tips for writing best man speech

How To Write A Killer Best Man Speech (With Templates)

A funny, heartfelt speech from the best man is one of the most memorable parts of a wedding. Here’s how to give a great toast (without embarrassing yourself).

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A best man speech is the perfect way to send your brother or friend the best wishes in their marriage, but standing up in front of the crowd can be super nerve-wracking. If you’ve been invited to be the best man at a wedding but have no idea what to say in your speech, you’re not alone! 

Over 75% of the population cites public speaking as one of their biggest fears. Thankfully, it’s a people skill that anyone can develop. A great event toast can be a game-changer and make you feel like a celebrity amongst the wedding guests. 

Watch our video to learn the best (and worst) speech openers:

Here’s how to overcome your public speaking anxiety and give a knockout best man speech that will incite laughter, smiles, or even sentimental tears. 

Quick Answer: How to Write a Best Man Speech Fast (with Template!)

A killer best man toast has a formula:

• Start with a funny or complimentary introduction
• Lead into a short story
• Add a dash of vulnerability
• End with genuine congratulations to the bride and groom. 

You won’t want to wing the speech after you’ve had a few drinks when you feel strapped for time before the wedding. Instead, take just 30 minutes of planning and note-making to save you (and the bride & groom) the embarrassment of an excessively long or inappropriate ramble. 

If you want to write a best man speech fast, follow this brief template for a great toast. Your toast should be roughly 3 to 5 minutes long. You can use numbered index cards to jot down the highlights of each section. Then, rehearse a few times in the mirror in the days leading up to the event. 

The most straightforward speech outline includes seven main components: 

• A great one-liner : This could be a funny joke, a compliment, or an inspirational quote about brotherhood or marriage. The first 15 seconds of the toast should capture the audience’s attention and leave them excited for more. Modify this:

“I’d like to begin by congratulating the groom for his superb taste in choosing the best man [chuckle].” 

• Compliment the wedding : Build your respect with the guests by highlighting things you like about the wedding. For example, you can compliment the beauty of the venue, the delicious food, or the great choice of music. Modify this:

“All jokes aside, this is a beautiful wedding. The bride and groom look like a movie star couple together. And if you didn’t taste the cake, you are missing out!” 

• Express gratitude : Say “thank you” to those who made the wedding possible and show appreciation to the groom for choosing you as his best man. Modify this:

“I am so grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Zimerman for hosting us here today, and thank you to the bride and groom for inviting me to be part of their special day.” 

• Tell a story : Did you and the groom meet as kids on the baseball field? Were you there when he first met his bride? Did you share a funny experience in college that is appropriate to share? The “meat” of the speech will be a short story about your relationship with the groom. A great story sounds like this:

 “When I first met Jeff, he was in a period of transition in life, like we all go through. He had just started a new job at my office in San Francisco, and we met because of our mutual addiction to double shot espressos (iced with a little cream) at 6 AM every morning from the corner coffee shop Bob’s Cup O’ Joe. When we both arrived at the office at the same time, 3 days in a row with eyes like this [widen eyes big], I knew we would be friends for life. A million espressos, meetings, and after-work beers later, I am so proud to call Jeff my best friend. When he told me about meeting a beautiful blonde named Anne at Bob’s Cup O’ Joe a few years later, I knew something would become of it. She even drank the same double shot espressos, iced with a little cream!”  

• Admire the couple : Strengthen your bond with the newlyweds by expressing your support for their marriage. If you know a bit about the bride and groom’s relationship, list a few things you admire about their bond. You may emphasize how the bride has positively impacted the groom’s life or how they make a great team. 

“Jeff and Anne are a perfect pair, and it seriously warms my heart to see a couple so amazingly in love. They compliment each other in every way and radiate joy when they are together.” 

• Summarize your thoughts : Before you wrap up your speech, go back and highlight your key ideas. You can pre-write 2-3 crisp sentences summarizing your support of the couple’s marriage. Modify this:

“I wish I could say I predicted this day would come, but Jeff’s incredible character and charm won Anne over. I am so grateful to be friends with both of them and to join you all in this celebration.” 

• Toast to the future : At the end of your speech, raise your glass for a toast to the couple’s love. Modify this: 

“Please join me in raising our glasses to a lifetime of happiness and espressos for Jeff and Anne Allison!” 

Here is an awesome example of a short and sweet 4-minute toast that left the crowd cracking up:

It’s best to memorize your speech, but there is no shame in bringing a few index cards in your pocket to reference if you get nervous. Don’t forget to prepare and rehearse in advance. 

For a more in-depth speech, see our step-by-step guide below. 

What to Say in a Best Man Speech (Do’s and Don’ts)

A best man’s speech traditionally takes place at the wedding reception after the maid of honor gives her speech. The best man’s speech should be positive, respectful, and congratulatory. It can last 3 to 5 minutes and should focus on a central theme or story about the groom. 

Remember, a best man speech is not the time to “wing it.” If you do that, there may come the point when everything suddenly goes silent, and a crowd of 50-100+ people is staring at you, waiting for what you’re going to say about the groom. You probably don’t want to end up with a cringing audience while telling a story about the groom’s previous relationships:

Instead, remember these key best man speech tips for a successful toast: 

Here are a few examples of what you should say in a best man speech:

• How did you meet the groom?
• What is one of your favorite memories with him?
• How did the groom meet the bride? Were you there?
• What is special about the groom?
• What do you like most about him? 
• What are his positive traits? 
• Playful banter : You don’t want to be too corny and cheesy with your bro. Depending on your relationship with the groom and the culture of the wedding, you may want to throw in a little banter with your dude. For example, you might make a funny joke about how much the groom loves going out to eat:

You should also avoid some key topics in a best man speech. 

Do not mention:

• The groom’s past relationships
• Sexual jokes
• Drugs, alcohol, or past mistakes
• Insecurities of the groom
• Financial or personal information 
• Insults to the bride or the wedding guests 
• Overly embarrassing stories
• Teasing the bride
• Anything that could potentially harm your friendship

Keep things positive and lighthearted. While a little witty banter or playful teasing can be fun (depending on your relationship with the groom), you should avoid insulting him or highlighting any major insecurities. The “playful” part of the speech is an excellent fun icebreaker, but it shouldn’t hurt anyone’s feelings or make them feel publicly embarrassed in front of their wedding guests.

How to Write a Best Man Speech for Best Friend or Brother: Easy Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re ready to prepare something more in-depth than the quick ideas above, this step-by-step guide can help you write a thoughtful speech that the groom may remember forever. After all, being named the best man at your friend or brother’s wedding is a tremendous honor. But like any honor, it comes with some responsibilities. After you finish all your bachelor party and wedding duties, an epic best man speech can be like the fireworks at the show’s end. 

Here are 5 simple steps to make it count:

#1 Start with a theme

Before you start writing and rehearsing your speech, it helps to decide on a theme for your talk. This will give a nice flow to the speech. A theme ensures that you stay on track to communicate your congratulations and appreciation to the groom. 

What is the main message you want to get across? A few theme ideas include:

• Anecdotes : Best man toasts center around storytelling. This theme is the easiest way to stay on track because you are telling a simple story from beginning to end. 
• Humor : Whether you’re naturally funny or working on your jokes ,  your speech is the perfect opportunity to get the audience laughing. Best man speeches are known for getting a little saucy, but you must be careful about offending the crowd or making crude jokes that might insult the bride and groom. If you want to tease the groom with some witty banter, it helps to make fun of yourself or reference an appropriate inside joke.
• Inspirational : Have you and the groom achieved an important business goal or accomplishment together? Do you have a shared role model or favorite motivational book you both read in college? This speech theme can leave the audience feeling inspired.
• Morality : Use your speech to highlight the great person the groom is. Perhaps you give examples of his integrity, trustworthiness, or generosity. You can emphasize how lucky you are to know the groom and how glad you are that he found a woman to spend his life with. 
• Sentimentality : When humor and storytelling aren’t your fortes, it doesn’t hurt to get a little corny. Sentimental speeches require a level of emotional vulnerability, but they can leave a huge impact on the newlyweds and their attendees.

#2 Create an outline

You wouldn’t go on a road trip without a navigation system, so don’t go into your speech without a plan. The best toasts and speeches follow the same structure. Pull out a piece of paper and brainstorm some ideas using this format, then use the following steps to fill in the details:

• Hook/Opening statement : The opening statement should be a 1 to 3-line description about the groom. The first 7 seconds of the speech should hook the audience immediately. It warms them up to you and makes them want to pay attention to the amusing stories. You’ll find an abundance of opening-line ideas in the next section. 
• Background context : Now comes the why of your speech. This is where the context of your relationship with the groom comes in. You can throw in some funny jokes and a few details about your experience with him. Use this intro to build up the anticipation for the story to come. Write down a few ideas of stories you can tell. 
• Tell the story : Choose 1-3 short stories about the groom that is funny, slightly embarrassing, or interesting. Jot down a few of the sensory elements you want to reference, like the smelly locker room or the squeaking of tire wheels. Most stories follow a bell-curve pattern—they start with an intro, lead to rising action, peak with a capstone moment, then tie back to the beginning. Keep this in mind as you brainstorm and follow the story-planning steps below. 
• Take-home message : After you get a good laugh or “awww” out of the audience, you’ll want to bring the story back to the beginning. What do you want them to remember about your speech and friendship with the groom? 
• Thank the wedding party : Use a quick sentence to thank the wedding party and hosts. Express your genuine gratitude for being invited. 
• Closing toast and congratulations : After wrapping up the story and thanking the wedding party, you should invite the audience to toast the bride and groom with you. For an extra cheery finale, act as if you are speaking on their behalf and include lots of well-wishes for the newlyweds. 

Pro Tip : Before filling in your outline details, watch this video for an overview of how to give a memorable toast. Human behavior expert Vanessa Van Edwards explains the most common mistakes (don’t start with “I,” “me,” or “my”) and a few secrets to getting the audience to perk up in their seats. 

#3 Nail the opening line 

Once you have your outline, it’s time to dig into the details. People decide their first impression of you within 7 seconds, so it’s extra important to nail the opening line of your speech. Best men use this opportunity to crack a joke, compliment the wedding, or set a sentimental tone for the speech. 

Avoid making the first lines about you. No “me”, “I”, or “my”. Instead, start with a juicy or mysterious line about the groom, for example:

If you need a little inspiration, here are some hilarious and quirky best man speech opening lines: 

• “Caring, loyal, honest, good-looking, and an all-around-great guy… OK, enough about me, onto the groom…!” 
• “This is the perfect chance to tell you about [Groom] and how talented, special, smart, good-looking, and… sorry, man, I can’t read your handwriting here.” 
• “I’d like to give a toast to the bride and groom.” [pull a piece of toasted bread from your pocket and give it to them]
• “[Groom’s name] is the kind of person you call when you lock yourself out of the dorm bathroom without any clothes on.” 
• “The bride and groom asked me not to share embarrassing stories or crude jokes during my speech… so that’s it from me! Thanks for listening, everyone.”
• “I’d like to start by congratulating the groom for his excellent taste in choosing the best man.” 
• “[Groom] had a tough time choosing his best man. First, he called his most handsome friend, but he said no. Then, he called his smartest friend, and he said no. Then, he called his most successful friend, who also said no. Then he called me, and I said, ‘Bro, I can’t say no to you four times.'”
• “What can I say about [Groom]? I guess I’ll start at the very beginning. He was born on [groom’s birthday]. Our parents were hoping for a girl, but I’ve always said… close enough.”

Here is a genuinely funny opening line from a best brother wedding speech:

Pro Tip : Don’t forget to pause for laughter. If it doesn’t come, you can chuckle at yourself and cue the audience that they are supposed to laugh by saying, “This is where you are supposed to laugh,” or joking, “Sound guy, can you please cue the laugh track?” Then, keep going with your speech.

Don’t worry. You need not be a jokester to give a great opening line. If you want to go the nostalgic or tearjerker route, be sure it is highly personalized and thoughtful. Here are some sentimental opening line ideas:

• “There are friends, and there is family, but friends also become family. This is so true for [Groom] and me. We’ve been best friends since we were X years old, and I’ve always considered him my brother.” 
• “There’s an old Irish proverb that says a good friend is like a four-leaf clover—hard to find and lucky to have. I think that’s true. Good friends are hard to find, and I’m lucky to have called [Groom] my best friend for the last X years.” 
• “I’ve heard that the best relationships come from the foundation of a deep friendship. Experts say that laughter, mutual respect, and enjoying each other’s company are the ingredients for a long-lasting, joyful marriage. After knowing [Groom] and [Bride] for X years, there is no doubt in my mind that they will make a great pair.” 
• “In Good Will Hunting , Robin Williams said, ‘It doesn’t matter if the guy is perfect or the girl is perfect as long as they are perfect for each other.” Anyone who has seen [Groom] and [Bride] together can agree that this is true for them. I haven’t seen a perfect pair, and I’m happy to be part of this celebration of their love.” 

To learn more about the best speech openers, use this guide on How to Start a Speech: The Best (and Worst) Speech Openers . Some top tips include:

• Avoid starting with a lackluster nicety like “thanks for having me.” 
• Don’t mention your nervousness.
• Avoid mentioning technical difficulties like the microphone or saying, “Can you hear me?” 

Bonus Tip: Learn the Art of Stage Presence

Did you know that public speaking is actually a skill? Many people struggle with stage anxiety because they feel they ‘missed the memo’ on public speaking or they are lacking because they do not have a natural stage presence. Not true!

Stage presence and public speaking are skills you need to be taught—very few people have them naturally. 

Watch our video to learn 7 steps to overcome stage fright and beat performance anxiety:

Here are all the aspects of public speaking you can master.

• How to make a first impression with an audience
• How to have stage presence
• Powerful body language
• How to speak with a commanding voice
• What to do with your hands while speaking

For every speaking skill you add to your toolbox, the less speaking anxiety you will feel.

If you want help really diving into your presentation skills, be sure to sign up for our course…

Master Your People Skills

• Create a Memorable Presence
• Communicate with Confidence
• Achieve Your Goals

Have a question about the presentation or People School? Email Science of People support .

#4 Background context

Now that you’ve grabbed the audience’s attention, it’s time to give them a little background on why you are giving a speech in the first place. This is another sneak peek at some details you’ll cover in the speech. 

The whole point of this part is to tell them how you know the groom—but it isn’t about you. You’ll often hear wedding speeches that start with a drab, “I met the groom in college” or, “My name is ___, and I’m the best man.” You can do better than that! Try saying:

• “The groom was the first friend I made on the high school football team. I had no idea we would become roommates in a bachelor pad throughout college.” 
• “As little kids, the groom and I were known to be a dangerous duo in the neighborhood. He always carried the eggs and toilet paper, then instructed me where to throw them. But you can guess who always took the blame for his antics….” 
• “The groom and I have been friends and business partners for X years, and as you’ll hear shortly, he is the main reason I broke my arm during the last office basketball game. But first, I want to tell you a less embarrassing story….” 

Pro Tip : Focus on the groom, and don’t make it about you. One of the biggest mistakes people make during wedding speeches is talking too much about themselves. Your speech shouldn’t discuss where you’re from, what you think, or how you ended up at the party. The best man’s speech is a time to focus on the groom and his bride. 

#5 Tell the story  

After your punchy opening line and background info, it’s time to tell the perfect story about the groom. Depending on the length of your speech and the details of your story, some best man speeches cover 1 to 3 short stories. 

Reference back to the memories you wrote when brainstorming. Pick a story that includes the most of these captivating elements:

• A little bit of embarrassment : Whether it’s you, the groom, or a mutual friend, it helps to poke some fun at someone in the story. If you fear being offensive, the best person to joke about is yourself.  
• Audience member references : You can get major bonus points if you bring wedding guests into the storytelling moment. You might say, “Mom, you might want to close your ears on this one!” or, “Brian, we’re talking about you!” 
• Sensory details : What did the scenery look like? What were the prominent smells, sounds, and tastes at the moment? A great story should make the audience feel like they were with you. Don’t forget to mention the frigid cold lake you jumped into or the outrageously spicy food that left you both panting and crying for water. 
• A final punch line : Ideally, the best story ends with a shocking moment or funny line. It should leave the audience laughing, crying, surprised, or even gasping. For example, in an epic adventure story about you and the groom on a hunting trip, you may end with, “Just as the shark was about to bite the line, Joe reeled in the massive bluefin and yelled, ‘I think we’re gonna need a bigger boat!’”

Pro Tip : If you have to ask, “Is this appropriate?” it probably isn’t. Some stories are better for late-night beers than they are for weddings. Avoid telling stories related to sexual topics, drugs, alcohol, illegal activities, or anything you wouldn’t want grandma to hear. 

#6 Take-home message

When the story finishes, you’ve hopefully elicited some laughter or maybe some tears. All jokes aside, there is a reason you were the best man, and you are probably a significant person to the groom. This is a great time to emphasize the best qualities of the groom and why you’re so happy for his new love. 

Here is an excellent example of tying together the opening and closing lines with a heartfelt message about finding the perfect soul mate:

#7 End your speech with a heartfelt toast

We’ve all heard “let’s raise a glass to [Bride] and [Groom]” before. You can do better than that! The final toast is like the fireworks at the end of your best man speech. Instead of something mediocre, invite the audience to join you in a genuine, thoughtful congratulations. Examples include:

• “Please join me in raising our glasses to the beautiful bride and handsome groom. May your lives together be long, healthy, and happy. We love you so much and are excited for you. Cheers!” 
• “Lift your glasses to thank Mr. and Mrs. [Bride’s Parents] for hosting this beautiful wedding. Let us all toast to the perfect union of the bride and groom. We wish you a bright and beautiful future. Cheers!”
• “Here’s to the past, for all you’ve learned. Here’s to the present for this beautiful moment we all share. Here’s to the future for all you’ve got to look forward to. Cheers to the happy couple!” 

Pro Tip : Make your toast inclusive and communal, so the audience feels like they’re cheering for the couple with you. Use words like “we”, “lets”, and “us”. This congratulation invites them to join as if you are speaking on their behalf. 

#8 Use a best man speech template

A template makes things simple if you’re still feeling uneasy about writing your best man speech. You can take the structure of an example speech and incorporate your ideas and stories to make it your own. 

Best man speech example for a best friend :  

“Tonight, you’ll learn why the groom was destined to marry [Bride]. The year was 2002, and we were all in a bar with friends on New Year’s Eve in New York City. Snow was falling outside, and we were sipping champagne, waiting for the big ball to drop. Seemingly out of nowhere, a woman with a red dress entered the room, and everything seemed to stop. All the bachelors in our group were captivated, but only [Groom] had the guts to walk up to her. Rumor has it that his first opening line was ‘

Everyone talks about a woman’s glow when she’s falling in love, but I swear that [Groom] was smiling from ear to ear from the second they met. We could hardly get him to stop talking about her by the following week. We’d be watching football and drinking beers only to have [Bride’s] name brought up every 5 minutes. 

Fast forward 3 years, and we’ve all seen how much [Bride] has positively impacted his life. When he came to me to tell me he was proposing, my only response was, ‘ Finally, dude !’

There’s something extra special about these two. They go together like peanut butter and jelly. They love and respect each other so much. [Bride] was the one for [Groom] from the second they locked eyes in that hazy NYC bar. We are all so happy to be here for your big day. Let’s raise our glasses to the beautiful bride and groom! Cheers!” 

Another Best man speech example for a best friend :  

“The groom was the first friend I made on the high school basketball team. He wasn’t very good [pause for laughter]. I was the tallest player and obviously had the best free throw, but I was majorly lacking in the ladies department. Thankfully, [Groom] took me under his wing and showed me how to be a true gentleman. That includes opening doors for women and carrying their bags instead of just running in with my own. What would I have done without you, man?

Even though he was no good at basketball, [Groom] always had his head on his shoulders. He’s a respectful, intelligent, and relatively clean-cut guy. All joking aside, it’s no surprise that he ended up with a woman as intelligent and beautiful as [Bride]. You both deserve a lifetime of love, happiness, and success together. Please raise your glasses and join me in congratulating the bride and groom! We love you!” 

#9 Practice your body language

Public speaking isn’t only about what you say but how you carry yourself. Your body language can drastically affect your confidence, your delivery, and how the audience perceives you. Use these body language hacks to take your speech to the next level: 

• Signal “friend” : Smile and show your open palms to send the message that you are the audience’s friend. This makes people feel more comfortable with your presence and more likely to listen.
• Stand up straight : When you look confident, you also feel more confident. Check your posture if your voice is a little shaky before the speech. Roll back your shoulders and tuck your shoulder blades down towards your back. Slightly lift your chest and chin as you speak. 
• Make eye contact: Throughout the speech, you should change your eye contact with different audience members. As you mention specific compliments or thanks, make eye contact with the bride, groom, groomsmen, bridesmaids, and the bride’s father.
• Genuinely smile : Smiling may seem obvious, but it’s easy to forget when you feel so focused on a perfect delivery. At the same time, you don’t want to look like you’re fake smiling throughout the speech. Use these 9 Simple Tips to Smile Better (in any situation!)
• Use your hands : It’s easy to let your nerves get the best of you and feel like a “deer in the headlights.” Instead of tucking your hands in your pockets, widen your stance and take up space. Use your hands and gestures while you talk to show that you are comfortable and happy during the speech. 

Want more tips? Here are 17 Body Language Presentation Cues to Use in Your Next Speech . 

#10 Rehearse before the big day

Experts say you should rehearse a speech 10 times before performing it. Research also shows that people who mentally prepare themselves before a speech by imagining it going well are more likely to perform fluently and easily. So before you get in front of an audience, be sure you’ve gone over your speech at least 10 times, either in your head or out loud. Better yet, practice in the mirror, on camera, or in front of a trusted friend. 

It also helps to review the gist of the speech with the groom (without giving away any secret details) to make sure it’s alright with him. A few weeks before the wedding, you may pull him aside and ask, “Hey man, is it OK if I tell the story about ____ in my best man speech? I think it’ll get some good laughs.” 

Although this example is long, this best man very clearly rehearsed his speech for a near-perfect performance without any notes:

Key Takeaways: Express Gratitude and Sentimentality in 3-5 Minutes

Ultimately, a best man speech is an opportunity to make your best bro look good in front of all his friends and family. Your speech should demonstrate how much you value your brotherhood or friendship. At the same time, you can enjoy 5 minutes of wedding fame without making things all about you. A great toast can make you a memorable celebrity at the wedding and have people laughing at your

Before jumping up at the reception and speaking off the cuff, remember to:

• Outline and plan your speech ahead of time. Use notecards if needed.
• Focus on the groom and his bride. Don’t go on and on about yourself. 
• Nail the opening line with a funny joke, quote, or teaser that leads into a great story. 
• Avoid inappropriate or cringey topics that could embarrass the groom.
• Express gratitude to the groom and wedding hosts. 

Giving a toast or speech is an essential social skill that can make you one of the most likable people in a room. If you want to learn more about the art of giving showstopping toasts, read this guide on How to Give an Awesome Toast: Advanced Strategies for Speeches . 

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Best Man Speech Magic: Crafting Words that Resonate and Inspire

Via Unsplash

Hey there! Your friend’s wedding is just around the corner, and he’s chosen you to be the best man? Crafting the perfect best man speech might seem daunting, but trust us, it’s simpler than you imagine.

Below, you’ll find a wealth of tips and examples from Wedding Forward team to guide you through crafting a best man speech that will leave a lasting impression. Moreover, our editorial team interviewed two distinguished experts in the field: Mindy Weiss, the founder of Mindy Weiss Party Consultants and a best-selling author, and Steven Greitzer, a wedding tech entrepreneur and officiant, serving as CEO of Provenance . Their invaluable tips and advice also have been integrated into this article.

