Crafting The Perfect Best Man Wedding Toast: A Guide To Writing And Delivery

Being asked to be someone's best man is a tremendous honour, but it's also a role that comes with a lot of responsibility. One of the most important duties is delivering a rousing speech and giving a toast to the newlyweds. This is your chance to say some kind words about your relationship with the couple and your best friend. Wedding speeches are meant to be quick, lighthearted moments during the reception, so while you should put effort into crafting thoughtful words, you don't need to overthink it. Here are some tips to help you write a memorable best man wedding toast:

- Start with a killer opening line. Introduce yourself and explain your connection to the couple. You can share a quick joke or quote a poem to grab the audience's attention.

- Thank the other speakers and the couple's parents. Show your gratitude to the previous speaker and the couple's parents for raising such amazing people and for hosting a wonderful celebration.

- Say a few words about the couple, especially the groom's new spouse. Share your favourite memories with the groom and speak about why they are a great couple. If you played a part in bringing them together, don't forget to mention it!

- Include funny and heartwarming stories. Your personal anecdotes will make your speech stand out. Keep them lighthearted and short, and avoid rambling.

- Keep it short and sweet. Best man speeches should be at least three minutes long but no more than five minutes. This is enough time to say something meaningful without losing the attention of the guests.

- Practice makes perfect. Start writing your speech at least two months in advance and practice delivering it aloud. Record yourself and watch the playback to improve your body language and confidence.

- Stay true to yourself. There's no need to adopt a character for your speech. If you're comfortable with cracking jokes, go for it. If you're better at being sentimental, leave the audience misty-eyed. The couple chose you because they want to hear your unique perspective.

- Avoid certain topics. Stay away from negativity about marriage, previous marriages/divorces, drinking, drugs, gambling, and adult humour. Keep your speech PG and focus on celebrating the couple.

- Consider adding jokes. Poking fun at the groom is a great way to add humour to your speech, as long as it's something everyone can appreciate. Just leave their new spouse out of it!

- Don't wing it. Always write down your speech or at least have some bullet points to keep you on track. Small note cards are better than a sheet of paper as they won't flap around.

- Get feedback. Send your speech to a close friend for honest feedback, or practice with an audience to get a feel for how your speech is landing.

How to start a best man's wedding toast

There are many ways to start a best man's wedding toast, and it's important to remember that this speech is about the couple getting married and your unique insight into their relationship. Here are some ideas on how to begin your toast:

Introduce Yourself with a Twist:

Instead of the standard "For those of you who don't know me" line, add some flavour to your introduction. You can share a funny story or an interesting fact about yourself and your relationship with the groom. For example: “I'm Dan's younger brother, Pete. I've looked up to him since I first laid eyes on him. He was always bigger than me and always right. In a house full of hyenas, he was the Lion King."

Crack a Joke:

If you're comfortable with public speaking and want to loosen up the crowd, start with a joke. It can be corny or silly, as long as it's appropriate and won't offend anyone. For instance: “Hello, I'm the best man. This entire day has been beautiful so far. In fact, I'm getting emotional. The wedding cake has me in tiers."

Be Humorous with a Straight Face:

This technique involves delivering an absurd statement with a serious expression, which will leave the audience wondering before they realise it's a joke. For example: “Good evening, I am the best man and the groom's brother. Tonight, we're in a room full of great men—doctors, lawyers, military veterans—and yet I am the 'best.' His words, not mine."

Ask a Question:

Pose a question to the audience that you will answer throughout your speech. This approach will capture their interest and make them want to hear more. For example: "As I was preparing this toast, one question kept ringing in my mind: How do I summarise a friendship of over 25 years? So, I'll tell you a little about my best friend and leave the rest for you to discover."

Share a Definition:

Look up a definition related to love or marriage and use it as an opening line. You can find something serious and sentimental or go for a funny quote. For instance: “According to Google, the second definition of 'love' is 'a great interest and pleasure in something or someone.' I think this is beautiful and an understatement when describing the newlyweds and their relationship."

Remember, the key to a successful best man's wedding toast is to be genuine, keep it positive, and focus on the couple. Good luck with your speech!

