how to write a short and sweet best man speech

Great Short & Sweet Best Man Speech Examples

Writing a best man speech can be daunting, to say the least. However, it doesn’t have to be. By sticking with our short best man speeches method, you can say what needs to be said and still impress and be funny. And the good news is it only takes is a few minutes, and then you can breathe again and enjoy the day!

A Quick Reminder On What Makes a Great Speech

A great speech will always include the essentials. An intro that’s appreciated, heartfelt words, a few jokes, and the right kind of toast are just the beginning. Here are a few tips for writing a great best man toast .

8 Tips to Improve Your Speech Writing

• First, introduce yourself and thank everyone for coming
• Talk about your relationship with the groom after a short introduction of yourself.
• Thank everyone for organizing the event.
• If anyone has sent messages but cannot be there that day, read them.
• Poke fun at the groom a bit by sharing a funny story.
• Compliment the bride and say something about the bridesmaid.
• Offer a bit of advice to the married couple. Something funny is great, here.
• Then, offer up a sincere toast to the newlyweds.
• When you are done, present the next speaker for the evening. Finally, take your seat.

Short and Sweet Best Man Speech Examples

Funny and upbeat.

“Good evening everyone! Let’s lift our glasses and toast to the newlyweds!

Don’t worry, your arms won’t get tired. My speech is going to be like a mini-skirt: long enough to cover the essentials and short enough to hold your attention.

[Groom], thank you for being such a stable force in my life, a great friend and an even better brother. [Bride], I think we can all agree that you’re stunning this evening and [Groom] won the lottery.

[Bride] & [Groom], tonight we celebrate you. We all wish you a lifetime of happiness, love, health, success, and laughter. May you continue to find humor in the bad and appreciation for the good. May your friendship continue to grow throughout all the years to come. Cheers!”

Brother’s Funny & Short Best Man Speech

Here’s an example of a brother of the groom that hates public speaking giving a best man speech in under 3 minutes. Yes! It’s possible. He got in a few funny things about the groom and well wishes and wrapped it up.

Heartfelt and Personal

“Hello, everyone, I am Brad. You may not know me, but Keith and I go way back, since college, in fact. We have been mischief makers together since the very start.

But despite our best efforts, today has gone off without a hitch. A special thanks to everyone who made today possible. I have a few words to read from well-wishers who could not join us here today (read off messages sent from people who could not attend).

Well, their kind words are right. Keith is a heck of a guy. I guess I first knew that on the day we met. There he was, already in our dorm room, doing his best to find himself a girl on campus. And he had only been there a few hours! Really, his pursuits in this avenue were largely less than successful.

That was until he met Maddie. And thank goodness for that. Keith, I hate to tell you this, but I have seen your ex-girlfriends, and I certainly think the best woman won out. Or, at least the most beautiful, at any rate. She looks stunning today. So, too, do the bridesmaids. If any of them are interested, I can give them my number after this is over.

I would like to offer you both a bit of advice today, as you start this new journey together. Keith, always treats Maddie like the queen that she is. And Maddie, always remembers that Keith loves you and could not do it without you. Seriously, I have seen him without you. And that was a mess.

But, seriously, I wish you all best. You are both near and dear to me. Your life together is sure to be a fantastic new chapter for both of you. Now, if you would all join me to give a toast to Luke and Maddie.”

Hilarious Best Man Speech – Kills it in Under 6 Minutes

Simple & to the Point

“Good Evening. My name is (Best Man) and on behalf of (Groom and Bride), I would like to thank you for attending this blessed event today! I have the honor of acting as Best Man tonight and am thrilled that I am with these two wonderful people as they begin this new chapter in their lives.

 (Bride and Groom) have each walked many miles to be here together today, and this wedding is a joy to behold. I can speak for everyone in this room when I say we all wish you the happiness that you deserve. We are so glad that you have found one another, and this day is a reminder that the best is yet to come. Congratulations, (Bride and Groom)!”

Short Best Man Speech with Some Great One-Liners

If you’re looking for some great one-liners for your best man speech check this out.

“Everyone – please raise your champagne and join me in a toast to Melanie and Howard. As I begin this wedding toast one of the first thoughts that pop into my mind is… if I’m the best man… then why is Melanie getting married to Howard? I guess because today, I am just an average man and Howard is the best man.

In my considerable research to learn how to deliver an incredible best man speech, I quickly realized that in my toast I am expected to sing the praises of our groom and tell you what a wonderful guy Howard is. Unfortunately, I’m a terrible singer and an even worse liar.

Howard… Melanie is a kind, beautiful, and a good-hearted person who deserves a great husband. Thank goodness you stole her heart before she found one. All kidding aside – my heart is filled with so much love, respect, and admiration for my dear friend, Howard. I am beyond honored to be standing here today in front of you in the role of his best man… I love you both and wish you many years of happy marriage. Can’t wait to see what this world has in store for you both. Cheers!”

Short & Sweet With Blessings

“Ladies and gentlemen. I met John in 1990. We have been friends for over 17 years. In that time, he has proven himself to be not only a great friend but a truly good man as well. I value my friendship with John and I look forward to having the same great friendship with his lovely new bride Katherine.

I know one important thing about Katherine. She has made John happier than I have ever seen him. Today is a day of joy and happiness for all of us. But it is not just a day… it’s the very special beginning of a new life between John and Katherine. I wish you both health and happiness and may God bless your marriage.”

Rock Your Best Man Speech Using Our Expert-Approved Advice

• Chapelle writes articles for The Knot Worldwide. She covers all things wedding-related and has a personal interest in covering celebrity engagements and fashion.
• Before joining The Knot Worldwide, Chapelle was an editorial intern for Subvrt Magazine.
• Chapelle has a degree in English writing from Loyola University New Orleans.

Pat yourself on the back—you're the best man. It's a good feeling when one of your loved ones asks you to be their right hand for the wedding. Beyond the fun best man duties , like planning an epic bach party , you'll have to give a rousing best man speech. We believe it's arguably the most meaningful duty, but don't let that get you nervous. Whether you're a public speaking pro or have only delivered speeches while on the eighth-grade debate team, boost your chances of making your best man speech a hit by using our helpful tips, ideas and examples for inspiration.

In this article:

Printable Template | How to Write | Examples | Tips | FAQs

Printable Best Man Speech Template

Delivering a best man wedding speech doesn't have to feel like a chore. Use the template below as a checklist while you're writing your best man speech.

How to Write a Best Man Speech Outline

We're guessing the thought of crafting a flawless best man speech from scratch feels pretty overwhelming right about now. Start by drafting a bare-bones outline (trust us, drawing up a rough outline is way more palatable than writing a fully fleshed-out speech). You don't need to include every element in your wedding speech . Instead, customize it to fit the couple, the event and your relationship with the groom.

1. Have a killer opening line.

Successful best man speeches always start with a good opener. Introduce yourself and explain your connection to the happy couple. Have fun with this part by sharing a quick joke or quoting a poem so your speech doesn't start off stale. 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."

2. Thank the other speakers.

Once you address the audience, give props to the previous speaker to help lead into your speech. If you know your speech has a sillier sentiment, now's your chance to warn your audience in the change of direction. Here's an example: "Let's give it up to the amazing speech given by the wonderful maid of honor . If you enjoyed how thoughtful and sweet her speech was, you better get the tissues ready for this one!"

Next, express your gratitude to the couple's parents. Thank the couples' parents for not only raising incredible adults and, if they helped pay for the wedding, for hosting such a great party. Here's an example: "I'd like to begin by expressing my deepest gratitude to the couples' parents for raising such amazing people, who I'm fortunate to call my best friends. I would also like to thank their parents for hosting such an awesome celebration for all of us to enjoy this evening."

3. Say a few words about your friend's new spouse.

Another writing a best man speech tip is always to give a special shoutout to the new spouse so they feel welcomed and included. Yes, we know you most likely have a closer relationship with the groom, but don't let that stop you from showering them with kind words––it's their big day too. Talk about the qualities you like about them and why you love them in the groom's life. Try this, "I'm so happy [Spouse's Name] fell in love with [Groom's Name]. Firsthand I've seen the grace, intelligence and confidence [Spouse's Name] has, which explains why [Groom's Name] knew he wanted to marry [Spouse's Name] after their first date."

4. Share personal stories.

What's going to make your best man speech stand out are personal stories. We suggest adding one or two anecdotes, like your favorite memories with the groom (and their partner, if you want). Avoid choosing a story that rambles on and has no sentimental or funny ending—keep it lighthearted and short. Here's a silly example, "I remember when we first met in first grade. [Groom's Name] had just glued his hand to his face but still used his free one to shake my hand and ask if I wanted to be his friend."

5. Talk about the couple's relationship.

This is the time to speak about why the groom and their new spouse are a great couple. Share how they first met and how their relationship has grown so other guests can get a better insight into the newlyweds. If you helped the love birds meet, say something like this in your best man speech: "I know I said earlier I'm the best man, but I lied. I'm actually Cupid because I'm the one who introduced these two eight years ago."

6. Propose a toast.

Finally, close out your best man speech with a heartfelt toast. Ask everyone to raise a glass and provide well wishes to the newly married couple. Steal this wedding toast : "Everyone, please join me in raising a glass to such a wonderful couple. I wish you a lifetime of peace, love and happiness. Love you guys!"

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Best man speech examples.

Now that you know how to write the outline, let us provide you with some inspiration. Here are four best man speech ideas for every type of delivery.

Short Best Man Speech Example

Short best man speeches can make the grade just as much as long ones. Try this short but sweet example.

As the poet, Dante once said, 'A great flame follows a little spark.' When [Groom's Name] met [Spouse's Name], there was a little spark. I know because I talked to him the next day.

From the way he talked about [Spouse's Name], this stranger he chatted up at a Halloween party, I could tell this spark was something special.

You two are fantastic together. May the flame burn long, and may sparks continue to fly. Cheers to the newlyweds!

Funny Best Man Speech Example

Funny best man speeches are our favorite. You get to show off your comedic skills while giving loving well-wishes to the happy couple.

Hello! For those who don't know me, I'm [Your Name], the best man. I've known [Groom's Name] since middle school, which means that it was before we learned mullets weren't a good look for either of us.

[Groom's Name] and [Spouse's Name] told me there are some topics I should avoid in this speech so…[Look through cue cards, then shake head and dramatically drop them all to the floor but one.]

[Reading from the remaining cue card] [Groom's Name] is really the best friend I've ever had. He's done so many wonderful things it would be difficult to name them all. Hey, [a Groomsman's Name], I can't read your handwriting here!

But seriously, it's all true. This guy is a great friend, the best I've got, and I'm very proud to stand by his side today.

[Spouse's Name], I was hoping to be the best-looking person in the room today but obviously, I failed miserably. You look beautiful and radiant. I'm beyond happy for the two of you.

May you always find joy in the little things, like your Xbox and 'Star Wars.' Oh wait, that's my personal goal. You should actually find joy in each other, and do everything you can to have a lifetime of happiness together. Let's toast the newlyweds!

Best Man Speech for Brother Example

Need best man speech examples for your brother? Use our speech below as a guide to delivering a sweet message to your older or younger brother.

On my fourth birthday, my parents got me a brother…I wanted a puppy.

But seriously, as a kid [Groom's Name] wanted to do everything I did. He used to follow me around. He used to sneak into my room and play with my Matchbox cars. Our parents could get him to eat his broccoli by making me eat my broccoli.

It wasn't until after I went to college that he started going down his own path. He started doing volunteer work. He found a job he loves, a pretty killer apartment and, of course, he found [Spouse's Name].

[Spouse's Name], you're the nicest person I've ever met, and my brother is so blessed to have someone like you in his life. Thank you for being there for him.

I'm so happy you two found each other especially because I'm gaining a sister today. Oh, and I want to set the record straight. I'm glad I didn't get a puppy that day. I love you, little bro.

Congratulations to both of you. I wish you lots of laughter, love and joy as a married couple. Cheers to the newlyweds!

Best Man Speech for Best Friend Example

For those who need a best man speech sample for their best friend, we got you covered. Here's how to tell your BFF you're happy for them on their special day.

Good evening, everyone! I'm [Your Name], and I'm extremely honored to call myself [Groom's Name]'s best man. Also, please excuse the puffiness under my eyes, I've been happy crying since before the ceremony.

I first met [Groom's Name] while working at a pizza joint called Domenica's while in college. I hated being a server with all my heart, but whenever [Groom's Name] and I were scheduled together, it made it so much more bearable.

We laughed until we cried, ate hundreds of garlic knots and I can't tell you the amount of times we accidentally got pizza dough stuck to the ceiling during our pizza toss competitions. But even after we both quit and moved on to bigger and better things, we still kept in touch and I'm eternally grateful.

One of those bigger and better things was [Spouse's Name]. [Groom's Name] really discovered the perfect piece to his puzzle. [Spouse's Name] laughs at his bad jokes, listens to his long monologues about Batman vs. Superman and most importantly, loves him no matter what. [Spouse's Name] is a phenomenal and caring person who deserves the world, and I know [Groom's Name] will do everything he can to give it to them.

Thank you both for allowing me to be a part of your beautiful wedding, and I can't wait to see what else is in store for you in the future. Love you guys, and cheers to the handsome couple!

Best Man Speech Tips

Good news! We got how to give a best man speech tips from Dominic Bliss, wedding writer and author of Being the Best Man for Dummies. Study up on these helpful pointers below to minimize pre-speech jitters and ensure a smooth delivery.

Plan ahead.

The first tip in our guide on how to write a best man speech is to get started in advance. (As in, do not procrastinate.) "Start writing a best man speech at least two months before the wedding," Bliss says. "As the wedding nears, there are lots of events—suit fittings and a coed shower, perhaps—that could distract you from getting your writing done." Brainstorm and write down any stories, jokes or best man speech quotes you want to include. The more time you have to prepare your best man speech, the better. This way, you'll be able to be fully present at upcoming wedding festivities.

Be genuine.

Whether the wedding guests are strangers or family, it can feel nerve-racking to deliver your best man speech with all eyes on you. To ease the awkwardness, provide anecdotes and stories about your relationship with the couple. Everyone loves a bit of nostalgia, and the guests get to know you better.

With that said, stay true to how you normally act while making your speech. There's no need for you to change who you are for some made-up public speaking persona. If you feel more comfortable cracking jokes throughout your speech, do it. If you are better at being sentimental and don't mind leaving everyone misty-eyed, take that approach. Remember, the couple chose you to speak at their wedding because they felt you could add something special to their big day. As long as you deliver a heartfelt speech, the newlyweds and guests will love it.

Know what topics to avoid.

There are a few topics to omit from the best man speech. No matter how funny you (and even the groom) might think they are, someone is bound to be offended or put off if you mention:

• Negativity about marriage in general.
• Past relationships.
• Previous marriages/divorces.
• Drinking, drugs, gambling.
• "Adult" humor or any other mention of sex.

After all, your best man speech should celebrate the newlywed couple and their love rather than causing future friction. Keep it PG.

Consider adding jokes.

If you want to deliver a funny best man speech, consider poking some fun at the groom. "Every groom will have some funny characteristic or quirk you can ridicule," Bliss notes. "As long as it's something everyone can appreciate, it's sure to get a laugh. Avoid obscure references or inside jokes. You want older guests and those who don't know him well to see the funny side too." Be strategic about your jokes too. You can make jokes about the groom but leave their new spouse alone.

Write it down.

Even those with a great memory will feel more confident with a written speech or at least a few bullet points to keep them on track. Nerves can mess with your memory, so don't think you're a failure if you have to bring notes with you. (Even CEOs do this at corporate events.) Bliss suggests using small note cards instead of a sheet of paper since they "won't flap around."

And yes we know many groomsmen will want to read off their cell phones out of convenience, but wedding planners recommend against it. The lighting from your phone screen can ruin the wedding photographer's photos and can be distracting to guests. Practice writing down your speech instead—it's quite soothing.

Practice with an audience.

This tip is a must when it comes to writing a best man speech. Even if you think you have this whole thing in the bag, practice delivering your wedding speech aloud at least three times. When you're by yourself, take a video and watch the playback to get a feel for how your speech is going. (Do you say "um" between every sentence? Are your gestures a little robotic?) If your friends can't offer critiques in person, "send [the video] to a close friend who won't be going to the wedding and who can give you honest feedback," Bliss recommends.

Finally: don't mumble. A great best man speech becomes boring if it's monotonous or guests are straining to hear you. Speak confidently and slowly.

Best Man Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time giving a best man speech, you might have a lot of questions. Here are answers to the top wedding speech inquiries.

How Long Should a Best Man Speech Be?

In general, the best man speech length should be at least three minutes, but no more than five minutes. This is enough time to say something meaningful before guests get too antsy. Of course, you should adjust your speech length to the event. If you're speaking at a last-minute wedding, it might require a brief speech, while a formal affair could call for a longer toast. But you might also be wondering, "how many words should a best man speech be?" We suggest between 700 to 1000 words.

How to Start a Best Man Speech

Begin your speech by addressing the audience and thanking them for attending the wedding. Here's an example, "Hello, everyone. On behalf of the newlyweds, I want to thank everyone for attending this amazing celebration." You can even butter up the crowd by saying how lovely everyone looks this evening. Then, introduce yourself and how you know the groom or couple. This is a great opportunity to add a funny story or memory you have with them that can lead you into the rest of your speech.

How to End a Best Man Speech

Raise your glass and offer a toast wishing the couple a lifetime of happiness, excellent health and success. Your toast can include one final joke or be a marriage quote from your and the groom's favorite movie. Either way, take this chance to sincerely express the newlyweds well. Remember, concluding the speech is the easiest part.

Does the Best Man Have to Give a Speech?

It's not required, but it's expected that the best man gives a speech—especially if the other honor attendants are giving one. If speaking in public makes your stomach turn, consider showing your appreciation for the couple in a different way. We've seen best men do upbeat choreography, sing the couple's favorite song or even present a wedding video they made.

When Does the Best Man Give His Speech?

Following the traditional wedding speech order , the best man speaks after the maid of honor and is the last speech during the reception. There's no need to use this itinerary since the speech order depends on your reception timeline and wedding party size. The to-be-weds might even ask you to deliver your speech during the rehearsal dinner, which most likely will be in front of a smaller audience (score!). Before the wedding and during, double-check with the couple to ensure you know when to give your best man speech so no one has to hunt you down when it's your turn.

How to Write a Best Man Speech in 9 Simple Steps

Been tasked to write a best man speech and not sure where to start? Follow these easy rules for how to write a best man speech—and how to deliver it like a total pro.

Valorie Darling Photography

Being enlisted as someone's best man is a big deal, and there are plenty of  best man duties  involved—including figuring out how to write a best man speech. Yes, it’s tradition for the best man to give a wedding speech during the reception, so it’s time to prep for that responsibility. If you’re feeling a little nervous about giving a toast in front of a crowd, that’s totally normal, especially if public speaking isn’t your forte. But with a little forethought, planning, and a lot of practice, you’ll be wowing everyone with your best man speech in no time. Here are nine steps to writing a short best man speech that's sweet and to the point—and how you can ace the delivery. 

How to Write a Great Best Man Speech

Follow this best man speech template to easily get started when it's time to write your own wedding toast. 

1. Plan out your best man speech ahead of time.

Presuming you’re not reading this the night before the wedding, you should give yourself plenty of time—at least one month—to write your best man speech. The weeks leading up to the wedding day, especially participating as such a crucial part of the wedding party, can become hectic. With all of the events you’ll be encouraged or required to attend (on top of keeping up with your own personal life), you may very well lose sight of time. It’s better to plan ahead so you relieve some of the pressure when it's time to write an awesome best man speech.

2. Start your best man speech by expressing gratitude.

If you’re wondering how to write a best man speech, we recommend beginning the speech by stepping onto the dance floor and saying good evening to the crowd (you can write this as a note at the top of your speech as a reminder in case you get nervous). The opening line of your speech should introduce yourself as the best man and then express gratitude to those you think deserve a special shout out. Thank the couple’s parents for raising such great people, thank your friend for having you here, thank the guests for coming, and maybe throw in a one-liner thanking the bartender for a few laughs. It’s a low-key way to break the ice, ease yourself into the best man speech, and make sure those who deserve thanks feel appreciated.

3. Then, talk about your relationship with the groom.

Beyond introducing your name, a big part of how to write a best man speech is talking about your relationship with the groom. Talk about how you met him, how long you've known each other, and what kind of great friend he is. If you can think of an anecdote or funny story that really sums up the kind of person he is, whether that’s charming, warm-hearted, or thoughtful, use it. A funny best man speech is always memorable, but if you’re going to use an anecdote, linking that story to his partner when possible will make it even more meaningful. For example, maybe he’s incredibly outgoing but forgetful, while his new spouse is more thoughtful and organized. If you start with an anecdote of his forgetfulness and later follow up with a time you saw his partner’s organizational skills help him out big time—and that’s a moment you knew they were the real deal—that’s a perfect icebreaker.

4. Focus on the couple's relationship, and not just your own.

Presuming you’ve known the groom for longer than he’s know his partner, you can definitely start your best man toast by sharing an inside joke and recalling the earlier times in your friendship, but then you should skip ahead to when he met his partner. Think of a story that epitomizes their relationship. If you can talk about the exact moment when you realized his partner was “The One” for him, include that. Maybe your buddy told you one week after meeting his partner that they were going to get married, and you thought he was absolutely bonkers, but here you are. Maybe you’ve known the groom for a long, long time—for example, if you’re his brother or you've been best friends since elementary school. You’ve probably always had an idea of what his perfect partner would look like, but the one sitting in front of you exceeds all expectations. Emphasize that he's a great guy and how happy you are for your pal that he’s found someone so perfect for him.

