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How To Write A Killer Best Man Speech (With Templates)

A funny, heartfelt speech from the best man is one of the most memorable parts of a wedding. Here’s how to give a great toast (without embarrassing yourself).

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A best man speech is the perfect way to send your brother or friend the best wishes in their marriage, but standing up in front of the crowd can be super nerve-wracking. If you’ve been invited to be the best man at a wedding but have no idea what to say in your speech, you’re not alone! 

Over 75% of the population cites public speaking as one of their biggest fears. Thankfully, it’s a people skill that anyone can develop. A great event toast can be a game-changer and make you feel like a celebrity amongst the wedding guests. 

Watch our video to learn the best (and worst) speech openers:

Here’s how to overcome your public speaking anxiety and give a knockout best man speech that will incite laughter, smiles, or even sentimental tears. 

Quick Answer: How to Write a Best Man Speech Fast (with Template!)

A killer best man toast has a formula:

• Start with a funny or complimentary introduction
• Lead into a short story
• Add a dash of vulnerability
• End with genuine congratulations to the bride and groom. 

You won’t want to wing the speech after you’ve had a few drinks when you feel strapped for time before the wedding. Instead, take just 30 minutes of planning and note-making to save you (and the bride & groom) the embarrassment of an excessively long or inappropriate ramble. 

If you want to write a best man speech fast, follow this brief template for a great toast. Your toast should be roughly 3 to 5 minutes long. You can use numbered index cards to jot down the highlights of each section. Then, rehearse a few times in the mirror in the days leading up to the event. 

The most straightforward speech outline includes seven main components: 

• A great one-liner : This could be a funny joke, a compliment, or an inspirational quote about brotherhood or marriage. The first 15 seconds of the toast should capture the audience’s attention and leave them excited for more. Modify this:

“I’d like to begin by congratulating the groom for his superb taste in choosing the best man [chuckle].” 

• Compliment the wedding : Build your respect with the guests by highlighting things you like about the wedding. For example, you can compliment the beauty of the venue, the delicious food, or the great choice of music. Modify this:

“All jokes aside, this is a beautiful wedding. The bride and groom look like a movie star couple together. And if you didn’t taste the cake, you are missing out!” 

• Express gratitude : Say “thank you” to those who made the wedding possible and show appreciation to the groom for choosing you as his best man. Modify this:

“I am so grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Zimerman for hosting us here today, and thank you to the bride and groom for inviting me to be part of their special day.” 

• Tell a story : Did you and the groom meet as kids on the baseball field? Were you there when he first met his bride? Did you share a funny experience in college that is appropriate to share? The “meat” of the speech will be a short story about your relationship with the groom. A great story sounds like this:

 “When I first met Jeff, he was in a period of transition in life, like we all go through. He had just started a new job at my office in San Francisco, and we met because of our mutual addiction to double shot espressos (iced with a little cream) at 6 AM every morning from the corner coffee shop Bob’s Cup O’ Joe. When we both arrived at the office at the same time, 3 days in a row with eyes like this [widen eyes big], I knew we would be friends for life. A million espressos, meetings, and after-work beers later, I am so proud to call Jeff my best friend. When he told me about meeting a beautiful blonde named Anne at Bob’s Cup O’ Joe a few years later, I knew something would become of it. She even drank the same double shot espressos, iced with a little cream!”  

• Admire the couple : Strengthen your bond with the newlyweds by expressing your support for their marriage. If you know a bit about the bride and groom’s relationship, list a few things you admire about their bond. You may emphasize how the bride has positively impacted the groom’s life or how they make a great team. 

“Jeff and Anne are a perfect pair, and it seriously warms my heart to see a couple so amazingly in love. They compliment each other in every way and radiate joy when they are together.” 

• Summarize your thoughts : Before you wrap up your speech, go back and highlight your key ideas. You can pre-write 2-3 crisp sentences summarizing your support of the couple’s marriage. Modify this:

“I wish I could say I predicted this day would come, but Jeff’s incredible character and charm won Anne over. I am so grateful to be friends with both of them and to join you all in this celebration.” 

• Toast to the future : At the end of your speech, raise your glass for a toast to the couple’s love. Modify this: 

“Please join me in raising our glasses to a lifetime of happiness and espressos for Jeff and Anne Allison!” 

Here is an awesome example of a short and sweet 4-minute toast that left the crowd cracking up:

It’s best to memorize your speech, but there is no shame in bringing a few index cards in your pocket to reference if you get nervous. Don’t forget to prepare and rehearse in advance. 

For a more in-depth speech, see our step-by-step guide below. 

What to Say in a Best Man Speech (Do’s and Don’ts)

A best man’s speech traditionally takes place at the wedding reception after the maid of honor gives her speech. The best man’s speech should be positive, respectful, and congratulatory. It can last 3 to 5 minutes and should focus on a central theme or story about the groom. 

Remember, a best man speech is not the time to “wing it.” If you do that, there may come the point when everything suddenly goes silent, and a crowd of 50-100+ people is staring at you, waiting for what you’re going to say about the groom. You probably don’t want to end up with a cringing audience while telling a story about the groom’s previous relationships:

Instead, remember these key best man speech tips for a successful toast: 

Here are a few examples of what you should say in a best man speech:

• How did you meet the groom?
• What is one of your favorite memories with him?
• How did the groom meet the bride? Were you there?
• What is special about the groom?
• What do you like most about him? 
• What are his positive traits? 
• Playful banter : You don’t want to be too corny and cheesy with your bro. Depending on your relationship with the groom and the culture of the wedding, you may want to throw in a little banter with your dude. For example, you might make a funny joke about how much the groom loves going out to eat:

You should also avoid some key topics in a best man speech. 

Do not mention:

• The groom’s past relationships
• Sexual jokes
• Drugs, alcohol, or past mistakes
• Insecurities of the groom
• Financial or personal information 
• Insults to the bride or the wedding guests 
• Overly embarrassing stories
• Teasing the bride
• Anything that could potentially harm your friendship

Keep things positive and lighthearted. While a little witty banter or playful teasing can be fun (depending on your relationship with the groom), you should avoid insulting him or highlighting any major insecurities. The “playful” part of the speech is an excellent fun icebreaker, but it shouldn’t hurt anyone’s feelings or make them feel publicly embarrassed in front of their wedding guests.

How to Write a Best Man Speech for Best Friend or Brother: Easy Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re ready to prepare something more in-depth than the quick ideas above, this step-by-step guide can help you write a thoughtful speech that the groom may remember forever. After all, being named the best man at your friend or brother’s wedding is a tremendous honor. But like any honor, it comes with some responsibilities. After you finish all your bachelor party and wedding duties, an epic best man speech can be like the fireworks at the show’s end. 

Here are 5 simple steps to make it count:

#1 Start with a theme

Before you start writing and rehearsing your speech, it helps to decide on a theme for your talk. This will give a nice flow to the speech. A theme ensures that you stay on track to communicate your congratulations and appreciation to the groom. 

What is the main message you want to get across? A few theme ideas include:

• Anecdotes : Best man toasts center around storytelling. This theme is the easiest way to stay on track because you are telling a simple story from beginning to end. 
• Humor : Whether you’re naturally funny or working on your jokes ,  your speech is the perfect opportunity to get the audience laughing. Best man speeches are known for getting a little saucy, but you must be careful about offending the crowd or making crude jokes that might insult the bride and groom. If you want to tease the groom with some witty banter, it helps to make fun of yourself or reference an appropriate inside joke.
• Inspirational : Have you and the groom achieved an important business goal or accomplishment together? Do you have a shared role model or favorite motivational book you both read in college? This speech theme can leave the audience feeling inspired.
• Morality : Use your speech to highlight the great person the groom is. Perhaps you give examples of his integrity, trustworthiness, or generosity. You can emphasize how lucky you are to know the groom and how glad you are that he found a woman to spend his life with. 
• Sentimentality : When humor and storytelling aren’t your fortes, it doesn’t hurt to get a little corny. Sentimental speeches require a level of emotional vulnerability, but they can leave a huge impact on the newlyweds and their attendees.

#2 Create an outline

You wouldn’t go on a road trip without a navigation system, so don’t go into your speech without a plan. The best toasts and speeches follow the same structure. Pull out a piece of paper and brainstorm some ideas using this format, then use the following steps to fill in the details:

• Hook/Opening statement : The opening statement should be a 1 to 3-line description about the groom. The first 7 seconds of the speech should hook the audience immediately. It warms them up to you and makes them want to pay attention to the amusing stories. You’ll find an abundance of opening-line ideas in the next section. 
• Background context : Now comes the why of your speech. This is where the context of your relationship with the groom comes in. You can throw in some funny jokes and a few details about your experience with him. Use this intro to build up the anticipation for the story to come. Write down a few ideas of stories you can tell. 
• Tell the story : Choose 1-3 short stories about the groom that is funny, slightly embarrassing, or interesting. Jot down a few of the sensory elements you want to reference, like the smelly locker room or the squeaking of tire wheels. Most stories follow a bell-curve pattern—they start with an intro, lead to rising action, peak with a capstone moment, then tie back to the beginning. Keep this in mind as you brainstorm and follow the story-planning steps below. 
• Take-home message : After you get a good laugh or “awww” out of the audience, you’ll want to bring the story back to the beginning. What do you want them to remember about your speech and friendship with the groom? 
• Thank the wedding party : Use a quick sentence to thank the wedding party and hosts. Express your genuine gratitude for being invited. 
• Closing toast and congratulations : After wrapping up the story and thanking the wedding party, you should invite the audience to toast the bride and groom with you. For an extra cheery finale, act as if you are speaking on their behalf and include lots of well-wishes for the newlyweds. 

Pro Tip : Before filling in your outline details, watch this video for an overview of how to give a memorable toast. Human behavior expert Vanessa Van Edwards explains the most common mistakes (don’t start with “I,” “me,” or “my”) and a few secrets to getting the audience to perk up in their seats. 

#3 Nail the opening line 

Once you have your outline, it’s time to dig into the details. People decide their first impression of you within 7 seconds, so it’s extra important to nail the opening line of your speech. Best men use this opportunity to crack a joke, compliment the wedding, or set a sentimental tone for the speech. 

Avoid making the first lines about you. No “me”, “I”, or “my”. Instead, start with a juicy or mysterious line about the groom, for example:

If you need a little inspiration, here are some hilarious and quirky best man speech opening lines: 

• “Caring, loyal, honest, good-looking, and an all-around-great guy… OK, enough about me, onto the groom…!” 
• “This is the perfect chance to tell you about [Groom] and how talented, special, smart, good-looking, and… sorry, man, I can’t read your handwriting here.” 
• “I’d like to give a toast to the bride and groom.” [pull a piece of toasted bread from your pocket and give it to them]
• “[Groom’s name] is the kind of person you call when you lock yourself out of the dorm bathroom without any clothes on.” 
• “The bride and groom asked me not to share embarrassing stories or crude jokes during my speech… so that’s it from me! Thanks for listening, everyone.”
• “I’d like to start by congratulating the groom for his excellent taste in choosing the best man.” 
• “[Groom] had a tough time choosing his best man. First, he called his most handsome friend, but he said no. Then, he called his smartest friend, and he said no. Then, he called his most successful friend, who also said no. Then he called me, and I said, ‘Bro, I can’t say no to you four times.'”
• “What can I say about [Groom]? I guess I’ll start at the very beginning. He was born on [groom’s birthday]. Our parents were hoping for a girl, but I’ve always said… close enough.”

Here is a genuinely funny opening line from a best brother wedding speech:

Pro Tip : Don’t forget to pause for laughter. If it doesn’t come, you can chuckle at yourself and cue the audience that they are supposed to laugh by saying, “This is where you are supposed to laugh,” or joking, “Sound guy, can you please cue the laugh track?” Then, keep going with your speech.

Don’t worry. You need not be a jokester to give a great opening line. If you want to go the nostalgic or tearjerker route, be sure it is highly personalized and thoughtful. Here are some sentimental opening line ideas:

• “There are friends, and there is family, but friends also become family. This is so true for [Groom] and me. We’ve been best friends since we were X years old, and I’ve always considered him my brother.” 
• “There’s an old Irish proverb that says a good friend is like a four-leaf clover—hard to find and lucky to have. I think that’s true. Good friends are hard to find, and I’m lucky to have called [Groom] my best friend for the last X years.” 
• “I’ve heard that the best relationships come from the foundation of a deep friendship. Experts say that laughter, mutual respect, and enjoying each other’s company are the ingredients for a long-lasting, joyful marriage. After knowing [Groom] and [Bride] for X years, there is no doubt in my mind that they will make a great pair.” 
• “In Good Will Hunting , Robin Williams said, ‘It doesn’t matter if the guy is perfect or the girl is perfect as long as they are perfect for each other.” Anyone who has seen [Groom] and [Bride] together can agree that this is true for them. I haven’t seen a perfect pair, and I’m happy to be part of this celebration of their love.” 

To learn more about the best speech openers, use this guide on How to Start a Speech: The Best (and Worst) Speech Openers . Some top tips include:

• Avoid starting with a lackluster nicety like “thanks for having me.” 
• Don’t mention your nervousness.
• Avoid mentioning technical difficulties like the microphone or saying, “Can you hear me?” 

Bonus Tip: Learn the Art of Stage Presence

Did you know that public speaking is actually a skill? Many people struggle with stage anxiety because they feel they ‘missed the memo’ on public speaking or they are lacking because they do not have a natural stage presence. Not true!

Stage presence and public speaking are skills you need to be taught—very few people have them naturally. 

Watch our video to learn 7 steps to overcome stage fright and beat performance anxiety:

Here are all the aspects of public speaking you can master.

• How to make a first impression with an audience
• How to have stage presence
• Powerful body language
• How to speak with a commanding voice
• What to do with your hands while speaking

For every speaking skill you add to your toolbox, the less speaking anxiety you will feel.

If you want help really diving into your presentation skills, be sure to sign up for our course…

Master Your People Skills

• Create a Memorable Presence
• Communicate with Confidence
• Achieve Your Goals

Have a question about the presentation or People School? Email Science of People support .

#4 Background context

Now that you’ve grabbed the audience’s attention, it’s time to give them a little background on why you are giving a speech in the first place. This is another sneak peek at some details you’ll cover in the speech. 

The whole point of this part is to tell them how you know the groom—but it isn’t about you. You’ll often hear wedding speeches that start with a drab, “I met the groom in college” or, “My name is ___, and I’m the best man.” You can do better than that! Try saying:

• “The groom was the first friend I made on the high school football team. I had no idea we would become roommates in a bachelor pad throughout college.” 
• “As little kids, the groom and I were known to be a dangerous duo in the neighborhood. He always carried the eggs and toilet paper, then instructed me where to throw them. But you can guess who always took the blame for his antics….” 
• “The groom and I have been friends and business partners for X years, and as you’ll hear shortly, he is the main reason I broke my arm during the last office basketball game. But first, I want to tell you a less embarrassing story….” 

Pro Tip : Focus on the groom, and don’t make it about you. One of the biggest mistakes people make during wedding speeches is talking too much about themselves. Your speech shouldn’t discuss where you’re from, what you think, or how you ended up at the party. The best man’s speech is a time to focus on the groom and his bride. 

#5 Tell the story  

After your punchy opening line and background info, it’s time to tell the perfect story about the groom. Depending on the length of your speech and the details of your story, some best man speeches cover 1 to 3 short stories. 

Reference back to the memories you wrote when brainstorming. Pick a story that includes the most of these captivating elements:

• A little bit of embarrassment : Whether it’s you, the groom, or a mutual friend, it helps to poke some fun at someone in the story. If you fear being offensive, the best person to joke about is yourself.  
• Audience member references : You can get major bonus points if you bring wedding guests into the storytelling moment. You might say, “Mom, you might want to close your ears on this one!” or, “Brian, we’re talking about you!” 
• Sensory details : What did the scenery look like? What were the prominent smells, sounds, and tastes at the moment? A great story should make the audience feel like they were with you. Don’t forget to mention the frigid cold lake you jumped into or the outrageously spicy food that left you both panting and crying for water. 
• A final punch line : Ideally, the best story ends with a shocking moment or funny line. It should leave the audience laughing, crying, surprised, or even gasping. For example, in an epic adventure story about you and the groom on a hunting trip, you may end with, “Just as the shark was about to bite the line, Joe reeled in the massive bluefin and yelled, ‘I think we’re gonna need a bigger boat!’”

Pro Tip : If you have to ask, “Is this appropriate?” it probably isn’t. Some stories are better for late-night beers than they are for weddings. Avoid telling stories related to sexual topics, drugs, alcohol, illegal activities, or anything you wouldn’t want grandma to hear. 

#6 Take-home message

When the story finishes, you’ve hopefully elicited some laughter or maybe some tears. All jokes aside, there is a reason you were the best man, and you are probably a significant person to the groom. This is a great time to emphasize the best qualities of the groom and why you’re so happy for his new love. 

Here is an excellent example of tying together the opening and closing lines with a heartfelt message about finding the perfect soul mate:

#7 End your speech with a heartfelt toast

We’ve all heard “let’s raise a glass to [Bride] and [Groom]” before. You can do better than that! The final toast is like the fireworks at the end of your best man speech. Instead of something mediocre, invite the audience to join you in a genuine, thoughtful congratulations. Examples include:

• “Please join me in raising our glasses to the beautiful bride and handsome groom. May your lives together be long, healthy, and happy. We love you so much and are excited for you. Cheers!” 
• “Lift your glasses to thank Mr. and Mrs. [Bride’s Parents] for hosting this beautiful wedding. Let us all toast to the perfect union of the bride and groom. We wish you a bright and beautiful future. Cheers!”
• “Here’s to the past, for all you’ve learned. Here’s to the present for this beautiful moment we all share. Here’s to the future for all you’ve got to look forward to. Cheers to the happy couple!” 

Pro Tip : Make your toast inclusive and communal, so the audience feels like they’re cheering for the couple with you. Use words like “we”, “lets”, and “us”. This congratulation invites them to join as if you are speaking on their behalf. 

#8 Use a best man speech template

A template makes things simple if you’re still feeling uneasy about writing your best man speech. You can take the structure of an example speech and incorporate your ideas and stories to make it your own. 

Best man speech example for a best friend :  

“Tonight, you’ll learn why the groom was destined to marry [Bride]. The year was 2002, and we were all in a bar with friends on New Year’s Eve in New York City. Snow was falling outside, and we were sipping champagne, waiting for the big ball to drop. Seemingly out of nowhere, a woman with a red dress entered the room, and everything seemed to stop. All the bachelors in our group were captivated, but only [Groom] had the guts to walk up to her. Rumor has it that his first opening line was ‘

Everyone talks about a woman’s glow when she’s falling in love, but I swear that [Groom] was smiling from ear to ear from the second they met. We could hardly get him to stop talking about her by the following week. We’d be watching football and drinking beers only to have [Bride’s] name brought up every 5 minutes. 

Fast forward 3 years, and we’ve all seen how much [Bride] has positively impacted his life. When he came to me to tell me he was proposing, my only response was, ‘ Finally, dude !’

There’s something extra special about these two. They go together like peanut butter and jelly. They love and respect each other so much. [Bride] was the one for [Groom] from the second they locked eyes in that hazy NYC bar. We are all so happy to be here for your big day. Let’s raise our glasses to the beautiful bride and groom! Cheers!” 

