Best Man Speech Template: Guide To Ace Your Speech

Being the best man at a wedding is a huge honour and a big responsibility. One of the main tasks is to deliver a memorable speech that celebrates the groom, entertains the guests, and shows your support for the happy couple.

The best man's speech is often expected to be funny, but it's also a chance to get sentimental and share heartfelt stories and well-wishes. It can be a daunting task, especially if you've never done it before, but there are plenty of templates and tips to help you craft the perfect speech.

- Keep it concise. Aim for around 3-5 minutes, or 700-1000 words.

- Start with a killer opening line. Introduce yourself and your connection to the couple. You can also share a quick joke or quote to grab the audience's attention.

- Thank the other speakers and the couple's parents.

- Share a story or two about the groom, and/or your friendship with him. Avoid rambling and try to keep it lighthearted.

- Talk about the couple's relationship and how they met. If you played a part in them getting together, you can mention this.

- Give a special shout-out to the bride/groom's new spouse and welcome them into the family.

- Include a toast at the end, wishing the couple a happy future together.

Remember to practice your speech beforehand and speak clearly and confidently during your delivery. Good luck!

How to Start a Best Man Speech

So, you've been asked to be the best man at a wedding – congratulations! Now comes the hard part: writing your speech. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to start a best man's speech that will be memorable for all the right reasons.

Step 1: Write Down Your Initial Thoughts and Feelings

You know the groom, but you might not remember everything about your relationship with him at first. Try doing a 'free write': just write down everything that comes to mind about the groom, your relationship, and the wedding. This will help you get all your thoughts and feelings out so you can start to structure them into a speech.

Step 2: Use a Template as a Guide

Most people have never written a best man's speech before and have no idea where to start. That's why it's a good idea to use a template as a starting point. While you'll want to inject your personality and experiences into the speech, a template can give you an idea of what to include.

Step 3: Choose Your Opening and Closing Lines

The opening and closing lines of your speech will leave a lasting impression, so choose them carefully. Find a compelling opening that grabs the audience's attention and sets the tone for your speech. Then, end with a memorable closing that ties back to the theme of your speech and expresses your well-wishes for the couple. This could be a quote or an inside joke that's appropriate for the occasion.

Step 4: Add Personal Touches

Share stories, funny or heartwarming experiences, and embarrassing anecdotes that show who the groom is and your relationship with him. Ask mutual friends if there are any great stories you've forgotten. Also, share what the groom means to you – after all, there's a reason he chose you to be his best man.

Best Man Speech Tips

Being the best man at a wedding is a huge honour and a big responsibility. Your speech is an opportunity to celebrate the groom, entertain the guests, and show your support for the happy couple. Here are some tips to help you craft a memorable and meaningful best man speech.

Planning and Preparation

Start by writing down all your thoughts, feelings, and memories about the groom. If you're unsure where to begin, consider using a template as a guide. Most best men have never given a wedding speech before, so it's normal to feel a bit lost. Templates can give you an idea of what to include and help you structure your speech.

Opening and Closing

The opening and closing lines of your speech are crucial as they leave a lasting impression. Begin with a compelling opener that grabs the audience's attention and sets the tone. End with a memorable closing that ties back to the theme of your speech and expresses your well-wishes for the couple. You could use a quote or an inside joke that's appropriate for the occasion.

Content and Delivery

Share stories and anecdotes about the groom. People love hearing stories, and it's a great way to keep your audience engaged and connected. Make sure to include funny, heartwarming, or embarrassing experiences that reveal the groom's character and your relationship with him. You can also ask mutual friends if they have any stories worth sharing.

Express what the groom means to you and why you were chosen to be the best man. Talk about how he's always had your back, gives great advice, or any other qualities you admire.

Practice your speech as much as possible. Rehearse multiple times to familiarise yourself with the content, timing, and flow. Practising in front of a mirror or with trusted friends can help refine your delivery. Remember, the more you practise, the more confident you'll become.

On the day, take deep breaths and visualise yourself as a great speaker. Focus on your breathing to relax and reduce nerves. Connect with the audience by maintaining eye contact, speaking clearly, and using hand gestures.

