Being the best man at a wedding is a big responsibility. As well as planning the stag do, ensuring the groom gets there on time and looking after the rings, you have to give the most hotly anticipated speech of the day. Get it right, and you’ll go down in best man history, get it wrong, however, and the rest of the day could be very awkward indeed. To help you strike the perfect balance, here are some of our favourite best man speech ideas.
Slideshows
A slideshow can make a great accompaniment to the best man’s speech. As we all know, a picture is worth a thousand words, and a slideshow gives you the chance to show an album full of photos. What’s more, if you’re a little nervous, a slideshow gives you something to focus on and takes some of the eyes off your shaking hands.
Include photos from the groom’s childhood and the early years of the couple’s relationship. Although it may be tempting to throw in a few shots of drunken nights out, it’s probably best to avoid anything too outrageous as this might upset the bride.
Videos
Go one step further and create a video to play during your speech. You can even avoid nerves completely by pre-recording your commentary. Film friends and family talking about the bride and groom, or go back through the archives and put some classic clips together. Make sure the video isn’t too long, otherwise people will lose interest. As @Shutterfly says “Although speeches are a fun part of the reception, making it too long can bore the hungry guests.”
Songs
If you’re musical, you can put your talents to good use by composing your very own wedding song. Update the lyrics of a well-known tune or write your very own original track for the big day. As well as being a chance to show off your skills, this will make a great talking point and will show the groom that you really put the effort in. Print out the lyrics to your song and pass them around the tables. Guests can then sing along during the chorus and really get involved.
Lists
A list can be a great structure for a best man’s speech. You could list the reasons why you love the groom, give a fact for each year you’ve known him or give a speech based on the top ten reasons the bride and groom are made for each other. Having a logical layout like this can help to make your speech clearer and easier to write, and it will also make it simpler for the guests to follow.
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