How to end a best man's wedding toast

Ending the best man's speech with a toast is a time-honoured wedding tradition. Here are some tips on how to end a best man's wedding toast:

Keep it Short and Sweet

The best man's toast should be concise and to the point. Aim for somewhere between 45 seconds and 5 minutes. This will ensure that you don't lose the attention of your audience and that your message is delivered effectively.

Focus on the Couple

Although you may be tempted to share stories about your friendship with the groom, remember that the focus of your speech should be the couple and their relationship. Share your unique perspective on their bond and what makes them a great pair. This will add a personal touch to your toast and make it more meaningful.

Include a Mix of Humour and Sentiment

While it's important to share how you truly feel and deliver a meaningful message, including a few light-hearted jokes or funny anecdotes can help loosen up the crowd and make your toast more engaging. However, avoid making the toast a roast or including jokes at the couple's expense. Keep the humour positive and good-natured.

Offer Congratulations and Well Wishes

As you lead into the toast, offer your congratulations and best wishes to the happy couple. Express your hopes for their future together and sincerely sum up the occasion. This will add a heartfelt touch to your speech.

End with a Simple, Upbeat Conclusion

Finish your toast with a simple, upbeat, and positive sentiment. You can keep it traditional with a classic toast, such as "To the happy couple!" or get creative and incorporate a quote or a personal message. Whatever you choose, make sure it's something that comes from the heart and captures the joy of the occasion.

Sample Toasts

• "To a lifetime of love and happiness."
• "To the bride and groom—may we all be invited to your golden wedding celebrations."
• "May your love always be added. May it never be subtracted. May your household multiply and may your hearts never be divided!"
• "To the newlyweds, may I wish you health, happiness, and wealth—and everything else you could wish for."
• "To my best friend and his beautiful bride: the new Mr and Mrs [Name]."

What to include in a best man's wedding toast

Being asked to be the best man at a wedding is a toughremendous honour, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility. One of the most important duties is delivering a memorable wedding speech. Here is some advice on what to include in a best man's wedding toast.

First, you need to introduce yourself and explain your connection to the couple. You could start with a joke or a quote to grab the audience's attention. For example, "Hello everyone! For those of you who don't know me, thank you so much for coming to my wedding. [pause for laughter] Sorry about that... I'm a little nervous." You could also mention how long you have known the groom, or tell a humorous anecdote that sums up your relationship with the newlyweds.

Thank the Previous Speakers

It is customary to thank the other speakers, especially the person who spoke before you. This helps to lead into your speech and can be a way to warn the audience if your speech takes a different tone. For example, "Let's give a round of applause for the maid of honour, who gave an amazing and thoughtful speech. If you enjoyed that, you better get the tissues ready for this one!"

Thank the Couple's Parents

Express your gratitude to the couple's parents for raising such wonderful people and, if they contributed financially to the wedding, for hosting a great celebration.

Say Something Nice About the Couple

Even if you are much closer to the groom, it is important to give a special shout-out to the new spouse. Talk about the qualities you admire about them and why you are happy they are in the groom's life.

Share Personal Stories

Add one or two anecdotes about your favourite memories with the groom (and their partner, if you want). Keep the stories lighthearted and relatively short.

Talk About the Couple's Relationship

Share how the couple met and how their relationship has grown. If you played a part in introducing them, make sure to mention this!

Close out your speech with a heartfelt toast, wishing the newlyweds a lifetime of happiness, love and success. Ask everyone to raise their glasses and propose a marriage quote or a final joke.

How to prepare a best man's wedding toast

Being asked to be someone's best man is a tremendous honour , but it's also a role that comes with a lot of important responsibilities. One of the most important duties is giving a best man's speech and toast at the wedding reception. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you prepare a memorable and meaningful best man's wedding toast.

Step 1: Start Early

Begin writing your best man's speech at least two months before the wedding. The earlier you start, the more time you will have to prepare and practice your speech. In the weeks leading up to the wedding, you will likely be busy with other best man duties and celebrations, so starting early will help you feel more confident and relaxed when the time comes to deliver your speech.

