Writing Best Man Speech

Being the best man in a wedding is a big responsibility, and writing your best man speech can often be the most stressful part of the big day. Giving the perfect speech doesn’t have to be difficult, though. Just keep these tips in mind while you are writing your speech and you’re sure to end up with something that everyone will remember (in a good way).

The most intimidating aspect of writing best man speech is often trying to incorporate humor. You might feel like you’re not naturally funny and will never be able to get a large crowd to laugh. Don’t worry about trying to be David Letterman, though. Just think up a funny memory or two and share them with the crowd. People are already in a good mood; they will be more than willing to cut you a little slack if you don’t come off as a professional comedian. On that note, if you’re comfortable telling jokes and getting people laughing, don’t go overboard. The minute you launch into a ten minute standup routine is the minute the bride and groom get upset that you’re stealing the show. Make sure the attention stays on them.

Secondly, you always want to consider your audience before you starts writing your best man speech. Don’t just think about the wedding party, but everyone who will be in attendance at the reception. If both families are easy going and fun loving, you should be comfortable telling jokes and poking fun at the bride and groom. If the families and guests are more straight-laced, however, it isn’t your job to try to loosen them up. Stick to a more traditional speech and keep the memories of drunken nights for when you don’t have a microphone in your hand.

Be smart about the amount of time you spend in front of the crowd. After you get done writing your best man speech, run through it by yourself a few times and see how long you take to get through. The best man speech is certainly an important contribution to the reception, so give yourself enough time to share your thoughts and leave an impact. At the same time, if you’re unprepared or have too much to say, you’ll probably end up rambling. If you speak for too long, the crowd will tune out and you’ll end up putting the bridge and groom to sleep. A good rule is to stay under seven or eight minutes.

Writing best man speech should be fun, nostalgic, and enjoyable. Don’t get stressed out about being funny or screwing up. Just plan ahead, practice, and show the bridge and groom how much you love them!