Essential Wedding Guide: How to Write a Best Man Speech

If you’re reading this article, it means that you’re in (hopefully not desperate) need of some sound advice. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Below, we take a look at the importance of writing a brilliant best man speech and give you some tips and tricks to write an unforgettable tribute to the bride and groom, which is exactly your duty.

Scenario: Your best friend is getting married in a week. You’re the best man.

Oh, and you’ve also forgotten all about the epic wedding speech you have to deliver at the wedding reception! Read on …

How Do You Write a Best Man Speech?

Remembering back to Love & Lavender’s own wedding, the best man delivered a speech that was all things to everyone. And your speech can be just as memorable.

To keep you from looking like a total first timer, below we’ve outlined some tips and tricks for writing a great best man speech!

Understanding the Best Man Speech

As the best man, your speech should be lighthearted and should involve a short tribute and a toast. Of course, you shouldn’t forget about the verbal assassination with your words at the groom’s expense! This is your actual modus operandi. You can go about this task with the help of some entertaining stories, by pulling out killer one-liners, or just use the odd sprinkling of sentiment before ending things off with a brilliant closing summation.

All in all, you should make the groom feel on top of the world. And, the audience should be left laughing, crying, or both!

Tip #1: I suggest writing your speech at least two weeks in advance. A first draft needs revisions, and two weeks allows you time to add, remove, and modify key areas.

Tip #2: Also, you ~~should~~ must practice your speech. Let it sink in well before the time comes to stand up and deliver the speech.

1. Prepare in advance

You need to actually put pen to paper and write out a draft speech. Just walking into the reception, thinking you’ll come up with all the right things to stay when you’re up on the stage is a guaranteed way to fail. Trust me, I know from painful experience!

Preparation is the key to success with Brainstorm ideas into a speech outline. Pen all the reasons why you think your mate is great, and why his wife should feel blessed to have him as her husband. You are there to make the bride and groom look good, so make sure you do just that.good speech.

Brainstorm ideas, penning all the reasons why you think your mate is great, and why his wife should feel blessed to have him as her husband. You are there to make the bride and groom look good, so make sure you do just that.

2. Use an opening line that expresses gratitude

Start your speech off by thanking everyone that helped to make the wedding day possible. Focus on the bride and groom’s mom and dad and toast to them — not only for funding a wedding (if in fact they did), but also for raising two great people.

3. Connect to the audience with a funny story

Try to use a story about you and your mate, and link that to your support for the happy couple.

You could mention a personal story about how you would always hang out playing video games with your buddy. When you first spent time with him and his girlfriend back when they met (not playing video games!), you could see that your friend had found his soulmate.

Your goal is to tell the audience about how you feel like the bride and groom are the perfect match, so try to use stories to convey your message.

4. Keep it tactful

Best man speeches that are offensive, controversial, or embarrassing never go down well. Unless you want to make an absolute ignoramus of yourself, avoid the idea of using embarrassment or using lame jokes (an inside joke may be okay) to crack a few awkward smiles in the room.

While it’s perfectly acceptable to use humorous anecdote, you should never embarrass your friend or his new wife.

5. Keep it short and sweet

There’s one universal truth that applies to 99% of wedding guests across the world: People get irritated with a rambling drunk that just doesn’t want to put the microphone down.

Keep in mind that the crowd was ready for cake when they started listening to the bride’s father deliver his speech, so they have zero patience with you. To keep them interested, make sure your speech is short, sweet, and to the point.

6. Use a quote for your ending

Quotes are always great for ending off speeche. Feel free to use one for your speech ending to honor the newlyweds with kind words on their big day. The internet is full of brilliant quote ideas, all you have to do is find one that relates to your buddy and his new wife.

7. Practice makes perfect

You should practice your best man speech – with an audience – at least once before the actual event. It doesn’t matter if you think you’ve got this, you still need a warm-up round. You can even record yourself on your phone or take a video so that you can see what it looks like when you’re delivering the speech. It’s a big deal, and you need to get it right when it matters most, so make sure you’re well prepared.

Tips to Deliver a Best Man Speech

Watch your Alcohol Intake – Weddings are seriously enjoyable occasions. As the best man, you need to stay sober long enough to actually deliver the great speech you wrote. While it’s perfectly fine to take a few sips of liquid courage, don’t go overboard and become so uninhibited that you end up saying things you’ll regret later. Once you’re duty is done, then you can let loose and enjoy as many beverages as you want!

Be yourself – If you’re not a formal lad, don’t pretend to be one when you’re delivering your speech. Your speech has to flow naturally, and you have to use your natural voice to deliver it. You’re there because your friend chose you, the real you, so make sure you’re being sincere with your words.

Remember to raise your glass and propose a wedding toast – At the end of your speech, remember to raise your glass and then say something like, “Here’s to a lifetime of happiness for my friends X and Y!” After the toast, get off the stage, let out a huge sigh of relief, and give yourself a mental pat on the back. You did a great job!

Wrap It Up

Now that you have the basics, it’s time to start writing that perfect best man speech. We hope this post has been helpful and that it offers a good starting point to write and deliver the most epic best man speech!

Meredith

Despite her dreamy wedding blogger lifestyle, Meredith's day job is running ClassicVeils.com and a full-time mom to an active toddler. If she could, Meredith would spend her days taking cruises, helping animals in need, and watching Big Brother!