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Top Best Man Speeches Examples

It is much easier to write a best man speech when you have some examples to draw upon for inspiration. That’s why Wedding Forward team have prepared variety collection of inspired best man speech to help you craft your own!

Best Man Speech For Friend

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.” Source

Short Best Man Speeches

“Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please? As the best man, I stand here today to say a few words about the remarkable love story between my incredible friend, [groom’s name], and his beautiful bride, [bride’s name]. [Groom’s name] and I have been through thick and thin together, and I’ve had the privilege of witnessing his growth as a person. But it wasn’t until [bride’s name] came into his life that I saw a change I can only describe as transformative. Their love is like a beacon, guiding them through life’s ups and downs. So here’s to the newlyweds—a couple who have found not just love, but true companionship. May your journey be filled with happiness, passion, and an everlasting bond.”

“Sure, here’s an even shorter best man speech example: Good evening, everyone. For those who don’t know me, I’m [Your Name], the best man. I want to thank [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name] for this wonderful celebration. [Groom’s Name], you’ve been an amazing friend, and seeing you with [Bride’s Name] brings such joy. [Bride’s Name], you complete [Groom’s Name] perfectly. Together, you both inspire us with your love. Let’s raise a glass to the happy couple. May your life together be filled with love and happiness. Cheers!”

Funny Best Man Speeches

Best man talk for adam and kate.

“Adam and Kate – What a great day to get married! Marriage carries new responsibilities. Kate – from now on, you should never argue or disagree with Adam, because he is now the head of the family and the king of his castle. You will be expected to keep your hair and make-up perfect at all times – to dress in a way that pleases Adam. 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. Kate – I know that Adam loves you very much… because he spent a long time writing this speech for me. Congratulations to the both of you!” Source

Best Man Presentation for Sarah & Simon

“Sarah & Simon – 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 new bride and groom!” Source

Speech for Neil and Claire

“Hi my name is Paul and Neil has asked me to be his best man for this wonderful occasion. I would like to say it is a very special honor but with it, comes the responsibility of giving the bloody speech. I would not say it is very comfortable to wear a tuxedo in a 30-degree church, which is not air-conditioned. The church ceremony I’m sure you’ll all agree was a wonderful, wonderful occasion. Maybe a little hot, but I’m glad to see so many of you have replaced your electrolytes with fuel of the alcoholic kind since the reception began. I have known Neil and Claire for_________ [how many years] years. You might say Neil and I met by accident, but it is no accident that Neil met Claire. If you know Neil you know he is an excellent athlete, in fact I noticed his Athletes foot right away. This was a man who had his knees and ankles shaved, for easy taping. I knew this was a hard-core sports fanatic. We both share a tremendous love of football and basketball. For many years, we have had a running bet during the season as to who will score more goals or more runs which of course, I always won. Neil is a ______________ [Groom’s Occupation] in Truro, and I thought__________________________________[Funny or quirky aspect about grooms occupation] Neil is a man who has dedicated his life to __________________[Grooms occupation] And now I’m sure will use his experience with ___________________________[what the Groom does in his occupation] in his marriage with Claire. It is great that Neil found Claire. He has always been looking for someone young, dynamic, intelligent, attractive, and with good health insurance. Neil and Claire met_________________________ [where they meet], But I have it on good authority that Neil started looking for a wife on the internet. And with a multitude of resources at his fingertips, he found some really great stuff, but sadly was unable to find himself a suitable partner. That is, until I mentioned to him that the correct category to be looking should be Woman Seeking Man. I explained the way it works, send an old picture when you still had lots of hair, lie about your height and weight, and at all other times be sincere and honest. I imagine that when Neil and Claire met and introduced each other he said I’m Neil and she said, “I need a Diamond.” So, Neil said, sure let’s pick one out. Claire is a Diamond. Neil is a gem; I think together they make beautiful jewellery. No Marriage would be complete without some brotherly advice to help set you on your way… So I canvassed the room and got some really good stuff for you! Love, honor and cherish each other, and don’t forget to take out the garbage. Your wife is always right. Just in case she is not right, refer back to #2. Always, yes always, notice every new hairstyle or dress. Do something nice for each other every single day. If she asks if something makes her look fat the answer is categorically, NO. Flowers are always a good Idea, even if you are not in trouble. There is really nothing better than a good foot rub or massage. Your wife is more important than sports. I guess. Even the cup final. It is a great joy for me to see Neil and Claire so happy. You learn things when you get older. Hmmm, I mean more mature. You make better decisions, isn’t it great that two people would entwine and commit to each other for life. Love, isn’t that what it is all about? We are here to celebrate that glorious event and this ceremony is all about letting the world know how much Neil and Claire’s love for each other is a reflection of one’s own soul in another’s. Anyway, it is time to celebrate the joyous and unbridled love that these two spectacular people will share the rest of their lives. Would you please stand now and join me in a toast. To love and laughter and happily ever after.” Source

What are the key elements that should be included in a memorable and heartfelt best man’s speech?

That is what Steven Greitzer, wedding tech entrepreneur and officiant, CEO of Provenance, said:

“There are many key elements to take into account when pulling together a great toast:

• Include 2-3 stories in your speech that capture the essence of the groom and your friendship.
• Make sure your speech is appropriate by discussing “no-go’s” with the couple beforehand.
• Acknowledge the groom’s partner in your speech and speak about how the relationship has helped the groom grow (more on that below).
• Offer a thematic takeaway, such as the importance of friendship or the strength of the couple’s love.
• Be sure to practice

The Provenance Toast Builder is the best and easiest way to make sure your wedding toast captures what you’re trying to say.”

Try the Toast Builder

How to Write Best Man Speech

For a great wedding speech, there are some simple rules you have to follow. Here you will find examples of best man speeches Dos and Don’ts from our editors.

• Plan your speech ahead (think about your best man speech structure, choose formal or funny style) and practice.
• Tell a short story ( keep the speech to about 5 minutes or less ) with jokes (2 or 3 will be enough).
• Get sentimental at some point, make compliments to the bride.
• Finish on an optimistic note (end your speech with love quotes or wishes for the happy couple).
• Be thankful (express gratitude towards the couple, their family, and anyone who helped make the wedding happen).

Don’ts

• Do not cross the 2-5 mins time limit.
• Do not make it about you.
• Avoid dirty jokes.
• Do not ignore the bride. Let her know how happy you are, that she is ending up with your friend.
• Avoid rude remarks. Keep your manners in check, even if it’s for a day.

Infographic

Best Man Speech Templates

Click here to download free printable templates of best man speech!

When creating the Best Man speech outline for your talk, include the following elements to involve everyone, making one and all feel that they are important participants in the merrymaking for the newlywed couple:

Use a Magnetic Opening Line

The opening words of your Best Man presentation should grab everyone’s attention. If you favor a romantic approach to start off a speech, you can start with a statement like, “True love wins all,” and then list the various ways the Groom, through his true love for his Bride, has won all her attention and affections.

• If some of the Groom’s favorite hip singer-songwriters date back to the 1960s and ’70s, you can quote from Bob Dylan: “ Love is just a four-letter word ,” going on to mention the many words of just four letters that relate to feelings of true love like “ kiss, hold, keep and ever. ” Be intent and clever with the use of language, and you will achieve better engagement with your audience.
• If your tastes (or the tastes of the newlyweds) are somewhat more classical, you can start by quoting the familiar line from Elizabeth Barrett Browning: “ How do I love thee, Let me count the ways. ” This popular line has been repeated in many variations by countless poets and songwriters ever since, so have no fear of labeling yourself as an egghead when quoting it. This opening line will also give you a chance to mention the main virtues and attributes of the Bride.

Thank the Other Speakers

It is always appropriate and appreciated if you thank the other speakers for the occasion. These speakers usually include the Maid of Honor and the Bride’s Father as well as any other members of the wedding party that the Bride and Groom ask to speak.

It is always good form to express your gratitude for their contributions to this special moment and event. Never criticize or make jokes about what they say or how they say it. Just thank them politely and continue with your own remarks since you know very well how to write a best-man speech.

Congratulate the Newlyweds

Congratulate the wedding couple on this exciting first chapter in their lives together. This is the ideal time to tell the guests how you met your great friend, the Groom. If you happen to be the Groom’s brother or cousin, you can recreate moments of hilarity from your younger years together or shared experiences of suspense or intrigue.

Recalling funny incidents or telling best man speech jokes involving the Groom is totally acceptable, so long as you keep the format and content clean and respectable.

Expert tip from Steven Greitzer:

“A great best man speech strikes the perfect balance of humor and sincerity. You want it to be memorable, but for the right reasons. Check with the couple to see if there are any topics you need to avoid or any topics that might be of particular concern to anyone in the audience. In the Provenance Toast Builder , the couple has the option to call out any topic they do, or don’t, want you to include. If you have any jokes in your speech you are unsure about, run them by someone who is close to the couple who you trust. And if you have a feeling that a joke might upset them or not land well with the audience – err on the side of caution. It’s their big day, not yours! There’s a way to have a funny best man speech that doesn’t upset grandma. Find the balance.”

Compliment the Bride

Now it is time to pull out the stops and give high praise to the Bride using your knowledge of how to write a best man talk. Highlight and emphasize her finest qualities, talents, and accomplishments.

Let them know just how overjoyed you are to celebrate the marriage of these two special people of whom you think so highly. Then give the Bride another charming compliment using top-quality speech writing tips.

Read Messages from Absent Guests

Take time to read some messages from invited guests who could not attend the wedding. This gesture is always appreciated by the absent guests and the Bride and Groom, alike. It also includes their congratulatory thoughts and best wishes for the newlyweds in the day’s special events.

Include a Famous Quote or Poem

Enchant your attentive audience of wedding guests further by reciting a well-known quote or poem that suits the occasion. This adds a creative literary element to the post-wedding celebration for the honored couple. You may want to consult other templates, including a listing of groomsman speech examples.

Best Man Speech Quotes

Choose Best Man speech quotes that reflect the couple’s personality, add humor, and keep them relevant.

Love is like war: easy to begin but very hard to stop. H. L. Mencken

Marriage is a workshop where husband works and wife shops.

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. Mignon McLaughlin

Propose a Toast to the Wedding Couple

Raise your glass of champagne so the guests can eagerly follow your example as you deliver a heartfelt toast of optimistic good wishes for the excellent health, increasing wealth, and everlasting happiness of the newlyweds.

The toast should be given with gusto and true sincerity and may include mild best-man speech jokes. Remember that you speak for all the well-wishers in the room who want all the best for this newly married Bride and Groom, so put your best energy, spirit, and talents for convincing elocution into this featured Grand Finale.

The “Thankful” Speech

“Hello everyone, it’s such a pleasure to be here tonight as [Groom’s] best man. And I want to begin with saying what an honor it is that I was chosen to stand by your side today. You’ve always been someone that I looked up to and I am just beyond grateful that I get to share in this moment with you and [Bride]. [Groom] is someone that I’ve come to care for greatly over the years and I am so happy that he’s found someone to share his life with and start a family with. [Groom] has always been my right hand throughout the biggest moments of my life and I can’t wait to be able to watch everything beautiful unfold for the two of you. Cheers to a lifetime of happiness!”

The “Smart Move” Speech

“There’s an old saying about friendship that reads, “It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them,” and goodness that couldn’t be more true for me and my boy, [Groom]. I could go into all the funny stories that include some of that stupidity but instead I’d rather focus on all the smart moves he’s made. His friendships, the relationship he has with his family, his career, it’s all a reflection of the incredible man he’s become. But really, the smartest move he’s made is marrying you, [Bride]. Let’s toast to the best decision [Groom’s] ever made. I wish you a lifetime of love, happiness and success.”

The “She Was the One” Speech

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming out tonight to celebrate the wedding of two people we all love, [Bride] & [Groom]! When I first met [Bride], I knew that she was the woman [Groom] would end up marrying. Even if it hadn’t dawned on him quite yet, it was obvious to everyone around just how smitten he was with her. They talk about a bride’s glow, but this man was shining since the moment he met [Bride]. He changed for the better without realizing it. And we all could see it. He couldn’t stop talking about her. We’d go out with the boys and [Bride’s] name would be brought up every two minutes. So, when he came to me to tell me that he would be proposing my only response was, ‘Well, it’s about time!’ There’s something special about these two. They go together without forcing it. They love each other without fighting it. And they care about each other without thinking about it. She was the one from the very beginning [Groom], and we’re all so happy to be able to take part in your big day. Cheers!”

Best Man Speech Opening Lines

Your opening lines are your best-man speech icebreakers, so it’s important that they are good. Grab the attention of your guests with witty best man speech openers such as these.

• “I would like to begin by congratulating the groom on his excellent taste in best men. He has really outdone himself this time, and I’m pleased.”
• “I have been asked by the bride and groom not to share any embarrassing stories, crude jokes, or pranks during my best man’s speech… so I guess that’ll be it from me! Thank you all for listening.”
• “If you cannot hear me at the back, nothing to worry about. By the complete silence in the front row here, you can rest assured that you’re really not missing much.”
• “Is anyone here this afternoon feeling nervous and queasy at the thought of what lies ahead? If you are, it’s probably because you’ve just married (groom’s name).”
• “All of you here who really know the bride must know that she is a wonderful person who deserves a good husband. Thank goodness (groom’s name) married her before she found one.”

Best Man Speech One-Liners

I am about to make the groom cry. I just received the food bill.

He is smart, tall, kind, generous….. Who am I actually talking about?

Hi, the groom is a great friend. Our friendship is 2hours old. I was hired as he’s got no friends.

His colleagues describe him as a first-class banker – I may have misheard them.

I heard some time that marriage is a 50/50 affair. Believe that at your own peril. We have factors called women and improper fractions.

One-liners are sharp jokes delivered in one sentence. A good one-liner is concise and meaningful. It is instant but loaded with humor that can keep the guests laughing for a while. It is important that the best man speech jokes contain one-liners.

Best Man Toasts Examples

“It’s been an emotional day, even the cake is in tiers.”

“Folks, I have been told I am not allowed to have a drink until AFTER my speech. If I seem like I’m in a hurry to finish, it’s because I am.”

“I hope the two of you have the two essential things it takes to have a successful marriage 1) a sense of humor 2) selective hearing.”

“Psychiatrists say that girls tend to marry men like their fathers. That must be why mothers cry at weddings.”

“Love is not about how often you say I love you, but how often you show that it’s true.”

Best Man Speech Jokes

“They say marriage is a journey, and tonight we celebrate the beginning of an epic road trip for the bride and groom. Just remember, guys, never forget to ask for directions!”

“They say the key to a successful marriage is patience, understanding, and a remote control with fresh batteries. Groom, make sure you always keep that remote handy!”

“Let’s raise our glasses to the newlyweds: may their love be like Wi-Fi, strong and never disconnecting, even in the midst of Netflix binges!”

“As the best man, it’s my duty to share a piece of advice with the groom: in marriage, always remember that a happy wife means a happy life… and also remember to nod and agree, even when she’s wrong!”

“Marriage is a lifelong commitment, just like the gym membership the groom signed up for and rarely uses. But this time, there are no cancellation fees!”

Best Man Speech Tips

When delivering your best man speech, it’s essential to captivate the audience with your words and presence. Here are some tips to ensure a memorable and engaging delivery:

• Maintain good eye contact with the audience: Look directly at the guests while speaking. Eye contact helps establish a connection and shows that you are genuinely engaged with them.
• Speak clearly and at a moderate pace: Enunciate your words clearly and avoid rushing through your speech. Speaking at a moderate pace allows the audience to understand and absorb your message effectively.
• Use appropriate gestures and body language to enhance your delivery: Use hand gestures and body movements to emphasize key points and add energy to your speech. However, be mindful of not going overboard and distracting from your message.
• Incorporate pauses for comedic timing and to allow the audience to react: Timing is crucial, especially when delivering humorous anecdotes or punchlines. Pause before and after delivering a joke to build anticipation and give the audience time to laugh and react.

By implementing these delivery and presentation tips, you’ll engage the audience, leave a lasting impression, and make your best man speech a memorable highlight of the wedding celebration.

Are there any common mistakes to avoid, and how to overcome nervousness or stage fright?

According to wedding planner Mindy Weiss, “speeches can help make or break a wedding” . And we agree with this opinion. Speeches have the power to elevate the celebration, bringing tears of joy and laughter to guests, while also creating cherished memories that last a lifetime. However, poorly delivered speeches can disrupt the flow and energy of the event, leaving guests feeling disconnected and the couple disappointed.

Steven Greitzer convinced that one of the biggest mistakes is when the person giving the wedding speech only talks about the partner they’re closest with, unintentionally making the other partner feel left out and unimportant: “To help remedy this, the Provenance Toast Builder gives you the option to either talk about each partner 50/50, or to talk 70% about your person and 30% about their partner (which is a good rule of thumb). The Toast Builder also has thoughtful prompts to encourage you to share why they’re both 1) good people and 2) a great match for each other.

What is the best man supposed to say in his speech?

The best man should share anecdotes about the groom, praise the couple, thank everyone, and propose a toast. Keep it lighthearted and sincere.

How long should a best man speech be?

The best man’s speech should typically be 5 to 7 minutes long. This duration is long enough to share heartfelt sentiments, humorous anecdotes, and well-wishes without losing the audience’s attention. Keeping it concise and engaging ensures it remains memorable and enjoyable for everyone.

How do I write a good man speech?

Write a good best man speech by including humor, expressing genuine sentiments, avoiding inappropriate content, and keeping it focused on the couple. Practice for smooth delivery and timing.

There is truly something for everyone today to create the perfect Best Man Speech for that very special couple and their after-wedding reception, dinner, and celebration. Fond remembrances, amusing stories and anecdotes, humorous quotes, and emotional phrases end with the joyful ring of a clever, yet heartfelt Best Man Toast to the Bride and Groom. The contemporary wedding is truly a work of love and art with all the trimmings and enticing treats for one and all to treasure and enjoy.

Thank you for reading. Please let us know how we did.

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Amazing Tips & Themes For Your Magical Wedding

The Ultimate Best Man Speech Guide (Examples And Templates Included)

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.

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!

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

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:

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

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

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. 

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! 

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 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. 

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.

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!

Qualities To Talk About In The Best Man Speech

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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) 

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. 

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.

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. 

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! 

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.

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.

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. 

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

Lisa Plaitt

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How to Write a Best Man Speech – Full Template With Examples

It’s the moment you’ve always been waiting for: your best friend or brother has asked you to be his best man! But as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. And in your case, that responsibility is writing a truly epic best man speech. To help you with this daunting task, we’re breaking down everything you need to know to give an unforgettable best man speech — plus some examples and templates to get you started!

We get it, public speaking can feel downright terrifying. But when done right, a best man speech will instantly light up a room and earn you allllll the best friend points. No pressure or anything! In this guide, we’re here to help you nail your moment in the spotlight with all the best man speech FAQs, advice, and examples you could ever need. Let’s get into it!

Table of Contents

Best man speech faqs, our best advice for writing the ultimate best man speech, the foolproof best man speech template and examples.

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If you want to write a best man speech that leaves the room in tears (of laughter or joy, take your pick!), the first step is preparation. This isn’t the type of best man duty that you can leave to the morning of the wedding — procrastinators, we’re looking at you!

So, to help you knock it out of the park, we’re breaking down everything you need to know to write an unforgettable best man speech. From the best topics to cover to the best topics to avoid , here are all of our best man speech FAQs!

P.S. This is just an overview to get you started. Keep scrolling for our complete template and examples that you can use to write your own epic best man speech!

Is the best man required to give a speech on the wedding day?

As best man, you’re in charge of more than just standing next to the groom (and looking fly) on the big day — you’ve got responsibilities, my friend! And in addition to rocking a great ‘fit , keeping the other groomsmen in check, and getting everyone in the party mood, one of those responsibilities is giving a killer best man speech.

While the best man isn’t required to give a speech on the wedding day, it is a fun tradition that goes back decades. This is your chance to share your love for the newlyweds — and tell a few funny stories about your best friend while you’re at it!

Because of this, the happy couple (and the guests) will likely expect you to stand up and say a few words, but if you’re extra nervous about public speaking, feel free to talk to the love birds about skipping it. They may have another tradition or ritual that you can do instead of a best man speech.

Still searching for the perfect ‘fit for the big day? We’ve got you covered with this list of the most stylish suits for groomsmen !

At what point in the wedding day does the best man speech happen?

Traditionally, the best man speech takes place during the reception after the groom (or couple) has given their toast. This is when everyone is gathered together, the good vibes are rolling, and the drinks are flowing. It’s the perfect time to congratulate the couple and get the party started!

While this is the traditional timing for best man speeches, the couple may have different preferences based on their wedding timeline. It’s always a good idea to check with them ahead of time to ensure you’re fully prepared for your moment in the spotlight.

What kind of topics should you cover in a best man speech?

When it comes to best man speeches, there’s no one-size-fits-all formula. Every speech is different, just like every couple is different! But no matter which direction you choose, you want to focus on congratulating the newlyweds and expressing your love for the happy couple.

While you probably have endless crowd-pleasing stories about the groom, it’s also important to spotlight the couple as a whole, instead of writing your entire best man speech about your friend.

Do you have a funny story about the groom asking his S.O. out on their first date? Or a sweet anecdote from when he told you he found “the one?” This approach will help them both feel special on the big day — and earn you brownie points with both sides of the guest list!

P.S. We’ve included more specific examples to write about in your best man speech down below, plus a template to get you started!

What topics are off-limits during a best man speech?

Remember: this a wedding, not a bachelor party! When writing your best man speech, the goal is to keep it classy and appropriate for all ages, while still injecting a bit of your personality into the toast. It’s a delicate balance, so here are a few topics to avoid on the mic!

• Super personal or embarrassing stories: Sure, you might have some hilarious anecdotes about the groom, but if they might embarrass the couple or their families, then they’re better left unsaid. After all, this is a celebration of love, not a roast!
• Controversial topics: Whenever you’re giving a speech (and especially at a wedding filled with your best friend’s loved ones), you should avoid anything that could be considered controversial or offensive. This includes jokes or comments about religion, politics, race, gender, or sexuality. Even if you think you’re being funny, you don’t want to risk offending anyone in the audience.
• Past relationships: If there was ever a time to not talk about an ex, it’s at that person’s wedding. No matter how good the story is, bringing up the couple’s former flames during the best man speech will only ever be awkward when they’re sitting next to you in their wedding best.
• Inside jokes: The most successful best man speeches are the ones that make the entire audience smile, laugh, or tear up. To keep your speech inclusive and engaging for everyone in the room (not just your friend group), avoid those inside jokes that you “just had to be there” to get.

How long should a best man speech be?

For best man speeches that make an impact, shorter is usually better. As a general rule, aim for around 3 to 5 minutes (about 750 words). This is long enough to cover the essentials and tell a few great stories, without losing the audience’s attention. Anything longer, and you might risk people getting distracted or bored — especially if the speeches are taking place later in the evening.

When writing your best man speech, always focus on the quality over the length. With such a short window, you want to make every word count. So practice your delivery, time yourself, and aim for a speech that’s heartfelt, fun, and concise.

When in doubt, aim for a best man speech that’s short and sweet, rather than super long. Attention spans at this point in the wedding day are limited!

Does your best man speech have to be funny?

No, your speech doesn’t have to be funny, and jokes are by no means a requirement. It’s easy to feel pressured to turn your best man speech into a stand-up routine, but this definitely isn’t necessary. If it doesn’t feel natural, then it’s always better to stick with a heartfelt and authentic approach that reflects your unique relationship with the newlyweds.

