The Art Of Best Man Speechwriting For A Lesbian Wedding

Being asked to be the best man at a wedding is a tremendous honour, and with that honour comes a great deal of responsibility. One of the most important duties is delivering a rousing speech that celebrates the happy couple and their love. This can be a daunting task, but there are some key tips to help you craft a memorable and meaningful best man's speech for a lesbian wedding.

First and foremost, start preparing your speech well in advance of the big day. It is essential to get your thoughts, stories, and jokes down on paper, creating a basic outline to work from. Begin with a killer opening line to grab the audience's attention. Introduce yourself and explain your connection to the couple, perhaps with a touch of humour or a quote. Thank the previous speakers and the couple's parents or caregivers, and if there are any messages from guests who couldn't attend, this is a good time to share them.

Share personal stories and anecdotes about your relationship with the couple, especially the bride you are the best man for. Talk about how you met, and include funny or touching memories that showcase their unique personality traits and the strength of your bond. You can also share how their life has changed for the better since meeting their partner. Keep the stories lighthearted and avoid anything that might reflect poorly on the couple or offend the audience.

Offer some words of wisdom or advice to the couple. You can include a meaningful quote about love if you wish. Speak about their relationship and why they are a great couple. If you played a part in how they met, be sure to mention it! Finally, close with a heartfelt toast, wishing the newlyweds a lifetime of love and happiness.

Opening line: Grab attention with a joke or quote

How to Write a Best Man Speech for a Lesbian Wedding: Opening Line

The opening line of a best man speech is crucial as it sets the tone for the rest of the speech and helps to grab the audience's attention. Here are some ideas for opening lines that include jokes or quotes to get your creative juices flowing:

Self-Deprecating Joke

Making fun of yourself is a great way to warm up the room and make the couple feel more relaxed. It shows that you don't take yourself too seriously and helps to create a light-hearted atmosphere. Here are some examples:

• "I must admit, I'm not accustomed to public speaking. Up until I was asked to give this speech, I thought a toastmaster was a type of kitchen appliance!"
• "I'm not going to lie, I'm a bit nervous about giving this speech. In fact, I slept like a baby last night—waking up every two hours and bawling my eyes out."
• "I'm not going to lie, I'm a bit nervous about giving this speech. I've been told that if you're nervous, you should imagine the audience naked. But now that I look around, I feel even worse!"

Quote

Starting with a quote is a great way to ease into your speech, especially if you're feeling nervous. It can be a funny quote, a line from a movie or book, or even something made up. Here are some examples:

• "A best man is like a dead body at a funeral. You're expected to be there, but if you start talking, everyone starts freaking out."
• "Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to celebrate something truly magical. Something so rare and wonderful that it must be celebrated. I am, of course, talking about the open bar!"
• "I always knew the groom's speech would be hard to follow. In fact, I couldn't understand a word of it."

Joke about the Couple

A light-hearted joke about the couple is always a good way to get a few laughs and set a playful tone for the rest of the speech. Just make sure the joke is appropriate and won't cause any offence. Here are some examples:

• "I just want to congratulate the happy couple on their excellent taste... in speakers."
• "It's been an emotional day, even the cake is in tiers!"
• "I've known [groom] since school—yes, I knew her when she still had hair!"

Unexpected Announcement

This type of opening line is a quick-witted joke that catches the audience off guard and sets a humorous tone for the rest of the speech. Here are some examples:

• "Right, I'd just like to start by laying down a couple of rules. First, if you have a mobile phone, please leave it switched on. Secondly, if anyone texts you any good jokes, please forward them to me!"
• "Before I begin, I must explain that this morning, [groom] asked me to remove anything resembling innuendo from my speech. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to go through it again, but if I come across anything risqué, I'll whip it out immediately."

Introduce Yourself with a Twist

It's important to introduce yourself at the beginning of the speech, but you can add a twist to make it more interesting and engaging. Here are some examples:

• "Hello, I'm [your name], and I'm here to tell you all about [groom]. They're wonderful, handsome, and... sorry, I can't quite read your writing!"
• "Hi, I'm [your name], and it's time for me to give the speech I frantically scribbled down 15 minutes ago!"
• "Hello everyone, I'm [your name]. I'm sure you all know me as [groom's] best friend/sister/aunt, but if you don't, well done on sneaking into the wedding unnoticed!"

Introduce yourself: Explain your connection to the couple

Introduce Yourself and Explain Your Connection to the Couple

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. As the best man/woman, I'm delighted to welcome you all here tonight. For those of you who don't know me, I'm [name], and I'm [relation to couple]."

"Hello everyone, I'm [name], and I'm here to talk a little bit about my good friends, [couple's names]. I met [groom/bride] at a young age. I'd been an only child forever and had always longed for a sibling until I met [groom/bride]. I quickly realized [they] were going to be the sibling I never had. In school, we had a tough time with some mean kids, but [groom/bride] never let me feel alone. From waiting after class so I didn't have to walk the corridors by myself to staying after school with me when I had detention, they were always there."

"Hello, I'm [name], and I've known [groom/bride] for more than [#] years. As I was preparing this toast, one question consistently rang in my mind: how do I summarize a friendship that has lasted since we [when you met]? Believe it or not, [groom/bride] was [name a quirk or characteristic about them] back then, too."

"Hi everyone, I'm [name], and I'm [groom's/bride's] [relation]. When I was writing this speech, I asked myself how I could sum up [X] years of friendship, laughter and adventures in one speech, and I decided that I can't. We'd be here all night."

