Tips for Writing the GOAT of Best Man Speeches!

I have seen it all when it comes to best man speeches. I’ve seen gentlemen knock it out of the park, leaving everyone in the room crying and laughing all at once… and I have seen the 10 second speech that leaves the awkward pause of crickets after the toast. Sigh.

There is a lot of pressure on the best man to have a stellar speech for his buddy’s reception. To help you avoid the awkward, short, “I love you man” speech, and have the wedding guests singing your praises for the rest of the evening, here are a few tips to set every best man up for success.

No Winging It – Plan Ahead

I know this might seem obvious, but trying to gather your thoughts the night before the wedding, is not the best plan for a solid speech. Take some months leading up to the wedding to organize your thoughts around might you might say. Simply bullet pointing these ideas is enough. Then come back to it a couple more times before the wedding to hone in on the top few you want to mention.

Attention Grabber

Start your speech off by catching everyone’s attention. Sharing a short story or funning joke about the groom is always a good idea. Just remember to keep it PG. Save the racier stories for smaller group settings. ☺

Be Strategic with Jokes

Sprinkle jokes throughout heartfelt stories – don’t tell too many. When telling a joke, be sure to focus on the groom only. Don’t mention anything unflattering about the bride. Remember to keep it classy!

Short and Sweet

Make your speech 5 minutes – max. No matter how entertaining you are, 5 minutes and under should be your goal.

Remember to Avoid Talking About the Following:

Past relationships
Negativity about marriage in general
Drinking, drugs and gambling
Adult humor – do NOT mention anything related to sex

Suggested Speech Outline

Killer Opening Line or Joke
Thank the Bride, Groom and their families for hosting the event
Congratulate the Bride & Groom
Say a few nice words about the Bride
Make a joke about the Groom & Maybe share a fun short story about the couple
Conclude by quoting a famous line or poem about love, life and/or marriage

Conclusion

I hope this is helpful! Remember if you’re unsure if you should include a story in your speech, ask yourself if it passes the Grandma test. If you feel weird about how your Grandma might react – skip the story. ☺

Happy planning!