me at the back, the silence from the front should reassure you that you aren’t missing out."

"It’s funny how history repeats itself. It was 30 years ago that Sam and Samantha sent their daughter to bed with a dummy… and it’s happening all over again today."

"Unlike most best man’s speeches which can be full of innuendo, I’ve assured the bride and groom that if there’s anything they don’t like the look of I’ll whip it out immediately."

"How to describe Chris? I’ve spent a long time wondering how best to hit on the right tone of praise, warmth and sincerity that sums up his character. I could speak about him for an hour (don’t worry, I’m not going to) and I’d still be no closer to grasping the essential essence of this man. But funnily enough he can be neatly summed up with an internationally recognised hand gesture."

"The vicar wanted to make it clear to the couple that he is firm on his stance on sex before marriage. However, Jenny has assured him it would only take a few minutes."

Best Man Speech Examples

Jamie Milligan is an ex-footballer who played for Everton and Blackpool. He hit the headlines last year after his best man Dan McKenzie made national news with his best man speech antics. In a genius trick the best man pretended to have forgotten his speech and ran out of the room. The screen in the room quickly cut to a video of him running out of the venue. It then shows McKenzie going to great lengths such as running down streets, over farm fields, stopping for an Ice Cream on Lytham seafront and also a pint. The comical journey includes nods to the groom’s football career and slapstick comedy as he falls over every obstacle rushing to get back to the wedding, where he runs back through at the end of the video. Genius.

Watch Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuTrA55ZUfQ

Darren Byrne is a best man from Ireland who stole the show at his best friend’s wedding with his great idea for personalisation. He spent 11 months collecting videos of messages from celebs for Darren Farrell and Anna Carey and played them at their wedding in Portugal. Byrne reached out to stars and agents to collate it all. He managed to get big names like James Corden, Gary Neville and Gary Barlow to give their best wishes to the couple. Of those that were unable to make time for a video they did receive an autographed photo to take home as a cool wedding present.

Watch Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2e3SujId-w

Dan Buccheri is a talented musician from Melbourne, Australia so when his brother Adrian asked him to be his best man you just know that is going to be great. Of course, Dan chose to do his speech in song form. He chose a medley of recognisable songs with edited lyrics. Included was songs from the Lion King, Backstreet Boys and R.Kelly, all with amusing lyrics. Eg “But now she has found the ignition, she got you sweeping the kitchen”. The song become very sincere and personal towards the end as he uses a take on Sam Smith’s hit Stay With Me to hit the hearts of everyone around.

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XL9BB0ttsM

Best Man Speech Opening Lines

Genuinely one of the hardest aspects is simply starting off the speech. Like the classic scene of an author trying to break their writer's block with the opening line of their new book, once you get on a roll it all starts to fall into place, but how do you kick it all off?

Well a great opening line can help to set up the whole speech. I (Tom) wrote in a line that included an asset, I lifted a piece of toast in the air and said 'I'd like to make a toast'. The reaction was a lot of laughs. The negatives, not everyone was fully paying attention, so a silly joke lost on half the room. The lesson from this is make sure everyone is paying attention before starting off, you don't want to waste great lines on people chatting away.

Below are some great ways to kick off your best man speech:

• Everyone here will know the bride is an incredible person who deserves an amazing guy to settle down with. Fortunately (grooms name) got there first before she found one.
• Those of you who know me will know that I'm not big on making speeches (then sit down for a few seconds). 
• I'll keep this short (then sit down for a few seconds).
• I have been hearing rumours that there has been a running bet on how long the best man speech will last for. I've gone for 40 minutes, so strap yourselves in!
• I'll try to keep my speech short, because I can't wait to see (groom's name) on the dancefloor!
• Before I begin, I've been asked by (bride's name) to remove anything risque or any innuendos, so don't worry, if I come across one I'll whip it out.
• I was asked not to share embarrassing stories about the groom (then put a thick pile of papers down), well that's most of my speech gone.
• The couple actually had some troubles finding someone to do the speech today. They started by asking the funniest friend and he said no. They then asked the best looking friend and again it was no. Then they asked their most charming friend I said yes, I couldn't say no after being asked three times.
• Ladies and gentleman, we are witnessing history, this is the first and last time anyone will trust me to make a public speech. God help us all.

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Well now you've got the speech down, but unfortunately it doesn't end there! There's the rest of your Best Man duties to worry about now, so you best read up on what to expect. And if you've been too busy preparing the perfect speech to prepare the perfect stag do then -first, what is wrong with you? - and you better take a look at our last minute page to save yourself, groom and the stag do from being stuck down the local boozer on the worst stag ever!

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One of the biggest reasons that gents like yourselves come to The Stag Company is that they want a bit of help throwing their stag the best and most memorable weekend that’s possible. Yes, you could organise it yourself, but when you’re looking at hotels and activities for over 12 guys it can be tricky finding availability and knowing which places will and won’t take a stag group. That’s where we come in. With over a decade of experience, and having organised thousands of stag do’s, you can count on our knowledge and expertise to give you exactly what you and your group want.

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- Nick James Harris, TrustPilot

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30 Brilliant Opening Lines for Your Best Mans Speech

Author: Hollie Bond

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Looking for the perfect best man speech opening lines to delight wedding guests? We’ve rounded up 30 of the funniest opening lines for every style of best man speech here.

Staring at a blank piece of paper with no idea of how to start your best man speech ? It’s a situation that pretty much every best man before you has been in before, so you’re certainly not alone. The beginning of a speech is always the hardest bit to get right, but once you’ve nailed that first sentence and won over the wedding guests it’s all plain sailing from there.

It’s important to spend some time and effort thinking about your audience, the happy couple, and the sort of icebreaker that will work best for them and you. Remember to play to your strengths. If you’re not a natural comedian then steer clear of too many best man speech jokes and opt for something charming, self-deprecating, or heartfelt instead.

Whatever type of best man wedding speech you’re hoping to deliver for your best friend, there’s an icebreaker to suit. We’ve compiled 30 of our favorites below that work at all types of weddings. Choose one of these best man speech openers to get your speech started in style and then read our ultimate guide to writing a best man speech to ensure the rest of your speech is as brilliant as that opening sentence.

Best Man Speech Openers

1. Ladies and gentlemen, before I start just some quick housekeeping. Firstly, if you’ve got your mobile phone on you please make sure to keep it switched ON during the speech, for your own entertainment. Secondly, if you see any good jokes in your scrolling, be sure to forward them on to me.

2. I’d like to offer a toast to the bride and groom [*Pull a piece of toast out your pocket and give it to them*]

3. Hi everyone, I’m (your name). I’m here to tell you about (groom’s name) and how truly special, talented, good looking and… sorry mate, I’m struggling to read your handwriting here.

4. I’d like to start by congratulating the groom on his excellent taste in best men. He’s really outdone himself this time.

5. The bride and groom have asked that I don’t share any embarrassing stories, stag do pranks or crude jokes in my best man’s speech… so that’s it from me! Thanks for listening.

6. A wedding is such an emotional day for everyone. Even the cake is in tiers.

7. For those of you who can’t hear me at the back, you should be reassured by the complete silence in the front row here that you’re really not missing much.

8. To start this speech, I searched online for ‘the perfect best man speech’, but you had to pay to read the examples and I didn’t think it was worth it, so I’m just going to wing it.