Another Best man speech example for a best friend :  

“The groom was the first friend I made on the high school basketball team. He wasn’t very good [pause for laughter]. I was the tallest player and obviously had the best free throw, but I was majorly lacking in the ladies department. Thankfully, [Groom] took me under his wing and showed me how to be a true gentleman. That includes opening doors for women and carrying their bags instead of just running in with my own. What would I have done without you, man?

Even though he was no good at basketball, [Groom] always had his head on his shoulders. He’s a respectful, intelligent, and relatively clean-cut guy. All joking aside, it’s no surprise that he ended up with a woman as intelligent and beautiful as [Bride]. You both deserve a lifetime of love, happiness, and success together. Please raise your glasses and join me in congratulating the bride and groom! We love you!” 

#9 Practice your body language

Public speaking isn’t only about what you say but how you carry yourself. Your body language can drastically affect your confidence, your delivery, and how the audience perceives you. Use these body language hacks to take your speech to the next level: 

• Signal “friend” : Smile and show your open palms to send the message that you are the audience’s friend. This makes people feel more comfortable with your presence and more likely to listen.
• Stand up straight : When you look confident, you also feel more confident. Check your posture if your voice is a little shaky before the speech. Roll back your shoulders and tuck your shoulder blades down towards your back. Slightly lift your chest and chin as you speak. 
• Make eye contact: Throughout the speech, you should change your eye contact with different audience members. As you mention specific compliments or thanks, make eye contact with the bride, groom, groomsmen, bridesmaids, and the bride’s father.
• Genuinely smile : Smiling may seem obvious, but it’s easy to forget when you feel so focused on a perfect delivery. At the same time, you don’t want to look like you’re fake smiling throughout the speech. Use these 9 Simple Tips to Smile Better (in any situation!)
• Use your hands : It’s easy to let your nerves get the best of you and feel like a “deer in the headlights.” Instead of tucking your hands in your pockets, widen your stance and take up space. Use your hands and gestures while you talk to show that you are comfortable and happy during the speech. 

Want more tips? Here are 17 Body Language Presentation Cues to Use in Your Next Speech . 

#10 Rehearse before the big day

Experts say you should rehearse a speech 10 times before performing it. Research also shows that people who mentally prepare themselves before a speech by imagining it going well are more likely to perform fluently and easily. So before you get in front of an audience, be sure you’ve gone over your speech at least 10 times, either in your head or out loud. Better yet, practice in the mirror, on camera, or in front of a trusted friend. 

It also helps to review the gist of the speech with the groom (without giving away any secret details) to make sure it’s alright with him. A few weeks before the wedding, you may pull him aside and ask, “Hey man, is it OK if I tell the story about ____ in my best man speech? I think it’ll get some good laughs.” 

Although this example is long, this best man very clearly rehearsed his speech for a near-perfect performance without any notes:

Key Takeaways: Express Gratitude and Sentimentality in 3-5 Minutes

Ultimately, a best man speech is an opportunity to make your best bro look good in front of all his friends and family. Your speech should demonstrate how much you value your brotherhood or friendship. At the same time, you can enjoy 5 minutes of wedding fame without making things all about you. A great toast can make you a memorable celebrity at the wedding and have people laughing at your

Before jumping up at the reception and speaking off the cuff, remember to:

• Outline and plan your speech ahead of time. Use notecards if needed.
• Focus on the groom and his bride. Don’t go on and on about yourself. 
• Nail the opening line with a funny joke, quote, or teaser that leads into a great story. 
• Avoid inappropriate or cringey topics that could embarrass the groom.
• Express gratitude to the groom and wedding hosts. 

Giving a toast or speech is an essential social skill that can make you one of the most likable people in a room. If you want to learn more about the art of giving showstopping toasts, read this guide on How to Give an Awesome Toast: Advanced Strategies for Speeches . 

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Sometimes it’s helpful to see a few best man speech examples before putting pen to paper to understand the sort of thing you should be aiming for, get ideas and provide some context. Below we have gathered together best man speeches from those who walked before you to help you on path to creating your own bit magic which are all downloadable. If you’re looking for a bit of wit, then you might also want to dip in to our best man speech jokes and one liners which provide some good set pieces.

One other thing that we’d like to ask is if you’d be kind enough to help your fellow best man after this occasion and email us your speech after the event. You can see how it rates versus the other on the list and of course, most importantly you’ll be helping your fellow man which always engenders a bit of a warm fuzzy feeling inside! So come on – help a brother out!

Brother Speech #4

2 Best Men Comic Speech #1

Short and sincere

Short Serious Speech #3

Brother Speech #1

Comic Speech #1

Childhood Friend Speech #1

Short Cheesy Speech #1

Brother Speech #2

Cheesy Speech #1

Short Serious Speech #1

Comic Speech #7

Short Speech #1

Short Comic Speech #3

Serious Speech #2

Classic Best Man Speech

Short Serious Speech #2

Serious Speech #6

Comic Speech #5

Brother Speech #3

Serious Speech #8

Comic Speech #6

Serious Speech #3 (template)

Short Serious Speech #4

Comic Speech #3

Serious Speech #5

Serious Speech #7

Serious But Short #1

Comic Speech #8

Serious Speech #4

Short Comic Speech #1

Short Cheesy Speech #2

Serious Speech #1

Comic Speech #4 (template)

Cheesy Speech #2

Short Soppy Speech #1

Comic Speech #2

Comic Childhood Friend Speech #2

Cheesy Speech #4

Cheesy Speech #3

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The ultimate best man speech guide

10 minutes you’ll remember forever.

The Best Man Speech is one of the highlights of any wedding, but getting it right is essential, because whilst it’s just 10 minutes or so on the day, the memories of this speech will  last a lifetime . Most Best Men are weighed down by the expectation to be funny, and have no idea where to start, what it should really contain, how to end it, or how to talk about the bride and groom in a meaningful and non-clichéd way. This page is the definitive guide on how to write your best man speech, from the structure, to the jokes, how to handle two men, props, format and quotes…it’s here. All you need is some time, a creative burst and the rest will take care of itself.

Quick Links

Opening lines.

• Being Best Man
• Relationship to Groom

Triumphs and Disasters

Closing lines.

• Joint Best Man

Best Man for Brother

• Girlfriends

How to write a great best man speech

Here is a short video with my thoughts and ideas on writing a great best man speech. I’ve expanded on those ideas below to give as much advice, hints and tips on writing a really great speech. Enjoy!

Many best men race to get that first funny line in there, and usually at the expense of quality. Keep it warm, funny and never edgy.

1. Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, for those who of you I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet, my name is Chris and I am officially Paul’s second best man…second best ladies and gentlemen…nobody likes to be second best do they? Well, Paul, looking at his career, he should know better than most…anyway where were we?

2. Good evening ladies and gentlemen before I begin I’d just like to introduce myself: my name is Chris and it is my very great honour and privilege to be the first of Mark’s two Best Man…we had to split it…46 years is quite a long time to cover all in one go! Over the course of the next few minutes I’ll be taking you through Mark’s sporting heroics, dealing with incredible loss and being caned by people dressed as nuns…which in fact had nothing to do with the stag do

3. Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, over the next few minutes we’ll be talking about the man for whom Scottish Independence now means asking his English wife if he can go to the pub at the weekend. I can’t help but thinking that an English woman telling a Scottish man he can’t go to the pub, would be a new low in this country’s rich cultural history.

4. Over the next few minutes I’ll be taking you on the rollercoaster ride that has been Sean’s life to date, and there are some amazing stories; like the time he was playing A ball with David Cameron in Mexico and his dog ate the Prime Minister’s guinea pig and he had to sell my passport to repair his own nose…actually I’ve known Sean 30 years…I might have muddled a few things up there…

AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT NOT TO DO….

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, before I begin I would just like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to those of you I haven’t yet met. My name is Dave, and this Bob, and together it is our very great pleasure and privilege to be Colin’s best men for today’s celebrations.

At this point I thought I would be nervous at doing Leigh’s speech but I am now looking forward to ripping him a new arse hole in front of all his family and friends and better yet he has to sit there quietly.

This is the most puzzling part because unless you’re a seasoned speech writer, why should you have idea about structure? There are a few ways to tackle this, but the best idea is to keep things simple and form a logical progression from one piece to the next, don’t let the timeline jump around, don’t confuse the audience, and don’t cover topics or people multiple times.

Talk about being the best man

Now you’ve got to get from the introduction into the main part of the speech and this is the bridge, and in many ways the trickiest part of the whole speech, particularly if you’re trying to link everything together. Again, simple is good – don’t make the guests think too hard!

1.Over the next few minutes I will be guiding you though what amounts to one great big cry for help: Paul’s life. The inglorious acting career, the ridiculous hair, owning a ridiculous car, the persistent alcoholic over indulgence and drunken profane outbursts – he was quite simply South West London’s answer to David Hasselhof…just not as successful.

Neil is a special friend and special friends deserve one thing: three stag dos. The weekends of Istanbul, London and Leeds will live long in the memory of not just those who went, but also those who read about us in the national papers. The mass chants of ‘feed the snake! Feed the snake!’ and the enduring company of our new best friend Bianca the stripper are, I have to say, completely unrelated. I would also like to say that for the record Brian accepts and welcomes people from every country around the globe. Almost. AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT NOT TO DO….

Now a wise man once told me the best man speech should last as long as it takes for the groom to make love…So thank you everyone for coming

Firstly, I would just like to say how beautiful the bridesmaids look who have only been out shone by the bride herself, who looks amazing today.

If everyone could be upstanding, and raise a glass, know as some of you may know Kerry wanted to have the wedding a lot earlier than this, so that a certain something could be involved in the wedding, and unfortunately after a long and hard fight that couldn’t happen. I am of course talking about mikes rapidly thinning hairline, you will be sadly missed.

How you know the groom

This comes directly after the bridge and establishes a connection with the audience – they can immediately understand why you’re there, what you mean to the groom and it’s always an opportunity to have some fun with it, especially if you’re a brother!

• My first mistake was going to stay in the shared house in London where he lived. My second was to comment on the hair. As a glass bowl of pot pourri went sailing past my head and smashed behind me giving off a wonderful burst of sandalwood fragrance, I was given enough time to realize that this was a troubled, sensitive character who didn’t take criticism that well. Perfect friend material.
• I first properly met Nick way back in 1994 when we started secondary school together. Little did we know it at the time but it was the start of a beautiful relationship, which, for me, EVENTUALLY proved worth pursuing years later when I was able to borrow all his notes and pass my A Levels. Of course, Nick didn’t need them because he might look quite cool now but he was in fact a complete square at school.  The day when he could read without putting his finger on the word and then count without using his hands, were both real breakthrough moments in his life, only to be capped a few weeks later when he passed his driving test.
• I first met Brent when we attended the University of Texas and pledged a fraternity together. It was here amongst the upside down beer bongs, ritual humiliation and complete lack of sleep that I knew I had met a friend for life. This may sound overly emotional and slightly premature but when you discover your new buddy is packing his dad’s credit card with no limits, who wouldn’t want him as a friend for life? Just for the record Mr. Schakett, I know at times you may have been concerned about the amount of money Brent spent on alcohol and food on that card. You shouldn’t have: the Shot Man Schakett never wasted any of your money on food.

The trick to writing a really entertaining speech is to make the whole thing a story, rather than dragging the audience through endless stories. Recounting anecdotes is really hard to do because they require a lot of detail and all the time you’re getting to the punchline without making them laugh can prove really counterproductive. Of course, this can all pay off if you have a killer punchline, but all too frequently they aren’t that ‘killer’ and require you to have been there.

Instead take out the good bits from the stories and condense them, even embellish slightly into one neat burst of comedy…

1. Now as he embarked on adult life Nick was to learn the hard way just what it is to be a man, and the number one rule is: if you are going to offer to buy the drinks in happy hour, it’s best not to drop the entire lot down yourself as you get back to the table thus meaning you have to go and buy it all again just after happy hour’s finished. Also you should only ever do a runner from a restaurant via the roof if you HAVEN’T actually paid the bill. Leaving Prezzo’s this way one evening after settling up and leaving a good tip, still doesn’t make any sense to anyone.

2. Anyway when Mark wasn’t failing to hit the top spot in the classroom he was also finding it difficult to do that on the sports field as well. However, with a modest talent and even less interest, he did the only sensible thing to do: saved up all his skill and enthusiasm for one split second of genius. Quite how he managed to catch the impossible cricket ball as it left our sports master’s bat, is still completely unknown. But with, uncharacteristic razor sharp reactions and gazelle like agility, he did just that, and won his side the match. Literally seconds after this Mark retired from all forms of competitive sport – at the very top of his game.

3. There weren’t many highlights to being on minimum wage in the frozen section of nobody’s favourite supermarket, in fact if I remember rightly, there was only one. Nick had been asked to use his initiative to dispose of a 2 litre tub of chocolate ice cream – no big deal you might think. Well, Nick decides to take it into the staff toilets and empty it into the loo. Ladies and gentlemen, a big tub of melting chocolate ice cream can make a big impression when poured into a toilet and can only ever give the next person in there the wrong idea. And it did. From then on half the people thought he had dodgy guts the rest thought he ate on the toilet. Both of which, are in fact, true.

These are ripe areas for comedy material, and whilst you can hint at his accomplishments that should really come later in the speech, when it all gets a bit more meaningful. Of course, the disasters aren’t real disasters just areas of his life and social situations he’s got catastrophically wrong…for comedy effect.

It wasn’t all academic and sporting mediocrity though, there have been lots of other things he wasn’t good at too. Forget school discos and trying to speak to girls, Mark had computers eating out of his hand. And it’s easy to see why: with computers you can eventually work out what’s bothering them, they usually only ever break down for legitimate reasons and if you get fed up with them, you can just switch them off. You see, nothing made his heart beat harder or his mind race faster than a computer with a problem. It is a love affair that has endured to this day.

The impact the bride has had on the groom

This should be a fun look at the way the groom as upped his game, changed his wardrobe and started showing an interest in things outside of pubs, football and waking up late.

1. But when he’s not trying to track the dark forces behind his least favourite football club in the world, he also likes to go on holiday. Now going on holiday for Frank is nothing new but the way he goes about it now is very different from the Frank of old. Thanks to his beautiful new wife Emily, Frank now does something called globe trotting which actually involves going to lots of different far flung countries and immersing yourself in their culture, rather than a two hour flight and immersing yourself at the bar.

2. It’s always tricky that first stage of the relationship as you go about discovering whether it’s going to work or not. However, for Sean and Lucinda it was a lot trickier, as soon after he met her and became smitten, he had the romantic task of making her redundant. Sean was taking the old addage “if you love them set them free” to ridiculous conclusions, which resulted in Lucinda losing her job.

3. Cassie, can I just say that you look absolutely beautiful today, I think we can all agree Brent is one lucky guy. I always had a sneaking feeling that Brent was batting way above his average, now I know he is! I have seen over the years just how happy you both are together and I am so thrilled for Brent that he’s met such an amazing woman to share his life with. Also if you could find it in your big, warm heart to allow The Shot Man and that credit card to come out to play, then you would make some grown up, financially independent men, very happy too.

The wedding day really is only about one person, and even though the Best Man Speech should mainly be about the groom, the bride does of course have her part in it as well.

The thing to remember here is, that unless you live in Australia, the best man always goes last, and so the groom will already have extensively talked about how they met. You’re really looking to avoid repetition, so allude generally to how they met, and I’d avoid details…and if they met online and aren’t advertising the fact, then you shouldn’t either.

1. Seriously when Mark met you Emily, everyone could see just how happy that made him. He’s always been a great bloke waiting for the right girl and everyone who knows you both will tell you just what a great couple you are together. Mark I couldn’t be happier for you today, we’ve known each other such a long time and I hope that friendship lasts for many more years to come.

2. Ali, I know you make Neil incredibly happy – you must do, he’s stopped dressing like a middle aged freak. But seriously, you both make a great couple and I know that he’ll already have the next few years planned out on spreadsheets but if you can fit me in I’ll look forward to spending a lot happier times together.

3. The fact that Dave also looked like Kevin Keegan’s love child, also didn’t help his dating days. That was until that fateful night, on the last train from London when he met the lovely Katie and smooth talked her after another mate of ours offered her a complimentary chicken nugget, and the rest is history. In a world, which looks down upon fast food, I think we all need to think again.

4. I can see how incredibly happy you have made my old friend over these last eight years and just how much you have helped to change his life for the better. He’s always been a great guy buy now he has wider horizons and a greater sense of adventure. And I know just how much of a support you’ve been to him through the tough times. I think you are a great couple and I look forward to many more happy times together in the future.

There should really be only one toast in a best man speech and that’s at the very end. Tradition states that best men should reply on behalf of the bridesmaids at the beginning of the speech in response to the bridesmaids toast by the groom – but it’s just confusing and not necessary. A simple but effective toast at the end and you’re done.

All that remains for me is to wish you all a long and happy life together, with all the luck in the world.

Ladies and gentlemen, the bride and groom.

This is where you tie all the strands together, and say what a great friend/brother the groom is, how much he’s been there for you through difficult times, laughed with you through the good times, and always had your back….and if he hasn’t…just lie!

1. John, you have been a good friend to me ever since we first met, and not just in the form of free shots and hosting parties. We’ve had great times going to the games, hanging out and making that journey from college to adult life. I know there will be less time for me in your life as I’ve now been replaced by a small dog called Ben, but you’re catholic, and now you’re married – I can’t see that dog getting a look in for months anyway. However, I will always look forward to the time we spend together especially when for old time’s sake the Shot Man is once again unleashed. Thanks for being trustworthy, loyal and understanding friends and I hope to spend many more times together for many more years to come…maybe also with that doctor wife you promised me Julie.

2. With your laidback, calm and sensitive approach to life Frank, you’re somebody that many people count themselves lucky to have in their lives. Not just because of your willingness and ability to help them out as a friend but because you’re fun and light hearted ways mean you’re always a great guy to be around.

3. I am so happy that you’ve found each other to share your lives with and all that remains for me to say is that I hope you have a great day today and enjoy a long and happy life together.

4. Sam, we’ve known each other for such a long time and been through such a lot together that it’s hard to know where to begin. All I can say is that I couldn’t have wished for a better bloke to share those years with and I hope that there’s going to be plenty more of them to come. Thanks for being a great friend, and thanks for letting me copy your homework.

Other things to consider

From a vast amount of experience you should avoid using props at all costs. It might seem like a great idea to have films, photos, a man in a gimp suit taking the heat off you in a pressurised situation, but it only ever serves to make the day a lot trickier and the speech less effective. As soon as you start holding up pictures or invite people to look at pictures you’ve left on the table they will immediately stop looking at you and start zoning out or talking amongst themselves.

If you give anyone the opportunity to divert their gaze you then have to work really hard to get it back again, and props will only ever make your speech longer and more tedious to endure. They also usually rely heavily on cables, Bluetooth connections, wifi etc etc…or at the very least everyone being able to see what you’re holding up…and they never can. Suddenly you’re getting heckles about not being able to see/hear/understand and it makes the speech the longest 10 minutes of your life.

A great idea if you’ve got funny photographs is to pin them up by the seating plan so that everyone will get to see them and then you can reference those in your speech.

