Conclude A Memorable Best Man Speech

The best man's speech is one of the highlights of a wedding, but nailing the ending can be tricky. Here are some tips on how to close a best man's speech:

- Keep it short and sweet: A best man's speech should ideally be no longer than 10 minutes, so the ending should be concise and to the point.

- Be family-friendly: Avoid explicit language and dirty jokes. The wedding guests will likely include people of all ages, so keep the humour suitable for everyone.

- Avoid marriage advice: Offering marital insights as a single best man might not carry much weight. Even if you are married, the couple will probably hear similar advice from parents and other relatives.

- Include a toast: Ask the audience to join you in saluting the happy couple. This is a clear signal that your speech is coming to an end.

- Wish the couple well: Offer your support and well-wishes for the newlyweds. Speak from the heart and always be positive about their union.

- Avoid famous quotes: Quotes can interrupt the flow of your ending and often drag on for too long. It's better to articulate your thoughts in your own words.

- Rehearse: Practice your speech, including the ending, to ensure it sounds natural and enthusiastic.

Keep it short and sweet

Keeping your best man speech short and sweet is a great way to ensure that your speech is well-received. Here are some tips and tricks to help you craft a concise and impactful ending:

Keep it Brief

The attention span of your audience is important to consider when crafting your speech. Even if you have a lot to say, it's best to keep your speech concise and to the point. Aim for a maximum of 10 minutes, and if there are multiple speakers, consider reducing your speech to 5-7 minutes to respect your audience's time and maintain their engagement.

Focus on the Couple

The best man speech should primarily be about the groom, but it's essential to include the bride and their union in your ending. Avoid mentioning past relationships and focus on wishing them a happy and successful marriage. You can also incorporate a light-hearted or comical observation about their relationship, such as how the groom has improved since meeting the bride.

Include a Toast

A toast is a traditional and effective way to conclude your speech. Simply ask the audience to join you in saluting the happy couple. For example, "Please join me in raising a glass to the newlyweds." You can also incorporate a funny or heartfelt line before the toast, such as, "To the two things that make a great marriage: a good sense of humour and selective hearing. To the happy couple!"

Keep it Positive

Regardless of the tone of your speech, it's essential to end on a positive note. Avoid marriage advice, especially if you're single, as it may come across as insincere. Instead, offer your support and well-wishes for the couple's new life together. A simple, "Here's to a lifetime of love and happiness," or "Wishing you a long and happy life together, filled with adventure and cherished moments," will suffice.

Practice and Refine

Before the big day, take the time to rehearse your speech, especially the ending. Record yourself to identify any areas that need improvement and edit your speech for clarity and brevity. Ensure your ending is concise, powerful, and easy to understand.

End on a positive note

Ending your best man's speech with a positive note is a great way to leave the newlyweds and their guests feeling inspired and happy. Here are some ideas on how to achieve that:

Start with a Toast

The toast is a perfect way to signal that your speech is coming to an end. It also invites the audience to join you in celebrating the happy couple. A simple and effective way to start your closing remarks is by asking everyone to raise their glasses to the newlyweds. For example, you could say, "Please join me in raising a glass to the happy couple."

Wish for the Couple's Long-Term Happiness

After the toast, it's time to offer your support and well-wishes for the new marriage. Keep this part short, sincere, and positive. Speak from the heart and focus on the couple's future together. For instance, you could say, "Here's to a lifetime of love, joy, and wonderful adventures."

Reference the Rest of Your Speech

If you've shared anecdotes or jokes throughout your speech, you can bring it all together by referencing the theme or a running joke. This creates a cohesive and satisfying conclusion. For example, if you've mentioned the groom's love for sports, you could say, "Here's to a marriage filled with winning moments and a lifetime of love."

End with a Quote

Using a quote as your closing line can add a thoughtful touch to your speech. Choose a quote that resonates with you and the couple. Make sure it's not too long, and avoid anything overly complicated or cliché. For example, "There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship." - Thomas Aquinas.

Keep it Short and Sweet

Remember, less is more when it comes to ending your speech. You want your final remarks to be concise, upbeat, and memorable. Practice your conclusion to ensure it feels natural and fits within the time limit. A polished and confident ending will leave a lasting impression.