Front Room Studios

5. Keep your best man speech short and sweet.

In terms of  wedding speech order , the best man speech is typically first, followed by the  maid of honor's toast  and parent speeches or  father-of-the-bride-speech . Even though you'll go first, a good best man speech is short and sweet, since you want to avoid people growing restless during the later speeches (guests are ready to eat, drink, and dance at this point of the wedding reception). Aim for a short best man speech between three and five minutes max. Keep in mind that it will feel much shorter to you when you’re actually giving the speech, and you will likely rush through it a little bit in the spotlight. That’s why you must…

7. Practice, practice, practice.

One of the most crucial best man speech tips is that you have to—and we mean  have to— practice your speech  before the wedding. You should read it to yourself out loud at least three or four times ahead of the actual reception. It might feel awkward at first, but would you rather fumble your words alone in private with the chance to make improvements, or give your speech for the first time while being watched by dozens of people with camera phones? Record yourself giving the speech, then replay it for mistakes and things to change. Not only is practice critical to giving the best performance, but it will give you a confidence boost when the big moment arrives. Consider sending the video to a friend, other groomsmen, or relative to give you honest feedback.

7. Write it down.

You should try to memorize your best man toast as best you can, but you’ll feel less anxious if you have it written down. Practice your speech enough so you won’t need to stare at the piece of paper the entire time, but jot down the main talking points to easily transition from one part to the next. Consider using notecards or a small notepad—remember that there's going to be professional photography and videography of your best man speech. Reading from a haphazardly torn piece of scrap paper or worse, your hand, will look sloppy and indicate that you didn’t prepare for the speech.

8. Don’t drink beforehand.

Keep your alcohol intake to a minimum until after you’re finished delivering the best man speech. It's normal to want to calm your nerves, but anything more than one drink during cocktail hour could backfire—alcohol paired with intense nerves and emotions will only amplify them (and you run the risk of slurring your speech!). The more you drink, the less likely you'll be able to remember what you've planned and form cohesive thoughts in the spotlight. Once your speech is over, you'll have time to celebrate all you want. 

9. Finish your best man speech with congratulations and a toast.

This is a foolproof way to end your best man speech. Conclude by congratulating the happy couple on their big day and offer a toast to their lifetime of happiness. The toast can be personal, witty, or a quote. Perhaps there’s a line about love and relationships from one of the groom’s favorite comedians or movies that you can share, or you can simply wish the newlyweds the best and ask your fellow guests to raise their glasses in celebration. 

Things to Avoid In a Best Man Speech

In order to write a good speech, you want to keep the focus off yourself and instead on the happy couple and their future. In general, it's best to steer clear of these things:

1. Inappropriate anecdotes. 

Your pal's grandmother definitely does not need to hear about that one infamous night in college, no matter how relevant or funny it might seem to your buddies. Leave those drunken tales and embarrassing stories for the bachelor party and keep your best man speech PG.

2. Any talk of exes.

Your friend's wedding is absolutely not the time to bring up ex-girlfriends or previous relationships. No matter a how good a story you think it is, or even if it leads directly to the moment you're all in now, just leave it out completely—trust us.

3. Foul language.

Sensing a theme here? You want to make sure your best man speech is well received by everyone, from the 80-year-old guests to the 8-year-old guests. Remember: A wedding is a family event, so it's best to leave out any profanity or other PG-13 talk. 

4. Long-winded stories.

As mentioned previously, you want to keep your best man speech short and sweet. As great as your speech is going to be, the last thing you want is for the wedding guests to tune out halfway through your time in the spotlight. If a story needs more than a few sentences to explain, either pare it down or consider a different approach for writing your best man speech.

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Being picked to be the best man is such a great honor. You will feel blessed that the groom has thought of you, and considers you the best man and friend for the job.

But, as the wedding draws nearer, there’s one thing on your mind. No, it’s not the bachelor party… It’s the best man’s speech(see also: Best Ways to End Your Best Man’s Speech ). 

As the best man, you will likely have many responsibilities in the run up towards the wedding. You’ll have to try on suits, organize the bachelor party, but the best man speech is the thing that most look forward to, or dread!

Standing up in front of many guests, some of which you may not have met before can be nerve wracking to say the least. It’s such an important task, and a part of the wedding that many guests look forward to. 

A best man speech needs to hook the audience in, reveal some funny stories about the groom, and even the bride, but also wish the couple well, and spread some laughter amongst the audience.

But, you have to do all of this in one single speech that can’t be too long, and can’t be too short! 

So, how can you nail the best man speech? Well, that’s where we come in handy. We can offer you this ultimate guide to creating a best man speech, including tips, structure and examples you can take inspiration from. 

How To Structure A Best Man Speech

Not everyone is gifted with the ability to speak clearly and confidently to a crowd. It can be very nerve racking, and make you anxious to say the least.

If you’re unsure of how to go about planning your best man speech, then we can help you out with this simple structure to follow and keep yourself on track. 

This structure is a sort of guide, you don’t have to use it, but it’s a good idea to follow the structure so you cover all bases when doing the speech.

It can also help you when actually performing the speech, as you’ll know what needs to come next and in which order to go over your stories and anecdotes.

A good best man speech begins with:

• An Introduction

Use the introduction to introduce yourself to the crowd. Not everyone will know who you are in the wedding, so it’s a nice way to break the ice and get rid of any awkwardness.

Try introducing yourself with a funny one liner about who you are and how you know the happy couple.

• Talk About How You Met/Know The Groom

Next, it’s a good idea to briefly cover how you met the groom, or how long you’ve known each other. You can give a little history of how far back you go, and mention how honored you are to be the best man. 

• Anecdotes About The Groom

Here comes the fun part! Now is the time to start telling a funny story about the groom. The emphasis here is on funny and not too embarrassing or gross. Choose two or three short anecdotes or stories, but don’t overdo it. 

• Balance Poking Fun With Sincerity

After you’ve had your fun, balance this out by saying something meaningful and sincere about the groom, his qualities or your friendship. 

• Briefly Talk About How You Know The Bride

In this section, you can talk about your first meeting with the bride, how she came into the groom’s life, and how great of a match you believe them to be. 

• Wish Them All The Best

Finally, wish the couple all the best for their future together with a sincere, caring comment. Then, toast to the happy couple! 

Best Man Speech Do’s And Don’ts

There are definitely a few do’s and don’ts when it comes to speaking at someone’s wedding. You’ll want to keep it concise, funny, but not too over the top jokey. Here’s our recommendations of what to do, and what not to do. 

First things first, you’ll want to plan ahead, and write a few stories and anecdotes down that you can remember. Do this for a few weeks before the wedding, so it gives you time to come up with the right memories to share. 

Try brainstorming ideas with other members of the family or bridal party to come up with the best things to share about the groom and his bride. Then, you can narrow down the list and find the most impactful or most important things to talk about.

You should also consider who this speech is going to be said around.

If the groom’s very traditional great aunt or grandma is there, it could be a good idea to avoid any crass, rude stories that could make family members uncomfortable. Save those lines for the bachelor party! 

Do pause for reactions. You don’t want to talk too fast or fly through the speech as those who have laughed at the last line may miss the next one. Always leave small gaps or pauses for reactions, applause or responses. 

Finally, make sure you focus on the couple, not just the groom.

This day is about the two of them. While you are doing a speech because you are the best man to the groom, it is important that you bring in the bride/partner in your speech so that overall you are wishing both of them well on their new adventure. 

What Not To Do

Don’t wing it! You may have some liquid courage on the night, but you need this speech to be a crowd pleaser, so be sure to take your notes and go over the speech in your head just before you have to do it. 

Don’t use foul language, or inflammatory language. You don’t want to cause a dark cloud over the event by offending anyone or causing a scene.

The same goes for mentioning exes (who could well be at the wedding) or bringing up sore subjects during the speech. Keep it fun, lighthearted, and hilarious. 

Don’t use cliches like The groom is like a brother to me. Instead, demonstrate your close bond by telling a story or giving an example of when he treated you like family, and made you feel welcome.

This is far more impactful and will really get the audience involved in your speech. 

Finally, and this is an important one- don’t make it about you. This is not your shining moment, your time will come.

Ensure you’re not talking about yourself too much, and always bringing it back to the bride and groom, because that’s what the audience really wants to hear about.

It’s a chance for them to see the couple in a different light, from your perspective, not learn everything about you. 

Tips For Writing A Best Man Speech

We’ve also got some brief tips for writing and performing your best man speech!

• Practice before the actual speech
• Don’t include inside jokes- they will fall on deaf ears
• Keep it short and sweet – don’t go over the top with long stories/memories
• Don’t use cringey cliches
• Don’t mention exes- even as a joke
• Use clean language
• Don’t say anything political/inflammatory
• Tell a story about the groom and the couple as a pair
• Don’t just focus on the groom
• Always end on a high – make a nice toast and comment about the couple

Qualities To Talk About In The Best Man Speech

Throughout your speech, it is important to keep a running theme. If the joke you are telling is unrelated, it won’t have as much drive and impact.

For instance, if you’re talking about the groom’s thoughtfulness, use funny anecdotes that relate to this, and bring it back to that whenever possible.

Here are some other qualities that are worth mentioning:

• Sense of humor: If the groom is known for his quick wit and humor, be sure to incorporate this into your speech. Share a funny story or two that showcases his sense of humor and make the guests laugh.
• Generosity: If the groom is known for his kindness and generosity, talk about a specific instance where he went out of his way to help someone in need. This will show the guests the type of person he truly is.
• Loyalty: Mention the groom’s unwavering loyalty to his friends and family. Talk about how he has been there for you and others in the past and how this trait is so important in a relationship.
• Intelligence: If the groom is intelligent and knowledgeable, highlight this in your speech. Talk about his impressive achievements or interests that show his intelligence and passion.
• Adventure: If the groom is someone who is always up for a new adventure, talk about his love for travel or exploring new things. This will show the guests his spontaneous and adventurous side.

For example, you could say:

Where do I begin with the groom’s sharp sense of humor? He’s a true master of wit, who can leave even the most experienced comedian in awe. A particularly memorable instance was when him and his bride went on a picnic; after he inadvertently dropped their sandwiches into a nearby pond, he remarked ‘Well, it looks like we’re having fish sandwiches today!’. The bride couldn’t help but laugh out loud at how quickly he turned an unfortunate situation into something humorous – that is simply the type of person this groom is. 

Groom has always had a very caring, loving nature. He would do anything for anyone. Except that one time I asked him to water my plants while I was on vacation. He brought all of the guys over to ‘water my plants’! Thanks for that, Groom. Just kidding, Groom is incredibly thoughtful and compassionate towards all who meet him, which is a quality I believe brought him closer to Bride. 

You want to talk about his great qualities, poke a little fun, or share a funny story, but then talk about how these qualities have translated into his relationship with his partner, or how they have brought them closer together. 

Best Man Speech Examples

Good evening everyone. For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Tom, younger brother and best man of the groom. For those of you that do know me…heeeeeeey! 

I have known Jack for…X years now (your age) and have always looked up to him. He had it all, the career, the intelligence, the sense of humor, and now the girl. Then again, I got the good looks. 

In all seriousness, I have always looked up to my big brother. He’s always had a flair for sports, and genuinely has a heart of gold.

Being the youngest of the two of us, Jack has made me a better man, mainly because of the character building he put me through as a child. Jack would love taunting me by stealing my favorite stuffed animals. 

I cherished my favorite, Mr. Snuggles, until one day Jack told me to come downstairs and see the new toy that our Rottweiler had been given.

I was so excited to see our little furry boy happy and playing with his toy until I realized that Jack had offered up Mr. Snuggles in sacrifice with a huge grin on his face. It was a day I won’t forget. 

Despite the taunting and the terrorizing, Jack has been the man that I’ve always aspired to be. In all of the years I’ve been around Jack, he’s always been tenacious and worked hard for what he wants. And he’s always gotten it.

After asking Jenny out the first time, and she said no , he didn’t give up. He knew she was the one for him! It’s a good thing he has the patience of a saint, as it took another 3 attempts to get the first date! 

With Jack being the older, but not often the wiser brother, he managed to get himself into some mishaps in the past.

When he did finally get a chance to take Jenny out on a date, he turned up at the wrong house, and managed to slip and break his shoulder all in one fantastic, first meeting with the parents.

Smoooth, brother. At least he made it an unforgettable start to their journey together. 

With Jenny at his side, Jack’s clumsy mishaps are less and less. You truly bring out the best in him, Jen. I would say welcome to the family, but you’ve been a part of our lives for some time already, and I am truly blessed to be able to call you my new sister. 

From day one, you’ve fit right in, as you too have taken on the role of teasing Jack just as I wanted. Let me tell you guys, there have been many pranks that Jenny and I have pulled off on Jack.

One time, we hid all of his left shoes, until the confusion nearly drove him to madness…and he had to deliver his board meeting like some kind of two right footed lunatic. 

Other times, we’ve hidden around the house just when Jack is coming home from a long day at the office, to ambush him with Nerf guns until he pleads for mercy! Let’s just say justice has been served for Mr. Snuggles. 

I quickly realized that Jenny and Jack were cut from the same mold. You two are a real example of what it means to marry your best friend, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the two of you.

So everyone, if you could raise your glass…and toast- to the bride and groom! 

Hi everyone! For those of you who don’t know me already, I am Zach, the best man of James! When James asked me to be the best man I felt like it was such an honor.

Then he reminded me that it’s not just about organizing the bachelor party and I have to actually come to the wedding so…here I am. 

I’ve known James for so many years now, having met him at high school. In those years, it’s become clear what a fantastic friend he is. He’s handsome, kind, brilliant, funny…and sorry (looks at Groom) mate I can’t read your handwriting here. I’ll just wing it. 

Just kidding. Me and James have been through thick and thin. I’ve watched him go from a weedy, awkward teenager to a less weedy, awkward adult!

Britney would probably argue with me over the adult part! James has always had that boyish sense of humor that’s often gotten us into trouble over the years. 

I remember James would always be the class clown in high school. But for some reason, it was always me getting in trouble. One day, I glanced over in class to see James scribbling away on his desk.

He’s probably carving out some obscenity in the wood I thought.

This is why it came as such a shock when later that day it was I who was called into the principal’s office, and as I walked with my head hung in shame to my fate, James smiled wide and proudly.

Little did I know it was my name he had carved into the wood, so I could sit in detention after class!   

Ever since that day, James and I have been at war with one another to get the other one back! But deep down, I know that James would do anything for me. If I needed someone at 4am, James is that friend.

Despite our differences, I know he’s as good as family to me, and all of the Henderson’s have welcomed me into their home on many occasions, and now Britney gets to have that same privilege. 

Britney brings out the absolute best in James, and has given us an incredible gift in bringing two wonderful boys into our lives. With Britney, James gets someone who is beautiful, smart, caring, and Britney…well, you get James. 

In all seriousness, if Britney gets half as much joy in being married to James, that I have had in being his friend over the years, then she will be incredibly lucky indeed. 

On behalf of all the groomsmen, bridesmaids and myself, I would like to thank James and Britney for having us be a part of their special day. I know how hard you’ve worked to make this a day to remember, and you’ve definitely succeeded. 

I wish you both all of the happiness, joy and good luck in the world, as you take these steps towards your future together. To the bride and groom, everyone! (Cheers). 

Hello everyone. My name is Joe and I’d just like to thank John for finally confirming that I am in fact – the best man, after 20 years of friendship. 20 years is a long time.

Just think, back then…Low rise jeans were in fashion, Spiderman was the favorite superhero, and Ben Affleck and J-Lo were together. So really, nothing has changed in 20 years, and the same goes for our friendship. 

If I ever needed building up, or bringing back down to earth, John was the man to do it. He’s always been there for me, through thick and thin. And let’s face it…during the college years, we were more thick than thin!

But, we had each other’s backs no matter what.

I remember one time in college, we decided that reading books and writing our own essays just wasn’t for us anymore. We decided to pay someone to write us an essay, and we would switch it up to pass the class.

From that day on a keen businessman was born- be careful everyone- you’ll probably get a bill for your food! 

It all would have gone swimmingly if John hadn’t forgotten to change the name on the essay, but he never took me down with him!

Since then, I’ve realized what a tenacious person, good friend and loyal individual John was, and it’s an absolute blessing to be up here with you tonight as your best man. 

There is one very important person who is not sitting on this top table with us today, and that is John’s mother, Cathy, who sadly passed away just last year.

I’ve joked a lot about John tonight, but I know that Cathy would be incredibly proud to see the man that you have become, and over the moon of how happy you are today with Mia.

So, if you wouldn’t mind joining me in raising a glass to John’s mom, who can’t be with us today, but is with us in spirit. Cheers. 

On behalf of the wedding party, I would just like to say a huge thank you to John and Mia, for including us in their special day.

It’s been a wonderful day so far, and all Mia’s hard work planning and prepping has truly paid off. John, you just sit there and look pretty. 

In addition, I’d like to thank both Mia’s parents, and John’s dad who have helped make this day extra special for the happy couple, which I’m sure they are eternally grateful for. 

I’d also like to say that the bridesmaids have done an incredible job helping Mia plan the perfect wedding, and for making sure that Mia looks every bit as beautiful as she does today.

They also had the difficult task of getting Mia to the church on time, which if you know Mia is a very big achievement, indeed. 

Finally, I’d like to thank the groomsmen for organizing and completing the best bachelor party Miami has ever seen. I only hope it was the send off John was hoping for before he begins the next stage of his life with Mia. (But I highly doubt it) 

John, I’ve loved being your best friend, and I thank you for bringing Mia into our lives. She’s a beautiful person, intelligent, and brings out the best in everyone she meets. Her only downfall is her taste in men! Just kidding. 

Seriously, I think everyone will join me in saying that we wish you only the best for your future together, and that we all can share one day in a love like yours. Cheers to the bride and groom! 

Ladies and Gentleman, I have an announcement to make. If there is anyone here tonight that is feeling nervous, apprehensive, or maybe even a little nauseous at what lies ahead…then it’s probably because you’ve just married Adam. 

For those of you who don’t know who I am, I am the best man, James. There are few words to describe Adam. Handsome, funny, but smart isn’t one of them. You see, Adam was my best man, at my wedding, and boy he did not hold back!

So, as we stand here today, know that my time has come for me to get you back!

Before I start the character assassination that is my best man’s speech, let me just thank Adam and Olivia for having us be a part of this very special day.

I know how much work has gone into making today as great as it has been, so thank you both for pulling it off! To be honest, I never thought Adam would find someone to marry, let alone someone as beautiful and amazing as Olivia!

I’ve known Adam for a very long time, all the way back to when he still had hair! We first met during our studies at X University. At first I thought we had nothing in common, but I quickly found out that we did. We would both likely fail our first year!

Our time at University was one of the best in my life, and I’ve far too many stories to tell you about our lovely Adam here. 

But, as the BEST man, I won’t do to him what he did to me. Instead, I’ll talk about his lovely qualities over the years. First up, is his beautiful singing voice. I can’t tell you how many times I heard the works of Marvin Gaye after he met Olivia.

We quickly banned singing in the shower at our dorm because of all the love songs he would belt out after going on a date with Olivia. To say he was smitten from the start is an understatement. 

And why wouldn’t he be? All those who know Olivia know what a lovely, and caring person she is. She deserves a good husband. Thank god Adam got there first before she could find one! 

Another defining quality that drew Olivia to Adam is his caring nature. We’re incredibly proud of Adam for working as an EMT and helping people every day.

I’ll never forget the time a few years back during a friendly soccer game where I slipped and fell over on my side, snapping and breaking my ankle.

Adam was at my side within SECONDS…to let me know he caught my fall on video. Emergency Medical Services *Scoff*. Only when he saw the angle of my ankle did his medical training kick in.

All jokes aside, Adam and Olivia have always been there for me, and I them. I’d like to think of them as family rather than friends, and can only hope that continues going forward.

Adam and Olivia…I’ve never met two people more perfect for one another. You are both kind, old souls, and you make each other incredibly happy. So, if you all could raise your glasses with me, and toast to this amazing couple…to the bride and groom!  

Hello everyone. My name is Kane, and I am the best man, and longtime friend of Rob. I was, however, somewhat surprised to be asked to be the best man, as Rob has never been able to admit this over the years.

At first, I thought this was great. I get to plan a bachelor party for Rob, but then he reminds me I have to write a killer speech that would likely make everyone laugh. 

I had no idea where to start, so I decided to trawl the internet for inspiration. After a few hours, I found some really….really…great stuff. But then I remembered I needed to write a speech, so I got off YouTube. 

I asked friends and family for advice, and according to tradition, I am supposed to sing Rob’s praises and tell you all about his fantastic qualities. Well, sorry to tell you, but I can’t sing and I don’t lie. So that’s out of the window. 

But, Sophia told me I can’t say anything too rude or controversial about Rob. Instead, I can only say nice funny things, so with that in mind, thank you and goodnight all. 

Just kidding. Seriously, Rob is one of the most kind, funny, caring and compassionate people I have ever met. This is a quality that I think brought Sophia closer to him.

His willingness to do anything for anyone, without accepting anything in return is what makes Rob extra special, and a joy to be around. 

In turn, Sophia is one of the sweetest, and funnest ladies I have ever met! We’ve shared many great memories together, with my partner included, as Sophia and Rob are actually our children’s godparents. 

I’ve known Rob for years. We grew up only a few doors apart on our street. I thought there was no kid cooler than Rob. He had all of the best hot wheels, Pokemon cards, and I had a huge crush on his big sister, Natalie *winks at groom’s sister*.