9. If there’s anyone here this afternoon who’s feeling nervous and queasy at the thought of what lies ahead, it’s probably because you’ve just married (groom’s name).

10. All those among you who really know the bride will know that she is a wonderful person who deserves a good husband. Thank god (groom’s name) married her before she found one.

11. Loyal, caring, sincere, honest, good looking, and a great man. But enough about me…!

12. Those of you that know me, know that I’m not big on making speeches [*sit down*]

13. My only wish for the bride and groom is that each day of their marriage is better than the previous so that they can look back on today, their wedding day, and say that it was the worst day of their lives.

14. (Groom’s name) knows his wife so well. When I asked him what her favourite flower was, he replied “self-raising”.

15. Good evening. I’m so happy to preside over the only five minutes that the bride didn’t plan. Of course, I’m only joking. She went over the speech with me half an hour ago in the bar.

16. I just heard there was a competitive sweepstake on how long the best man speech should last. I put my money on 45 minutes, so make yourselves comfortable…

17. I’ve been told I can’t get away with a few thank yous and a quick toast in this best man speech. Apparently, I’m supposed to sing the groom’s praises and talk about all his good qualities. Unfortunately, I can’t sing and I don’t like lying.

18. You’ve got no idea how much I’ve been looking forward to today. After all the years I’ve been friends with the groom, he has finally admitted that I am in fact the best man.

19. I don’t believe in roasting the groom on his wedding day. Therefore this speech won’t contain anything embarrassing about (groom’s name). Instead I’ll refer only to the kind and funny side of his character. Thank you and goodnight.

20. A best man is similar to a dead body at a funeral. You’re expected to be there, but if you say too much, people start freaking out.

21. A wise man once told me that a best man speech is like a miniskirt. It should be short enough to be interesting, but long enough to cover the goods.

22. Ladies and gentlemen before I start the venue owner has asked me to request that, for reasons of health and safety, none of you get up on top of the chairs and tables during my standing ovation.

23. I’ll try to keep my speech short, because every minute I speak is an extra minute’s delay in witnessing how the groom’s dance lessons worked out.

24. (Groom’s name) had the honour of being my best man. He spent months writing a perfect, tender and charming speech. Everyone agreed it was funny and beautiful. Unfortunately I’m a married man, so I haven’t had the time to do all that.

25. I would like to start by saying what a pleasure it is to be best man at (bride and grooms’ names) wedding. (Groom’s name) made me compete for this honour today, but I was able to beat the barman over there in rock-paper-scissors, so here I am!

26. I’ve been worried about giving this speech for a while now. Fortunately last night I slept like a baby. Waking up every two hours and bawling my eyes out.

27. I didn’t really want to do this speech, but I thought it might be the only chance I’ll get to have a meal and some drinks paid for by (groom’s name).

28. I always knew the groom’s speech would be hard to follow. In fact, I couldn’t understand a word of it.

29. Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve now reached the point in the proceedings when we all get to see the groom shift uncomfortably in his seat and grip the tablecloth in nervous anticipation. That’s right, I’ve been asked to give him the drinks bill.

30. I read somewhere that the perfect best man speech should last as long as it takes for the groom to make love. So please could everyone raise a glass to the happy couple!

Now you’ve chosen your opening line you’ll want to include some other best man speech jokes throughout your speech to keep your guests entertained. Read our guide to hilarious best man speech jokes here .

Hollie Bond

Hollie is a lifestyle journalist with over ten years’ experience working in the wedding industry as Lifestyle Editor for You & Your Wedding magazine Also a Regional Editor for Muddy Stilettos, Hollie has written for Square Meal magazine, Family History Monthly, BBC History magazine and Homes & Antiques. In her spare time you can find Hollie in a dance studio practising ballet…

Learn more about Hollie Bond

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• 14 Unforgettable Best Man Speech Examples To Inspire You
• Wedding Speeches
• 7 June 2023

14 Amazing Best Man Speech Examples

Many wedding venues will have microphones and speakers. If it is a large space then these will be necessary. But make sure you are comfortable with a microphone and if possible have a practice beforehand. There is nothing worse than delivering your killer punchline just as you turn your head away from the mic and nobody hears it! In the following best man speech examples you must talk clearly into the microphone.

If there is no microphone or you prefer not to use one, make sure you talk loud enough so those at the back of the room can hear.

1. Best Man Speech Examples: The Humorous Opener

“Ladies and gentlemen, if you’re wondering why I’m here, it’s because the groom needed at least one person to make him look good. And since his parents couldn’t make it, I’m here instead!”

If In Doubt, Buy The Book…

The best best man speech examples have a humorous and self-deprecating opener that instantly grabs the audience’s attention and sets a light-hearted tone for the rest of the speech.

2. The Childhood Anecdote

“I remember when [Groom’s Name] and I were kids, we used to play superheroes together. He always insisted on being the hero, and I was his trusty sidekick. Little did I know that years later, he would find his real-life superhero in [Bride’s Name].”

3. The Love Story Narration

“Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, a charming prince named [Groom’s Name] met his beautiful princess, [Bride’s Name]. Their love story began with stolen glances, blossomed through countless dates, and today, culminates in this magical wedding celebration.”

These best man speech examples take the audience on a journey, narrating the couple’s love story from the beginning and building up to the present day. It adds a touch of enchantment to the speech.

4. The Supportive Brother

“As [Groom’s Name]’s older brother, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing his growth and evolution. From scraped knees and muddy soccer fields to this momentous occasion, I couldn’t be prouder of the man he has become. [Bride’s Name], thank you for bringing out the best in my brother and making him the happiest man on earth.”

This example showcases the brotherly bond and expresses heartfelt gratitude to the bride for positively influencing the groom’s life.

5. The Unexpected Talent

“As it turns out, [Groom’s Name] isn’t just a master of wit and charm; he’s also a secret dance maestro. Who knew those moves on the dance floor were carefully choreographed by him? [Bride’s Name], get ready for a lifetime of dancing to his unique rhythm!”

This example adds an element of surprise by highlighting a hidden talent of the groom. It injects humour into the speech and celebrates the couple’s future together.

6. The Toast to Family

“Let’s raise our glasses and toast to the families that brought [Groom’s Name] and [Bride’s Name] together. May their love and support continue to strengthen this bond, and may the union of these two families bring nothing but joy and harmony.”

This example emphasises the importance of family, inviting everyone to join in a toast that celebrates the union of not only the couple but also their families.

7. The Lessons in Love

“In all the years I’ve known [Groom’s Name], he’s taught me many things. But the most important lesson he has taught me is that love is worth fighting for. [Bride’s Name], you’ve proven that true love exists, and together, you are an inspiration to all of us.”

This example acknowledges the valuable lessons the groom has taught the speaker and expresses admiration for the couple’s love, positioning them as a source of inspiration.

8. The Quirky Comparison

“If [Groom’s Name] was a movie, he would be a romantic comedy – full of laughter, unexpected twists, and a heart-warming ending. And today, he has found his leading lady in [Bride’s Name], turning his real-life rom-com into a happily ever after.”

This example uses a fun and relatable comparison to describe the groom’s personality and likens his journey with the bride to a romantic comedy film.

9. The Thank You to the Guests

“On behalf of the newlyweds, I want to express our gratitude to all of you for being here to celebrate this joyous occasion. Your presence today fills our hearts with happiness and makes this day even more special.”