Include a toast to the newlyweds

Including a toast to the newlyweds is a great way to end your best man's speech. It's a best man's duty to honour the bride and groom and wish them a happy future together. Here are some ideas for how to do this:

Traditional Toasts

These classic toasts are short and sweet, and will leave a lasting impression on the couple and the guests:

• "Please join me in raising a glass to the happy couple — to [groom] and [bride]!"
• "To my brother and his beautiful bride — the new Mr and Mrs [surname]!"
• "Ladies and gentlemen, if you would please rise for a toast to [groom] and [bride]. May you both grow old together, but stay young at heart. Cheers!"
• "Let’s all raise a glass to the newlyweds. May the love you share today serve as the bedrock of a happy, healthy and everlasting marriage. Cheers!"
• "Let us raise our glasses to the beautiful couple — may they always be as happy as they are in this moment. Here’s to [groom] and [bride]!"
• "Raise your glass and join me in a toast to [groom] and [bride] — may you always remember the love that brought you here today."
• "Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in toasting [groom], and his beautiful bride, [bride]. May the love you two share today grow stronger as you grow older. To the Bride and Groom!"

Toasts to the Future

These toasts focus on the couple's future together, and wish them a lifetime of happiness:

• "Let us toast to the remarkable bond my buddy and his partner possess. Even though it wasn’t easy, they made it through and taught us that no matter what challenges stand in the way, true love will always find a way. Cheers!"
• "Let nothing stand between the two of you—not even time or distance—and may every day bring more love than the last. Congratulations to the bride and groom! May your future be bright, beautiful, and full of blessings. Cheers!"
• "Wishing you both a lifetime of health and happiness, where you can continue to explore all that life has to offer together as one. May you keep smiling with every struggle and crying with every joy – knowing that whatever comes your way will bring even more strength to your relationship."
• "Here’s to the beautiful journey ahead – may it always be filled with genuine happiness in each other’s arms! Congratulations!"
• "Here’s to the couple as they begin this next chapter in their lives together. May they have strength to overcome any obstacles that come their way, courage to take risks when necessary, and compassion to understand one another despite life’s differences."

Funny Toasts

If your speech has a lot of funny lines, you might want to end on a humorous note:

• "For the last time, I am going to ask everyone in the room to raise their glass and – if you are still able to – stand and wish the newlyweds a happy and bright future!"
• "If you had trouble hearing me at the back – I did ask to use a microphone, but the silence at the front of the room should help to reassure you that you are not missing a thing. Here’s to the bride and groom!"
• "Before I end this speech, I want to give some advice to the best man. Always remember to say the three magical words: ‘You’re right dear’. To the bride and groom!"
• "Let’s make sure this day is just as special as possible; after all, you only get married once – or at least we hope you do."
• "May the newlyweds find prosperity in all aspects of life, excluding a receding hairline, which seems to be an unavoidable reality."
• "I once read that the best man’s speech should always take as long as the amount of time it takes the groom to make love. So, here is to the happy couple!"
• "Thank you everyone for keeping the clapping to a minimum today. I have a terrible hangover. I couldn’t let the groom drink alone last night, could I? Let’s raise a final glass to the new Mr and Mrs [name]."
• "And now that I have come to the end of my speech, it has been great to have been a part of the only few minutes the bride wasn’t able to plan. Here’s to the happy couple!"

Heartfelt Toasts

If you want to end on a sincere and emotional note, try one of these:

• "There is nothing more noble or admirable than watching two incredible people come together as one in the unity of marriage. As your friends and family, we delight in your marriage and offer our encouragement and support. Here is a toast to a long life filled with adventure, love, and cherished moments."
• "Let us raise our glasses to the beautiful couple — may they always be as happy as they are in this moment."
• "Here is a toast to the perfect couple — may your life together be filled with happiness, adventure and endless memories."
• "To close, I’d like to invite everyone to raise a glass and toast the bride and groom, Mr. and Mrs. [surname]. I hope your wedding days are few, but your anniversaries many. Congratulations!"
• "I’d like to propose a toast to [groom] and [bride] — may your marriage be blessed with faith, joy, and love. Cheers!"
• "Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to toast to [groom] and [bride], who have so greatly enriched all of our lives, may you do the same for each other in the years to come. Cheers!"
• "Family and friends, please raise your glasses and join me in a toast. May the joys you share today be the beginning of a lifetime of great happiness and fulfillment. To two very special people, [groom] and [bride]!"
• "Here is to love, laughter, and a happily ever after, [groom] and [bride] your fairy tale is only beginning."