Looking back, I was probably a big nuisance always wanting to go play over his house, but I had some of the best time of my life growing up with Rob by my side. We’ve been there for every big moment of each other’s lives.

Graduation, getting our first jobs, our first cars, and now I get to be here for the biggest day of his life, where he gets to marry the beautiful Sophia. 

Sophia and Rob, your love for each other shines through you. Sophia, I’m happy to step down as I can see that you two are truly best friends, and meant to be.

I can’t think of anyone better to look after my Rob here, and I know he will do everything he can to look after you for the rest of his days. 

Thank you both so much for a fantastic day. If the rest of your lives is half as good as today has been, then you are in for a joyful marriage indeed. Please join me everyone in raising a glass to the newly weds, Rob and Sophia. Cheers! 

Best Man Speech Frequentl Asked Questions

Does the best man have to do a speech.

The best man does not have to give a speech if he really does not want to, or if there isn’t enough time because there are other people doing speeches, but it is tradition and expected of the best man to do a speech. 

When Does The Best Man’S Speech Happen?

The best man speech will typically happen after the groom has said a few words. However, every wedding is different, and the bride and groom may organize the day differently depending on how they think the speeches should flow. 

How Long Should A Best Man Speech Be?

A best man speech should be short and sweet, but not too short, and not too long. A happy medium is about 5-6 minutes in length. You don’t want it to be shorter than 3 minutes as it may seem too brief.

The point is to keep the audience engaged, and deliver a few anecdotes, thank the bride and groom, and raise a toast. 

What Should You Include In A Best Man Speech?

There are a few things that you should include in the best man speech. This is who you are, and how you know the bride and groom.

In addition, you need a fun story about the groom and you, and why you think the bride and groom are an excellent match, followed by your best wishes for the couple and a toast to their future together. 

Who Should You Thank In A Best Man Speech?

In the best man speech, you should thank the bride and groom of course, but you can also thank the bridesmaids or groomsmen for their efforts, or say thank you to the parents of the bride and groom, especially if they have contributed a lot to the wedding.

To summarize, writing a best man speech is not all as bad as it seems.

With this ultimate guide, you’ve got all of the tools you need to succeed, and successfully deliver a hilarious, fun, lighthearted speech that is sure to wish the couple all of the best for the future.

Whether you are looking for examples, tips, what to do, or what not to do, we’ve covered it all in this handy guide.

Now, instead of stressing out about what you are going to say, how you are going to say it, you can look forward to the wedding planning process in the run up to the big day, and most importantly…the bachelor party!

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Lisa Plaitt

Hello, I’m Lisa Plaitt and I have been married to my wonderful husband for almost five years. We met almost a decade ago now and I love him more everyday. But on my wedding day - the day that was supposed to be about celebrating us - I was far too stressed to enjoy it. My husband proposed to me in spring and it was a very lowkey setting, in our backyard without anyone else around to see it. It was a perfect proposal. But then everything got real, and I was suddenly thrust into planning mode.

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Expert Tips & Examples for Short Best Man Speeches

Best man speeches don't need to be long to be iconic - in fact, you can deliver the most engaging best man speech with just a few sentences!

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Being asked to be a best man is a total honour, but since one of the main best man duties is to give a best man’s speech , you might still be feeling a little nervous about the whole thing. For many, long speeches just don't land with an audience, which is why we recommend short best man speeches so often. 

The best man speech is one of the most highly anticipated of the day, and not only does it need to be funny, it needs to be engaging and that little bit sentimental.

If there are several people making speeches, or you want to ensure you keep the room on its toes and keep everyone engaged, a short best man speech is the way to go.

A Complete Guide to Short Best Man Speeches 

With our top tips, structure ideas and real life short best man speech examples, you're guaranteed to nail the content, delivery and length of your speech. 

So what are you waiting for? It’s time to get reading, writing and practising.

How to Structure Short Best Man Speeches

How to deliver short best man speeches, short best man speech examples.

Hoping to deliver a blinding short best man speech, but not sure what structure to follow? Below, we explain how you can break your speech into three simple sections, covering everything your speech needs to, injecting a bit of humour and still maintaining a short best man speech structure.

1. Introduce Yourself

Whether you're delivering short best man speeches or longer monologues, you always need to start with a brief introduction.

Not everyone in the room will have the pleasure of knowing who you are, so it’s best to start off with a quick introduction, including a mention of how you know the groom. Are you best friends? Did you meet at school or university? Are you brothers? Get that part out of the way.

You could even make a joke about how you don’t like public speaking and you’re going to keep things short in this section of the speech. It’ll stop the other guests from expecting something lengthy.

• “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.”
• “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!”

2. Inject Some Humour

If you’re delivering a short best man speech, you can pretty much go straight into cracking some jokes after the introduction.

Being the best man is a green card to make the other guests laugh at the couple's expense… and let’s be honest, they know what’s coming. Don't miss this opportunity to have a bit of fun with this short and sweet speech.

Take a look at a few of our favourite jokes below, or check out our extensive list of (genuinely) funny best man jokes around . We promise, they’re not all cringey.

If you can link your joke to the fact that your speech is so short, then even better… just remember not to make jokes at your best friend’s partner's expense. That is strictly off limits!

• “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!”

3. Congratulate the Happy Couple

By the time you’ve told a few jokes, you’ll probably be pretty keen to wrap your short best man speech up and sit back down (anyone else suffering from a serious case of dry mouth?).

With that in mind, now is the perfect point to congratulate the happy couple, tell the groom’s new partner how wonderful they look and send them your well wishes for their life together.

• “I can speak for everyone in this room when I say we all wish you all the happiness you deserve. We are so glad that you have found one another, and this day is a reminder that the best is yet to come. To the happy couple!”
• “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 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 the both of you!”

When it comes to short best man speeches, you want to ensure every word packs a punch, and you deliver it with confidence. Make it short, sweet, snappy and follow these tips to nail the delivery.

• Play on your relationship as much as possible! Are you brothers? Are you best friends? However you know the best man, weave anecdotes about your relationship into the speech wherever possible.
• Speak slowly and pause for laughter. Always.
• Use cue cards if you’re feeling a bit nervous and practice repeatedly.
• If anyone has sent messages but cannot be there on the day, read them.
• Avoid too many in-jokes that the guests won’t understand… it’ll only leave them confused.
• Keep it clean – being best man might be a green card to give the groom a bit of stick, but don’t take it too far. His grandparents may be listening.

We wouldn't encourage using someone else's speech as your own, but reading other short best man speeches and examples will provide you with inspiration that you can use as a starting point for your own. Take the structure and style of these speech examples and enjoy crafting your very own. 

Funny Short Best Man Speech Example

Good evening, everyone! Let’s raise our glasses and toast to the newlyweds. Don’t worry, your arms won’t get tired clapping and cheering - my speech is very short and quite frankly, I'm not that funny. 

Whilst researching how to deliver a great, short best man speech, I learned that I am expected to sing the praises of the groom and tell you what a wonderful guy he is. Unfortunately, I am neither a good singer nor a good liar, so that’s why I've decided to keep my speech brief.

Joe, thank you for being such a stable force in my life, a great friend and a great drinking buddy. Lou, I think we can all agree that you’re stunning this evening, and you deserve a great husband. Joe, thank goodness you snapped her up before she found one. All joking aside, I’m honoured to be here today. I love you both and wish you many happy years of marriage. Cheers!

Sentimental Short Best Man Speech

Evening, everyone! I am Brad. You may not know me, but Sam and I go way back – to University, in fact. We’ve been mischief makers together since the beginning.

Despite our best efforts, today has gone off without a hitch. A special thanks to everyone who made today possible!

Sam is one hell of a guy; I knew that on the first day we met. There he was, already in our halls, doing his best to find himself a guy on campus. And he had only been there a few hours! Really, his pursuits in this avenue were largely less than successful.

That was, until he met Matty. And thank goodness for that. The most amazing man definitely won. He looks so dashing today, as do his bridesmaids.

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 could not 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. Now, if you’d all like to join me as we raise a toast to the happy couple. To Sam and Matty.

Extra Short Best Man Speech

Graham and James. Every great relationship starts with rings. In the beginning, the phone would ring and just the thought of speaking to one another was exciting. Your love grew and so did your commitment to each other.

The engagement ring soon came after. There were no doubts… your love was true.

The engagement ring has now turned into a wedding ring and we are all here today to celebrate your marriage.

Now of course… the suffer-ring begins. (Smile and raise your glass) Peace and happiness to the happy couple!

Now you know what you’re going to say, make sure you read our guide on  how to overcome wedding speech nerves  to ensure you pull it off perfectly! We wish you the best of luck.

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Quick & Short Best Man Speech Template

• 24th Nov, 2021

Jump to the good bits

Speech details.

Speech duration: 5 – 7 minutes

Speech style: Short, sweet and funny

Note: This short Best Man speech template uses the name ‘Tom’ for the Groom, Sarah for the Bride, ‘Ben’ for the Best Man and other example names. Insert the names for your group as needed.

Your short Best Man speech template

1. opening and introduce yourself .

Good afternoon everyone, I’m sure you’ll all admit this has turned out to be a brilliant wedding celebration, yet every silver-lining does have a cloud, and that is, that you’ve now got to listen to me, unfortunately.  I suppose I should introduce myself properly. I’m Ben, Tom’s best friend, and today his Best Man. I have to admit I am absolutely honoured to be chosen. 

2. Wedding procession observations and give thanks 

Before I undertake the customary duty of giving Tom an uncomfortable few minutes, I would like to say a few thank-yous first. The lovely Bridesmaids, Alison, Niamh, and Nicola. The very glamourous mothers Mary and Jackie. They all look wonderful and have done an excellent job today. Indeed they are only eclipsed by Sarah herself, who, I’m sure you’ll all agree, looks absolutely stunning. Thanks also to the Groomsmen who did an excellent job of standing still and looking pretty. 

3. A few words about the Groom (and you) 

So where do I start with Tom? Well for starters he’s… handsome. witty, intelligent. He’s char… charm…. Sorry… Tom …. I’m having trouble reading your handwriting, what does that say?

What can I say about Tom Smith. When I first met Tom I thought he was very laid back and normal. Boy was I wrong. I heard whispers from his family that he could be very highly strung. No, I thought, you must be exaggerating. That was until we lived together for a few years during college. As the months went on I started noticing little things: 

• the many conspiracy theories
• only being able to eat diagonally cut sandwiches
• the hunger tantrums – his colour coded wardrobe
• his preference for baths instead of showers
• his vast Dolly Parton record collection
• and singing ’Working 9 to 5‘ in the bath
• the night terrors
• the collection of nun-chucks and other weapons
• And last but not least, an unhealthy obsession with Matthew McConaughey

Tom, all joking aside you are an excellent friend and it is truly an honour being your Best Man today. 

4. A few words about the Bride 

It’s not just the groom who gets a mention in the Best Man speech. I also have a few words about the Bride. It’s not often that the Best Man is also close friends with the Bride. Not that close, Tom, don’t worry. Sarah is one of the nicest and kindest people you will ever meet. She is also a bit of a control freak. Luckily, Tom is really lazy so they are a perfect match! 

5. The Bride and Groom together

Tom and Sarah have a lot in common, actually. They are both very hard-working, generous, passionate, quite stubborn, and they both think Tom Smith is the most handsome man in the world. They are both like a fine wine, Sarah gets better every year, and Tom will take a long time to mature. 

6. Your gift and messages from well wishers 

(Read out any messages and/or present your gift). 

7. Final words and toast 

OK, time to wrap this up. I’m sure I speak for everyone in this room when I say we all wish you the happiness that you deserve. We are so glad that you have found one another, and this day is a reminder that the best is yet to come. And on that note, can everyone please raise their glasses in a toast to the newlyweds, Tom and Sarah, Mr and Mrs Smith!

Get the Best Man Speech Guidebook

If you are thinking about your upcoming Best Man duties or need to draft your speech in a hurry you can check out the book the Best Man Speech Guidebook for even more tips and a full list of Best Man speech hacks. It contains the important do’s and don’ts in wedding speech etiquette, some great one-liners, visual gag options, but most importantly a clear speech structure and tried and tested speech templates.

• The Best Man guide

For more advice and ideas for all of your Best Man duties, check out our Ultimate Best Man Guide page.

More Best Man speech advice

• 12 Clever Best Man Speech Hacks
• Best Man Speech: 13 Must Do’s
• Best Man Speech: 10 Absolute Don’ts
• 20 Unique Best Man Speech One Liners
• 3 Ideas For Best Man Speech Visual Gags
• How To Write A Best Man Speech: Part 1
• How To Write A Best Man Speech: Part 2
• Funny Best Man Speech Template

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Writing a Best Man Speech: Outline and Guide (+3 Examples)

• by Marisa Jenkins
• January 24, 2024

Being chosen as a bridal party member —especially as a best man or maid of honor —is a big deal. You have been given the opportunity to support someone in such a momentous part of their life. Your role comes with plenty of responsibilities, including making a speech at the reception.

Having an outline for your speech as a best man can be really helpful when you start writing the draft. Here is a classic and timeless example of an outline:

• Self-introduction
• Short icebreaker ( optional )
• Stories about the groom
• Talk about the partner
• Talk about their relationship
• Well-wishes and advice

Below is a more detailed explanation of each part of a best man speech outline, followed by a step-by-step guide—with tips—for writing the speech itself. Some examples are also provided to help you in the process. 

Best Man Speech Outline: Easy Template to Use

Greet everyone present (1–3 sentences).

Before anything else, make sure to greet the guests, bridal party, and vendors at the venue. Acknowledge their presence and the effort they put into being there on the newlyweds’ special day.

You can keep this part brief but upbeat to get your guests engaged and listening to your speech as a best man.

Example : Hey everyone! Thank you for making the time and effort to attend Ben and Stephanie’s wedding.

Introduce Yourself (1–2 Sentences)

At the reception, odds are most people—but not all—will know who you are. For everyone’s benefit, briefly introduce yourself and your relationship with the newlyweds.

Example : For those of you who don’t know me—first of all, how dare you? Kidding aside, my name is Ryan Drews, Mike’s best friend and life coach. We’ve known each other since high school.

(Optional) Short Icebreaker (1–3 Sentences)

If you feel like you still need to capture your guests’ attention, consider adding a short joke or anecdote before you get into the body of your best man speech. You can get a good laugh and set the tone for the rest of the speech. 

Example : Honestly, I was a bit nervous about giving this speech. People said it should only be as long as Gavin’s attention span. So… I guess that’s all for my speech, goodnight!”

Personal Stories and Memories With the Groom (1–3 Paragraphs)

Share a personal story that showcases your relationship and closeness with the groom. It does not necessarily have to be relatable, but make sure the memory will highlight the groom’s personality and positive traits.

You can also talk about the groom’s growth and development over the years. How much has he changed? How has he changed? Shed light on the positive changes you have observed since he and his partner got together .

Example : [Compare the groom’s personality during high school and today. He might be more mature, patient, and mentally strong than before. If you have one, share a story that illustrates these changes.]

Talk About the Partner (1–2 Paragraphs)

Do not forget about the star of the night—the other newlywed. Talk about your first impressions, the day you were first introduced, and any striking memories you have with them.

Example : [Where did you meet each other for the first time? Did you have dinner somewhere? What did you think of her initially, and how did this impression change?]

Talk About the Newlyweds (1–2 Paragraphs)

Compliment the couple and talk about their relationship. Highlight their strengths, share how you think they complement each other, and tell them how they make you—and everyone around them—feel.

Example : You two are an example of how a healthy dose of annoying each other can actually go a long way in making a relationship better. But all jokes aside, you guys inspire everyone around you to be kinder to one another and themselves.

Conclusion: Well-Wishes and Advice (1–2 Paragraphs)

The last part of a best man speech’s outline can contain well-wishes, advice, or both. Share any wisdom you have regarding marriage, and tell them that you are praying for the best for their future.

Example : Always remember that marriage is a two-player game: both of you must put in the same amount of effort to keep the game going. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Linnehan! May the future be bright and boundless for you. 

Writing a Best Man Speech: Steps and Tips to Follow

Step 1: Gather Material by Reflecting

Take a trip down memory lane and think about your relationship with the groom over the years. Write down any funny stories, milestones, and incidents that come up.

At the same time, think back on what you know about the groom’s relationship with his partner. How did they meet? How did you meet his partner for the first time? What makes their bond and journey special?

As you reflect, think about their qualities as individuals and as a couple. These traits will be a great addition to your best man speech.

Tip: Start Early

Do not leave your speech as a best man to the last minute. Ideally, start brainstorming and thinking of what to say as early as a few weeks before the wedding day. This will give you plenty of time to write, revise, and revise some more.

Step 2: Structure Your Speech

The outline above will help you structure your speech. However, feel free to add any personal touches or make changes to the order.

Tip: Decide What Tone You Want to Use

Spend a moment to decide how you want to deliver your speech. Do you want to be funny and witty? Do you want to sound casual? Do you want to flex your poetic muscles? Do you want to incorporate multiple styles and tones?

Step 3: Start the First Draft

Eventually, you have to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). Write everything that comes to mind, letting your past reflections guide you as you compose your best man speech.

Do not worry about making it perfect on the first try—no one ever gets it perfect on the first try. Let yourself word vomit until you have written everything you have in mind.

Tip: Do Not Go Too Heavy With Inside Jokes

Although you understandably want to show how well you know the groom and make your guests laugh, avoid sharing inside jokes. Everyone will not get it without explaining the necessary context; you simply may not have the time to do so.

Step 4: Edit and Refine Your Draft

Start with any obvious grammatical errors. Fix faulty subject-verb agreements, incorrect uses of prepositions, and whatnot. You can use apps like Grammarly or built-in grammar checkers to help you with this part.

As you go along, read the speech aloud or in your head to see if there are any awkward spots. You may have to rephrase certain parts or rearrange sentences to make your speech flow better.

Be patient with yourself, as it might take multiple revisions before you get a speech you are satisfied with.

Tip: Keep It Concise

Aim for a best man’s speech that does not exceed 4–6 minutes. Any more than that and you risk losing your guests’ attention.

Step 5: Practice Giving the Speech

After a few revisions, start practicing the speech out loud. One benefit of this is that you will spot more ways to revise your speech to make it better. 

At the same time, a practical tip is to mark points in your speech where you will pause for a moment and take a breath. This will make the delivery more relaxed and natural-sounding.

If possible, ask for a close friend or another bridal party member to listen to your speech. They can give you constructive criticism and feedback to further improve the content and your delivery.

Tip: Read the Room

As you practice your delivery to a test audience, pay attention to how they react to what you wrote. They might think that a certain anecdote is too embarrassing for the groom or that your speech has more humor than sincerity.

You might unintentionally humiliate yourself or the groom if you include stories that are too personal. Likewise, you might come across as insincere or performative if you try too hard with your speech.

Adjust your speech and delivery accordingly. As mentioned above, the revision process never stops—even as you give the speech at the reception, odds are you will make a few changes off the cuff.

Step 6: Make the Final Preparations

Print a few copies of your speech on high-quality stationery, as it is good to have extras in case something happens. If nothing else, it can be a wonderful keepsake for the newlyweds.

Make sure to have some positive coping mechanisms for stress as well. Look into breathing practices to help you manage your anxiety and stage fright.

Tip: Engage the Audience

Do not just read off your copy, since this will make you sound robotic. Pay special attention to making eye contact with guests, pausing for reactions, and ad-libbing when the opportunity presents itself. 

Speech from the Best Man: Heartwarming Examples

1. Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention for just a few moments? Before I continue with my speech, I want to thank everyone for being here tonight. We know it isn’t cheap to attend a destination wedding, so we do want to make it clear that we will not be offering any rebate or cashback.

Anyway, for those of you who don’t know me, I’m Brian Mills. Nolan’s my cousin, and he has given me the honor—and stress—of being his best man. We actually only became close in high school when we both tried out for the basketball team.

Needless to say, both of us didn’t get in. We did continue practicing in our free time. These games allowed me to get to know Nolan better.

A lot has changed since then, huh? In high school, Nolan was wild, impulsive, and a bit irresponsible—we both were. Now, though, Nolan is reliable, clever, and puts everyone’s needs before his.

I remember when Nolan first introduced me to Lisa. His eyes were lit up in a way that I’d never seen before… not even when the Lakers won that championship in 2020! The more I got to know Lisa, the more I understood how perfect they are for each other; they’re both kind, adventurous, and passionate.

Lisa, I want to officially welcome you to the madness that is our family. We promise not to share too many embarrassing stories… at least until after your first anniversary.

Kidding aside, I have never seen Nolan as happy as he is with Lisa. You both bring out the best in each other, and it’s clear to all of us here that you share a love that is deep, genuine, and enduring.

So, let’s raise our glasses in a toast to Nolan and Lisa. May your love be modern enough to survive the times and old-fashioned enough to last forever. Cheers!

Thank you, everyone. Enjoy the rest of your evening!

2. Good evening, everyone! How’s your night going so far? I hope the food and drinks are all to your liking; we worked very hard tasting every dish our lovely caterer had to offer.

I’m Alex, and I have the great privilege of being David’s best man. Before I start, let’s give another round of applause to the beautiful couple. David, my man, you look sharp tonight! But I think I speak for everyone when I say: Emily, you’ve definitely stolen the show.

I’ve known David for almost 20 years now. We first met in middle school, and our friendship has been a rollercoaster ride ever since. From camping trips that turned into survival missions to late-night study sessions that rarely involved studying, I can say we’ve had our fair share of memorable moments.

