Best Man Speech: Captivating Conclusion Techniques For You

Being the best man at a wedding is a huge honour, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility. One of the most important duties is the best man's speech, which should be memorable, entertaining, and, most importantly, well-prepared. While it's only around 10 minutes long, it will be remembered forever, so it's crucial to get it right. The best man's speech should be a mix of humour, sentiment, and, of course, a toast to the happy couple. But how do you end it?

There are a few options for ending a best man's speech. One popular choice is to go with a funny line or anecdote, perhaps referencing something from earlier in the speech. Keep it short, family-friendly, and avoid jokes that criticise or humiliate others. Another option is to offer a heartfelt wish for the couple's long-term happiness, speaking from the heart and always being positive about the union. You could also combine humour and sentiment for a funny yet sincere ending. Whatever you choose, make sure to rehearse your speech, stay sober, and make eye contact with your audience.

Start with thankfulness

Starting your best man speech with thankfulness is a great way to ensure your speech gets off to a good start. It's a simple yet effective way to break the ice and set a positive tone for the rest of your speech. Here are some tips and examples to help you craft this section of your best man speech:

Thank the Relevant People

Be sure to express your gratitude to the people who have contributed to the wedding or played a significant role in the lives of the newlyweds. This can include the family, the couple, and especially the new wife. You can also choose to thank those who are present at the wedding. By showing your appreciation, you will not only make the recipients of your thanks feel valued but also create a warm and gracious atmosphere.

Keep It Brief

While it's important to express your thanks, try to keep this section concise. You don't want to spend too much time on just the introductions and gratitude. Aim for a brief and heartfelt expression of thanks that sets the stage for the rest of your speech.

Set the Right Tone

Beginning your speech with thankfulness helps establish a positive and gracious tone. It shows that you appreciate the people around you and sets a friendly vibe for the rest of your speech. This is especially important if you plan to include any light-hearted jokes or embarrassing stories about the groom later in your speech. By starting with thankfulness, you create a balanced and well-rounded speech.

Example Thankfulness Paragraphs:

"First of all, I want to express my sincere thanks to the bride and groom for bringing us all together today. It means so much to me that you chose me to be your best man, and I am truly grateful for our friendship. I also want to thank the families of the bride and groom for their love and support. We are here today because of the foundation you provided, and I am so happy to celebrate this special day with all of you."

"It's an honour to stand here as the best man at my brother's wedding. I want to thank my brother, the groom, for always being there for me and for giving me the opportunity to stand by his side today. To the bride, thank you for welcoming me into your life and making my brother so incredibly happy. I am so glad to have you as a sister-in-law. To both of your families, thank you for your warmth and hospitality. We are all here to celebrate the love between the happy couple, and I am grateful to be a part of it."

"I want to start by saying thank you to the happy couple for letting me share this special day with you. It has been an incredible honour to be chosen as the best man, and I am so happy to support you both on this journey. To the bride's parents, thank you for raising such a kind and compassionate woman, and to the groom's parents, thank you for your unwavering love and support. Your presence here today means so much to the newlyweds, and we are all grateful for your contribution to this celebration."

Include a light-hearted or comical observation about marriage

Including a light-hearted or comical observation about marriage is a great way to end your best man speech. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Comical Observations about Marriage

"There is an old wedding day tradition that says the bride must wear something new, something old, something borrowed, and something blue. To ensure that tradition is followed, I would like to make a special presentation to [Bride]. It's old, borrowed, and blue, and I figure [Groom] is new enough as her husband to cover the 'new.' These should come in handy tonight when the newlyweds retire to their hotel room. [Bride], here are some slightly used blue socks for you."

"Marriage, I've heard, is a lot like a walk through a forest. You need to watch out for the trees! But all jokes aside, marriage is a beautiful journey, and I wish you both the very best as you embark on this adventure together."

"They say marriage is like a deck of cards. In the beginning, all you need is two hearts and a diamond. But as time goes on, you'll wish you had a club and a spade!"

"For those who don't know, I'm [Groom]'s brother, and I can tell you that growing up with him was quite an experience. I remember when we used to fight over the smallest things, like the remote control or the last slice of pizza. So, if there's one piece of advice I can give to the happy couple, it's this: always keep an extra pizza in the freezer for emergencies!"

"Marriage is a lot like a rollercoaster. It has its ups and downs, twists and turns, and sometimes you might even feel like you're upside down. But just like a rollercoaster, it's thrilling, exciting, and you'll want to go on the ride again and again."

Light-Hearted Advice for the Couple

"The key to a happy marriage is never going to bed angry. Well, actually, the key is to stay up and talk about it. But if you're too tired to talk, just remember to say 'I love you' before you fall asleep. Because tomorrow is another day, and love conquers all."