This example takes a moment to acknowledge and thank the guests for their presence, emphasising the significance of their support and participation in the couple’s big day.

10. The Promise of Friendship

“As the best man, it is my duty to ensure that [Groom’s Name] never faces a challenge alone. I promise to be there through thick and thin, just as he has been there for me. Together, we will navigate the waters of marriage and continue to create lifelong memories.”

This example emphasises the best man’s commitment to friendship and offers a heartfelt promise of ongoing support and companionship.

11. The Romantic Quote

“In the words of the great poet, Robert Browning, ‘Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be.’ [Groom’s Name] and [Bride’s Name], may your journey together be filled with endless love, cherished moments, and a future that surpasses all expectations.”

This example incorporates a romantic quote to convey well wishes for the couple’s future, evoking a sense of timelessness and eternal love.

12. Best Man Speech Examples: The Wedding Advice

“As someone who has already embarked on this wonderful journey called marriage, I offer you this advice: always communicate openly, support each other’s dreams, and never forget to keep the spark alive. Cheers to a lifetime of happiness, love, and unforgettable adventures!”

This example adds a personal touch by offering marriage advice based on the speaker’s own experience, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared wisdom.

13. The Appreciation for the Bride

“I want to take a moment to acknowledge the incredible woman who stole [Groom’s Name]’s heart. [Bride’s Name], your love for him is evident in every glance, every touch, and every smile. Thank you for bringing so much joy and love into his life.”

Best man speech examples that express appreciation and admiration for the bride always go down well, recognising her impact on the groom’s life and highlighting the depth of their love.

14. The Final Toast

“To [Groom’s Name] and [Bride’s Name], may your marriage be filled with endless laughter, unwavering support, and a love that grows stronger with each passing day. Cheers to a lifetime of shared adventures and unforgettable memories!”

This example concludes the speech with a final toast, encapsulating heartfelt well wishes for the couple’s future and leaving a lasting impression on the audience.

These 14 amazing best man speech examples provide a range of ideas and styles to inspire your own speech. Remember, the key is to add your personal touch, tailor the content to the couple, and deliver it with sincerity and confidence. With these examples as your guide, you’re sure to create a speech that will leave a lasting impression on the newlyweds and their guests. Good luck!

See Also…

10 Tips for an Unforgettable Father of the Bride Speech

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In This Article

• Top Speech Examples
• How To Write The Perfect Speech
• Speech Template

Best Man Speech Ideas

• Opening Lines
• Toasts Examples
• Speech Jokes
• Speech Delivery Tips

Frequently Asked Questions

• Wedding Party & Reception

Best Man Speech Magic: Crafting Words that Resonate and Inspire

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Hey there! Your friend’s wedding is just around the corner, and he’s chosen you to be the best man? Crafting the perfect best man speech might seem daunting, but trust us, it’s simpler than you imagine.

Below, you’ll find a wealth of tips and examples from Wedding Forward team to guide you through crafting a best man speech that will leave a lasting impression. Moreover, our editorial team interviewed two distinguished experts in the field: Mindy Weiss, the founder of Mindy Weiss Party Consultants and a best-selling author, and Steven Greitzer, a wedding tech entrepreneur and officiant, serving as CEO of Provenance . Their invaluable tips and advice also have been integrated into this article.

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Top Best Man Speeches Examples

It is much easier to write a best man speech when you have some examples to draw upon for inspiration. That’s why Wedding Forward team have prepared variety collection of inspired best man speech to help you craft your own!

Best Man Speech For Friend

Best Man Speech for Brother

“Good evening, hope everyone is having a good time tonight. I feel very privileged and honored to be standing here tonight celebrating this lovely union. Two years ago, Matt gave the best man speech at my wedding and made a lot of awkward jokes. So needless to say, I’ve been waiting for this moment for a really long time! For those who don’t know, I am Matt’s brother, Mike. I first met Matt when I was two years old at our parent’s house in Boston. To be quite honest, I wasn’t thrilled because I really wanted a sister. And I think he knew because Matt would do ridiculous things like throw my toothbrush in the toilet, pour water at me when I was asleep and run across the room naked when I had any friends over. This made me less popular than I already was. Matt always excelled in school, was captain of the debate team (apologies to Cara, but he can argue his way out of anything!) and can make a mean steak. The truth is, despite him being an annoying brother at the time, I came out winning in the end. Because of him and this beautiful night, I am getting the sister I always wanted. Cara, you’re beautiful and our family loves you so much. Thank you for making my brother so happy. Let’s celebrate this amazing union and raise a glass to the newlyweds ! On behalf of the groomsmen and bridesmaids, we’d like to wish you a life full of love, happiness, and joy. To everyone who made tonight happen, thank you. You’ve made this night very special.” Source

Short Best Man Speeches

“Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please? As the best man, I stand here today to say a few words about the remarkable love story between my incredible friend, [groom’s name], and his beautiful bride, [bride’s name]. [Groom’s name] and I have been through thick and thin together, and I’ve had the privilege of witnessing his growth as a person. But it wasn’t until [bride’s name] came into his life that I saw a change I can only describe as transformative. Their love is like a beacon, guiding them through life’s ups and downs. So here’s to the newlyweds—a couple who have found not just love, but true companionship. May your journey be filled with happiness, passion, and an everlasting bond.”

“Sure, here’s an even shorter best man speech example: Good evening, everyone. For those who don’t know me, I’m [Your Name], the best man. I want to thank [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name] for this wonderful celebration. [Groom’s Name], you’ve been an amazing friend, and seeing you with [Bride’s Name] brings such joy. [Bride’s Name], you complete [Groom’s Name] perfectly. Together, you both inspire us with your love. Let’s raise a glass to the happy couple. May your life together be filled with love and happiness. Cheers!”

Funny Best Man Speeches

Best man talk for adam and kate.

“Adam and Kate – What a great day to get married! Marriage carries new responsibilities. Kate – from now on, you should never argue or disagree with Adam, because he is now the head of the family and the king of his castle. You will be expected to keep your hair and make-up perfect at all times – to dress in a way that pleases Adam. You should cook his favorite meals every night and encourage him to go out with his friends on a regular basis. Do these simple things and your marriage will be blessed with many years of happiness. Kate – I know that Adam loves you very much… because he spent a long time writing this speech for me. Congratulations to the both of you!” Source

Best Man Presentation for Sarah & Simon

“Sarah & Simon – every great relationship starts with rings. In the beginning, the phone would ring and just the thought of speaking to one another was exciting. Your love grew and so did your commitment to each other. The engagement ring soon came after. There were no doubts… your love was true. The engagement ring has now turned into a wedding ring and we are all here today to celebrate your marriage. Now of course… the suffer-ring begins. (smile and raise your glass) Peace and happiness to the new bride and groom!” Source