Forget the awful quotes that you normally hear such as ‘it’s not somebody you can live with, it’s somebody you can’t live without, there are some great quotes out there if you look hard enough. Just one for each speech as you don’t want it to become some sort of English Literature GCSE essay.

The greatest gift of life is friendship, and I have received it. - Hubert Humphrey

There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship. - Thomas Aquinas.

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one. - AA Milne.

Think where man’s glory most begins and ends, and say my glory was I had such friends. - WB Yeats.

Quotes can be a really powerful way to end a speech, and it’s worth going that extra mile to find something that very few have used before, so check out sites such as BrainyQuote and GoodReads for an endless supply of great quotes.

You are always going to get a heckler or two so it’s worth thinking in advance how to deal with them so they don’t upset your flow, and even better, give you an opportunity to get some extra laughs. The most simple method is just to pause, wait until they’re done and carry on, but if you can get a bit of mileage out of it, so much the better.

A good way of having some fun is simply to ask if they’re looking for assistance in going to the bathroom, this works particularly well if they happen to be on the slightly older side. If it’s a younger person you can assume some vocal surprise that their carers have let them out for the day, or suggest that whatever medication the system has got them on, they need to cut the dose. Anything along this sort of gentle fun vein, always works a treat…as long as they don’t really have a carer and aren’t on medication.

In my experience best man jokes are probably the least effective addition to any best man speech that wants to be classed as superior. By best man jokes, I am alluding to about 100 or so gags that were written over the years specifically to get a laugh from wedding guests. You can do so much better than these, because they’re old, tired an dpeople have heard them all before and the last thing you want to do is land one of these at the start of your speech to a luke warm ripple of polite laughter.

To identify exactly what I’m talking about I’ve listed some of the most prolific offenders.

It’s an emotional wedding, even the cake is in tiers.

It’s not the first time today I’ve got up form a warm seat with a piece of paper in my hand.

If there’s anybody here this afternoon who’s feeling nervous, apprehensive and queasy at the thought of what lies ahead, it’s probably because you have just got married to the groom.

Complete rubbish. You need to work out what it is that’s funny about the groom in an original and engaging way, people will love your creativity and laugh much more!

Burning deep within his sole was a dream, what he wanted more than anything, more than being a cowboy, professional tennis player or A ball star…was to be an office manager in the NHS. What can I say? He’s not dreaming any more ladies and gentlemen.

This is one of the most important factors and it actually depends on quite a few things, so we’ll start off with the very general scenario of 3 speakers at a wedding – Father of the bride, Groom and Best Man. If this is the case and it’s in the UK, then the best man speech should be a stand up to sit down time of no longer than 10 minutes. If this is in America, that will be about 5 minutes maximum. Americans like their speeches shorter and more efficient, and that’s no bad thing.

However, these timings will then change the more speakers that are added to the line up, because what the groom should be doing is making sure the section of speeches doesn’t run into hours of your life you’ll never get back. If there are 4 speakers, aim to be in and out in around 8 minutes, 5 speakers you’re looking at about 6 minutes, and so it goes on.

You have to bear in mind also that as you’ll be the last speaker, apart from Australia where you’re up second, and so the guests are at the limit of their concentration endurance, so if they’ve been sitting through 90 minutes of speeches, and it happens, make it REALLY funny, and REALLY short.

If you are two best men making a joint speech then you should be stood for about 12-13 minutes, and that remains the case the more best men are added to the line up. If you’re a co-best man and you’re making separate speeches, then your speech should be about 7 minutes. The timings in Australia are identical to the UK except that the best man goes after the father of the bride.

Joint best man

Being a joint best man is pretty common these days, and you really need to tackle what you’re going to go about things as early as possible, because trying to coordinate two guys to write and deliver a speech whilst they juggle their own lives can prove next to impossible.

The first thing you have to decide is if you’re going to make a joint speech or separate ones. The best method is to make a joint speech as it means you won’t double up on gags or content, and nobody has that last dreaded speech spot. A great joint best man speech should consist of about 4 chunks of content each and you bounce from one best man to other all the way through the speech.

However, for many reasons making a joint speech might prove impossible. Maybe there’s no time to coordinate it, maybe you don’t like the guy, or maybe there’s a fundamental clash of ideas. In that case make sure your speech is efficient, tight and punchy and comes in at around 7 minutes, and whatever you do, make sure you get on first.

Quite a lot of grooms make their brother the best man, and that does throw up a few problems – the main one being that although you’ve grown up in the same family/house etc. you don’t really know that much about him! When I’m writing speeches, this doesn’t really affect the creative process because I’m looking for a very funny comedic overview of who the groom is, not a granular introspection. If you’re facing this very common problem, then just take everything you know about his character, passion, dislikes, job and even hair colour and get the funnies out of that. It can be done but it really needs thinking about.

Of course, there is some fun to be had with the introduction and you need to allude to that fact how upset you were when your number priority spot was completely usurped by a noisy, ugly ginger baby called Dave. If you’re younger than talk about the time you realised the bigger toddler in the house who kept bashing you over the head every time your mum left the room, was in fact your older brother Steve.

Former Girlfriends

As tempting as it may seem to have a quick chronological run through of the groom’s former loves, this will only ever end in disaster. This comes back to my point that the wedding day is really only about the bride – if you do anything to upset her, then it’s pretty terminal. Mentioning former conquests in any way shape or form is something I completely avoid, you might think it’s all light hearted fun but no bride likes to think of their brand new husband being the love interest of someone else!

Delivering the speech

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The Ultimate Best Man’s Speech Template

Author: Hollie Bond

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No idea where to start when it comes to writing your best man speech? Use our failsafe best man’s speech template for inspiration to write and deliver an Oscar-worthy performance.

You’ve been given the huge honour of being the best man at your best friend’s wedding – congratulations! Now you’ve celebrated together and have had fun coming up with all sorts of fun ideas for the stag do , it’s time to knuckle down to the harder work of coming up with a best man speech that’ll show your best mate how much he means to you and that’ll entertain all the wedding guests in equal measure.

Not many of us are natural speech writers or deliverers. In fact, this might be the very first speech you’ve ever been asked to do. If you’re staring at a blank document and have no idea where or how to start when it comes to writing a brilliant and funny best man speech, don’t panic. Plenty of other best men have been in your shoes before.

To help you create a funny, but well-structured and entertaining speech, we’ve put together an easy-to-use best man speech template. Use this to create a structure for your speech and then fill your speech full of personal anecdotes and your own unique jokes and sense of humour.

How To Write An Amazing Best Man Speech

Before you dive headfirst into writing your best man speech , there are a few rules you need to consider to ensure your speech is as entertaining as it can possibly be. The key to a good best man speech is that it sounds casual and effortless, but there’s still a good structure, and this can only be achieved if you follow these simple, but effective rules:

1) Timing: Keep your speech short! Make sure your speech is around seven to fifteen minutes long. Any shorter and it sounds like you’ve not put the effort in. Any longer and you’re at risk of boring the guests and sounding monotonous.

2) Make sure you don’t leave it till the last minute. A good speech takes preparation and practice. If you’ve always been the sort of person who procrastinates, then now is the time to make a change. You should start this speech at least a month in advance of the wedding to give yourself time to make edits and learn the speech by heart so you can deliver it effortlessly.

3) Don’t include any private jokes or stories the wedding guests won’t understand. Think about your audience at all times. This is not a private speech between you and the groom. Everyone needs to understand what you’re talking about or you risk alienating them.

4) Don’t talk about yourself too much. This is not your day, but the brides and grooms. If you’re going to go on about anyone, it should be the groom!

5) Spend the most time working on the introduction and the end. These are the bits most guests will remember.

6) Any jokes about the groom or members of the wedding party should be wholesome and family-friendly rather than rude, crude, and offensive. Remember anecdotes and short stories or observational jokes about the groom work much better in this speech than one-liners that you’ve randomly found online. Give the guests time to warm up to a joke rather than expecting them to roar with laughter at a single out-of-context sentence.

7) Think about having an overarching theme. The best man speeches have a thread running through them that links all the different elements. If you can, try and think of a loose theme for your speech (don’t force it though if it’s not working). Something you can reference at the start and then come back to at various points makes for an excellent and joined-up speech. Ideas could be a certain well-known trait of the best man. Or perhaps a story about the groom that you can drip feed throughout the speech, with a hilarious result revealed at the end.

Best Man Speech Template

Best man speech opening lines.

To get your audience on your side from the off, start your speech with a strong and amusing opening line if you can. We’ve rounded up some of the greatest best man speech opening jokes for you to take your pick from. A classic way to get guests on your side is to mention how you’re feeling about the speech or what you’ve been feeling in the run-up to delivering a speech, as they will immediately have empathy for you and be willing you to do well. Make it funny and self-deprecating though, rather than making them doubt your abilities to deliver a speech!

Welcoming the guests

Once you’ve said the first sentence you’ll feel a bit more comfortable and can get into your stride. The most important thing to ensure you do at the start of the speech is to welcome the guests. This is can be a simple sentence welcoming them and thanking them for coming to the wedding on behalf of the bride and groom. This can also be a good time to mention how honored you are to be the best man and also to pay some compliments to the bride and the bridesmaids.

Introduce yourself and how you met the groom

Next on the agenda should be introducing yourself in more detail and telling those members of the audience how you met the groom. Make sure the guests know your name and how you’re related or linked to the groom. If you’ve got a funny story about how you met, bring it out now. Talk about your initial thoughts about the groom and how you hit it off (or didn’t!).

Talk about the best man

Now you’re into your stride, this section should form the main section of your speech. After all, the best man speech is all about the groom and what a great guy he is. Talk about his character – the good bits and the not so good (remember wholesome jokes only) and spend time reflecting on how he has grown as a person since you’ve known him.

Focus on the comedy value here, and don’t be afraid to exaggerate traits or stories a little for the comedy value. As long as there’s a basis in truth the audience will know you’re hamming it up! Alongside any best man speech jokes, be sure to add in some touching and emotional stories about the groom to provide some variety. You can also mention any major accomplishments that the groom has made in his life in this section if it’s relevant. Remember a bride will have her father’s speech to talk about how amazing she is, so as a best man it’s your duty to paint the groom in just as good a light.

The bride and the groom

Now that your best mate is married, it’s time to talk about the other love in his life – his new bride and how he met her. Talk about how they met and how you, as his best friend, knew that he was smitten and in love. This is another chance to make fun of him for being soppy or behaving in an out-of-character way. This is also part of the speech where you can be a bit more serious and you can talk about how amazing the bride is and how happy she makes your best friend.

You can even thank the bride, if you feel it is appropriate, for making the groom so happy. If you’re in a place to do so (or perhaps it’s funnier if you’re not) now is also a time to offer some advice to the bride and groom for the years to come. Keep it light-hearted and funny. No one wants to be told how hard marriage is on their big day.

The wedding day

Once you’ve exhausted all your jokes and anecdotes about the groom, it’s time to pay a few compliments. You can start with the wedding day itself, talking about how fabulous it has been so far and the amount of effort that has gone into the day. You can thank the parents of both the bride and the groom if you like here, but don’t go into a long list of thank-yous, as that is the groom’s job in his speech.

The best man speech toast

You’ll be glad to hear this is the final element of the best man speech and you can really afford to relax and be jubilant at this point in the speech as all your nerves should be gone and you’ll be well and truly at ease with public speaking by now. Much like the conclusion to an essay, you can use this part to quickly summarise the key points from your speech, or you can even complete a classic best man’s speech joke that you’ve cleverly woven in through the majority of the speech. Feel free to pepper this section with a few well-chosen last jokes to leave your guests feeling happy and upbeat too.

Your speech should end with a heartfelt toast to the newlyweds. Start with a few hopes and well wishes for the couple and then invite the wedding guests to stand and join you in raising a toast to the happy couple.

What To Do Once You've Written Your Best Man Speech

Now you’ve followed this best man speech template and have the bones of your speech written down, you’ll probably feel a real weight off your shoulders. From here, you can take your time fleshing out the details of the speech and adding or amending jokes where you see fit.

Now you need to time yourself reading the speech and cut or add to it depending on the time it comes out at. It’s also a really smart idea to ask someone to listen to your speech and give you honest feedback. Don’t choose anyone too close to the bride or groom as they will want to hear it for the first time on the wedding day. Another groomsman or someone going on the stag do would work well.

Hollie Bond

Hollie is a lifestyle journalist with over ten years’ experience working in the wedding industry as Lifestyle Editor for You & Your Wedding magazine Also a Regional Editor for Muddy Stilettos, Hollie has written for Square Meal magazine, Family History Monthly, BBC History magazine and Homes & Antiques. In her spare time you can find Hollie in a dance studio practising ballet…

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How to Write a Best Man Speech: Examples, Templates, & Opening Lines

Whether it’s for a friend or family member, we have tips for how to write a best man speech. We’ve rounded up everything that goes into an inspiring, entertaining crowd-pleaser: jokes, quotes, themes, opening lines. From icebreakers to start and toasts to finish, here are ideas for your best man speech.

What should a best man speech include?

At the end of the day, you’re just telling your friends you’re happy for them (and the fact that the wedding is all about them should take away some pressure). So when you’re deciding what to include in your best man speech, remember: Humor is memorable, but honesty is meaningful. So aim for a combination and try to hit these key points.

• Personality: You were invited to be yourself, so don’t worry about performing. Are you a treasure trove of charming stories? Are you the calm lighthouse in a storm? Be inclusive and sensitive but be you. Let it flow.
• Examples: Be specific rather than general. Unpack the qualities you admire about the couple and when they’ve occurred (how have they demonstrated kindness or loyalty?). That will make your speech more personable vs. a list that could apply to any couple.
• Gratitude: Say thanks for being chosen as the best man and the chance to stand by their side. Toss in a few thank yous to everyone for attending, those who raised the couple, and those hosting the ceremony. It grabs your listeners, and a little schmoozing never hurts.

How long should a best man speech be?

Like the saying goes, “Be brief, be brilliant, be gone.” A best man speech should always be under 5 minutes, usually three. To keep the attention of your audience, fit it all into 750 words.

Length increases boredom, not sentiment. Trimming your speech down to its essentials means you prioritize quality, which will make your words more impactful and easier to remember. Staying short and sweet can also help with any fears of public speaking because it’ll all be over soon.

How to Write a Best Man Speech

Find a theme.

• What’s your point? What do all your heartfelt details have in common? Commitment? Fun facts? Opposites attract? This will help narrow down your anecdotes. Your theme can also influence how you structure your best man speech, like a unifying metaphor or a rhyming hook to keep it engaging.
• A few themes off the menu: Inside jokes, sabotaging roasts. Basically, anything that’s too obscure or anything that would embarrass or expose the couple. From an audience perspective, these are painful and awkward. You’re honoring the couple for making it down the aisle (a huge success) vs. reminding them of their failures or what could have gotten in the way (emotions can be high). Everyone looks good and feels good when you stick to why the couple’s bond is unbreakable.

Create an Outline

• Congratulations: The easiest intro and the whole reason you’re speaking.
• Connection to the Couple: Did you watch your childhood friend become a better person because of the relationship? Did you play a part in their romance? Did your paths cross in unexpected ways?
• One or Two Stories: Everyday moments, grand gestures. Polish these up to be intentional. How do they tie to the occasion and your theme (eg. examples of how they always showed unwavering support toward one another.).
• Acknowledge the Spouse: Dropping in compliments for the partner can emphasize why they’re a match. It helps concentrate on their union as a whole rather than a half, even if you only know one of them well.
• Cheers: You did it! Now applaud their courage to weather life’s storms together. Raise a glass and invite everyone to do the same.

How to Start a Best Man Speech

A greeting and a hearty congratulations kick things off. Here are a few prompts to start your best man speech.

• Intro: “It’s truly an honor to stand before you as [Partner’s Name]’s best man. My name is [Name], and I’ve had the privilege of being [Name]’s partner in crime since [college, childhood, etc.].”
• Embrace the Occasion: “On behalf of [Partner’s Name] and [Partner’s Name], I want to extend a warm welcome to all of you as we come together to celebrate this beautiful union.”
• Share a Quote: “As [Partner’s Name] and [Partner’s Name] embark on this exciting journey, I’m reminded of a quote by [Author] that says, ‘[Quote].’ And today, we’re here to witness the embodiment of that sentiment.”

Opening Line Ideas

After a “good evening” or a “hello,” here are a few transitions to get to the good stuff. Brainstorm with a written or verbal stream of consciousness to help identify your feelings. You can pare them down later.

• “I first witnessed their connection when…” / “I saw sparks flying during…”
• “If we were to start with the first chapter…” / “Let’s rewind the tapes to…” / “Let’s take a trip down memory lane to a time when…”
• “As I stand here, I can’t help but think of a memory that always makes me tear up/smile…”
• “Of all the unforgettable moments I’ve shared with [Name], there’s one that stands out—”
• “If there’s one memory that never fails to bring a smile to my face/tears to my eyes, it’s the time…”
• “When they first introduced me to [Partner’s Name], I saw that look. The one that says…”
• “When they first met [Partner’s Name], they couldn’t stop talking about…”
• “None of us could have anticipated…”
• “There’s a moment when you see two people together, and you can’t help but realize…”
• “I knew [Name]’s heart had found its home the moment I saw…”
• “Everything changed in their relationship when…”
• “I could tell they were ready to face the world as partners in life when…”
• “I can’t help but reflect on the beautiful journey that [Their Names] have taken together…”
• “Their love story has taught me that [qualities] are the foundation of a long-lasting partnership.”
• “Their relationship has taught me that love isn’t just a destination; it’s a journey filled with…”

How to End a Best Man Speech

Whether you give your best man speech at the wedding reception or rehearsal dinner, you can always end it with a toast. To finish on a positive, uplifting note, here are a few concluding thoughts for well wishes and looking ahead.

• “May your journey together be filled with endless love, laughter, and a lifetime of cherished memories.”
• “May your love story continue to inspire us all. Here’s to new beginnings.”
• “Let’s look forward to the adventures that await [Names]. We hope this will be the most beautiful chapter of your story together.”
• “May your journey be filled with a love that only grows stronger with time.”

Speech Tips: Do’s and Don’ts

There are standards for speaking at a ceremony. Here are the rules to live by when you want your best man speech to be unforgettable for the right reasons

• Do use notecards to feel prepared, calm the jitters, and remember all that you want to say (as long as you remain present and make eye contact). Don’t read from your phone , in case it locks in the moment, loses charge leading up to the speech, or the lighting affects photos.
• Do reference your ties to the couple. Nod to when and how you met but ultimately keep the focus on their relationship. Don’t make your best man speech about you. You were invited to share your perspective, so it’s a classy move to keep things relevant and selfless.
• Do share your unique insights. Your experience adds to the audience’s understanding of the couple as partners and as individuals. However, don’t be inappropriate. You might know the skeletons in their closet but skip anything they wouldn’t want shared or would warrant an apology — like their past relationships. It’s mostly to ensure your anecdotes would play well across any age, culture, or relationship context (grandparents, work friends, flower girl).
• Do speak from the heart. It’s sweet, sincere, and makes speech writing that much easier. But don’t force emotions. Whether it’s jokes or mushy stuff, if neither are in your wheelhouse, you don’t have to be anyone other than the person they invited.
• Do rehearse out loud at least two months in advance so you can practice tone, timing, and pacing. They can all aid your confidence. You might even run your speech by a friend or film yourself for feedback. And since it’s a big day for the couple, don’t wing it. With words at the ready, there will be less risk of feeling flustered or saying something cringe.
• Do take it seriously. It can still be lighthearted, but it’s a huge honor to be asked to speak at a wedding. Proof of some time and effort in your speech returns the thoughtful gesture (the same goes for limiting yourself to one drink beforehand). Don’t be nervous. Even if you’re afraid of public speaking or not usually one for getting sappy, try to see your best man speech as an exciting opportunity.

