There are some pretty standard elements that you can follow if you at a loss as to what to include in your best mans speech. Within the speech is usually an introduction, a good memory or story about the Groom, and finally, the conclusion toast. Start your speech with an introduction. This lets everyone know first who you are and exactly how you’re related to the Groom, setting up the tone for the entire speech.
After your introduction, a variety of options are available to you. You want to create an atmosphere, a mood that sets the stage for the rest of your speech. There are different ways you can do this. Comment on how lovely the Bride looks, or start off with a funny joke or story. Make sure your jokes and stories are appropriate – there are young children and grandparents in the audience. Recall a past memory you and the Groom have experienced together, starting with how you guys first met.
It’s alright to tease the Groom a little bit, just don’t get to the pointing where he is mentally begging you to not share those terrible drunken stories with his grandmother in the audience. Talk about how you and the Groom first met or the time you carried him home when he fell out of a tree and broke his arm. Picking a lighthearted memory allows you to be genuine without even having to try, and this is what you’re aiming for.
Mention how lovely the bride looks and mention how she and the Groom met. Talk about how your friend looked and acted when he was around her. Tell how the relationship grew, resulting in them sitting next to you on the Wedding Day. Whatever you decide to talk about, be genuine and creative. Good memories are easy to talk about naturally, and the audience will naturally pick up on your enthusiasm.
The toast is the grand finale. It doesn’t need to be long or super dramatic. Give your best wishes to the bride and groom and extend to them the hope that they live a long and happy life together. The end of your speech needs to be heart-felt and meaningful, more so than the rest of your speech. Avoid jokes or sarcasm; this is where you give the Bride and Groom their sendoff. You can insert a little friendly advice or a maxim to conclude if you like, and then prompt everyone to raise their glasses and drink for the couple. Now you’re done. Accept your applause and bask in a job well done.
If you are still at a loss about what to put in your best man wedding speeches, there are many online references. You’ve probably never have been a Best Man before, so it’s more than okay to look up a few pointers on how to get started. Search around for further advice or for something to reference for certain parts of your best man speech. Download some sample speeches or an e-book and see what other people suggest. Be careful about basing your speech heavily on a sample one, you don’t want to sounds insincere or unnatural. It’s really more about making the effort as opposed to having the equivalent of the President’s Inaugural Address.