Delivering A Memorable Best Man Speech: A Gentleman's Guide

Being asked to be someone's best man is a huge honour, but it can also be a daunting task. Giving a best man's speech can be nerve-wracking, but with the right preparation, it can be a memorable and enjoyable experience. The key is to be yourself, keep it short and sweet, and make sure to rehearse. It's important to strike a balance between humour and sincerity, and to avoid any inappropriate jokes or stories that might embarrass the bride, groom, or their families. The best man's speech is also an opportunity to thank the couple and wish them well, and to share a few anecdotes about the groom that will entertain the guests.

Prepare in advance

The best man's speech is a big deal and one of the greatest honours that can be bestowed upon a gentleman. It is a vote of confidence in your social skills and personal worth. However, it can also be an enormous burden. It is easy to freeze when faced with putting pen to paper. The only way to make a speech sound joyously off the cuff is through stringent preparation.

A month or so before the wedding, begin jotting down any appropriate anecdotes, stories or memories you have of the groom. Then determine what material will work well in front of the guests. Stealthily find out from the groom how he met his wife-to-be, and use this to lay the foundation of your speech.

Create a compelling opening line to grab the audience's attention, and then introduce yourself. This is especially important if you are not well known to the guests. Then write a couple of jokes to get everyone on your side, and follow those up with some compliments. You can also add in some character assassination, but only in moderation.

Weave in compliments throughout, and tell some brief stories about why marriage will be good for the groom. It is important to be honest and heartfelt. You can talk about a time when the groom has really helped you out, or been there for you. Keep it to the point and not too slushy.

Stand in front of the mirror, recite it in the shower, or perform your speech when sat in traffic. Make sure you know what marks to hit, when to hit them, and what comes next. Practice makes perfect, so learn your lines, but don't over-prepare as you don't want to deliver your speech in a robotic manner.

Be yourself

Being yourself is one of the most important things to keep in mind when giving a best man's speech. It's natural to feel nervous or pressured to perform, but ultimately, the audience wants to hear from you—the groom's good friend. Trying to be someone you're not will only come across as inauthentic and may ruin the mood of the wedding. So, be yourself, be confident, and speak from the heart.

Authenticity

If you're not usually the joker, don't force jokes or try to be the class clown. It's okay to be sincere and heartfelt, especially when talking about your friend and his bride. Share personal stories, inside jokes, and genuine emotions about the couple. Your speech should reflect your unique personality and relationship with the groom.

Avoid Clichés

Resist the urge to rely on overused best man jokes or speech templates. While it can be tempting to fall back on familiar material, it's essential to make your speech your own. Draw on your experiences and memories with the groom to create something original and engaging. Remember, the audience is there to celebrate the couple, and they want to hear about the groom from your perspective.

Know Your Audience

While it's important to be yourself, it's also crucial to consider your audience. Keep the content classy and age-appropriate. Avoid risqué jokes or stories that might embarrass the couple or offend certain guests. Remember, the goal is to celebrate the couple and create a positive, inclusive atmosphere.

Practice

Preparation is key to feeling confident and ensuring your speech reflects who you are. Practice your speech ahead of time, but don't over-rehearse to the point of sounding robotic. The goal is to sound natural and authentic, not perfectly polished.

Length

Keep your speech concise. Generally, a best man's speech should be around 5-7 minutes. This length ensures you hold the audience's attention and leave them wanting more. Focus on quality over quantity and choose your stories and anecdotes wisely.

In conclusion, when giving a best man's speech, remember to be yourself. Embrace your unique personality, speak from the heart, and celebrate your friend authentically.

Be tactful

Being tactful is an important part of giving a best man's speech. While jokes are expected, it's important to keep the tone clean and avoid any inappropriate or untactful comments. Here are some tips to help you be tactful during your speech:

• Avoid dirty jokes, stories about ex-girlfriends, or any other topics that could embarrass the groom's grandmother.
• Don't talk about the groom's bodily functions, sex, or anything else that could be considered crude or vulgar.
• Be mindful of your language and avoid profanity. Even if you think the guests can handle it, it's important to remember that wedding crowds are an eclectic mix, and you don't want to offend anyone.
• While it's okay to include some anecdotes, don't make your speech an anecdote-fest. Mix in some observational comments about the groom's career, dating life, and passions to make your speech more easily digestible and engaging.
• If you're going to include jokes, make sure they are appropriate and won't cause embarrassment or discomfort. Avoid blue humour and risqué topics.
• Keep the speech focused on the groom and the bride. Avoid talking about yourself or making the speech an opportunity to exercise your stand-up comedy credentials.
• Be respectful and considerate in your delivery. Address your audience directly and avoid reading from a printout.

Keep it short

Keeping your speech short and sweet is one of the most important things to remember when preparing your best man's speech. While it's an honour to be chosen as best man, the thought of giving a speech can be daunting. But don't worry, with the right preparation, you'll be able to deliver a speech that's memorable for all the right reasons.

Firstly, don't ramble. It's easy to get carried away and go off on tangents, but this will only cause your audience to lose interest. As a rule of thumb, your speech should be no longer than 10 minutes. Any more than this and you risk losing the attention of your guests. In fact, some sources suggest that shorter is better, with 5 minutes being the ideal length.

To ensure your speech doesn't drag on, create an outline beforehand and practice delivering it. Time yourself to make sure you're not exceeding your time limit. Practising will also help you feel more confident when the time comes to deliver your speech. If you're nervous about speaking in front of a crowd, it can be helpful to practise in front of a mirror or with a small group of trusted friends or family members.

When writing your speech, be mindful of the structure. Start by introducing yourself and explaining your connection to the groom. This is especially important if the guests don't know who you are. Then, share a few anecdotes or stories about the groom. Keep these stories concise and relevant, and avoid inside jokes that only a small portion of the audience will understand. It's also a good idea to weave in some compliments about the groom and the couple.

Finally, wrap up your speech with a heartfelt message and a toast to the happy couple. Thank them for having you, wish them well, and propose a toast to their future together.

Remember, the key to a successful best man's speech is to keep it short, sweet, and to the point. With the right preparation and a bit of practice, you'll be able to deliver a speech that's both engaging and memorable.

Practice

If you're not used to comedy writing, give yourself time to think about it. Leave your impressions, blue humour and musical numbers at the door. Be aware of the time—a good length is around 5–7 minutes.

Frequently asked questions