Best Man Speech: Concluding Words, Cheers, And More

As the best man, your speech is one of the most memorable parts of a wedding. Ending your speech with a bang is just as important as nailing your opening line. While there are many ways to end your speech, a best man toast is the ideal way to finish.

Traditionally, the best man is only obliged to toast the newlyweds, but it's become common to include a nod to the bridesmaids, too. You can also thank the bridesmaids, say something nice about the wedding party, and mention some kind words about the groom. However, you want to avoid repetition, so allude generally to how the couple met, and avoid details.

If you're looking for a fun way to end your speech, you can end with a joke, a heartfelt sendoff, or an anecdote. If you go for a joke, make sure it's short, easy to understand, and family-friendly. A heartfelt sendoff might include well-wishes for the couple's long-term happiness. Anecdotes should be family-friendly and explain how your story relates to the marriage.

Whatever you choose, make sure you practice your speech in advance, and time yourself to ensure your ending is short and sweet!

Keep it short and snappy

Keeping your best man speech short and snappy is a great way to ensure that your speech is memorable and engaging. The ideal length for a best man speech is between 3 to 10 minutes, so it's important to be concise and to the point. Here are some tips to help you keep your speech short and engaging:

Start with a Strong Introduction

Begin your speech with a catchy one-liner, a funny joke, or a compliment to grab the audience's attention. This will help you make a strong first impression and set the tone for the rest of your speech. For example, you could say something like, "I'd like to start by congratulating the groom for his superb taste in choosing the best man."

Keep the Storytelling Concise

The storytelling part of your speech should be the main focus, but it's important to be selective with the stories you choose to share. Opt for 1-3 short stories that are funny, slightly embarrassing, or interesting. Make sure to include sensory details and a punch line to keep the audience engaged.

Focus on the Groom

Remember that the best man speech is primarily about the groom. While it's fine to include some stories about yourself and your friendship, make sure the majority of your speech is focused on the groom and his positive traits. Avoid making it all about you.

Keep Jokes Light and Family-Friendly

Humour is a great way to engage the audience, but it's important to keep your jokes light and family-friendly. Avoid explicit language and dirty jokes, or humour that criticizes others. Keep the tone positive and respectful.

Avoid Clichés and Quotes

Instead of ending with a famous quote, try to articulate your thoughts and well-wishes in your own words. Quotes can interrupt the flow of your speech and often feel out of place. Similarly, avoid marriage advice, as it may come across as insincere, especially if you're not married yourself.

Practice and Time Your Speech

Rehearse your speech beforehand and time yourself to ensure that it stays within the desired length. A short and snappy speech will keep the audience engaged and leave them wanting more. Practice will also help you refine your delivery and make any necessary adjustments.

End with a Heartfelt Toast

Conclude your speech by offering your support and well-wishes for the couple's new marriage. This is the perfect way to end on a positive note and leave a lasting impression. A simple and sincere toast will be more effective than a long-winded or complicated one.

End on a positive note

Ending your best man speech on a positive note is a great way to leave the newlyweds and their guests feeling inspired and happy. Here are some tips and examples to help you craft a memorable and uplifting conclusion:

Call for a Toast

Begin your ending by asking the audience to join you in saluting the happy couple. This signals to the audience that your speech is coming to a close. A simple and effective way to do this is by saying, "Please join me in raising a glass to the happy couple." If you prefer not to dedicate a separate line to the toast, you can indicate the end of your speech by saying the couple's names and then picking up your glass.

Wish for the Couple's Happiness

Offer your support and well-wishes for the newlyweds' new life together. Keep this part short, sincere, and always positive. You can say something like, "Here's to a lifetime of love and fulfilment," or "May your marriage be filled with laughter, love, and slightly better communication!" You can also reference an earlier joke or story in your speech for a satisfying conclusion. For example, "Here's to you, Harry and Ginny, and Ginny, don't try his ketchup spaghetti."

Avoid Quotes and Marriage Advice

While it may be tempting to end with a famous quote or offer marriage advice, these approaches can detract from the impact of your ending. Quotes often interrupt the flow of your speech and require additional context. Similarly, offering marriage advice, especially if you're not married yourself, can sound inauthentic and may fall flat with the audience. Instead, focus on expressing your thoughts and wishes in your own words.

Focus on the Marriage

Keep the spotlight on the couple and their future together. Avoid references to past relationships or offhand comments that might ruin the tone of your closing remarks. Wish the couple a happy and successful marriage with a sincere statement like, "I wish my best friend and his bride a life filled with happiness, adventure, and great memories."

Practice and Time Your Speech

Rehearse your speech, including the ending, to ensure it flows naturally and stays within the recommended time frame of 3 to 5 minutes. Record yourself reading the entire speech out loud, and make adjustments as needed for clarity and brevity. Time your speech to ensure it doesn't run too long, as best man speeches should ideally be kept concise and to the point.