Example Prompt Ideas

Here are a few best man speech ideas to keep the atmosphere light and joyful while celebrating the couple’s uniqueness.

Nothing wrong with straightforward and authentic.

• Timeline: The couple’s love story from how they met to their engagement. Emphasize the nostalgic moments that made their relationship special. You can highlight their growth as a pair or as individuals — how they’ve changed since they’ve met, and/or what has stayed the same.
• Shared Interests: How their passions have brought them closer together and how they’ll continue to enjoy them in married life.

Depending on the formality of the guest list and the wedding venue (beach vs. church), you can loosen your black tie when it comes to humor. But you’ll want to be respectful and give the couple a heads up.

• Predictions: Playfully imagine scenarios for what the couple’s future might hold.
• Old Photos: A fun way to remind them how far they’ve come.

Whether it’s from a role model in your lives (coach, relative, etc.), or an adage from another language, it’s common to borrow a bit of filler for your best man speech.

• Wisdom: Advice for a successful marriage based on experiences or observations. You can customize fortune cookies for laughs.
• Famous Words: Pull from any movies or authors with guiding tidbits, e.g., “Love is not just looking at each other, it’s looking in the same direction.” “Love is not just something you feel, it’s something you do.” “Love is not about finding someone you can live with, but finding someone you can’t imagine living without.”

Best Man Speech Templates

Memories of your time together through thick and thin, and how your friendship has remained constant.

“[Friend’s Name] and I have shared countless adventures over the years, and our friendship has survived every challenge, even [memory]. They’re the kind of friend who’s always there when you need them, whether it’s [example]. That’s why I know they’ll be an amazing partner to [Partner’s Name].”

For Younger Brother:

As an older sibling, look to your brother’s future. Talk about the exciting things that lie ahead: travels, career accomplishments, life milestones, etc. Share your pride.

“I can’t believe this day has finally arrived. It feels like just yesterday we were [childhood memory]. But as the years went by, I watched as my little brother met [Partner’s Name] and transformed into the incredible person they are today.”

For Older Brother:

Speak to how their support has shaped you, or what you learned by watching them face life’s challenges first.

“[Brother’s Name] has always been more than a brother to me. I’ve always looked up to [Brother’s Name] for [their characteristics], and now they’ve found a partner who [balances or complements these traits]. That’s why they’re perfect for each other.”

For Cousin:

Express your happiness for their partner joining your family traditions or how they’ve become an integral part of them.

“Growing up as cousins, [Cousin’s Name] and I had a bond beyond family ties. So when [Partner’s Name] came into the picture, I knew my cousin found their missing puzzle piece. I’m so excited for [Partner’s Name] to join our family vacations and holiday gatherings.”

Talk about the importance of togetherness; how the couple’s union represents two families merging to become one. Or offer tongue-in-cheek parental advice.

“My father has always been dedicated to family. He was always willing to go the extra mile for his loved ones. The love he shares with [Partner’s Name] is a testament to the trust and respect that you’ve instilled in our family.”

Final Thoughts

A best man speech is a rare chance to dig deep, get vulnerable, and tell those close to you how significant they are in your life. These prompts and templates can all get you started, but with the nuances of your relationship and theirs, you can make the tradition all your own. Best of luck!

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Top Best Man Speech Ideas

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Accommodation:, activities:, best man speech ideas & examples.

Published on Jan 18, 2018

When it comes to weddings, there are certain things you look forward to that bit more eagerly than others. The cutting of the cake, the first dance, and of course – the best man speech. Not only is this a chance for the chosen friend or family member of the groom to send their blessing to the new couple, but also to get a few jokes in at their expense. This can often be a rather dangerous game as the best man is likely to have more than a few stories tucked up their sleeves to tell!

While these best man speeches may seem effortless, they do take quite a while to prepare and it’s best to get organised in advance so it runs as smoothly as possible on the day. You should think of who will be attending the wedding and what sort of jokes and stories they would appreciate, keeping the groom in mind at all times. Aim to keep the speech between five to ten minutes long and factor in a few extra minutes for laughing or cheering (hopefully)! Having the responsibility of the speech can seem stressful, but just remember to be yourself – after all, your personality and your friendship is why you were chosen! Here are some of our top best man speech ideas to get you started…

1) The opening line

There are a multitude of ways you can open up for your best man’s speech, but whichever you choose, remember you want to get off on the right foot with the wedding crowd! After all, they’ve just sat through speeches from the bride, the father of the bride and sometimes the bride herself so will have been sitting down a while and not looking forward to a long, warbling speech! You could opt for starting with a joke:

Example one : “A wise old man once said to me that a best man’s speech should last only as long as it takes the groom to make love… so thank you ladies and gentlemen, and good afternoon…”

Or something a little more standard – starting with the thank yous to friends and family who made the wedding.

Example two : “On behalf of the bride and groom, I would like to thank everyone here for making their way to this lovely wedding, whether you have travelled from across the country or just across the road, the day wouldn’t be what it is without you here to celebrate it too.”

Or perhaps with an introduction. This can be an introduction about yourself – not everyone at the wedding will know who you are! And also, an introduction to your friendship with the groom.

Example three : “Welcome ladies and gentlemen, my name is Pete and I am the best man for the groom here today. We have been friends since I can remember, and I never imagined one day I would be standing here delivering a speech for his wedding.”

You may also like:  The Ultimate Guide to being the best Best-Man

2) Talk about your past with the groom

As often with these things, the worst part is getting started, so rather than seeing the best man’s speech as a hurdle, write some thoughts freely about how you know the groom and your relationship with them. Think of key things such as how you know them, how you met them, what the groom was like before he met the bride and how the couple met. Draw on these past experiences and try to incorporate some of them to your speech with a good bit of humour!

Example One : “Like all good friends, Paul and I have had our downs as well as our ups. I remember back to times when a petty argument would arise from nowhere. Then Paul would call me smelly, and I’d call him fart head. And then it would spiral out of all proportion and we’d each end up running home in tears. But sure enough, the next day, Paul would drop me an email from work and we’d make up. As good mates do, however old.”

Example Two : “Of course, our friendship goes back much further than that, to primary school in fact. There was something about Paul’s cheeky face that always cheered his classmates, so our first teacher gave him a special place in class where we could all see him. He was everyone’s favourite … until the PTA approved the budget for a real gerbil and he was let out of the cage and sent back to his desk.”

Example three: “Paul, in our time at college I’ve seen you do some pretty nerve-racking things. Like that time you sat that exam having done no revision whatsoever. Or the time you re-sat that exam having done no revision whatsoever. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you as nervous as you were today. But then, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so happy either. Congratulations buddy!”

3) Tell it as a story

When writing your best man’s speech, make sure you don’t just have a list of points read from a slip of paper. It needs to be interesting and engaging so try and turn it into a story. Choose anecdotes that can fit in and support your points to help tie everything together and make it flow. Don’t just say, “the groom is a great and loyal friend” – back this up with how he has been a loyal friend. Perhaps draw on one of your experiences in the past or something he has done for the bride. If you don’t know stories about his past, ask family members and friends to put pieces together. This adds context and really makes your best man’s speech one to remember.

Example One: “Now, Justin has always taken great pride in his appearance. Some people have even said he is vain, I never believed this… until the morning we got to the airport to fly off for his stag weekend, he seemed to have a glow about him. All the boys were asking him if he had been using tanning lotion. Justin denied it profusely, but after another pint and a lot of abuse he tried to fob us off with the excuse that he was in such a rush when he got up that in his haste he had mistakenly put Beccy’s moisturiser on which had tanning lotion in it. Suffice to say he was set upon until he finally admitted that he bought the stuff himself.”

Example two: “As I did only meet Paul a few years ago, I’ve had to rely on his own account of earlier years. Apparently, the young Paul Wilson was an exceptionally gifted child. He sat his A-Levels while his contemporaries were doing the 11-plus, then concentrated on his first novel, which he published at the age of 15. I still want to see that Booker Prize trophy by the way, Paul.”

Example three: “I have known Justin all my life. He has always loved sport especially football, from an early age it was obvious he was a natural defender, he loved to get stuck in.

It’s a shame he hasn’t carried that over to his working life – Richie has started calling him God at work because he never sees him and if he ever does any work it’s a miracle.”

Activity Ideas: Our Favourite Stag Party Activities

4) Add in some punchy jokes

Let’s face it, no best man’s speech is complete without more than a few punchy one-liners. When it comes to making jokes, you need to draw the line between being over the top funny and being downright boring. Keep the ‘dad jokes’ to a minimum and instead think of short and snappy anecdotes everyone will relate to and appreciate.

Example One: “Organizing the seating at a wedding reception can be a tricky business, prone to getting political. As best man, I offered to step in and help Paul and Linda. My idea was to use the wedding present list, and put those who bought the biggest items nearest the front, and work to the back, the smaller the gift. Whoever bought the toast rack won’t be able to hear this, as they’re out in the car park.”

Example two : “When it comes to describing the groom, the most reliable source of information would clearly come from the friends and family with whom he would share this special day. So, Graham, I wrote down a few words with which some of them used to describe you. I barely found a person who had a bad word to say. Although, I did find some.

When I heard belligerent, lazy, stubborn and obstinate I thought ‘hang on that’s a bit rough’ (maybe not entirely untrue but certainly a bit unnecessary for a best man’s speech) …………. but if his parents don’t know him then who does…”

Example three : “But before I sit down, let me round off by wishing the happy couple well. Don’t forget, you two, that the real relationship starts here – love may be blind but marriage is a proper eye-opener. The important thing, as you embark on married life, is not to get hung up on the small things, and to maintain a sense of humour. Linda’s already proved she has one by going through with today.”

5) Compliment the new couple

While jokes are all well and good, you absolutely have to say at least one genuinely nice thing about the couple in your best man’s speech (particularly the groom to redeem yourself!) Be careful not to go soppy – it’s not a eulogy! You can talk about what a great friend the groom is to you, the best qualities of his and why you have been friends for so long. For her, you can talk about your approval of his choice in bride, talk about how beautiful she looks (but don’t go too over the top!) and say how well they go together. You can also slip in a few pieces of advice for the new couple here, perhaps draw on your own experiences and compliment them on how they are a model couple and a great match.

Example one : “I think everyone will agree that the bride looks absolutely stunning today. And I’m not just saying that to avoid getting a clip round the ear from her new husband…”

Example two : “On a serious note, Rob’s been a brilliant friend over the years and it truly is an honour to be his best man. We’ve had some excellent times together and I know we will continue to do so. When Rob told me he had asked Hannah to marry him I was delighted, I wish them all the happiness in the world. I have no doubt in saying that he will be a fantastic husband and a brilliant son in law!”

6) Talk about the bride and what an impact she had made on his life

After you have complimented the couple, talk a bit more about the bride – this is also great if you are friends with the bride as well as the groom as you can slip in some past experiences here (try and avoid humiliation with this one!) You can talk about how she has made his life better and how he’s a better person since he met/ got together with her

Example One : “And Janet (bride). She’s become a good friend too. Janet, thank you for rescuing me when I got a flat tyre and for going to the chilli place with Rich and me a million times even though you’re a vegetarian. You’re the best. And for introducing me to all the bridesmaids. Oh wait, you still need to do that.”

Example Two: “Linda is an extraordinary woman. Resilient and fun-loving. If anyone had told me Paul would find a woman who loves gourmet cooking, travelling to exotic places and debating the merits of the Arsenal back four as much as him, I wouldn’t have believed them. Yet here she is. You two are going to have quite a life together.”

Example Three: “I would like to congratulate Paul on his impeccable taste in choosing such a beautiful wife. And Linda, well done on saying ‘I do’ to my mate Paul, because, let’s face it – that must have been hard.”

Related: Best Man’s Speech Template

7) Create a memorable toast to finish off your best man’s speech

Once you have added in all the necessary elements of your speech you’ve hopefully earnt some laughs, some tears and some applause, and as they say, you can have too much of a good thing so it’s best to sign off before you lose the crowd!

Try to end the speech on a high – you could read out messages from guests unable to attend (avoid any tasteless last-minute jokes about ex girlfriends/ strippers from the stag do here!) Round everything off with a toast; rather than trying to be funny, try to say something inspiring – perhaps recite a famous quote – that will have everyone on their feet in a standing ovation. Of course, sometimes you can’t resist popping a quick quip in there too…

Example one : “They say you don’t marry the person you can live with, you marry the person you can’t live without. That sums up [name] and [name] perfectly. So let’s raise our glasses to the happy couple.”

Example two : “Before we raise a glass to the newlyweds, I’d like to share a Pauline Thomason quote with you: ‘Love is blind – marriage is the eye-opener.’ To the happy couple!”

Example three : “[BRIDE] and [GROOM], before I finish, I’d like you to turn to face each other. You’re now looking into the eyes of the person who is statistically most likely to murder you. To the bride and groom!”

At the end of the day, you have been chosen as the best man because you are you . Try to incorporate your personality, your friendship and your experiences into it and you can’t go wrong. After all, that is why you were chosen!

Stick to the points above if you need ideas for your best man’s speech and you’re guaranteed a speech that will flow as smoothly as the champagne! Just try to relax and enjoy yourself and think of what you’re doing for the groom – he’ll remember this forever so just be prepared and you’ll be fine!

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The Best Man Speech Guide

You are here because you have received the honour of being the best man – congra­tula­tions!

There are many jobs and respon­sibi­lities that come with being a best man. Planning the crazy, unforgettable stag do , helping the groom prepare for the wedding and of course writing that all important best man speech. But writing a speech is one of the most important best man duties . It's more than putting pen to paper; you want to make it captivating, funny and perfect for the newlyweds. We understand how this can become quite a challenge, so we’ve put together a guide on all things best man speech related, with speech structures, joke ideas, the dos and don’ts of a best man speech and everything in between.

Get our Best Man Speech Template for FREE here...

What Makes a Great Best Man Speech?

Whether you are the groom’s longest friend or writing the best man speech as a brother, there are certain paths that everyone goes down when it comes to putting their speech together. As soon as you find out you have the important role of best man, you instantly think about your speech. And writing a best man speech can be hard! The most important thing to remember is adding some humour, heartfelt words and a bit of banter.

9 Rules When Writing a Best Man Speech

1. Make sure it’s no more than 1,000 words – that equates to around 7 minutes

2. Add some humour, but don’t go over the top

3. Only use one reminiscence or anecdote

4. Mix humour and friendly digs towards the groom

5. Complement the bride

6. Do NOT swear

7. Try to memorise your opening line

8. Speak loudly and slowly

9. Make the last thing you say memorable

6 Types of Best Man Speeches

A great way to make sure that your best man speech ends up being legendary is by ensuring you've nailed the structure and overall theme of your monologue. So, if you are still stuck for ideas to start from, here are a few different types of best man speeches that you can take inspiration from:

1. Light-Hearted

• Grabs the audience’s attention
• Be fondly remembered for years to come

2. Edgy/Witty

• Full of the gags and one-liners
• Usually centre on topics that would usually be serious or a bit taboo

3. The Roast

• Make sure you and the groom are close enough
• Don’t expect to be on the good side of the groom after the speech

4. Poking Fun

• Good for sneaking some light laughs into your speech
• A good, gentle but fun option
• Acceptable to shove even more digs and jokes in
• Usually an advantage for everything

6. Sentimental

• Easy on the laughs and the fun
• Praises the bride and groom

Best Man Speech Opening Lines

Even the shortest best man speech needs a cracking opening line. This is the opportunity to get everybody’s attention, and the best way to do that is with some humour! The opening line will give an indication as to what type of best man speech route you are going down. It’s important to introduce yourself whether you want to make the introduction humorous, sincere or edgy the choice is yours. It’s also important to explain how you and the groom know each other.

Opening Lines to Begin Your Best Man Speech

1. "Hi guys, my name is (best man) and as best man, it’s my job to tell you the truth about (groom)."

2. "Most of you may wonder why out of everyone, I was chosen to be the best man today. To be honest, I am the only one of (groom)’s friends who can read and write!"

3. "I’d like to make a toast (brings out a piece of toast)"

4. "I was taught by my parents that if I had nothing good to say about someone don’t say anything at all (pause)"

5. "Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to thank you all for coming today, especially everyone who knew I’d be doing a speech – it’s great that you decided to still come."

6. "My name is (best man). Today it is my job to praise the groom, but in fact, whilst writing this speech, I’ve found it impossible to praise him at all!"

How to Structure Writing a Best Man Speech in 10 Simple Points

Once you’ve got your opening line out of the way, you will be onto the rest of writing the best man speech. There are a variety of different thing you can include into your best man speech depending on the type of speech you’re going for. Most of the topics below are what everyone puts into their best man speech. Once you’ve got all these figured out you’re well on your way to writing a best man speech that will be memorable!

1. Introducing Yourself

Unless you’ve done this in the opening line, you will need to let the audience know who you are. You could do this introduction in a number of ways.

• Alternative

2. Relation to the Groom

Make known who you are and your relationship with the groom; it’s the perfect opportunity for banter, roasting and explaining why you love ‘em.

3. Friendship Reminisces

The Essential part of your speech should be best handled using heartfelt remarks alongside a dribble of humour.

Things to consider mentioning:

• How you met
• How long you’ve known each other
• Being great mates
• Your first impressions
• Reaction to when he proposed
• Your favourite/­­funniest memory

4. The Praise

Pay tribute to the star of the show (the groom); the obvious stuff to mention is:

• What a great friend he is, and why
• How honoured you are to be the best man
• How delighted you are for the groom
• Pledge your support to the groom
• Some meaningful words
• How the groom inspires you?
• Explain why the groom will be good husband material

5. The Roast

There are 4 key ingredients you need to serve up the perfect roast:

• Personality trait

6. Add a Joke

Make sure the next section of the best man speech is humorous, perhaps talk about:

• Honour of being the best man
• Preparing the speech
• Cost of the wedding
• The stag do
• Best man duties
• Anxious moments

7. Compliment the Bride

The bride is equally the biggest part of the day as the groom so she deserves at least a mention in the speech.

There are a few things that can be said to compliment the bride:

• Admiration for the bride
• Bride’s qualities
• Groom’s happiness
• Like to know her better
• Recognising bride’s efforts
• Bride’s bettered the groom
• Wish her luck

8. Compliment the Couple

Once you have praised and complimented them separately, it’s important that you compliment them as a couple.