Length and Timing

Keep your speech concise, aiming for around 3-5 minutes. Shorter speeches tend to be more impactful, and you're less likely to lose the audience's attention. Generally, a best man speech should be no longer than 7-10 minutes.

Things to Avoid

• Talking about yourself: Remember, the speech is about the groom, so avoid making it about you.
• Using props: Props can make your speech less effective and distract the audience's attention from you.
• Inside jokes: Avoid too many inside jokes that will alienate people.
• Embarrassing secrets: Don't share anything that might embarrass the groom or his new spouse.
• Inappropriate topics: Stay away from negative comments about marriage, previous marriages/divorces, drinking, drugs, gambling, or adult humour/sexual references.

Things to Include

• Gratitude: Thank the couple, their parents, and the guests.
• A story: Share one or two anecdotes about the groom (and his partner, if you know them well).
• A compliment: Say something nice about the couple and their relationship.
• A quote: Use a romantic or funny quote to round off your speech.
• A toast: Finish with a toast to the couple's future happiness and raise your glass!

Example Outline

• Introduce yourself and explain your connection to the couple.
• Thank the previous speaker, the couple's parents, and the guests.
• Share a story or two about the groom (and his partner).
• Talk about what the groom means to you.
• Compliment the couple and their relationship.
• Include a quote or lyric.
• Summarise your thoughts and well-wishes.
• Give a toast to the couple's future.

Good luck, and happy writing!

Best Man Speech Outline

Being chosen as the best man for a wedding is a huge honour and a big responsibility. It's your chance to celebrate the groom, entertain the guests, and show your support for the happy couple. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you craft a memorable and meaningful best man speech.

Step 1: Start with a Killer Opening Line

Begin your speech with a strong opening line that grabs the audience's attention. You can start by introducing yourself and explaining your connection to the couple. Add a touch of humour or a quote to make your introduction more engaging. For example, "Hello everyone! For those who don't know me, thank you so much for coming to my wedding. [pause for laughter] Sorry about that...I'm a little nervous."

Step 2: Thank the Other Speakers

Show your appreciation for the previous speaker to smoothly transition into your speech. If your speech has a light-hearted or silly tone, you can use this moment to warn the audience about the change in direction. For instance, "Let's give a round of applause for the amazing speech by the maid of honour. And if you enjoyed her thoughtful and sweet words, get your tissues ready for this one!"

Step 3: Express Gratitude

Take a moment to thank the couple's parents for raising such wonderful people and, if applicable, for hosting a fantastic celebration. You can say something like, "I want to express my deepest gratitude to the couple's parents for raising such incredible individuals. Thank you also for hosting this amazing wedding celebration."

Step 4: Share a Story or Two

Narrate a few anecdotes or memories involving the groom (and optionally, the bride). Opt for stories that are lighthearted, funny, or heartwarming. Avoid rambling and ensure your stories have a clear point or ending. You might say, "I remember when we first met in primary school. He had just glued his hand to his face but still managed to shake my hand and ask if I wanted to be his friend."

Step 5: Talk About the Couple's Relationship

Share how the couple met and how their relationship has grown. If you played a part in bringing them together, don't forget to mention that. You can say, "I know I said I'm the best man, but I lied. I'm actually Cupid because I introduced these two eight years ago."

Step 6: Compliment the Bride

Always include a special shout-out to the bride and welcome her into the family. Talk about the qualities you admire in her and why she's perfect for the groom. "I'm so happy [Bride] fell in love with [Groom]. I've witnessed her grace, intelligence, and confidence firsthand, and it's no wonder [Groom] knew he wanted to marry her after their first date."

Step 7: Share What the Groom Means to You

Explain why the groom chose you as his best man. Talk about your relationship, the impact he has had on your life, and what he means to you. "You've been my best friend through thick and thin. You've always had my back, given great advice, and supported me through life's challenges."

Step 8: Summarise and Toast the Couple

Wrap up your speech by summarising your thoughts about the couple and offering them your well-wishes. Raise your glass and invite everyone to join you in a toast to the newlyweds. "To the happy couple—may your love story continue to inspire us all. Here's to new beginnings and a lifetime of happiness!"

