For all the Best Men out there, when it comes to the all important speech, some best men prefer to live on the edge and face a full venue with little to no preparation, whilst others prefer the planned approach to ensure laughs and a good reception. If you in the latter of these two groups, you may be worrying about your forthcoming best man speech. Funny wedding speeches are a vital element in any wedding service. However, writing a killer best man’s speech which is both tasteful and risqué is a tall order, especially after the father of the bride has delivered an epic, tear-jerker. Here is a guide to writing a best man’s speech which will be memorable for the right reasons.
Start Your Planning
It can be easy to get your mind in a twist when writing any speech. Begin by jotting down some questions on a piece of paper which relate to the bride and groom such as how long you have known them, How did they meet? How would you describe them? You can then start to fill out the speech from these basic questions.
Finding The Right Balance
A good best man’s speech will find a tasteful balance between family friendly laughs and traditional banter. Obviously any children should be sheltered from some of your worst material which should probably be left until the later stages of the evening. Rather than leaping into the jokes and anecdotes straight away, you should spend some time introducing yourself and say a few words about the happy couple.
Stories
Past stories about times you shared with the groom or the bride (careful) can add some extra depth and charm to the proceedings, especially if they have been kept quiet from family and friends. Some of our most memorable times were from our school and university days. Remember to not hurt any innocent bystanders in the name of humour and always back up a long, winding story with a point or a verbal bang.
Structure
Although you want the speech to be personal, a bit of structure can help you to deliver the speech confidently and remember all the important details. If you are preparing a long, memorable piece, have different sections for jokes, stories, serious moments and final toasts.
Jokes
Some of the best wedding jokes involve personal details about the couple and the wedding party such as their hobbies, where they live, their jobs and their lifestyle. Many jokes start off like a harmless and rather sweet anecdote before crashing into a punch line at the end such as “I felt a bit nervous about coming up today, but [groom] reassured me that if I did a good job…I can be best man at his next wedding.”
Consult With The Groom
If you are slightly concerned about a few raunchy gags or secret story from the past, consult with the groom or family members to get their take on these little snippets. This doesn’t mean that you should divulge all of your material for the big day, but a few pointers may prove to be very helpful.
The Final Flourish
Finally, end with a high note to pull the speech together. Toasts and best wishes on behalf of you and the congregation traditionally end the best mans speech which is then followed by a few words from the groom.