On the other hand, if you are the class clown of the friend group, then humor is always appreciated! A crowd-pleasing joke or two during your best man speech will keep the good vibes going — just be sure to balance them with sincere and heartfelt sentiments. At the end of the day, you want to be yourself, speak from the heart, and let your personality shine.

Who does the best man thank in his speech?

Aside from the anecdotes and words of love, best man speeches should also include a few heartfelt thank you’s. It’s best practice to express your gratitude to the newlyweds, as well as the loved ones who made this day possible. This could be the couple’s parents, their (other) best friends, and anyone else who played a big part in their relationship.

And finally, get the crowd on your side by thanking all the guests for being a part of this special celebration. Without their love and support, the day wouldn’t be complete!

So, where do you start? You don’t have to be a skilled speech writer to write a best man speech that wins over the room. That’s where we come in! We’ve seen our fair share of killer best man speeches, and we’ve made a note of all the do’s and don’ts to follow during your time at the mic.

By the end of the best man speech, the crowd should feel like they know a little bit more about the couple’s love story — and be excited to spend the rest of the night celebrating them (you’re basically their hype man!).

Keep scrolling for our top tips for writing a best man speech that checks off ALL these boxes and more. We see a standing ovation in your future!

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1. Craft an Outline for Your Best Man Speech

One thing you shouldn’t do when giving your best man speech? Wing it. Before you step into the spotlight, spend some time crafting an outline for what you’re going to say.

I know, I know, this tip might be bringing you back to your days in English Lit class. But it’s a surefire way to ensure you cover all the essentials, without rambling on and on. Plus, it could be as simple as writing down each section of your best man speech, plus the main points you want cover in those sections — from the funny intro to your favorite anecdotes to the people you want to thank. Done!

P.S. We’ve included a template down below to make writing an outline for your best man speech a little easier!

2. Consider the Formality of the Wedding When Crafting Your Best Man Speech

Not sure which tone to take for your best man speech? Let the formality of the wedding be your guide. For example, a laid-back beach wedding is the perfect opportunity for a funny best man speech filled with witty jokes and wild stories, while a black tie optional affair may call for something a little classier.

The formality of the wedding may also depend on who’s in attendance. A small crowd filled with the couple’s best friends and closest family members will allow for a different type of best man speech than a large guest list that includes their co-workers, neighbors, and distant relatives.

Read the room, and don’t be afraid to ask the love birds beforehand about how formal to make your best man speech.

3. Brainstorm a List of Your Favorite Moments With The Groom and the Couple

How did you first meet the groom? Was there a moment or experience that bonded you together? Were you there when he first laid eyes on his other half? What are your favorite memories with the three of you together?

Do a brain dump of all these moments before writing your best man speech, then sift through them to pick out the best jokes, anecdotes, and sentimental moments to share with the crowd.

4. When Crafting Jokes, Choose Ones That Will Have Wide Appeal

As we mentioned before, the best examples of best man speeches bring the entire crowd in on the joke. You and the couple may have an incredible inside joke that will have you all on the floor, but if it leaves the rest of the room in crickets then this may not be the best time for it.

Instead, choose jokes that everyone will enjoy. If it will make the groom’s grandmother and the flower girl laugh, then you have yourself a winner. And if you do want to include a few inside jokes, balance them with some crowd-pleasing cracks — or give the crowd a little backstory about what makes this joke so funny to the couple.

5. Run Your Best Man Speech By Someone Else in the Wedding Party

So, how do you know if your jokes (or the rest of your best man speech, for that matter) will have widespread appeal? Recruit some test subjects first!

Ask someone that’s close to the couple to listen to your speech before you present it to a room filled with people. This could be a bridesmaid, a fellow groomsmen, or a close family member. These are the people that know the couple just as well as you do (and have some knowledge about the wedding), so they’ll have better insight about what works, and what doesn’t.

Not only will this help ensure that your jokes land, your speech flows, and your anecdotes hit home, but it will also give you a chance to practice speaking in front of other people. Which brings us to our next tip…

6. Practice Your Best Man Speech (And Aim to Put it To Memory!)

Before giving your best man speech, be sure to follow the three P’s: practice, practice, practice. Say the speech in front of the mirror, in front of a few friends, or in front of a video camera to gain confidence and get your inflections + hand gestures just right.

You can even do a mini dress rehearsal in your suit to get a feeling for the big moment. Practice your best man speech with a microphone (or a hairbrush!) and imagine you’re in the venue. When you visualize your speech going well, you’ll feel more prepared for the big moment!

We also recommend trying to memorize your best man speech. There’s nothing worse than someone reading from their phone or a stack of notecards — this can make the speech feel stiff and awkward (and doesn’t look great in photos). By memorizing it, you’ll be more present in the moment and the delivery will feel more natural.

GWS Pro Tip: If you struggle to memorize things or want to have a few notes to help with your nerves, then swap your notes app for a classy leather journal instead. This mini one is the perfect pocket size, and it’ll look great in photos!

7. Remember to Breathe and Take it Slow

When you’re nervous, you may want to rush the delivery to get the speech over with as fast as possible. But this will only make you feel more anxious, and it’ll make it harder for the audience to get the full impact of your best man speech.

Before you start talking, take a few deep breaths to calm your nerves. It also helps to focus on taking pauses throughout your best man speech — especially after a good joke. This signals to the audience that it’s time to laugh, and it gives them a moment to let your comic genius sink in.

Grab your pen and paper — it’s time to start writing your iconic best man speech! To help you create your plan of attack, we’ve designed a template that covers each section of your best man speech, plus specific examples to get you started.

Whether you want your best man speech to be funny, sentimental, or a mix of the two, this template will guide you in the writing and delivery process. From an opener that will get people laughing to a final toast that will inspire tears of joy, we’re covering all the bases.

So without further ado, here’s our template to help you write the best best man speech of all time!

1. Craft an Opener for Your Best Man Speech That Really Hooks Them

It’s always best to start your best man speech by introducing yourself — but that doesn’t mean your opener has to be boring! Spice it up with a funny one-liner, a heartfelt quote (this could be from a movie you and the groom love!), or a fun fact about you and the couple.

Don’t forget to keep the focus on the groom (or the couple as a whole), even as you’re introducing yourself. The crowd is here for them , so give the people what they want!

GWS Pro Tip: During this introduction, avoid talking about how nervous you are (even if you’re currently shaking in your dress shoes). Act confident, and you’ll look confident!

Best man speech example that will get everyone laughing: “There comes a time in everyone’s life when they meet their soulmate. The person who will love them and put up with them for the rest of their life. That moment came for [groom] 15 years ago when he met me.”

Best man speech template for a clever one-liner: “Good evening, everyone! I’m [name], [groom]’s best man, and I’m pretty sure I’m only up here because I know where all the embarrassing photos of him are hidden.”

Best man speech example that instantly hooks you: “As [groom’s] brother, I’m here tonight to tell you three things you never knew about [groom]. Sorry in advance mom and dad.”

2. Keep the Mood Light-Hearted With a Crowd-Pleasing Joke

If you didn’t include a joke in your opener, now’s your chance to get the crowd on your side. Remember: your best man speech doesn’t have to be a stand-up act. If you’re not a natural comedian, don’t force it — but a little laughter will go a long way to break the ice and keep spirits high.

When in doubt, balance your joke with some heartfelt sentiments. This will come across as more authentic, especially if you’re not the jokester of the group. Here are some examples you can steal for your best man speech!

Best man speech example for super tall grooms: “I’ve always looked up to [groom]. He follows his heart, he does the right thing, and he works hard at everything he does. But mostly, he’s 6 feet tall, so I have no choice.”

Best man speech example for couples who met online: “Before I continue, I wanted to give a quick shout-out to tonight’s sponsor: Tinder. Without you, we wouldn’t all be here this evening. So cheers to Tinder, and [groom’s partner] swiping right on [groom’s] fishing picture!”

Best man speech example for grooms with a beard: “[Partner’s name], you look beautiful today. [Groom’s name], you didn’t even shave!”

3. Tell One or Two Personal Anecdotes in Your Best Man Speech

Next up: storytime. This is where you should give a little more backstory about how you know the groom, and share some anecdotes that will make the crowd fall even more in love with the couple.

We get it, you probably have hundreds of stories that you could tell about the groom. How will you ever narrow it down?! When choosing which stories to write about in your best man speech, it helps to stick to a theme. This will ensure you stay on track and give your speech a well-rounded feel.

Some fool-proof themes are:

• What first bonded you together (college antics, brotherhood, coffee, you name it)
• All the ways the two of you are opposites (this is a fun way to compliment and poke fun at the groom)
• Funny facts the guests don’t know about the groom or the couple
• Why the love birds are perfect for each other
• Inspiring metaphors for marriage (ie: adventure, dreaming big, finding your other half)

Ultimately, you should tell 1 to 3 stories during your best man speech that sum up the kind of person the groom is, and why his partner is his perfect match. Here are a few examples to help you start brainstorming.

Funny best man speech example : “The groom and I have been friends for a long time, and we’ve had some pretty wild adventures together. And while I can’t share all of them here today (for legal reasons), I thought I’d tell you about one that really sticks out in my memory….”

Best man speech example about the couple’s meet-cute: “When [the couple] first met, I knew they were made for each other. It was obvious that first night when we were at a karaoke bar and they both sang Disney songs. Actually, I think the only person who didn’t know was [groom]. We suffered through months of googly eyes and hearing [partner’s name] in every sentence, just waiting for him to catch on. So when he told me that he was going to ask her out — and then, a year later, that he was going to propose — all I could say was: Finally.”

Best man speech template for brothers or childhood friends: “We’ve been through a lot together, but some of my favorite memories are of us camping every summer in Canada. Even though [groom] was always scared of a moose crashing through our tent while we slept, we still had some amazing adventures. From fishing in the lake to roasting marshmallows by the campfire, those summers were unforgettable. And now, as [groom] starts a new adventure with [his partner], I know he’s ready for anything — even a moose!”

4. Balance Your Best Man Speech With Heartfelt Sentiments

Once you’ve told one or two anecdotes, it’s time to dig deep, get heartfelt, and talk about how special the groom is to your life — and how great it is to watch him find his life partner. Don’t be afraid to get a little corny!

While all templates will be different, here are a few key points to cover during this part of the best man speech:

• Highlight what you love about the groom and admire about his love story
• Compliment the groom’s other half
• Express your gratitude to the couple for including you in their celebration
• Thank anyone else who made this day so special, including the couple’s parents (especially if they’re hosting the wedding) and the other members of the wedding party. You can also shout out the guests in attendance!

Sentimental best man speech example : “[Groom] has always been my partner in crime, my camping buddy, and my best friend. He’s always been the fearless one, and now he’s found a partner who’s just as courageous. I have no doubt that they’ll continue to blaze new trails together and create unforgettable memories along the way.”

Best man speech template for thanking the couple and the guests: “I’d like to thank everyone who came today to celebrate the happy couple. It’s a true testament to [the couple] that you’ve all taken the time to come and witness their marriage. I’d also like the thank the two of you for allowing me to be part of such a special day. That’s a lot of blind faith in my public speaking skills. Especially when there’s an open bar involved.”

Best man speech template for complimenting the love birds: “[The couple] takes hashtag couple goals to a whole new level. They wake up early to go to the gym together, come home and cook healthy meals, and make financially sound decisions for every part of their life. Now that you’re married, you guys can probably stop showing off. But in all seriousness, it’s something special to find your perfect other half. And that’s worth celebrating.”

5. Congratulate the Newlyweds and Wish Them Luck for Their Future

As you wind down your best man speech, be sure to congratulate the couple on their marriage and wish them luck for all their adventures ahead. Instead of giving a quick “congrats,” we love the idea of calling back to a story or joke from earlier in the best man speech. This will tie everything together in a perfect bow!

Heartfelt best man speech congratulations example : “Congrats to the newlyweds. You’ve found someone who loves you for who you are, and that’s a beautiful thing. I know that your marriage will be filled with love, laughter, and plenty of bad dad jokes.”

Best man speech congratulations example for adventurous couples: “Congratulations on finding the person who is game for every adventure that comes your way. I wish you both a lifetime of unconditional love and unforgettable experiences.”

Best man speech congratulations example for an unforgettable quote : “In the words of Forrest Gump, ‘I may not be a smart man, but I know what love is.’ And I’m looking at it today. Congratulations to the happy couple.”

6. Close Your Best Man Speech With a Toast

This is your grand finale, so end your best man speech with some fireworks! As you write your final toast, think about what you want your main takeaway to be. Are you hoping for light-hearted laughs, tears of joy, or a resounding “Awwww “? Take some time to write a closing statement that’s short, sweet, and full of love.

GWS Pro Tip: The best toasts invite the crowd to congratulate the couple with you. Use words like “we” and “us” instead of “I” to bring everyone together for this final moment.

Best man speech example for a sweet send-off : “So let’s all raise a glass to the newlyweds. May your love continue to grow stronger with each passing day, and may you never run out of things to laugh about. Cheers!”

Best man speech example for a final laugh: “So let’s all raise a glass to the most important people here. The bar staff. [Pause for laughter] For [the couple], cheers to a lifetime of love and laughter!

Best man speech example for all the happy tears: “So let’s raise a glass to [the couple’s] love. John Lennon said, ‘A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.’ Cheers to all your dreams coming true.”

Attending a Few Weddings This Season? Check Out Our Best Guides.

Wedding season is upon us, and we’re here to help you get ready for all those celebrations of love in your future!

To start, show the couple some love with our list of the best wedding gifts that will wow any newlyweds — plus this round-up of epic engagement gifts for love birds who just popped the question.

And if you’re in the process of picking out the perfect ‘fit, make sure you’re sticking to the dress code with our ultimate guide to semi formal attire . We’ve also created black tie optional wedding guide for those fancier affairs!

Did this guide inspire you to create the greatest best man speech of all time? Make sure to get it on video and tag us on Instagram @greenweddingshoes with the final product!

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Brett • April 11, 2022 • Last updated: April 20, 2022

10 Steps to Giving the Best, Best Man Speech

At some point in your life, one of your buddies or your brother will probably ask you to be the best man in his wedding. This is a great honor. One of the duties of a best man is to give a speech wherein you say a few kind words about your friend/brother and his new wife. If you’ve been to many weddings, you know that oftentimes best man speeches can quickly devolve into an awkward, drunken spectacle. The mixture of booze and lack of preparation results in the best man rambling and sharing inappropriate and embarrassing stories about the groom in front of hundreds of family and friends.

If you don’t want to make yourself look like a real ignoramus, and you want to truly be the best man, here are a few pointers to keep in mind as you prepare to give your speech.

Note: We originally published this article over 10 years ago and since that time we’ve gotten hundreds of emails and letters from best men sharing how our guide to the best man speech helped them deliver a speech that got compliments from not only the bride and groom, but also from everyone else at the wedding. This guide is battled tested and works. 

1. Prepare. Don’t walk into the wedding reception thinking you’ll know exactly what to say when you get there. If you have a few weeks before the wedding, start mulling over some ideas for the speech. Begin brainstorming and jotting down thoughts, stories, jokes, and quotes you might want to use. If you don’t know a lot about how your buddy and his wife met, ask. Think of stories from you and your buddy’s past that show what a great guy he is. The goal of the speech is to celebrate the couple and make them look good.

2. Stay sober. Sure, you want to enjoy yourself, and yes, alcohol may help take the edge off of giving a speech in front of hundreds of strangers; they don’t call alcohol liquid confidence for nothing. But make sure you’re not sloppy drunk when you give your speech. You don’t want to be completely uninhibited or you might say something you’ll regret later on. Besides, a man doesn’t need a crutch to help him tackle a challenge. Be man enough to postpone your own gratification until after the speech is completed.

3. Open by expressing gratitude. Thank all the people who made the day possible. Single out the bride and groom’s parents by name, and offer a toast to them for not only putting on the wedding but for raising two fine people. Thank the guests for coming.

4. Tell a story–make a connection. The ideal way to structure a best man speech is to find a connection between a story about your friend and your support for the couple. Share a story about how your friend would always lament that he would never find a woman with x,y, and z qualities, but how he finally did in his new bride. Or tell a story about the moment when you were hanging out with the couple and you realized your friend had found his match. Another good angle is to talk about the way that the bride and groom balance one another. Relate a funny (not embarrassing, see below) anecdote in which one of your buddy’s personality traits tripped him up in some way. For example, the story could be about how your friend is very shy and how this shyness caused some humorous event to occur. You then talk about how bubbly and outgoing his bride is, and how they therefore balance each other and make a perfect team.

5. Avoid controversial topics. Keep your speech on topics that aren’t controversial, offensive, or embarrassing. You would think this is common sense, but people somehow forget this when they’re standing with a microphone in their hand in front of a crowd of people. What gets people in trouble is attempting to be funny by sharing some embarrassing story or cracking some lame joke about a ball and chain. It usually comes out horribly and no one laughs. It’s okay to share a humorous anecdote, but not one that gets laughs at the expense of your friend and his new wife and embarrasses them and their guests.

Don’t talk about the groom’s past relationships, don’t tell people what you really thought of your buddy’s wife when you first met her, don’t slam the food, don’t make comments about “looking forward to the honeymoon” while winking at the bride–basically, just use some tact and common sense.

6. Avoid inside jokes. I hate when people do this in small groups. I hate it even more when people do it in front of larger groups. If you want to keep people’s attention, save the inside jokes for when it’s just you and your friend.

7. Keep it short. Nothing irritates people more than some rambling drunk going on and on and on. People have probably already listened to the maid of honor and the bride’s father give their spiel. By the time they get to you, the crowd is ready to eat cake and get on with it. Shoot for no more than five minutes.

8. End with a quote. An easy way to end is by using a quote that wraps the speech up nicely. In “How Do You Know When She’s the One?” I shared the quote my father-in-law used at my wedding. You can’t go wrong with it: “Marriage is not about finding a person you can live with, it’s about finding the person you can’t live without.” After that you can simply say, “My friend has found that person.” The End.

9. Raise your glass and propose a toast. Raise your glass and say something to the effect of: “Here’s to a lifetime of happiness and love for ____ and ____!”

10. Remember to be yourself. No need to get formal or try to be someone you’re not. And there’s no need to follow these instructions exactly either. Simply use them as a guide and be yourself. Let it flow naturally. Use your natural voice and mannerisms. Make it personal and sincere and say things from the heart and you should be golden.

Here’s your crib sheet:

1. Open by thanking those who made the day possible–end the intro with saying “Thank you to all those who have made it here today.”

2. Transition to your speech: “I am especially glad to be here on this occasion to celebrate this wonderful day with my friend/brother.”

3. Talk about how you know the groom, why you’re grateful for having him as your friend, and why he’s such an upstanding guy.

4. Share a story about your friend and connect it to the couple.

5. Raise your glass and ask everyone to join in a toast to the happy couple.

6. Let out a sigh of relief.

Related Posts

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.

How to Write a Best Man Speech (6 Easy Steps)

So, it happened. You were asked to be the Best Man at a close friend or relative’s upcoming wedding. And of course, you said yes!

But now that means you have to write and deliver a Best Man speech, and maybe you don’t have a clue where to start.

After all, it’s not something you do every day!

If you’re feeling unsure then don’t worry, you’re in the right place. I’m going to tell you exactly how to write a Best Man speech.

And the good news is it’s not rocket science. It’s just a sequence of logical steps.

So let’s see what they are, shall we?

Step 1: Learn the Logistics

One of the easiest mistakes to make is assuming that things will run a certain way on the day of your speech.

To avoid any nasty surprises, find out in advance how the wedding day and the speeches will be organised. Because things may be a little different to what you expect.

Here are some smart questions to ask the Groom before you get started:

• What’s the date of the wedding (basic but crucial!)
• Where do the speeches fit into the overall schedule?
• Who else is scheduled to speak and in what order? (Usually it’s the Father of the Bride, then the Groom, then the Best Man, but there are lots of possible variations.)
• Are there any specific time constraints you need to be aware of?
• Are there any topics that the Groom would prefer you to avoid?
• Are there specific stories the Groom will mention in his speech (so you can avoid duplicating them in yours)?

The Groom may not have all the answers to hand, but just getting a few answers can give you confidence to start working on your speech.

Step 2: Brain-dump Lots of Ideas

Once you’re clear about how your speech will fit into the wedding day schedule, and you’re aware of any important constraints, it’s time to start generating some ideas.

During this early phase, it’s best to focus on quantity rather than quality of ideas. I call it “brain dump mode”.

You don’t need to worry about structure or flow or anything like that, you’re just getting some raw ideas scribbled on a writing pad or typed into a document on your computer.

Your aim is just to generate as many possible topics as possible that could be used somewhere in your speech.

(Imagine these as the basic building materials you’ll use to assemble your Best Man speech.)

Here are some questions to ask yourself while in this mode:

• How did you first meet the Groom?
• What are his best (and worst) qualities?
• What are the most memorable moments from your friendship?
• What are the “running jokes” you share?
• What makes him and his new wife a good match?
• What advice do you want to pass on to your friend?
• What tips can you give his Bride for life with him?

More so than other speeches in the traditional wedding line-up you’ll want to look for ideas that present an opportunity for humour.

Remember: a genuinely funny Best Man speech isn’t just one that’s littered with off-the-shelf jokes. It’s one where you draw humour from real-life observations and situations that are specific to your friend.

(For more help with generating ideas, you can also check out my list of Best Man Speech Prompts.)

Step 3: Decide on a Suitable Structure

Now that you’ve generated some raw ingredients for your speech (and hopefully far more ideas than you will need!) you’ll want a structure to contain them.

There are lots of different structures you can use, and the best one will depend on the ideas you have generated.

Here are some possible structures:

• Chronological — if you’ve known the Groom for a long time you can structure your speech around key phases of his life: e.g., school days, early adulthood, first job, etc. It’s usually best to work your way forwards from your earliest memory to the present day.
• Perspectives — another option is to look at the Groom from a few different perspectives. For instance, what’s he like as a friend, as a sportsman, as a travelling companion, as a drinking buddy, etc.? What’s he like in his professional life compared with his personal life?
• Characteristics — you could also organise your speech according to the Groom’s most striking qualities or characteristics. You could talk about his loyalty, his determination, his sense of fun, his ambition, and so on, illustrating each one with examples and stories.

Note: Different structures will also give your speech a different “feel” so think about the style and tone you’d like to aim for.

You can also combine these structures to suit your needs. You could even choose a more novel structure driven by a big idea.

For instance, what if you structured your speech as a fairy tale with the Groom as an intrepid hero who has to overcome different challenges to win the heart of the princess (his Bride)?

Or you could structure your speech as a business presentation, complete with PowerPoint slides, which describes the “features and benefits” of the Groom as if he were a new product.

If you’re not sure what structure to use, look at your list of brainstormed ideas and see if they fall naturally into a set of categories.

Step 4: Organise Your Ideas

Looking at your chosen structure, write 3 to 5 headings for the main body of your speech. (You’ll add an introduction at the start and a toast at the end later in the process.)

Then pick the best ideas from your brainstormed list and start to drop them underneath the headings or sections of your speech.

What this looks like in practice will depend on whether you’re working on paper or on your computer. (Writing single ideas on sticky notes and moving them around between different headings or sections can be very effective.)

However you organise your speech, keep an eye on the balance between different sections…

If a section has too many ideas, you’ll need to trim it down.

If it doesn’t have enough ideas, you’ll either need to cut the whole section or generate some more ideas for it.

