Delivering a Memorable Best Man Speech
So, you’ve been asked to be the best man at a wedding. Congratulations! It’s an honour and a privilege.
Now comes the hard part: writing the speech. This can be a daunting task, especially if you don’t know where to start, but don’t worry, we’re here to help.
We’ll cover topics such as what to say, how to say it, and even how long your speech should be. So sit back, relax, and let us walk you through the process of writing the perfect best man wedding speech!
Giving a speech at someone’s wedding is a huge responsibility because you are representing the groom and his family on one of the most important days of their lives. If you want to make sure that your speech is memorable for all involved, follow our best man speech tips!
When is the best time for the best man to give his speech?
Traditionally the best man’s speech is the third speech of the wedding reception – the first speech traditionally comes from the father of the bride, with the groom’s speech second in line.
The groom would traditionally introduce you to the wedding guests as the best man at the end of his speech – hopefully he won’t be too concerned about what lies ahead in your best man speech!
How much time should the best man spend talking during his speech?
The best wedding speeches, be it a best man speech, a father of the bride speech, or a maid of honor speech, are around seven to eight minutes long. But don’t worry too much if your speech is a bit above or below this time limit.
Not too long, not too short – that’s what makes for a great best man speech! So move away from the PowerPoint presentation, keep it short and get ready for that standing ovation!
Who does the best man traditionally thank?
The best man speech traditionally includes a thank you to the bride and groom on behalf of the wider wedding party for any gifts you have received from them.
The Ultimate Guide to Writing an Unforgettable Best Man Speech
Here at Bredenbury Court we’ve seen it all when it comes to best man speeches – the good, the bad and the downright ugly!
But for us the difference between a decent speech and a great speech is planning – follow our best man speech template and your speech will be the icing on the wedding cake at your friend’s big day.
The Best way to Write a Best Man Speech
Start by writing down a few topics you want to include in your best man speech. Keep a notebook to hand or start a note on your phone so you can jot down those best man speech jokes when they pop into your head – even if it’s in the middle of the night!
Keep your best man speech ideas notebook to hand and write in it as soon as an idea comes to mind – then when you’re ready to actually start writing the speech you’ll have all the material at your finger-tips ready to write a best man speech to remember!
Bredenbury Court's Wedding Speech Template:
Follow our best man speech template to structure your speech and you’ll soon be on your way to delivering an awesome best man speech!
Introduction – It’s tempting to go straight in with a killer opening line, but first things first – don’t forget to introduce yourself to your fellow wedding guests and how you came to be best friends with the groom.
Formalities – Thank the bride and groom on behalf of the wider wedding party for any gifts received.
The bride – Before launching into the embarrassing stories and one liners, don’t forget to mention the reason why your best friend is here today – the bride!
The groom – Formalities complete, now’s the time to get down to business and get the guests laughing with those best man speech jokes you’ve been planning for months!
From the heart – A fantastic speech includes light and shade – you can get away with crude jokes (not too crude mind you!) and THAT funny story as long as you also include some words from the heart about the bride and groom on their wedding day, in particular what makes the groom a great guy and a great friend.
Postman – Traditionally, the best man speech is the time for any messages to be read out from absent friends and family who haven’t been able to make it to your friend’s wedding.
Toast – The best man toast – wish your fellow wedding guests a good evening and raise a toast to the bride and groom on their wedding day.
And finally – Breathe a sigh of relief. You’re done – all the wedding speeches are over – and it’s time to hit the dance floor!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do I have to go down the funny best man speech route?
Absolutely not! It can be daunting planning a best man speech and you may feel under pressure to deliver a funny best man speech, worthy of a stand-up comedian.
But if comedy is not your thing, your best friend will know that your best man speech will be delivered in your own style.
Talk to the groom about your best man speech ideas and have a look online for best man speech examples that are more ‘you’.
Do I have to follow a best man speech structure?
Not at all! We’ve included a traditional best man speech structure to follow but that doesn’t mean you have to! If you’ve got other ideas on how to do it best for you then ditch the best man speech outline and absolutely do it your way.
Have a look online for alternative best man speech examples to get a few ideas and go for it! You know what’s best for your friend and their wedding day.
How far should I go with the jokes?
If your aim is to deliver a funny best man speech then it’s always best to have a chat with the groom around his expectations.
Check if there are any topics that are off limits. And remember that as a general rule, mentioning exes is not a good idea!
Crude jokes should be kept to a minimum – remember your audience and consider if you’ll be speaking to a family audience on the wedding day.
Conclusion:
The best man speech is often a highlight of the wedding reception – but remember to keep it respectful to the bride and groom. You don’t want to cause any upset on the day between family members! Keep it funny, keep it light, keep it from the heart and you’ll keep in everyone’s good books!
