How to write a best man's speech

Nail That Best Man's Speech In 5 Easy-To-Follow Steps

(4 mins to read)

That feeling when you've been picked to be his Best Man is pretty special, right? All those years of grafting, supporting, entertaining and being there have finally paid off. 

And now you've been granted permission to let his entire wedding party know exactly what makes him tick... Excellent.

You've got all those stories hovering tentatively up your sleeve, just waiting for this exact moment to arrive, so you can put pen to paper and let him 'have it'.  Or not, if you're feeling nice.
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You've got the emotional stories (if only a few), the filthy tales, the sordid moments and the embarrassing memories he still cringes at. Now here's the tricky bit - where do you start? How do you get all your hilarity, sensitivity and thoughts down on paper, master the art of public speaking and deliver the perfect Best Man's speech? Of course, a raw, heartfelt and unrehearsed speech is always a treat, however something slightly honed in and focused will always reign supreme.

So, here are our top 5 tips to get you started:

1. Begin with bullet points
Write down at least 3 memories that mean something to both of you (and one for the bride). Note them down as vaguely or as detailed as you want. 

2. Time to get sensitive
Jot down a few characteristics of the groom everyone likes the most, for example are they kind, hilarious, ridiculously clever? Give examples for the characteristic/s you choose. Now go and have a cup of tea.

3. Write a sentence for each.
With the bullet points you made from tip No.1 and tip No.2, write a sentence for each, so if one of your memories is 'Duncan with no teeth', you would expand it to 'that time Duncan ended up in A&E because he face planted in the middle of the dance floor and let his teeth take the full force of his fall, rather than letting go of his drinks. This is a fine example of why Duncan is ready for marriage...'.

Or, if you are talking about his hilarious temperament, be sure to give examples of how this made other people feel great, for example 'Duncan can always find light in the darkest of days, such as when someone stole my car, he came and picked me up on his push bike and gave me a 'backy' to my first interview.' Expand each point like this. 

​4. Get each sentence into some sort of order
Now order each paragraph into the following: how you met and your first impressions, an unforgettable memory (the one he doesn't want to share...), another nostalgic moment and an emotive section where you get the audience a little weepy, (this is a good place to include the bride!).

Finally, the last section is up to you, you can either carry on the melancholy sentiment, or better still end on another hilarious memory that summarises the groom in one fell swoop. Whatever you do, just remember to add a few final sentences of how wonderful the bride and groom are together (if you believe it, or not...).

5. Repeat, repeat, repeat
Our final tip on delivering the ultimate Best Man speech? Rehearse until you're blue in the face. Practice it as if it were your French oral exam. You can always ad-lib and improvise on the day, but to feel confident enough to not give a damn about public speaking and to remember the old adage, practice really does make perfect. 

Now read how to deliver a speech here.

We write all Best Man's Speeches for £145: start to finish.
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