This is the Best Manâs Speech I actually used so itâs full of errors for a reason. Itâs short and simple. Each paragraph below was written on a cue card. These can be purchased in places like Staples (though theyâre not called cue cards, usually know as archive cards). On some of the cards I titled what I was meant to be doing. I also made sure EACH CARD WAS NUMBERED!! Â An example of the first card is included below:
Note that there is a start, a middle, and a close.
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The start opens the speech. Nice and easy. It sets the tone of how I was going to approach the rest of the delivery.
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The middle links various aspects of the grooms traits to each other (mainly camping) and then rounds off with a made up story using these traits. This got quite a laugh when people got it. I can see why people want to be comedians as it felt great having a hundred people laughing with me. The irony is this bit was added at 5am on the day of the wedding. Itâs amazing what pressure can lead you to achieve.
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The end is standard. Always try and end like this.
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Itâs worth noting that during pre-wedding drinks the Groom (or bridesmaids) may question you about the speech (especially after a few drinks). Do not give anything away. Nothing. Not a jot or theme as they may well use it. Remember the groom is on before you, and telling the same joke he just has will not sound better the second time!
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Would I do it differently? Of course I would, but thatâs half the fun of it all.
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1. Hello ladies and gentlemen, Iâm Ben the Best Man and this is the part of the day where I am supposed to make a speech that insults and embarrses Gareth. Well I did first prepare such a speech and here it is [hold up red envelope]. BUT Gareth is the one who writes the cheques so Iâve recently written this other speech which is much kinder [holder up blue envelope]⦠ah what the hell [tear up blue envelope]
2. Before I begin proper for those of you at the back, if you canât see me properly, Iâm tall, dark and very much look like Pierce Bronson. For those of you at the front PLEASE donât tell the oneâs at the back.
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3. I would like to thanks and apologize to the photographer. You may not know this but he specializes in taking pictures of horses â so sorry for the lack of false starts and long faces. Though I do believe there is a disk jockey tonight.
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4. Respond on behalf of the bridesmaids â On behalf of the bridesmaids Iâd like to thank Gareth sincerely for those generous words. Yes, the bridesmaids did a great job in pushing⦠sorry helping Kate up the aisle today but apparently she came to the hotel of her own free will.
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5. Now Iâve known the groom since we were kids. Thereâs nothing I wouldnât do for him and I know thereâs nothing he wouldnât do for me. Infact we both spend a lot of time doing nothing for each other!
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6. Now for a bit of history. The roll of the best man originally came from the need for the groom to raid an opposing village and carry off a woman. The best man being his backup. His raiding companions (usually a bunch of bachelors with nothing better to do) became known as groomsmen.
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7. It is traditional for the best man to speak on behalf of the bridesmaids who for some unexplained reason are unable to speak for themselves. However from what Dave was saying last night I know Kymâs got a healthy pair of lungs and can talk the tip off a pool cue. Only joking Kym.
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8. So what can I tell you about Gareth? Well itâs a tale of bread, coffee, fish fingers⦠What? Sorry ladies and gentlemen I appear to have picked up my shopping list by mistake.
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9. Moving swiftly on to Garethâs character assassination.
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10. As I said before Gareth and I have been mates since we were ten and went to cubs. Ever since then heâs been mad about the great out doors. Infact he fancies himself as a bit of a Ray Mears character.
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11. He can make a shower out of a pair of trousers, a tent out of a parachute and he knows how to stun a grizzly bear with a Frisbeeâ¦. But ask him to make a simple cup of teaâ¦
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12. In his school years he did all the usual suburban things. Played football, wore sandals, got teased, was a cub scout then a full scout. This is where he learnt the important things in life. Such as not wearing sandals, setting fire to his parents workroom and playing with his woggle a lot.
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13. Indeed the resourceful spirit hasnât left Gareth. And when we went camping not so many years ago his resourcefulness came into full force.
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14. The irony being of course that it wasnât field craft or medics badge which came in handy it was his painting and mechanics badge. You see it was on this little trip that Gareth had a serious and lost.
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15. The argument was between the car we were in and a range rover coming the other way.
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16. What made it worse was the car he was driving wasnât Garethâs at all, it was his dadâs shiny new vectra.
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17. So if you need any paint or body repairs Garethâs your man! He did a really top job on the wing I can tell you.
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18. On a positive note though Garethâs skills did come into full effect when we locked ourselves out of my Dadâs old Beetle in Betws-y-coed. Soaked through to the skin in our hiking gear with night falling and a bemused group of onlookers Gareth has an idea. He walks up to the car and rubs his bum on the door. Magically it unlocks.
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19. Iâm standing there mouth open âHow did you do thatâ. He smiled and said, âKahrki Pantsâ. [wait for audience to get it]
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20. I regret to say that Gareth has been suffering from PMS this week. Pre-Marital Stress.
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21. Between flapping I asked Gareth what he was looking for in this marriage. He thought carefully for a few moments and said âLove, happiness and eventually a familyâ. When I asked Kate the question, without hesitation replied âA coffee perculatorâ. Well actually she said a âPerky copulatorâ⦠but I knew what she meant.
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22. Kate I have spent the last five minutes talking about your husband Gareth. It has been clear to me for a long time that you are meant for each other. Provided one thing⦠IF Gareth EVER says anything to you that can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry â Gareth meant the other one.
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23. What can I say about Gareth? Weâll heâs handsome, witty, intelligent, charming⦠per! Per! Sorry Gareth Iâm having trouble reading your writing.
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24. Before I draw to a close itâs time for me to read you a few messages from people who could not be here today. Read normal letter from Bob and Pat.
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25. Dear Gareth and Kate Congratulations on your marriage. Please can you come into the shop to settle your remaining bill as your credit limit has been reached. Lots of love for the future signed Anne Summers. Not too sure who she is.
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26. And finally⦠success is getting what you want and happiness is wanting what you get. I know you both want what youâve got. Thank you for listening to me, I have one more duty, no honour to perform on behalf of the bridesmaids and myself ladies and gentlemen & Athers please be upstanding. The toast is to Gareth and Kate.
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Conclusion
The Best Manâs speech is usually the bit all the guests are looking forward to. While the bride and groom are all wrapped up in their special day, every one else wants the Best Manâs Speech to enlighten them and make them laugh. This is usually quite easy if the guests have been drinking wine and being bored senseless by the other sentimental speeches. Keep the speech positive, clean and clever and you should be onto a winner. Remember practice is the key to doing it right.
Ben Maffin is a 31 year old entrepreneur who after reading Physiology and then Law in Bristol now lives in Oxton, on the Wirral Peninsula.
Since forming MBL Design Limited, Ben Maffin has worked with some of the largest companies in the UK including Camelot Group, Boots Retail International and Cadbury Trebor Bassett
Adopting a ‘hands on’ approach Ben Maffin has project managed large database developments including the UK’s most comprehensive piece of online Claims Management software which has been developed by MBL Design.