Love Quotes & Advice
10 Ways NOT To Look Like An Idiot Giving A Best Man Speech
Getting asked to give a toast at a wedding is one of the greatest honors you’ll experience in life. With that being said, you can also expect lots of pressure to be philosophical, nostalgic and witty. We’ve all been to weddings and seen good best man speeches, and those which were total failures. Everyone was looking forward to his speech, only to be let down once he started talking. This article will help ensure that your best man speech will be one of the best that guests have ever heard. No monotone voice, cocky attitude, or drunk rambling. These 10 tips will help you do it the right way!
1. Keep It Short – The best speeches are like a mini-skirt: short enough to be revealing, but long enough to cover the basics. Nothing annoys people more than some stranger rambling on and on and on. As a simple rule of thumb, shoot for no more than five minutes max.
2. Stop Using Google – You may have reached this post via Google search, but let this be a lesson to you. We’ve all heard the corny jokes and cliche one-liners you’re going to find on the web. People want real and authentic at a wedding. Keep it simple and from the heart.
3. Write It Down – The worst speeches are those that start with “I didn’t write anything down today, so I’m just going to wing it.” Unless you’re a professional public speaker then “winging in” probably won’t work and will lead to failure. If you have a few months before this wedding then it should be ample time to sit down and write a few lines before hand. Writing speeches helps you clarify your thoughts, and will keep things on track and moving smoothly.
4. Practice – Practice really does make perfect and when it comes to a best man speech, a little practice will be needed. The sooner you get the speech written, the more time you’ll have to practice and perfect it. This will ultimately boost your confidence when it’s time to get up in front of everyone.
5. Tell A Story – Everyone can relate to a good story because they’re powerful. Stories can be a great way to connect with your audience while also giving your speech a unique touch. Think of a funny story involving your friend in the past – one that shows what a good guy he is.
6. Don’t Be A Comedian – A good joke always goes down well and eases the tension you might be feeling, but don’t try too hard. Comedy is harder to pull off than most people think and it doesn’t come natural to most. What usually gets people in trouble is attempting to be funny by sharing some embarrassing story from the past. It comes out horribly and no one laughs.
7. Stay Sober – We all want to have fun and enjoy ourselves when celebrating the marriage between two soul mates, and a little bit of “liquid courage” can help take the edge off. But, be careful not to let yourself get sloppy drunk. You’ll only end up looking like an idiot and just remember, real men don’t need a crutch to help them tackle a good challenge.
8. Keep It Clean – Avoid topics that are controversial, offensive, or embarrassing. That includes a groom’s past girlfriends, bathroom habits, drunken parties, and time in prison. You would think something like this would be common sense, but people somehow forget when they’re giving a speech and have some alcohol in their system.
9. Say Something Nice About The Groom – Keep in mind, the goal of your speech is to celebrate the couple getting married. You want to make them look good and that starts by saying something nice about the man you’re giving the speech about. Think of yourself as a salesman selling the groom off to members of the bride’s family. They don’t know him as well as you do and it’s your job to fill them in. Sure, it might be a little embarrassing, but remember this is your buddy’s day.
10. Be Yourself – On a final note, just remember that the groom chose YOU to be his best man. There is no need to get formal or try to be someone you’re not. Use both your natural voice and mannerisms. Make it personal and sincere by saying things from the heart.
That’s everything you need to know about putting together the perfect best man speech. Take your time, say nice things, and speak from the heart. With a little preparation and practice your confidence will be at its highest when the wedding day finally arrives. You’ll feel 100% ready to get up in front of everyone and nail that speech you’re properly prepared to give!
