The structure and content is important, but the delivery is more important. When you've got a draft, practice it in the car/in front of the mirror/wherever a LOT. I've done a few humorous speeches (including an obituary for my dad just recently) that have all gone down really well, and for me it's the practice that makes them so successful. I must have practices my groom speech 100+ times before the big day.
Best Man Speech Help!
- Thread starter R.O.S.S.I
- Start date
- Status
Don't forget to add in how great bride/bridesmaids look.
I missed that in my wedding speech
I was just about to say that, I missed that in mine and my brother (the groom) stood up and said it after I had done, make sure you do it, even if they're utter swamp beasts....just say it!
Associate
- Joined
- 6 Feb 2008
- Posts
- 1,750
I don't know what the joke is but I'd just be careful that the food joke won't upset bride and groom. They've likely spent a heck of a lot of money on it and also put quite a bit of time into trying to decide what would be the best food. At my wedding, I found that part took more time than guests probably appreciate.
My tip would be to read it to a few other people, possibly people that won't be at the wedding, and from a range of ages. Try it on work colleagues, your parents, etc? You'll very quickly realise that some bits that you thought weren't that funny are actually the best bits and other bits that you thought were hilarious don't make much sense to other people. The speech should be understandable by everyone there, no inside jokes or parts that will only make sense to the older or younger guests only.
Oh, and open with a really clear and loud "Hello Everyone". Something as simple as that will immediately relieve any nerves you have, make sure everyone is listening/settled, clear your throat for the rest, and also be easily memorable in the little wait before you start speaking.
Be complimentary and keep it short if you don't know what to do.
A few things for a laugh, but don't try to rip into the groom.
At the very least it'll be decent. It'd go far worse by trying to be funny and falling on your face, than just being nice and hitting it's mark.
Also try to memorize what you're trying to say, i've never had trouble with public speaking but I was nervous with mine and wished i'd got it finished earlier on, and practiced it for longer.
A few things for a laugh, but don't try to rip into the groom.
At the very least it'll be decent. It'd go far worse by trying to be funny and falling on your face, than just being nice and hitting it's mark.
Also try to memorize what you're trying to say, i've never had trouble with public speaking but I was nervous with mine and wished i'd got it finished earlier on, and practiced it for longer.
DO NOT DO THIS - they weren't chuckles it was uncomfortable groans. that joke is as old a time. I think the best man at adam and eves wedding used it.
I had my mates all planned out, spent ages researching/planning stories and jokes. came the day I had 2 stiff whiskeys before I 'took to the stage' and ended up completely off script. it was the talk of the town, people I didn't know were commenting how funny it was. i did the usual - commented how lovely the bride was and how lucky the groom was blah blah blah - then just chucked in a few observational jokes about the audience and the day in general.
maybe I missed my true calling in life - stand up!
It went down well, I didn't structure a speech after that, like you, I winged it, stories about the groom, how lucky he was to have the bride etc etc. So yea... Don't think they were uncomfortable groans........ Arse.
unless you told that joke ~40 years ago I'm afraid to say.....Arse!
unless you told that joke ~40 years ago I'm afraid to say.....Arse!
Well, maybe I got an uneducated audience. Who knows, but all I know is it went well and got everyone laughing, allowing for the rest of the speech to be relaxed and fun. Which is all that matters with these things.
This is a good proof point that a best man/grooms speech is one of the easiest speeches you can do. The vast majority of the audience want you to success and have probably already had a few by this point. They'll laugh at almost anything.
Exactly, I could have told a chicken crossing the road joke and still got a giggle. Everyone is just happy to be there and in such a good mood. So having a unscripted speech works much better than a scripted on. I just threw in the joke to hopefully break the ice.
What? ..that is a totally relevant story.
An irrelevant story would be Rossi turning up to the wedding and letting everyone know that a traffic accident on the M6 resulted in 0 congestion for 12 hours.
It was only a little line like "Before we begin can we just have a moments silence..... for the 23 cows, 43 chickens and 300 prawns which sacrificed themselves for today's festivites." Again, not sure i'll use it and I most likely wont but just want it in my locker haha as I'd never heard that one before and thought it was quite amusing.
Permabanned
- Joined
- 8 Feb 2004
- Posts
- 4,539
Any best man who doesnt throw in at least a few Savile jokes in to his speech deserves to be shot tbh.
I used to film wedding videos so have heard many best men speeches. The best have always been the ones that are short and concise. My advice is to practice the speech 5 times and keep it under 4 minutes if possible.
You are spot on with a structure
that's it keep it simple - remember to practice it 5 times and you can't go wrong. On the 3rd practice get someone else in the room for feedback.
Good luck
You are spot on with a structure
- 30 seconds for congratulating them and others.
- 2 minutes with a funny story you've had together - ideally involving the bride some how
- another 30 seconds max on wishing them well & family in future
that's it keep it simple - remember to practice it 5 times and you can't go wrong. On the 3rd practice get someone else in the room for feedback.
Good luck
That will upset and vegetarians/vegans in the crowd.
Edit: In that case, definitely include it
Sage advice!
My best man was a woman that had been my best friend since the year dot, purely platonic, just mutual respect and genuine unromantic love for each other.
She spoke for something like two or three minutes, initially just saying things like everyone knows Jean is a stand-up nice guy, and will always have your back, yada, yada.
She then smashed it out of the park by finishing with;
Few people, probably including lucky Nicole, his bride, know why I love and respect him totally.
Jean and I were at a party when he visited me one winter when I was at university in Toulouse, France, and we got snowed in by a flash blizzard, couldn't get out of the house, and had to sleep there.
It was so cold that I crawled under Jean's duvet for warmth, he kissed my forehead, turned his back, and went straight to sleep, who wouldn't love a guy who could do that?
She spoke for something like two or three minutes, initially just saying things like everyone knows Jean is a stand-up nice guy, and will always have your back, yada, yada.
She then smashed it out of the park by finishing with;
Few people, probably including lucky Nicole, his bride, know why I love and respect him totally.
Jean and I were at a party when he visited me one winter when I was at university in Toulouse, France, and we got snowed in by a flash blizzard, couldn't get out of the house, and had to sleep there.
It was so cold that I crawled under Jean's duvet for warmth, he kissed my forehead, turned his back, and went straight to sleep, who wouldn't love a guy who could do that?
- Status