But today, I want to focus on the biggest adventure David has had: his adventure with Emily. I still remember the day David told me about Emily. He said, “There’s this incredible woman.” And he was right. Emily, your kindness, intelligence, and sense of humor make you a perfect match for David. And David, well, I guess he isn’t too bad.

Together, you two are like a fine wine—you just keep getting better with time. David, you’ve found your soulmate in Emily. Your partnership is a testament to what every love should have—support, laughter, and a lot of patience (especially when David tries to cook or crack a joke).

Emily, welcome to our small, silly, but very loving friend group. You bring out the best in David, and for that, we are all grateful.

David, I have one piece of advice for you as you enter this new chapter: a happy wife is a happy life. Always remember that.

As we stand here in this beautiful venue, surrounded by friends and family, I am reminded of a quote I once heard: “Love isn’t about finding the perfect person. It’s about realizing that an imperfect person can make your life perfect.”/

So, let’s raise our glasses to David and Emily. May your life together be filled with endless love, laughter, and luck. Cheers!

Thank you, everyone. Let’s make this a night to remember!

3. Hi, everyone! I just want to take a few minutes of your time to say some words about our lovely newlyweds. My name is Charles, and Manny chose me as his best man.

The love story I’ve witnessed over the past six years is nothing short of magical. First of all, their growth as individuals is very laudable; I’ve seen Manny go from a slightly reckless and clueless college student to a calm and collected man. I can confidently say that Jenny’s presence has been transformative to Manny.

Jenny, it is clear that you and Manny are soulmates. Thank you for taking care of him, keeping him in check, and humbling him whenever he needs it.

May your love be a sturdy lighthouse amidst a rough and rowdy sea, shining a light that will guide you through the darkness and unpredictability of life.

Congratulations to you two! Cheers to the future!

Final Thoughts

Being someone’s best man is a huge honor; it means you occupy such a special part of their life they wanted you to have this major role in their wedding.

When preparing a best man speech outline, the most important thing to keep in mind is authenticity—stay true to yourself. If you want to write an amazing, unforgettable speech, just focus on pouring your heart onto paper. Everything else will follow.

Marisa Jenkins

Marisa Jenkins is a wedding planner and event coordinator. Her main goal for WeddingFrontier.com is to simplify the wedding planning process by sharing her years of expertise in the industry.

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How to Write the Perfect Best Man Speech

Two experts share the best tips for writing a winning toast.

Photo by Sydney Noelle Photography

In This Article

First of all, congratulations on being asked to be the best man. You, of course, have many important responsibilities —like groomsmen shepherding and bachelor party planning , among others—but there's only one task that will secure your proud ascension into the ranks of becoming the MVP: Giving a killer toast.

The best man's speech traditionally follows the groom's speech and is a chance for you to say some sweet words about your relationship with the couple and your best friend. But, if the thought of public speaking has your kneecaps sweating, we found you two coaches with years of experience to help ease your nerves.

Ahead, with the help of President Barack Obama's former speechwriter David Litt, and Pete Honsberger, author of Wedding Toasts 101: The Guide to the Perfect Wedding Speech , here are the best tips for writing a perfect man speech, in order to pull off the most amazing toast ever.

The Best (and Worst) Best Man Speech Ever

Meet the Expert

• David Litt was the speechwriter for President Barack Obama from 2011 to 2016 and is the author of the New York Times best-selling book Thanks, Obama.
• Pete Honsberger has been a serial groomsman, speaker, and wedding toast advisor for most of his adult life. When it comes to wedding toasts, he's seen just about everything—you can read about it in his book, Wedding Toasts 101: The Guide to the Perfect Wedding Speech .

Best Man Speech Template 

Getting all your thoughts and feelings down on paper can be overwhelming, especially if you're not used to sharing those sentiments with the guys. And for those who are unsure of what to write for the big day, here is a guideline to help you find your flow.

Find a Theme

A theme is a unifying idea that ties the whole speech together. Think of it as the takeaway of your speech, or the one thing you want guests to remember. The best way to identify your theme is by making a list of your favorite stories. "You’re not going to just write a speech from scratch. Start by brainstorming stories. Most importantly, what you’re looking for is the theme that comes out of those anecdotes," says Litt.

Build a Framework

The best way to organize your thoughts is to create a blueprint of the key points you want to hit first, sort of like a toast skeleton. After you've established the roadmap, fill it in with pertinent details and memories while still ensuring you're staying on point. "Think about it in terms of ideas," says Litt. "You can get in one or two short anecdotes, maybe three, and one big idea. If those are good, you don’t need more."

Instead of thinking of yourself as the speaker, imagine that you're actually standing in the audience. Think about what the audience would like to hear, rather than what you want to do.

Focus on the Newlyweds

Most best men will include a story or two about their friendship with the groom, but don't center the whole speech on it. "Remember the relationship that you’re celebrating is the one between the two people getting married. You’re giving the speech because you can shine some unique light on that relationship," says Litt. "If the relationship that you’re really giving the speech about is the one between you and the groom, things [will get] awkward."

Share Your Feelings

Deliver something more meaningful than one joke after another. "Generally speaking, men think of the best man speech as a funny speech to give because we’re very uncomfortable sharing how we actually feel. But, what makes a good best man speech is the part where somebody shares how they feel. Humor is just the icing on the cake," says Litt. The newlyweds chose you to speak because you have something notable to add to their big day. Embrace your personal insight into their bond and don't try to dilute it by just being funny.

Best Man Speech Tips

Ahead, find our best tips for making sure your speech is as polished as possible.

Consider Your Audience

You can't nail a speech if you have no idea who to tailor the content to. "Feel free to ask beforehand. When I was writing speeches for the president, we had a point of contact where the speech was happening to say who exactly is in the audience. You can do a smaller-scale version of that. Your point of contact is probably your friend getting married . But, the nice thing about giving the best man speech is that, ideally, it’s both specific to you and universal to the couple," says Litt.

"I would say almost never start with talking about how nervous you are. I’d also say just relax. That’s a hard thing to tell someone to do. But remember, you’re not putting on a show," says Litt. "You're simply talking about your best friend and the love of their life, two people that you've probably spent a lot of time with. In the end, it should just flow and come out easily." Litt also suggests, "imagine you’re just telling a story to a group of friends because, really, you are."

Stay True to Yourself

Stick with who you are and how you would normally act around your friends; you don't need to adopt a character just because you're giving a speech. For example, if you aren't normally the comedian in the group, don't try to tell a bunch of jokes. If you're not usually a super-sentimental person, don't force it. There's nothing wrong with keeping your speech more lighthearted . The couple already knows (and loves) your personality, so the more genuine you are, the better your speech will be received by both the newlyweds and their guests.

Don't Rely Solely On Humor

While a few jokes sprinkled in can be a great tool for loosening up the crowd, don't make these the meat of your toast—especially if comedy doesn't come naturally to you. "Let me put it this way. There’s such a thing as too many bad jokes, and that number is about one. The more you treat it as an open-mic night, the less happy everyone involved is going to be. You don’t need to go in thinking, 'How do I get invited back next week?'" explains Litt.

Keep Things Positive

Even if you think it's well-meaning, don't turn the toast into a roast or make jokes at the couple's expense. "I’ve seen best man speeches where someone thinks, 'Oh, my job is to roast the groom .' Unless the couple specifically told you that’s your job, that’s not your job. The way to think about jokes is that you don’t want people to be laughing at the groom or at the couple. You want people to be laughing because they suddenly know the groom better than they did before." says Litt.

Don't Upstage the Newlyweds

Litt's previous boss (former President Obama) really enjoyed telling other people's stories at speaking engagements, and this ultimately strengthened his messages. "His speeches are not really about him. They’re about other people," says Litt. Channel Obama by keeping your speech focused on the couple. "You’re not performing. You’re there because you know someone and care about them, and you’re sharing that with a bunch of other people. Even a great best man speech is not supposed to steal the show. If somebody says, 'That speech was nice but almost forgettable because we were so focused on the bride and groom,' that’s a win. You don’t need to be the star," advises Litt.

Keep Things Appropriate

"My general rule for wedding speeches is: If you have to ask yourself, 'Is this appropriate?' it’s not. And if you’re the kind of person who doesn’t know, ask a friend. If they give you that slightly horrified look, listen to that look," explains Litt. Keep in mind that your audience will include guests of various generations and cultures, like your friend's grandparents, boss, and colleagues. Refrain from mentioning anything that you wouldn't want your grandma or boss to know.

Get a Second Opinion

Remember, you'll be delivering this toast in front of an audience (as if you could forget, right?). So it doesn't hurt to get some feedback on what you're planning on saying. "If you’re the kind of person who has a track record of going a little too far with your surprises, you should be self-aware enough to run this by a third party—maybe another close friend or a friend of the bride ," says Litt.

The last thing you want to do is stand up and give a speech that you've never said out loud. "The best thing to do is practice with a friend. Anybody giving a big speech rehearses beforehand. If you’ve already gotten good feedback from field-testing your remarks with a smaller group, then you’re going to come out on the wedding day comfortably knowing you have a good speech. It's that uncertainty that can be scary when you’re up there speaking," says Litt.

Keep It Short

Let's be realistic: Super-long wedding toasts annoy guests. "I’ve never been to a wedding where anyone said, 'That was a great wedding, but the best man speech was just too short and that ruined it.' I would say five minutes is the absolute maximum. Three minutes is fine. There’s no question that if you’re reading this, you’ve sat through a speech that was too long. But when you start writing a speech, you almost never think, 'Is this going to be too long?'" explains Litt.

Limit Your Drinks

Don't embarrass yourself by slurring through your toast. "Being one drink in works for some people, but being more than one drink in is never a good idea. At that moment when you’re like, 'You know what I need? Another couple of shots.' That is never what you need," advises Litt.

Best Man Speech Openers

Now that you understand the fundamentals of creating a great toast, your next step is to sit down and start writing. If you need a little help getting your speech going, though, our experts share a few ideas to kick-start the process.

Introduce Yourself With a Twist

Want to tell the crowd exactly why you're the best man? Honsberger says to get straight to the point and tell them how you know the groom . Most importantly, add some flavor to the first few lines. Spice it up a bit, as anyone can do the standard, “For those of you who don’t know me….” Simply put, ask yourself what a twist would look like in your own introduction. 

“Good evening, if you’re in this room and don’t know me by now, then you’re probably at the wrong wedding. I am, of course, [your name], and I’ve been best friends with [groom] for 25 years…”

“Hello and welcome to tonight’s reception. [name of groom], YOU truly are MY biggest fan. Wait, that didn’t come out right…As I was saying…”

Crack a Joke, Even a Corny One

Remember the audience when determining whether your joke should be said, but ultimately, try and see if you can get the crowd to laugh in the first 30 seconds. To achieve this, Honsberger says to simply reach into your own bag of jokes or look one up online. "I’d encourage you to first spend a little time reflecting on your own comedic ability. If you’re coming up empty, then consult outside resources," he notes.

"Hello, I’m the best man [your name]. This entire day has been beautiful so far. In fact, I’m getting emotional. The wedding cake has me in TIERS. (looking at a three-tiered cake).” 

"You’re probably wondering why I asked you all here tonight…well, I can promise it’s not for my 'Magic Mike' performance. You’ll have to stick around to the last song for that."

Be Hilarious With a Straight Face

While still technically a joke, this is you working hard to sound serious while saying something absurd. And if you get this right, you’ll hear a little giggle immediately, followed by laughter from the rest of the crowd once they figure out what you said was a joke.

“Good evening, I am [your name], the best man and [relationship to groom] of [name of groom]. Tonight we’re in a room full of great men –doctors, lawyers, military veterans, and successful businesspeople –yet I am the 'best.' His words, not mine.” 

"As Abraham Lincoln once said, [say something outrageous than Lincoln obviously never said—an inspirational quote, movie line, piece of advice, etc.] … and that’s what brings us all together tonight to celebrate [couple's name].”

Introduce a Recurring Theme

Choosing an overall toast theme can help you start strong. If you decide that your relationship with the groom can be summed up by sports, college, vacations, a mutual love of running, or whatever fits you, that can be your theme. And if that’s the case, your opener is simply the first, or the best, story you have related to that specific topic. 

“Hello and welcome, my name’s [your name], and I’m here to talk about my amazing friends Mike and Liz. They are truly a story of opposites attracting. 

For example, Liz’s favorite food is french fries, and Mike is allergic to potatoes. Mike has an obsession with ice cream, and Liz is lactose intolerant (pause for laughter).

Thankfully, things have a way of working out, and we are gathered tonight to celebrate the most important thing they have in common…incredibly good looks. I mean, LOVE.”

Just like that, you’ve captured the audience, let them into the world of the married couple, and got them excited for the rest of your toast. 

Ask a Question to Answer Throughout

If you’re questioning your toast opener, try leaning into that approach. Instead of looking for the answer, embrace the question. Think about what you would want to know about the groom if you were a distant relative or family friend sitting in the audience, says Honsberger. What would be an interesting question to explore about the couple? Use that. 

“Good evening. My name is [your name] and I’ve known [groom] 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] was [name a quirk or characteristic about him] back then, too.” 

“But really, how can I possibly speak to all of our experiences in just a few minutes without turning it into one big inside joke? Do I talk about …?” 

Then, spend the rest of the speech answering that question, and you’ll never lack information to share. 

Rhyme-Master Flex

Really want to capture the intrigue of everyone in the room? Start rhyming your sentences. Honsberger says he tried this in his first-ever wedding toast, and the result was an audience hanging on every sentence, wondering what the next line would be.

“Good evening ladies and gentlemen, I am Dan's younger brother, Pete. Many of you, I already know. Some, I have yet to meet.

Dan and Kate, thank you so much for this amazing chance, to speak on your special day … by the way, I call first dance. (crowd boos in jest) Sorry, but I called it! 

I’ve looked up to Dan ever since I’ve had sight. He was always bigger than me, and he was always right. 

Being the oldest of four boys couldn’t have been an easy thing. But in a house full of hyenas, Dan was the Lion King."

Read a Definition from the Dictionary

Here’s a chance to leverage one of the most straightforward and honest resources in existence: the dictionary. All you need to do is find one word that defines the couple’s relationship , says Honsberger. This can be serious and sentimental or funny—your choice. Just make sure it's relevant to the couple. 

“Google’s second definition of the word ‘love’ says, ‘A great interest and pleasure in something or someone.’ I think this is beautiful and an understatement when I think of [bride] and [groom]’s marriage. Although I was a little concerned when, under the definition, the word “love” was used in a sentence as ‘His love for football.’ Hmm, strange…”

“Who’s ready to dance tonight? Wikipedia defines the word ‘dance’ as ‘a performing art form consisting of purposefully selected sequences of human movement,’ and those words have honestly never come to mind when I think of [groom] dancing. I might be kidding, but there’s only one way to find out!” 

Tell a Story of How You Met

If the groom is a friend, chances are you have a good story of the first time you met or early in your friendship. If it’s your brother or family member, simply use one of your first memories together, whether playing, adventuring, or getting into trouble.

“The year was 1993, the class was kindergarten. I was building a beautiful tower of blocks when out of nowhere, they were knocked to the ground by a classmate without mercy or even an apology. That classmate was Matt, and we’ve been best friends ever since. And Matt, I’m sorry for throwing the blocks at your head after that.” 

Begin With a Quote

Simple and overused? Maybe. Effective? Absolutely. If you want to make the groom smile immediately during your toast, use a quote that you both recognize. If there’s one that his partner appreciates, too, even better. 

The most important reminder when using a quote is to ensure the audience feels like they’re part of it, too. Unless the quote is universally known, briefly mention its origin right after saying it. Let them into the joke and they’ll be with you for the rest of the toast. 

“Good evening everyone, my name is [your name], and I’m the best man tonight. When coach [name] used to tell you to ‘Be an Athlete,’ this is what he meant. When anyone on our team missed a tackle, it was ‘be an athlete,’ when our jerseys weren’t tucked in, same saying. We’ve adopted that as a cure for any issues in life. When [groom] really wanted to introduce himself to [bride], the solution was simple. ‘Be an athlete.’ And he was. So if you see [groom] miss a step on the dance floor later, be sure to remind him to ‘Be an athlete.’"

Read Something in a Different Language

Looking for a way to involve international members of the  family  in your toast? Look no further than practicing a phrase and reciting it in their native language to begin your toast. If that doesn’t apply in your situation, yet you still want to shake things up and be unique, you can translate a wedding-related sentence into another language. It will be intriguing, and you’ll sound smart! 

“Hello and welcome to everyone in both families on such a beautiful day. Me llamo Pedro y necesito que te diviertas porque esta boda es muy cara (wait for laughter from Spanish speakers). If you don’t speak Spanish, I said that I need everyone to have fun because this wedding is really expensive!” 

The Bottom Line

At the end of the day, this speech is about the couple getting married, why you love them so much, how happy you are for them, and why you're honored to have this role in the wedding party. Keep things light, positive, and succinct—and also remember that the celebration is all about love, and no one is here to make you feel nervous. Make time to practice the speech, take a few deep breaths before you begin to speak, and focus your attention on the couple. Before you know it, you'll have given a speech for the books!

The best man traditionally speaks at the wedding reception following the maid of honor, though some couples may schedule the speeches during the rehearsal dinner instead.

The best man gives one speech either at the wedding reception or, less commonly, the rehearsal dinner.

The best man's speech serves as a special lens for the audience to better understand the groom, and the newlyweds, through his significant position in their lives. The focus should be to highlight the relationship of the newlyweds rather than the relationship between the best man and groom.

A Guide to Wedding Reception Toasts

Who Gives a Speech at a Wedding Reception?

How to Write a Wedding Toast

Tips for the Father of the Bride Speech

How to Write a Best Man Toast

Advice for the Maid of Honor Speech

What to Know About a Newlywed Toast

Public Speaking Experts' Wedding Speech Tips

60 Quotes to Use for Your Wedding Toast

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• Delivery Techniques →

The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Best Man Speech

So you have been asked to be the best man at your friend’s wedding – congratulations! It’s a tremendous honor and an opportunity for you to step up and show how much you care about your friend.

Of course, this includes giving a great best man speech. Most best men get extremely nervous at the idea of delivering a toast. Your audience will be sure to remember your words for a long time after the wedding day is over, but not necessarily for the right reasons.

So, how can you ensure you deliver a best man speech that will be remembered for all the right reasons? That’s what we will be digging into in this ultimate guide to writing a best man speech! Here we will provide you with ideas and tips on creating a memorable and impactful best man speech that will make your friend proud and have the entire audience laughing and applauding.

Planning Your Best Man Speech

When it comes to planning your best man speech, you’ll want to take the time to do it right. Start developing the outline for your speech well before the big day so you can make sure it’s organized and effective. You should have a very clear idea of what you will be talking about, how long you estimate it will be, and any jokes or anecdotes you want to include. Some may argue that writing a full script and memorizing it verbatim is the most effective approach, while others disagree. Those in favor of memorization say that having every word rehearsed in advance helps to ensure that the speech flows well and sticks to a specific timeframe. On the contrary, those who disagree argue that writing a full script makes speeches sound overly rehearsed or rigid, which can make them appear insincere and dull in comparison to a speech delivered from one’s heart. It is up to each individual best man to decide which approach is best suited for themselves. Just remember that no matter which method you choose, practice is key- aim to practice your speech out loud multiple times before delivering it on the big day. Now that we have discussed planning your best man speech, in the next section we will delve further into how to actually write your best man speech.

Writing Your Best Man Speech

The key to writing your best man speech is to be authentic and sincere – speaking from the heart. To prepare, consider discussing it with the groom beforehand and make sure you have an understanding of his interests, hobbies, and values so you can craft memorable material that has meaning to him. If possible, include a heartfelt compliment about him in your speech as well as anecdotes that pay tribute to his character or his relationship with the bride. This can seem daunting at first given the traditional expectations of best man speeches, but don’t be afraid to break convention if that’s more true to yourself. Be creative and use humor, if appropriate. Write down some notes of what you would like to say — even if the words don’t come naturally to you during the delivery. If you are truly stuck on what content or message that should reflect in your speech, remember: there are no templates for how a toast should go. It is also important to keep it brief and wrap up your speech by telling everyone how happy you are for the couple – ending with a toast before introducing the next speaker. Depending on how many people are giving speeches at the reception (as well as factors such as ceremony length), generally 10 minutes is a good target for speak duration and allows you to stay within a reasonable time frame without cutting yourself off too quickly. As you write your best man speech, consider both sides of the argument surrounding appropriateness —which means not cracking inappropriate jokes that might offend someone in attendance—and don’t forget to have fun!

Most Important Highlights

The key takeaway from this text is that when writing your best man speech, you should speak from the heart and make sure to include a heartfelt compliment about the groom. Consider the groom’s interests, hobbies, and values when crafting your material, and don’t hesitate to be creative and humorous if appropriate. Keep your speech brief – 10 minutes is generally ideal – and remember to have fun with it! End by wishing the couple happiness and offering a toast. Ensure that all jokes are appropriate for the occasion.

Storytelling and Memories

Stories and memories are the cornerstone of the best man speech. But know when to do which. There’s a time for storytelling , and there’s a time for reciting facts or statistics. Both have their place in the speech. When it comes to storytelling , it should always focus on the groom, his partner, or both of them together. If appropriate, you can tell funny stories about the groom as a child or young adult – but never at the expense of embarrassing him (or her). It has to be lighthearted and reflective. On the other hand, if you’re going to regale the audience with stories of adventure together, steer clear of lies and exaggeration — no matter how much they may add to your speech. You lose credibility with each untruth you tell. Memories, on the other hand, can be shared without words in certain cases. For example, if there are fun photos or videos of your relationship then those could be shown during the speech. This could effectively bring up memories that the guests may have forgotten about – from vacations taken together or special moments shared between them. However, remember that if you don’t have an image or video to support what you recall – keep it simple so you’re not making something up! At the end of the day, be mindful of your contents when crafting this part of your speech. Whether you choose to tell stories or share memories – remember that everything is related back to highlighting the couple’s journey and relationship. Next up we will discuss adding humor and telling jokes in your best man speech – stay tuned!

