The best man has quite a few duties, not only during the wedding ceremony, but also at the wedding reception –among which is to deliver an enjoyable speech. Unlike the “father of the bride” speeches that centers on more ‘serious’ advices, the best man’s speech will need to be light-hearted and funny without being offending, at the same time as being inspiring as well. Now, this can be one pretty hefty task!

If you have the honor of being the best man and giving the traditional best man’s speeches, don’t panic! It only needs some thought and a little bit of preparation to deliver a funny, compelling, and unforgettable speech. There will be some guidelines to follow though, as the speech will require do’s and don’ts.

How To Begin A Best Man Speech

There are many ways of starting your speech. For many, beginning the best man’s speech with something humorous breaks the ice, and makes them feel more relaxed –that is if they delivered the joke effectively. Funny starters also get the attention of guests, as well as make the speaker more comfortable with talking in front of them. Just keep in mind that the jokes must not be offending, and you must be comfortable doing it –the last thing that would ruin your speech is a joke done in the most awkward way.

The Introduction

For those who do away with funny starters, can immediately proceed with the introduction. The important thing to remember about intros for best man’s speech is that they should be straightforward and basic. It should also include thanking the families for the wonderful wedding reception.

The Middle

The “body” of your speech must include describing your relationship with the groom. At times, the best man will know much about the groom’s family and they can personalize their speech with certain events that he and the groom used to do in their home, such as saying something like “thanks for all the food in your fridge, it made me who I am now”.

Telling the story of how the groom and the bride met is important; some guests may not really know the “real story”. This part of the speech aims to get the “ahhhs and awwww” from your audience. Letting everyone know that “fateful day” on a different point of view, will let them appreciate your speech.

This is also a great opportunity to make your best friend –the groom- blush. It’s your turn of poking fun through sharing a funny story about him. Just be cautious, the goal is to embarrass but never in a sarcastic or biting way. Doing in a playful way will be a great way to bring out the groom’s endearing quality.

After all the funny stuff has been said about the groom, it’s time to shift. This portion of your speech will help the groom redeem himself. Describing how the groom has turned into a better man after meeting his bride will be a good way to do it.

The Closing

The ending of your speech can be a message for the bride and groom, and giving your wishes for them. A toast for the couple and the new life they face together will be a great finale. Just like any other toast that you’ll give, make the toast a heartfelt and sincere one, with everything coming from the heart.

Best man’s speeches are not always the easy ones. But with the right guidelines and preparations, your next best man speech will be a remarkable and entertaining one –just avoid overdoing it and be conscious of the amount of time for your speech, five minutes will be appropriate.