Here’s what a simple outline of your speech might look like:

Introduction

• Introduce myself as the Best Man and childhood friend
• Make a joke about how weird it is to see him dressed so smartly
• Apologise in advance to the Bride for what I’m about to reveal about Jason

School days

• Tell the story of us meeting on the first day of secondary school
• Talk about how I was always getting him in trouble (and how one teacher told his parents I was a “bad influence” on him)
• Talk about the temporary falling out we had when we fancied the same girl

University days

• Describe how he went off to university and I got a “real” job, but we stayed in touch even as we took different paths in life
• Tell the story of the messy weekend when I visited him in his student accommodation for the first time (and I got him into trouble — again!)
• Say how proud I was the day he graduated with a first class degree (but I had to buy the celebration drinks because he had no money left)

Working life

• Talk about how getting a job was a wake up call for him after his “cushy” three years as a student
• Say how none of his friends really understand what his job entails and how we all suspect he’s really a spy (like a really boring version of James Bond)
• Tell the story of the lads holiday we took after his first year at the company and how he got food poisoning on the last day and spent most of his first day back in the office toilet

Give him some credit

• Talk about how he’s a loyal friend who’s been a great source of support during hard times
• Talk about the time he used his annual bonus to pay for a big night out for all his friends to thank them for their generosity when he was a skint student
• Compliment him on his work ethic and the success he’s created for himself in life

Talk about the Bride

• Describe the time he introduced me to Caroline for the first time (and how I didn’t make the greatest impression on her)
• Tell the story of the holiday to Turkey where he invited her along and I got to know her properly (and had the chance to make a better impression)
• Talk about some of the personality improvements I’ve seen in Jason since he started dating Caroline

Raise a toast

• Wish them much happiness for the future
• Raise a toast to the couple

Step 5: Write Your First Draft

Once you’ve organised your speech ideas into a rough outline, it’s time to create the first full draft of your speech.

This isn’t so you can memorise the speech perfectly, but it helps you decide if the speech flows smoothly.

Write your speech out in long hand if you prefer but I find it easier to type it into your computer and move sections around as needed.

Start with an outline like the example given above and then start to expand each of the main points into sentences and paragraphs.

Tip: If you’re entering your speech on a computer and your software supports it consider using the dictation feature to create the first draft. It’s an effective way to write your speech in the same style that you speak.

Try not to agonise over the exact wording of each of the points. Your goal is just to get a rough version of your whole speech written down.

Once your speech is around the right length too long as fine consider doing some editing based on the following questions:

• Is each section of my speech roughly the same length or do some sections get too much attention and others not enough (i.e., it’s unbalanced)?
• Do the sections flow smoothly into one another or do I need to use more transitions (sentences or short paragraphs that link one idea to the next)?
• Is the overall structure effective or does it need a rethink?

Once you’ve finished this step you should have a full draft that, with some additional editing and polishing, you’d feel happy giving at the wedding.

Step 6: Practise, Revise and Repeat

Once you’ve completed your first rough draft, it’s time start practising your speech to see how it sounds and flows when spoken out loud.

You have a few different options during this stage of your speech preparation:

• You can just read the speech to yourself and see how it sounds.
• You can make more of a performance of it and practise in front of a mirror.
• You can film yourself on your smartphone and watch yourself back at your leisure (warning: watching yourself can feel awkward at first but the discomfort quickly fades!)

As you practice your speech out loud you’ll find that some sections flow better than others. You’ll realise that certain ways of phrasing certain sections are fine on the page but turn into tongue twisters when spoken.

Have a pencil to hand and make notes over any sections that need tweaking to make them easier to perform.

Note: You’ll need to “rinse and repeat” to evolve your speech into the finished version.

Once you’re fairly happy with your speech content, you can give your speech in front of a trusted friend or relative to get an external perspective (not the Groom though — his first exposure to your speech should be on the wedding day).

Getting feedback from someone else will help you understand if the parts you intend to be funny seem funny to other people too. Ask them to be candid about what works and what doesn’t.

Note: Time yourself to get an idea of how long the speech will last. Add an extra 20% to allow for audience reaction and the possibility of being more verbose when giving your speech for real.

Once you’re happy with you speech there’s no need to memorise it word for word. You can always summarise the main topics of speech using small cue cards and use those as a safety net on the big day.

Go Write Your Best Man Speech!

It’s time to stop wondering how to write your Best Man speech and just get on and do it. Because the truth is that these six steps are all you need.

Why not make life easier for yourself by writing your speech over a couple of weeks, rather than squeezing it into one afternoon the day before the wedding?

Taking your time helps to give you a bit of perspective on your speech content and also gives your brain a chance to come up with some new ideas.

(You’ll have more time to practice too.)

Read More Like This

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How to Write the Best Man Speech

Need help writing your best man speech? The Zola experts are here for you. Read on for our top tips and advice

By Deanna deBara

Last updated February 5, 2024

A wedding is not only an opportunity for two soon-to-be spouses to walk down the aisle , say their “ I do’s, ” and mark the beginning of their life as a married couple; it’s also an opportunity for the people who love them most to celebrate them and their relationship on their wedding day.

And, if you’re the best man , you’ll have a major part of celebrating the happy couple by giving the best man speech at the wedding reception.

The best man speech is your chance to share your best wishes for the newlyweds with all of the wedding guests in attendance.

But, what exactly should you say on the actual wedding day?

Let’s take a look at how to write a perfect best man speech:

Start Writing Early

Writing a best man speech takes a good amount of thinking, planning, and effort—and you want to make sure that you give yourself plenty of time for that thinking, planning, and effort.

Writing your best man speech the week of (or the day of!) the wedding isn’t an effective strategy. Not only are you going to feel stressed out, but if you write your speech at the last minute, chances are that you’re not going to get everything you want to say down on paper—and, as a result, your best man speech won’t be as heartfelt/touching/funny/composed/(insert desired adjective here) as you’d like it to be.

If you’re going to be the best man, start writing your speech early—as in months before the wedding ceremony. The earlier you start writing, the more time you have to revise, change, and practice—and the more likely it is that your speech will go off without a hitch on the big day.

Consider the Tone of Your Speech

There are a lot of different ways in which you could write a best man speech. You could go straight for the heart and write something emotional and touching; you can infuse a funny story and inside jokes to get a laugh from the couple; or you can keep things simple, straightforward, and to the point.

So, before you start writing, you should spend some time considering which of those vibes you’re going for at the wedding ceremony.

Setting the tone before you start writing your best man speech can help streamline the writing process; for example, if you know you want your speech to feel more emotional and heartfelt, you might consider incorporating memories that illustrate how much the groom and/or couple mean to you. If you want to go with a more humorous tone, you can start by writing out all of your most hilarious stories—and seeing which of them are the most likely to get the couple (and their wedding guests) laughing on the big day. The idea is to make it personal and to say some kind words at your friend’s wedding.

Can you have different tones at different points throughout your speech—such as an overall humorous speech with a few touching moments for good measure? Of course. But, if you want your speech to feel cohesive, you should set a primary tone—and make sure that you carry that tone throughout as you write your speech.

Start Strong

As the old saying goes, “you only get one chance to make a first impression”—and, for your best man speech, that means you need to capture people’s attention from the very beginning.

Starting your speech strong will ensure that you immediately hook the guests, wedding party, and newly married couple—and that they’ll be engaged and attentive for the rest of your speech.

“Starting strong” can mean a variety of things; depending on your speech’s tone, you might start with a particularly touching story about the couple or a funny story to break the ice. But, whatever you decide to start with, make sure that it grabs the audience’s attention from the get-go, which will make it easier to keep their attention for the rest of your speech.

Incorporate Your Favorite Memories

The groom (or bride) asked you to be the best man for a reason; chances are that you have a long history with plenty of happy, hilarious, and fun memories. And your best man speech is the perfect time to share those memories.

Incorporate at least one or two of your favorite memories with the groom, bride, and/or couple into your speech. Not only does sharing memories in your best man speech work from a storytelling perspective (everyone loves a good story), but it will also remind the couple of how special and important they are to you, which is exactly what a best man speech is supposed to do.

Keep Things Appropriate

Sharing memories in your best man speech is great—as long as those memories are appropriate.

Remember, this is one of the most important days of the newly married couple’s life—and all the most important people in their life (including family, friends, and colleagues) are going to be there, listening to your speech. The last thing you want to do is embarrass them or offend someone they care about.

So, if you have any memories that have even the slightest potential of upsetting or offending anyone (which, as a rule, includes anything involving excessive drinking, drugs, sex, or past relationships), leave it out of your best man speech.

Write, Practice, and Revise

A key part of writing the best speech is, you know, actually writing it down.

Even if you’re a person who does well speaking on the fly, you want to write your speech from beginning to end. That way, you have more control over what you say, how you say it, and when you say it.

Then, once you have it written down, you’ll want to practice it—and practice it out loud. Reading your speech out loud will help you get a better idea of how it flows, and help you identify any areas that need to be tweaked, adjusted, or revised.

And, just like you want to start writing your speech early, you want to give yourself plenty of time to practice and revise before the big day. Again, the more time you give yourself to work on your best man speech, the more comfortable you’ll be giving the speech at the wedding (and the better it will be as a result).

Writing (and giving) a speech can feel a bit scary for a lot of people. But, now that you know exactly how to write the perfect best man speech, all that’s left to do is get out there and get writing.

Up next for you

• How Long Should the Best Man Speech Be?

Make sure that your best man speech isn’t too long—or too short with this guide.

A Complete Guide to Wedding Attire for Grooms

Inspiration

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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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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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Best Man Speech: The Definitive Guide to Smashing it

by Catherine D July 12, 2019

Here’s all you need to deliver an incredible and unforgettable best man speech.

Congratulations!

You’ve just been awarded the highest honor a bro can receive.  You’re the best man! And that’s an honor greater than being knighted by the queen. But I’m sure you know what comes with it.

You’ll have to give that best man speech brosef!

Though, you won’t want to give just any speech off the top of your head that nobody is going to give a damn about.

Just remember what Uncle Ben said to Spidey, “With great power comes great responsibility”. It’s that serious, man.

You’ve probably seen best man speeches like this before. The guy stands up, hits the glass and says something, uninspired, about how he’s bros with the groom, congratulates the bride-to-be, and then sits down.

Or maybe you’ve seen another kind of speech, where the best man stands up and talks about nothing for 10+ minutes, putting you to sleep, because who even cares?

During a reception, there are about a million different things going on. People will forget the things that do not grab their attention, especially at a reception.

Everyone there is busy talking, eating, laughing, and will not care or even remember a boring speech in a few days. But not yours, my friend, you’re going to be the star of the day.

In this guide, we give you everything you need to know in sequence - from the writing process, all the way to delivering that wedding toast. Get your notepad ready for some very important tips on giving your wedding toast!

So How Do You Write the Best Man Speech?

The hardest part is always just getting started. Here are some basic tips on how to write a best man speech so that you can be prepared and dominate when the time comes.

Be Prepared and Plan Ahead

Practice makes perfect. Creating a fantastic speech doesn’t happen overnight.

If you’re going to wow the audience, you’ll need to make sure you’ve done everything you possibly can and covered every base - and man, that takes time.

Generally, 2-3 months is the right amount of time to give yourself when writing for a best man speech to account for the overall writing process and potential rewrites.

Considering all of the events that follow, like the bachelor party and the suit fitting, you’ll be too busy in those final moments to prepare a killer best man speech that’s even half decent.

Record Every Thought

You might be on the bus or in your car and think of an incredible quote or one-liner to say in your wedding toast, but our memories are very limited.

It’s difficult to remember what you even had for lunch two days ago, much less something you thought up some random time.

No matter where you are, record your thoughts. You could write in a journal, use your iPhone’s “Voice Memos” app or an app like Evernote . Scratch them onto a napkin, carve them into a stone near you, just get those wedding toast ideas down!

As long as you start capturing your thoughts, you’ll eventually reach a gold mine.

Think of this more as ‘capturing’ than ‘writing’. It’s easier to capture your raw best man speech ideas than banging your head on the wall trying to ‘write’ something from scratch.

Keep a Positive Tone

When it comes to the best man speech, the main thing to keep in mind is the goal of what you want to accomplish - celebrating the bride and groom. Here are some things to focus on:

• Your best experiences with the groom.
• How great a pair the bride and groom are.
• The best qualities of the groom.
• Possible first thoughts on the bride when they met (If they were good thoughts!)

Focus on the best of times, and further expand upon those points the best you can and maybe you can use those for a few wedding jokes!

With that in mind, here’s what not to say:

What Not to Talk About in Your Speech

While you may be writing to make your groom laugh, you need to remember your audience is diverse. You have children, elders, and teenagers so you wouldn’t want to write something inappropriate.

Generally, it’s best to avoid things like these:

• Any previous relationships.
• Anything about drugs, alcohol, gambling.
• Perverse topics, or anything of a sexual nature.
• Harsh negativity.
• Inside jokes that are too specific.

The idea is to avoid anything raunchy or disheartening during your speech, even if it might be hilarious in your head, you’ll have to avoid it in your best man speech.

Think about how upset Grandma would be if you happened to talk about how her little Jimmy actually hasn’t been saving himself for marriage - what horror!

How Long Should a Best Man Speech Be?

So you have a great speech, and you’ve covered every single talking point that fit. Everyone’s going to love this, right?

Wrong! When writing a best man speech, you’ll want to keep it way, way shorter.

The problem is that what you wrote is almost 30 minutes long! No bueno amigo. Nothing on this Earth could keep people engaged in a wedding toast that long.

You’re not going for a ‘F.D.R. Repairing the American Psyche During The Great Depression’ type of speech. What you want is more like an ‘I Love You, Man’ speech.

It seems like everyone from everywhere throws out an arbitrary number ranging from 1-10 minutes, but really, research shows our attention span is even shorter than a goldfish .

Which means you have 8 seconds to make an impression . Let that sink in.

The best man speech is usually between meals at a reception. That means you have to make your mark - and get in what you have to say in a short time. Meaning that short best man speeches are perfectly fine, you don’t have to overthink it.

It can be 1 minute, it can be 5 minutes.  Keep the audience engaged in your speech and don’t ramble off unnecessarily.

How do you do that? Practice!

It’s All About Practice

You know, it’s okay to feel unsatisfied with what you wrote. After all, you’re not the most accomplished writer in the world. You just want to prepare a great best man speech and get back to Netflix binging.

The writing process can be tough, so here’s an ideal approach that most people use when writing the best material:

• Write a few pages of content just to get the speech ideas out.
• Realize that you’ve written a movie's worth of material.
• Take what you really like.
• Edit until you stop hating it.

Being intimidated serves no purpose.

Get Interviewed Bruh

If you’re not the best writer (or capturer), the previous steps might seem a little intimidating to you. That’s fine. Not everyone can put pen to paper as well as they’d like, and if that’s you, consider having a friend interview you!

Getting a friend or family member to interview you about your experiences with the groom is a great way of getting wedding speech ideas. Here are a few topics to get interviewed on:

• Where did you meet?
• Did you like each other at first?
• When did you become bros?
• What kind of crazy experiences did you have together?
• What kind of bad qualities does he have?
• What kind of good qualities does he have?

Answering these questions with a recording device can help you when you need to put the best man speech together, and you can recall things you might never have just by writing!

Be (Relatively) Sober

Even if you have a Wade Boggs alcohol tolerance, it’s best to keep the drinks to a minimum.

( The guy drank 64 beers on one cross country flight, what the hell? )

Having one or two drinks is fine if it helps calm the nerves, but any more will mess up any chance of giving a decent best man toast, and you’ll just look silly slurring your words or acting strangely. Remember, all eyes are on you during your best man speech.

Try Some Best Man Speech Jokes or Quotes

So suppose you’ve got your speech together, but you have a placeholder like:

[ Put a joke in here! ] in 3-4 spots, and you really have no idea what to put in there.

We got you covered.

Here are some best man speech opening lines you could work with and personalize for whatever you may need, because the opportunity for wedding jokes is a rare thing! These make great icebreakers to warm your audience up.

“Well, where do I even start? [Groom] is just incredible. He’s brilliant, funny, caring… Anyway, I can’t really read your handwriting [Groom], so just tell me whatever the rest was after.”

“[Bride], you really are an incredible woman. You deserve an absolutely incredible husband, so I’m not going to stop until I figure out what’s wrong here.”

“Thank you everyone for bearing with me, I Googled ‘best man speech jokes’ and every site asked for my credit card before showing me any examples, so here goes nothing.”

“For those of you who know the bride, she’s really a wonderful woman who deserves a wonderful man. So good job, [Groom], for marrying her before she found one.”

“For anyone who finds this speech particularly not funny, I got all of my jokes from [Groom] so please, blame that guy.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, I wasn’t given a microphone tonight and I deeply apologize. To anyone in the back, If you hear silence at the front, be sure that you’re not missing anything.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, before I begin this speech I’d just like to say I am absolutely thrilled that I beat the bartender at rock-paper-scissors twenty minutes ago for the honor of best man.”

Putting Together a Best Man Speech Outline

Now that you have an idea of how to write a best man speech, it’s just as important to know how to structure it. While there are canned free best man speech templates out there, it's really best to get a bird's eye view on what you want to say and create a structure that works for you personally. Don't just take any random free speech template from online and fire it up. Not every outline or template will work for your needs, so get a good idea of your vision first then begin to structure it.

Flow matters, and it’s the most important thing in putting together great best man speeches. Without good flow, you’ll lose the crowd and people won’t follow what you’re saying.

Here are some great ideas to nail the best man speech structure and make your speech shine.

The Introduction

The introduction needs to serve a single purpose: Getting people engaged! This is the key aspect of any best man speech formula.

The One-Liner Approach

An incredible one-liner is a great way of getting started. A good idea for this would be to roast the groom a little bit, he probably wouldn’t mind.

For example, what faults does he have? You can take advantage of that to make slight jabs at him.

Or you can even make fun of yourself in the process, what do you both suck at? Maybe you want to talk about that awkward mullet phase you both had in high school. Live it up!

The Congratulatory Approach

Alternatively, you can open by showing gratitude to:

• The bride and groom, for bringing everyone together.
• The guests, for attending this incredible event.
• The parents of the bride and groom, for bringing them into this world.

This approach is a good option at the beginning. You can use it as a Plan B if you think you can’t gather an appropriate one-liner.

It’s easy to get lost in thought about what to follow up a good opener in a best man speech, but nothing is safer than a good story to engage your audience.

The idea is to create a connection to the groom and then present it to the guests.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Where you met the groom.
• What makes him a great guy.
• Crazy stories that show who he is.
• Why he’s an excellent fit for the bride.
• How he changed for the better after he met the bride.

Really, anything goes, and they’re all sure to keep people interested. Focus on the organic story of your friendship and don’t be robotic.

You’ll want to accomplish this in a way that stays kosher, though, avoiding unsavory details mentioned in our #4 tip.

Congratulate the Bride

So, you don’t have to do this, but we definitely encourage it. The issue is, not everyone really knows the bride. Honestly, maybe you met her a month ago, or a week ago.

Who knows, you could have met her literally just now. When your buddy gets hitched, it’s quite common to not really know the lady herself.

If this is true, you can handle this two ways:

Stick to something like:

“I knew she was a great fit for you the moment I saw you together”.

“She really is the perfect match for you dude.”

Sure the groom will know you barely know her, but whatever, if he really is your bro, he’ll appreciate that you’re saving face like this.

2. Avoid it.

Look, you’re the best man, it means the groom chose you, he knows you. Which means that he’s most likely expecting your best man speech to be about your experiences together, so keep the content focused around your relationship.

This means that it’s okay to avoid any mention of the bride after the first few words when writing a best man speech.

It works in most cases to just congratulate her in the intro, and then continue on with your speech avoiding her entirely.

This might sound a little underhanded, but it works, and most likely, the audience won’t notice.

If you know the bride, then speak about her.

If you’re just as close to the bride as you are to the groom, then you need to take all of the prior steps to make a compelling speech for the bride too, which won’t make the best man toast easy but hey, you don’t want to piss her off.

You could share a story about her too, or you can talk about one where the bride and groom shared with you, which is always a safe bet.

How to End Your Wedding Toast

Here’s where you wrap up your thoughts, and keep this part short, you don’t have to stress it too much.

It’s as easy as saying something like,

“Jack, Jill, to a lifetime of good health, love, and joy!”

There are a thousand different things you can say here, but the main idea is to keep the tone positive, upbeat, congratulate their love and wish the best for them.

NOTE: It is absolutely acceptable to keep a paper copy of your speech on hand because you’re not remembering your speeches like a world leader at the U.N. You’re just a guy who’s happy for his bro.

Best Man Speech Examples

Even if you have everything else down, it’s always best to have some speech examples of how to tackle your wedding toast.

People have done it before you, so why go in blind? Here are some different types of best man speeches for unique scenarios you may want to try for your best man toast.

Funny Best Man Speech (Example)

“Hello Everyone, I’m John, I’m the best man, and if you find this speech unfunny, [Groom] and I have the same sense of humor, so please blame him.

I’m just joking, of course, I promised [Groom] I wouldn’t roast him too much today or talk about anything too weird, so I’ll just talk about the good parts of his character...

...Thank you, everyone, have a great evening.

But really, [Groom] and I have been friends since before I knew how even to tie my own shoelaces. He’s a brother to me, even more than my actual brother, sometimes.

Sorry, Alex.”

Emotional Best Man Speech (Example)

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I’m the best man, Chris. [Groom] and I go way back, all the way from high school. Through the years, he’s grown from a pain in the ass, into a fine man.

[Groom] was always shy when it came to meeting new people, and that’s sorta hard to hear considering how a guy like that could be such a perfect match with [Bride]. But I can’t imagine him without you, because I’ve seen what it looked like.

[Bride], you are both so dear to me, please take care of [Groom], please keep him out of trouble.”

Short Best Man Speech (Example)

“Good evening, everyone, from the moment that [Groom] met [Bride], I knew that this was going to be something special.

The way you two talk to each other, you’re so alike sometimes that honestly, it kind of scares me.

But to quote Mark Twain, ‘To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with.’ May your love be timeless.”

Hopefully these wedding toast examples give you ideas on how to model your own best man speech!

The Presentation - Delivering the Best Man Speech

You have the writing and the flow down. Great! Most of the hard work is all done.

But don’t forget, you’re delivering a best man speech. And grand statements are always accompanied by excellent speech etiquette.

Here are some best man speech tips that’ll help you deliver, so that you don’t look like an uncomfortable 4th grader at a talent show your Mom forced you into.

Practice Your Speech on Camera

You’re noticing a trend, right? Practicing the actual delivery of the best man speech in front of a camera is a great way to see what poor and good habits you have.

And then, you need to keep practicing to eliminate the bad ones. For example, do you notice that you slump too much? Do you happen to mumble? Do you look down a lot?

Take note of all of these when you look at the recording and then try the speech again while mindfully avoiding bad habits and watching out for awkwardly delivered wedding jokes.

Practice in Front of People

Sure, using a camera is an excellent way to correct issues, but there’s nothing better than getting an outsider opinion.

Getting a spectator to sit and watch you deliver your best man toast lets someone tear into your bad habits without any bias. It may be painful, but this is what you want, and a larger group of people is best.

That way, when it’s time to give the best man speech, the concerns an audience member might have are already known to you.

The Honest Truth Man

Remember that a best man speech is a celebration of the love and joy that the bride and groom share. You don’t have to stress about every minor detail, because the audience isn’t (and they’ll most likely all be drunk anyway).

They’re already lightened up, and in the mood for a good few words, so why spend your time being nervous? It’s not worth it. Enjoy yourself up there and just deliver that crushing best man toast.

