Beating The Best Man Challenge: Be Sure Your Best Man Wedding Speech Is Perfect

He knows how much you hate public speaking, but he asked you to be his Best Man anyway. You remember the last time you had to make a speech. It was last year in your Environmental Conservation class, and you said “sex” instead of “six.” So, he’s just trying to torture you right? Probably not. Being a Best Man is an honor, and he liked you enough to ask you to be his. You’re not even completely sure what a best man does. If you are unsure where to begin, you aren’t alone. Tons of guys are in a situation similar to yours, and I bet if you looked hard enough, you could find a Best Man Support Group online. However, you won’t need to join any kind of support group. A little advice and some practice can help you write an awesome best mans speech, and who knows, you may even have fun doing it.

Before you even start your speech, get comfortable and relaxed. Writing a speech while you’re relaxed will help you write relaxed, and in turn, speak more relaxed. The best speech will come from an open, relaxed mind, so make sure you’re in a comfortable mind set. Next, forget structures and organization. Your speech should be conversational and natural, not sounding like an essay on bacteria. You don’t need to include body paragraphs or a thesis sentence in your introduction. Make sure what you say is genuine and that it actually applies to the Groom. Try to avoid distractions, sometimes the best speeches just come from a train of thought. Spend a little bit reflecting on your relationship with the Groom, and maybe jot down some key points you’d like to touch on. A creative, memorable, heart-warming speech is possible, and with a little help, you can write one.

There are a couple pretty traditional elements that are included in a Best Man speech. It’s generally between three to five minutes and is made during the reception. A Best Man speech generally contains an introduction, some valued memories you’ve shared with the Groom, and a toast to the couple. Start with an introduction. This is your chance to establish your relationship with the Groom and introduce yourself to the audience, some of whom may not know who you are. Your relationship to the Groom also sets the tone for the speech. Depending on whether you’re a father, son, or best friend to the Groom, the content and reception of your speech will vary, so keep this in mind.

It’s okay to keep a note card with keywords written on it. That doesn’t mean have a script. Reading from a piece of paper lacks ingenuity and reflects a lack of effort. By keeping an index card with some main ideas on it, you can glance down if you get stuck and quickly pick up where you left off. Try your best not to rely on your note card, though. Practice without it and keep it with you just as a crutch. Just relax and do what you’ve practiced, knowing you have a quick save if you need it.

Even the best speakers out there get nervous while making a best mans speeches. Everyone knows how nerve wracking your situation is, and no one is expecting you to deliver the next “I Had A Dream” speech. If you mess up, don’t sweat it. Most likely the audience wouldn’t even notice. Presenting your best mans speech should be fun, not your worst nightmare.