The Best Man's Speech: Uk Guide And Tips

The best man's speech is one of the most important and anticipated parts of a wedding. It's a daunting task, and the pressure to be funny and engaging is enormous. So, what should you include in your best man's speech?

First, you'll want to open with a strong, amusing line to get the audience on your side. Then, introduce yourself and explain how you know the groom. Share some personal anecdotes and memories—keep it light and entertaining, but avoid cliches and inappropriate jokes. Make fun of the groom, but keep it wholesome and avoid offending any family members. Include the bride in your speech, and offer a tribute to the happy couple. Share some words of advice and well wishes for their future. Thank the guests and wedding party, and finally, raise a glass to the newlyweds.

Remember to keep your speech short and sweet—around seven to ten minutes is ideal. Practice beforehand, and don't be afraid to use notes during your speech. Most importantly, try to enjoy the moment and have fun with it!

Welcoming the guests

The best man's speech is one of the most highly anticipated parts of a wedding, so it's natural to feel nervous about delivering it. But don't worry—with the right preparation, you'll be able to knock it out of the park!

One of the first things you should do when giving your speech is to welcome the guests. This is a simple sentence or two where you thank them for coming to the wedding on behalf of the newlyweds. It's also a good opportunity to mention how honoured you are to be the best man and to pay compliments to the bride and bridesmaids.

"Good evening everyone, my name is [Name] and I am the best man. I wanted to start by saying welcome to everyone attending, and I think we can all agree that [Bride's name] looks spectacular and [Groom's name], thanks for coming on time."

"Welcome everyone, my name is [Name] and I've known [Name] since we were kids. [Name] hates it when I take all the attention away from them, so as a mark of respect, please don't stand on the tables and chairs when you give me a standing ovation at the end of the speech."

"Hello everyone, I'm [Name] and I've been best friends with [Name] for the past 15 years. For those of you that already know me—I apologise! For those who don't, don't listen to any of the rumours!"

Keep in mind that you don't need a long introduction or backstory here—a simple welcome and introduction will do.

Breaking the ice

After welcoming the guests, it's a good idea to break the ice with a light-hearted joke or two. This will warm up the guests and help calm your nerves. It will also set a friendly tone for the rest of your speech.

"I was taught by my parents that if I had nothing good to say about someone, to sit down and be quiet..." (Sit down)

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to thank all of you for being here today, especially those of you who knew that I'd be saying a few words—it's very touching that you still decided to come."

"I've been worried about giving this speech for a while now. Fortunately, last night I slept like a baby—I woke up crying every two hours."

Remember, the goal is to make the guests laugh and feel comfortable, so keep the jokes light-hearted and avoid anything that might be seen as offensive.

Keeping it short and sweet

When it comes to best man speeches, shorter is usually better. Aim to keep your speech around seven to fifteen minutes long. This will help ensure that you don't lose the attention of the guests and that your speech feels fun and engaging.

If you're feeling nervous about public speaking, it's perfectly fine to mention that and let the guests know you'll be keeping your speech brief. Here are some examples:

"Hi, I'm Tom, and it's time for me to deliver this short best man speech I scribbled down an hour before the ceremony started."

"Hi, I'm the best man, and I'd like to start by saying what an emotional day today has been. Even the cake is in tiers!"

So there you have it—a few paragraphs to help you get started on your best man speech! With the right preparation and a bit of practice, you'll be able to deliver a speech that's entertaining, engaging, and memorable for all the right reasons. Good luck!

Introducing yourself and how you met the groom

The best man's speech is all about the groom and what a great guy he is. It's an honour to be the best man at your best friend's wedding, and now it's your turn to celebrate your friend and his new bride.

Not everyone in the room will know who you are, so it's a good idea to start with a brief introduction and a mention of how you know the groom. Are you best friends? Brothers? How did you meet? Inject some humour here, perhaps with a story about how you met.

"Good evening everyone, my name is [X] and I've known [groom] since we were kids. [Groom] hates it when I take all the attention away from him, so as a mark of respect, please don't stand on the tables and chairs when you give me a standing ovation at the end of the speech."

"Hello everyone, I'm [X] and I've been best friends with [groom] for the past 15 years. For those of you that already know me – I apologise – for those that don't, don't listen to any of the rumours!"

"Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, for those of you I haven't had the pleasure of meeting yet, my name is Chris and I am officially Paul's second best man...second best ladies and gentlemen...nobody likes to be second best, do they? Well, Paul, looking at his career, he should know better than most..."

"Hi, I'm Tom, and it's time for me to deliver this short best man speech I scribbled down an hour before the ceremony started."

"Good evening, everyone. I'm the best man, and I think I got this role by default as Jack doesn't really have any other friends. I didn't really want to do it, but I also knew this would be the only chance I'd get to have a meal and some drinks paid for by Jack. There's no way I was going to turn that down."

A Few More Tips

• Spend time reflecting on how the groom has grown as a person since you've known them.
• Focus on the comedy value and don't be afraid to exaggerate traits or stories a little for effect.
• Alongside jokes, add in some touching and emotional stories about the groom to provide variety.
• If relevant, mention any major accomplishments the groom has achieved.

Humorous stories and jokes

The best man’s speech is expected to be funny, so it's a good idea to prepare some humorous stories and jokes. The groom is usually the butt of the jokes, but remember to keep it light-hearted and appropriate for the whole audience. You can make fun of the groom's style, dress sense, romantic prowess, or looks. If you're childhood friends, you could share a coming-of-age story. If you went to university together, you could tell a story about a wild night out. If you work together, you could share a story about something going wrong in a funny way, but the groom saving the day.