Step 2: Outline Your Speech

A best man's speech should be structured with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Here is a basic outline you can follow:

• Introduction: Start with a killer opening line. Introduce yourself and explain your connection to the couple. You can also share a quick joke or a quote to grab the audience's attention.
• Thank the previous speakers: Show appreciation for the other speakers, such as the maid of honour, and the couple's parents for hosting the celebration.
• Say a few words about the couple: Share a special shout-out to the couple, especially the spouse of your best friend. Talk about their positive qualities and why you love them.
• Share personal stories: Include one or two anecdotes or favourite memories with the groom and/or their partner. Keep the stories lighthearted and short.
• Speak about the couple's relationship: Share how they met and how their relationship has grown. If you played a role in bringing them together, be sure to mention it!
• Conclusion: Close out your speech with a heartfelt toast, wishing the couple a lifetime of happiness, love, and all the best.

Step 3: Keep it Short and Sweet

The ideal length for a best man's speech is between three and five minutes. This gives you enough time to say something meaningful without losing the attention of the guests. Keep your stories and anecdotes concise, and focus on quality over quantity.

Step 4: Make it Meaningful

While it's important to add humour and keep your speech lighthearted, don't forget to make it meaningful. Share sincere compliments and well-wishes for the couple. You can also include a marriage quote or a sentimental anecdote to add a heartfelt touch.

Step 5: Practice, Practice, Practice

Practice your speech aloud at least three times. Record yourself and watch the playback to improve your delivery and body language. Practising will help you feel more confident and comfortable when the time comes to deliver your speech in front of the wedding guests.

Step 6: Know What to Avoid

There are a few topics you should avoid in your best man's speech:

• Negativity about marriage
• Previous marriages or divorces
• Drinking, drugs, or gambling
• Adult humour or explicit references

Step 7: Include the Right People

Traditionally, the best man toasts the newlyweds, but it is also common to include a nod to the bridesmaids and the couple's parents in your speech. Check with the couple beforehand to ensure you are not doubling up on toasts.

Step 8: Prepare for the Big Day

On the day of the wedding, make sure you have a printed copy of your speech with you. Use large font and double-space it for easier reading. If you need glasses, don't forget to bring them! Take a few deep breaths before you begin your speech, and remember to speak slowly and confidently.

Step 9: Enjoy the Moment

Lastly, don't forget to savour the moment! Being a best man is a special honour, and your speech is an opportunity to celebrate your best friend and their partner. Enjoy the process of crafting your speech, and have fun on the big day!

How to deliver a best man's wedding toast

Being asked to be the best man at a wedding is a tremendous honour, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility. One of your most important duties is to deliver a wedding speech that will wow the guests and leave the newlyweds beaming. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you deliver a memorable best man's wedding toast.

Step 1: Preparation

The key to a good best man's speech is preparation. Start by jotting down a list of funny stories about the groom. These should be light-hearted and non-offensive. Avoid anything that might upset the bride, groom or their families. Next, write down the groom's positive qualities and think about how the bride complements the groom. If you don't know the bride very well, focus on her positive qualities and how she makes the groom happy. Finally, decide on an upbeat conclusion.

Step 2: Structure

A best man's speech should be structured like a story, with a beginning, middle and end. Begin by introducing yourself and explaining how you know the groom. You could share a quick joke or a poem to grab the audience's attention. Then, thank the previous speaker and the couple's parents for raising such wonderful people and for hosting a great celebration.

Step 3: Content

The main body of your speech should include personal stories and anecdotes about the groom, as well as some words about the bride. Share how the couple first met and speak about why they are a great match. If you played a part in bringing them together, be sure to mention this.

Step 4: Delivery

Practise your speech in front of a mirror or with an audience, such as close friends or family. This will help you feel more confident on the day. When delivering your speech, try to be yourself. There is no need to adopt a public speaking persona. If you are naturally funny, crack a few jokes. If you are more sentimental, it is fine to leave the guests misty-eyed. Most importantly, speak slowly and clearly, and remember to make eye contact with the guests.

Step 5: Length

A best man's speech should be at least three minutes long, but no longer than five minutes. This gives you enough time to say something meaningful without losing the attention of the guests.

Step 6: Conclusion

Conclude your speech by asking everyone to raise their glasses and offering a toast to the happy couple. You could include a final joke or a marriage quote from a movie. This is your chance to sincerely express your well wishes to the newlyweds.

Frequently asked questions