Avoid marriage advice

Giving a best man speech can be nerve-wracking, but it's also a meaningful honour. Here are some tips on how to close your speech without giving marriage advice.

Keep it Short and Sweet

A best man's speech should be concise, lasting no more than 10 minutes. Aim for a snappy ending that leaves a lasting impression. A brief, positive note that celebrates the newlyweds is ideal.

While it's become a tradition to end best man speeches with light-hearted or comical marriage advice, this is best avoided, especially if you're single. Marriage insights from a single best man may not carry much weight and could be seen as inappropriate.

Focus on the Couple

Instead of giving advice, direct your closing words towards the couple. Offer congratulations and well wishes, expressing your hopes for their future together. You can also share a quote about love or marriage to end on a thoughtful note.

Be Mindful of the Couple's Situation

If the couple eloped or has mixed feelings from their families about the wedding, your speech can focus on celebrating their union and putting a positive spin on their fresh start. Compliment them and express your support for their marriage.

Include a Toast

A best man's speech is the ideal way to end with a toast to the newlyweds. Ask everyone to raise their glasses and drink to the happy couple and their future together. This is a simple and effective way to conclude, leaving the room smiling and raising their glasses.

Example Toasts

• "There is nothing more noble or admirable than watching two incredible people come together as one in the unity of marriage. As your friends and family, we delight in your marriage and offer our encouragement and support. Here is a toast to a long life filled with adventure, love, and cherished moments."
• "Please join me in raising a glass to the happy couple—to [Couple's Names]. May your love be as enduring as [Groom's Name]'s legendary hangovers, and may your life together be filled with adventure, joy, and slightly fewer tequila shots. Cheers!"
• "To the happy couple. May your marriage be as strong as the drinks in your hand. Cheers!"

Be family-friendly

When giving a best man speech, it's important to know your audience. Consider who will be attending the wedding, their ages, interests and backgrounds. This awareness will guide your choice of anecdotes, jokes and tone, ensuring your speech is well-received by everyone present.

A great best man's speech should be heartfelt, funny and unique, making the groom and wedding party feel special and celebrated. It's crucial to strike a balance between humour and sincerity, ensuring your words resonate with everyone. Keep the speech cohesive and engaging, avoiding tangents. Starting with a joke can be risky; instead, ease into your speech with a warm welcome or a light-hearted remark.

The trick to writing entertaining speeches is to weave your words into a story, rather than reciting a series of disjointed anecdotes. Focus on one or two key moments that highlight the groom's personality. Use humour to emphasise his quirks in a light-hearted manner, but avoid deep introspection. This approach keeps the audience engaged and ensures your speech is memorable for all the right reasons.

Confidence is key when delivering your speech. Practice your speech multiple times to feel comfortable with your delivery. Avoid using props, as they can distract from your words and add unnecessary complications. Keep your speech concise and focused on the groom and the celebration. Stay on track, avoid tangents and resist the temptation to get overly emotional. By staying composed and focused, you'll deliver a speech that resonates with everyone in the room.

When it's time to wrap up your speech, do so with confidence and style. Offer your support and well-wishes to the newlyweds, keeping your closing remarks short and sweet. Speak from the heart and make sure your ending is upbeat and positive. Practice your conclusion to ensure it feels like a natural part of your speech. If certain jokes or stories don't land well during practice, consider cutting them to maintain a positive tone. A confident and polished ending will leave a lasting impression on everyone present.

As you prepare to deliver your speech, keep these tips in mind:

• Make sure your closing remarks are positive, avoiding any criticism or humour that could be misconstrued.
• Use the toast as a clear signal that your speech is ending, inviting the audience to join you in celebrating the happy couple.
• Throughout your speech, remain respectful and positive, ensuring your words reflect the joy and significance of the occasion.
• Remember, the best man's speech is about the couple, why you love them and why you're honoured to be part of their special day.

Frequently asked questions