9. Closing Lines

Things to include in a sentimental closing line:

• Your belief in their marriage
• Your own hopes in the marriage
• Sum up the day
• Your place in their lives now
• Your congratulations
• Your best wishes
• Wise words for the future
• Amusing presents
• Jokes about the honeymoon
• Wedding costs

10. ‘Thank You’ & Toasts

Talk about the following topics:

• The honour of being chosen to be the best man
• For being involved in the wedding personally
• To all the contributors to the wedding
• To the guests for attending and all the gifts they’ve brought along
• Toast to the couple’s future

Best Man Speech for Brothers

Apparently, 1 in 4 best men are also a brother of the groom. So it makes sense why a best man speech for brothers are so popular. There is a lot of pressure on the best man with writing a speech but since you are the brother, you’ve got a serious advantage. If you are the brother, there are a lot more grounds you can talk about and cover without treading on anyone’s toes. Talk about how you are best friends, your childhood memories etc.

You can even get the parents involved more when you’re writing a best man speech as a brother! After all that is the biggest thing you and your brother have in common so mentioning them in the speech might be a nice addition. Some healthy sibling rivalry is also a great way to add some humour into the best man speech. Poke fun at him and some of the healthy competition you had growing up.

As the brother, you can also add something a lot more heartfelt than any other best man could. As well as complimenting the bride and everything else around the couple, you are also welcoming the bride into the family as your new in law.

6 Rules for Writing a Best Man Speech for Brothers

1. Use the fact that your brothers to your advantage as it will make your speech unique

2. Don’t add too many inside jokes as it could leave people confused

3. Don’t swear

4. Keep it clean, remember your parents and grandparents will be listening

5. Speak slowly and pause for laughter

6. Don’t be afraid to use cue cards if you think you might forget some parts of the speech

Funny Best Man Speeches

As soon as you have been given the position of best man, it goes without saying that writing a funny best man speech runs through your brain. Of course during the best man speech, you want to add some emotion, compliments and heartfelt words. But the funny parts are the most important obviously. But of course when going for funny best man speeches you want to make sure you don’t overdo it.

4 Rules for Funny Best Man Speeches

1. Remember where you are, you don’t want your jokes going down a controversial route or to offend anyone

2. Steer away from jokes that only a select few people will get, you want to engage your whole audience

3. Make sure you don’t have to over explain any jokes as that’s when the joke isn’t funny, keep everything short and sweet.

4. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, your audience aren’t expecting a comedy show off Jack Whitehall!

Short Best Man Speeches

Whether you are the groom’s longest friend or your writing the best man speech as a brother there are certain paths that everyone goes down when it comes to putting their speech together. As soon as you find out you have the important role of best man you instantly think about your speech. And writing a best man speech can be hard! The most important things to remember is to add some humour, heartfelt words and a bit of banter.

1. Introduce yourself to the audience

2. Tell some jokes relating to the groom

3. Congratulate the happy couple

Best Man Speech Examples

By this point, you should have a good idea of how you want to structure your best man speech. However, the next part is probably the hardest - getting some original words of your own written down! Here’s a few best man speech examples you can take inspiration from to get you started:

1. The “Thankful” Speech

“It’s a pleasure to be here as [groom’s] best man tonight. I’d like to start off by thanking you for the opportunity to stand by you and [bride] today and share this special moment with you. [Groom] has always been someone I look up to and respect, and it makes me happy to see that he’s found someone to share the rest of his life with. Cheers to a lifetime of memories and happiness”

2. The “Good Idea” Speech

“I’ve known [Groom] for many years, and we’ve shared a lot of laughs and good memories together. However, it’s said that with old friends, you can afford to be stupid with them! Yet despite how many funny stories we have, I have to praise [Groom] for all the smart decisions he’s made in his life – His friends, career, and you, [Bride], quite possibly the best decision he’s ever made!”

3. The “She’s the One” Speech

“When I was first introduced to [Bride], I knew instantly that she was perfect for [Groom]. Even if he wasn’t aware of the fact that they’d end up here today, it was clear to his friends that he was captivated by her. Even when [Bride] wasn’t there, [Groom] would still manage to talk about her every five minutes! And now, today, we see how far they’ve both come and how perfect they really are for each other.”

Best Man Toast Ideas

Regardless of the occasion, no great speech is complete without a great toast! Have a look at a few best man toast examples here to help you out with rounding off that awesome monologue you’ve just written!

1. “I’d like you all to join me in wishing the new Mr and Mr/Mrs [surname] all the wealth, health and happiness in the world. To the happy couple!”

2. “To [NAME] and [NAME] – here is to a lifetime of love and happiness”

3. “Raise your glass and join me in a toast to [Bride] and [Groom] – may you always be friends as well as lovers”

4. “To my best friend and his beautiful bride: the new Mr and Mrs/Mr [surname]”

5. “Here is a toast to a perfect couple – to a long life together filled with happiness, adventure and lots of wonderful memories”

Best Man Speech FAQs

Of course, you might still have some burning questions we haven’t covered yet. But don’t worry, we’ve listed a few best man speech FAQs for you here so you don’t get caught out!

When Does the Best Man Speech Happen?

The best man speech usually takes place during the wedding reception after the maid of honour has said a few words to the newlyweds. However, some couples may choose to schedule this for during the reception meal. Make sure to stay up to date with the order of the day and check in with the groom regularly if anything changes.

How Many Speeches is the Best Man expected to give?

Just one! Once you know when the timeslot for your speech is, be sure to put plenty of time into memorising it as best as you can. Best man speeches that have had lots of time and effort put into them will be reflected during the delivery.

What is the Purpose of a Best Man Speech?

The idea behind giving a best man speech is to give the audience an insight into the newlyweds and their relationship through your unique perspective and standpoint as his friend or relative. But remember, the speech should mainly be about the relationship between the couple, rather than you and the groom.

4 Best Man Speech Websites

1. the best man speech |  website.

Claiming to have the largest collection of best man speech material on the web, this website definitely doesn’t disappoint! The Best Man Speech takes you through the basic elements that every speech needs, shows you the latest trends and gives you tips on how you can personalise your speech to impress the groom and make the bride cringe. The site even offers a navigation system that starts with the opening line, so it’s practically writing the whole thing for you.

2. I am the Best Man |  Website  

A popular one, I Am the Best Man is really a one stop shop of all the things you need for your speech and more. Here, you’ll find a best man speech checklist so you can make sure you’ve got everything covered, great one liners you can personalise and even a quick guide to conquering your nerves. If you’re feeling extra lazy, the professionals over at I am the Best Man will even write your speech for you?!

3. Simply the Best Man |  Website

Simply the Best Man is really what it says on the tin – it’s a website that will truly turn you into the best…best man out there. This site breaks down your best man speech into 7 phases so you can focus on each and end up with an epic speech that the groom will be talking about for weeks. To top it off, the site offers free downloadable guides so you can print them out, edit them or whatever you fancy.

4. All Speeches Great & Small |  Website

If you can’t trust a specialist in every type of speech under the sun, who can you trust we say! All Speeches Great & Small are the connoisseurs of creating the perfect speech for any occasion. They have a whole section for best man speeches, with a bunch of different tips that home in on the sections of a speech. They also discuss the length of your speech, how to tackle awkwardness and who you need to address when you’re making it.

Download the Best Man Speech Guide

If you are liking our Best Man Speech template and wish to print it off, feel free to download it by pressing the link below!

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Quick & Short Best Man Speech Template

• 24th Nov, 2021

Jump to the good bits

Speech details.

Speech duration: 5 – 7 minutes

Speech style: Short, sweet and funny

Note: This short Best Man speech template uses the name ‘Tom’ for the Groom, Sarah for the Bride, ‘Ben’ for the Best Man and other example names. Insert the names for your group as needed.

Your short Best Man speech template

1. opening and introduce yourself .

Good afternoon everyone, I’m sure you’ll all admit this has turned out to be a brilliant wedding celebration, yet every silver-lining does have a cloud, and that is, that you’ve now got to listen to me, unfortunately.  I suppose I should introduce myself properly. I’m Ben, Tom’s best friend, and today his Best Man. I have to admit I am absolutely honoured to be chosen. 

2. Wedding procession observations and give thanks 

Before I undertake the customary duty of giving Tom an uncomfortable few minutes, I would like to say a few thank-yous first. The lovely Bridesmaids, Alison, Niamh, and Nicola. The very glamourous mothers Mary and Jackie. They all look wonderful and have done an excellent job today. Indeed they are only eclipsed by Sarah herself, who, I’m sure you’ll all agree, looks absolutely stunning. Thanks also to the Groomsmen who did an excellent job of standing still and looking pretty. 

3. A few words about the Groom (and you) 

So where do I start with Tom? Well for starters he’s… handsome. witty, intelligent. He’s char… charm…. Sorry… Tom …. I’m having trouble reading your handwriting, what does that say?

What can I say about Tom Smith. When I first met Tom I thought he was very laid back and normal. Boy was I wrong. I heard whispers from his family that he could be very highly strung. No, I thought, you must be exaggerating. That was until we lived together for a few years during college. As the months went on I started noticing little things: 

• the many conspiracy theories
• only being able to eat diagonally cut sandwiches
• the hunger tantrums – his colour coded wardrobe
• his preference for baths instead of showers
• his vast Dolly Parton record collection
• and singing ’Working 9 to 5‘ in the bath
• the night terrors
• the collection of nun-chucks and other weapons
• And last but not least, an unhealthy obsession with Matthew McConaughey

Tom, all joking aside you are an excellent friend and it is truly an honour being your Best Man today. 

4. A few words about the Bride 

It’s not just the groom who gets a mention in the Best Man speech. I also have a few words about the Bride. It’s not often that the Best Man is also close friends with the Bride. Not that close, Tom, don’t worry. Sarah is one of the nicest and kindest people you will ever meet. She is also a bit of a control freak. Luckily, Tom is really lazy so they are a perfect match! 

5. The Bride and Groom together

Tom and Sarah have a lot in common, actually. They are both very hard-working, generous, passionate, quite stubborn, and they both think Tom Smith is the most handsome man in the world. They are both like a fine wine, Sarah gets better every year, and Tom will take a long time to mature. 

6. Your gift and messages from well wishers 

(Read out any messages and/or present your gift). 

7. Final words and toast 

OK, time to wrap this up. I’m sure I speak for everyone in this room when I say we all wish you the happiness that you deserve. We are so glad that you have found one another, and this day is a reminder that the best is yet to come. And on that note, can everyone please raise their glasses in a toast to the newlyweds, Tom and Sarah, Mr and Mrs Smith!

Get the Best Man Speech Guidebook

If you are thinking about your upcoming Best Man duties or need to draft your speech in a hurry you can check out the book the Best Man Speech Guidebook for even more tips and a full list of Best Man speech hacks. It contains the important do’s and don’ts in wedding speech etiquette, some great one-liners, visual gag options, but most importantly a clear speech structure and tried and tested speech templates.

The Best Man guide

For more advice and ideas for all of your Best Man duties, check out our Ultimate Best Man Guide page.

More Best Man speech advice

• 12 Clever Best Man Speech Hacks
• Best Man Speech: 13 Must Do’s
• Best Man Speech: 10 Absolute Don’ts
• 20 Unique Best Man Speech One Liners
• 3 Ideas For Best Man Speech Visual Gags
• How To Write A Best Man Speech: Part 1
• How To Write A Best Man Speech: Part 2
• Funny Best Man Speech Template

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Related articles, 15 classic stag do costumes and fancy dress ideas, 21 top ideas for best man gifts to the groom, packing list: groom emergency kit bag, the ultimate best man duties list, recent posts.

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Best Man Speech Examples for Friends

Oliver Lucas

Published 12 Sep 2023

Welcome! Looking for a bit of inspiration for your friends best man speech? You’re in the right place.  Here you will find real-life examples of best man speeches written by one friend to another.  There’s a selection to choose from depending when the friendship was formed and whether your style is a brief or longer.  Whatever your situation, you will find some food for thought here that can help you in constructing your friend’s best man speech. There’s also a link where you can download even more like this at the end of the page. Hope this helps!

Best Man Speech for a School Friend

Thank you Norman and Nick for your excellent speeches or as some would see them, my warm up act.

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen sit back, relax and make yourself comfortable as I intend to speak for roughly an hour…

For those of you that don’t know me I’m Scott, one of Nick’s close friends and today I have the honour and pleasure of being his best man.

Can I start by thanking everybody here today, coming together to share in what has been a truly special occasion, witnessing Nick and Simelia becoming Mr and Mrs Taylor.

I would also like to thank Keaza on her wonderful reading and the Chuckle Brothers also known as Dan and Lee on not making too much of a mess of directing people to their seats before the ceremony, well done boys.

I think everybody sat in this room will agree when I say that the bridesmaids Kirsty, Neesha and Kelly look truly amazing today.  And well Simellia, I always knew you would look stunning but wow you look beautiful today Sim. As for Nick, well what can I say, we tried our best……I’m only human. No really ….You don’t scrub up too badly mate, although I am slightly annoyed that you copied my outfit.

It is of course a great honour to be asked to be asked to be best man, But from the moment Nick asked me it was clear that the best man’s speech would be the most challenging part of the day for me personally….. So I had to prepare…. I took the standard approach which most men do when faced with a task they know little about and looked on the internet for ideas…. well I’m sure I’m not the only bloke in the room who has found far more interesting things to look at on the internet. So I drew a blank.

But I did read somewhere that a best man speech shouldn’t take any longer than it takes the groom to make love. So ladies and gentlemen – I give you Mr and Mrs Taylor. (Take drink and sit down).

I did however find a list of do’s and don’ts when it comes to writing a best man’s speech, which rather narrowed down my options:

Don’t mention ex-girlfriends *throw away card*.

Don’t swear *throw away card*.

Don’t tell rude jokes *throw away card*

Don’t tell lies *throw away card*

Do tell mostly positive stories about the groom.  *throw away card*.

Another thing I read whilst doing my research, was that I should now give you Nick a few tips and pointers to start you off in married life. Being a married man myself, I thought I’d be perfect for the job, so please remember the following simple rules:

First, set the ground rules and establish who is boss…………. Then do everything Simelia says from now on.

The best way to remember your anniversary……… is to forget it once.

From this day forward your wife always knows a better way of doing things.

Also, it is very important to get on with your mother-in-law. I haven’t spoken mine for two years, not because I don’t like her, I just don’t like to interrupt.

So where do I start with my friend Nick?

Well for starters he’s… Handsome, Witty, Intelligent. He’s Char… Charm…. Sorry…Nick …. I’m having trouble reading your handwriting here pal, you can tell me the rest later.

I first met Nick in March 1998 in Italy on a school ski trip, Stoke had just been thrashed 5-1 by Oxford, and I can vividly remember Nick coming off the phone from his dad, Andy, and telling anybody that would listen that Stoke had just taken a beating! Our friendship really started to begin though a year later in 1999 at Fenton 6th form college as we found ourselves classmates studying A level geography – this was short lived though as we were then moved to separate classes for fear of giving our teacher at the time a nervous breakdown with our foolish and rowdy behaviour. Hard to believe I know.

In the following 17 or 18 years that we have known each other, we have found many a common interest – music, food and if any of you knew the Nick Taylor from his university days, boy could he pack away the food!

Enjoying a good night out and of course football – from playing the game or, should I say, our best interpretation of it.

This is how Nick’s ex-football manager described his game: “I have found Nick to be useless in every position.”

I just hope Simellia has more luck later.

To watching Stoke at home, usually courtesy of Andy Taylor getting us in via the back door – thanks Andy!

Over the years we have had some memorable away trips to places such as Highbury, Villa Park, and Cardiff’s Millennium stadium – where a rather heavily built Nick managed to nearly crush a young child to death who was sitting two rows in front, celebrating Stoke scoring against Brentford. This was partly down to the excitement of the goal but more down to the fact that he had drunk a bottle of vodka and orange while tucking into his hearty breakfast at Hanley bus station earlier that day! To Istanbul, Wembley, Germany (I won’t tell the tale of the sunglasses and the 6 stone Chinese waiter) to Thun in Switzerland where Nick thought it was good idea to jump into the fast flowing river wearing the only pair of trousers that he had for the entire trip. To Valencia – the pigeon episode… Lee our animal loving friend is still scared to this very day by that! The list goes on and on… You get the picture. The guy’s a bit of an idiot.

Seriously though, anybody who knows Nick will know that what you see is what you get. There are no airs or graces about him, he is a real decent guy with decent values and he cares for the people around him. He will go out of his way to help others and he can be a very generous guy – BUT get 5 pints of beer down Nick’s neck and all that goes out of the window as you have just heard!

Nick, I would like to use your love of football, mate, to point out that you can base your marriage around football by following these simple tips:

• Ensure you are fully committed every week.
• Try your best to score every Saturday.
• Don’t put your tackle in too hard – you may get injured.
• And no tackling from behind – especially on your wedding night.

We have all, of course, been brought here today to celebrate the wedding of Nick and Simelia. They were first brought together, though, through work, around 5 years ago while working at Phones 4 U. I can remember having conversations with Nick at the time about a girl at work who he was friends with who turned out to be Simelia. It was quite clear how he spoke about Sim that he was very smitten with her also. Over time he plucked up the courage to try and move from just being friends to starting a relationship with Simelia. As the saying goes, what is meant to be, is meant to be and I think that Nick and Simelia are definitely meant to be together. They make a great warm and loving couple and bring out the best in each other. They are both really positive people to be around and are great with children. I am sure that when the time comes and they are ready to start a family they will make brilliant parents together.

It has to be said Nick, you are really lucky to have found a beautiful, loving and caring wife in Simelia. And Simelia how lucky you are also… Well the rain held off for the ceremony.

So here we are ladies and gentleman, Nick and Simelia are married, for better or worse. Which is quite appropriate really, because Nick couldn’t have done any better and Simelia couldn’t have done any worse.

On a more serious note, Nick, we have had some excellent times together and I know that we will continue to have more in the future. You have been more like a brother to me over the years and it’s been a real privilege to be your best man today… so thank you. I know how much Simelia means to you and that you will always be there for her. I know you will make a great husband and I’m sure that you will be extremely happy for many more years to come.

And on that note, ladies and gentlemen, could I ask you to stand with me, and raise your glasses in a toast to Nick and Simelia, the new Mr & Mrs Taylor.

Best Man Speech for a Recent Friend

Ladies and gentlemen, if there’s anybody here this afternoon who’s feeling nervous, apprehensive and queasy at the thought of what lies ahead…… it’s probably because you have just married James Rank.

To those of you who don’t know me yet. My name is Stu and I would like to thank James for finally confirming that I am actually the BEST man!

I’ve actually looked forward to this moment for a long time. It will be the first time I’ve been able to speak for five minutes in James’ presence without being interrupted!

Now it’s not that I’m saying that James is loud but he does seem to break a fundamental law of physics that light travels faster than sound…. because with James, you very definitely hear him before you see him.

It’s great to see that everyone is enjoying the wedding today, but I have to say that being best man you get to see behind the scenes – and let me tell you it isn’t pretty. Tears, hissy fits, chucking lipstick and mascara all over the place… luckily, I’ve heard that Sam was better behaved than the groom.

Quite clearly, no expense has been spared in creating this wonderful occasion for us all to enjoy. And by the way, please don’t worry if you have heard any unusual noises during the speeches…..  it’s only James’ wallet groaning in agony.

Looking around this packed room, it’s surprising just how far some people are prepared to travel for a free lunch. It’s a good job James didn’t choose the menu, otherwise you would have been very disappointed to have come all this way for cheese sandwiches washed down with ALDI lager.

Now I am supposed to use this opportunity to recall embarrassing moments to ridicule James. But I’ve been put under strict instructions not to mention the time James’ fiesta door changed colour, the time that we had the winner’s podium from Northwood stadium on our heads or the time that James’ Nova started smelling of fish.  