• "I've known the groom for so long, I remember when his idea of a wild night was staying up past 9 pm!"
• "Remember, marriage is a relationship in which one person is always right, and the other is the husband!"
• "They say the best man’s speech should last as long as it takes the groom to make love – so thank you, ladies and gentlemen, and goodnight!"
• "I was told to keep my speech funny and light, just like the groom’s wallet after the wedding!"
• "Going by tradition, the best man is supposed to carry out a character assassination, but because I have such immense respect for this man, I’m afraid I just can’t do that. I mean, for me to mention the time he streaked across the high school stage in the school play would be mortifying for him."
• "If you can’t hear me at the back, the silence from the people at the front should reassure you that you’re not missing out on anything. I’m not very good at this whole public speaking thing, so I’ll be keeping it brief anyway. The one thing I would like to say is, Joe, how lucky you are. You’ll leave today with a partner who is warm, loving and caring. And Charlie, you’re lucky too. You’ll leave here today having gained a lot of gifts from friends and family."
• "Mike, my best advice to you would be to remember that marriage is not just an eight-letter word. It is an entire sentence… although you’d probably get less for murder!"

You could also include some funny one-liners at the beginning of your speech to break the ice and engage the audience. Here are some examples:

• "I was taught by my parents that if I had nothing good to say about someone to sit down and be quiet…" (Sit down)
• "Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to thank all of you for being here today, especially those of you who knew that I’d be saying a few words – it’s very touching that you still decided to come."
• "I’ve been worried about giving this speech for a while now. Fortunately, last night I slept like a baby – I woke up crying every two hours."
• "I just heard there was a competitive sweepstake on how long the best man speech should last. I put my money on 45 minutes, so make yourselves comfortable!"
• "This speech won’t contain anything embarrassing about the groom. Instead, I’ll refer only to the kind and funny side of their character. Thank you and goodnight."

Tribute to the bride and groom

The tribute to the bride and groom is a key part of the best man's speech. It is a chance to highlight the qualities and virtues that make them both special as individuals and how those qualities fit perfectly together.

Qualities and Virtues

Talk about the groom's character, his good and not-so-good traits, and reflect on how he has grown as a person since you've known him. You can also mention any major accomplishments in his life. Remember to keep the jokes wholesome and family-friendly.

How They Met

Share your perspective on how the couple met and how you, as the groom's best friend, knew that he was smitten and in love. This is also a chance to poke fun at the groom for behaving out of character.

The Bride

Talk about how amazing the bride is and how happy she makes your best friend. You can even thank the bride for making the groom so happy. If appropriate, you can offer the couple some light-hearted and funny advice for the future.

The Wedding Day

Talk about how fabulous the wedding day has been so far and thank the parents of the bride and groom if you wish.

Hopes and Well Wishes

End your tribute with some hopes and well wishes for the couple's future together.

Congratulating the happy couple

The best man's speech is one of the most important elements of a wedding. It is a long-standing tradition in British wedding culture, and it is something that guests look forward to. It is a daunting task, and many best men feel the pressure to be funny and entertaining. However, with a well-structured speech, you can deliver a memorable and impactful performance that will leave a lasting impression on the newlyweds and the guests.

Opening Lines and Greetings

Start your speech with a strong and engaging opening line. You can begin by welcoming the guests and thanking them for coming to the wedding. It is also a good idea to introduce yourself, especially if not everyone in the room knows you. You can add a bit of humour to your introduction by making a light-hearted joke about yourself or the groom. For example:

> "Good evening everyone, my name is [Name], and I am the best man. I wanted to start by saying welcome to everyone attending, and I think we can all agree that [bride's name] looks spectacular, and [groom's name], thanks for coming on time."

Congratulating the Couple

This is your opportunity to congratulate the happy couple and wish them well. You can talk about the groom's character and reflect on how he has grown as a person since you've known him. Exaggerate traits and stories a little for comedic effect, but always ensure your jokes are wholesome and family-friendly. Along with the jokes, add in some touching and emotional stories about the groom to provide variety to your speech. You can also mention any major accomplishments the groom has achieved in his life.

Remember to pay compliments to the bride as well. Thank her for making the groom so happy, and if you feel it is appropriate, offer some light-hearted and funny advice to the couple for the future. Keep it short and upbeat, as no one wants to hear about how hard marriage is during a wedding celebration.

> "I've known Jo and Katherine for eight years now, and I can honestly say they are perfect for one another. They were both fantastic when they met, and now, as a team, they will be even better together as they embark on a new adventure as man and wife. Jo and Katherine, I toast to you and wish you both peace, health, and happiness."

> "Frankie, I know that Derek loves you very much because he spent a long time writing this speech for me. Congratulations to you both!"

> "Sam and Matty, I'd like to offer you a bit of advice today as you start this new journey together. Sam, always treat Matty like the King that he is. Matty, always remember that Sam loves you and couldn't do without you. Seriously, I have seen him without you, and it was a mess. I wish you all the best. You are both near and dear to me, and your life together is sure to be a fantastic new chapter."

Closing Remarks and Toast

Finally, conclude your speech by raising a glass to the newlyweds. You can include a few hopes and well-wishes for the couple and then invite the wedding guests to stand and join you in a toast to the happy couple. Here are some examples of closing remarks and toasts:

> "To the bride and groom: may your love be timeless, your adventures endless, and your happiness eternal."

> "Here's to love, laughter, and happily ever after. May your marriage be filled with joy, and your hearts forever intertwined."

> "To the newlyweds: may your marriage be a journey of shared dreams, mutual support, and endless love."

> "As we raise our glasses, let's toast to the bride and groom, whose love shines brighter than any star in the sky."

Frequently asked questions