Step 9: Practice, Practice, Practice

Remember to practice your speech in advance. Rehearse it in front of a mirror or with trusted friends to refine your delivery. The more you practice, the more confident you'll become. Good luck, and cheers to the happy couple!

Best Man Speech Length

The length of a best man's speech is crucial to its success. While sitting through a bad speech is never fun, a long bad speech is even worse. The ideal length for a best man's speech is between 700 and 1300 words, or around 6 to 10 minutes. This gives you enough time to say what you need to say without losing your audience's attention.

As a rule of thumb, your speech should be no shorter than 5 minutes and no longer than 10. However, it's important to consider the overall length of the wedding speeches, especially if there are multiple speakers. If there are 3 speakers, for example, the best man's speech should be around 10 minutes. If there are 5 speakers, aim for 6 minutes, and so on.

It's also worth noting that the best man's speech is usually the last one, so by the time you get up to speak, the guests will likely be eager to get to the main course and may have been listening to speeches for a while. Therefore, it's crucial to keep your speech concise, punchy, and entertaining.

If you're worried about your speech being too long, aim for a shorter length. A short but sweet speech can be just as impactful as a long one.

Best Man Speech Quotes

The right quote can set the tone for your entire speech, whether it's humorous, sentimental, or a mix of both. It helps the audience understand the kind of relationship you share with the groom and what they can expect from your toast.

• "Marriage is a relationship in which one person is always right, and the other is the husband."
• "Love is blind, but marriage is a real eye-opener."
• "A good marriage would be between a blind wife and a deaf husband." – Michel de Montaigne
• "You don't marry someone you can live with—you marry someone you cannot live without."
• "Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies." – Aristotle
• "You're my lobster." – Friends
• "Love is not about finding the perfect person, but learning to see an imperfect person perfectly."
• "A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person."
• "Marriage is not about finding someone you can live with; it's about finding someone you can't live without."
• "A great marriage is not when the 'perfect couple' comes together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences."
• "I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride; so I love you because I know no other way." – Pablo Neruda
• "Marriage is like a deck of cards. In the beginning, all you need is two hearts and a diamond. By the end, you wish you had a club and a spade."
• "Marriage is like a walk in the park... Jurassic Park."
• "Like any great athlete, you've found someone who makes you a better player in the game of life."
• "To paraphrase Humphrey Bogart, 'Of all the wedding venues in all the towns in all the world, she walks into yours.'"
• "As Forest Gump would say, 'Life is like a box of chocolates, but marriage is like the assorted nut collection – sometimes hard to crack but worth it.'"
• "In the words of Darth Vader, 'You've found the one to rule your heart with.'"
• "Love is friendship set on fire."
• "You've found your Player 2 for life."
• "Like any good RPG, you've found your perfect party member."
• "Love is not about how many days, weeks or months you've been together, it's all about how much you love each other every day." – Unknown
• "You've found your soulmate in [Bride]. Hold onto her, cherish her, and never let her go."
• "A perfect marriage is just two imperfect people who refuse to give up on each other."
• "True love is not a fairy tale. It takes work, dedication, and a willingness to grow together."
• "I'd like to end on some wise words from Socrates: 'My advice to you is to get married. If you find a good wife/husband, you'll be happy; if not, you'll become a philosopher.'"
• "Here's one of my favourite Oscar Wilde quotes: 'The man who says his wife/husband can't take a joke forgets that she/he took him.'"
• "Before we raise a glass to the newlyweds, I'd like to share a Pauline Thomason quote with you: 'Love is blind – marriage is the eye-opener.'"
• "Here's a poem by Ogden Nash to finish on: To keep a marriage brimming with love in the loving cup, where you are wrong, admit it, and when you are right, shut up! To [Bride] and [Groom]"

Tips for Using Quotes in Your Best Man Speech:

• Choose quotes that are relevant to the couple and your relationship with the groom.
• Balance humour and sentimentality.
• Ensure quotes are concise and impactful.
• Practice your delivery to maximise the quote's impact.

Frequently asked questions