Of course… James….. I won’t say a thing. My lips are sealed. The theme of my speech is this: why marry James Rank? What is so special about him?

Over the last few months I’ve made extensive investigations and I think I’ve found the answer.  One reason to marry James is that he’s exceptionally thoughtful – he’s always thinking about friends and family. In fact, he starts thinking from the moment he gets up…… and doesn’t stop until he opens his mouth!

I’ve been told that at School, his sporting prowess was legendary. In fact, when he graduated he was recognised as having made a major contribution to the School’s football first team..… by sticking to swimming.

He’s academically bright. I once visited him when he was at Imperial College.

“I’m done here,” he told me, confidently, “They can’t teach me any more.”

Now, initially, I put that down to his inflated ego. But, curiously enough, one of his Uni mates knew the Dean of the University at the time and when he asked him about James’s leaving his words were exactly the same,…..

‘We simply couldn’t teach him any more’.

Another reason to marry James is that he’s very caring – especially about his appearance. It’s easy to see from today that James, impeccably dressed, has always been an image-conscious sort of guy. You know, he once admitted to me that his favourite forms of entertainment were TV, Football and mirrors ….  In reverse order.

He is most known however for his care of money. As he has often told me: ‘The safest way to double your money is to fold it over once and put it back in your pocket’.

But marriage changes a man and his approach to spending is shifting. Just yesterday, while mulling over a purchase, he blurted out,

‘Well, if you’ve got it why not spend it! I’m not extravagant enough!

It’s a lot of money, but hey, you only live once! I’m going to buy this right now! I don’t care how much it costs!”

I was really impressed by this. And dramatically James threw the packet of Jaffa cakes in the shopping trolley and marched off.

Now I’m not saying James is a skin flint but it’s a well known fact that when he suggested getting married at Alton Towers it was because he thought he could pay using his Merlin Pass and his family’s local residents tickets.

I can only assume that the reason for Sam choosing James was that opposites attract. I mean, one of my fondest memories is walking into their garden for a party to see James in the kitchen wearing a floral apron making cocktails and Sam in the garden chopping firewood with an axe…… They certainly are opposites…

If the theme of my speech had been: why marry Sam? It would have been straightforward. She is beautiful, intelligent and funny. She can cook like Nigella Lawson and she’s got the patience of a saint. James, I can say with my hand on my heart that you’re one of the luckiest men alive. And she writes a cracking best man speech as well.

Joking aside, it’s a wonderful honour being best man today as James is a very special person to me. He is a true friend who never ceases to amaze me with his kindness. He has listened to me through many a crisis. He gives without any thought of reward. He is a super guy and a role model of a friend. And yes, we’ve had our differences… but nothing that two lawyers and a judge couldn’t sort out.  I’d like to wish the happy couple well and toast their future happiness.  Ladies and gentlemen, to the bride and groom.

Best Man Speech for a Film Buff Friend

Hello, I’m Ben, I’m Jack’s Best Man.

Amy has told me about the timings of the speeches so much like the Groom, I’ll keep it short.  

*High Five Bride*

Of Course I would like to Thank Jack & Amy for asking me to do this and giving me this amazing opportunity to wear a suit in August.

Just a quick reminder that there is a wedding guest book so feel free write some nice messages to the happy couple,  but be warned, as a teacher, Amy will be checking your spelling later on.

Aww Amy, The Beautiful Bride: Amy always reminds me of a Swan: Graceful, Elegant, a vision in white………and if you annoy her she will break your arm.

Now Jack & Amy are two of biggest movie Geeks you’ll ever meet. At home they’ve got over 450 DVDs and everything up until now can be retold from all those films

Jack & Amy: Beauty and The Beast, The Fox and the Hound and on some days ‘Lady and the Tramp’

Amy: Little Miss Sunshine, My Fair Lady, Pretty Woman

and Jack ….a Footloose, Clueless, Desperado. But Hey Looks Who’s Talking

So for them the story goes they were Just Friends but it was Fatal Attraction then 28 Weeks Later they are having Cocktails, Dirty Dancing, Risky Business, Every Which Way But Loose. (Shame!)

So now they have decided to Hitch, Brave ! Some call it Entrapment, others Judgment Day But not me, No, No, this is My Best Friends Wedding and all The Usual Suspects are here:

The Father of the Bride, Bridesmaids, Layer Cake, The Ring.

Tonight will be BIG but T he Day After Tomorrow , The Hangover .  

Amy, We all know that there are A Few Good Men and Jack may very will be Dumbo and The Littlest Hobo but he’s also your Last Action Hero , your Dark Knight and your Batman Forever , he’s also your ‘ Iron Man 2 ’

Jack, for you Amy is now For Your Eyes Only as she is Taken , She is your Cinderella , your Princess Bride and your National Treasure .

However, if you have a Death Wish and Amy has a Short Circuit and goes Psycho then she’s your Apocalypse Now and she’ll probably take your Face/Off with a Lethal Weapon .

There Will Be Blood so remember She’s The Man .

The two of you together are The Incredibles, The Untouchables and Unstoppable . Simply they are in A League of Their Own .  

And as you go on your Never Ending Story and your Excellent Adventure always remember this trilogy.  

It’s a Wonderful Life, So Love Actually and Kick-Ass.

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The Ultimate Best Man Speech Guide (Examples And Templates Included)

Being picked to be the best man is such a great honor. You will feel blessed that the groom has thought of you, and considers you the best man and friend for the job.

But, as the wedding draws nearer, there’s one thing on your mind. No, it’s not the bachelor party… It’s the best man’s speech(see also: Best Ways to End Your Best Man’s Speech ). 

As the best man, you will likely have many responsibilities in the run up towards the wedding. You’ll have to try on suits, organize the bachelor party, but the best man speech is the thing that most look forward to, or dread!

Standing up in front of many guests, some of which you may not have met before can be nerve wracking to say the least. It’s such an important task, and a part of the wedding that many guests look forward to. 

But, you have to do all of this in one single speech that can’t be too long, and can’t be too short! 

So, how can you nail the best man speech? Well, that’s where we come in handy. We can offer you this ultimate guide to creating a best man speech, including tips, structure and examples you can take inspiration from. 

How To Structure A Best Man Speech

If you’re unsure of how to go about planning your best man speech, then we can help you out with this simple structure to follow and keep yourself on track. 

It can also help you when actually performing the speech, as you’ll know what needs to come next and in which order to go over your stories and anecdotes.

A good best man speech begins with:

Try introducing yourself with a funny one liner about who you are and how you know the happy couple.

Here comes the fun part! Now is the time to start telling a funny story about the groom. The emphasis here is on funny and not too embarrassing or gross. Choose two or three short anecdotes or stories, but don’t overdo it. 

After you’ve had your fun, balance this out by saying something meaningful and sincere about the groom, his qualities or your friendship. 

Best Man Speech Do’s And Don’ts

There are definitely a few do’s and don’ts when it comes to speaking at someone’s wedding. You’ll want to keep it concise, funny, but not too over the top jokey. Here’s our recommendations of what to do, and what not to do. 

First things first, you’ll want to plan ahead, and write a few stories and anecdotes down that you can remember. Do this for a few weeks before the wedding, so it gives you time to come up with the right memories to share. 

If the groom’s very traditional great aunt or grandma is there, it could be a good idea to avoid any crass, rude stories that could make family members uncomfortable. Save those lines for the bachelor party! 

Do pause for reactions. You don’t want to talk too fast or fly through the speech as those who have laughed at the last line may miss the next one. Always leave small gaps or pauses for reactions, applause or responses. 

This day is about the two of them. While you are doing a speech because you are the best man to the groom, it is important that you bring in the bride/partner in your speech so that overall you are wishing both of them well on their new adventure. 

What Not To Do

Don’t wing it! You may have some liquid courage on the night, but you need this speech to be a crowd pleaser, so be sure to take your notes and go over the speech in your head just before you have to do it. 

The same goes for mentioning exes (who could well be at the wedding) or bringing up sore subjects during the speech. Keep it fun, lighthearted, and hilarious. 

Finally, and this is an important one- don’t make it about you. This is not your shining moment, your time will come.

Tips For Writing A Best Man Speech

We’ve also got some brief tips for writing and performing your best man speech!

Qualities To Talk About In The Best Man Speech

For instance, if you’re talking about the groom’s thoughtfulness, use funny anecdotes that relate to this, and bring it back to that whenever possible.

Best Man Speech Examples

Good evening everyone. For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Tom, younger brother and best man of the groom. For those of you that do know me…heeeeeeey! 

I have known Jack for…X years now (your age) and have always looked up to him. He had it all, the career, the intelligence, the sense of humor, and now the girl. Then again, I got the good looks. 

Being the youngest of the two of us, Jack has made me a better man, mainly because of the character building he put me through as a child. Jack would love taunting me by stealing my favorite stuffed animals. 

Despite the taunting and the terrorizing, Jack has been the man that I’ve always aspired to be. In all of the years I’ve been around Jack, he’s always been tenacious and worked hard for what he wants. And he’s always gotten it.

When he did finally get a chance to take Jenny out on a date, he turned up at the wrong house, and managed to slip and break his shoulder all in one fantastic, first meeting with the parents.

With Jenny at his side, Jack’s clumsy mishaps are less and less. You truly bring out the best in him, Jen. I would say welcome to the family, but you’ve been a part of our lives for some time already, and I am truly blessed to be able to call you my new sister. 

From day one, you’ve fit right in, as you too have taken on the role of teasing Jack just as I wanted. Let me tell you guys, there have been many pranks that Jenny and I have pulled off on Jack.

I quickly realized that Jenny and Jack were cut from the same mold. You two are a real example of what it means to marry your best friend, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the two of you.

So everyone, if you could raise your glass…and toast- to the bride and groom! 

Then he reminded me that it’s not just about organizing the bachelor party and I have to actually come to the wedding so…here I am. 

Britney would probably argue with me over the adult part! James has always had that boyish sense of humor that’s often gotten us into trouble over the years. 

This is why it came as such a shock when later that day it was I who was called into the principal’s office, and as I walked with my head hung in shame to my fate, James smiled wide and proudly.

Ever since that day, James and I have been at war with one another to get the other one back! But deep down, I know that James would do anything for me. If I needed someone at 4am, James is that friend.

Despite our differences, I know he’s as good as family to me, and all of the Henderson’s have welcomed me into their home on many occasions, and now Britney gets to have that same privilege. 

On behalf of all the groomsmen, bridesmaids and myself, I would like to thank James and Britney for having us be a part of their special day. I know how hard you’ve worked to make this a day to remember, and you’ve definitely succeeded. 

I wish you both all of the happiness, joy and good luck in the world, as you take these steps towards your future together. To the bride and groom, everyone! (Cheers). 

Just think, back then…Low rise jeans were in fashion, Spiderman was the favorite superhero, and Ben Affleck and J-Lo were together. So really, nothing has changed in 20 years, and the same goes for our friendship. 

I remember one time in college, we decided that reading books and writing our own essays just wasn’t for us anymore. We decided to pay someone to write us an essay, and we would switch it up to pass the class.

From that day on a keen businessman was born- be careful everyone- you’ll probably get a bill for your food! 

Since then, I’ve realized what a tenacious person, good friend and loyal individual John was, and it’s an absolute blessing to be up here with you tonight as your best man. 

So, if you wouldn’t mind joining me in raising a glass to John’s mom, who can’t be with us today, but is with us in spirit. Cheers. 

In addition, I’d like to thank both Mia’s parents, and John’s dad who have helped make this day extra special for the happy couple, which I’m sure they are eternally grateful for. 

They also had the difficult task of getting Mia to the church on time, which if you know Mia is a very big achievement, indeed. 

Finally, I’d like to thank the groomsmen for organizing and completing the best bachelor party Miami has ever seen. I only hope it was the send off John was hoping for before he begins the next stage of his life with Mia. (But I highly doubt it) 

Ladies and Gentleman, I have an announcement to make. If there is anyone here tonight that is feeling nervous, apprehensive, or maybe even a little nauseous at what lies ahead…then it’s probably because you’ve just married Adam. 

For those of you who don’t know who I am, I am the best man, James. There are few words to describe Adam. Handsome, funny, but smart isn’t one of them. You see, Adam was my best man, at my wedding, and boy he did not hold back!

Before I start the character assassination that is my best man’s speech, let me just thank Adam and Olivia for having us be a part of this very special day.

Our time at University was one of the best in my life, and I’ve far too many stories to tell you about our lovely Adam here. 

And why wouldn’t he be? All those who know Olivia know what a lovely, and caring person she is. She deserves a good husband. Thank god Adam got there first before she could find one! 

I’ll never forget the time a few years back during a friendly soccer game where I slipped and fell over on my side, snapping and breaking my ankle.

Adam was at my side within SECONDS…to let me know he caught my fall on video. Emergency Medical Services *Scoff*. Only when he saw the angle of my ankle did his medical training kick in.

Hello everyone. My name is Kane, and I am the best man, and longtime friend of Rob. I was, however, somewhat surprised to be asked to be the best man, as Rob has never been able to admit this over the years.

At first, I thought this was great. I get to plan a bachelor party for Rob, but then he reminds me I have to write a killer speech that would likely make everyone laugh. 

I asked friends and family for advice, and according to tradition, I am supposed to sing Rob’s praises and tell you all about his fantastic qualities. Well, sorry to tell you, but I can’t sing and I don’t lie. So that’s out of the window. 

His willingness to do anything for anyone, without accepting anything in return is what makes Rob extra special, and a joy to be around. 

Looking back, I was probably a big nuisance always wanting to go play over his house, but I had some of the best time of my life growing up with Rob by my side. We’ve been there for every big moment of each other’s lives.

Sophia and Rob, your love for each other shines through you. Sophia, I’m happy to step down as I can see that you two are truly best friends, and meant to be.

I can’t think of anyone better to look after my Rob here, and I know he will do everything he can to look after you for the rest of his days. 

Best Man Speech Frequentl Asked Questions

Does the best man have to do a speech, when does the best man’s speech happen.

The best man speech will typically happen after the groom has said a few words. However, every wedding is different, and the bride and groom may organize the day differently depending on how they think the speeches should flow. 

How Long Should A Best Man Speech Be?

A best man speech should be short and sweet, but not too short, and not too long. A happy medium is about 5-6 minutes in length. You don’t want it to be shorter than 3 minutes as it may seem too brief.

What Should You Include In A Best Man Speech?

There are a few things that you should include in the best man speech. This is who you are, and how you know the bride and groom.

Who Should You Thank In A Best Man Speech?

To summarize, writing a best man speech is not all as bad as it seems.

Now, instead of stressing out about what you are going to say, how you are going to say it, you can look forward to the wedding planning process in the run up to the big day, and most importantly…the bachelor party!

Lisa Plaitt

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Wedding invitations, follow this perfect best man speech: tips + examples.

Written by  Shutterfly Community Last Updated: Oct 12, 2018

You’ve been chosen as the best man. Congratulations! It’s a great feeling to know that your friend or relative wants you to take part as his right-hand man in one of the best days of his life.

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One of the most important duties as best man is the best man speech. Traditionally the speech is given during the reception before the guests eat. Whether you are great with public speaking or a little intimidated by standing in front of a large group, we have all the tools you need in order to be best prepared, so don’t sweat it.

The Do’s and Don’ts For Preparing Your Best Man Speech

Don’t wing it..

Find a time a couple of months before the wedding to think about the things you want to talk about and write an outline. Most likely you’ll get caught up in best man activities with the groom and it will leave you with less time as the date approaches.

Do write a great intro.

The intro is the most important part of the speech because it grabs the audience’s attention. Try a funny one-liner, a story about you and the groom or even a compliment to his lovely new wife.

Don’t bring up past relationships.

Not only is it disrespectful to his wife but his wife’s family will also be there and will not want to hear about the groom’s litany of ex-girlfriends.

Do have a plan B.

Make sure you have the speech written down or outlined and have some jokes or points to cover if you are facing a tough crowd.

Don’t make negative jokes about marriage.

Even if you and the groom have an inside joke or if you have negative ideas about settling down, the audience doesn’t need to know. Also, don’t use curse words at any point during the speech, as you don’t know who in the audience you might offend.

Do practice.

Practice makes perfect. Going over the speech several times will ensure that you are comfortable with what you are saying and it will sound more natural.  Pro tip: record your speech on your phone’s voice memos and play back.

Don’t talk about the groom in compromising situations.

So you’ve seen the groom embarrass himself but you should keep that to yourself. You don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable or upset his wife.

Do congratulate the couple.

Make a toast, congratulate them and say what your wishes are for them in their new life.

Don’t make it longer than 7 minutes.

Although speeches are a fun part of the reception, making it too long can bore the hungry guests. If it’s a casual reception keep it to about three minutes, for a more formal setting seven minutes is more than enough time.

Do thank the guests.

As the groom’s right-hand man, make sure you thank everyone who attended and even the people working the event. It’s a nice gesture that will be appreciated.

A Simple Best Man Speech Outline

If you want a speech that is short, sweet and simple that is perfectly acceptable as well. This works well for smaller wedding receptions, weddings that will have more than two speakers or those that are a little more private. Following these simple steps will ensure a great and memorable speech:

• Opening line
• Introduce yourself
• Talk about groom/Compliment bride
• Propose a toast
• Thank the couple

Short and simple speech

Since I have everyone’s attention I’d love to say a few words to this amazing couple sitting right in front of me. For those who don’t know me, I’m Ed. Mike’s closest friend and sidekick.  We’ve known each other for about 11 years and have been on many adventures together. During that time, I got to know him well and can honestly say, he is the most selfless and stand-up guy I’ve ever met. I am thrilled to be standing here and celebrating him and his beautiful bride, Linda.

I am sure this union between two honest and caring people makes you all smile. Let’s raise a glass for everlasting love! Thanks for making us all part of this beautiful day.

Best Man Speech Template

Typically, a best man speech should last about 4-7 minutes depending on the party. While short and sweet is welcomed, a best man speech can also include more details such as how you know the groom and the bride, funny jokes, heartfelt stories and your well wishes.

Whether you want your speech to make the crowd laugh or shed a little tear, you may be wondering how to get started. We’ve pointed out several tips in our template below. Remember, a speech should always come from the heart.

How to Write the Perfect Best Man Speech

1 Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. It’s lovely to see some familiar faces. On behalf of the gorgeous bridesmaids and not so gorgeous groomsmen, we’d like to thank you all for coming. 2 It’s amazing to see how far people will travel for free cocktails.

3 For those who don’t know me, my name is Adam. I am the best man and Sam’s very best friend. It’s an honor to be here and to be part of such a beautiful event. 4 I met Sam 20 years ago. We grew up together as neighbors in San Diego and attended the same school all throughout college. 5 He was the nice kid on the block who would go home and do his homework while all of us were out doing, well, the things we shouldn’t be doing. Can you believe it took me two months to convince him to toilet paper Mrs. Carter’s house? Mrs. Carter isn’t here, is she?

Luckily, as we grew up, he started making better decisions; one of them being this very special day. He is marrying his best friend 6 and the most beautiful girl he’s ever laid eyes on. Sarah, he said this to me just the other night and I promise no more than three drinks were involved.