After it’s through, you can start drinking again, which is what you’ll probably want to do anyway.

Say what you have to say, and raise a toast to the bride and groom. Use this guide as a helpful resource and come back to it as many times as you need to ensure a totally awesome best man speech.

Good luck on your best man speech!

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How to Deliver a Great Best Man Speech, with Examples

November 6, 2020 - Dom Barnard

The best man speech is a huge part of the wedding so make sure yours is memorable. There are many areas to think about while preparing your speech; who is in the audience, how big is the audience, how long should the speech be, should I be telling jokes and so on.

Below we’ve listed essential best man speech tips on dealing with these questions and guidelines you can use to write your own speech.

Essential best man speaking tips

Tip #1: do your homework and plenty of practice.

Being prepared is the key to any successful speech. Write down bullet points of you key message, jokes, quotes etc. Spend time revising the content of your speech using different  tips from our blog , adding in  literary techniques , noting tactical pauses and best ways to end a speech.

Once the speech is written, spend hours practising it, the more you practise the less nervous you will be and the more natural you will sound. Don’t learn your speech off by heart, learn some key points and improvise around them. This will make you sound less wooden and monotonic.

For additional information, read this article on  best man tips  for before and after the speech.

Tip #2: Open by expressing gratitude

Thank the ones that made the day possible, the happy couple’s parents (single them out by name) and offer a toast to them for raising two fine people. Don’t forget to thank the audience as well. It’s a good idea to say something about how beautiful the bride looks and what a remarkable woman she is – this is guaranteed to go down well with everyone.

Tip #3: Introduce yourself to everyone

Many people at the wedding won’t know who you are. Briefly say who you are and why you’re such good friends with the groom.

Tip #4: Speak confidently and clearly

You know the groom better than most, so take the chance to introduce the real him to everyone. Talk slowly and clearly, taking time to pause and take deep breaths. Have a glass of water you can sip on during the speech, to help  calm the nerves  and break up the speech.

Tip #5: Get a joke in early

Getting a joke in early will help relax the mood. Spend time preparing the right joke – funny but not offensive, something that will appeal across all age groups, and make sure you learn it by heart.

Self-deprecation can go a long way, so it might be something told at your own expense. The audience will expect the speech to be somewhat funny so starting strongly will help engaging the audience.

Tip #6: Tell a story

Every great man speech includes a story, which could be how you met the bridegroom or a funny incident which you both went through. You can also tell a story about when you realised your friend had found his other half, or about when your friend would complain about being single for so long. Tread carefully when telling these and don’t cross the line with them!

Tip #7: Stay away from controversial topics

Anything embarrassing or offensive should be avoided by all means. Although this is common sense, once you get up there with a mic in front of you and a crowd waiting to see what you have to say, the situation might be so tense that cracking a crude joke or sharing an embarrassing story may seem perfect to lighten the mood. You’ll be left with a frozen audience that doesn’t want to laugh at the expense of the bridegroom.

Tip #8: Best to avoid past relationships

Try to avoid talking about the groom’s past relationships or reveal what you thought of the bride when you first laid eyes on her. Winking at the bride with comments such as “looking forward to the honeymoon” is absolutely out of the question when writing your best man speech!

Tip #9: Keep it short

Ideally, a best man’s speech should be no more than 1,000 words. The guests have already listened to the bride’s father and maid of honour speeches and are minutes away from eating the cake, so shoot for five minutes tops.

Tip #10: Summarise your friend’s good character

After the bulk of your speech, make sure you list the essential qualities of the groom which you have discovered over the years. You want the audience to think you’re a nice guy and convince the bride she picked the right man to marry!

Tip #11: End with a quote

Wrap everything you have said up nicely by  ending with a quote , such as: “Giving a best man speech is a choice. And, these two people have clearly chosen!”

Tip #12: Propose a toast

It’s time to raise your glass and toast for a lifetime of happiness and love for the couple… or something to this effect.

Use these best man speech tips to deliver a powerful speech people will remember for a very long time.

Best Man Speech – things to avoid

• Inside jokes  – you and a handful of people might find them funny, no one else will
• Getting drunk  – even though it may be tempting to calm the nerves beforehand
• Panic and get too nervous  – the key to avoiding this is to practice the speech until you really know it
• Waffling  – keep to 5 minutes of good quality content
• Reading straight from an A4 sheet  – take bullet points written on cue cards instead
• Speaking too quietly or loudly  – record your voice and play it back to yourself to hear what you sound like
• Discussing complex topics  – the audience will be left clueless if you talk about his latest PhD work

How to write a Best Man Speech – detailed guide

The opening.

Like any  form of public speaking , you need to have your audience on side right from the beginning. Be confident. After all, you know the groom better than most in the room and your best man speech is the perfect chance to introduce him to everybody else!

• Introduce yourself and say why you are best friends with the groom.
• Outline your speech (briefly).
• Feel free to improvise rather than sticking to the script you have prepared at home. Maybe something struck you as moving or funny during the ceremony. Mention it!
• Praise the bride early on (personality, looks, etc.) to buy good will right from the start and set everyone she knows at ease.
• Consider self-deprecation as it is something that will appeal across all age groups and it a great way to get a joke in early.

The main section of the speech

The important thing to remember is that the speech is not about you but the groom. Therefore, it’s okay if your best man speech paints a picture of your relationship with the groom but you need to concentrate on what a great guy he is, so everything you say has to revolve around that.

Be pleasant and nice and give your best man speech a flow. Every section and paragraph should run smoothly, jokes should be brief, and each story (you could also include other friends’ favourite memories, too) should reveal some more of the groom’s character and life.

The conclusion to the speech

So, by now you will have used all the funny stories and are ready to wow your audience with something emotional that will make their eyes water. You can say something about love and philosophise a little. It is also a good time to emphasise the love story of the bridegroom.

End your best man speech by saying how one completes the other and how happy you know one will make the other as they walk the paths of married life together. Your end to the best man speech should be as noteworthy as your opening comments so don’t fade away.

Best Man Speech examples

Here are some of our favourite best man speech examples:

• Greatest and funniest best man speech at a wedding
• Best brother wedding speech kills crowd
• Best man speech by Daniel Buccheri
• Best man speech – receives standing ovation

Final points to remember

There is no need to try too hard to be formal or present yourself as someone you are not. It’s important to just be yourself. This includes not necessarily following your prepared speech exactly. After all, these best man speech tips were written to provide you with a guide.

Your natural mannerisms and voice is what will make the difference so make it sincere, personal and if you talk from the heart, your best man speech will surely be golden!

For additional examples and best man speech tips, check out this website –  Best Man Example Wedding Speeches.

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How to Write the Perfect Best Man Speech

So you’ve been chosen to be your best mate’s best man. Congratulations! It’s time to go crazy planning the stag do, right? Well, yeah. But you have another, far more important thing to worry about as well: the best man speech.

Contrary to (unfortunate) popular opinion, a good best man speech comprises far more than a few cheap jokes you found online and an embarrassing story involving the groom and a stripper in Las Vegas. Actually, it shouldn’t comprise any of the aforementioned elements.

Although a really, truly funny best man speech can be a great addition to any wedding, it’s far more important that you tick the necessary boxes with your speech. Make a few jokes and rib the groom a bit, by all means. But you also need to ensure that you say some more heartfelt things about him, say plenty of flattering – but not lecherous – things about the bride, and remark on how wonderful the day has been.

Expert advice on how to write and deliver a best man speech you’ll be proud of

This is the last of your best man duties, and quite possibly the most significant one (besides not losing the rings, of course). Think of it this way: it’s going to be part of the wedding video that your best friend and his wife show their children one day. So, don’t screw this up.

Feeling the pressure now? Good! But, you’ve come to the right place. Luckily for you, we’ve consulted experts on making your best man speech absolutely perfect and have compiled their best tips.

Best Man Speech Structure

Introduce yourself.

This should go without saying, but we’re still going to say it. It can be easy when you’re nervous to speed right past telling everyone who you are. Not everyone will know that you’re the best man (unless you made an ass of yourself earlier in the day.)

Take this opportunity to begin your speech calmly and to introduce yourself formally as the best man. You can also quickly introduce the bride and groom and make a comment about how you know the groom.

Robert, from My Wedding Speeches , tells us, “I try to make the introduction personal by usually introducing the bride and groom and within the first five or six lines I then crack some sort of joke about them. The jokes must be personal, though.” Using a generic one-liner as a speech opener is a fantastic way to start off on the wrong foot.

You probably know the groom better than a lot of people in the room. Therefore, it is up to you to talk a bit about his personal history. Make some jokes at his expense, by all means, but your speech should not be about destroying the groom.

Adrian of All Speeches Great and Small points out, “This is by far the most common way best men come unstuck. They think that they’re not doing their job properly unless the groom has been thoroughly embarrassed and emotionally tortured.” Instead, make sure you’re laughing with him, not at him.

You can also elaborate a bit more here on how you met and became such close friends. Or, if you’re family, you can joke about how you ended up being forced into each other’s lives.

The most important thing here is to not waste too much energy trying to be funny, especially if it doesn’t come naturally. “I know best man speeches are meant to be funny, but try to be sincere as well as comical,” says Robert (My Wedding Speeches).

How he’s changed

At this point, you can start to bring your speech forward into covering present day.

“A great best man speech is simply a really good story,” says Adrian (All Speeches Great and Small).

You can discuss the groom’s career here or perhaps how life hasn’t gone how you’d always planned it. There is the option to be a bit sentimental here about how much he’s grown, especially if he’s been through one or two major life events, or you can continue to be light-hearted.

Again, though, the emphasis should be on honesty. Don’t make up events just so they fit into a joke you want to tell, because it won’t be funny. Often, the most comical anecdotes are the most painfully true ones.

His dating history

Now, before we go any further, we must warn you to exercise caution when it comes to this topic. Know your audience and how they, particularly the groom’s parents or the bride, will react.

If the groom has any particularly problematic exes, leave them out. Similarly, if there were any girls his parents didn’t know about, now is not the time to tell them! And absolutely do not reminisce about any of his exes whom you found attractive.

In fact, mentioning exes altogether should be considered the ultimate taboo topic for your speech, according to literally every speechwriter interviewed for this article. Robert says that “mentioning exes is especially important to stay away from if the groom has been divorced.”

Instead of naming anyone specific, tell some funny stories about when he was woefully unsuccessful at pulling in a nightclub. Or, about how girls would dump him the second they saw how untidily he kept his flat. End this with humour like, “So how he’s actually gotten someone to marry him, I will never know.”

The blushing bride

Your comments about the bride should be nothing but thoroughly complimentary and flattering, without being creepy. It’s great if you find her attractive, but this is not the right time to let her know. (There’s never a right time to let her know, actually, so just get that out of your head now.)

“Always tell her how lovely she is and talk about what sort of person she is rather than making it superficial,” says Robert. Stay away from remarking on her looks and it will go a long way to making her feel valued.

Talk about how she’s changed the groom – for the better, obviously. Don’t start whining about how you and the groom never get drunk together anymore because she doesn’t like it, no matter how true that might be. Reiterate the fact that she looks beautiful and that the groom is a lucky man and you’ve pretty much done your job in this area.

If you have a decent relationship with the bride, you should speak to her about the speech. Oliver of I Am The Best Man suggests that, “Not only will she have good material, she will also be able to fill you in on the important biographical information about their relationship that you might not know.”

At this point, you can bring in some funny stories about your relationship with the groom over the years; even about your relationship with the bride if you two have become close. This needn’t be sappy, however. If you have some genuinely funny stories to tell about what a mess the groom used to be, or an experience the three of you shared together, you can include them here.

Don’t go on forever, though, and make sure the underlying message is about their positive impact on each other’s lives.

When it comes to deciding which stories to share, take advice from Patricia of BestManSpeechWriter.com : “It is the funny anecdotes and personal stories that make a speech unique to the best man and the friendship he shares with the groom. The trick is figuring out which stories are appropriate to share and, most importantly, which should be left in the past.”

In other words, stay well away from anything that could be considered risqué or #NSFW. Don’t forget who will be in your audience. Plenty of friends of the newlyweds who are your age will be there, yes. But there will also be parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and little cousins present.

“Jokes about sex might be good between friends, but they don’t belong in a speech,” says Oliver. This is still a common pitfall of best man speeches, though, so be careful you don’t make this mistake.

Tradition dictates that, towards the end of his speech, the best man imparts some marital advice on the happy couple. However, take this with a pinch of salt.

If you’re already happily married then by all means say a few words about what you think makes marriage great. But if not, don’t suddenly pretend to be some sort of marriage guru as it will come off as disingenuous.

Similarly, don’t lean on a generic, sexist joke, inappropriate comment, or stock line like, “Just say ‘yes dear’ to everything”. “I would avoid giving ‘hilarious’ advice, if at all possible,” echoes Adrian (All Speeches Great and Small). So, either take the opportunity here to poke fun at yourself for not being married yet or just skip this bit altogether.

Hopefully the most straightforward part of your best man speech, the toast only needs to be a couple of lines. Toast the newlyweds, wish them love, health, and happiness, and down the rest of your bubbly.

Best Man Speech Tips & Tricks

Timing is everything.

This ought to go without saying, but long wedding speeches have never contributed to a good wedding. No matter how funny or heartfelt you’re planning for your speech to be, your audience’s attention is extremely finite. They’ve more than likely already hit the bar, and probably want to get back to drinking as soon as possible.

Exactly how long is too much is up for debate, and the pros we spoke to have slightly differing opinions. While Oliver advises around 10 minutes, Adrian and Robert advise 5-7 minutes, and Patricia says you can make do with as little as 3 minutes. Take from these opinions what you will, but definitely keep it to fewer than 10.

Writing an over-long best man speech is a common mistake, according to Oliver. “People get over excited when it comes to content. They underestimate or forget that they’re the last person of at least three and they try to crowbar in too much. If you go on for too long, you’re just going to lose people.”

Avoid joke websites

It doesn’t matter how funny you find the jokes when you’re reading them to yourself on the toilet, packing your best man speech with jokes you found online is a TERRIBLE idea.

Generic jokes never sound natural and will come off as obviously scripted. They also never illicit anything more than groans, especially from the newlyweds.

The groom picked you to be his best man because he loves and trusts you; don’t make him regret it.

Laughter is the best medicine

That being said, it’s perfectly natural to be a bit jittery prior to giving your best man speech. However, as all the experts we spoke to agreed, knowing you’ll be giving a funny speech can be the best reassurance.

“Telling jokes goes hand-in-hand with gaining confidence. You want to know you’ll be able to deliver a speech that’s funny and worthwhile,” says Oliver.

Of course, you may not be naturally funny, and that’s okay too!

Add at least a couple of quips to your speech in order to break the ice if nothing else. “We believe that every speech should contain humour,” says Patricia. “But the amount of humour we insert into the speeches we write is very much tailored to our client.” Lesson learned: be funny, but only as funny as you feel genuinely comfortable with.

Practice and edit

Knowing your best man speech through and through is hugely important. It’ll make your delivery smooth and last-minute stage fright is less likely to get the better of you. Write index cards to have on hand to remind you of your main points, but don’t rely on them completely.

Memorise your first line, at least one middle line, and your last line. This way, if you blank out or lose your place, you’ll have some idea of what comes next!

You shouldn’t be afraid to edit, either. Practice a few times in front of friends and, if a certain line (or 5) consistently falls flat, delete it. “A lot of people write a speech in isolation and won’t get any feedback on it and are then surprised that their jokes fall flat on the day. Getting feedback is really important and will help you to figure out what’s funny and what’s not funny,” advises Oliver (I Am The Best Man).

Remember to breathe

Breathing is one of the human body’s automatic functions and, in most situations, is impossible to forget to do. However, for whatever reason, when they’re faced with the task of public speaking, one can actually forget to breathe.

If you’re a nervous public speaker, it’s important to constantly remind yourself to take breathers during your speech. These will give you natural pauses and time to collect yourself, especially if you’ve stumbled over any words. And don’t worry, no one will notice! Those few seconds it takes to take a deep breath and a sip of water will feel completely normal to the other guests.

So, to all the best men out there, we hope this has given you the guidance and reassurance you need to write and deliver a best man speech you can be proud of. We have more speech advice for the groom and the father of the bride !

2 thoughts on “ How to Write the Perfect Best Man Speech ”

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Best part of the day when your a wedding photographer is the best man speech. They are so nervous throughout the day and then after they have done their speech its like a big relief and their personailty really comes out

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Ultimate Guide to Crafting the Perfect Best Man Speech: 75 Examples to Inspire You

May 29, 2024

• Founder of Bridesmaid for Hire
• Creator of the #1 Speech & Vow Writing Tools
• Author of Always a Bridesmaid (for Hire)
• Creator of 1-800-Bridesmaid

Hi! I'm Jen Glantz

Hi, Friend!   Jen Glantz here. I’m a bestselling author, the first ever bridesmaid for hire and have written over 1000 best man speeches for people all around the world! Let’s dive into some best man speech  examples to get you inspired for your own!

This blog provides 75 best man speech examples to inspire you, along with tips for personalizing them.

Whether you’re a jokester, a storyteller, or a man of few words, you’re sure to find a style that suits you.

By the end, you’ll be delivering a toast for the ages that will leave the bride, groom, and guests laughing, crying, and clinking their glasses.

Before we dive in, know that  Bridesmaid for Hire  is here to help along the way:

• Here’s more in-depth guidance on how to write a best man speech .
• We also have a popular  best man speechwriting tool  that writes you a personalized toast in minutes.
• Finally, our  best man speech coaching sessions   teach you ditch shaking hands and best man jokes that don’t land so you can give a confident best man speech.

Ready to nail your best man speech? Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

TL;DR: Key Takeaways

• Choose a best man speech example that matches your personality, relationship to the groom, and comfort level with public speaking.
• Consider the wedding atmosphere and audience when selecting tone and content.
• Keep it concise, usually under 5 minutes.
• Balance humor with sincerity.
• Practice extensively for confident delivery.
• When in doubt, speak from the heart.

Considerations for Choosing Best Man Speech Examples

Not all best man speeches are created equal. What kills at a bachelor party may bomb at a conservative family wedding. Before diving into our extensive list of examples, let’s cover some key factors to help you choose wisely for your specific situation.

Criteria for Selection of a Best Man Speech Example

Authenticity.

First and foremost, your speech needs to sound like it comes from you . Don’t force yourself to be a standup comedian if that’s not your style. The most memorable speeches incorporate personal stories, inside jokes, and your genuine emotions about the groom and couple. If it feels fake or forced, scrap it.

Audience Appropriateness

You may have hilarious stories about the groom’s wild frat boy days, but Grandma Ethel probably doesn’t need to hear them. Keep the content classy and relatable to all ages. Avoid too many inside jokes that will alienate people. And definitely don’t spill any embarrassing secrets or bring up the groom’s ex-girlfriends!

Keep it short and sweet. Aim for 3-5 minutes. Any longer and you risk losing the audience’s attention or delaying dinner. If you have a lot of content, ruthlessly edit it down to the essentials. It’s always better to leave them wanting more.

Are you going for laugh-out-loud funny, sentimental and nostalgic, or a mix of both? Consider the overall vibe of the wedding and match your tone accordingly. A lighthearted roast may work for a relaxed backyard bbq wedding, while a black tie affair calls for a more eloquent approach. When in doubt, keep it classy.

Every great speech has a beginning, middle, and end. Start by introducing yourself, then launch into a few anecdotes or memories of the groom. Express how happy you are for the couple and what an honor it is to be Best Man. Wrap it up with well wishes for a long and happy marriage. Close with a toast that gets everyone to raise their glass.

Key Factors to Know before picking a Best Man Speech Example

Preparation time.

Don’t wait until the last minute to write your speech. Give yourself at least a few weeks to brainstorm, write an outline, and practice. The more prepared you are, the more confident you’ll feel during delivery.

Confidence and Delivery

No matter how well-written your speech is, the delivery can make or break it. Practice extensively in front of a mirror, friends, or family members. Record yourself to see how you sound. Watch your body language and eliminated any nervous tics like fidgeting or saying “um.” Speak slowly, clearly, and with enthusiasm.

Emotional Balance

Weddings are emotional events and it’s okay to show your sentimental side. That said, inside jokes and memories should be balanced out with more general content that everyone can enjoy. Avoid getting too mushy or you risk losing the audience. Save the tears for the hugs after.

Now that you’re armed with the key considerations for selecting and delivering your speech, let’s dive into the good stuff – the examples! The following 75 speeches are grouped into four categories: Funny, Short, Sentimental, and Unique & Creative. Browse the categories that best fit your vibe and relationship.

Quick Resources:

• Use our best man speech generator.   Write an engaging best man speech that’s guaranteed to be memorable (for the right reasons).
• Book a 30-minute speech delivery session . Get expert help on how to deliver your speech so the jokes land and the audience listens.
• Read our best man speech guide . Get all the details, in one place, on what to include in your best man speech.

Best Man Speech Examples Categorized

Funny best man speech examples, best man speech example 1: the comedic roast.