Speech for Neil and Claire

“Hi my name is Paul and Neil has asked me to be his best man for this wonderful occasion. I would like to say it is a very special honor but with it, comes the responsibility of giving the bloody speech. I would not say it is very comfortable to wear a tuxedo in a 30-degree church, which is not air-conditioned. The church ceremony I’m sure you’ll all agree was a wonderful, wonderful occasion. Maybe a little hot, but I’m glad to see so many of you have replaced your electrolytes with fuel of the alcoholic kind since the reception began. I have known Neil and Claire for_________ [how many years] years. You might say Neil and I met by accident, but it is no accident that Neil met Claire. If you know Neil you know he is an excellent athlete, in fact I noticed his Athletes foot right away. This was a man who had his knees and ankles shaved, for easy taping. I knew this was a hard-core sports fanatic. We both share a tremendous love of football and basketball. For many years, we have had a running bet during the season as to who will score more goals or more runs which of course, I always won. Neil is a ______________ [Groom’s Occupation] in Truro, and I thought__________________________________[Funny or quirky aspect about grooms occupation] Neil is a man who has dedicated his life to __________________[Grooms occupation] And now I’m sure will use his experience with ___________________________[what the Groom does in his occupation] in his marriage with Claire. It is great that Neil found Claire. He has always been looking for someone young, dynamic, intelligent, attractive, and with good health insurance. Neil and Claire met_________________________ [where they meet], But I have it on good authority that Neil started looking for a wife on the internet. And with a multitude of resources at his fingertips, he found some really great stuff, but sadly was unable to find himself a suitable partner. That is, until I mentioned to him that the correct category to be looking should be Woman Seeking Man. I explained the way it works, send an old picture when you still had lots of hair, lie about your height and weight, and at all other times be sincere and honest. I imagine that when Neil and Claire met and introduced each other he said I’m Neil and she said, “I need a Diamond.” So, Neil said, sure let’s pick one out. Claire is a Diamond. Neil is a gem; I think together they make beautiful jewellery. No Marriage would be complete without some brotherly advice to help set you on your way… So I canvassed the room and got some really good stuff for you! Love, honor and cherish each other, and don’t forget to take out the garbage. Your wife is always right. Just in case she is not right, refer back to #2. Always, yes always, notice every new hairstyle or dress. Do something nice for each other every single day. If she asks if something makes her look fat the answer is categorically, NO. Flowers are always a good Idea, even if you are not in trouble. There is really nothing better than a good foot rub or massage. Your wife is more important than sports. I guess. Even the cup final. It is a great joy for me to see Neil and Claire so happy. You learn things when you get older. Hmmm, I mean more mature. You make better decisions, isn’t it great that two people would entwine and commit to each other for life. Love, isn’t that what it is all about? We are here to celebrate that glorious event and this ceremony is all about letting the world know how much Neil and Claire’s love for each other is a reflection of one’s own soul in another’s. Anyway, it is time to celebrate the joyous and unbridled love that these two spectacular people will share the rest of their lives. Would you please stand now and join me in a toast. To love and laughter and happily ever after.” Source

What are the key elements that should be included in a memorable and heartfelt best man’s speech?

That is what Steven Greitzer, wedding tech entrepreneur and officiant, CEO of Provenance, said:

“There are many key elements to take into account when pulling together a great toast:

• Include 2-3 stories in your speech that capture the essence of the groom and your friendship.
• Make sure your speech is appropriate by discussing “no-go’s” with the couple beforehand.
• Acknowledge the groom’s partner in your speech and speak about how the relationship has helped the groom grow (more on that below).
• Offer a thematic takeaway, such as the importance of friendship or the strength of the couple’s love.
• Be sure to practice

The Provenance Toast Builder is the best and easiest way to make sure your wedding toast captures what you’re trying to say.”

Try the Toast Builder

How to Write Best Man Speech

For a great wedding speech, there are some simple rules you have to follow. Here you will find examples of best man speeches Dos and Don’ts from our editors.

• Plan your speech ahead (think about your best man speech structure, choose formal or funny style) and practice.
• Tell a short story ( keep the speech to about 5 minutes or less ) with jokes (2 or 3 will be enough).
• Get sentimental at some point, make compliments to the bride.
• Finish on an optimistic note (end your speech with love quotes or wishes for the happy couple).
• Be thankful (express gratitude towards the couple, their family, and anyone who helped make the wedding happen).

Don’ts

• Do not cross the 2-5 mins time limit.
• Do not make it about you.
• Avoid dirty jokes.
• Do not ignore the bride. Let her know how happy you are, that she is ending up with your friend.
• Avoid rude remarks. Keep your manners in check, even if it’s for a day.

Infographic

Best Man Speech Templates

Click here to download free printable templates of best man speech!

When creating the Best Man speech outline for your talk, include the following elements to involve everyone, making one and all feel that they are important participants in the merrymaking for the newlywed couple:

Use a Magnetic Opening Line

The opening words of your Best Man presentation should grab everyone’s attention. If you favor a romantic approach to start off a speech, you can start with a statement like, “True love wins all,” and then list the various ways the Groom, through his true love for his Bride, has won all her attention and affections.

• If some of the Groom’s favorite hip singer-songwriters date back to the 1960s and ’70s, you can quote from Bob Dylan: “ Love is just a four-letter word ,” going on to mention the many words of just four letters that relate to feelings of true love like “ kiss, hold, keep and ever. ” Be intent and clever with the use of language, and you will achieve better engagement with your audience.
• If your tastes (or the tastes of the newlyweds) are somewhat more classical, you can start by quoting the familiar line from Elizabeth Barrett Browning: “ How do I love thee, Let me count the ways. ” This popular line has been repeated in many variations by countless poets and songwriters ever since, so have no fear of labeling yourself as an egghead when quoting it. This opening line will also give you a chance to mention the main virtues and attributes of the Bride.

Thank the Other Speakers

It is always appropriate and appreciated if you thank the other speakers for the occasion. These speakers usually include the Maid of Honor and the Bride’s Father as well as any other members of the wedding party that the Bride and Groom ask to speak.

It is always good form to express your gratitude for their contributions to this special moment and event. Never criticize or make jokes about what they say or how they say it. Just thank them politely and continue with your own remarks since you know very well how to write a best-man speech.

Congratulate the Newlyweds

Congratulate the wedding couple on this exciting first chapter in their lives together. This is the ideal time to tell the guests how you met your great friend, the Groom. If you happen to be the Groom’s brother or cousin, you can recreate moments of hilarity from your younger years together or shared experiences of suspense or intrigue.

Recalling funny incidents or telling best man speech jokes involving the Groom is totally acceptable, so long as you keep the format and content clean and respectable.

Expert tip from Steven Greitzer:

“A great best man speech strikes the perfect balance of humor and sincerity. You want it to be memorable, but for the right reasons. Check with the couple to see if there are any topics you need to avoid or any topics that might be of particular concern to anyone in the audience. In the Provenance Toast Builder , the couple has the option to call out any topic they do, or don’t, want you to include. If you have any jokes in your speech you are unsure about, run them by someone who is close to the couple who you trust. And if you have a feeling that a joke might upset them or not land well with the audience – err on the side of caution. It’s their big day, not yours! There’s a way to have a funny best man speech that doesn’t upset grandma. Find the balance.”

Compliment the Bride

Now it is time to pull out the stops and give high praise to the Bride using your knowledge of how to write a best man talk. Highlight and emphasize her finest qualities, talents, and accomplishments.

Let them know just how overjoyed you are to celebrate the marriage of these two special people of whom you think so highly. Then give the Bride another charming compliment using top-quality speech writing tips.

Read Messages from Absent Guests

Take time to read some messages from invited guests who could not attend the wedding. This gesture is always appreciated by the absent guests and the Bride and Groom, alike. It also includes their congratulatory thoughts and best wishes for the newlyweds in the day’s special events.