7 When Sam introduced us to Sarah , we knew right away she was the one. For starters, she made him get rid of that horrible, beer-stained couch that he had since college. That alone got our stamp of approval. But mostly, we saw how happy she made him and how every time he talked about her, he would have a huge smile. We started seeing a little less of him, but that’s okay because we were getting tired of buying his drinks anyway.

For that reason, and the reason we are all here today, 8 I’d like to raise a glass to Sam and Sarah. May you have the life you always dreamed of, continue to fight over the remote and cherish making beautiful memories together. Find joy in the small things like Portlandia and expensive coffee and may sparks continue to fly forever. 9 Thank you guys for allowing me to be part of this special day and for trusting me not to ruin this beautiful moment (phew!). I’d also love to give a huge thanks to the staff who have helped make this night memorable.

10 Cheers, everyone! Continue to have a great night and come hang out with me on the dance floor.

Always address the audience and welcome them.

A quick opening sentence to welcome guests helps everyone feel at ease.

Throw in a silly joke.

A wedding should be fun and enjoyable. A joke will help to break the ice.

Introduce yourself.

It’s best to not assume that everyone knows who you are. A short and simple introduction will allow everyone to get familiar with the wedding party.

Talk about how you know each other.

Whether you are a relative or friend, talk the audience through how you got to be a special person in the groom’s life.

Talk about groom’s personality.

Use this time to make a joke about the groom or share a sweet sentiment. Mention any sports, skills or funny stories that people will appreciate.

Compliment his bride.

Acknowledging the bride is a must, especially because she makes the groom so happy. A mention of her dress, personality or the first time you met her is ideal.

Talk a bit about them as a couple.

Share things you like about them as a couple. It helps the audience get to know their dynamic a little better and it will make the couple smile as well.

Give a toast.

Raise a glass and cheers to the new couple. Including a bit of tradition makes the speech much more special.

Thank the couple and staff.

Everyone spent a lot of time preparing for the special day. Make sure to thank the couple for allowing you to be part of it and the staff for making it all happen.

This closing allows for any sort of instruction such as dancing, dessert or simply to tell them to enjoy the party.

Best Man Speech for Brother

Good evening, hope everyone is having a good time tonight. I feel very privileged and honored to be standing here tonight celebrating this lovely union. Two years ago, Matt gave the best man speech at my wedding and made a lot of awkward jokes. So needless to say, I’ve been waiting for this moment for a really long time! For those who don’t know, I am Matt’s brother, Mike. I first met Matt when I was two years old at our parent’s house in Boston. To be quite honest, I wasn’t thrilled because I really wanted a sister. And I think he knew because Matt would do ridiculous things like throw my toothbrush in the toilet, pour water at me when I was asleep and run across the room naked when I had any friends over. This made me less popular than I already was.

Matt always excelled in school, was captain of the debate team (apologies to Cara, but he can argue his way out of anything!) and can make a mean steak. The truth is, despite him being an annoying brother at the time, I came out winning in the end. Because of him and this beautiful night, I am getting the sister I always wanted. Cara, you’re beautiful and our family loves you so much. Thank you for making my brother so happy.

Let’s celebrate this amazing union and raise a glass to the newlyweds! On behalf of the groomsmen and bridesmaids, we’d like to wish you a life full of love, happiness, and joy.

To everyone who made tonight happen, thank you. You’ve made this night very special.

Sentimental Best Man Speech

If I can have your attention everybody, I’d like to say a few words. Thank you all for being here to celebrate this lovely couple. Now I would like you all to take out some tissues, because you are going to need them after this. For those of you who have not met me I am Rich, Joe’s best man. Rich and I have known each other for over 30 years, we met when we were both just two years old. We lived on the same street and our mothers were friends so naturally we also became friends.

I am an only child so Joe was like a brother to me. We became inseparable. We played in T-ball together and then graduated on to baseball throughout high school. When we weren’t throwing the ball we were skateboarding, watching movies or challenging each other in video games.

Joe was always hanging out at my house and I grew up thinking he was just part of the family. I remember asking my mom why Joe never goes home and mom would always say “Rich, Joe is the brother you never had, take good care of each other.”

What my mom didn’t tell me at the time was that Joe’s mom was really sick and his dad worked double shifts just to stay afloat with all the medical bills. So, having Joe around was our way of helping out.

Even though we were only in high school, Joe made it very clear that he wanted to have a wife and family of his own. His mother’s death at such a young age was really challenging and in some ways, he learned to cherish the women he had in his life more.

He knew he wanted a strong, nurturing and kind woman to be his wife. When Joe met Sarah he almost broke it off with her because he was afraid of losing her. I remember Joe coming to me and saying, “I’m in trouble, I’ve met the one but don’t know what to do.” “Scared is good”, I said, “It means you won’t mess this up”.

Sarah’s greatest strength comes from losing her father to cancer at a young age. When Joe and Sarah met, their commonalities bonded them immediately. Both missing the connection with their parents and understanding each other’s experiences brought them very close. I’ve never seen two people more meant for each other. From the moment they met in college, there has been an incredible and magical bond.

When I look at both of you I can see how your experiences have led you to one another. It’s as if your parents were orchestrating this all along. Even though your parents are not here with us tonight, they are in spirit and will continue to guide you in the right direction and are so very proud of you.

As we all gather here to enjoy this dinner tonight, I’d like to make a toast to Joe and Sarah. Two souls meant to meet and fall in love. I want you to know that mom misses you hanging out at the house and she told me to tell you that you are always welcome in her home.

Joe, thank you for being my friend and brother all these years. You are the very best friend a guy could ever have and I love you so much.

Sarah, Thank you for loving this great man and for taking Joe to be your husband. I know you both will take care of each other and keep the memories of your parents alive together.

Now that our napkins need replacing, I’d like to thank all the staff and event coordinators for taking care of this beautiful event.

Cheers to everyone, enjoy your night and if you have a chance, come find me and say hi.

Funny Best Man Speech

Ladies and gentlemen if I can have your attention for a few moments, I would like to give a toast to Mark and Melissa. I was a little surprised that Mark asked me to be his best man, after all, he knows how much I love to embarrass him. I’m thinking, “what a great time to leave a lasting impression of who Mark really is” in front of all his closest friends and family. If for some reason you did not know, Mark was chosen as the class clown in high school. He even got his picture immortalized in our class yearbook for this very title. Let me tell you, having Mark as a best friend was very entertaining!

He was always laughing, pulling pranks, and sometimes getting us in trouble (I certainly won’t tell them how we barely made it out of jail because you thought streaking through the grocery store parking lot was a good dare). We all had a bit of clowning around within us, but the one thing Mark always had over any of us was his way of making girls laugh. And I mean really laugh, not just a quick chuckle but downright laugh out loud, spit-up-your-drink kind of laugh. While we were all worried about how we looked to girls, Mark’s concern was always how to make them crack up. I remember Mark saying “how come you get all the girls and I don’t?” I never had a straight answer for him. Looking back now though, my track record only lasted a few months and for Mark? Well, what he didn’t know was that his “clowning around” was preparing him for the show of his life.

When Mark introduced me to Melissa I knew she was special. I knew this was who Mark was going to marry. She not only has a very infectious laugh, but she gets Mark to laugh just as much.

They say a marriage can’t truly survive without laughter and I don’t believe there will be a shortage of that with these two. Mark, remember when you asked me why you don’t get all the girls? Well, the answer is right there next to you. While you were out figuring out jokes and funny one-liners, Melissa was saving up for the greatest show on earth!

If anyone tells you that you’re a bunch a clowns just smile and say….who’s got the last laugh now? Let’s raise our glass to Mark and Melissa! Here’s to a lifetime of love and laughter! You are both class acts and I am proud to call you my best friends. I love you both very much and thank you for having me here.

To all who were in charge of organizing this awesome night, great job on making this wedding shine. I challenge everyone to a dance-off later tonight.

Hopefully these tips will have you on your way to writing a heartfelt speech. If you still need a little more inspiration, don’t forget to check out our wedding quotes . These are great to incorporate into your speech, write in a card or simply share as advice to the newlyweds.

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Best Man Speech

Man speech generator.

A Best Man Speech is a formal and celebratory address given by the best man during a wedding reception. This speech is a significant part of the wedding festivities, traditionally delivered after the meal and before the cutting of the cake.

What is Best Man Speech?

A Best Man Speech is a special address delivered by the best man at a wedding reception. It is a heartfelt and often humorous speech that celebrates the groom and bride, shares memorable stories, and offers well-wishes for the couple’s future.

Best Man Speech Bundle Download

Best Man Speech Format

1. introduction.

Greeting : Warmly greet the audience. Self-Introduction : Introduce yourself and your relationship to the groom. Gratitude : Thank the couple for choosing you as the best man.

2. Congratulate the Couple

Congratulations : Offer congratulations to the bride and groom on their marriage.

3. Share Anecdotes

Stories : Share personal and entertaining stories about the groom. Humor : Include light-hearted and funny moments.

4. Compliment the Bride

Praise : Say kind words about the bride. Impact : Highlight her positive influence on the groom.

5. Balance Humor and Sentiment

Sentiment : Include a few heartfelt and emotional lines. Respect : Avoid inappropriate jokes or sensitive topics.

6. Offer Well-Wishes

Future : Express good wishes for the couple’s future together. Advice : Offer any light-hearted or sincere advice.

7. Conclusion

Toast : Raise a toast to the newlyweds. Closing : End with a positive and uplifting statement.

Best Man Speech Example

Introduction Good evening everyone! For those who don’t know me, my name is John, and I’ve had the honor of being Mark’s best friend for the past 15 years. It’s a privilege to stand here today as his best man.   Congratulate the Couple First and foremost, I want to congratulate Mark and Emma on their beautiful wedding. It’s clear to everyone here how perfect you are for each other, and I couldn’t be happier for both of you.   Share Anecdotes Mark and I have shared countless memories over the years, from our college days to the many adventures we’ve had. One of my favorite stories is when we went on a spontaneous road trip without any plans. We ended up getting lost, but Mark’s positive attitude and sense of humor turned it into one of the best experiences of our lives. That’s the kind of person Mark is – always making the best out of any situation.   Compliment the Bride Emma, you truly bring out the best in Mark. Since meeting you, I’ve seen him grow into a more caring, thoughtful, and incredibly happy person. You complement each other so well, and it’s wonderful to see how much joy you bring into each other’s lives.   Balance Humor and Sentiment We’ve had some great times together, and today is certainly one of the best. But beyond all the fun and laughter, there’s a deep bond of friendship and trust that I cherish. Mark, you’ve been like a brother to me, and seeing you so happy today means the world to me.   Offer Well-Wishes Mark and Emma, may your life together be filled with love, laughter, and countless joyful moments. My advice to you both is to always communicate, support each other, and never forget the love that brought you together.   Conclusion So, let’s raise our glasses to Mark and Emma. Here’s to a future filled with happiness, adventure, and all the love in the world. Cheers! Thank you, everyone.  

Short Best Man Speech Example

Introduction Good evening everyone! For those who don’t know me, I’m John, Mark’s best friend. I’m honored to be his best man today.   Congratulate the Couple First, I want to congratulate Mark and Emma on their beautiful wedding. You two are perfect for each other, and it’s clear how much love you share.   Share Anecdotes I’ve known Mark for many years, and one thing I admire about him is his ability to make every situation enjoyable. Like the time we got lost on a road trip and he turned it into an adventure. That’s Mark for you – always positive and fun.   Compliment the Bride Emma, you bring out the best in Mark. Since you’ve been in his life, I’ve seen him happier and more fulfilled. You truly complement each other.   Offer Well-Wishes Mark and Emma, may your life together be filled with love, laughter, and happiness. Always support and cherish each other.   Conclusion Let’s raise our glasses to Mark and Emma. Here’s to a wonderful future together. Cheers! Thank you, everyone.

Best Man Speech for Brother

Best Man speech for Best Friend

Funny Best Man Speech

More Best Man Speech Topics

• Best Man Speech with Jokes
• Best Man Speech Son to Father
• Best Man Speech about Bride
• Best Man Speech for Groom
• Emotional Best Man Speech
• Best Man Speech for Military Friend
• Best Man Speech for Destination Marriage
• Best Man Speech for Religious Ceremony

Fillable Best Man Speech Example

Simple Best Man Speech Example

Writing Best Man Speech Example

30 Awesome Best Man Speech Opening Lines

• “Good evening, everyone! For those who don’t know me, I’m [Your Name], the best man and the one with the pleasure of roasting the groom tonight.”
• “Hello everyone! I’m [Your Name], and before I begin, I’d like to thank [Groom’s Name] for choosing me as his best man. It’s an honor and a slight miscalculation on his part.”
• “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m [Your Name], the best man, and if my speech goes well tonight, I’ll consider it my wedding gift to the happy couple.”
• “Hi, everyone! I’m [Your Name], and I’ve known [Groom’s Name] since [how long you’ve known him]. Thankfully, he found someone who can tolerate him!”
• “Good evening, everyone. I’m [Your Name], and I have the honor of being the best man. Let’s all take a moment to appreciate that I dressed up for this occasion.”
• “Hello all, I’m [Your Name]. For those who don’t know me, I’m the best man, and yes, the rumors are true—[Groom’s Name] has finally found someone who can stand him.”
• “Hi, I’m [Your Name], the best man. I’m here to share some stories, some laughs, and hopefully not get kicked out of the wedding by the end of my speech.”
• “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m [Your Name]. Before I start, can we give a big round of applause for the newlyweds? [Pause for applause] Thank you!”
• “Good evening, everyone. For those who don’t know me, I’m [Your Name], the best man. I’m here to share some memories, and maybe even embarrass the groom a little.”
• “Hello everyone, I’m [Your Name], the best man. If you see me sweating, it’s either because I’m nervous or the groom turned up the heat to throw me off.”
• “Hi all, I’m [Your Name]. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing [Groom’s Name] for [number] years, and now you all get to hear some of our misadventures.”
• “Good evening, everyone! I’m [Your Name], the best man. They say the best man speech is supposed to be funny, touching, and short. Two out of three isn’t bad, right?”
• “Hello everyone, I’m [Your Name]. I’m here to talk about [Groom’s Name], the man of the hour, who has finally found someone who can keep him in check.”
• “Hi everyone! I’m [Your Name], and as the best man, I promise my speech will be like a mini skirt—long enough to cover the essentials but short enough to keep it interesting.”
• “Good evening! I’m [Your Name], the best man. Before I start, let’s all raise our glasses to the newlyweds who have given us all a reason to celebrate.”
• “Hi, I’m [Your Name]. I’ve been friends with [Groom’s Name] for [number] years, and today I get to share some of our best (and most embarrassing) moments.”
• “Good evening, everyone. I’m [Your Name], the best man. I’ve known [Groom’s Name] since [when you met], and I’ve been trying to get him married off ever since.”
• “Hello all, I’m [Your Name], and I’m honored to be the best man today. I’ve prepared a short speech—short enough to keep me from getting a drink thrown in my face.”
• “Hi everyone! I’m [Your Name], the best man. They say a best man’s speech should be like a comet—dazzling, eye-opening, and over before you know it.”
• “Good evening, everyone. I’m [Your Name], and I have the honor of being [Groom’s Name]’s best man. It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it!”
• “Hello everyone, I’m [Your Name]. I’m here to share some stories about [Groom’s Name] and celebrate the amazing couple we’re all here for tonight.”
• “Hi, I’m [Your Name], the best man. I promise to keep this speech brief—just like [Groom’s Name] promised me he’d be on time today!”
• “Good evening! I’m [Your Name], the best man. Before we get started, can we all agree that [Bride’s Name] looks absolutely stunning tonight?”
• “Hi everyone, I’m [Your Name], and I’m the best man. My main job today is to make sure [Groom’s Name] makes it through this evening in one piece.”
• “Hello all! I’m [Your Name], the best man. If at any point you think my speech is too long, just remember: it’s still shorter than the groom’s dating history.”
• “Good evening, everyone! I’m [Your Name], and I’ve had the pleasure of knowing [Groom’s Name] since [how long you’ve known him]. Today, we celebrate his most significant achievement: marrying [Bride’s Name].”
• “Hi, I’m [Your Name], the best man. I’ve known [Groom’s Name] for years, and I can honestly say this is the happiest I’ve ever seen him—mostly because he’s not paying for the drinks tonight.”
• “Hello everyone, I’m [Your Name]. As the best man, it’s my job to give a speech that’s heartfelt, memorable, and a little embarrassing for the groom.”
• “Good evening! I’m [Your Name], the best man. I’d like to start by saying how beautiful [Bride’s Name] looks tonight and how incredibly lucky [Groom’s Name] is.”
• “Hi all, I’m [Your Name]. For those who don’t know me, I’m the best man. My job tonight is to share some stories about [Groom’s Name] and make sure he doesn’t run off before the cake is cut.”

Best Man Speeches From Movies

Four weddings and a funeral.

Ladies and gentlemen, I’m sorry to drag you from your delicious desserts. There are just one or two little things I feel I should say as best man. This is only the second time I’ve ever been a best man. I hope I did the job all right that time. A couple in question are at least still talking to me. Unfortunately, they’re not actually talking to each other. The divorce came through a couple of months ago, but I’m assured it had absolutely nothing to do with me. Apparently Paula knew that Piers had slept with her younger sister before I mentioned it in her speech. The fact that he slept with her mother came as a surprise, but I think was incidental to the nightmare of recrimination and violence that became their two-day marriage. Anyway, enough of that. My job today is to talk about Angus, and there are no skeletons in his cupboard, or so I thought.

The Wedding Ringer

Doug and I have been through a lot together, happy times and sad. When I was accepted in priesthood, Doug was there waiting for me with a huge hug and a Bible that was signed by Cardinal Enders. And when his parents, Merle and Irene, passed, God rest their souls, I cried as if they were my own. You know, my grandmother once told me that the true measure of friendship isn’t, isn’t how you feel about someone else. It’s about how, how they make you feel about yourself. And I can honestly say that I’ve never had a friend to make me feel the way that you have, Doug. I’m, I’m sorry. When Doug called me and, and told me that he wanted to propose, I was, I was, I was nervous. I was probably just as nervous as he was.

The Best Man

Mirad gave me too much credit for this union. I have learned from them what it means to be truly committed to another person. I have learned the importance of seizing the moment because you can’t go back. You can never go back. You have to live for today, not for what was or what could have been and what will be no one can say. But sometimes, you just have to step out on faith. And believe that what you have built together is worth preserving. Because when you’re made for each other as much as these two are, it’s definitely, definitely worth preserving. So to the bride and groom, Lance and Mia, I love you. And may God bless this union. Cheers. Cheers. Cheers.

Sherlock Homes Speech

I’m afraid, John, I can’t congratulate you. All emotions, and in particular love, stand opposed to the pure cold reason I hold above all things. A wedding is, in my considered opinion, nothing short of a celebration of all that is false and specious and irrational and sentimental in this ailing and morally compromised world. Today we honor the death watch beetle that is the doom of our society and, in time, one feels certain, our entire species. But anyway, let’s talk about John. Please, if I burden myself with a little helpmate during my adventures, this is not out of sentiment or caprice; it is that he has many fine qualities of his own that he has overlooked in his obsession with me. Indeed, any reputation I have for mental acuity and sharpness comes in truth from the extraordinary contrast John so selflessly provides. It is a fact, I believe, that brides tend to favor exceptionally plain bridesmaids for their big day.