Welcome everyone! For those of you who don’t know me, I’m the brother John never had… because he had me instead! John and I go way back. So far back that I have photographic evidence of the horrendous bowl cut his mom gave him in 3rd grade. Don’t worry John, I won’t show them… yet. John was always the responsible one, making sure I didn’t get into too much trouble. But there was this one time in college, when John decided to let loose. He streaked through the quad wearing nothing but his girlfriend’s skirt! Luckily that girlfriend is now his lovely wife, so she’s already well aware of what she’s getting into. All joking aside, John is one of the most stand-up guys I know. He’s always been there for me, through thick and thin. And I know he’ll be an incredible husband because I’ve seen firsthand how he treats Sarah. The love and respect they have for each other is truly inspiring. Sarah, you’re a lucky woman. John may not be much to look at, but you’ll never find a more loyal and loving partner. Please join me in toasting the happy couple! To John and Sarah, may your love be modern enough to survive the times, but old-fashioned enough to last forever. Cheers! Customize your funny best man speech now >>

Best Man Speech Example 2: The Storyteller

I’ve known Ethan since we were five years old. Even back then, he was the sweetest kid on the playground, always sharing his fruit snacks and defending anyone being bullied. That’s the kind of stand-up guy Ethan is. Fast forward to high school, and not much had changed. Ethan was still everyone’s best friend. But he was also an incredible athlete. I’ll never forget the time he scored the winning touchdown at our Homecoming game. The crowd went wild, and all the cheerleaders wanted his attention at the dance afterwards. But Ethan only had eyes for one girl – his high school sweetheart and now bride, Ava. I asked Ethan when he knew Ava was the one. He told me it was on their first date. He had saved up for weeks to take her out to a nice restaurant. But when they got there, Ethan realized he had forgotten his wallet! Ever the gentleman, he offered to wash dishes in the back to pay for their meal. And what did Ava do? She put on an apron and said “I’ll dry.” That’s when Ethan knew she was a keeper. Ava, thank you for continuing to be Ethan’s rock and biggest cheerleader. Ethan, thank you for continuing to be the amazing man we all know and love. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness, laughter, and teamwork. Let’s raise our glasses! To Ethan and Ava – proof that true love isn’t just in fairy tales. Cheers! Customize your funny best man speech now >>

Best Man Speech Example 3: The One-Liner Specialist

Hi everyone, I’m Patrick – Tom’s best friend and the one who gets to spill all his most embarrassing secrets today! Just kidding, I would never do that… again. Tom and I have been through a lot together. From our first little league team, to being college roommates, to co-founding our company. We’ve definitely seen each other at our best… and worst. Like the time Tom walked into an important investor meeting with toilet paper stuck to his shoe. He really knows how to make a first impression! But in all seriousness, Tom is the kind of friend everyone needs in their corner. He’s a great listener, gives the best advice, and is always down for an adventure, even if it’s just trying a new food truck downtown. And now he’s found his perfect match in Lisa. Lisa, I’ll never forget when Tom first told me about you. He had that classic “Tom in love” puppy dog look. But as he started sharing stories about your hiking trips, cooking experiments, and laid-back approach to life, I knew you were the yin to his yang. You both just “get” each other in a way that’s rare and special. As Tom’s best man, I’m supposed to give you marriage advice. But the truth is, you two don’t need it. Your love is easy, fun, and unbreakable – just like our friendship. Though I do recommend investing in some good ear plugs, because Tom’s snoring could wake the dead! Let’s toast to the perfect pair! Tom and Lisa, may your marriage be as strong as Tom’s haggard dance moves, and as sweet as Lisa’s homemade cinnamon rolls. Congrats you crazy lovebirds! Customize your funny best man speech now >>

Best Man Speech Example 4: The Prop Comedian

When Ryan first asked me to be his best man, I was honestly a little surprised. Not because I’m not honored, but because Ryan is one of the most meticulous planners I know. I figured he would have sent me a 10-page best man handbook with diagrams! But all joking aside, Ryan’s organization and attention to detail are just a couple of the many qualities I admire about him. He’s hardworking, loyal, and always up for a good time. Though sometimes that good time involved a few too many shots of tequila, as evidenced by this sombrero from our trip to Cabo! [hold up sombrero prop] Over the years, I’ve watched Ryan navigate the ups and downs of life with poise and determination. From acing his MCAT exams, to securing his dream residency, to buying his first house, he’s always had a plan and followed through. But there was one thing Ryan couldn’t seem to get a handle on – his love life. He was unlucky in love for a while there, enduring a string of bad Tinder dates and awkward set-ups. But that all changed when he met Mia. From the moment Ryan told me about the beautiful, whip-smart lawyer he met at a work conference, I knew she was the one. The way his eyes lit up when he talked about their spirited debates, shared love of sushi, and dreams of traveling the world together – it was unlike anything I’d seen from him before. And when I finally met Mia, I understood why. Her warmth, humor, and beauty immediately put you at ease. She was the yin to Ryan’s yang. Over the past three years, I’ve watched Ryan and Mia’s relationship blossom into something truly special. They challenge each other intellectually, support each other emotionally, and make each other laugh constantly. And now they’re making the ultimate commitment in front of all their loved ones. So Ryan, [put on stethoscope prop] my diagnosis is that you’re one lucky man. You found the love of your life and best friend in Mia. And Mia, [put on judges gavel prop] the evidence shows, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you’re the only one who can keep Ryan in line! [raise glass] Join me in toasting the brilliant bride and groom! Ryan and Mia, may your marriage be filled with love, laughter, and plenty of sushi dates. Thanks to you two, I finally believe in soulmates. L’chaim! Customize your funny best man speech now >>

Best Man Speech Example 5: The Improv Artist

Hi everyone, I’m Daniel, Jake’s brother from another mother and partner in crime…but don’t tell our parents that last part! You know, standing up here, it all feels a bit surreal. It seems like just yesterday Jake and I were making mud pies in the backyard and betting on how many marshmallows we could fit in our mouths. For the record, it’s ten. We still have the polaroids somewhere… Jake has always been the ride-or-die kind of brother. The kind who bails you out when you crash Dad’s car, but never lets you live it down. The kind who knows all your most embarrassing secrets, but keeps them under lock and key…for a price. The kind who’s always up for an adventure, whether it’s backpacking through Europe or just seeing how many free samples you can snag at Costco. So when Jake met Sophie, I was curious to see what kind of girl could tame my wild big bro. Turns out, Sophie is just as adventurous and fun-loving as Jake. But she’s also his perfect counterbalance. She’s the voice of reason to his impulsivity, the calm to his storm, the one who makes sure he looks before he leaps…at least most of the time. I remember when Jake called me after their first date. He described this epic 12-hour day that included brunch, an escape room, paddle boarding, hibachi, and late night karaoke. He was practically gasping for air recounting it all. I asked him what they could possibly do for a second date after that. Without skipping a beat he said “I’m going to marry her.” And here we are. Customize your funny best man speech now >>

Short Best Man Speech Examples

Best man speech example 6: the concise complimenter.

Good evening everyone. I’m honored to be here tonight as Parker’s best man. Parker is a true gentleman – kind, intelligent, and always putting others before himself. He deserves the very best in life, and he’s found that in his beautiful bride Isabel. Isabel, you are Parker’s perfect match in every way. You share the same core values of integrity, generosity, and love of community. It’s been a joy to watch the two of you grow together and create a relationship that is built on a foundation of friendship, respect, and unwavering support. Parker and Isabel, your love for each other shines through in everything you do. I know you will continue to lift each other up and bring out the very best in one another. May the joy and love you feel today be with you always. Let’s raise a glass to the happy couple! Customize your short best man speech now >>

Best Man Speech Example 7: The Poetic Toast

A toast to my brother of another and the light of his life: A union like yours is very rare. In your togetherness, you find strength. In your passion, you find peace. Connected by an unbreakable friendship, You are two souls that shine more brightly together than apart. Jonathan and Miranda, as you become one today, Know that your love has already left a mark on us all. By your example, we are inspired. We are reminded what it means to love fully, Enthusiastically, and without reservation. As you embark on this new chapter, Know that you go forward with our full love and support. To a lifetime of happiness, Customize your short best man speech now >>

Best Man Speech Example 8: The Quote Master

“The highest happiness on earth is marriage.” – William Lyon Phelps Kevin, truer words have never been spoken to describe the joy on your face today as you wed your soulmate, Jessica. Your love story is one for the ages – a serendipitous meeting at a coffee shop, a whirlwind romance that took you around the world, and now, a commitment to spend the rest of your lives together. As your best man and longtime friend, I couldn’t be happier to stand by your side today. I’ve watched you grow into the caring, responsible man you are, and I know you and Jessica will build a beautiful life together filled with laughter, adventure, and endless cups of coffee. Congratulations to you both. Never stop pursuing your dreams together. “Love recognizes no barriers.” – Maya Angelou Customize your short best man speech now >>

Best Man Speech Example 9: The Heartfelt Haiku

Groom beaming with pride Bride glowing with love and joy Two hearts become one Adam, Melissa, your love radiates through this room and warms us all. May your marriage be blessed with that same light and warmth. Kanpai! Customize your best man speech now >>

Best Man Speech Example 10: The Brief Narrator

Boy meets girl. They become best friends. Best friends become soulmates. That’s the short version of Sam and Emma’s love story. But of course, there’s so much more to it. The late night talks, the inside jokes, the “I can’t imagine my life without you” moment. The proposal with the puppy. And now the wedding of the century, surrounded by everyone who loves you. Sam, you’re the kind of guy who would give someone the shirt off his back. And Emma, you’re the girl who makes everyone feel welcome and loved. Together, your generosity and care for others knows no bounds. So let’s raise a glass to the newlyweds. Sam and Emma, thank you for reminding us all about the power of love and the joy of finding your perfect teammate in life. May your marriage be a grand adventure filled with puppy snuggles. To the happy couple! Customize your best man speech now >>

Sentimental Best Men Speech Examples

Best man speech example 11: the emotional tribute.

Good evening everyone, I’m Patrick, Daniel’s little brother and best man. This is an emotional day for me, because I’ve always looked up to Daniel. He’s been my protector, my role model, my partner in crime…and today he’s the groom. Growing up, Daniel was my superhero. He stood up to my bullies, taught me how to throw a perfect spiral, and convinced me that broccoli would turn me green like the Hulk, which I still kind of believe. He was always in my corner, cheering me on and making me believe I could do anything. Daniel, as I stand here today I want you to know how proud I am to be your brother. You’re one of the bravest, most honorable men I know. An incredible son, sibling, friend, and now, husband. You’re my best man today and every day. And my new sister Chelsea, where do I begin? From the first time we met, it was clear you were Daniel’s perfect match. Your warmth, humor, and huge heart immediately put me at ease. I’ve loved getting to know you through the years and watching the incredible love you and Daniel share. You truly bring out the best in my brother. Thank you for loving him as fiercely as we do. As you two begin this new chapter, I wish you a lifetime of love, laughter, and broccoli. May you always be each other’s superhero. Join me in toasting the bride and groom! To Daniel and Chelsea! Customize your best man speech now >>

Best Man Speech Example 12: The Nostalgic Reminiscer

Jack and I go way back. All the way to Mrs. Murphy’s kindergarten class, with the finger painting and alphabet posters on the wall. Even at five years old, Jack was the guy everyone wanted to be friends with. He was kind, funny, and always up for sharing his 64-pack of crayons, which is how you knew he was a really good guy. Fast forward a few decades, and so much has changed… but Jack hasn’t. He’s still the most loyal, generous friend a guy could ask for. The one who’s by your side for every milestone. The one who’s got your back, no matter what. The one who gives the world’s best bear hugs. So when Jack met Priya, I knew she had to be someone truly special. And was she ever. Priya, you came into Jack’s life like a beam of sunshine. Your positive energy, sense of adventure, and heart of gold were a perfect complement to Jack’s steadiness and determination. Suddenly my 64-pack of crayons friend had a skip in his step and was smiling wider than I’d ever seen. I knew pretty quickly that what you two had was the real deal. Priya, thank you for loving Jack the way he deserves. For always being up for trying a new restaurant, or taking a last minute road trip, or hosting a legendary 4th of July BBQ. For understanding and appreciating all the things that make Jack so unique and wonderful. He’s the luckiest guy in the world. So let’s raise a glass to the happy couple! Jack and Priya, my wish for you is crayon-colored days, bear hug nights, and a lifetime of love and happiness together. May you always find home in each other’s arms. Cheers! Customize your best man speech now >>

Best Man Speech Example 13: The Romantic Realist

Hi everyone, I’m Nathan, Ethan’s best friend and best man. Now, you might be expecting me to tell you about all the crazy shenanigans Ethan and I got into over the years. Like the time we decided to road trip to Mexico on a whim, with no map and no plan. We ended up lost, sunburned, and out of gas in the middle of nowhere. But we also had the adventure of a lifetime, because that’s just how Ethan rolls. But as much as I love a good roast, that’s not why we’re here today. We’re here to celebrate something far more incredible – the love between Ethan and Ava. Now, I know what some of you might be thinking. Love is a many-splendored thing, right? All romance and roses and euphoric montages. But here’s the thing. Love is also a choice you make every single day. It’s a promise to be your partner’s bodyguard, cheerleader, and personal comedian, even when life gets messy. It’s being able to ugly cry in front of each other after a hard day and waking up the next morning knowing that person is still your favorite human. It’s committing to forever even when you’re dealing with job stress, dirty dishes, and really bad morning breath. That’s the kind of real deal love these two have. When I think about Ethan and Ava’s relationship, a few words come to mind. Friendship. Laughter. Adventure. Unwavering support. A rock-solid foundation to weather any storm. That’s what you’re signing up for today. And let me tell you, it’s worth it. Because when you find someone who makes you laugh until you pee a little, kisses your nose even when it’s runny, and promises to always be your co-pilot on the highway of life, you hold on tight and never let go. So Ethan and Ava, as you exchange rings today, know that your love inspires the rest of us. Not because of some cheesy rom-com fantasy, but because you’re a real couple, with real struggles, who choose each other every day, through better and worse. A couple who’s not just in love, but who IS love, in all its honest, messy, beautiful glory. Join me in toasting the bride and groom! Here’s to a lifetime of adventure, forgiveness, belly laughter, and really great sex. May you always be each other’s home. To Ethan and Ava! Customize your best man speech now >>

Best Man Speech Example 14: The Family Man

Hello everyone, my name is Andrew and I have the honor of being the best man today. I’m also Matt’s older brother, which means I have plenty of embarrassing stories to share! But I’ll save those for the next family reunion. In all seriousness, today is particularly emotional for me, because I’ve had a front row seat to Matt and Emily’s love story. I’ve watched my little brother grow from an awkward, video-game obsessed teenager into the confident, caring man he is today – and so much of that is thanks to Emily. From the first time Matt brought Emily home to meet the family, we knew there was something special about her. The way she jumped right in to help mom with the dishes, cracked dad up with her witty one-liners, and asked me thoughtful questions about my job – it was clear she wasn’t just a girlfriend, but a true partner. Over the years, Emily has become more than just a sister-in-law to me – she’s family. The kind of family who shows up, no questions asked. The kind who remembers every birthday, hosts the best Thanksgiving, and gives the warmest hugs. Matt, you really hit the jackpot with this one. And Emily, I want to thank you. Thank you for loving my brother the way he deserves. For seeing past his corny jokes and occasionally questionable fashion choices to the heart of gold underneath. For pushing him to be his best self while accepting him as he is. For being such an incredible daughter, sister, aunt, and friend to our crazy clan. We love you so much. So to Matt and Emily, as you formally become family today, I wish you a love as strong as mom and dad’s, a home filled with as much laughter as our childhood, and a marriage that makes you each feel as cherished as you are. May you always be each other’s haven and biggest fans. We love you! Everyone please raise your glass to Mr. and Mrs. [Last Name]! To Matt and Emily! Customize your best man speech now >>

Best Man Speech Example 15: The Inspirational Speaker

Good evening, friends and family. I’m David, the groom’s best man. When Raj asked me to stand up for him on his wedding day, I didn’t hesitate. Because if there’s one thing I know about Raj, it’s that he shows up for the people he loves. He shows up for the big things, the small things, and everything in between. And today, he’s showing up for the biggest commitment of all – marriage. I’ve known Raj for 20 years. We’ve been through a lot together – highs, lows, and a whole lot of cheap beer in between. But through it all, Raj has been a constant source of support, wisdom, and inspiration. He’s the friend who picks up the phone at 2am when you need to talk. The one who helps you move apartments in 100-degree heat. The one who never lets you give up on yourself, even when you want to. Raj: You live life with such passion and purpose. You don’t back down from a challenge. You stay true to your values. And you love with your whole heart. It’s no wonder that when Anjali came into your life, you knew pretty quickly she was your person. Anjali, you are a force of nature. Brilliant, driven, kind, and drop-dead gorgeous to boot. But what I admire most about you is your strength. The quiet kind of strength that powers through med school exams and overnight hospital shifts. The graceful kind of strength that juggles family responsibilities and your own aspirations. And the joyful kind of strength that lives life to the fullest. Raj is a lucky man. When I see you two together, I see a couple committed to building something meaningful, both in your marriage and in the world. I see best friends and true partners. I see two people who not only accept each other’s strengths and flaws, but actually love each other more because of them. So as you exchange vows today, I want to remind you that love isn’t just flowery words. It’s ACTION. It’s showing up, even when it’s not easy. It’s choosing compassion over being right. It’s growing together through change. It’s saying I love you, I’m here for you, I choose you, every single day. Raj and Anjali, never stop fighting for each other. Never stop challenging each other. Never stop finding new reasons to fall in love with each other. Because the world needs more couples like you – couples who lead with love. Join me in toasting the bride and groom! Raj and Anjali, thank you for letting us witness the incredible love you share. May you always be each other’s strength and inspiration. To a lifetime of showing up! Customize your best man speech now >>

Unique and Creative Best Man Speech Examples

Best man speech example 16: the musical maestro.

*best man takes the mic and breaks out into song* (To the tune of “I’ll Be There For You” by The Rembrandts) So no one told you life was gonna be this way (wedding bells chime 4x) Your job’s a joke, you’re broke, love life DOA Well, it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month, or even your year, but… Ethan will be there for you (When the rain starts to pour) Natalie will be there for you (Like she’s been there before) They’ll be there for you (‘Cause you’re there for them too) *Ethan pulls the mic away, laughing* Alright, alright, I’ll spare you the rest of my pipes. But everything I said in that little ditty is true. Ethan and Natalie, you two are the real deal. I’ve seen you support each other through job losses, family dramas, and yes, even unfortunate haircuts. Seriously though, that frosted tips phase, bro? But all jokes aside, you two have something special. You’re not just lovers, you’re best friends. And yeah, marriage is a big, scary, wonderful adventure. But it’s so much better when you’ve got your person by your side. Natalie, thanks for making an honest man out of my boy. Ethan, thanks for being the kind of friend who feels more like family. I know you’ll both continue to be each other’s rocks, through all of life’s crazy plot twists. So, without further ado… *grabs the mic again* (To the tune of “Marry You” by Bruno Mars) It’s a beautiful night, we’re looking for something fun To celebrate this love that’s just begun Well I know this little chapel on the boulevard we can go No one will know Oh, come on, let’s go! I think they wanna marry each other! Sh*t, I know they wanna marry each other! Here’s the ring, it’ll fit like a glove, g-glove, glove You know it’s time you two say “I do”, yeah it’s true Who cares if we’re all dressed up, right? Got wedding cake, champagne for tonight (hey!) They want the rest of their lives To start as soon as possible It’s time, you two, let’s do the damn thing! I know they wanna marry each other! Please be upstanding for Mr. and Mrs. McNally! We love you, crazy kids! Cheers! Customize your best man speech now >>

Best Man Speech Example 17: The Tech-Savvy Speaker

Good evening ladies and gentlemen. For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Josh, Alex’s best man and partner in crime since middle school. When Alex asked me to be his best man, I was thrilled, honored… and a little bit terrified. How could I possibly sum up a friendship that has spanned over half our lives? How could I put into words the incredible man that Alex is and the amazing husband I know he’ll be to Sophia? But then it hit me – a picture is worth a thousand words. Or in this case, an embarrassing Facebook memory is worth at least a solid 5 minutes of roasting. *pulls up old photo of groom on screen* Oh yes. This gem is from our sophomore year spring break trip. I’m talking bleached tips, puka shell necklace, the works. Alex, my man, what were we thinking? *flips through slideshow of funny photos of groom growing up* From questionable fashion choices to that time we thought we could start a boy band, Alex and I have been through it all together. But make no mistake, beneath the goofball exterior is one of the smartest most driven people I’ve ever met. This is the guy who taught himself to code in high school, who started his own successful tech company in college, and who never shies away from a challenge. Alex, your determination and resilience have always inspired me. *changes slide to collage of Alex and Sophia* And then you met Sophia. From the moment you two started dating, I watched my best friend become the best version of himself. Sophia, you are Alex’s perfect match in every way. Brilliant, compassionate, and an absolute knockout to boot. But beyond that, you two share a love that is truly special. The kind of love that evolves and grows stronger over time. *changes slide to interactive timeline of couple’s love story* In fact, feel free to scan the QR code in your programs to scroll through Alex and Sophia’s relationship milestones – from their first date at that quirky VR cafe to their epic around-the-world adventure last year. You two have built an incredible life together already, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds. *changes slide to heartfelt candid of couple* Alex and Sophia, as you enter this new chapter, I have no doubt that your marriage will be a beautiful one, filled with love, laughter, and all the latest and greatest tech gadgets. Because in a world of constant upgrades, you two have found something timeless – true partnership and unconditional love. Join me in raising a glass to the newlyweds! Alex and Sophia, may your love continue to be the one thing in life that never needs an update. We love you! Customize your best man speech now >>

Best Man Speech Example 18: The Theatrical Performer

*best man enters in a dramatic fashion* Welcome, welcome, one and all, to the wedding of the century! I am your host for the evening, the dashing, debonair, and undeniably humble best man, Luke. Now, you may be wondering, how did a specimen like myself end up with a best friend like Noah? Well, let me take you back to act one, scene one of our epic bromance. *lights dim, spotlight on Luke* It was a dark and stormy night… just kidding, it was a perfectly average day in 10th grade English class. I was the new kid, fresh meat, trying to find my place in the adolescent jungle. And there was Noah, the class clown with a heart of gold, cracking jokes and making even our grumpy teacher crack a smile. Long story short, we bonded over our mutual love of The Office and the rest is history. From late night study sessions fueled by energy drinks to road trip singalongs to “Bohemian Rhapsody”, Noah has been my partner in crime and my confidant. The Maverick to my Goose, the Ferris to my Cameron, the Patrick to my Spongebob. But little did Noah know, his real leading lady was waiting in the wings. Enter stage right: the luminous, hilarious, drop dead gorgeous Olivia. *gestures grandly to bride* From the moment these two met at that improv class freshman year of college, it was clear their love story was one for the ages. The way Olivia could match Noah’s wit and humor, the way Noah looked at Olivia like she hung the moon… it was like watching a real life rom-com unfold. *switches to sincere tone* But in all seriousness, Olivia, thank you. Thank you for loving my best friend the way he deserves. For seeing the caring, loyal, brilliant man beneath the class clown persona. Noah, thank you for showing me what a healthy, happy relationship looks like. You two are the real deal. So without further ado, I present to you the maîtres d’amour, the crème de la crème of couples, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson! *pulls bride and groom to their feet and into a group hug* Everyone join me in raising your glasses to the leading lady and man of the hour! Noah and Olivia, may your marriage be filled with love, laughter, and plenty of standing ovations. We love you! *cue end scene applause and music* Customize your best man speech now >>

Best Man Speech Example 19: The Cultural Celebrant

Namaste and good evening to the beloved friends and family of Priya and Aakash. I’m Rohan, the best man and pseudo-big brother to the groom. As many of you know, Aakash and I go way back – to the days of Little League cricket matches, weekend sleepovers filled with too much junk food and Bollywood movies, and of course, those awkward preteen years navigating our Indian-American identities together. Aakash, you have always been the yang to my yin. The rational to my impulsive, the calm to my chaos, the mild butter chicken to my spicy vindaloo. But through it all, you’ve been my constant. My fellow ABCD (American-born confused desi), my understanding ear, my brother from another mother. And then along came Priya. From your very first date, which Aakash was adorably nervous for, by the way – I knew she was something special. The way you talked about her smile, her intelligence, her passion for social justice – it was clear this was no ordinary crush. As I got to know Priya better, I saw how seamlessly she fit into Aakash’s life and our tight-knit community. Here was a woman who could hold her own in a heated debate on politics, rock a saree like a runway model, and make a mean biryani to boot. Aakash, you met your match. *Speaks a few lines in Hindi* Translation: When two hearts unite as one, their love shines brighter than a thousand suns. And today, we have the joy of witnessing the sacred union of Aakash and Priya, two souls who were destined to find each other. *Switches back to English* Priya and Aakash, as you embark on this new journey, I wish for your love to be like a beautiful Madhubani painting – intricate, vibrant, and steeped in tradition and devotion. May you always find refuge in one another, navigate life’s ups and downs as a team, and nurture a home filled with warmth, laughter, and the mouth-watering scent of spices. So family, please join me in raising a glass to the happy couple! To Priya and Aakash – a match made in the stars. May you forever dance through life to the beat of the dhol drum. We love you! To forever and always, Saat Phere ki jai ho! Customize your best man speech now >>

Best Man Speech Example 20: The Interactive Host

Alright, who’s ready to celebrate the life, love, and marriage of the one and only Isaac and Gabrielle? Come on now, I said ARE YOU READY?! *hypes up crowd* My name is Marcus and I’ve been Isaac’s best friend, wingman, and occasional voice of reason since our freshman year as roommates at Howard University. I’ve seen this man at his best, his worst, and everything in between. But through it all, one thing has remained constant – his incredible capacity to love. Isaac, my brother, you have the biggest heart of anyone I know. From our late-night talks about our dreams and fears, to the way you show up for your friends and family, to how you pour your soul into your music – you live and love fully. And then, in walks Gabrielle. This radiant, whip-smart, drop-dead gorgeous woman who just so happens to be Isaac’s perfect counterpart. When you two are together, it’s like watching poetry in motion. The laughter, the banter, the way you challenge and inspire each other to be better – it’s a beautiful thing to witness. *turns to crowd* But don’t just take my word for it – let’s hear from some of the other VIPs in their lives! By a show of applause, who’s got a favorite “Isaac and Gabrielle” moment to share? *selects a couple audience members to share stories* See? These two have built a love that is truly one-of-a-kind. A love that has already left an indelible mark on all of us gathered here. So I want to try something. Isaac, Gabrielle, will you join me up here for a second? *couple stands up* Alright y’all, on the count of three, I want everyone to shout out a word or short phrase that describes the love you see between these two. Ready? 1, 2, 3 – GO! *audience shouts out adjectives like “inspiring”, “soulmates”, “joyful”, “unbreakable”, etc.* Wow. Do you feel that energy? That, right there, is the power of your love. *turns to couple* Isaac and Gabrielle, never forget this moment. The love, the support, the sheer joy that surrounds you today. Bottle it up and save it for a rainy day. Let it be a reminder that no matter what life throws your way, you’ve got an army of loved ones cheering you on, and an unshakable foundation in each other. *raises glass* So family, let’s make some noise for the newlyweds one more time! Join me in toasting to a lifetime of love, laughter, and happily ever after. To Isaac and Gabrielle! *cues DJ to start the party with couple’s favorite song* Customize your best man speech now >>

55 other Best Man Speech Examples – Coz why not?