Humor and Funny Jokes

Humor and funny jokes are often seen as a crucial element of the best man’s speech. While some may argue that injecting humorous moments into a wedding speech can lead to awkward situations, others view it as an opportunity to lighten the mood in what is usually a solemn occasion. For those in favor of adding humor, it allows for the best man to show off his wits and wit while endearing himself to the audience of guests and family. Slight comedic innuendos that poke fun at certain members of the family or budding couple are an easy way to garner laughter and lighten up the atmosphere. In addition, you could use stereotypes, irony or sarcasm to craft your more serious points into witty sound bites; this serves to amuse your audience while underscoring the message you wish to convey. On the flipside, using too much humor during a speech can backfire horribly if done incorrectly or taken too far. Note that everyone’s level of comfort regarding humor differs greatly – something that may be seen as amusing to some is highly offensive to others, so it’s important to keep in mind who will be present at the reception and adjust your language accordingly. Also avoid putting the spotlight onto yourself too much; jokes should add value to the bride and groom instead of making fun of them directly. No matter which side you’re on, being mindful of other’s sensibilities and delivering your intended message with care should be top priority. As long as one is conscious of these potential pitfalls which can arise with humor, infusing some lightheartedness into your best man speech is a great way to create an enjoyable experience for all in attendance. With humor addressed, let’s move on to discuss how best to deliver your best man speech:

Delivering Your Best Man Speech

Delivering a best man speech can be a nerve-wracking experience, leading many to wonder if it is better to memorize the entire thing or wing it. There are pros and cons to both approaches and ultimately it comes down to personal preference. If you decide to memorize your speech , there are benefits to making sure you know it inside and out. You won’t need to worry about losing track of what you’re going to say next and if you have an audience with short attention spans, they won’t become disengaged. On the other hand, if you make an error in your delivery, the awkward fumbling will likely draw more attention than a line you may have gotten wrong. Memorization also makes it more difficult to have an intimate connection with your audience – since all you can think about is getting through the next line without a mistake, you won’t be able to create that special dynamic between yourself and those listening. Alternatively, improvising your speech may lead to some stumbles but will make for a much more relaxed atmosphere. When done correctly, off-the-cuff speeches show authenticity and connect the speaker with their audience in a way memorized speeches cannot. It also allows for more creative musings that can be tailored on the spot based on audience reactions – adding an engaging drama of anticipation far surpassing what one could expect from a recitation of words. The downside is that if you don’t practice enough beforehand and don’t have your material prepared, it more easily lends itself to embarrassing rambling than a concise telling of the story at hand. Whether you choose to memorize or improvise your best man speech is up to personal preference and comfort level – just make sure to plan ahead so that whichever route you pick goes smoothly! Having someone else read through your speech can also provide helpful feedback as they may point out points in need of revision as well as identify any potential pitfalls should you decide to go off book during your performance. Now onto the next step: acknowledging key people at the wedding…

Acknowledging Key People at the Wedding

Acknowledging Key People at the Wedding: A Best Man speech must pay tribute to the honored couple, and also recognize other key people who have contributed to their journey. It is important to acknowledge specific family members and friends who were either present from the start or have become part of the couple’s life together. Doing so will make these people feel valued, and let them know that even if they are not mentioned by name during the wedding, they are still celebrated for being a part of it. It is also vital to thank all those who helped with planning and preparing for the ceremony – such as parents of the bride and groom, groomsmen/bridesmaids, caterers, florists, photographers, etc. Allowing a few moments to personally thank everyone involved in making the ceremony special will ensure maximum appreciation shown throughout the venue. Choosing which people to include can be tricky though; too many names in your speech leads to an overload of information and very little acknowledgement of each person individually. On one hand, it is wise to keep your speech short enough so it does not lose its effect on the audience. On the other hand, mentioning or missing someone could cause feelings of guilt or harm feelings unintentionally. Carefully decide who you want to mention and think about how much detail you want to go into when thanking them; it should strike a balance between keeping things lighthearted yet still disrespectful. Regardless of which people you choose to acknowledge in your speech, make sure your words are sincere and honest. Your guests will appreciate thoughtful acknowledgements which warmly celebrate those featured rather than simply skimming over them in passing. After all, it’s moments like these that create special memories which last a lifetime. Being memorable in your Best Man speech is essential – what better way than including meaningful tributes to key people at the wedding? To learn more about crafting a truly memorable Best Man speech, continue on reading to the next section: “Being Memorable in Your Best Man Speech”.

Being Memorable in Your Best Man Speech

Being memorable in your best man speech is an important part of delivering a successful presentation . A best man speech should capture the audience’s attention and maintain it throughout, so that they remember your words long after the celebration ends. When crafting a memorable best man speech, it is important to be honest and genuine. Avoid the temptation to give a recitation of stories or jokes that are overly rehearsed and do not necessarily reflect your relationship with the groom. Instead, a good rule of thumb is to think about what you would say if you were just speaking to the groom one on one. This will help make your speech heartfelt and meaningful. At the same time, it also helps to strike the appropriate tone in your best man speech. While some elements of humor may be appropriate, too much could overshadow other sentiments you may want to convey. Therefore, you must be careful to know when your material crosses the line into being too edgy or off-color for your intended audience. Finally, striking a balance between personal anecdotes and fond memories of the bride and groom’s shared history can help ensure that your best man speech will be remembered by your guests in the years to come. If possible, try weaving together various elements like humor, sentimentality, and storytelling into your presentation so that all elements are tied together rather than being confined to individual moments or statements. Now that we have discussed how to make sure that your best man speech stands out from others, let’s turn our attention towards the final tips for making your presentation perfect on the big day.

Final Tips for the Best Man Speech

1. Preparing for The Big Day: It’s essential that you take adequate time before the day of to prepare your speech. Rehearsing it in front of friends and family can help you become more comfortable delivering your lines, as well as helping to identify any areas which may need additional attention or editing . It’s important to be cognizant of both the length and flow of your speech so as not to run overtime, nor have it appear too rushed or disjointed. Lastly, practice proper posture , diction and enunciation with each rehearsal. 2. Quality Over Quantity: Beforehand, discuss with the wedding planner or bride and groom how long they would like you to speak for. While there is no strict rule on speech length , if you plan on delivering your lines in a clear and proficient manner, generally five minutes should suffice – unless otherwise specified. Additionally, rather than focusing on a specific number of words or pages, focus more on quality and breadth of content when preparing your speech – including anecdotes or humorous stories that relate to the groom in an endearing way – be mindful here to not overstep boundaries however. That being said, utilizing colorful description and imagery can help keep listeners engaged while providing a foundation from which to build from during delivery. 3. Keep it Positive: It is ultimately best to provide a positive sentiment throughout your message – speaking about happy memories among friends and family offers a more resolute atmosphere for everyone involved. Of course if you need deliver constructive criticism regarding the groom’s relationships (with his wife-to-be) or behavior at times it may be necessary; however instead of citing those moments from the past, strive to preempt those situations by seeking out proactive solutions for ongoing benefit – lest there by any implied ill will amid audience members during this special event. 4. Remain Professional: Focus mainly on admiration in regards to what makes them an ideal couple, rather than finding humor in instances you deem as inappropriate – such as age gaps or other sensitive topics such as outside relationships etc., Doing so will show respect towards them while still being able to playfully engage listeners. Plus it provides an opportunity to possibly inform those unaware of their personal strengths and attributes they exemplify when group together while showing appreciation towards all the hard work they’ve poured into this milestone event. Overall, remember that this is supposed to be an enjoyable moment for both parties – an exchange marked by heartfelt congratulations between individuals who care deeply about one another’ future together through marriage, so employ humor cautiously when needed but also emphasize sincerity when sharing kind accolades for their enduring bond together as a united couple committed love.

Frequently Asked Questions and Their Answers

How much time should a best man speech be.

A best man speech should generally last between 3 to 5 minutes. It is important to keep your speech short and sweet so that it doesn’t lose the interest of the audience. However, if you need more time to tell funny stories or special memories about the groom, you can go over the five-minute mark. Just make sure that your jokes are entertaining and appropriate for the occasion!

What style of writing is most appropriate for a best man speech?

The most appropriate style of writing for a best man speech is one that is personal, lighthearted, and sincere. A best man speech should honor the groom, make the audience laugh, and be memorable. To achieve this, it’s important to focus on stories and anecdotes that are meaningful to the recipient, demonstrate the relationship between the best man and the groom, and paint a picture of good times. Avoid language or topics that could cause any offense; instead use humor to illustrate the joys of being part of the couple’s special day. Be sure to keep your speech concise so your audience can stay engaged . By using this approach, you’re sure to write an excellent best man speech!

What key information should I include in a best man speech?

When writing a best man speech, it’s important to include key information that will make the speech impactful and memorable. The first step is to start by thanking everyone in attendance and the bride and groom for letting you be part of such a special day. From there, you can move on to adding personal anecdotes that show why you think the couple makes a perfect match and why they are special. It is also important to include some stories or memories related to either the groom or bride, such as funny memories from school or shared vacations. These kinds of stories will evoke laughter and create a more meaningful connection with the audience. Finally, end your speech with words of encouragement. Consider sharing something like “Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness and joy” or “May this be just the beginning of an exciting journey through life together”. These are all simple but effective ways to close off the speech on a positive note, making sure that the newly married couple leaves feeling celebrated and supported.

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Short Best Man Speech Examples

Jan 4, 2018

Don’t worry – this blog isn’t for short best men!  It’s for those that want to deliver a short best man speech. Not everyone wants to drone on for hours regaling stories of when the groom was a wee lad. No, sometimes, its better to keep it short, sharp and to the point.  If that’s you and you want to keep things brief on the bride and groom’s special day, then this blog is for you – below are a series of short sample speeches for every best man/groom relationship.  After all, size isn’t everything is it?

Super Short Best Man Speech (1)

Good Evening. My name is (Best Man) and on behalf of (Groom and Bride), I would like to thank you for attending this blessed event today! I have the honor of acting as Best Man tonight and am thrilled that I am with these two wonderful people as they begin this new chapter in their lives.

  (Bride and Groom) have each walked many miles to be here together today, and this wedding is a joy to behold. I can speak for everyone in this room when I say we all wish you the happiness that you deserve. We are so glad that you have found one another, and this day is a reminder that the best is yet to come. Congratulations, (Bride and Groom)!

Super Short Best Man Speech (2)

Everyone – please raise your glasses and join me in toasting Joanna and Kevin. As I begin this wedding speech one of the first thoughts that come to mind is… if I’m the best man… then why is Joanna getting married to Kevin? (Pause when people laugh) I guess because today, I am just an average man and Kevin is the best man. (pause)

  In my extensive research to find out how to deliver a great best man speech, I learned that I am expected to sing the praises of the groom and tell you what a wonderful guy Kevin is. Unfortunately, I’m a bad singer and a bad liar. (Pause when people laugh) Kevin… Joanna is a wonderful, beautiful, kind and good-hearted person who deserves a great husband. Thank goodness you snapped her up before she found one. (Pause when people laugh) All kidding aside – I’m honored to be here today… I love you both and wish you many years of happy marriage. Cheers!

Even Shorter Best Man Speech

Ladies and gentlemen. It takes a strong and intelligent man to realize his dreams and achieve his goals in life and love. A man that is not afraid to live life to its fullest and embrace what is truly important. But enough about me… I’m here to talk about John and Katherine. Two people who have come together today to form a union that will surely last forever. [raise your glass and face the bride] Katherine… you look absolutely beautiful. John is lucky to have found such a wonderful girl to share his life with. John is my best friend and I’m honored that he chose me to be his best man on this most important day in your lives. I wish you both peace and happiness in your new life together and may God bless your union.

To my friends – old and new. It’s an honour for me to be here… to celebrate this very special day for John and Katherine. Dale Carnegie once said: “Don’t ask a man what is important to him. Watch how he spends his time.

Heartfelt Best Man Speech in 142 Words

I’ve watched John spend his time, and I can see what’s important to him.

It’s Katherine.

She has made John a happy man… a man with a new focus… a man with a new appreciation for love and life. I’ve known John and Katherine for 8 years and I can honestly say that they are perfect for one another. They were both fantastic people when they met. Now as a team, they will embark on a new adventure together as man and wife. John and Katherine [raise glass) I toast you, and wish you both peace, health and happiness.

Short Best Man Speech for a Friend

Ladies and gentleman. I met John in 1990. We have been friends for over 17 years. In that time, he has proven himself to be not only a great friend, but a truly good man as well. I value my friendship with John and I look forward to having the same great friendship with his lovely new bride Katherine. I know one important thing about Katherine. She has made John happier than I have ever seen him. Today is a day of joy and happiness for all of us. But it is not just a day… it’s the very special beginning of a new life between John and Katherine. I wish you both health and happiness and may God bless your marriage.

Best Man Speech – Super Short

John & Katherine – I stand here today to toast you. To celebrate your new union together. You have now become part of the most important team. Team McDonald [bride & groom’s last name]. All your joys will now be magnified by two because you can share them together. All your trials and tribulations have now been halved – because you can now solve them together. In marriage, you promise to care about everything. The good things, the bad things and the mundane. You promise to each other that life will not go unwitnessed, because you will witness it with each other. John & Katherine…this is just the beginning. The best is yet to come.

Heartfelt Best Man Speech in 90 Words

John & Katherine. The truest meaning of marriage is the magic of being needed by just one person. The two of you have come together to share your lives and realise your dreams. Today you are husband and wife. This is day one of a great adventure and I’m honoured to be able to share it with you. Remember that great opportunities to help each other seldom come… but small ones will surround you everyday. I toast you… and wish you a long marriage filled with love and above all, laughter.

Extra Short Best Man Speech

Karen & Jim – every great relationship starts with rings. In the beginning, the phone would ring and the just the thought of speaking to one another was exciting. Your love grew and so did your commitment to each other. The engagement ring soon came after. There were no doubts… your love was true. The engagement ring has now turned into a wedding ring and we are all here today to celebrate your marriage. Now of course… the suffer-ring begins. (smile and raise your glass) Peace and happiness to the new bride and groom!

Best Man Super Short Speech

Bill & Mary – What a great day to get married! Marriage carries new responsibilities. Mary – from now on, you should never argue or disagree with Bill, because he is now the head of the family and the king of his castle. You will be expected to keep your hair and makeup perfect at all times – to dress in a way that pleases Bill. You should cook his favorite meals every night and encourage him to go out with his friends on a regular basis. Do these simple things and your marriage will be blessed with many years of happiness. Mary – I know that Bill loves you very much… because he spent a long time writing this speech for me. Congratulations to the both of you!

Short Best Man Speech for Your Brother

Good evening everyone. I’m Sam, the groom’s brother and best man for today.

By choosing me as his best man, Brian has admitted something that has taken him 30 long years to admit..that I, Sam, his younger brother am the best.

Thanks Brian!

Aliana I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but Brian was such a workaholic until he met you. I remember this time when we went hiking, and wanted to extend another day at a mesmerising spot, but Brian was so determined not to miss work. And now, all he wants to do is go on holidays every other week with you. Aliana, Brian has truly fallen head over heals for you. It’s beautiful to see the two of you together.

You are perfect for each other and make such an adorable couple. I wish you both a happy married life and hopefully you will let me speak at your 50th anniversary celebration!

God bless you 

Still a Short Best Man Speech … but a bit Longer!  

There comes a time in every person’s life when they meet their one true love, their soulmate, their destiny. The person, who will know and understand them for the rest of their life. That moment came for Alan, 32 years ago when he met me.  

First, I want to extend my thanks to Debbie, Jenna, and Martha, three wonderful and beautiful bridesmaids and Nancy, an amazing Maid of Honor! I also want to thank the ushers, who worked so hard in getting everyone seated. Additionally, I want to extend a note of gratitude to the groomsmen for supporting me over the past several months and doing such a great job today. Most importantly, I want to sincerely thank the bride and groom for being here and allowing all of us to share in this incredibly special day.

Going by tradition, the Best Man is supposed to dig up embarrassing stories about the groom`s past, sort of carrying 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 during the performance of Annie Get Your Gun, wearing only a gun holster would be mortifying. I would no more tell you about the time he dressed up as a woman for Halloween or about the time he was so drunk he got up to sing an entire rendition of Somewhere over the Rainbow during a Karaoke contest…and won – Oh wait, what am I thinking?

Okay, that’s enough about Mike. As I spoke with various guests here tonight, I took notes from those that had been married for years and years. I gathered as much advice on the ingredients for a happy and successful marriage as I could. Mike, here is what the people here wanted to tell you:

You need to establish that you’re the boss, the king of your castle, but just  be sure you do whatever Sally tells you to do

Never forget the five rings of marriage:

• Engagement RING
• Wedding RING

Just remember, Mike, marriage is not just an eight-letter word. It`s an entire sentence – although you would probably get much less for murder! Another piece of advice is that is the best way to remember your wedding anniversary is to forget it…just once.

Okay, seriously, my best advice to you is always remember three simple words – “You’re right Sally!”

You will all be happy to know that I just have a few more things to say…in all seriousness, Mike, it has been an honour and privilege to serve as your Best Man today. You are a very fortunate man to have met such a wonderful woman as Sally. She is caring, loving, smart, and the perfect match for you any day of the week. For you Sally, you found…well, Mike! The two of you will have a healthy and loving marriage and I’m thrilled to call you both my friend! Finally, it gives me great pleasure to invite all of you to stand, raise your glasses to the newly married couple, and join me in wishing them good health and a wonderful life together. Here’s to you Mike and Sally!

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Follow This Perfect Best Man Speech: Tips + Examples

Written by  Shutterfly Community Last Updated: Oct 12, 2018

You’ve been chosen as the best man. Congratulations! It’s a great feeling to know that your friend or relative wants you to take part as his right-hand man in one of the best days of his life.

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One of the most important duties as best man is the best man speech. Traditionally the speech is given during the reception before the guests eat. Whether you are great with public speaking or a little intimidated by standing in front of a large group, we have all the tools you need in order to be best prepared, so don’t sweat it.

The Do’s and Don’ts For Preparing Your Best Man Speech

Don’t wing it..

Find a time a couple of months before the wedding to think about the things you want to talk about and write an outline. Most likely you’ll get caught up in best man activities with the groom and it will leave you with less time as the date approaches.

Do write a great intro.

The intro is the most important part of the speech because it grabs the audience’s attention. Try a funny one-liner, a story about you and the groom or even a compliment to his lovely new wife.

Don’t bring up past relationships.

Not only is it disrespectful to his wife but his wife’s family will also be there and will not want to hear about the groom’s litany of ex-girlfriends.

Do have a plan B.

Make sure you have the speech written down or outlined and have some jokes or points to cover if you are facing a tough crowd.

Don’t make negative jokes about marriage.

Even if you and the groom have an inside joke or if you have negative ideas about settling down, the audience doesn’t need to know. Also, don’t use curse words at any point during the speech, as you don’t know who in the audience you might offend.

Do practice.

Practice makes perfect. Going over the speech several times will ensure that you are comfortable with what you are saying and it will sound more natural.  Pro tip: record your speech on your phone’s voice memos and play back.

Don’t talk about the groom in compromising situations.

So you’ve seen the groom embarrass himself but you should keep that to yourself. You don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable or upset his wife.

Do congratulate the couple.

Make a toast, congratulate them and say what your wishes are for them in their new life.

Don’t make it longer than 7 minutes.

Although speeches are a fun part of the reception, making it too long can bore the hungry guests. If it’s a casual reception keep it to about three minutes, for a more formal setting seven minutes is more than enough time.

Do thank the guests.

As the groom’s right-hand man, make sure you thank everyone who attended and even the people working the event. It’s a nice gesture that will be appreciated.

A Simple Best Man Speech Outline

If you want a speech that is short, sweet and simple that is perfectly acceptable as well. This works well for smaller wedding receptions, weddings that will have more than two speakers or those that are a little more private. Following these simple steps will ensure a great and memorable speech:

• Opening line
• Introduce yourself
• Talk about groom/Compliment bride
• Propose a toast
• Thank the couple

Short and simple speech

Since I have everyone’s attention I’d love to say a few words to this amazing couple sitting right in front of me. For those who don’t know me, I’m Ed. Mike’s closest friend and sidekick.  We’ve known each other for about 11 years and have been on many adventures together. During that time, I got to know him well and can honestly say, he is the most selfless and stand-up guy I’ve ever met. I am thrilled to be standing here and celebrating him and his beautiful bride, Linda.

I am sure this union between two honest and caring people makes you all smile. Let’s raise a glass for everlasting love! Thanks for making us all part of this beautiful day.

Best Man Speech Template

Typically, a best man speech should last about 4-7 minutes depending on the party. While short and sweet is welcomed, a best man speech can also include more details such as how you know the groom and the bride, funny jokes, heartfelt stories and your well wishes.

Whether you want your speech to make the crowd laugh or shed a little tear, you may be wondering how to get started. We’ve pointed out several tips in our template below. Remember, a speech should always come from the heart.