Include a Famous Quote or Poem

Enchant your attentive audience of wedding guests further by reciting a well-known quote or poem that suits the occasion. This adds a creative literary element to the post-wedding celebration for the honored couple. You may want to consult other templates, including a listing of groomsman speech examples.

Best Man Speech Quotes

Choose Best Man speech quotes that reflect the couple’s personality, add humor, and keep them relevant.

Love is like war: easy to begin but very hard to stop. H. L. Mencken

Marriage is a workshop where husband works and wife shops.

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. Mignon McLaughlin

Propose a Toast to the Wedding Couple

Raise your glass of champagne so the guests can eagerly follow your example as you deliver a heartfelt toast of optimistic good wishes for the excellent health, increasing wealth, and everlasting happiness of the newlyweds.

The toast should be given with gusto and true sincerity and may include mild best-man speech jokes. Remember that you speak for all the well-wishers in the room who want all the best for this newly married Bride and Groom, so put your best energy, spirit, and talents for convincing elocution into this featured Grand Finale.

The “Thankful” Speech

“Hello everyone, it’s such a pleasure to be here tonight as [Groom’s] best man. And I want to begin with saying what an honor it is that I was chosen to stand by your side today. You’ve always been someone that I looked up to and I am just beyond grateful that I get to share in this moment with you and [Bride]. [Groom] is someone that I’ve come to care for greatly over the years and I am so happy that he’s found someone to share his life with and start a family with. [Groom] has always been my right hand throughout the biggest moments of my life and I can’t wait to be able to watch everything beautiful unfold for the two of you. Cheers to a lifetime of happiness!”

The “Smart Move” Speech

“There’s an old saying about friendship that reads, “It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them,” and goodness that couldn’t be more true for me and my boy, [Groom]. I could go into all the funny stories that include some of that stupidity but instead I’d rather focus on all the smart moves he’s made. His friendships, the relationship he has with his family, his career, it’s all a reflection of the incredible man he’s become. But really, the smartest move he’s made is marrying you, [Bride]. Let’s toast to the best decision [Groom’s] ever made. I wish you a lifetime of love, happiness and success.”

The “She Was the One” Speech

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming out tonight to celebrate the wedding of two people we all love, [Bride] & [Groom]! When I first met [Bride], I knew that she was the woman [Groom] would end up marrying. Even if it hadn’t dawned on him quite yet, it was obvious to everyone around just how smitten he was with her. They talk about a bride’s glow, but this man was shining since the moment he met [Bride]. He changed for the better without realizing it. And we all could see it. He couldn’t stop talking about her. We’d go out with the boys and [Bride’s] name would be brought up every two minutes. So, when he came to me to tell me that he would be proposing my only response was, ‘Well, it’s about time!’ There’s something special about these two. They go together without forcing it. They love each other without fighting it. And they care about each other without thinking about it. She was the one from the very beginning [Groom], and we’re all so happy to be able to take part in your big day. Cheers!”

Best Man Speech Opening Lines

Your opening lines are your best-man speech icebreakers, so it’s important that they are good. Grab the attention of your guests with witty best man speech openers such as these.

• “I would like to begin by congratulating the groom on his excellent taste in best men. He has really outdone himself this time, and I’m pleased.”
• “I have been asked by the bride and groom not to share any embarrassing stories, crude jokes, or pranks during my best man’s speech… so I guess that’ll be it from me! Thank you all for listening.”
• “If you cannot hear me at the back, nothing to worry about. By the complete silence in the front row here, you can rest assured that you’re really not missing much.”
• “Is anyone here this afternoon feeling nervous and queasy at the thought of what lies ahead? If you are, it’s probably because you’ve just married (groom’s name).”
• “All of you here who really know the bride must know that she is a wonderful person who deserves a good husband. Thank goodness (groom’s name) married her before she found one.”

Best Man Speech One-Liners

I am about to make the groom cry. I just received the food bill.

He is smart, tall, kind, generous….. Who am I actually talking about?

Hi, the groom is a great friend. Our friendship is 2hours old. I was hired as he’s got no friends.

His colleagues describe him as a first-class banker – I may have misheard them.

I heard some time that marriage is a 50/50 affair. Believe that at your own peril. We have factors called women and improper fractions.

One-liners are sharp jokes delivered in one sentence. A good one-liner is concise and meaningful. It is instant but loaded with humor that can keep the guests laughing for a while. It is important that the best man speech jokes contain one-liners.

Best Man Toasts Examples

“It’s been an emotional day, even the cake is in tiers.”

“Folks, I have been told I am not allowed to have a drink until AFTER my speech. If I seem like I’m in a hurry to finish, it’s because I am.”

“I hope the two of you have the two essential things it takes to have a successful marriage 1) a sense of humor 2) selective hearing.”

“Psychiatrists say that girls tend to marry men like their fathers. That must be why mothers cry at weddings.”

“Love is not about how often you say I love you, but how often you show that it’s true.”

Best Man Speech Jokes

“They say marriage is a journey, and tonight we celebrate the beginning of an epic road trip for the bride and groom. Just remember, guys, never forget to ask for directions!”

“They say the key to a successful marriage is patience, understanding, and a remote control with fresh batteries. Groom, make sure you always keep that remote handy!”

“Let’s raise our glasses to the newlyweds: may their love be like Wi-Fi, strong and never disconnecting, even in the midst of Netflix binges!”

“As the best man, it’s my duty to share a piece of advice with the groom: in marriage, always remember that a happy wife means a happy life… and also remember to nod and agree, even when she’s wrong!”

“Marriage is a lifelong commitment, just like the gym membership the groom signed up for and rarely uses. But this time, there are no cancellation fees!”

Best Man Speech Tips

When delivering your best man speech, it’s essential to captivate the audience with your words and presence. Here are some tips to ensure a memorable and engaging delivery:

• Maintain good eye contact with the audience: Look directly at the guests while speaking. Eye contact helps establish a connection and shows that you are genuinely engaged with them.
• Speak clearly and at a moderate pace: Enunciate your words clearly and avoid rushing through your speech. Speaking at a moderate pace allows the audience to understand and absorb your message effectively.
• Use appropriate gestures and body language to enhance your delivery: Use hand gestures and body movements to emphasize key points and add energy to your speech. However, be mindful of not going overboard and distracting from your message.
• Incorporate pauses for comedic timing and to allow the audience to react: Timing is crucial, especially when delivering humorous anecdotes or punchlines. Pause before and after delivering a joke to build anticipation and give the audience time to laugh and react.

By implementing these delivery and presentation tips, you’ll engage the audience, leave a lasting impression, and make your best man speech a memorable highlight of the wedding celebration.

Are there any common mistakes to avoid, and how to overcome nervousness or stage fright?

According to wedding planner Mindy Weiss, “speeches can help make or break a wedding” . And we agree with this opinion. Speeches have the power to elevate the celebration, bringing tears of joy and laughter to guests, while also creating cherished memories that last a lifetime. However, poorly delivered speeches can disrupt the flow and energy of the event, leaving guests feeling disconnected and the couple disappointed.

Steven Greitzer convinced that one of the biggest mistakes is when the person giving the wedding speech only talks about the partner they’re closest with, unintentionally making the other partner feel left out and unimportant: “To help remedy this, the Provenance Toast Builder gives you the option to either talk about each partner 50/50, or to talk 70% about your person and 30% about their partner (which is a good rule of thumb). The Toast Builder also has thoughtful prompts to encourage you to share why they’re both 1) good people and 2) a great match for each other.

