Tips for Writing a Best Man Speech

The best man speech can easily be a highlight, or a lowlight of a wedding reception. This reality can put tremendous pressure on the best man who wants to make a fitting tribute to the happy couple withoutembarrassing them or himself. In some cases the best man can write out his speech in advance. This can help with making sure that certain things are said, but it can also contribute to a sense that the speech is rehearsed. At the same time, some men will decide to "wing it" and just speak from their heart. This can work fine if people have a sense of the atmosphere, but it can also bedisastrous if the best man gets nervous and starts to blurt out all sorts of inappropriate material. Therefore, here are a few tips for writing a best man speech.

Leave the past in the past

Sometimes people like to refer to the past in a best man speech. This may be fine in terms of childhood memories if the best man and the groom grew up together. However, the best man should probably stay away from stories of ex-girlfriends, crazy exploits, and any other material that may be inappropriate for a diverse crowd. The best man must recognize that a wedding is not the same as getting together with old friends for a sentimental drink. Sometimes people forget this fact and the speech quickly dissolves into memories that are not appreciated by the crowd.

Recognize your strengths

When a best man prepares a speech, they should be aware of and acknowledge their strengths. If a person is naturally funny, they should stick with a light speech and not necessarily attempt a sentimental tribute. If a person is more serious and emotional in nature, they should be careful about inserting humor into the speech. In other words, people should stick to their strengths and realize that if they go too far outside their personality, then the speech may appear forced and awkward.

Include the bride

The best man speech is usually directed more towards the groom, which makes sense because there is typically an existing relationship. In some cases, the best man may not even know the bride terribly well. However, to the best of his ability, the best man should do his best to speak to both the bride and the groom. After all, the event is a celebration of their relationship, even if the best man knows the groom in a much deeper way. Therefore, the best man may need to do some investigating before the speech in order to include the bride in the tribute.

Shorter is better

Finally, the best man should remember that some of the better speeches are fairly brief. Sometimes people feel like they are supposed to talk for a certain amount of time in order to make sure they are being thorough. Unfortunately, some best men run out of material, so they start to ramble, repeat themselves, or stray off topic. Therefore, if a best man is going to prepare a speech, he should give his tribute, toast the happy couple and hand the microphone back to the master of ceremonies.