How to Write the Perfect Best Man Speech

1 Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. It’s lovely to see some familiar faces. On behalf of the gorgeous bridesmaids and not so gorgeous groomsmen, we’d like to thank you all for coming. 2 It’s amazing to see how far people will travel for free cocktails.

3 For those who don’t know me, my name is Adam. I am the best man and Sam’s very best friend. It’s an honor to be here and to be part of such a beautiful event. 4 I met Sam 20 years ago. We grew up together as neighbors in San Diego and attended the same school all throughout college. 5 He was the nice kid on the block who would go home and do his homework while all of us were out doing, well, the things we shouldn’t be doing. Can you believe it took me two months to convince him to toilet paper Mrs. Carter’s house? Mrs. Carter isn’t here, is she?

Luckily, as we grew up, he started making better decisions; one of them being this very special day. He is marrying his best friend 6 and the most beautiful girl he’s ever laid eyes on. Sarah, he said this to me just the other night and I promise no more than three drinks were involved.

7 When Sam introduced us to Sarah , we knew right away she was the one. For starters, she made him get rid of that horrible, beer-stained couch that he had since college. That alone got our stamp of approval. But mostly, we saw how happy she made him and how every time he talked about her, he would have a huge smile. We started seeing a little less of him, but that’s okay because we were getting tired of buying his drinks anyway.

For that reason, and the reason we are all here today, 8 I’d like to raise a glass to Sam and Sarah. May you have the life you always dreamed of, continue to fight over the remote and cherish making beautiful memories together. Find joy in the small things like Portlandia and expensive coffee and may sparks continue to fly forever. 9 Thank you guys for allowing me to be part of this special day and for trusting me not to ruin this beautiful moment (phew!). I’d also love to give a huge thanks to the staff who have helped make this night memorable.

10 Cheers, everyone! Continue to have a great night and come hang out with me on the dance floor.

Always address the audience and welcome them.

A quick opening sentence to welcome guests helps everyone feel at ease.

Throw in a silly joke.

A wedding should be fun and enjoyable. A joke will help to break the ice.

Introduce yourself.

It’s best to not assume that everyone knows who you are. A short and simple introduction will allow everyone to get familiar with the wedding party.

Talk about how you know each other.

Whether you are a relative or friend, talk the audience through how you got to be a special person in the groom’s life.

Talk about groom’s personality.

Use this time to make a joke about the groom or share a sweet sentiment. Mention any sports, skills or funny stories that people will appreciate.

Compliment his bride.

Acknowledging the bride is a must, especially because she makes the groom so happy. A mention of her dress, personality or the first time you met her is ideal.

Talk a bit about them as a couple.

Share things you like about them as a couple. It helps the audience get to know their dynamic a little better and it will make the couple smile as well.

Give a toast.

Raise a glass and cheers to the new couple. Including a bit of tradition makes the speech much more special.

Thank the couple and staff.

Everyone spent a lot of time preparing for the special day. Make sure to thank the couple for allowing you to be part of it and the staff for making it all happen.

This closing allows for any sort of instruction such as dancing, dessert or simply to tell them to enjoy the party.

Best Man Speech for Brother

Good evening, hope everyone is having a good time tonight. I feel very privileged and honored to be standing here tonight celebrating this lovely union. Two years ago, Matt gave the best man speech at my wedding and made a lot of awkward jokes. So needless to say, I’ve been waiting for this moment for a really long time! For those who don’t know, I am Matt’s brother, Mike. I first met Matt when I was two years old at our parent’s house in Boston. To be quite honest, I wasn’t thrilled because I really wanted a sister. And I think he knew because Matt would do ridiculous things like throw my toothbrush in the toilet, pour water at me when I was asleep and run across the room naked when I had any friends over. This made me less popular than I already was.

Matt always excelled in school, was captain of the debate team (apologies to Cara, but he can argue his way out of anything!) and can make a mean steak. The truth is, despite him being an annoying brother at the time, I came out winning in the end. Because of him and this beautiful night, I am getting the sister I always wanted. Cara, you’re beautiful and our family loves you so much. Thank you for making my brother so happy.

Let’s celebrate this amazing union and raise a glass to the newlyweds! On behalf of the groomsmen and bridesmaids, we’d like to wish you a life full of love, happiness, and joy.

To everyone who made tonight happen, thank you. You’ve made this night very special.

Sentimental Best Man Speech

If I can have your attention everybody, I’d like to say a few words. Thank you all for being here to celebrate this lovely couple. Now I would like you all to take out some tissues, because you are going to need them after this. For those of you who have not met me I am Rich, Joe’s best man. Rich and I have known each other for over 30 years, we met when we were both just two years old. We lived on the same street and our mothers were friends so naturally we also became friends.

I am an only child so Joe was like a brother to me. We became inseparable. We played in T-ball together and then graduated on to baseball throughout high school. When we weren’t throwing the ball we were skateboarding, watching movies or challenging each other in video games.

Joe was always hanging out at my house and I grew up thinking he was just part of the family. I remember asking my mom why Joe never goes home and mom would always say “Rich, Joe is the brother you never had, take good care of each other.”

What my mom didn’t tell me at the time was that Joe’s mom was really sick and his dad worked double shifts just to stay afloat with all the medical bills. So, having Joe around was our way of helping out.

Even though we were only in high school, Joe made it very clear that he wanted to have a wife and family of his own. His mother’s death at such a young age was really challenging and in some ways, he learned to cherish the women he had in his life more.

He knew he wanted a strong, nurturing and kind woman to be his wife. When Joe met Sarah he almost broke it off with her because he was afraid of losing her. I remember Joe coming to me and saying, “I’m in trouble, I’ve met the one but don’t know what to do.” “Scared is good”, I said, “It means you won’t mess this up”.

Sarah’s greatest strength comes from losing her father to cancer at a young age. When Joe and Sarah met, their commonalities bonded them immediately. Both missing the connection with their parents and understanding each other’s experiences brought them very close. I’ve never seen two people more meant for each other. From the moment they met in college, there has been an incredible and magical bond.

When I look at both of you I can see how your experiences have led you to one another. It’s as if your parents were orchestrating this all along. Even though your parents are not here with us tonight, they are in spirit and will continue to guide you in the right direction and are so very proud of you.

As we all gather here to enjoy this dinner tonight, I’d like to make a toast to Joe and Sarah. Two souls meant to meet and fall in love. I want you to know that mom misses you hanging out at the house and she told me to tell you that you are always welcome in her home.

Joe, thank you for being my friend and brother all these years. You are the very best friend a guy could ever have and I love you so much.

Sarah, Thank you for loving this great man and for taking Joe to be your husband. I know you both will take care of each other and keep the memories of your parents alive together.

Now that our napkins need replacing, I’d like to thank all the staff and event coordinators for taking care of this beautiful event.

Cheers to everyone, enjoy your night and if you have a chance, come find me and say hi.

Funny Best Man Speech

Ladies and gentlemen if I can have your attention for a few moments, I would like to give a toast to Mark and Melissa. I was a little surprised that Mark asked me to be his best man, after all, he knows how much I love to embarrass him. I’m thinking, “what a great time to leave a lasting impression of who Mark really is” in front of all his closest friends and family. If for some reason you did not know, Mark was chosen as the class clown in high school. He even got his picture immortalized in our class yearbook for this very title. Let me tell you, having Mark as a best friend was very entertaining!

He was always laughing, pulling pranks, and sometimes getting us in trouble (I certainly won’t tell them how we barely made it out of jail because you thought streaking through the grocery store parking lot was a good dare). We all had a bit of clowning around within us, but the one thing Mark always had over any of us was his way of making girls laugh. And I mean really laugh, not just a quick chuckle but downright laugh out loud, spit-up-your-drink kind of laugh. While we were all worried about how we looked to girls, Mark’s concern was always how to make them crack up. I remember Mark saying “how come you get all the girls and I don’t?” I never had a straight answer for him. Looking back now though, my track record only lasted a few months and for Mark? Well, what he didn’t know was that his “clowning around” was preparing him for the show of his life.

When Mark introduced me to Melissa I knew she was special. I knew this was who Mark was going to marry. She not only has a very infectious laugh, but she gets Mark to laugh just as much.

They say a marriage can’t truly survive without laughter and I don’t believe there will be a shortage of that with these two. Mark, remember when you asked me why you don’t get all the girls? Well, the answer is right there next to you. While you were out figuring out jokes and funny one-liners, Melissa was saving up for the greatest show on earth!

If anyone tells you that you’re a bunch a clowns just smile and say….who’s got the last laugh now? Let’s raise our glass to Mark and Melissa! Here’s to a lifetime of love and laughter! You are both class acts and I am proud to call you my best friends. I love you both very much and thank you for having me here.

To all who were in charge of organizing this awesome night, great job on making this wedding shine. I challenge everyone to a dance-off later tonight.

Hopefully these tips will have you on your way to writing a heartfelt speech. If you still need a little more inspiration, don’t forget to check out our wedding quotes . These are great to incorporate into your speech, write in a card or simply share as advice to the newlyweds.

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How to Write a Best Man Speech – Ideas, Tips & Examples

Amanda Green was born in a small town in the west of Scotland, where everyone knows everyone. I joined the Toastmasters 15 years ago, and I served in nearly every office in the club since then. I love helping others gain confidence and skills they can apply in every day life.

Good news: Your best friend asked you to be his best man. Bad news: You don’t know what to say in a best man speech. Don’t worry; we have a couple of tips for you!

Writing a best man speech requires a lot of planning, revising, and practicing. Read on to learn some best man speech examples and tips. Learn how long it should be and what to include in your address.

What Is a Best Man Speech?

A best man speech is a speech or toast given by the groom’s best man at the wedding. It usually comes first before the maid of honor’s speech.

The best man , sometimes known as the best person for gender neutrality, is the groom’s right hand throughout the wedding. He assists the groom from the planning process to the wedding day. The best man also organizes the groom’s bachelor party.

The best man is typically the groom’s most trusted buddy. It can be his brother, a childhood friend, or the man who knows him best.

A best man speech is supposed to tell a story about the groom and newlyweds. It is finished by raising a final toast to their future. This speech is an opportunity to publicly share how you met the groom and why you think the bride is perfect for him.

How Long Should a Speech Be for a Best Man?

Your speech should only last three to five minutes. The average person speaks around 150 words per minute. If you write 6000 words for a speech, you’ll take approximately 45 minutes to address the crowd. Yikes.

Can We Write Your Speech?

Get your audience blown away with help from a professional speechwriter. Free proofreading and copy-editing included.

Less is more, trust me. You can only write a maximum of 750 words for your best man speech. Aim for a short and witty speech. Don’t make it too deep and complex, or you’ll bore the audience.

Best Man Speech Outline

Every essay or speech, no matter the subject, has three essential parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. But what should each paragraph contain? I’ll break down each section for you.

Introduction

The introduction should grab the audience’s attention. Here are some introduction ideas you can try.

Share How You Met the Groom

If the groom is your friend, there is a huge chance you are his closest friend. Your introduction speech can be your favorite story of how you met. If it’s a family member, talk about childhood memories, like how he was an annoying brother.

Crack a Joke

You can make a decent speech for the happy couple without boring the wedding guests. Try telling a funny story about the groom, a wedding pun, or a knock-knock joke.

One tip to being hilarious in your introduction is to keep a straight face while telling the joke. It makes them think and pay attention to your toast.

Introduce a Recurring Theme

Aside from making wedding speech jokes, you may also introduce the theme of the wedding day to serve as a good foundation for your best man speech. You may also choose one of your own that reflects your relationship with the groom and the relationship of the fantastic couple.

A common theme can make your inspirational and funny speech more coherent. For example, you can say, “The special couple is proof that opposites attract.”

Read a Definition From a Dictionary

Not everyone agrees with this speech opener idea, but defining a word related to the wedding can catch people’s attention. For example, you can define “loyal” and then talk about the groom becoming a loyal brother to you and a loyal partner to the bride.

Read Something in a Different Language

If you want to involve international family members, practice reciting your speech in their native language. Hire a translator who can help you transform your sentence into a different language.

Body Paragraph

The body paragraph contains detailed stories and thoughts about you and the groom and the couple.

Talk About Your Relationship With the Groom

Include one to three stories about how you met the groom and some favorite memories. This will captivate everyone and leave a strong impression.

Talk About the New Spouse

Whether you’re close with the spouse or not, it’s essential to talk about them, too. Consider why you think this person is perfect for the groom and how they complement the groom. You may also share your favorite memories with the bride.

Talk About the Marriage

The third body paragraph discusses why their marriage is excellent. What would you say is the most important value that the couple practices in marriage? Why are you glad that the two people chose each other to marry?

Finish With Your Conclusion

The ending of a best man speech is usually a wish or toast for the couple. Give the guests something to do, such as stand up and raise their glasses to the happy couple. Top it off by saying, “May you love and laugh together forever.”

Best Man Speech Tips

Consider these tips when learning how to write a best man speech.

One of the most crucial wedding speech tips is to plan. Once you’ve been invited to become a groom’s man before the bachelor party, start collecting amazing stories and jokes you want to include.

Planning is more crucial if you’re creating a joint speech with another best man. Brainstorm ideas and bring the stories together into one excellent anecdote. Remember that a memorable speech has a narrative arc. So, make sure to keep it cohesive.

You might also be encouraged to attend other events that will lead you to lose sight of time. Plan to avoid the pressure when writing the best man speech.

Introduce Yourself With a Twist

The introduction is an essential part of the wedding speech structure. One of the most convenient speech openers is introducing yourself to all the guests. While the groom’s friends and family might already know you, other people during the evening event might not.

Most speeches usually start with a “Good evening,” followed by “I am [name], [groom’s name]’s best friend, brother, and best man.” But you can make your self-introduction more interesting using a joke. Here, I’ll show what I mean in an example.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. You’re probably at the wrong party if you’re at this event and still don’t know me. I am [name], the best friend of the groom, [groom’s name].”

Express Gratitude

Another tip for writing a star-studded speech is to step on the dance floor and thank the spectacular people in the event for joining. Thank the couple’s parents for raising extraordinary children. Then, thank the groom for being a loyal friend for life.

You can also throw in a few laughs by thanking the groom for having excellent taste in a groom’s man. Or have a one-liner thanking the bartender. These speech icebreakers will keep everyone listening to your toast. Here’s a good example showing what I mean.

“I’d like to thank everyone for being here with us today. Many of you have traveled for hours to participate in the couple [couple’s name] becoming one.”

Aside from introducing yourself, mentioning an inspirational quote, and thanking everyone, writing a best man speech also requires you to discuss your relationship with the groom. Discuss how you met him, how long you have known each other, and other stories.

Don’t forget to link this section to the partner to make it more meaningful. For example, the groom might be clumsy and messy all the time. Share how the bride is the complete opposite because she is more organized and neat.

Be careful about sharing embarrassing stories and crude jokes with the audience. Not everyone wants to hear about that one incident from your boys’ night out. Make sure to balance all the funny stories with narratives about the groom being a wonderful person.

If you are hiring a speech writing service, tell the writer about these personal stories to keep the speech relevant.

Below is an example of how to talk about your relationship with the groom.

“When I first met [groom], the love of his life was his Playstation 4. He would bring it to his room like a girlfriend and spend hours playing Call of Duty. [Groom’s name] loved me so much that he was willing to share his love with me.”

Focus on the Couple’s Relationship

Do not talk about your friendship with the groom longer than the relationship of the wedding couple. If you were there when the two met, share a story. Explain how you realized his significant other was “The One” for him.

You could also share how unexpected events and challenges only made them stronger. Your friend probably told you he was going to marry this woman one week into the relationship, and you thought he was crazy.

Share how the couple is such caring people toward you. If you’re his brother, they have probably taken care of you as a kid. Here’s a great example with more context.

“I’ve always known what [groom’s name]’s idea of a perfect partner is. He wants a beautiful, ambitious, caring woman who brings out the man in him. [bride’s name] ticks all the boxes. She even exceeds all expectations.”

Ask a Question to Answer Throughout

One way to write a speech in twenty minutes or less is to ask a question you will answer throughout the toast. Explore what you want the guests to know about the groom at the wedding party.

As you dive deeper into asking questions, don’t forget to tell amusing stories and insert quotes that fit the newlywed couple. This will make the glorious event more memorable for everyone.

Keep Your Best Man Speech Short and Sweet

You don’t need to write a long, bloody speech to get a standing ovation from the audience. Chances are, you’ve already taken a couple of shots during the event, so it will be challenging to give the speech from memory.

The best man’s speech is usually first in terms of wedding speech order. So, you don’t have a lot of time to prepare. Keeping it concise also prevents people from being restless in the following few speeches.

A good best man speech is around three to five minutes long. You can load your phone with wedding speech notes to avoid forgetting important parts.

Rhyme-Master Flex

Rhyming your sentences will keep everyone in the room interested in your speech. It will make you sound more poetic and intelligent, too! Consider this example.

“[name of bride and groom], I appreciate the chance

To speak on your special day.

After watching your first dance,

‘Love is real’ is all I can say.”

Finish Your Best Man Speech With Congratulations

The best way to cap off your speech is by congratulating the couple. Congratulate them on their big day and offer a toast to a happy marriage that will last for years. Make it witty, personal, or quotable.

It can be a line about relationships and love. It can also be a quote about a lifetime of happiness. Below is an example of a concluding sentence that congratulates the couple.

“The real adventure together starts today. I wish both of you make the most of every moment as husband and wife. Everyone, please help me celebrate this event by raising your glasses to [groom and bride].”

Practice With an Audience

As with every other type of speech, practicing your best man speech before the wedding is crucial. First, read the address out loud to yourself. This strategy will help you correct clarity issues and make humorous quotes more humorous.

Once you’ve edited the speech, read it to a friend and ask for their feedback. Once you get good feedback from a small circle, you’ll come out comfortably knowing you have a fantastic speech.

Limit Your Drinks

Don’t embarrass yourself by slurring during your best man speech. You can take one or two shots to ease the anxiety, but drinking too much can embarrass the couple and the crowd.

What to Avoid When Making a Best Man Speech

Some common sense will keep you out of trouble when making a best man speech. Make sure to avoid these.

Making Too Many Jokes

Making the audience laugh is cool. But doing it at the expense of the couple isn’t. Don’t tell too many inside jokes that other people won’t understand.

Making the Speech About Yourself

Remember that this is not your day. Don’t focus the speech on yourself unless you are explaining how you met the groom and bride.

Cracking Dirty Jokes

A wedding isn’t about smutty sex jokes. For some people, it’s a sacred day that doesn’t require you to go into elaborate details of PG scenarios.

Offending the Bride

Avoid sexist jokes that will offend the bride and their family. Say nice things about her. And focus on her personality besides her appearance.

Talking About Exes

Couples don’t want to hear about each other’s exes on the best day of their lives. The speech should be about them so as not to make everyone uncomfortable.

Best Man Speech Quotes

Here is a great variety of best man quotes to include in your speech.

Well-known and Inspiring Best Man Speech Quotes You Can Use

If I were writing this speech, I’d use one of these popular quotes from literature and culture like this: “As Oscar Wilde once said…” and then continue with whatever quote I chose.

“What I say is that, if a man really likes potatoes, he must be a pretty decent sort of fellow.” -AA Milne ”When you find people who not only tolerate your quirks but celebrate them and say ‘me too!’ be sure to cherish them. These people are your tribe.” -Anonymous “Who, being loved, is poor?” -Oscar Wilde “The most precious possession that ever comes to a man in this world is a woman’s heart.” – Timothy Titcomb “There is only one happiness in life: To love and be loved.” -George Sand “Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” -Emily Bronte “The secret of a happy marriage is finding the right person. You know they’re right if you love to be with them all the time.” -Julia Child “The best use of life is love. The best expression of love is time. The best time to love is now.” -Rick Warren “There is no more lovely, friendly, and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage.” -Martin Luther “You don’t marry the person you can live with—you marry the person you can’t live without.” -Unknown

Romantic Wedding Speech

“Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get—only with what you are expecting to give—which is everything.” -Katharine Hepburn “You know you’re in love when you don’t want to fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” -Dr. Seuss “In all the world, there is no heart for me like yours. In all the world, there is no love for you like mine.” -Maya Angelou “To find someone who will love you for no reason, and to shower that person with reasons, that is the ultimate happiness.” -Robert Brault “Love seems the swiftest but it is the slowest of all growths. No man or woman really knows what perfect love is until they have been married a quarter of a century.” -Mark Twain

Funny Best Man Speech Quotes

“Never go to bed on an argument. Stay up and fight.” -Phyllis Diller “It’s a funny thing that when a man hasn’t anything on earth to worry about, he goes off and gets married.” -Robert Frost “Marriage is not just spiritual communion. It is also remembering to take out the trash.” -Joyce Brothers “I love being married. It’s so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.” -Rita Rudner computer with slow Internet service to see who they really are.” -Will Ferrell “Getting married is like trading the adoration of many for the sarcasm of one.” -Mae West “Women marry men hoping they will change. Men marry women hoping they will not. So each is inevitably disappointed.” -Albert Einstein “Marriages are made in heaven. But so again, are thunder and lightning.” -Clint Eastwood “Being a good husband is like being a stand-up comic. You need 10 years before you can call yourself a beginner.” -Jerry Seinfeld

A Best Man Speech Example

Below is a short example of a best man speech.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am [your name], [groom]’s best friend and best man. Before I start, I want to say no flash photography, please!

[Groom] is a family friend of mine, although I first met him in dance lessons during high school. I’m not going to tell you he’s a bad dancer on this special day, but he moves like he has two left feet. We instantly became best of friends.

[Groom] and I have been through a lot together, including partying, problems, holidays, and, most of all, his wedding. Today has been such an emotional day that even the cake is in tiers.