What is the best man supposed to say in his speech?

The best man should share anecdotes about the groom, praise the couple, thank everyone, and propose a toast. Keep it lighthearted and sincere.

How long should a best man speech be?

The best man’s speech should typically be 5 to 7 minutes long. This duration is long enough to share heartfelt sentiments, humorous anecdotes, and well-wishes without losing the audience’s attention. Keeping it concise and engaging ensures it remains memorable and enjoyable for everyone.

How do I write a good man speech?

Write a good best man speech by including humor, expressing genuine sentiments, avoiding inappropriate content, and keeping it focused on the couple. Practice for smooth delivery and timing.

There is truly something for everyone today to create the perfect Best Man Speech for that very special couple and their after-wedding reception, dinner, and celebration. Fond remembrances, amusing stories and anecdotes, humorous quotes, and emotional phrases end with the joyful ring of a clever, yet heartfelt Best Man Toast to the Bride and Groom. The contemporary wedding is truly a work of love and art with all the trimmings and enticing treats for one and all to treasure and enjoy.

Thank you for reading. Please let us know how we did.

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Quick & Short Best Man Speech Template

• 24th Nov, 2021

Jump to the good bits

Speech details

Speech duration: 5 – 7 minutes

Speech style: Short, sweet and funny

Note: This short Best Man speech template uses the name ‘Tom’ for the Groom, Sarah for the Bride, ‘Ben’ for the Best Man and other example names. Insert the names for your group as needed.

Your short Best Man speech template

1. opening and introduce yourself .

Good afternoon everyone, I’m sure you’ll all admit this has turned out to be a brilliant wedding celebration, yet every silver-lining does have a cloud, and that is, that you’ve now got to listen to me, unfortunately.  I suppose I should introduce myself properly. I’m Ben, Tom’s best friend, and today his Best Man. I have to admit I am absolutely honoured to be chosen. 

2. Wedding procession observations and give thanks 

Before I undertake the customary duty of giving Tom an uncomfortable few minutes, I would like to say a few thank-yous first. The lovely Bridesmaids, Alison, Niamh, and Nicola. The very glamourous mothers Mary and Jackie. They all look wonderful and have done an excellent job today. Indeed they are only eclipsed by Sarah herself, who, I’m sure you’ll all agree, looks absolutely stunning. Thanks also to the Groomsmen who did an excellent job of standing still and looking pretty. 

3. A few words about the Groom (and you) 

So where do I start with Tom? Well for starters he’s… handsome. witty, intelligent. He’s char… charm…. Sorry… Tom …. I’m having trouble reading your handwriting, what does that say?

What can I say about Tom Smith. When I first met Tom I thought he was very laid back and normal. Boy was I wrong. I heard whispers from his family that he could be very highly strung. No, I thought, you must be exaggerating. That was until we lived together for a few years during college. As the months went on I started noticing little things: 

• the many conspiracy theories
• only being able to eat diagonally cut sandwiches
• the hunger tantrums – his colour coded wardrobe
• his preference for baths instead of showers
• his vast Dolly Parton record collection
• and singing ’Working 9 to 5‘ in the bath
• the night terrors
• the collection of nun-chucks and other weapons
• And last but not least, an unhealthy obsession with Matthew McConaughey

Tom, all joking aside you are an excellent friend and it is truly an honour being your Best Man today. 

4. A few words about the Bride 

It’s not just the groom who gets a mention in the Best Man speech. I also have a few words about the Bride. It’s not often that the Best Man is also close friends with the Bride. Not that close, Tom, don’t worry. Sarah is one of the nicest and kindest people you will ever meet. She is also a bit of a control freak. Luckily, Tom is really lazy so they are a perfect match! 

5. The Bride and Groom together

Tom and Sarah have a lot in common, actually. They are both very hard-working, generous, passionate, quite stubborn, and they both think Tom Smith is the most handsome man in the world. They are both like a fine wine, Sarah gets better every year, and Tom will take a long time to mature. 

6. Your gift and messages from well wishers 

(Read out any messages and/or present your gift). 

7. Final words and toast 

OK, time to wrap this up. I’m sure I speak for everyone in this room when I say we all wish you the happiness that you deserve. We are so glad that you have found one another, and this day is a reminder that the best is yet to come. And on that note, can everyone please raise their glasses in a toast to the newlyweds, Tom and Sarah, Mr and Mrs Smith!

Get the Best Man Speech Guidebook

If you are thinking about your upcoming Best Man duties or need to draft your speech in a hurry you can check out the book the Best Man Speech Guidebook for even more tips and a full list of Best Man speech hacks. It contains the important do’s and don’ts in wedding speech etiquette, some great one-liners, visual gag options, but most importantly a clear speech structure and tried and tested speech templates.

The Best Man guide

For more advice and ideas for all of your Best Man duties, check out our Ultimate Best Man Guide page.

More Best Man speech advice

• 12 Clever Best Man Speech Hacks
• Best Man Speech: 13 Must Do’s
• Best Man Speech: 10 Absolute Don’ts
• 20 Unique Best Man Speech One Liners
• 3 Ideas For Best Man Speech Visual Gags
• How To Write A Best Man Speech: Part 1
• How To Write A Best Man Speech: Part 2
• Funny Best Man Speech Template

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Writing a Best Man Speech: Outline and Guide (+3 Examples)

• by Marisa Jenkins
• January 24, 2024

Being chosen as a bridal party member —especially as a best man or maid of honor —is a big deal. You have been given the opportunity to support someone in such a momentous part of their life. Your role comes with plenty of responsibilities, including making a speech at the reception.

Having an outline for your speech as a best man can be really helpful when you start writing the draft. Here is a classic and timeless example of an outline:

• Self-introduction
• Short icebreaker ( optional )
• Stories about the groom
• Talk about the partner
• Talk about their relationship
• Well-wishes and advice

Below is a more detailed explanation of each part of a best man speech outline, followed by a step-by-step guide—with tips—for writing the speech itself. Some examples are also provided to help you in the process. 

Best Man Speech Outline: Easy Template to Use

Greet everyone present (1–3 sentences).

Before anything else, make sure to greet the guests, bridal party, and vendors at the venue. Acknowledge their presence and the effort they put into being there on the newlyweds’ special day.

You can keep this part brief but upbeat to get your guests engaged and listening to your speech as a best man.

Example : Hey everyone! Thank you for making the time and effort to attend Ben and Stephanie’s wedding.

Introduce Yourself (1–2 Sentences)

At the reception, odds are most people—but not all—will know who you are. For everyone’s benefit, briefly introduce yourself and your relationship with the newlyweds.

Example : For those of you who don’t know me—first of all, how dare you? Kidding aside, my name is Ryan Drews, Mike’s best friend and life coach. We’ve known each other since high school.

(Optional) Short Icebreaker (1–3 Sentences)

If you feel like you still need to capture your guests’ attention, consider adding a short joke or anecdote before you get into the body of your best man speech. You can get a good laugh and set the tone for the rest of the speech. 

Example : Honestly, I was a bit nervous about giving this speech. People said it should only be as long as Gavin’s attention span. So… I guess that’s all for my speech, goodnight!”