"Hello, I'm [name], and I'm [groom's/bride's] [relation]. I first met [groom/bride] when we were 13, and since then, I've always looked up to them. They were, after all, the only 6ft 2' student at [school name]!"

Share stories: Include funny/emotional anecdotes about the couple

Sharing stories and anecdotes about the couple is a great way to make your best man's speech memorable and engaging. Here are some ideas and tips to help you craft this section of your speech:

Choose Meaningful Stories

Select stories that reveal something about the couple and their relationship. These stories don't have to be long or extraordinary. Instead, focus on anecdotes that showcase their unique qualities, quirks, and the dynamics of their bond. Think about specific incidents or experiences that highlight their personalities and how they complement each other.

Include a Mix of Emotions

While humour is an important aspect of a best man's speech, don't be afraid to include emotional and heartfelt moments as well. Share stories that showcase the couple's loyalty, support for each other, and the ways in which they've overcome challenges together. These stories will add depth to your speech and provide a more well-rounded picture of the couple.

Use Exaggeration and Creative Licence

A little exaggeration can go a long way in making your stories funnier and more engaging. Embellish certain details or use creative licence to paint a comedic picture. For example, if one of the brides is talkative, you could say, "I thought I was a good listener until I met my wife. Now, I consider myself an Olympic-level nodder."

Deploy a Callback

The callback is a comedic technique where you reference a story or piece of information from earlier in your speech and bring it back later on. For example, you could share a story about the couple's first attempt at renovating their house, and then conclude your speech by saying, "I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you, even if I have to staple your shoes to the floor to make sure you're by my side forevermore."

Focus on Specific Traits

Share anecdotes that shine a light on specific personality traits of the couple that you admire. For instance, tell a story about a time when one of the brides dropped everything to help you during a challenging period in your life. This will not only showcase their loyalty but also provide a personal touch that guests can connect with.

Avoid Inappropriate Stories

While it's important to include humorous and humanising stories, be mindful of the couple's public image and avoid stories that might hinder how the audience perceives them. Steer clear of topics such as drugs, sexual humour, and stories that might offend certain guests. Keep the stories light-hearted and positive, focusing on the couple's strengths and unique qualities.

Toast the couple: Keep it short and simple

A toast is a traditional part of any wedding and a wonderful way to honor the couple. As the best man, your speech should be heartfelt and sincere, but it's important to keep it short and simple. Here are some tips to help you deliver a toast that will be remembered for all the right reasons!

Firstly, prepare your speech in advance. While it's good to speak from the heart, having a general idea of what you want to say will help ensure you don't ramble or forget any important points. Keep your speech concise and to-the-point; a good rule of thumb is to aim for no more than five minutes. This will ensure your toast is memorable and doesn't detract from the celebrations.

Begin your toast by introducing yourself and explaining your relationship to the couple. This is especially important if many of the guests are unfamiliar with you. You could say something like, "For those of you who don't know me, I'm Sarah, and I've had the honor of being Jenny's best friend since we were in diapers. I've been by her side through thick and thin, and today I stand here as her best man." This will give your speech context and help engage the audience.

When crafting your toast, focus on the couple and their relationship. Share a brief story or anecdote that showcases their love and commitment. Perhaps recall a time when they first started dating and the impact it had on the bride. You could say, "I remember when Jenny first started dating Rachel; there was an instant spark, and we all knew it was something special. Their love has only grown stronger over the years, and it's an honor to stand here today as they make it official."

Keep your speech light and positive, avoiding any potentially offensive material. You want your toast to be remembered for making people smile and maybe even shed a happy tear or two! End your toast with a simple but heartfelt wish for the couple's future together. You might say, "So, let's raise our glasses to Jenny and Rachel—may your love continue to grow and inspire those around you. Here's to a lifetime of happiness and love!"

Remember, the key to a great toast is keeping it short, sincere, and focused on the couple. By following these tips, you'll deliver a memorable and meaningful best man's speech that the brides will cherish. Cheers to that!

Wrap up: Highlight key moments of your journey with the couple

When wrapping up your best man speech, it's important to reflect on your friendship with the couple and highlight key moments from your journey with them. Here are some ideas to help you craft this section of your speech:

• Share a story that demonstrates the couple's positive impact on your life. For example, you could talk about a challenging period in your life and how the couple supported you through it. This will show your gratitude for their presence in your life and add a heartfelt touch to your speech.
• Discuss how you met the couple and became close friends. This will give the audience insight into the history of your relationship and help them understand why you were chosen as the best man. It adds a personal touch and allows the audience to connect with your story.
• Include a light-hearted anecdote or two about the couple. These stories should showcase their unique qualities and highlight the moments that made your friendship special. Perhaps they have a great sense of humour, and you can share a funny memory that had you in stitches. Or maybe they have a talent for adventure, and you can recount an exciting trip you took together.
• Mention specific qualities that you admire about the couple. This could be their unwavering loyalty, their ability to make you laugh, or their unwavering support during difficult times. Be sincere and authentic in your praise, as it will add a touching element to your speech.
• Share a story that demonstrates how the couple has grown and changed each other for the better. For example, you could talk about how the couple met and the positive impact they've had on each other's lives. This will show the audience that the couple brings out the best in each other and reinforces the idea that their union is a beautiful thing.
• Conclude by raising a toast to the couple and wishing them a happy and fulfilling future together. This is your chance to end your speech on a high note, leaving the audience feeling uplifted and celebratory. Thank the couple for having you as their best man, and express your excitement for their future together.

Frequently asked questions