In all seriousness, though, I have never seen [groom] as happy as he was with his Nintendo until he met the true love of his life, [bride].

[Bride] and [groom] fit each other like gloves. [Bride] is neat and organized, while [groom] is chaos personified. [Groom] is forgetful, while [bride] remembers all the small details, even the fact that [groom] did not reply to him on June 6th, 2019, at 5:13 PM.

[Groom], I am proud of you. We all are. After dating for [number of years together], you’re finally tying the knot with [bride], the love of your life.

I ask everyone to join me in a toast to the bride and groom’s future. May you build a loving home, share a lifetime of happiness, and hold hands in the journey of life.

Give the Best Best Man Speech

I hope this guide reduces your worries about writing your best man speech. This toast should be an opportunity to share your fond memories with the groom and why he and his bride are perfect for each other.

Keep the best man speech short and focus on the couple. Don’t forget to revise the speech as needed and get feedback from your friends.

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How To Write A Best Man Speech That Everyone Will Remember

Brevity is the soul of wit. And keep it classy, too.

On November 19 th 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered an address that would come to be known as one of the finest speeches in history. The Gettysburg Address is a mere 272 words in length and took Lincoln less than three minutes to deliver.

The speech contains powerful, moving language heavy with sorrow and deep with resolve and some of its phrases would likely have achieved renown regardless of its length, but to be clear, one of the reasons the Gettysburg Address was and remains such a powerful piece of oration is its brevity.

RELATED:  How to Write the Most Amazing Wedding Vows: A Comprehensive Guide

Any best man (or maid of honor, of course) looking to deliver a great wedding speech is well advised to take a note from Lincoln and keep it short. He’s also well advised to make it a bit lighter than the remarks the 16 th President delivered on that early November day.

And remember, being asked to be a best man is a great honor – with luck (and a lot of work and devotion), this man will only get married once in his life, and he is asking you to be the pillar of his wedding party. So you owe him, the new bride, and everyone assembled a good speech. It need not be a perfect best man toast, but it better be good.

How Long Should A Best Man Speech Be?

You may be able to find best man speech examples, but the best ones come straight from you. It may not be a good idea to follow a generic best man speech template, but to start your speech strong, you can go with a tried-and-true opening formula: introduce yourself. Briefly explain who you are in relation to the groom – are you his brother, best friend, cousin – and then quickly move on to talking about the man himself and his new spouse. Quickly because the speech is not about you, and because giving a great best man speech means being short and, for the most part, sweet.

The shorter the better, frankly. Look to Abraham Lincoln for inspiration and try to keep your remarks to under three minutes, which means trying to keep your whole speech to around 300 words or a bit more. 

Even if your best man speech is going to be partly off the cuff, make sure to practice the wedding speech, or a “draft” of it, anyway, a few times beforehand and time yourself. If you tick past the five-minute mark, you are going on for way too long.

Best Man Speech Tips

A truly awesome best man speech will have everyone happy, many people laughing, and have the whole room feeling better about the bride and groom. Note that a best man speech is not about making you look good – a funny best man speech should center on the groom and something amusing he did or said; an inspirational best man’s speech should center on an impressive act by or quality of the new husband.

You are giving a speech, but you are not its subject, so be a great friend and make your friend look and feel great. And the same goes for his new spouse, too: focus on your friend, then focus on the couple, then wrap it up.

RELATED:  How To Write A Killer Maid Of Honor Speech

Your speech should have a theme that you can touch on several times. It may be as simple as love and kindness, but identifying a theme for yourself will help anchor the speech, preventing you from straying off topic and rambling too long.

When making a best man speech outline, remember always to plan a speech you can deliver while being genuine. If you’re not a slapstick humor kind of guy, don’t try for that kind of humor. If you’re a known jokester who always has the room roaring, don’t try to lay on the life advice and words of wisdom too heavily. Your best man’s speech will be at its best when it’s heartfelt.

As for what to talk about, that’s really up to you: you were chosen to be the best man because you know the groom so well, either as best friends or family, presumably, so you know whether a funny story, a touching anecdote, or a bit of both is best called for. Just remember that not everyone in the audience at the wedding reception will know you well – in fact, half of them may not even know the groom well – so don’t get too obscure.

Remember that it’s always a good idea to mention how wonderful the wedding day has been and to acknowledge the ceremony itself and the wedding vows, to thanks all the wedding guests, to note the venue, the food, the music, and even the cake. The people whom planned the wedding reception will appreciate you noting all these details – as will the bride’s father and mother or whoever paid for the wedding. Might want to thank them, too, eh?

And don’t forget to end with a short wedding toast and wishes for a good night and a good life for the couple, and to then turn it over for a maid of honor speech. (And if this has already happened, make sure to acknowledge it.)

Best Man Speech Tips: When In Doubt, Quote Someone Else

There’s a reason so many speeches incorporate quotes from other people: a well-known quote has already been effectively vetted by many audiences, so you can count on it working for yours. A quote can serve as the start of your speech, as the anchor, or a great ending note.

So, what are the best types of quotes to use? Love quotes are always a good choice at a wedding, as are quotes about commitment, about the future, about trust, about kindness, and about friendship. Look for quotes that are either already well-known or are from a well-known source, be it a famous person, a popular song or book, or another source people will recognize.

One of the reasons quotes are powerful is because they are comfortable; they tend to work best when they re-confirm a notion someone already held rather than imparting new information.

Things To Avoid During A Best Man Speech

Alright, so we talked about tips for things you should consider doing; now here are the things to avoid during a best man speech.

First and foremost, be very cautious with the embarrassing stories. The line between a great best man speech and an abominable failure is a fine one indeed if you start in on the embarrassing story approach. If you have even a shred of doubt that an anecdote or joke you’re considering is crossing the line, leave it out. You can always share the more cringe-worthy stories with the gang out on the dance floor or as the cigars come out later, leaving that “he’s a great guy!” reputation intact in front of the larger crowd. 

And do not, repeat, do not drink too much before your best man speech, and don’t have more than one drink while giving your remarks, either. You can hit the bar hard later, but you can’t ever unsay things that slipped out due to a few too many cocktails or glasses of champagne.

KEEP READING:

22 beautiful wedding quotes to celebrate love and partnership.

• relationships

Steven John is a writer based near New York City (after 12 years in LA, four in Boston, and the first 18 just outside DC). When not writing or spending time with his wife, son, and daughter, he frequently jogs and bikes, sometimes gets in a kayak, and occasionally climbs mountains. He writes for several major outlets, and his novels can be found on his website stevenjohnbooks.com

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Nailing Your Best Man

Over the last couple of decades, best men speeches have become over-the-top, clichéd, and generally a bit embarrassing (for the best man, not the groom ironically).

Writing a great best man speech is actually pretty simple. Granted, the Speechy team are TV scriptwriters by trade, so we’ve got a head-start, but we’re happy to share the techniques we use to create original humour without resorting to cheesy ‘jokes’ or alcohol.

Our advice has featured everywhere from The New York Times to The Times . As the only wedding speech experts invited on to BBC Sounds ‘Best Men podcast with Jason Manford we have all the advice you need to nail it. 

* Of course, if you’re looking for more than ‘advice’, check out our best man template , speech edit, or bespoke service . Or, work with our new AI-powered team member – SpeechyAI!

Best Man Speech Etiquette

These days, best man speech etiquette is simply about doing a good job and not offending anyone. It’s not overly complicated. 

Don’t feel you need to be overly posh or formal just because you’re wearing a suit. There’s no need to address everyone as ‘ladies & gentleman’ ; a ‘well, hello everyone’ will suffice. 

Don’t buy into any ‘wedding waffle’, you don’t need to thank anyone or mention how lovely the venue is. Certainly don’t bother thanking the groom on behalf of the bridesmaids. That concept died out a long time ago! 

Here’s what you need to know…

1. How to start your best man speech

Many folk assume the first couple of sentences have to be a version of … ‘Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I’m (NAME) and I’m honoured to be (groom’s) best man today.’

Actually, no it doesn’t. Sometimes it can be. But it shouldn’t be automatic. Ask yourself if there’s anything more exciting.

Don’t waste people’s time with the same dull speech-fodder. Every word should count, so consider forgetting the ‘hellos’ altogether.

Controversial, we know.

The trick is to make the opening personal. Cut out the wedding white noise. Instead, cut to the punchline.

ALTERNATIVE OPENINGS

• Jump right in. ‘So they’ve finally done it. Sophie has agreed to put up with Rohan for the rest of her life and he’s got that in writing.’
• Address your audience. ‘Hands up who’s ever had to look after Stephen when he’s had a few beers?’
• Short and snappy. If there has been a delay to the wedding – a swift ‘Well, let’s start with the elephant in the room. Why has the gorgeous, talented Mario, married a bright orange lad from Croydon who still can’t spell?’
• Start with a story. ‘Let me tell you a story… when I first saw Tom, sitting in the bar, reading a book in the middle of the Saturday night chaos, I knew I had to speak to him. Only he was too absorbed in his John Grisham to notice me.’

2. Pay a genuine tribute to the groom

We can get a bit too excited about the prospect of  roasting our mates, but we do have to be nice about them to.

Remember, if it’s a straight wedding, the groom doesn’t (generally) get anyone paying a decent tribute to him. No one telling him how handsome he looks, what a wonderful son he is or what a great husband he’s going to be. 

So, as much as there’s an expectation for you to be funny, you should be nice too. Bonus points if you can make him cry 😉 Now, that would be funny.

3. And a decent tribute to his partner too

The best man must compliment the groom’s partner and it helps if this sounds sincere. 

If you don’t know them well, do a bit of research so you can say more than the usual platitudes. Ditch the ‘you’ve made him a better man’ cliche and get specific. Have they finally taught him to respond to texts? Have his culinary skills developed beyond a fried egg? 

Of course, you need to pay a bit of a tribute to them too, and don’t just resort to meaningless adjectives like ‘kind’ or ‘funny’. Instead, can they put up a tent better than their husband? Have they turned him into a quinoa fan? 

Be original but remember one cliche is a must; all brides look beautiful.

4. The best man toast & closing lines

Some best men like to compliment and raise a toast to the bridesmaids but it’s actually the newlywed’s job. Your choice really, but keep it short if you do.

We tend to avoid having any toasts within a best man speech, other than the final one at the end.  

According to Debrett’s the best man speech usually includes a toast to ‘Mr and Mrs/Mr [newlywed’s Surname]’ and might announce the cutting of the cake’. At Speechy we prefer to find a unique way to toast the newly-hitched. 

Ideally you want the toast to tie in with a theme or story that you’ve already established earlier in the speech, even if it’s just raising a glass to ‘the coolest couple this side of the Hog’s Head’, or ‘to a lifetime of dancing on tables together’. 

Examples of best man toasts…

• “To the groom, my partner in crime and the guy who finally decided to settle down. May your marriage be as adventurous as our bachelor days, but with fewer embarrassing stories. Cheers!”
• “Here’s to the groom, the man of the hour, and the reason I had to put on a suit today. May your marriage be as strong as your WiFi signal and as enduring as our epic gaming sessions. Cheers, my friend!”
• “As the best man, it’s my duty to embarrass the groom at least once during the speech. So here’s to the guy who once thought ‘Netflix and chill’ literally meant watching Netflix and chilling. May your marriage be filled with better communication than that! Cheers!”
• “To the groom and his new life partner, thank you for giving me the honor of being the best man. May your marriage be as smooth as your pick-up lines and as exciting as our infamous trip to Munich. Here’s to love, laughter, and a happily ever after!”

SpeechyAI  is great at crafting truly unique toasts for best men to deliver on the day! 

5. Best best man speech length

You’re aiming for 8 to 10 minutes for a best man speech (a bit longer allowing for laughter and ad-libs). It sounds short but no one ever listened to a best man speech and said ‘if only it were longer’.

The wedding experts agree… ‘There’s a great saying; delivering a speech shouldn’t take longer than it does to consummate a marriage.’ Alison Hargreaves, Founder of Guides for Brides .

Even if you have a wealth of material, be strict with yourself. Once you write your first draft, edit it down to half the length, and we guarantee it will be twice as good.

Ernest Hemingway said ‘The first draft of anything is shit’. This is not only true but reassuring.

People are generally more powerful when their words are punchy. It’s the same with jokes – keep ’em snappy.

Lots of sites offer  quick estimates of your speech duration  based on your wordcount and speaking speed. 

6. Keep the language clean(ish)

Obviously don’t swear if there are children present, though a few bloodies, bloomings and bollocks can add an acceptable edge. 

Check with the nearlyweds in advance and read the room on the day. 

We have scripted the odd F-bomb into a speech over the years but that’s been the exception and at exclusively adult-only weddings.

7. Questions the best men should ask the groom

If in doubt, ask the two folk in charge… 

• INTRO – Will you be be introduced by an MC or will you need to introduce yourself?
• THE SPEAKER SCHEDULE – When will you be speaking (stagger your alcohol intake accordingly). 
• SUGGESTED DURATION –  how long do the couple want you to speak? (Occasionally, some couples suggest five minutes or less. We think that’s quite tight so negotiate for between eight and ten minutes on the mic.) 
• EQUIPMENT – Will there be a mic? Will you have time to test it on the morning? If so, it’s  worth making sure you know how far to hold it from your mouth  etc.
• KIDS – Worth knowing if any children or prudish adults are in attendance so you can cater your content appropriately. 

How To Make Your Best Man Speech Funny

Being funny isn’t about finding good jokes on the internet. Avoid any articles like this basically – Maid of Honour Jokes . The jokes will illicit groans not giggles.

Yes, it’s more effort to write original lines but that’s no excuse for jokes about even the cake ‘being in tiers’ or honeymoons in Bangor (Google it if you haven’t already groaned at it!).

Self-deprecation is a brilliant tool to utilise. Arguably, the strongest, most powerful form of comedy. It’s also the safest.

Sometimes, the people who you think will be good sports aren’t.  The only thing that’s 100% safe for you to take the piss out of, is yourself.

Not only is it safe, it’s sensible. Studies have shown that people who use self-deprecating humour are seen as more humble and consequently more emotional intelligent and attractive. Yes, physically attractive.

So, while you don’t want the speech to be all about you, add a few self-depreciating lines in there. 

• “I must say, being chosen as the best man is almost as surprising as the time I tried to assemble Ikea furniture without looking at the instructions. Somehow, I got through both experiences, but I can’t promise the speech will be as sturdy as that bookshelf.”
• “I was honored when the groom asked me to be his best man. I guess he figured that with my shiny head, I would reflect his good taste. So, here’s to being the mirror of the groom’s impeccable judgment.”
• “Being the best man is a lot like being vertically challenged – it comes with its own set of challenges, like reaching the top shelf and convincing people that I’m not a lost child at the wedding. But here I am, ready to give a speech without the need for a step ladder.”

Start by thinking about the things that make the groom unique. Everyone’s a nut-job in their own way, so what traits will his friends and family recognise as truly ‘him’?

Ask yourself lots of questions – what’s his worst habit (skinny jeans), what’s his guilty pleasures (Dire Straits), what might he love more than his bride/groom (Abdul’s kebabs), what’s odd about him (his unusually short T-Rex arms).

Once you have good content to play with, the comedy will be much easier to find.

Imagine the groom was the central character in a sitcom. What type of person would he be?

The health freak who transforms into a borritos-eating monster after a pint? The workaholic engineer who still calls on his elderly dad to help him with Ikea flatpack? The family man who has a secret life in his shed?

Once you find a basic premise, use anecdotes to help build on the character you’ve created.

Good writing is all you need for a great speech. Powerpoint and props can often get in the way and stress you out.  Once you’ve committed to the projector, you’ve got to keep using it throughout the speech which can really restrict the content and tie you up in knots. And really, once you’ve seen one mullet, you’ve seen them all. 

Instead, concentrate your efforts on good writing. Keep your speech short and your jokes punchy. As Jason & Steve point out ‘When you’re starting off on the comedy circuit, you get a MAXIMUM of five minutes on stage. When you get really good – you get seven’.

One great joke is better than a dozen average ones.

A little comedy writers tip for you. 

The callback is where you plant a story or a piece of info at the start of the speech, possibly as a throwaway line, and then reference it later on. It makes it seem that you’ve been working up to that punchline the whole time and suggests you’re smarter than you are.

For example, you tell a story about how the groom accidentally stapled his shoes to the floor when he was renovating his first house. Later, you conclude your speech by wishing the couple a life adventure and travelling the world ‘…just make sure he doesn’t staple his shoes to the floor before you get the chance to leave.’

The callback is basically establishing an inside joke that everyone is part of.

To make it work

• Plant something funny, and crucially, memorable in the first third of your speech.
• Then simple refer to it towards the end of your speech.

Voila. You’ve become a comedy pro.

While plagarism and stealing other people’s ideas isn’t on, quoting other people is totally legitimate. 

Check out our ‘Best Man Quotes’ post to see how a they can help super-charge your speech. 

Check out some  best man speech videos  we’ve collated, or have a read of  Boris Johnson’s wedding speech as imagined by the Speechy Team. It will give you an idea of how professional comedy writers craft humorous lines. 

Of course, if all this advice has done nothing but convince you, you need help – then jump straight to all the different ways the Speechy team can help you , including  SpeechyAI ;  a genius tool we’ve built that’s guaranteed to help you develop unique and hilarious lines. Honestly, it’s bloody good. 

How to Write & Deliver A Best Man Speech

So you get the principle of what you need to do, here’s how to do it… 

First step in writing your speech is to make sure you have blooming great content. You might think you have loads of good stories already but there will be better out there, so get digging and get dirty.

Email your mates and ask for their favourite groom stories – times he’s been clueless / his quirky faults / embarrassing moments – you know the deal.

Tap up the groom’s family for any classic tales from his childhood and find out if the groom’s partner is giving a speech. If not – get them onside to dish the dirt. They might relish having their say and sharing the reality of living with him.

Ask them how the groom could become a better husband. Find out what he does that annoys them. Surprise him (and everyone else) with your inner knowledge of his relationship.

It’s simple really…

• Introduce yourself and how you know the groom 
• Script a laugh as soon as possible; within the first 20 seconds. 
• Establish the main theme of your speech (we’ll get to that next) 
• Tell a few great stories which illustrate the groom’s characteristics in action. This should make up about two thirds of your speech. 
• Then, bring in the ‘saviour’ – that is, the groom’s partner. Describe witnessing the groom fall in love and the influence their new spouse has had on them. 
• Pay a (short but heartfelt) tribute to the groom’s partner.
• Sum up your happiness (relief?) at their union 
• Pay a more thoughtful tribute to the groom; highlighting his best character traits and illustrating your love for him
• Sum up the theme of your speech with a funny line and propose a toast to the couple. 

The majority of best men resort to the classic ‘reasons the groom is an idiot’ as their narrative hook but dude, make some effort.

Rather than just a collection of anecdotes and obvious punchlines, build a narrative, a proper story, and make sure your speech is crafted rather than just a cut and paste job.

The theme doesn’t need to be complicated, it might just be a retelling of your bro-mance and its tragic end when the bride came on the scene.  If the groom’s now a vaguely respectable teacher,  reveal the alarming things he’s taught you over the years (snorting Sambuca etc). If he’s a wannabe musician,  chronicle his life through musical eras. Or use Yoda quotes to give him marriage advice if he’s a hardcore Star Wars fan.

Finding the right theme obviously depends on the personality of the groom but crack it, and you’re half way there.

‘Even with the funny stories, it has to have a point. Don’t tell me about the drunken trip on holiday or whatever; tell me something that has a meaning to it, something that ties into the theme of the speech. Even the humour has to feel connected and revealing.’ Eduardo Braniff, Men’s Vows

Don’t resort to clichés about him being a ‘top bloke’ without providing the evidence that he is.

Prove – don’t tell. Avoid using too many adjectives. Give specific examples of these qualities in action.

Pinpoint the things you genuinely like about him. Is he the only friend who shares your fascination with Elon Musk? Is he the one person who makes you feel better about your DIY skills? Is he still the mate with cool music suggestions?

Remember to keep it NUT – Nice, Unique and True(ish).

A confident delivery is half the battle, and not everyone feels comfortable public speaking. 

Make sure the groom has checked the acoustics of the venue & there’s a mic there if you need it (so many speeches are ruined just because the guests can’t hear them).

In advance, try to memorise the speech but don’t be afraid to use notes on the day. Delivering without notes is like ‘doing a wheelie’; pretty cool but, ultimately, unnecessary. It’s just showing off really.

So what’s best for your notes? Paper, cue cards or tech?

It comes down to personal preference but we recommend, old school A4 paper.

Mobiles and iPads are increasingly being used and they will inevitably become more prevalent, but we’re not convinced.  Tech may be what you expect a modern best man to use but it looks overly casual and sends out the wrong message.How many of us get annoyed when our loved ones get lost looking at a screen? 

If you decide to use paper, opt for thick A4 but only print 3/4 of the way down so you can maintain eye contact with your audience. 

More delivery tips in our Wedding Ideas article or in our Delivery Blog. 

‘When I’m preparing for a speech, I record myself and listen to it repeatedly. In the car, at home, wherever. I then try to improve it, record that next version and then listen to that repeatedly.

I keep repeating the process until the speech becomes this song, a melody that’s ingrained in me. Given enough time, delivering your speech can feel like singing along to your favourite song.’ Alan Berg, Public Speaking Expert 

What you’re aiming for is a conversational tone. You want the pace of a chat with your friends, anywhere between 130 and 170 words per minute.

Time yourself and check your pace.