1. the childhood best friend.

John and I have been best friends since we were in diapers. We’ve seen each other through all of life’s ups and downs, from learning to ride a bike to our first heartbreaks. I never thought I’d see the day when John would settle down, but then he met Sarah. Sarah, you’ve brought out the best in John and I couldn’t be happier to welcome you into our crazy little family. John, I love you like a brother and I wish you both a lifetime of happiness. Customize your best man speech now >>

2. The College Roommate

Mike and I were randomly assigned as college roommates freshman year, and let’s just say it was a bit of an adjustment period. Between Mike’s snoring and my late-night study habits, we definitely had our moments. But somewhere along the way, we became best friends. Mike, you’ve always been there for me, and I know you’ll be an amazing husband to Emily. Emily, thank you for loving Mike for who he is and for putting up with us crazy college boys. Cheers to a lifetime of love and happiness! Customize your best man speech now >>

3. The Older Brother

As Jack’s older brother, it’s my job to embarrass him a little bit today. But truthfully, there’s not much to embarrass him about. Jack has always been the kind of guy who puts others first, who works hard and loves deeply. And when he met Lisa, it was clear he had found his perfect match. Lisa, thank you for joining our family and for making Jack so incredibly happy. I wish you both all the love and joy in the world. Customize your best man speech now >>

4. The Younger Brother

Growing up, I always looked up to my big brother Chris. He was the cool one, the funny one, the one who always knew what to say. And while I may have been the annoying little brother at times, Chris never made me feel that way. Chris, you’ve been my role model and my best friend, and I’m so proud of the man you’ve become. Jess, you’re the sister I always wanted and I’m so happy to officially welcome you to the family. Here’s to a lifetime of love, laughter, and maybe a few more annoying little brother moments. Customize your best man speech now >>

5. The Fraternity Brother

When Steve joined our fraternity, I knew he was going to fit right in. He had a contagious laugh, a kind heart, and could outdrink pretty much anyone. Over the years, Steve has been more than just a frat brother to me – he’s been a true friend. And when he introduced me to Karen, I knew he had found someone truly special. Karen, thank you for being such an amazing partner to Steve and for putting up with all of us crazy frat guys. To Steve and Karen, may your love always be as strong as our brotherhood. Customize your best man speech now >>

6. The Co-Worker

When Mark joined our office, I knew we were in for a treat. His wit and humor brought a much-needed lightness to even the most stressful days, and his hard work and dedication were an inspiration to us all. Mark, you’ve been an amazing friend and colleague, and I’m so happy to be here celebrating your marriage to Julie. Julie, you are Mark’s perfect match in every way and I know you’ll bring each other so much happiness. Cheers to the happy couple! Customize your best man speech now >>

7. The Future Brother-In-Law

When my sister first introduced me to David, I’ll admit I was a little skeptical. No one was ever going to be good enough for my big sister in my eyes. But David, you quickly proved me wrong. Your love and respect for my sister were evident from day one, and I’ve watched you two build a beautiful life together. I’m so grateful to be gaining a brother today, and I couldn’t be happier for you both. To my sister and my new brother, may your love story be one for the ages. Customize your best man speech now >>

8. The High School Friend

Jason and I have been friends since high school, which means I’ve seen him through some pretty questionable fashion choices and hairstyles. But through it all, Jason has always been the best kind of friend – loyal, dependable, and always up for a good time. When he met Amy, it was like a lightbulb went off. Suddenly, Jason was more focused, more driven, and more content than I’d ever seen him. Amy, thank you for bringing out the best in Jason and for loving him as much as we all do. To the happy couple, may your love only grow stronger with each passing year. Customize your best man speech now >>

9. The Childhood Neighbor

Growing up next door to Matt was like having a built-in best friend. From catching frogs in the creek to late-night video game marathons, Matt and I did it all together. And while we may have grown up and gone our separate ways, our friendship has only gotten stronger. Matt, you’ve been a constant in my life and I’m so grateful for our friendship. Sarah, thank you for making Matt so incredibly happy and for fitting into our crazy little neighborhood crew so seamlessly. Here’s to a lifetime of love, laughter, and maybe a few more frog-catching adventures. Customize your best man speech now >>

10. The Sports Teammate

When you spend as much time together as teammates do, you really get to know a person. And let me tell you, Tom is one of the best guys I know. He’s hardworking, dependable, and always puts the team first. So when he met Emily, it was no surprise that he approached their relationship with the same dedication and commitment. Emily, thank you for being Tom’s biggest cheerleader and for supporting him both on and off the field. To Tom and Emily, may your love be a grand slam. Customize your best man speech now >>

11. The Work Spouse

In our office, Ryan and I were known as the work spouses. We finished each other’s sentences, knew each other’s coffee orders by heart, and could always count on each other for a good laugh or a listening ear. But as close as Ryan and I were, it was nothing compared to the bond he shared with Megan. Megan, you truly are Ryan’s other half and I’ve never seen him happier than he is with you. Thank you for being such an amazing partner and friend. To Ryan and Megan, may your love be as strong as our spreadsheets and as sweet as our morning coffee chats. Customize your best man speech now >>

12. The Cousin

Growing up, Andrew and I were more like brothers than cousins. We spent every summer together at the family lake house, getting into all sorts of mischief and making memories to last a lifetime. And while we may have gone our separate ways as we got older, our bond has never wavered. Andrew, you’ve always been there for me and I’m so grateful to have you as not just a cousin, but a true friend. Katie, thank you for making Andrew so incredibly happy and for fitting into our crazy family so perfectly. To the happy couple, may your love be as endless as those summer days at the lake. Customize your best man speech now >>

13. The Childhood Rival Turned Friend

If you had told me when we were kids that one day I’d be standing up as Alex’s best man, I would have laughed in your face. Alex and I spent most of our childhood as rivals, competing over everything from sports to academics to who could eat the most hot dogs at the county fair. But somewhere along the way, that rivalry turned into friendship. Alex, you’ve challenged me and pushed me to be my best self, and I’m so grateful for our friendship. Samantha, you are Alex’s perfect match and I’ve never seen him happier. To Alex and Samantha, may your love be as fierce as our childhood competitions and as enduring as our friendship. Customize your best man speech now >>

14. The Former Roommate

Living with Eric was an adventure, to say the least. From late-night philosophical discussions to epic video game battles to that one time we thought it would be a good idea to adopt a pet snake, there was never a dull moment. But through it all, Eric was always the best kind of friend and roommate – supportive, understanding, and always down for a good time. Eric, I’ve watched you grow and mature so much over the years and I couldn’t be prouder of the man you’ve become. Laura, thank you for bringing such joy and love into Eric’s life. To the happy couple, may your home be filled with as much laughter and love as our old apartment was. Customize your best man speech now >>

15. The Study Abroad Buddy

When Brandon and I decided to study abroad together, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. From navigating foreign public transportation to trying to order coffee in broken Spanish, every day was a new adventure. But through it all, Brandon was the best travel companion and friend I could have asked for. Brandon, your curiosity, kindness, and zest for life inspire me every day and I’m so grateful for our friendship. Sophie, you share those same amazing qualities and I know you and Brandon will have a lifetime of adventures together. To Brandon and Sophie, may your love be as limitless as your wanderlust. Customize your best man speech now >>

16. The Fraternity Pledge Brother

Pledging a fraternity is an experience like no other, and going through it with Nate created a bond that will last a lifetime. From late-night study sessions to epic prank wars to learning the true meaning of brotherhood, Nate was always right there with me. Nate, your loyalty, integrity, and humor are unmatched and I’m so grateful to call you my brother. Emily, you’ve been such an amazing addition to our fraternity family and I’ve never seen Nate happier. To Nate and Emily, may your love be as strong as our fraternal bond. Customize your best man speech now >>

17. The Bandmate

Making music with Sam has been one of the greatest joys of my life. From late-night jam sessions in his garage to playing our first gig to recording our debut album, Sam’s talent and passion have always inspired me. But as much as I love making music with Sam, what I love even more is seeing the incredible man and partner he’s become. Ashley, your love and support have been the perfect harmony to Sam’s melody. To Sam and Ashley, may your love be as beautiful and enduring as the music you make together. Customize your best man speech now >>

18. The Wingman

Every guy needs a wingman, and Tyler was the best wingman a guy could ask for. From talking me up to my crush to helping me pick out the perfect outfit for a first date, Tyler was always there with the assist. But little did I know, Tyler’s true soulmate was right there by his side all along. Megan, you and Tyler have been an unstoppable duo since day one and I’ve never seen two people more perfect for each other. To Tyler and Megan, may your love story be even better than the ones we used to make up at the bar. Customize your best man speech now >>

19. The Gym Buddy

There’s nothing like a shared love of fitness to bring two people together, and that’s definitely the case for me and Kyle. From early morning workouts to post-gym protein shakes, Kyle has been my constant motivator and friend. Kyle, your dedication and discipline in the gym are only matched by your dedication and love for Sara. Sara, you bring out the best in Kyle and I’ve never seen him happier. To Kyle and Sara, may your love be as strong as your deadlift game. Customize your best man speech now >>

20. The Travel Buddy

When Jared and I decided to backpack through Europe after college, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. From missed trains to language barriers to that one time we got lost in the Swiss Alps, it was an adventure to say the least. But through it all, Jared was the best travel companion and friend I could have asked for. Jared, your curiosity, adaptability, and zest for life inspire me every day. Stephanie, you share those same incredible qualities and I know you and Jared will have a lifetime of adventures together. To Jared and Stephanie, may your love be your greatest adventure yet. Customize your best man speech now >>

21. The Childhood Best Friend

Michael and I have been attached at the hip since we were five years old. From building forts in the backyard to navigating the ups and downs of adolescence, Michael has been my constant through it all. And while a lot has changed since those fort-building days, one thing never will – the incredible bond and friendship we share. Michael, you’re more than just my best friend, you’re my brother. Anna, you’ve been such a beautiful addition to Michael’s life and our friendship. To Michael and Anna, may your love be as enduring and unbreakable as the bond we share. Customize your best man speech now >>

22. The High School Teammate

Playing football with Ethan in high school taught me a lot about hard work, dedication, and the power of teamwork. But what it taught me most of all was the value of a truly great friend. Ethan, your work ethic and loyalty on the field were only matched by your kindness and compassion off of it. Olivia, you bring out the very best in Ethan and I’ve never seen him happier than he is with you. To Ethan and Olivia, may your love be a touchdown in the game of life. Customize your best man speech now >>

23. The College Study Partner

When it came to surviving organic chemistry, I couldn’t have asked for a better study partner than Dan. From late night cram sessions to celebrating our hard-earned grades, Dan’s intelligence, determination, and humor got me through some of the toughest academic challenges of my life. But more than just a great study partner, Dan has been an incredible friend. Dan, your brilliance is only outshone by your huge heart. Sarah, you’re Dan’s perfect match and I’ve never seen him happier. To Dan and Sarah, may your love be as strong as your combined brain power. Customize your best man speech now >>

24. The Work Confidant

In the high-stress world of corporate finance, having a colleague like John to lean on has been a game-changer. From celebrating big wins to commiserating over tough projects, John has been my go-to confidant and friend at the office. But as much as I appreciate John’s professional support, what I appreciate even more is his friendship outside of work. John, your integrity, compassion, and wicked sense of humor make you an incredible friend and partner. Lisa, you bring so much love and light into John’s life. To John and Lisa, may your love bring you the same joy and support you’ve brought to so many others. Customize your best man speech now >>

25. The Roommate Turned Best Friend

When David and I signed the lease on our college apartment, we had no idea we were also signing up for a lifelong friendship. From late-night heart-to-hearts to epic Super Smash Bros battles, living with David was an unforgettable experience filled with laughter, growth, and more than a few dirty dishes. David, your creativity, kindness, and unwavering loyalty inspire me every day. Karen, you perfectly complement David’s wonderful qualities and I’ve never seen him happier. To David and Karen, may your love and friendship be the stuff sitcom dreams are made of. Customize your best man speech now >>

26. The Cousin Turned Best Man

Growing up, Ben and I were more like brothers than cousins. From family vacations to holiday gatherings to just hanging out on a lazy Saturday, Ben has been a constant presence in my life and one of my greatest friends. Ben, your compassion, humor, and dependability make you an incredible cousin and an even better man. Emily, you’ve been such a wonderful addition to our family and I’ve never seen Ben happier than he is with you. To Ben and Emily, may your love be as strong and enduring as our family bond. Customize your best man speech now >>

27. The Childhood Neighbor

Living next door to Alex as a kid was like having a built-in best friend. From backyard baseball games to sneaking out for late-night adventures, Alex and I were inseparable. And while we may have grown up and gone our separate ways, the bond we share has never wavered. Alex, your loyalty, humor, and zest for life have always inspired me. Samantha, you perfectly complement Alex’s wonderful qualities and I’ve never seen him happier. To Alex and Samantha, may your love be as enduring as the memories we shared growing up. Customize your best man speech now >>

28. The Camp Counselor Turned Friend

When I first met Chris as a camper, I looked up to him as the coolest counselor around. Little did I know that our friendship would extend far beyond the camp years. Chris, your leadership, compassion, and sense of adventure inspired me as a camper and continue to inspire me to this day. Laura, you bring out the very best in Chris and I’ve never seen him happier than he is with you. To Chris and Laura, may your love be as fun and exciting as a summer at camp. Customize your best man speech now >>

29. The Fraternity Brother

Joining a fraternity gave me more than just a few Greek letters to wear – it gave me a brother in Ryan. From pledging together to living in the house to all the unforgettable moments in between, Ryan has been by my side through it all. Ryan, your loyalty, integrity, and humor embody the true meaning of brotherhood. Jessica, you’ve been such an incredible addition to our fraternity family and I’ve never seen Ryan happier. To Ryan and Jessica, may your love be as strong as our bond of brotherhood. Customize your best man speech now >>

30. The Bandmate

Making music with James has been one of the greatest joys of my life. From late-night jam sessions to playing our first gig to recording our album, James’ talent and dedication have always inspired me. But as much as I love playing music with James, what I love even more is seeing the incredible man and partner he’s become. Sarah, your love and support have been the perfect harmony to James’ melody. To James and Sarah, may your love be as beautiful and enduring as the music you make together. Customize your best man speech now >>

31. The Business Partner

Starting a business with your best friend is not for the faint of heart, but I couldn’t have asked for a better partner than Mike. From late nights working on pitches to celebrating our first big win, Mike’s creativity, drive, and unwavering support have been the backbone of our success. But as proud as I am of our professional accomplishments, I’m even prouder of the man and partner Mike has become. Emily, you bring out the very best in Mike and I’ve never seen him happier. To Mike and Emily, may your love and partnership be as successful as our business endeavors. Customize your best man speech now >>

32. The Travel Companion

Backpacking through Europe with Matt was the adventure of a lifetime. From navigating foreign cities to trying new foods to making unforgettable memories, Matt was the perfect travel companion. Matt, your curiosity, adaptability, and endless positivity made our trip an experience I’ll never forget. Anna, you share Matt’s adventurous spirit and zest for life, and I’ve never seen him happier than he is with you. To Matt and Anna, may your love be the greatest adventure of all. Customize your best man speech now >>

33. The Childhood Rival Turned Friend

Growing up, Josh and I were fierce competitors in everything from academics to sports to video games. But somewhere along the way, that rivalry turned into an unbreakable friendship. Josh, your drive, integrity, and loyalty inspire me every day, and I’m so grateful to have you as a friend. Rachel, you perfectly complement Josh’s wonderful qualities and I’ve never seen him happier than he is with you. To Josh and Rachel, may your love be as strong as our friendship and as exciting as our childhood rivalries. Customize your best man speech now >>

34. The College Roommate

Living with Andrew in college was an unforgettable experience filled with late-night study sessions, impromptu dance parties, and more than a few debates about whose turn it was to do the dishes. But through it all, Andrew was more than just a roommate – he was a true friend. Andrew, your intelligence, compassion, and humor made those college years some of the best of my life. Karen, you bring out the very best in Andrew and I’ve never seen him happier. To Andrew and Karen, may your love be as strong as our friendship and as full of laughter as our college days. Customize your best man speech now >>

35. The Work Mentor Turned Friend

When I first started my job, I was intimidated by Ryan’s success and expertise. But it didn’t take long for that intimidation to turn into admiration and friendship. Ryan, your guidance, support, and incredible work ethic have been instrumental in my professional growth, and I’m so grateful for your mentorship and friendship. Lisa, you bring so much joy and love into Ryan’s life, and I’ve never seen him happier. To Ryan and Lisa, may your love be as inspiring as Ryan’s leadership and as enduring as our friendship. Customize your best man speech now >>

36. The High School Best Friend

Jason and I have been best friends since the first day of high school, when we bonded over our mutual love of terrible puns and hatred of gym class. Since then, Jason has been by my side through all of life’s ups and downs, always ready with a joke, a hug, or a listening ear. Jason, your humor, loyalty, and huge heart make you an incredible friend and an even better partner. Stephanie, you perfectly complement Jason’s wonderful qualities and I’ve never seen him happier than he is with you. To Jason and Stephanie, may your love be as enduring as our friendship and as full of laughter as our high school days. Customize your best man speech now >>

37. The Grad School Study Buddy

Surviving grad school would have been impossible without Eric by my side. From late nights in the library to commiserating over endless papers, Eric’s intelligence, determination, and humor got me through some of the toughest academic challenges of my life. But more than just a study partner, Eric has been an incredible friend. Eric, your brilliance is only matched by your kindness and compassion. Laura, you bring out the very best in Eric and I’ve never seen him happier. To Eric and Laura, may your love be as strong as your combined intellect and as enduring as our friendship. Customize your best man speech now >>

38. The Childhood Next-Door Neighbor

Growing up next door to Mark was like having a built-in best friend. From backyard adventures to late-night video game marathons, Mark and I did it all together. And while we may have grown up and gone our separate ways, the bond we share has never wavered. Mark, your creativity, loyalty, and zest for life have always inspired me. Emily, you perfectly complement Mark’s wonderful qualities and I’ve never seen him happier than he is with you. To Mark and Emily, may your love be as fun and enduring as the memories we shared growing up. Customize your best man speech now >>

39. The Sports League Teammate

Playing on the same softball team as Chris for the past five years has been an absolute blast. From celebrating big wins to laughing off tough losses, Chris’ positivity, sportsmanship, and killer curveball have made him an incredible teammate and friend. But as much as I love sharing the field with Chris, what I admire most is the man he is off the field. Chris, your kindness, integrity, and unwavering support for your loved ones are truly inspiring. Amanda, you bring out the very best in Chris and I’ve never seen him happier. To Chris and Amanda, may your love be a grand slam. Customize your best man speech now >>

40. The Fraternity Little Brother

When I first met Dan as my fraternity little brother, I had no idea that I was also gaining a lifelong friend. From late-night heart-to-hearts to ridiculous prank wars, Dan’s humor, compassion, and loyalty have made him an incredible brother and an even better man. Dan, your dedication to your friendships, your passions, and your values is truly inspiring. Sarah, you’ve been such a wonderful addition to our fraternity family and I’ve never seen Dan happier than he is with you. To Dan and Sarah, may your love be as strong as our bond of brotherhood. Customize your best man speech now >>

41. The Coworker Turned Best Friend

When Tom and I first started working together, I had no idea that I was gaining more than just a colleague – I was gaining a true friend. From collaborating on projects to sharing inside jokes to supporting each other through the ups and downs of work and life, Tom’s creativity, humor, and empathy have made him an incredible friend and confidant. Tom, your talent and dedication are only matched by your huge heart. Rachel, you bring out the very best in Tom and I’ve never seen him happier than he is with you. To Tom and Rachel, may your love be as strong as our friendship and as full of laughter as our days at the office. Customize your best man speech now >>

42. The Travel Buddy

Exploring the world with James has been the adventure of a lifetime. From getting lost in foreign cities to trying exotic new foods to making unforgettable memories, James’ curiosity, adaptability, and endless sense of wonder have made him the perfect travel companion. But as much as I love sharing adventures with James, what I admire most is his adventurous approach to love and life. James, your courage, compassion, and zest for life inspire me every day. Sarah, you share James’ adventurous spirit and kind heart, and I’ve never seen him happier than he is with you. To James and Sarah, may your love be the greatest adventure of all. Customize your best man speech now >>

43. The Cousin Turned Best Friend

Growing up, Nate and I were more like brothers than cousins. From family vacations to holiday gatherings to just hanging out on lazy summer days, Nate has been a constant presence in my life and one of my greatest friends. Nate, your humor, loyalty, and unwavering support have gotten me through some of life’s toughest moments, and I’m so grateful to have you as a cousin and a friend. Emily, you’ve been such a wonderful addition to our family and I’ve never seen Nate happier than he is with you. To Nate and Emily, may your love be as strong and enduring as our family bond. Customize your best man speech now >>

44. The High School Lab Partner

Being assigned as lab partners with Alex in chemistry class was the start of a beautiful friendship. From late nights studying for exams to inside jokes about our eccentric teacher to bonding over our shared love of science, Alex’s intelligence, humor, and kind heart made those high school years some of the best of my life. Alex, your brilliance and compassion continue to inspire me every day. Jenna, you perfectly complement Alex’s wonderful qualities and I’ve never seen him happier than he is with you. To Alex and Jenna, may your love be as strong as your combined brainpower and as enduring as our friendship. Customize your best man speech now >>

45. The College Intramural Teammate

Playing intramural soccer with Ryan in college was an absolute blast. From early morning practices to hard-fought games to post-win celebrations, Ryan’s athleticism, sportsmanship, and endless enthusiasm made him an incredible teammate and friend. But as much as I loved sharing the field with Ryan, what I admire most is the man he is off the field. Ryan, your dedication, loyalty, and huge heart inspire me every day. Lisa, you bring out the very best in Ryan and I’ve never seen him happier than he is with you. To Ryan and Lisa, may your love be a goal for the ages. Customize your best man speech now >>

