How to Prepare & Deliver a Remarkable Best Man Speech!

How does it feel like to be selected as the best man for a wedding? You probably would wonder how you could write and deliver a best man speech that will be memorable. You'll find the following simple steps invaluable as it will help you deliver a flawless speech; one that both toasts and honors the happy couple.

1. You May Have To Make It Personal

You have been picked as best man by the groom because of your exceptional personality…what a privilege! So it's essential that your best man speech portray who you actually are. Remember the groom is relying on you - don't let him down.

Having this in mind, you may begin to prepare a best man speech by playing to your strengths. If you're not a comedian, no need to worry. You may not have to make the audience roll in the aisles laughing. Best man speeches can be easy and fun or they can be heartfelt and sincere. There is no rule of thumb here, other than "you just have to be yourself."

2. Be Calm and Make It Brief

There is nothing boring other than best man speeches that get prolonged. When preparing your speech, be conscious of your timing. If possible, practice it with a watch to check its length…5-6 minutes is good enough; 9-10 minutes can even be alright. But that if you have much to say. Going beyond that, except you're an experienced professional speaker, your audience is soon become bored. It's important you keep your best man speech short and sweet…and you'll just be fine.

3. Remember to Introduce Yourself

One mistake often make in best man speeches is that the best man don't introduce himself, or briefly talk on how he knows the bride and groom. Don't overrule the fact that weddings are made up of distant relatives and casual friends; a good number of people there will not have the knowledge who you are.

NB: the audience is there because they like the bride and groom. Intimate the audience your close relationship with the bride and groom in the first few sentences. This will make the audience to appreciate and likes you too.

4. Tell a Story

The heart of your best man speech should be a story or funny story about the groom and bride. One of the known topics is how the bride and groom came in contact, as couples often have funny stories about how they got together. If you're drawing a blank on this one, talk to the family of the groom (or bride) for suggestions.

5. Study the Groom's Personality

If the groom is such a serious, thoughtful man, it's important to include more serious thoughtful comments. The reverse is the case, if the groom doesn't have a serious bone in his body and loves to laugh and joke about everything, you'll want to attach more jokes and irreverent comments in your speech.

NB: your best man speech should fit the groom. Understand the groom's personality before preparing your writing up. This will help you write a best man speech that is appropriate and personal.

6. Consider Your Comments

While it can be funny to make slightly "off-color" comments about the groom, you need make sure your comments is suitable for all age bracket present. Minimize the use of offensive language or comments of an explicit sexual nature. Even though the immediate family may be okay with these jokes, the distant relations may not. To be Funny are very much welcome in as much as it doesn't hurt anyone presents.

7. Some Do's and Don't

To deliver a memorable best man speech there are quite a few "don't", or things you must avoid. Don't mention in anyway the groom's ex-girlfriends, ex-wives or previous lovers. No matter how funny you consider the joke is, just don't. This is a gateway to ruin the mood of a wedding reception.

You can as well avoid mentioning anything humiliating concerning the bride (slightly humiliating the groom can be considered appropriate in certain circumstances…but care must be taken here). As the best man, you are there at the request of the groom…and not the bride. Maintain your comments about her respectful and polite. This is not to say you can include a joke or funny story about her, but nothing humiliating.

Finally, don't drink in excess before given your speech. Many people feel they cannot speak in public without some inducement…like drinks. But the highest sin you can commit is to give a best man speech when you're drunk. Believe me, it will not be funny -- and it will not be easily forgotten.