Rory, when Tim asked me to be his best man, I was terrified, so I thought the best thing to do was find a book about speeches, and here it is. It says to think of really funny anecdotes, and there is a very hilarious story actually from work. It was quite a complicated case based on an issue of cross-amortization of ownership of post-divorce properties. Let me just explain the context of the defendant. When Tim asked me to do his best man speech, my immediate reaction was, “How much are you going to pay me?” I don’t write for free, you know. These were the girls available to him at that time. Hello girls, and this is how far he got with each of them. Let me explain the code: five—blow job, eight—full penetrative.

I’ll start by introducing myself. For those of you who don’t know me, you’re probably at the wrong wedding, but my name is Sam and I’ve probably known Cam for about three-quarters of my life. There are a lot of great men in this room today—some are marketers, miners, engineers—but of all of them, I’m the best. So I just wanted to start with a bit of a gag. I’m hoping it’s not too bad, but I just wanted to use this platform to try and clear the air a bit. You know, the newlywed couple, I wanted to help them transition into their new life together, so I just wanted to clear up a bit of history. Everybody in their lives has a bit of history—girlfriends and boyfriends before we meet the one we love—and sometimes you give this person maybe a key to your house or something like that because they’re close to you.

I Give it a Year

For those of you who don’t know me, and especially if we meet in the bar later, my name is Danny. Do you want a pint then? For an occasion like this, I want to make sure I keep up the traditions of being a best man. Apparently, I need to get the groom to the church on time—tick. I need to remember the rings—did that. And I need to have sex with a bridesmaid. Wait, to be fair, I wrote these before I knew them. I would never have sex with you—maybe when they’re older. Never mind, and keep away from Pedo Raj, alright? For most of you, he’s come a long way. Good lad. It’s great to see so many people turn up to see Josh finally tie the knot, and about time too. Nat’s got it all—she’s brilliantly clever, apparently really delivers in the bedroom.

30 Best Man Speech Closing Lines

• “Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses as we toast to the happy couple. To a lifetime of love and happiness. Cheers!”
• “Let’s raise our glasses to [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name]. May your love for each other continue to grow with each passing year. Cheers!”
• “To [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name], may your marriage be filled with love, laughter, and adventure. Cheers!”
• “Here’s to the newlyweds! May your life together be filled with joy and your love for each other remain strong. Cheers!”
• “Let’s toast to [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name], a perfect match. May your days be filled with sunshine and your nights with stars. Cheers!”
• “To the bride and groom, may your love story be as magical and charming as today. Cheers to a lifetime of happiness!”
• “Here’s to the newlyweds! May your life be full of laughter, your love be everlasting, and your days be filled with joy. Cheers!”
• “To [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name], may your marriage be filled with more love than you can ever imagine. Cheers!”
• “Here’s to a lifetime of happiness, adventure, and unconditional love for [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name]. Cheers!”
• “Let’s raise a glass to the bride and groom, wishing you a lifetime of love, laughter, and happiness. Cheers!”
• “To the happy couple, may the joy you feel today last a lifetime. Cheers!”
• “Here’s to [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name], may your journey together be filled with endless love and happiness. Cheers!”
• “To the bride and groom, may your love grow stronger with each passing day. Cheers!”
• “Let’s raise our glasses to the happy couple. May your love be modern enough to survive the times and old-fashioned enough to last forever. Cheers!”
• “Here’s to a lifetime of beautiful memories and endless love for [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name]. Cheers!”
• “To the newlyweds, may your love be like a fine wine—better with age. Cheers!”
• “Here’s to the happy couple, may your life together be a long, happy journey filled with joy and laughter. Cheers!”
• “To [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name], may your love be as deep as the ocean and your troubles as light as the foam. Cheers!”
• “Let’s toast to the bride and groom, wishing you a lifetime of love, laughter, and adventure. Cheers!”
• “To the happy couple, may your life together be full of love, joy, and endless happiness. Cheers!”
• “Here’s to a lifetime of happiness, love, and laughter for [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name]. Cheers!”
• “To the newlyweds, may your love story be just as beautiful and enchanting as today. Cheers!”
• “Let’s raise our glasses to [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name], may your love shine brighter with each passing day. Cheers!”
• “To the bride and groom, may your love be as timeless as the stars and as enduring as the mountains. Cheers!”
• “Here’s to a lifetime of love, joy, and endless happiness for the newlyweds. Cheers!”
• “To [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name], may your marriage be filled with love, laughter, and countless wonderful memories. Cheers!”
• “Let’s toast to the bride and groom, wishing you a lifetime of happiness, love, and adventure. Cheers!”
• “To the happy couple, may your life together be filled with love, laughter, and endless joy. Cheers!”
• “Here’s to [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name], may your love story continue to be filled with beautiful moments. Cheers!”
• “Let’s raise our glasses to the newlyweds, wishing you a lifetime of love, happiness, and unforgettable memories. Cheers!”

How to Write Best Man Speech

1. start with a strong opening.

Introduce Yourself : Briefly introduce who you are and your relationship with the groom.

Example : “Good evening, everyone! For those who don’t know me, I’m John, the best man and lifelong friend of our groom, Mike.”

2. Thank the Guests

Show Appreciation : Thank everyone for coming, especially those who traveled long distances.

Example : “Thank you all for being here to celebrate this special day, especially those who traveled from afar.”

3. Share a Memorable Story

Choose an Appropriate Story : Pick a funny or touching story that highlights your bond with the groom.

Example : “I remember the time when Mike and I went on a road trip and ended up lost in the middle of nowhere. Instead of panicking, Mike turned it into an adventure, showing his true spirit of positivity and fun.”

4. Compliment the Couple

Highlight Their Qualities : Talk about the groom’s positive traits and acknowledge the bride.

Example : “Mike has always been a great friend—loyal, kind, and always ready to lend a hand. And seeing him with Sarah, I know he has found his perfect match. Sarah, you bring out the best in him.”

5. Offer Well Wishes

Share Your Hopes : Express your wishes for their future together.

Example : “I wish you both a lifetime of happiness, love, and countless adventures.”

6. Raise a Toast

Conclude with a Toast : Invite everyone to raise their glasses.

Example : “Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in raising a glass to the wonderful couple. To Mike and Sarah, may your love continue to grow with each passing day. Cheers!”

Tips to Deliver Best Man Speech

1. plan ahead.

Start writing your speech at least two months before the wedding. This will give you ample time to draft, revise, and perfect it.

2. Start with a Great One-Liner

Begin with a witty joke or anecdote to set the mood and grab the audience’s attention.

3. Use Humor Wisely

Fill your speech with funny and embarrassing stories about the groom, but be careful not to hurt anyone’s feelings. Avoid making jokes about the bride.

4. Express Appreciation

Acknowledge the efforts of everyone who helped make the wedding special. Thank the couple’s families and friends.

5. Vary Your Tone

Balance humor with sentimentality. Include some heartfelt moments to add depth to your speech.

6. Practice

Practice delivering your speech in front of a mirror or record yourself. Get feedback from a friend who won’t be at the wedding. Familiarize yourself with the speech so you can engage with the audience.

7. Have a Plan B

Prepare a backup plan in case your speech doesn’t go as expected. Complimenting the bride is always a good fallback.

Outline of a Best Man Speech

If the above steps didn’t help (and left you even more bewildered than you originally were), here are the things that a basic best man speech contains. Elaborate on these and you will get yourself a best man speech. You may also see tribute speech examples .

• Have a killer opening line. This will automatically give you the attention of your audience.
• Thank the speakers.  Usually, you will be given an introduction by, perhaps, a master of ceremonies. Address them. Be courteous. You may also like middle school speech examples .
• Congratulate the wedding couple. Before you proceed to the gory storytelling, don’t forget what brought you to that event in the first place.
• Make a joke about the groom , and then make more jokes about the groom.
• Read messages from guests who couldn’t come. That is, if there are any.
• Quote a famous line, or a poem, or a song that you think the newly wed can relate to.
• Propose a toast.  Preferably a heart-warming one.

Other Important Things to Remember

Experts advise that a speech should be no longer than 5 minutes. This is enough time to say what you want without boring the audience. Adjust the length depending on the event; for a short Vegas wedding, your speech should be much shorter, but for a formal wedding, you might speak a little longer.

Remember, it’s their wedding, not yours. Focus on the couple, not yourself. Share memories of the groom, but don’t make yourself the hero. Include the bride in your stories and make sure she feels valued.

Topics to Avoid

• Negativity about Marriage : Avoid expressing cynicism about marriage. This is a celebration of love and commitment.
• Past Relationships : Never mention ex-girlfriends or flings. It can spoil the mood and upset the bride.
• Previous Marriages or Divorce : If the groom has been married before, don’t bring it up. It’s unnecessary and could offend someone.
• Sensitive Topics : Avoid jokes or stories about drinking, drugs, gambling, or STDs. Remember, there may be children present.
• Adult Humor : Steer clear of dirty jokes or innuendos, especially about the honeymoon. Keep it clean and respectful.

Weddings are joyous occasions, and as the best man, you have an important role. For just one night, for just five minutes, deliver the most heartfelt and meaningful speech you can. Make their special day even more memorable.

When should I start writing my best man speech?

Start writing your speech at least a few weeks before the wedding to allow ample time for revisions and practice.

How long should a best man speech be?

Aim for a speech that lasts between 5 to 7 minutes to keep the audience engaged without overstaying your welcome.

What should I include in my best man speech?

Include personal anecdotes, heartfelt sentiments, compliments to the couple, and a touch of humor to entertain the guests.

How do I begin my best man speech?

Start with a warm introduction, thanking everyone for being there and briefly mentioning your relationship with the groom.

Can I use jokes in my best man speech?

Yes, use appropriate and light-hearted jokes to add humor, but avoid anything that could embarrass or offend the couple or guests.

How do I practice my best man speech?

Practice by reading it aloud multiple times, ideally in front of friends or family, to gain confidence and refine your delivery.

Should I memorize my best man speech?

Memorize the key points but keep a written copy or note cards handy to stay on track during the delivery.

How do I handle nerves while giving my speech?

Take deep breaths, stay calm, and remember that the audience is supportive and there to celebrate with you.

What topics should I avoid in my best man speech?

Avoid controversial topics, ex-partners, embarrassing stories, and any remarks that could be deemed offensive or inappropriate.

Can I include quotes in my best man speech?

Yes, including meaningful quotes about love and marriage can add depth and resonate with the audience.

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

Write a Man Speech on the responsibilities of modern manhood.

Create a Man Speech about the importance of mental health awareness among men.

Election latest: 'Extraordinary' Tory betting scandal grows - as Cleverly says 'no reason to believe' ministers involved

James Cleverly tells Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips he has "no reason to believe" any cabinet ministers are involved in the growing Tory betting scandal after it emerged the party's data chief has taken a leave of absence over allegations.

Sunday 23 June 2024 11:40, UK

• General Election 2024

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• 'Extraordinary' Tory betting scandal grows as top official put on leave
• Cleverly: 'No reason to believe' any ministers put bets on election date
• Labour updates key election message over voter complacency fears
• Live reporting by Ben Bloch   and (earlier)  Bhvishya Patel

Election essentials

• Manifesto pledges: Alliance Party | Conservatives | Greens | Labour | Lib Dems | Plaid Cymru | Reform | SNP | Sinn Fein | Workers Party
• Trackers:  Who's leading polls? | Is PM keeping promises?
• Campaign Heritage: Memorable moments from elections gone by
• Follow Sky's politics podcasts: Electoral Dysfunction | Politics At Jack And Sam's
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By Alix Culbertson , political reporter

There are strict rules around gambling.

Section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005 deals with cheating and says a person commits an offence if they cheat at gambling or do "anything for the purpose of enabling or assisting another person to cheat at gambling".

It adds: "It is immaterial whether a person who cheats improves his changes of winning anything, or wins anything."

Cheating is defined as an "actual or attempted deception or interference in connection with the process by which gambling is conducted, or a real or virtual game, race or other event or process to which gambling relates".

Someone found guilty of cheating at gambling can be imprisoned for a maximum of two years and/or fined, or six months in prison for a lesser offence.

Betting with insider knowledge is also not allowed as an MP, with the MPs' code of conduct prohibiting members from "causing significant damage to the reputation and integrity of the house".

Farming communities across the UK are calling for more support from the next government.

Rising costs and climate change are impacting their produce - which the farmers say will make food more expensive.

In the latest stop in Sky's Bench Across Britain series, Jason Farrell spoke to farmers in Cheshire.

Watch his full report below - and read more here .

The home secretary was the first guest on this morning's edition of Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips .

James Cleverly was questioned about the Rwanda policy and one of his aides calling it "crap", his alleged previous description of it as "batshit", the latest allegations in the betting scandal engulfing the Tory party, and the threat Reform UK poses to his party's electoral future.

Watch the interview in full here:

A flurry of general elections since 2015 has brought an unprecedented churn in our parliamentary representatives.

This year, two in five MPs aren't seeking re-election and the picture for the Conservatives is record-breakingly grim.

An unparalleled total of 23% of Conservative MPs are calling it a day in 2024, more than the previous high of 22% of Tories who quit in 1997, another year of boundary changes.

In contrast, only 15% of Labour MPs are resigning.

There are many reasons MPs quit: from retirement, family commitments and health concerns to career change, abolished constituencies, and the prospect of defeat.

But their decision to depart can reveal much about life in Westminster and have a significant impact on parliament's mix of experience, demographics, and the direction of political parties.

Dr Sofia Collignon, associate professor in Comparative Politics, analyses the churn in our representatives here:

Thank you for joining us on Sky News for the second-to-last edition of Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips before polling day.

We heard from:

• James Cleverly , home secretary;
• Bridget Phillipson , shadow education secretary;
• Sharon Graham , Unite general secretary;
• Robert Jenrick , former immigration minister.

We also got the views of:

Lionel Barber , former editor of the Financial Times, Sonia Sodha , former Labour adviser, and Guto Harri , former Number 10 communications director.

Scroll down for full coverage of the programme.

Stay tuned here in the Politics Hub throughout the day for the very latest political news.

Lastly on Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips , we are discussing that interview with Robert Jenrick, who made a strong pitch to convince Reform UK voters to back the Tories (see previous posts).

We look at a graphic showing the top 10 seats where Reform could come in second place, according to YouGov MRP polling for Sky News - although there are around 120 seats in total.

Guto Harri , former Number 10 communications director, agrees that this appears to be the disintegration of the centre-right of British politics, and says Mr Jenrick is "exactly right to warn that a vote for Reform is a vote for Labour".

"Nobody should place a bet in the current context, but I would bet that the Conservatives end up with more seats than Reform.

"And the only contribution of Reform, and before them the Brexit Party, and before them UKIP, has been to undermine the exact things that they want - they're the most destructive force, and frankly, they're a one-man band as well."

He says Reform is simply "a vehicle for Nigel Farage and his, as we found out this week, his deeply, deeply offensive view of the world and of Britain".

Lionel Barber , former editor of the Financial Times, says a prominent newspaper owner said to him that we are "witnessing the death of the Conservative Party".

He describes Mr Jenrick's plea to Reform voters as "desperate", but adds: "It's almost too late."

He does also caution that we are "talking about Conservative weakness rather than Reform strength" - it is a movement rather than a party, he argues.

Sonia Sodha , a former Labour adviser, is clear that the net effect of Reform is "to make it easier for Labour to win in Labour-Tory marginals".

But the more interesting element would be if Nigel Farage is elected to parliament where he could "cause quite significant trouble" for the Tories.

She says it's "early to say it's existential" for the Tories, noting that many were writing off the Labour Party after the 2019 election.

Trevor Phillips asks Robert Jenrick what he has to say on Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.

Asked if Mr Johnson should be back on the campaign trail, the former immigration minister says: "Yes, he should.

"Boris paid a heavy price for what happened in the past but he is one of the stars of the Conservative movement.

"He is a brilliant campaigner and a superb Conservative politician."

He says "the whole Conservative Party needs to unite" and "rally together".

Asked about the latest polling that has been done on why people might not vote for the Tories, Phillips points out "Rishi Sunak is only part of the reason" and so is Liz Truss.

He asks what the Conservative Party he is trying to promote to the public and Mr Jenrick replies: "It's no secret I've had disagreements with the current government.

"But I do believe we face a moment of peril now.

"The choice is between the Conservatives who we know will increase taxes and believe in open borders."

Trevor Phillips also points out that there is a mortality question at play with the Tories, which is why the Tory gambling scandal has become a big issue.

"What they appear to have done is quite wrong - it was absolutely right to say they should be booted out of the Conservative Party," Mr Jenrick adds.

The final guest on this morning's edition of Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips is Robert Jenrick, Conservative candidate and former immigration minister.

Trevor puts to him that an article he has written in the Mail on Sunday reads less like an election article and more like a pitch to be the next Tory leader.

But Mr Jenrick rejects that, saying he is "here today because I care passionately about the Conservative Party and I want it to get the best possible result at the general election".

He goes on: "I share the values and concerns of Reform voters, but I'm here to deliver a warning to them that if they vote for anyone other than a Conservative at this general election, they risk, because of our electoral system, a supermajority of the Labour Party."

That will mean, he says, "higher taxes, open borders, a ludicrous energy policy that will make them poor, and it means ransacking our rural communities".

He says he does not want to see that happen, and calls on them to "think carefully and act on their head, not their heart, or else they will get precisely the opposite of what they want for our country".

Mr Jenrick says that if anyone votes for Reform, they will "usher in, I believe, not just a couple of years of harmful Labour government, but potentially a generation of hard-left Labour rule".

Sharon Graham says she does not agree with Labour's fiscal rules and the party should borrow more to invest.

The Unite general secretary says other countries with growing economies have a larger debt-to-GDP ratio than the UK, "so there is wiggle room".

Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, has promised to retain the Tories' commitment that debt as a proportion of GDP must be on track to fall in five years if Labour win the election on 4 July.

She has ruled out borrowing to fund day-to-day spending, saying her focus will be on reforms to grow the economy.

"I don't agree with Rachel Reeves in terms of what has been said about the plans on growth," Ms Graham says.

"If you look at other countries - in France, their debt to GDP is 112%. In America, where the economy's growing, it's 130% debt to GDP. Ours is around about 99%. We have wiggle room. Give Britain a break."

The union leader says that workers "are literally hurting beyond anything that you could comprehend" due to the cost of living crisis.

She adds: "We need the straitjacket off a little bit, get some wiggle room there.

"Borrowing to invest is not the same as other borrowing. It's borrowing to invest."

Ms Graham goes on to say Labour has got "one shot".

"There is one shot for Labour to get this right. We've seen the polls and how volatile the polls are," she adds.

Trevor Phillips asks the Unite boss about Labour's pledge to create 100,000 green jobs in the oil and gas industries, but not agree to any new exploration in the North Sea.

"What we need to see in terms of oil and gas is that we need to see a proper plan with investment behind it," Ms Graham says.

"There's no point saying we're going to create jobs, but you're not going to show where the money is to create those jobs."

Asked if she has seen the plans, Ms Graham says she has "seen the words on the page".

She says: "You cannot just magic up jobs - it doesn't work like that. You need an infrastructure, you need supply chains, you need training. You need all of those things to happen."

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