Personal Stories and Memories With the Groom (1–3 Paragraphs)

Share a personal story that showcases your relationship and closeness with the groom. It does not necessarily have to be relatable, but make sure the memory will highlight the groom’s personality and positive traits.

You can also talk about the groom’s growth and development over the years. How much has he changed? How has he changed? Shed light on the positive changes you have observed since he and his partner got together .

Example : [Compare the groom’s personality during high school and today. He might be more mature, patient, and mentally strong than before. If you have one, share a story that illustrates these changes.]

Talk About the Partner (1–2 Paragraphs)

Do not forget about the star of the night—the other newlywed. Talk about your first impressions, the day you were first introduced, and any striking memories you have with them.

Example : [Where did you meet each other for the first time? Did you have dinner somewhere? What did you think of her initially, and how did this impression change?]

Talk About the Newlyweds (1–2 Paragraphs)

Compliment the couple and talk about their relationship. Highlight their strengths, share how you think they complement each other, and tell them how they make you—and everyone around them—feel.

Example : You two are an example of how a healthy dose of annoying each other can actually go a long way in making a relationship better. But all jokes aside, you guys inspire everyone around you to be kinder to one another and themselves.

Conclusion: Well-Wishes and Advice (1–2 Paragraphs)

The last part of a best man speech’s outline can contain well-wishes, advice, or both. Share any wisdom you have regarding marriage, and tell them that you are praying for the best for their future.

Example : Always remember that marriage is a two-player game: both of you must put in the same amount of effort to keep the game going. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Linnehan! May the future be bright and boundless for you. 

Writing a Best Man Speech: Steps and Tips to Follow

Step 1: Gather Material by Reflecting

Take a trip down memory lane and think about your relationship with the groom over the years. Write down any funny stories, milestones, and incidents that come up.

At the same time, think back on what you know about the groom’s relationship with his partner. How did they meet? How did you meet his partner for the first time? What makes their bond and journey special?

As you reflect, think about their qualities as individuals and as a couple. These traits will be a great addition to your best man speech.

Tip: Start Early

Do not leave your speech as a best man to the last minute. Ideally, start brainstorming and thinking of what to say as early as a few weeks before the wedding day. This will give you plenty of time to write, revise, and revise some more.

Step 2: Structure Your Speech

The outline above will help you structure your speech. However, feel free to add any personal touches or make changes to the order.

Tip: Decide What Tone You Want to Use

Spend a moment to decide how you want to deliver your speech. Do you want to be funny and witty? Do you want to sound casual? Do you want to flex your poetic muscles? Do you want to incorporate multiple styles and tones?

Step 3: Start the First Draft

Eventually, you have to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). Write everything that comes to mind, letting your past reflections guide you as you compose your best man speech.

Do not worry about making it perfect on the first try—no one ever gets it perfect on the first try. Let yourself word vomit until you have written everything you have in mind.

Tip: Do Not Go Too Heavy With Inside Jokes

Although you understandably want to show how well you know the groom and make your guests laugh, avoid sharing inside jokes. Everyone will not get it without explaining the necessary context; you simply may not have the time to do so.

Step 4: Edit and Refine Your Draft

Start with any obvious grammatical errors. Fix faulty subject-verb agreements, incorrect uses of prepositions, and whatnot. You can use apps like Grammarly or built-in grammar checkers to help you with this part.

As you go along, read the speech aloud or in your head to see if there are any awkward spots. You may have to rephrase certain parts or rearrange sentences to make your speech flow better.

Be patient with yourself, as it might take multiple revisions before you get a speech you are satisfied with.

Tip: Keep It Concise

Aim for a best man’s speech that does not exceed 4–6 minutes. Any more than that and you risk losing your guests’ attention.

Step 5: Practice Giving the Speech

After a few revisions, start practicing the speech out loud. One benefit of this is that you will spot more ways to revise your speech to make it better. 

At the same time, a practical tip is to mark points in your speech where you will pause for a moment and take a breath. This will make the delivery more relaxed and natural-sounding.

If possible, ask for a close friend or another bridal party member to listen to your speech. They can give you constructive criticism and feedback to further improve the content and your delivery.

Tip: Read the Room

As you practice your delivery to a test audience, pay attention to how they react to what you wrote. They might think that a certain anecdote is too embarrassing for the groom or that your speech has more humor than sincerity.

You might unintentionally humiliate yourself or the groom if you include stories that are too personal. Likewise, you might come across as insincere or performative if you try too hard with your speech.

Adjust your speech and delivery accordingly. As mentioned above, the revision process never stops—even as you give the speech at the reception, odds are you will make a few changes off the cuff.

Step 6: Make the Final Preparations

Print a few copies of your speech on high-quality stationery, as it is good to have extras in case something happens. If nothing else, it can be a wonderful keepsake for the newlyweds.

Make sure to have some positive coping mechanisms for stress as well. Look into breathing practices to help you manage your anxiety and stage fright.

Tip: Engage the Audience

Do not just read off your copy, since this will make you sound robotic. Pay special attention to making eye contact with guests, pausing for reactions, and ad-libbing when the opportunity presents itself. 

Speech from the Best Man: Heartwarming Examples

1. Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention for just a few moments? Before I continue with my speech, I want to thank everyone for being here tonight. We know it isn’t cheap to attend a destination wedding, so we do want to make it clear that we will not be offering any rebate or cashback.

Anyway, for those of you who don’t know me, I’m Brian Mills. Nolan’s my cousin, and he has given me the honor—and stress—of being his best man. We actually only became close in high school when we both tried out for the basketball team.

Needless to say, both of us didn’t get in. We did continue practicing in our free time. These games allowed me to get to know Nolan better.

A lot has changed since then, huh? In high school, Nolan was wild, impulsive, and a bit irresponsible—we both were. Now, though, Nolan is reliable, clever, and puts everyone’s needs before his.

I remember when Nolan first introduced me to Lisa. His eyes were lit up in a way that I’d never seen before… not even when the Lakers won that championship in 2020! The more I got to know Lisa, the more I understood how perfect they are for each other; they’re both kind, adventurous, and passionate.

Lisa, I want to officially welcome you to the madness that is our family. We promise not to share too many embarrassing stories… at least until after your first anniversary.

Kidding aside, I have never seen Nolan as happy as he is with Lisa. You both bring out the best in each other, and it’s clear to all of us here that you share a love that is deep, genuine, and enduring.

So, let’s raise our glasses in a toast to Nolan and Lisa. May your love be modern enough to survive the times and old-fashioned enough to last forever. Cheers!

Thank you, everyone. Enjoy the rest of your evening!

2. Good evening, everyone! How’s your night going so far? I hope the food and drinks are all to your liking; we worked very hard tasting every dish our lovely caterer had to offer.

I’m Alex, and I have the great privilege of being David’s best man. Before I start, let’s give another round of applause to the beautiful couple. David, my man, you look sharp tonight! But I think I speak for everyone when I say: Emily, you’ve definitely stolen the show.

I’ve known David for almost 20 years now. We first met in middle school, and our friendship has been a rollercoaster ride ever since. From camping trips that turned into survival missions to late-night study sessions that rarely involved studying, I can say we’ve had our fair share of memorable moments.

But today, I want to focus on the biggest adventure David has had: his adventure with Emily. I still remember the day David told me about Emily. He said, “There’s this incredible woman.” And he was right. Emily, your kindness, intelligence, and sense of humor make you a perfect match for David. And David, well, I guess he isn’t too bad.

