1. Do have notes - whilst we all can have really good memories, it is almost guaranteed that this will disappear on the day!
2. Do check your notes - easy to forget if you don't use those well prepared notes
3. Do practice - it is amazing how much more natural you will seem if you have run through it a couple of (hundred) times before
4. Do censor yourself - think about Granny and whether or not she should hear THAT particular joke
5. Do take hints from other websites, people in fact anywhere you can find good relevant material
6. Don't plan to go on too long - 15minutes of your speech is likely to be plenty, 45minutes will have people itching for you to stop
7. Don't try and take the limelight - you will get more applause for focussing on the happy couple than on yourself
8. Don't get drunk - one (small) drink is Dutch courage, one bottle of scotch is difficult to undershtands
9. Don't worry too much - it is the couple that is the focus for the day, you only have 15minutes of limelight
10. Don't forget to remember 1-9!
The day
You're traditional head of the wedding helpers, so reply to the previous speakers on behalf of the maids of honour/bridesmaids and other helpers.
You have to propose a toast to the parents, take the mick (roast) out of the groom, and compliment and toast to the couple. The best man wedding speech often is the third in order after the father of the bride and the groom have spoken.
1. Try to start your speech with a joke or a funny statement about this day (keep it clean and aim not to offend anyone).
2. Introduce yourself to the guests - not everyone will know you.
3. Thank the groom for his speech and for asking you to be best man (opportunity for a "who else was he going to ask" quip)
4. Make lovely about the Bride (doesn't matter what you really think - she IS gorgeous) and thank the bride on behalf of the maids of honour or bridesmaids and the other helpers.
5. Thank the hosts of the party on behalf of the guests, often they are the parents of the bride (and may well have paid a lot - be nice to them!)
6. Thank the father of the bride for his speech and his kind words.
7. Toast to the parents of the bridal couple (make sure EVERYONE toasts them - make them feel special)
8. Thank the couple for their gifts and compliments to the maids of honour or bridesmaids and to all other people who helped making this day a success (worth checking with the couple if there is anyone in particular she would like to add - photographer, florist etc)
9. Mention some funny incidents in your best man speech about the preparation for the wedding. Mix in some averted disasters of this ceremonial day. Reveal some secrets from behind the scenes (if you don't have any, no-one will mind you making some up - as long as they are not insulting!)
Taking the Mick (roasting) the Groom
1. Tell about your relationship to the groom. How did the two of you met? How has your friendship developed, how you came to be best mates?
2. Why did they choose you as best man? Ask him beforehand and give his answer a humorous twist.
3. Address the couple and include anecdotes about the bride and groom. Tease a little bit (or a lot!)
4. How/when/where did they have met each other?
5. How did he tell you about his new love, what did he exactly say (again - plenty of opportunity here for humour)?
6. How has he changed? Did he behave differently?
7. Taking the mick (roasting) out of the groom is the heart of your best man speech. You as best man may humiliate (gently) him in an amusing way in front of all wedding guests. Make a show of it, with lots of laughter! Tell funny stories and embarrassing incidents of his past and use props.
8. Come up with some jokes about his years of study, job skills, sports, hobbies and achievements (plenty of websites online to help you here - http://www.amywellsdesigns.co.uk for example)
9. Show photos of embarrassing moments for the groom and tell the story behind it (again - if there are not any funny stories, no-one will mind you making some up here - but be nice!)
10. Illustrate your light hearted remarks with props - old toys, sports wear, school awards, and so on. Use props in a best man speech.
11. Give some words of advice and your ideas about love and marriage. Be sincere and sensitive.
12. You may want to strenghten your thoughts by using inspirational quotes in your best man speech particularly when talking about their future.
13. Give a little bit of marriage advice if you are married yourself. What have you learned? How do you cope with marriage things?
14. Give some heart felt comments about the happy couple. Yes, speak from your heart.
Toasting
Toast the maids of honour or bridesmaids (Groom will have done this already - do it again)
don't mention his escapades with women in the past, it might upset him, the bride and the other guests, like children ...
