What is the Best Man Supposed to Say at a Wedding?
Summary
The best man is expected to deliver a heartfelt and engaging speech that honors the groom, welcomes guests, and celebrates the couple’s relationship while offering warmth, humor, and well-wishes. His words should reflect sincerity, gratitude, and personal connection, ensuring the moment feels meaningful, memorable, and appropriate for all audiences.
The best man’s speech is one of the most anticipated parts of a wedding reception, and knowing what to say can make the moment shine. This short but impactful toast blends storytelling, emotion, and celebration in a way that supports the couple and entertains the guests. While every speech is unique, most follow a similar structure that includes thanking guests, sharing personal anecdotes, and offering blessings for the future. Understanding what to include can help any best man feel confident and prepared.
What the Best Man Traditionally Says
The best man traditionally focuses on expressing gratitude, sharing personal memories, and offering heartfelt wishes for the couple. These elements come together to create a warm and meaningful speech that honors both the relationship and the significance of the day. By following this structure, the best man ensures a moment that guests remember fondly.
A traditional speech usually begins with thanking everyone for attending and acknowledging the importance of the couple’s family and friends. This sets a respectful tone and shows appreciation for the gathering. From there, the best man typically shares a personal story about the groom that captures his character and highlights why the couple is such a perfect match.
The speech usually closes with genuine well-wishes for the couple’s future, tying together the emotions of the moment. These closing sentiments should be simple, sincere, and filled with optimism. Ending with a toast invites all guests to participate in the celebration and marks the perfect conclusion to the speech.
Key Elements to Include in a Best Man Speech
The best man speech includes several essential elements that help create a balanced, engaging, and heartfelt message. These components guide the structure and ensure the speech flows naturally from introduction to toast. Including these elements helps the best man stay organized and confident.
Here are the key elements:
A warm introduction and welcome
Gratitude toward guests
Recognition of the couple’s families
A personal story about the groom
A reflection on the couple’s relationship
Thoughtful advice or well-wishesA final toast to the newlyweds
When these elements work together, the speech becomes cohesive, personal, and meaningful. A best man can adapt the list to fit his personality while still honoring tradition. The goal is to create a moment that feels authentic and celebratory.
Below is a table summarizing these elements and their purpose:
| Speech Element | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Introduction | Sets the tone and welcomes guests. |
| Thank You Messages | Shows appreciation to guests and families. |
| Personal Story | Highlights the groom’s personality and your relationship. |
| Couple Reflection | Expresses admiration for the couple and their love story. |
| Advice or Wishes | Offers heartfelt support for the couple’s future. |
| Toast | Invites guests to celebrate the newlyweds together. |
Tips for Delivering the Perfect Best Man Speech
Tips for delivering a best man speech help ensure the toast is smooth, memorable, and heartfelt. These strategies allow the best man to stay calm, confident, and connected to the audience. With proper preparation, even nervous speakers can deliver a standout moment.
Practice is key, rehearsing the speech aloud helps refine timing and comfort. Even if the speech is brief, practicing several times ensures smoother delivery and reduces stress. Speaking slowly and clearly allows everyone to follow along and enjoy the message.
It’s also important to keep the speech appropriate for all audiences. Inside jokes, embarrassing stories, or inappropriate humor may detract from the moment. Keeping the tone positive, genuine, and family-friendly ensures that the couple and guests appreciate the speech fully.
Historic Acres of Hershey is a beautiful place for a wedding with multiple indoor spaces to choose from and lovely outdoor spaces, too. Our rustic property is lovely all year round. Give us a call at 717-298-6340 to learn more or contact us.
FAQ
1. How long should a best man speech be?
A best man speech typically lasts 2–4 minutes, long enough to be meaningful but short enough to keep guests engaged.
2. Can the best man read his speech?
Yes, reading is acceptable as long as the speech flows naturally and the best man makes eye contact occasionally.
3. Should humor be included?
Light, tasteful humor is welcome, but it should never embarrass the couple or guests.
4. What should be avoided in a best man speech?
Avoid old relationships, inappropriate jokes, negative stories, and topics that may make the couple uncomfortable.
5. Does the best man always give a speech?
Traditionally yes, but modern weddings may adjust the timeline or speech order as the couple prefers.