46. The Carpool Buddy

Sharing a commute with Kevin for the past few years has been a highlights of my work days. From early morning coffee runs to belting out car karaoke to deep conversations about life and love, Kevin’s humor, empathy, and endless positivity have made him an incredible friend and confidant. Kevin, your kindness and zest for life are truly inspiring, and I’m so grateful for our friendship. Sarah, you bring out the very best in Kevin and I’ve never seen him happier than he is with you. To Kevin and Sarah, may your love be as joyful and enduring as our morning carpool sessions. Customize your best man speech now >>

47. The Language Exchange Partner

When I signed up for a language exchange program, I had no idea I would be gaining a lifelong friend in Javier. From practicing our language skills over coffee to bonding over our shared love of travel and culture, Javier’s intelligence, curiosity, and kind heart have made him an incredible friend and cultural guide. Javier, your passion for life and learning inspire me every day, and I’m so grateful for our friendship. Isabella, you share Javier’s adventurous spirit and warm heart, and I’ve never seen him happier than he is with you. To Javier and Isabella, may your love be as beautiful and enduring as the languages and cultures that brought us together. Customize your best man speech now >>

48. The Book Club Buddy

Joining a book club was one of the best decisions I ever made, not only because it introduced me to some incredible reads, but also because it brought Mike into my life. From spirited discussions about our favorite characters to bonding over our shared love of storytelling, Mike’s intelligence, wit, and endless curiosity have made him an incredible friend and literary companion. Mike, your creativity and compassion inspire me every day, and I’m so grateful for our friendship. Emily, you bring out the very best in Mike and I’ve never seen him happier than he is with you. To Mike and Emily, may your love be as beautiful and enduring as the stories we’ve shared. Customize your best man speech now >>

49. The Gym Buddy

When I first started going to the gym, I was intimidated and unsure of myself. But then I met Alex, and everything changed. From spotting each other on heavy lifts to pushing each other to reach our fitness goals, Alex’s dedication, encouragement, and endless positivity have made him an incredible friend and workout partner. Alex, your strength and determination inspire me both in and out of the gym, and I’m so grateful for our friendship. Jennifer, you bring out the very best in Alex and I’ve never seen him happier than he is with you. To Alex and Jennifer, may your love be as strong and enduring as the bond we’ve built through sweat and iron. Customize your best man speech now >>

50. The Music Festival Buddy

Attending my first music festival with Chris was an unforgettable experience. From discovering new bands to dancing until dawn to bonding over our shared love of live music, Chris’ passion, energy, and adventurous spirit made him the perfect festival companion. But as much as I love sharing musical adventures with Chris, what I admire most is his approach to life and love. Chris, your creativity, authenticity, and huge heart inspire me every day, and I’m so grateful for our friendship. Laura, you share Chris’ artistic spirit and kind soul, and I’ve never seen him happier than he is with you. To Chris and Laura, may your love be as wild and beautiful as the music that brought us together. Customize your best man speech now >>

51. The Volunteer Buddy

When I started volunteering at the local animal shelter, I had no idea I would be gaining a lifelong friend in James. From caring for the animals to bonding over our shared passion for making a difference, James’ compassion, dedication, and incredible heart have made him an amazing friend and role model. James, your selflessness and love for all living creatures inspire me every day, and I’m so grateful for our friendship. Sarah, you share James’ kind soul and generous spirit, and I’ve never seen him happier than he is with you. To James and Sarah, may your love be as beautiful and enduring as the difference you make in the world. Customize your best man speech now >>

52. The Trivia Night Teammate

Trivia night at our local bar wouldn’t be the same without Ryan by my side. From obscure history facts to niche pop culture references, Ryan’s endless knowledge, quick wit, and competitive spirit have made him an incredible teammate and friend. But as much as I love dominating trivia with Ryan, what I admire most is his intelligence and humor in all aspects of life. Ryan, your brilliance and humor inspire me every day, and I’m so grateful for our friendship. Lisa, you perfectly complement Ryan’s wonderful qualities and I’ve never seen him happier than he is with you. To Ryan and Lisa, may your love be as strong as our trivia skills and as full of laughter as our nights at the pub. Customize your best man speech now >>

53. The Running Club Buddy

When I joined a local running club to train for my first marathon, I had no idea I would be gaining a lifelong friend in Mike. From early morning training runs to pushing each other to reach our goals, Mike’s determination, encouragement, and endless positivity have made him an incredible friend and running partner. Mike, your strength and resilience inspire me both on and off the trail, and I’m so grateful for our friendship. Emily, you bring out the very best in Mike and I’ve never seen him happier than he is with you. To Mike and Emily, may your love be as strong and enduring as the miles we’ve logged together. Customize your best man speech now >>

54. The Cooking Class Buddy

Signing up for a cooking class was one of the best decisions I ever made, not only because it improved my culinary skills, but also because it brought Alex into my life. From mastering new techniques to bonding over our shared love of food and culture, Alex’s passion, creativity, and warm heart have made him an incredible friend and cooking companion. Alex, your talent and zest for life inspire me every day, and I’m so grateful for our friendship. Jenna, you share Alex’s adventurous palate and kind soul, and I’ve never seen him happier than he is with you. To Alex and Jenna, may your love be as delicious and enduring as the meals we’ve shared. Customize your best man speech now >>

55. The Karaoke Buddy

Karaoke night wouldn’t be the same without Chris by my side. From belting out classic rock anthems to laughing through forgotten lyrics, Chris’ energy, humor, and fearless spirit have made him an incredible friend and duet partner. But as much as I love sharing the stage with Chris, what I admire most is his approach to life and love. Chris, your authenticity and huge heart inspire me every day, and I’m so grateful for our friendship. Customize your best man speech now >>

Related Blogs About Best Man Speeches

Now that you’ve gotten a comprehensive crash course in speech styles and structures by looking through those best man speech examples, check out these related blogs for even more tips and inspiration:

• How to Write a Funny Best Man Speech
• Try Our Best Man Speech Generator 
• The Ultimate Guide to Being a Best Man in 2o24
• Crafting an Unforgettable Best Man Speech for Your Brother: A Comprehensive Guide

How Bridesmaid for Hire Can Help Write Your Best Man Speech

At Bridesmaid for Hire , we’re all about helping you navigate the wonderful (and occasionally stressful) world of weddings. From being a professional bridesmaid to delivering a killer maid of honor speech, we’ve got your back every step of the way.

Remember, being asked to give a wedding speech is an incredible honor – and you’ve totally got this. Stay true to yourself, speak from the heart, and let the love and laughter flow. We are here to help. Try Our Best Man Speech Generator 

Let’s do a quick review of the key best man speech takeaways:

• Choose an authentic speech style and structure that fits your personality and relationship to the groom.
• Keep the speech concise (aim for 3-5 minutes), unless you’re really nailing those sentimental or comedic elements.
• Consider your audience and the overall wedding vibe to ensure your speech is appropriate and well-received.
• Balance humor and sincerity, always bringing it back to your love and support for the groom and his bride.
• Practice, practice, practice for confident and engaging delivery on the big day.

Final Thoughts on our Best Man Speech Examples

Phew, that was a lot of best man speech content! I hope you’re feeling more empowered than ever to knock your toast out of the park. Just remember, there’s no one “right” way to give an incredible best man speech. The magic ingredients are your authentic perspective, genuine sentiments, and a hefty dash of preparation (and maybe a shot of liquid courage – you’ve earned it).

Also, know that Bridesmaid for Hire  is here to help along the way:

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How to Write a Best Man Speech: Examples, Templates, & Opening Lines

Whether it’s for a friend or family member, we have tips for how to write a best man speech. We’ve rounded up everything that goes into an inspiring, entertaining crowd-pleaser: jokes, quotes, themes, opening lines. From icebreakers to start and toasts to finish, here are ideas for your best man speech.

What should a best man speech include?

At the end of the day, you’re just telling your friends you’re happy for them (and the fact that the wedding is all about them should take away some pressure). So when you’re deciding what to include in your best man speech, remember: Humor is memorable, but honesty is meaningful. So aim for a combination and try to hit these key points.

• Personality: You were invited to be yourself, so don’t worry about performing. Are you a treasure trove of charming stories? Are you the calm lighthouse in a storm? Be inclusive and sensitive but be you. Let it flow.
• Examples: Be specific rather than general. Unpack the qualities you admire about the couple and when they’ve occurred (how have they demonstrated kindness or loyalty?). That will make your speech more personable vs. a list that could apply to any couple.
• Gratitude: Say thanks for being chosen as the best man and the chance to stand by their side. Toss in a few thank yous to everyone for attending, those who raised the couple, and those hosting the ceremony. It grabs your listeners, and a little schmoozing never hurts.

How long should a best man speech be?

Like the saying goes, “Be brief, be brilliant, be gone.” A best man speech should always be under 5 minutes, usually three. To keep the attention of your audience, fit it all into 750 words.

Length increases boredom, not sentiment. Trimming your speech down to its essentials means you prioritize quality, which will make your words more impactful and easier to remember. Staying short and sweet can also help with any fears of public speaking because it’ll all be over soon.

How to Write a Best Man Speech

Find a theme.

• What’s your point? What do all your heartfelt details have in common? Commitment? Fun facts? Opposites attract? This will help narrow down your anecdotes. Your theme can also influence how you structure your best man speech, like a unifying metaphor or a rhyming hook to keep it engaging.
• A few themes off the menu: Inside jokes, sabotaging roasts. Basically, anything that’s too obscure or anything that would embarrass or expose the couple. From an audience perspective, these are painful and awkward. You’re honoring the couple for making it down the aisle (a huge success) vs. reminding them of their failures or what could have gotten in the way (emotions can be high). Everyone looks good and feels good when you stick to why the couple’s bond is unbreakable.

Create an Outline

• Congratulations: The easiest intro and the whole reason you’re speaking.
• Connection to the Couple: Did you watch your childhood friend become a better person because of the relationship? Did you play a part in their romance? Did your paths cross in unexpected ways?
• One or Two Stories: Everyday moments, grand gestures. Polish these up to be intentional. How do they tie to the occasion and your theme (eg. examples of how they always showed unwavering support toward one another.).
• Acknowledge the Spouse: Dropping in compliments for the partner can emphasize why they’re a match. It helps concentrate on their union as a whole rather than a half, even if you only know one of them well.
• Cheers: You did it! Now applaud their courage to weather life’s storms together. Raise a glass and invite everyone to do the same.

How to Start a Best Man Speech

A greeting and a hearty congratulations kick things off. Here are a few prompts to start your best man speech.

• Intro: “It’s truly an honor to stand before you as [Partner’s Name]’s best man. My name is [Name], and I’ve had the privilege of being [Name]’s partner in crime since [college, childhood, etc.].”
• Embrace the Occasion: “On behalf of [Partner’s Name] and [Partner’s Name], I want to extend a warm welcome to all of you as we come together to celebrate this beautiful union.”
• Share a Quote: “As [Partner’s Name] and [Partner’s Name] embark on this exciting journey, I’m reminded of a quote by [Author] that says, ‘[Quote].’ And today, we’re here to witness the embodiment of that sentiment.”

Opening Line Ideas

After a “good evening” or a “hello,” here are a few transitions to get to the good stuff. Brainstorm with a written or verbal stream of consciousness to help identify your feelings. You can pare them down later.

• “I first witnessed their connection when…” / “I saw sparks flying during…”
• “If we were to start with the first chapter…” / “Let’s rewind the tapes to…” / “Let’s take a trip down memory lane to a time when…”
• “As I stand here, I can’t help but think of a memory that always makes me tear up/smile…”
• “Of all the unforgettable moments I’ve shared with [Name], there’s one that stands out—”
• “If there’s one memory that never fails to bring a smile to my face/tears to my eyes, it’s the time…”
• “When they first introduced me to [Partner’s Name], I saw that look. The one that says…”
• “When they first met [Partner’s Name], they couldn’t stop talking about…”
• “None of us could have anticipated…”
• “There’s a moment when you see two people together, and you can’t help but realize…”
• “I knew [Name]’s heart had found its home the moment I saw…”
• “Everything changed in their relationship when…”
• “I could tell they were ready to face the world as partners in life when…”
• “I can’t help but reflect on the beautiful journey that [Their Names] have taken together…”
• “Their love story has taught me that [qualities] are the foundation of a long-lasting partnership.”
• “Their relationship has taught me that love isn’t just a destination; it’s a journey filled with…”

How to End a Best Man Speech

Whether you give your best man speech at the wedding reception or rehearsal dinner, you can always end it with a toast. To finish on a positive, uplifting note, here are a few concluding thoughts for well wishes and looking ahead.

• “May your journey together be filled with endless love, laughter, and a lifetime of cherished memories.”
• “May your love story continue to inspire us all. Here’s to new beginnings.”
• “Let’s look forward to the adventures that await [Names]. We hope this will be the most beautiful chapter of your story together.”
• “May your journey be filled with a love that only grows stronger with time.”

Speech Tips: Do’s and Don’ts

There are standards for speaking at a ceremony. Here are the rules to live by when you want your best man speech to be unforgettable for the right reasons

• Do use notecards to feel prepared, calm the jitters, and remember all that you want to say (as long as you remain present and make eye contact). Don’t read from your phone , in case it locks in the moment, loses charge leading up to the speech, or the lighting affects photos.
• Do reference your ties to the couple. Nod to when and how you met but ultimately keep the focus on their relationship. Don’t make your best man speech about you. You were invited to share your perspective, so it’s a classy move to keep things relevant and selfless.
• Do share your unique insights. Your experience adds to the audience’s understanding of the couple as partners and as individuals. However, don’t be inappropriate. You might know the skeletons in their closet but skip anything they wouldn’t want shared or would warrant an apology — like their past relationships. It’s mostly to ensure your anecdotes would play well across any age, culture, or relationship context (grandparents, work friends, flower girl).
• Do speak from the heart. It’s sweet, sincere, and makes speech writing that much easier. But don’t force emotions. Whether it’s jokes or mushy stuff, if neither are in your wheelhouse, you don’t have to be anyone other than the person they invited.
• Do rehearse out loud at least two months in advance so you can practice tone, timing, and pacing. They can all aid your confidence. You might even run your speech by a friend or film yourself for feedback. And since it’s a big day for the couple, don’t wing it. With words at the ready, there will be less risk of feeling flustered or saying something cringe.
• Do take it seriously. It can still be lighthearted, but it’s a huge honor to be asked to speak at a wedding. Proof of some time and effort in your speech returns the thoughtful gesture (the same goes for limiting yourself to one drink beforehand). Don’t be nervous. Even if you’re afraid of public speaking or not usually one for getting sappy, try to see your best man speech as an exciting opportunity.

Example Prompt Ideas

Here are a few best man speech ideas to keep the atmosphere light and joyful while celebrating the couple’s uniqueness.

Nothing wrong with straightforward and authentic.

• Timeline: The couple’s love story from how they met to their engagement. Emphasize the nostalgic moments that made their relationship special. You can highlight their growth as a pair or as individuals — how they’ve changed since they’ve met, and/or what has stayed the same.
• Shared Interests: How their passions have brought them closer together and how they’ll continue to enjoy them in married life.

Depending on the formality of the guest list and the wedding venue (beach vs. church), you can loosen your black tie when it comes to humor. But you’ll want to be respectful and give the couple a heads up.

• Predictions: Playfully imagine scenarios for what the couple’s future might hold.
• Old Photos: A fun way to remind them how far they’ve come.

Whether it’s from a role model in your lives (coach, relative, etc.), or an adage from another language, it’s common to borrow a bit of filler for your best man speech.

• Wisdom: Advice for a successful marriage based on experiences or observations. You can customize fortune cookies for laughs.
• Famous Words: Pull from any movies or authors with guiding tidbits, e.g., “Love is not just looking at each other, it’s looking in the same direction.” “Love is not just something you feel, it’s something you do.” “Love is not about finding someone you can live with, but finding someone you can’t imagine living without.”

Best Man Speech Templates

Memories of your time together through thick and thin, and how your friendship has remained constant.

“[Friend’s Name] and I have shared countless adventures over the years, and our friendship has survived every challenge, even [memory]. They’re the kind of friend who’s always there when you need them, whether it’s [example]. That’s why I know they’ll be an amazing partner to [Partner’s Name].”

For Younger Brother:

As an older sibling, look to your brother’s future. Talk about the exciting things that lie ahead: travels, career accomplishments, life milestones, etc. Share your pride.

“I can’t believe this day has finally arrived. It feels like just yesterday we were [childhood memory]. But as the years went by, I watched as my little brother met [Partner’s Name] and transformed into the incredible person they are today.”

For Older Brother:

Speak to how their support has shaped you, or what you learned by watching them face life’s challenges first.

“[Brother’s Name] has always been more than a brother to me. I’ve always looked up to [Brother’s Name] for [their characteristics], and now they’ve found a partner who [balances or complements these traits]. That’s why they’re perfect for each other.”

For Cousin:

Express your happiness for their partner joining your family traditions or how they’ve become an integral part of them.

“Growing up as cousins, [Cousin’s Name] and I had a bond beyond family ties. So when [Partner’s Name] came into the picture, I knew my cousin found their missing puzzle piece. I’m so excited for [Partner’s Name] to join our family vacations and holiday gatherings.”

Talk about the importance of togetherness; how the couple’s union represents two families merging to become one. Or offer tongue-in-cheek parental advice.

“My father has always been dedicated to family. He was always willing to go the extra mile for his loved ones. The love he shares with [Partner’s Name] is a testament to the trust and respect that you’ve instilled in our family.”

Final Thoughts

A best man speech is a rare chance to dig deep, get vulnerable, and tell those close to you how significant they are in your life. These prompts and templates can all get you started, but with the nuances of your relationship and theirs, you can make the tradition all your own. Best of luck!

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• The Ultimate Best Man Checklist Tips for Delivering an Amazing Best Man Speech Best Man Mistakes You Should Never Make The Top Celebrity and Royal Best Men of All Time Memorable TV and Movie Best Man Wedding Speeches The Best Gifts for the Groom from the Best Man

6 Simple Tips for Delivering an Amazing Best Man Speech

A speech writing expert breaks down the top ways to give a level-headed and stress-free wedding day toast.

Photo by  Kristen Marie Parker

Let's face it, standing in front of a crowd doesn't always come naturally for most people. Even if you use a few mental tricks to lessen your nerves—like picturing everyone in their underwear— public speaking is generally an unnerving task and takes practice to perfect. So, if you're a bit fearful about delivering your upcoming best man speech, we're here to say that you're not alone.

What's more, even if you have spoken to a large crowd countless times, there's something about a best man speech that pulls at the heartstrings and, ultimately, has the ability to stir up your nonchalant vibe. But regardless of where you fall on the public speaking spectrum, there are a few steps everyone should take when preparing to address friends and family at a wedding celebration .

Ahead, we tapped Heidi Ellert-McDermott , a wedding speech expert, to help break down the most important things to know when giving a level-headed and stress-free wedding day toast. From watching your pace to practicing your jokes, here are the top six tips for delivering a flawless, entertaining, and appropriate best man speech everyone will love.

Meet the Expert

Heidi Ellert-McDermott is a wedding speech expert and former TV director and writer with over 15 years of experience. She is also the founder of Speechy and author of "T he Modern Couple’s Guide to Wedding Speeches. "

Practice the Speech

While this first step may seem simple, it's one that often gets overlooked. As with any important task, practice makes perfect, and this is especially true when preparing to give your best man speech. "While I encourage clients to have notes on the day, I also stress the importance of memorizing the speech or, at least, ensuring the words are deep-rooted. You need to be familiar with the flow of it," advises Ellert-McDermott. "Rehearse your speech until it bores you. Record yourself reading it, and listen to it repeatedly. On your commute, going to bed, whenever you can." 

Ellert-McDermott also recommends writing your speech by hand as a way to help memorize and retain the words you'd like to say—though she does note that speech memorization is ultimately a cycle of "speech, sleep, repeat." "Studies have suggested writing out the speech by hand (typing doesn’t count) and reciting it just before you go to bed aids retention but really, there’s no big secret to memorization," she adds.

No matter how well you practice and know your speech, as mentioned above, you should never forgo having written notes. According to Ellert-McDermott, "Notes are not a sign of weakness, it’s simply evidence that you’ve prepared. And why, if you’ve spent weeks perfecting your speech, would you just aim to deliver a sloppy version of it? It’s certainly good to have a few funny lines that seem like they were spontaneously ad-libbed on the day, but you can even include them on your notes. No one will be checking!"

It's also important to be mindful of where you choose to reference your notes. Though we live in a world where technology is king, consider taking things back to the basics when delivering your speech on the big day. "When it comes to presenting your notes, more people are turning to tech—iPads and phones. Personally, I find tech rather jarring and prefer old school, quality A4 paper," says Ellert-McDermott. "And, although many people assume a device is easier to handle than pieces of paper, in my experience it’s clumsier. You end up scrolling too far or accidentally flicking onto another page. So, personally, I wouldn’t risk it."

Make Eye Contact With Your "Audience"

Have you ever seen someone speak to a crowd and never attempt to make eye contact? If you have, we're sure you can agree that their speech was a bit uncomfortable for those watching. Therefore, don't make that mistake when delivering your best man speech! Eye contact is an important method used to connect with an audience, so as the best man, you want to ensure that you're engaging with the couple and all guests in attendance.

"Eye contact breeds a sense of connection and trust. If you look nervous, your audience will feel nervous too, so look at your audience and fake confidence even if you don’t immediately feel it," notes Ellert-McDermott. "Stand up and smile at all the guests before you utter a word. A cheeky smile, laugh, or an eyebrow raise can add as much laughter as any witty lines you’ve written, so rehearse your non-verbal communication and eye contact before the big day too."

Watch Your Pace

"Talking too fast is a big problem, and I’ve heard too many speeches where it’s obvious that the speaker just wants to get through it and sit down again ," shares Ellert-McDermott. "Rushing your delivery makes guests feel uncomfortable and creates a nervous atmosphere for everyone." And yes, while nerves can sometimes get the best of you on the day of, if you practice your speech and have notes to reference, your nerves should subside, as will the pace of your delivery.

Ellert-McDermott also shares that best men should aim for a conversational tone, one that includes pauses and short breaks in order to allow guests to process what they're saying. "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," she says.

Crack a Few Jokes

We can't deny that one of the most anticipated moments of the best man's speech is the jokes. Often cheesy, but usually funny, jokes set the stage for a lively reception, allowing guests to loosen up and get ready for an evening of good music and dancing. So simply put, don't forget to crack a few jokes that honor the couple and your best friend.

"An audience expects plenty of humor from the best man and I suggest you need your first laugh within your first couple of sentences," says Ellert-McDermott. "Obviously, avoid the cheesy, googled-gags, or anything sexist, crude, or overly rude. Instead, look at the friend you’re paying tribute to and pinpoint the things that make him unique. Best men are expected to add laughter and fun to the day but let’s not forget that, traditionally at least, the best man speech is the only tribute the groom gets. As well as a fair share of affectionate teasing, it should also be a heartfelt tribute to a true friend."

Read the Room

Last, but not least, the final tip to delivering the perfect best man speech is to read the room and understand the crowd. Did your friend invite any colleagues? Are there any grandparents or older family members in attendance? Children? Non-English speakers? Know who you're speaking to and ensure your speech and delivery are inclusive for all who are listening. "Get a sense of who the newlyweds are inviting to the wedding in advance of the day so you can tailor your content accordingly," says Ellert-McDermot.

A Guide to Best Man Wedding Responsibilities

• The Ultimate Best Man Checklist
• currently on Tips for Delivering an Amazing Best Man Speech
• Best Man Mistakes You Should Never Make
• The Top Celebrity and Royal Best Men of All Time
• Memorable TV and Movie Best Man Wedding Speeches
• The Best Gifts for the Groom from the Best Man

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