"My advice to the happy couple is to always make time for each other, even when life gets busy. Date nights are important, but sometimes it's the little things that count. A quick phone call during the day, a surprise love note, or even just a thoughtful text message can go a long way in keeping that spark alive."

"Remember, marriage is a team effort. There will be times when one of you might feel like you're carrying more weight than the other, but that's okay. Support each other, lift each other up, and always face the world as a united front. Together, you can weather any storm."

"Marriage is like a dance. Sometimes you lead, and sometimes you follow. The most important thing is to stay in step with each other and never lose the rhythm of your love."

"The secret to a long and happy marriage? Always say 'yes' when your partner asks if they look good in an outfit. Even if it's not your favourite, just agree! It's a small thing, but it will save you a lot of trouble."

Reference the rest of your speech

The best ending joke calls back to the rest of your speech, illustrating the groom's personality. Focus your jokes on a harmless topic, such as the groom's questionable cooking skills, and end the speech by mixing well-wishes with one last joke. For example, "Here's to you, Harry and Ginny, and Ginny, don't try his ketchup spaghetti".

If you've been telling stories throughout your speech, bring it to a conclusion in your ending. Explain how your story relates to the marriage. For instance, "When Greg turned off Sunday football to meet up with Jane, I knew they really were in love".

If you've been telling jokes throughout your speech, end on a joke, but make sure it's short and to the point. For example, "Emily deserves a great husband. Thankfully, you snapped her up before she found one".

If you've been telling anecdotes, make sure to end on a family-friendly one. Avoid being excessively critical. It's okay to tell harmless stories, such as how you met your friend or a few of their actions. For example, "I wish my best friend and his bride a life filled with happiness, adventure, and great memories".

Wish the couple long-term happiness

Wishing the couple long-term happiness is a great way to end a best man's speech. Here are some ideas to help you craft a memorable ending:

Start with a Toast

The easiest way to indicate that your speech is coming to an end is to ask the audience to join you in a toast to the happy couple. A simple "Please join me in raising a glass to the newlyweds" or "Let's raise our glasses to the happy couple" will do the trick. This will also create a sense of unity and celebration in the room.

Wish Them Well

After the toast, it's time to offer your heartfelt support and well-wishes for the couple's new life together. Keep it short, simple, and positive. Here are some examples:

• "Here's to a lifetime of love and happiness."
• "May your marriage be filled with joy, adventure, and cherished memories."
• "Wishing you both a long and happy life together, with all the best."
• "To a future filled with love, laughter, and endless blessings."
• "May your love continue to grow and flourish in the years to come."

Make it Personal

You can also make your wishes more personal by referencing the couple's unique qualities or inside jokes, as long as they are family-friendly and not too embarrassing. For example:

• "To the two things that make a great marriage: a good sense of humour and selective hearing. To the happy couple!"
• "To my best friend and his beautiful bride, may your lives together be filled with all the happiness and love you both deserve."
• "Here's to a lifetime of love and fulfilment for you both, and may your adventures together be extraordinary."
• "To the happy couple—may your love be as enduring as [Groom's name]'s legendary hangovers, and may your life together be filled with laughter and wonderful memories.""

Remember to keep your ending concise and heartfelt, and always speak from the heart. Good luck with your speech!

End with a toast

Ending your best man speech with a toast is a great way to send the newlyweds off with some warm wishes for their future together. Here are some ideas for how to do this, with a focus on keeping your content detailed, direct, instructive, and specific to ending a best man speech with a toast.

Start the Toast

The easiest way to indicate to your audience that your speech is coming to an end is to ask everyone to join you in saluting the happy couple. You could say something like:

> "Please join me in raising a glass to the happy couple."

> "Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for a toast to [name of groom] and [name of bride]."

> "Let's all raise a glass to the newlyweds."

Offer Well-Wishes

After you've called for a toast, you can offer some words of support and well-wishes for the couple's future together. Keep this part short, positive, and lighthearted. Here are some examples:

> "May your marriage be blessed with faith, joy, and love. Cheers!"

> "May your love and affection grow with each passing day. Cheers!"

> "May your marriage be filled with laughter, love, and slightly better communication! Cheers!"

> "May your love be modern enough to survive the times, but old-fashioned enough to last forever. Cheers!"

> "May your marriage never feel like hard work, but instead be full of moments that are as easy as breathing."

> "May your marriage be like a cosy fire in the winter – warm, comforting, and always there to chase away the chill."

> "Here's to a lifetime of love and happiness."

Keep It Brief

Remember to keep your toast short and snappy. You don't want to ramble on for too long and lose the attention of your audience. Your toast should be a concise and powerful conclusion to your speech.

Frequently asked questions