Together, you two are like a fine wine—you just keep getting better with time. David, you’ve found your soulmate in Emily. Your partnership is a testament to what every love should have—support, laughter, and a lot of patience (especially when David tries to cook or crack a joke).

Emily, welcome to our small, silly, but very loving friend group. You bring out the best in David, and for that, we are all grateful.

David, I have one piece of advice for you as you enter this new chapter: a happy wife is a happy life. Always remember that.

As we stand here in this beautiful venue, surrounded by friends and family, I am reminded of a quote I once heard: “Love isn’t about finding the perfect person. It’s about realizing that an imperfect person can make your life perfect.”/

So, let’s raise our glasses to David and Emily. May your life together be filled with endless love, laughter, and luck. Cheers!

Thank you, everyone. Let’s make this a night to remember!

3. Hi, everyone! I just want to take a few minutes of your time to say some words about our lovely newlyweds. My name is Charles, and Manny chose me as his best man.

The love story I’ve witnessed over the past six years is nothing short of magical. First of all, their growth as individuals is very laudable; I’ve seen Manny go from a slightly reckless and clueless college student to a calm and collected man. I can confidently say that Jenny’s presence has been transformative to Manny.

Jenny, it is clear that you and Manny are soulmates. Thank you for taking care of him, keeping him in check, and humbling him whenever he needs it.

May your love be a sturdy lighthouse amidst a rough and rowdy sea, shining a light that will guide you through the darkness and unpredictability of life.

Congratulations to you two! Cheers to the future!

Final Thoughts

Being someone’s best man is a huge honor; it means you occupy such a special part of their life they wanted you to have this major role in their wedding.

When preparing a best man speech outline, the most important thing to keep in mind is authenticity—stay true to yourself. If you want to write an amazing, unforgettable speech, just focus on pouring your heart onto paper. Everything else will follow.

Marisa Jenkins

Marisa Jenkins is a wedding planner and event coordinator. Her main goal for WeddingFrontier.com is to simplify the wedding planning process by sharing her years of expertise in the industry.

How do I make sure my best man speech doesn’t flop?

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As we enter wedding season, Metro.co.uk has roped in Alison Rios McCrone, venue owner and planner, to help solve your dilemmas in a weekly agony aunt column…

Dear Alison ,

I’m set to be best man at my oldest friend’s wedding this summer – and he was best man at mine a few years ago.

The bar is set really high, as not only was he a fantastic support, and great stag planner, but his speech was one of the highlights of the day. He hit all the right notes – eloquent, kind and really funny. He has the upper hand of being a professional writer, whereas I am in more of a numbers-based role and not so good with my words.

I’m utterly terrified that my speech will be awful – and the pressure has got to me so much that I’m coming up with a complete blank whenever I try and put pen to paper.

Do you have any tips?

Thanks, Kyle

What an honour to be your oldest friend’s best man! A nerve-wracking honour!

I completely understand the pressure you feel. Giving a speech can be one of the most anxiety -inducing moments for any best man, especially if you are not used to public speaking.

But don’t worry – I witnessed countless weddings in my 10 years as a venue owner and I have, not only a handy formula for devising your speech, but also tips on what you should definitely not do.

Before I get into that though, I firstly want to ask you to be kinder to yourself and to try not to compare yourself to your friend and your speech to his. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses; he hasn’t chosen you because he expects you to be a brilliant orator, but because of the brilliant bond you have.

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Video: Bride played back voice message left after her first date with new husband

Sabrina flores admits she had tried to play 'cool' and coy when she met brendon de spain two years ago, but told her best friend john martin her true feelings in a voice note after their first date. however it was only when the 23-year-old was sat in front of 50 guests on her wedding day in december when john stood up for his speech - before revealing there would be a 'special guest'..

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On that note: Be yourself.

Avoid copying your friend’s style or being someone you are not. Embrace your personality and speak from the heart. Sincerity shows genuine authenticity, and people will warm to that. Before writing your speech, ask the bride and groom how long they want you to speak. Most speeches should be 5-10 minutes, at most 10 minutes. Do not go over this! Have a think or what anecdotes you want to include in your speech and ask whether the bride and groom want you to read out any messages during your time at the microphone. Traditionally, you will be the last person to speak, so check with the groom, father of the bride, or whoever else is talking, what they are saying so you do not repeat the same story or cover the same ground. It’s also worth checking with the couple or the person marrying them what is being said during the ceremony, to make sure your words aren’t too similar to theirs. I often see the best man repeat things that have been said earlier in the day and it’s unfortunate. You want your speech to be fresh!

Alison’s formula for writing a best man speech

Start with a heartfelt anecdote.

Think back over your years of friendship with the groom, how you met, and a meaningful, amusing story showing your bond. This helps set a warm tone and enables you to connect with the audience. 

Make sure you’ve introduced yourself, and thank the couple and their family for a wonderful day.

Reflect on another fond or funny memory of your time spent with the groom before moving onto the bride – praising her and the positive impact she has had on your friend. 

Give your well wishes to the couple. Perhaps share some advice from what you’ve learned from married life. 

Finish with a toast to the bride and groom and some heartfelt observations about them.

Organising your speech into the sections suggested above prevents you from waffling and going off subject! Anecdotes are a key component of a best man speech, but you need to remember this day is about your friend and not you, so tailor it that way.

For example, if your friend has supported you through some hardship that you want to mention to thank him, try not to over-explain what you have been through but instead reflect on his character and what this meant to you. Often, when including funny stories, best men have a tendency to cross the line into crude. This is not acceptable and you should ensure that if you intend to be humorous, it does not offend anyone.

Alison’s tips of what to avoid when writing the best man speech

Avoid swearing. It is entirely inappropriate, and as a range of people from different walks of life and ages will be in the room, it is very easy to offend guests by swearing.

Limit your alcohol consumption before giving the speech. You want to feel sharp, focussed, and in control.

Avoid talking about the stag weekend. No one is interested except for the boys.

No inappropriate comments relating to the bridesmaids.

No mention of ex-girlfriends or any stories relating to them.

Avoid using jokes found on the internet – they are not funny, and most people, if they have attended a wedding or two over the last few years, will have heard them before.  

Avoid saying anything negative about the bride at all costs!

One way to make sure this does not happen, is to ask a close friend for feedback once you are done. Don’t leave this to the last moment as they may have suggestions of how your speech can be improved, which may take time. You also want to make sure you have enough time to practise! The more times you run through it, the more confident and eloquent you will become. Recite it in front of a mirror, speak out loud, or record yourself! At first, it might be awful, but over time you will master it and deliver a speech that flows. If all else fails, some professional speech writers exist and you could enlist their services.

Remember being the best man is about being there for your friend on his special day and sharing your genuine friendship. Your support and presence will matter far more than the speech you give.

Have the best day!

Find out more about Alison here:  alisonriosmccrone.com ; and find details of her wedding venue here:  altskeith.com .

Do you have a wedding problem you need some advice on?

Weddings are joyful occasions – but they’re also incredibly stressful. Whether you’re a bride or groom, best woman or man, family member or friend of the couple, the run up to the big day can be very tense.

If you need a bit of help with your quandary, Alison, who has run a wedding venue for 10 years and helps couples plan weddings, is here to offer a helping hand.

Email  [email protected]  to share your issue anonymously with Alison and get it solved.

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