BestManSpeech – Tips for the Best Man
The makings of a Best Man’s Speech
If you find yourself in the predicament where you have to provide the Best Man’s Speech at an upcoming wedding, don’t fear. Take heart, it’s not as difficult as it appears. You are probably just the right person to deliver the speech whether you know it or not. Here are some tips for making a memorable speech that the groom would be proud of.
Generally, the person chosen to be the best man is the groom’s best friend. This friend has probably grown up with the groom from a very young age and they may have gone to high school together and may have even had similar dating experiences which include all the wild nights and parties, they shared together. Or maybe the best man is someone the groom became very close to after his wild days were over.
It is usually the job of the best man to provide a wedding speech in honor of the groom. Sometimes it is difficult for a best friend to share the details of his friendship with the groom with anyone else that may become involved with the groom. In addition, the best friend may know a side of the groom that no one else would even imagine, especially the bride to be. In any case, the best friend must accept the possibility that all the fun times they have shared in the past must come to an abrupt stop once his friend the groom says I do, although this, in reality, is not always the case. Therefore, a true best friend will want his best friend the groom to be happy and will respect his decision as to not only who he chooses to marry but also when he chooses to marry.
The best friend should give a speech to the new couple that reflects some of the good, positive experiences they shared in the past. He should refrain from any negative experiences that would put the groom in a bad light. He should also speak of new, future experiences to come and offer best wishes to the newly wedded couple. To really be effective, the best man’s speech must be sincere, meaningful, and tactful so not to hurt anyone’s feeling. Words of true friendship should be expressed as only the very best friend can put them. The best man must also remember that weddings are not the place for stories from the good old days that are not proper wedding conversation or subjects of discussion. Topics of this nature are usually embarrassing to both the groom and the bride or may be offensive to the guests.
The best friend usually knows the groom much better than anyone else in the bridal party and maybe even better than the groom’s own parents do. Therefore it is common for the best man to offer some good advice to the new bride during his speech. The new bride should take the words of wisdom to heart for the future of the marriage. The best man’s job is also to encourage the groom and affirm that he is doing the right thing for both he and his new wife. The speech can include things about the groom that make the bride feel safe being married to the groom and feel secure about their future in the marriage together.
The best man usually begins his speech at the wedding celebration by telling a good tasteful joke about weddings or marriages. Then mentions how level headed the groom is and how the groom always thinks before he acts. He may include a mention of how long he has known the groom and sprinkle facts about the friendship. He can include important factors he thinks will reassure the new bride about her husband. He should also mention the fact that he, as the grooms best friend, hopes to become a close friend to the new bride and her family as well.
Nearly every speech given at any wedding by the best man generally sounds the same and says the same thing. So you, as the best man, need to find things to add that no one else could possibly think of and find entertaining ways to wish your closest and dearest friends the best of everything for their future together. Whether you choose to be lighthearted and funny as many best men are at weddings or chillingly serious, you need to make sure your best man’s speech says exactly what you would give to see your best friend, the groom, happy in a lasting marriage. If the new bride trusts you as the best man and her husband’s best friend and believes that you want the best for them in their marriage, chances are the two of you will still be able to hang out and have fun after the wedding.
This article reflects my experience as a groom and a best man with wedding speeches. For more information and detailed examples of all types of wedding speeches, visit BestManSpeech.
