Best Man’s Speech Sample: How to be the Best Man?
Who is the best man at the wedding?
The best man is the chief assistant to the groom at a wedding and (along with the maid of honor) is the third most important in attendance after the bride and groom.
What is the role of the best man at a wedding?
A best man’s duties include planning the bachelor party, making sure the groomsmen attire is ordered, organized and to the couple’s preferences, and of course, delivering an epic best man speech at the reception. But there’s another vital responsibility for the best man which happens before the Big Day—yes! Bachelor party!
The bachelor party is like a sendoff from singledom—usually over a nice meal and party out of town.
In addition to the fun bachelor party planning, there are a few more tasks for the best man to complete before the big day rolls around.
Best Man’s Tasks
The best man is expected to…
- pay for his tuxedo rental and show up for fittings (sometimes coordinate tuxedo fittings for other groomsmen)
- attend rehearsals.
- run a few wedding-related errands
- arrive at any event related to the ceremony promptly
- stand with the groom as he waits for his bride
- give a fantastic speech at the reception (read on for the sample speech)
- be a partner to the maid of honor and dance with her on the party
The best man assumes many duties in his role to the groom. Knowing what is expected of him before and during the wedding prepares the best man for his friend’s big day.
Best Man Speech
One of the most anticipated events of any wedding reception is the best man’s speech. Thoughtful and witty best men will leave their audience laughing, crying, and remembering what it is that they love so much about the groom. Dull or insipid best men will bore the audience, and add nothing to the reception.
If you genuinely care about your best friend and you want his wedding to be a success, then you will make sure your speech is good. Not only will it add some happiness and some emotion to the reception’s atmosphere, but it will also leave indelible impressions in all the minds of the wedding-goers.
Now, when creating a best man’s speech, you must walk two fine lines. The first line divides humor and sentiment. Not only do you want to tell stories and anecdotes that will make people tear up, but you will also want to make them laugh. And this is precisely what they will expect from any good best man’s speech.
The second line divides good anecdotes and appropriate material.
A good anecdote should be telling, funny, and possibly embarrassing for the groom. It might contain material that he hasn’t told anyone before, but it certainly should be something that would jeopardize his marriage, humiliate him in front of friends and family, or completely change how his mother and father view him.
Of course, walking these two lines successfully can be difficult. And this is where a good template can come in handy. Fortunately for you, this book provides exactly that: a set of indispensable templates that you can use to craft the perfect best man or groomsman’s speech.
Note that the best man’s speech is usually a vital part of the reception, whereas a groomsman’s speech will often be given in the form of a short, impromptu toast. We will cover both styles here, leaving you with a diverse assortment of options to choose from.
With that said, there are just two additional things to keep in mind.
The first is that you will need to edit whichever template you choose. In addition to merely adding names and stories, you will want to modify them to make sure they match your tone and any other goals you have for the delivery.
Finally, you must remember to practice. Practicing is what makes the difference between an excellent speech delivery and a stuttering, confusing disaster. So, spend time rehearsing once you’ve crafted your template.
Best Man and Groomsman’s Speeches
Writing a good best man’s speech involves some wit, humor, and a vast store of anecdotes. It also includes trading off objectives and walking a fine line between funny and simply inappropriate.
Another two crucial components of any best man or groomsman’s speech are tone and mood.
Without these two elements, it will lack direction and emotion.
Sentimental Best Man’s Speech
Today, we’re here to celebrate the union of [bride’s name] and [groom’s name]. For those of you who don’t know me, I’ve been [groom’s] friend for [number of years you have been friends with groom]. I’ve known him even before he met [bride’s name].
Now, I’ll admit it. I didn’t always see [groom’s name] as someone who would settle down. Don’t get me wrong. He’s a great guy, and I always knew he wanted to get married and wanted to have a family, but let’s just say that he hasn’t always been good with the ladies.
What do I mean, you ask? I’ll tell you. [Tell a humorous anecdote about something the groom did that might make him appear unattractive to women. You might mention something that he did on a double date that you saw in person or something he told you about that was especially funny. Keep it appropriate.]
Of course, I’m just joking. I knew that [groom’s name] would find a special person someday. I just wasn’t sure when it would be.
And then it happened. He met [bride’s name], and the search was over. This time, things were different. He wasn’t unsure whether or not the relationship had legs. He wasn’t bored with the relationship after a few months, as he had often gotten with other girlfriends in the past.
No, this one was for real. And how could it not be? Just look at her. <Point to the bride.> Isn’t she stunning? Isn’t she everything a sane man would want? And thankfully, [name of groom] realized that and didn’t her slip away.
Now, a mere [number of years bride and groom have been together], here I am, delivering a speech at their wedding. And I couldn’t be happier for you both.
I’m glad my long-time best friend, [name of groom], has finally found the woman of his dreams and is settling down with her. And I’m glad that [name of bride], who is now one of my closest friends in the world, has also found a great man to spend her life with. Congratulations to both of you! I hope that your marriage brings you true happiness and fulfillment.
Funny and Sentimental Best Man’s Speech
You’ll have to forgive me if I’m a little bit sluggish with my delivery. I was out late last night, and I had a little too much to drink. To be honest, I wanted to turn it at 8. After all, this is an important day for me, and I knew I would be delivering this speech. But I had no choice. [Groom’s name] is my buddy, and he needed some company.
With that out of the way, I have an important message to deliver here today. Marriage is a union between two devoted, loving, and caring individuals. It isn’t shortsighted. It isn’t temperamental. So, [groom’s name], I hope you’re listening, since you have a lot of work to do.
In all seriousness, [groom’s name], you know how I feel about you. You’ve been my best friend for as long as I can remember. Whenever I needed something, I always felt like I could come to you. And whenever I needed advice, I knew you would be there for me. I’m happy to call you, my friend. And I can’t say enough good things about you.
And your new wife—she’s beautiful. Just look at her, everyone. She’s radiant. Throughout the past few years, we’ve grown closer, too, and I’ve come to know her as I know you. [Name of bride], so you know, I consider you a close friend, and I want the best for you, too. And I think the best is my friend, [groom’s name].
I wish nothing but the best for you two as you embark on your journey into matrimony. I hope that you can achieve the bliss and satisfaction that comes with stable home life and your love for a life-long partner.