A pause is essential when you expect laughter, and you should never talk over it once it lands. Speakers often move on from the joke too quickly and don’t give their audience a chance to react.

Body language is a biggie. As well as sounding relaxed, you need to look relaxed. An audience picks up body language cues. If you seem relaxed, your audience will feel in safe hands. 

When we work with clients in our Delivery Coaching Sessions , one of the things we often need to remind people is to… smile. It seems obvious but, even on such a happy day, people can often forget to look like they’re enjoying themselves and it is SO important. 

A smile is literally infectious, so make the most of it. Even a fake smile tricks your body into relaxing so make the most of it. 

‘My number one piece of advice would always be to time your drinks! You don’t want to hear your name called and realise you’ve had one too many to read your cue cards.

Something else I always notice in a great speech is eye contact. Try to consciously address the person you’re speaking to or about.’ Hamish Shephard, Founder of Bridebook

If you do find yourself getting heckled at the wedding reception, the first thing to bear in mind is not to panic. Even if you feel frustrated that someone has ruined your flow – take it in good humour and see it as an opportunity to get an extra laugh.

Use any laughter or noise that the heckler’s comment gets to choose your response.

If they don’t get any laughter then you don’t need to do much to win – a simple, “Let’s move on shall we…”, or “They say it’s good to talk but I think you’ve just proved it’s not always true…” should be enough.

HERE ARE SOME OTHER OPTIONS TO CONSIDER… 1. (If it’s a free bar) And that’s why the free bar ends after the first drink… 2. (If it’s not a free bar) And that’s why you don’t get a free bar… 3. And there’s another alcoholic who doesn’t want to remain anonymous. 4. You may laugh but because he’s here today there’s a village going without its idiot. 5. Of course one of the nice things about a wedding is that everyone has their role. The bride has to look beautiful, the best man has to make a speech and someone has to have too much to drink and make a fool of themselves, thanks for taking care of that for us. 6. I know the bride and groom had a long discussion when they were doing the seating plan about whether they could get away with putting you on a table on your own, in Luton.

Speech Do's

Check with the groom.

Anything he wants you to do (other than not abusing him)? Anything he’d like you not to mention?!?

Practice and film it on your phone

Watch it back, promise yourself you’ll do something about your gut and spot where your speech can be improved.

Have back-up notes on the day

Give a spare copy to a trusted mate in advance (or email it to your phone).

Do not rush

You might feel tempted to rush through it – but instead, imagine you’re a primary school teacher telling a story to a bunch of five year-olds. Get expressive, use your body and lose your inhibitions. 

Remember everyone wants you to do well so make sure you smile. It’s scientifically proven to be infectious.

Check out our guides

If you’re delivering a joint best man speech or you’re the brother of the groom, check out our specific guides. 

We offer a brother of the groom template is you need more than advice. 

Speech Don'ts

Don't thank anyone.

In the past, the best man used to thank the newlyweds on behalf of the wedding party but these days, the best man’s speech is all about providing the entertainment and a tribute to the groom. 

Don't ignore the feedback of friends

It’s always worth testing your speech out on a mate, but this also means you have to listen to them. If they don’t get a joke, don’t waste your time explaining it as you won’t be able to do that on the day.

Don't talk over laughter

You’ve worked hard for those laughs – don’t rush them. Always wait until the guests have settled down before continuing with your speech.

Don't resort to 'in jokes'

Remember there are grannies out there. And a lot of people who weren’t on the stag and won’t find the story about Tika the waitress and her hairy chicken quite so funny.

Don't mention the ex

Even if you have a wealth of material, sorry, the rule still applies. Don’t mention exes.

Best Man - let us help you!

If you want to deliver a legendary speech, work with us. We’re rated ‘excellent’ on Trustpilot and that’s why we offer a DELIGHT GUARANTEE on all our bespoke services. And, of course, in the world of Zoom, Whatsapp and Death Wish Coffee, we work with best men around the world.

Best Man Speech Template

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How to Give a Best Man Speech (Template + Examples)

February 19, 2023

A best man speech is a beautiful toast given at a wedding. Still, it can be a bit nerve-wracking if you’ve never given a speech before, let alone a best man speech. 

If you’re tasked with giving a best man speech, try not to panic (yet). In this how-to guide, we’ll cover:

• What a best man speech is
• How to write one
• How long it should be
• Best man speech examples
• A best man speech template you can use
• And how to make sure your speech is the best it can be

You’ll have a stellar speech ready in no time.

What Is a Best Man Speech?

Traditionally, a best man speech is a toast or speech usually given after the groom gives their speech, although this can completely differ based on the wedding. 

No matter when the speech is slotted for, one thing is for sure : a best man speech is meant to celebrate and congratulate the newlyweds on their marriage. 

How to Write a Best Man Speech

If you need to know how to write a best man speech, you’re not alone . Most people have never given this type of speech and it’s only natural to feel a little lost if you’re tasked with giving the speech. 

Here are four quick tips for how to write a best man speech: 

• Use a good hook or opener (more on this later). A good opening line is a great way to engage the audience, especially after a long ceremony.
• Keep it appropriate. Make sure to keep your audience in mind when you’re writing the speech. For example, will there be children in attendance? 
• Make sure to congratulate the couple on their marriage. This is such an important part of the speech, so don’t forget who you’re celebrating: the newlyweds!
• Thank the speakers who spoke before you. It’s just common courtesy, but many best men make the mistake of not thanking previous speakers. 

Here’s some expert guidance on how to write a compelling speech: 

We’ll give you some more in-depth tips on how to write a best man speech using the template below.

How Long Should a Best Man Speech Be?

One of the most important things to remember when giving a best man speech is that it doesn’t have to be very long. In fact, it shouldn’t be very long. If you’re giving a best man speech, try to keep it under 10 minutes , which is around 1,100-1,300 words. 

Shooting for even less is fine, too. For example, there are usually between 650-850 words in a five-minute speech .

Just make sure you’re not rambling. To get you going, here are some best man speech examples. 

Best Man Speech Examples

Sometimes, looking at a few best man speech examples can get you in the right headspace for writing and delivering your speech. 

Here are five general best man speech examples. 

• Open with a story regarding the couple. This is a great example of a best man speech because an anecdote can be tailored to your audience. Just make sure to keep it light and positive. Now is not the time to try to humiliate either newlywed — it’s a special moment between you, the couple, and all the guests at the wedding. 
• Start with a joke. It can even be a terrible, corny joke, like: “It’s been a lovely, emotional day. Just look how many tiers the cake has!” If you need some inspiration, check out these 10 tips for being funny when you speak .
• Use a quote to inspire you (and the guests attending). Sometimes, having a quote as a central theme to your speech can be helpful. For example, a commonly cited quote from American poet Sylvia Plath is: “There is nothing like puking with somebody to make you into old friends.”
• Pick a relevant word and read the Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary definition out loud. For example, you could use: “Love is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as ‘a strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties’ — Just by knowing [the couples’ names], I can confirm this is true.”
• Use a metaphor or two. Although this might not work for everyone, maybe you can sum up the couple using a metaphor. For example, you might compare their relationship to peanut butter and jelly — a match made in heaven.

Still, you might want to see some examples of a few specific best man speech opening lines.

Best Man Speech Opening Lines

The best way to hook an audience is with one of the many best man speech opening lines out there. These openers can be completely tailored to your taste , the couple, and the guests who are attending the wedding.

You can open with a simple hook, a funny one-liner , or any other way you think would be appropriate. To spark your creativity, here are some best man speech opening lines you can tailor to your liking: 

• I’d like to start with a toast to [both the couples’ names].
• Hi, everyone! I’m here to share a [adjective, such as “funny,” “good,” etc.] story about [either newlywed].
• There’s so much I could say about [both the couples’ names, or just one], but I’ll try to keep this under five minutes.
• I know [one newlywed’s name] very well, and even though I definitely could, I’ve chosen not to completely embarrass [their name].
• I’d like to start by thanking [one newlywed’s name] for letting me get up here and give a best man speech — it’s truly an honor. 

These are just general examples , but as long as your heart is in the right place and you’ve got the couple and audience in mind, your best man speech opening line will be great.

Best Man Speech Template

Loosely following a best man speech template can help if you’re feeling stuck. Feel free to use this general outline to guide your speech.

Start by deciding on a topic — just one topic. This will help you hone in on the point of your speech and keep you from rambling and monologuing . What do you want the takeaway of your speech to be? For example, maybe you want guests to know how perfect the newlyweds are for each other. If that’s the case, that would be your central theme to keep you on track. Whatever you decide, your one topic should be relevant to the couple and positive. 

From here, you fill in the gaps. You’ve got your central theme and now you want to sprinkle in some anecdotes and niceties that relate to the couple. So using our earlier example, if your main topic was how perfect the newlyweds are for each other, you might mention how you witnessed this firsthand. Whatever they may be, use these little details and short anecdotes to beef up your speech and make it a bit more substantial.  

In a similar vein, make sure your best man speech comes from the heart. This isn’t the time to deliver a monotonic , boring speech — really leverage the emotions of the day. Although humor in a speech can be great, one pitfall seen over and over again during these kinds of speeches is that they rely on the comedy aspect too heavily. Your speech doesn’t have to be packed with jokes. Instead, think about your relationship with the couple and go from there. 

Lastly, your best man speech template should include this guiding principle: concentrate on the couple. After all, you’re delivering this speech at their wedding, so keep it central to them. That means the both of them. You may be closer with one or the other, but it’s best to focus your speech on both the newlyweds. 

How to Perfect Your Best Man Speech?

The best way to perfect your speech is through practice. 

That’s where a speech coach like Yoodli comes in. 

If you’re giving a best man speech, Yoodli will be your best friend, guaranteed. It’s a  completely free platform that leverages AI technology to break down a person’s speech and speaking patterns. 

As such, Yoodli provides you with in-depth insights about the way you speak, including: 

• Your body language
• Your pacing (how fast or slow you speak)
• Your word choice
• Your filler word use (how many fillers you use and which ones)
• And many other analytics

As an AI speech coach , you’ll also receive personalized feedback and coaching comments on your speech and the way you speak. 

Using Yoodli, you can practice your best man speech as many times as you need in the comfort of a totally judgment-free space. That way, you can use the individualized analytics you receive to improve your speech and the way you deliver it — completely skipping over all guesswork. After Yoodli analyzes your speech, you’ll know exactly what you need to work on. 

Once you’ve practiced your speech with Yoodli, you’ll feel more confident than ever. 

But what’s so special about giving a best man speech?

Why Does a Best Man Speech Even Matter?

Simply put, a best man speech is important because it’s an honor entrusted to you by the couple. 

The fact that they chose you to deliver this speech speaks volumes, and you should feel proud that you’re the one giving such a speech. 

The Takeaway

Although the thought of giving a best man speech at a wedding might make you a bit weak in the knees, it doesn’t have to be a horrible experience. Giving this type of speech is an honor and it’s a beautiful tradition. 

With a little practice from Yoodli, you’ll be able to deliver the perfect best man speech at the wedding. 

Start practicing with Yoodli.

Getting better at speaking is getting easier. Record or upload a speech and let our AI Speech Coach analyze your speaking and give you feedback.

How to Write a Best Man Speech

I’ve never given a best man speech, but, after watching a lot of them, I’ve identified a few of the qualities that make a wedding toast memorable. First of all, the best man often gets sandwiched between the father of the groom and the maid of honor. Amidst all the long-windedness, great speeches must showcase emotional density. The most successful groomsmen manage to pack gratitude, warmth, humor, good wishes, and personal stories into a concise package. Sure, the best friend has a unique obligation to poke fun at the groom on his big day, but, rather than nonstop one-liners, I would argue that brevity and sincerity can elevate the best man toast to an artform. 

In this article, I’ll share a foolproof formula for keeping your speech short and sweet (and funny). I’ll also give some advice about public speaking, borrowed from a Jeopardy champion.

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Best Man Speech Ideas

Any wedding day speech should contain the following components:

• An expression of gratitude | Thank the hosts for putting together a wonderful event. Thank the newlyweds for honoring you with the role of best man. Thank the bridesmaids for being so good-looking. Thank the caterer. Thank the band. You don’t have to thank everyone , but including a few sincere expressions of gratitude can go a long way. 
• A short anecdote about your relationship | Tell the wedding guests something about how you know the groom. Choose a funny story that will highlight either his good character or some sweet deficiency that he had prior to meeting his bride (or groom). For example, you might tell a hilarious story explaining that, when you met your friend, he hadn’t filed his taxes in three years. This story should set you up for an anecdote about the couple. For instance, you might commend the tax-evader for marrying such a brilliant accountant. 
• Compliment the couple | If you’ve told an embarrassing story about your friend, be sure to redeem him by explaining how his future-spouse makes him a better man. Remember, you want to leave the groom feeling supported and appreciated. This isn’t an all-out roast. If you don’t know much about the couple, ask questions and learn more.
• Explain why the groom will make a great husband | If you’re not sure what to say here, you can include a quote or a song lyric. Feel free to ask the groom directly. You can even crowdsource the answer from his family and close friends. 
• End with a Toast | Raise a glass to celebrate your friend’s wedding. Don’t forget to look the bride and groom in the eyes as you wish them well. 

Common Traps

• Getting drunk | Even if you hate public speaking, you should consider it a great honor to be included in the wedding party. Being the best man comes with a big responsibility. You absolutely cannot get drunk before giving your speech. If you want to have more than one or two drinks, bide your time until the second half of the reception. 
• Telling inside jokes | Everyone wants to give a funny best man speech, but inside jokes don’t usually get laughs. Be sure to add enough exposition to ensure that your stories make sense. Remember that half your audience consists of distant relatives and coworkers who don’t know the newlyweds as well as you do.
• Insulting a bride | First of all, even if the newlyweds seem to enjoy off-color jokes in a private setting, remember that this particular audience contains bosses, young children, and elderly relatives. Try not to make jokes about the wedding night, your friend’s romantic past, or anything overtly sexual. Don’t criticize anything about the wedding, such as a late start or bad food. You should probably call the bride beautiful at some point even if you think she looks sweaty and nervous. Remember, a wedding day can be extremely stressful, so even the most easy-going person may react with sensitivity to insults.
• Reading from notecards or rambling | You should memorize your speech. Since you only need to prepare about 3-4 minutes of content, it should be relatively easy to remember. You may ad lib parts of the speech—for instance, congratulate the newlyweds about a unique feature that stands out about their wedding decor—but don’t get carried away. Nothing’s worse than an overly long speech or a speech read entirely from notecards. Nervous public speakers should feel free to use notecards, but prompts need only contain bullet points. 

Do a Practice Run

A best man may get recruited for last-minute errands during the wedding week, so don’t procrastinate. Before the bachelor party, complete your speech and practice it in front of the other groomsmen. Think of them as your secret speechwriters, and ask them to contribute any one-liners that occur to them. You don’t have to include these jokes in your speech, but a little extra inspiration never hurt anyone. If you complete your speech early, you’ll have more time to focus on body language and delivery. Plus, with practice, you’ll be much less likely to become distracted and forget your opening line. 

When you practice, wear your wedding attire and toast with an actual glass. Jeopardy champion Buzzy Cohen explains the importance of dress rehearsals in his book, Get Ready: A Champion’s Guide to Preparing for the Moments That Matter . Many speeches have been ruined by an orator trying to juggle a piece of paper and a glass of champagne. Don’t let a high-pressure moment be your first time problem-solving. Whether you’re preparing for a wedding speech or a game show, Buzzy recommends getting comfortable moving around in your “game day” clothes. This technique helps you to feel at ease when the pressure mounts. 

Think of your practice speeches as a chance to work on the choreography of your performance. Decide when to point to the happy couple and when to pick up your glass. Before the wedding reception, if possible, learn the sequence of speakers. If you’re the first speaker in the lineup, be sure to ask questions about where you should stand and which microphone you should use. Since the groom will be busy on his special day, your best resource will likely be the wedding planner or the mother of the bride. If you’re not the first speaker, take your cues from the father of the bride or the maid of honor. Pay attention to small details. Ask yourself, is the microphone cordless? Do I need to climb stairs to get to the stage? 

If you don’t ask these questions ahead of time, they may occur to you as you’re stumbling around, looking for a microphone. Worst case scenario, such thoughts may cause you to forget your well-written intro. 

It’s Not About You

As much as you want to show the room that you’re a charming gentleman and a great friend, you should focus your energy where it belongs. All your hard work and preparation serve an important purpose. Your speech needs to celebrate a great guy and his new wife (or husband). Think about what you would want from a best man on your own wedding day, and try to treat your friend with that level of respect. Stand up, share a joke or two, make a few heartwarming observations, and sit down. If you’re able to give a short and emotionally dense speech, you’ll be receiving high-fives on the dance floor before you know it.

• https://www.amazon.com/Get-Ready-Champions-Preparing-Moments/dp/B082MRR4LZ
• https://www.theknot.com/content/amphtml/best-man-speech
• https://www.brides.com/story/how-to-write-the-perfect-best-man-speech

Kari Lisa Johnson

I’m an award-winning playwright with a penchant for wordplay. After earning a perfect score on the Writing SAT, I worked my way through Brown University by moonlighting as a Kaplan Test Prep tutor. I received a BA with honors in Literary Arts (Playwriting)—which gave me the opportunity to study under Pulitzer Prize-winner Paula Vogel. In my previous roles as new media producer with Rosetta Stone, director of marketing for global ventures with The Juilliard School, and vice president of digital strategy with Up & Coming Media, I helped develop the voice for international brands. From my home office in Maui, Hawaii, I currently work on freelance and ghostwriting projects.

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A short best man speech: brother’s wedding.

One of the most important days in a person’s life is the day of their wedding, and if you are asked to be the best man for your brother’s wedding, it’s a pretty important day for you too. It’s great when your brother asks you to be his best man. Other than planning the whole bachelor party or practising your dance moves, you have an essential job to perform: giving the best man’s speech.

This article is here to help you curate a short and sweet best man speech. Let’s get cracking!

Structure For The Best Man Speech

Here is how you can write an immaculate, heart-touching speech:

1. Introduce Yourself

Everyone might already know that you are the groom’s brother, but a few might still not. So, introduce yourself. Also, add a captivating opening line that can be simple or funny. Here are some examples –

I’m Paul, John’s best man and also his younger brother. I think it says a lot about a person when he chooses his brother to be his best man… Mostly, of course, it means: “I don’t have friends!”

It is an honour to be John’s best man here today. Following the brotherly traditions, I would like to say a few things for my brother…

2. Mention Your Parents And The Bride

It would be lovely if you included your parents in the speech; after all, you are brothers with the same parents. Also, mention the bride so that she feels belonged.

Add something sweet or spice things up but do not go overboard:

…He always had my back. I was sixteen when John found me smoking in the backyard. He ensured that our parents did not find out. One time when mum asked, “What’s that smell?” John instantly blurted, “Ah! uh well, that is my Biology experiment.” and mum asked, “Your experiment involves cigarettes? ” John gave her a serious look and replied, “Well, yes. I was checking if they can actually cause cancer.” Poor fella tried his best but forgot that he was sitting with mum when that happened. Busted!

… I don’t think anyone is as happy as our parents to see my brother get married. They’ve been a fantastic role model for both of us, and they’re the true example of what true love looks like. What we are today is because of them. The four of us are happy together. The only person that was missing until now was Elizabeth. We are so happy that you are a part of our family now.

3. Crack Some Jokes

Cracking a witty, brilliant joke can leavebrother’s bursting with laughter and joy. Pull your brother’s leg, and anyone’sr creativity. Ensure the joke does not hurt anyone’s sentiment. Know your audience well before you say it. Here are some jokes you can use or come up with your own:

A recent analysis has revealed that 68% of individuals in the US are addicted to puzzles – which suggests that two-thirds of you must be trying to understand what on earth Elizabeth sees in John.

We all know Elizabeth is a remarkable woman who deserves the perfect man. Too bad you do not always get what you deserve.

I do have to say, though, John, just how blessed you are. You will leave here today with a wife who is warm, caring, and loving. And Elizabeth, how lucky you are as well. You leave here today having gained a beautiful dress and a fabulous bouquet of flowers.

4. End On A Good Note

End your speech with a light and lovely line for your brotheDon’t his bride. It must be sweet and heartwarming. Don’t force it but keep the ending original and show how your brother means the world to you.

Check out some ideas for your wedding toast here .

Short Sample Speech

“Good Evening, Everyone. I am [your name]. For those who don’t know me, I am the groom’s brother and his best man. When I was 6, I asked my mother to get me a pet; instead, they got me a brother. But seriously, when we were kids, [the groom] would always follow me around like a lost puppy and sneak into my room to steal my Xbox DVDs. We grew up fighting over who gets to play.

I can’t emphasize enough how grateful I am to watch you grow into a kind-hearted soul and the most lovable human being. You are the best brother anyone could have. [Bride], you and my brother are perfect together and radiate so much warmth and love. I feel the luckiest today that now I have a sister! So glad that I didn’t get a puppy that day.

I love you, little brother. Let us raise our glasses to the beautiful couple and wish them all the happiness and joy of a lifetime together.”

• Keep it short; nobody likes long speeches.
• Start with an attention-catching opening line. Don’t make everything about yourself. Focus on the bride and the groom.
• You can tease your brother for some light comedy. Do not go overboard or hurt someone’s sentiments.
• Pen it down on paper.
• If you are nervous, practice in front of the mirror while looking at yourself. If possible, record yourself giving the speech.

Final Takeaway

So, make it fun, make it heartwarming and stay positive. Fill the room with joy, and above all, have fun!

More articles on Speeches: Famous 5 Minute Speeches .

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