Avoid quoting others

When giving a best man's speech, it is important to craft an ending that is powerful, succinct, and clear. Here are some tips on how to end your speech without quoting others:

Avoid ending your speech with a famous quote. Using a quote requires you to stop and explain its source, interrupting the flow of your ending. Instead, articulate your thoughts and well-wishes in your own words. If you want to include a quote, it is better to use it at the beginning of your speech. This way, you can focus on delivering a smooth and impactful ending without distractions.

Focus on the Couple

Make the newlyweds the focal point of your ending. Wish them a happy, successful, and long-lasting marriage. Keep your message short, simple, and positive. For example, you can say, "Here's to a lifetime of love and fulfillment." This type of ending leaves a positive impression and celebrates the couple.

Call Back to an Earlier Joke or Story

Reference an anecdote or joke from earlier in your speech. This creates a sense of cohesion and provides a satisfying conclusion. For instance, if you told a story about the groom's questionable cooking skills, you can end with, "Here's to you both, and don't try his ketchup spaghetti!" This approach adds a touch of humour while keeping the focus on the couple.

Keep It Short and Family-Friendly

Ensure your ending is concise and easy to understand. A long-winded joke or story can lose the attention of your audience. Opt for a quick, punchy joke that is appropriate for all ages. Leave out explicit language and avoid criticising or humiliating others. Keep your humour light and harmless, centred around topics like the groom's hobbies, dancing, or cooking skills.

Connect Your Closing Words to the Occasion

Tailor your ending to the specific occasion. Make references to the wedding day traditions, the couple's honeymoon, or even the reception disco. This adds a personal touch and shows that you have considered the unique aspects of the celebration.

Offer Congratulations and Well-Wishes

As you lead into the champagne toast, express your sincere congratulations and best wishes for the happy couple. Share your hopes for their future together and sum up the occasion with a heartfelt moment. This is your opportunity to leave a lasting impression, so make sure to choose your words carefully.

Avoid giving marriage advice

Giving marriage advice during a best man's speech is generally not recommended, especially if you are single. Even if you are married, the couple will most likely hear similar advice from parents and other relatives. Additionally, marriage insights from a single best man may not carry much weight.

If you are looking for advice on how to end a best man's speech, here are some ideas:

• Call back to an earlier joke or story for a satisfying conclusion.
• Keep your toast short and snappy.
• End on a positive note that celebrates the newlyweds.
• Start the ending by asking the audience to join you in a toast to the happy couple.
• Wish the couple long-term happiness and offer your support.
• Avoid ending with a famous quote, as it may interrupt the flow of your speech.
• Focus on the marriage instead of past relationships.
• End your story in a family-friendly way, avoiding strong language or questionable content.
• Explain how your story relates to the marriage and use it to wish the couple well.

Make it about the couple

Making your best man speech about the couple is a great way to end on a positive note and leave the guests feeling inspired and happy. Here are some tips on how to do this effectively:

Start with a Toast

Ask the guests to raise their glasses and drink to the couple's future together. This is a great way to signal to the audience that your speech is coming to an end. Simply ask everyone to stand and raise their glasses, or clearly indicate that the end of your speech is approaching by saying the couple's names and then pausing before picking up your glass.

Wish for the Couple's Happiness

Offer your support and well-wishes for the couple's marriage. This part should be short and sweet. Speak from the heart and always be positive. For example, you could say: "Here's to a lifetime of love and happiness for you both."

Reference the Rest of Your Speech

If you've told stories or jokes throughout your speech, bring it all together by referencing a theme or running joke. This will help to tie everything together and leave the room smiling. For example, if you've told a story about the groom's cooking, you could say: "Here's to you both, and don't try his ketchup spaghetti!"

Make it Light-Hearted

Keep the mood light and avoid ending with marriage advice or a famous quote. While it may be tempting to include a quote about love and marriage, it's better to articulate your thoughts in your own words. Similarly, offering marriage advice may sound insightful, but it usually detracts from your ending.

Focus on the Marriage

This is a special day for the couple, so focus on wishing them well. Avoid any offhand references to past relationships or anything else the audience doesn't want to hear. Instead, wish them a happy and successful marriage. For example: "I wish my friend and his bride a life filled with happiness, adventure, and great memories."

Explain How Your Story Relates to the Marriage

If you've told a story or anecdote, explain how it relates to the couple and their marriage. This will give your speech more impact and power. For example: "When Greg turned off Sunday football to meet up with Jane, I knew they were in love."

Keep it Brief

Your ending should be snappy and to the point. A great toast should feel like a natural conclusion to your speech, tying everything together. It's your last chance to make the audience laugh, cry, or both, so make it count!

Frequently asked questions