1. – Your best man speech must have a logical order. Be sure to have your speech plan written in sections under the following headings; beginning; Medium; Final.

2. Under each of these sections, write down a few ideas that you would like to say. Some ideas on what to write could be;

has. What do you know about the boyfriend? (things that make good stories),

b. little known stories about the groom,

against their interests,

d. date of birth and

me. famous people who share the same birthday, etc.

3. You must appear at the hearing. Do you know them or will they be mostly strangers? Since most people may not know who you are, make sure you make an introduction that is funny, grabs their attention, and describes your relationship with the boyfriend. You can also say a few words of thanks to the people who organize the wedding here, but that is totally up to you.

4. Write all the points and stories in the body of the speech. I usually like to do this first. Remember, in a 10 minute speech, you will only have time for two stories. In a 15 minute speech you will only be able to cover 3 points max…so make sure they are short, to the point and entertaining anecdotes about the groom. It helps if these are little-known points about the boyfriend, that way you don’t bore the audience with things they already know and take for granted about the boyfriend.

5. For closing, it’s hard to go wrong with a traditional toast or blessing for the couple. Keep your toast impressive and brief. Don’t forget to have a full glass around and toast yourself.

6. When you give the best man speech, speak to the entire audience. He raises his head, speaks loud and clear. Make sure everyone hears and sees you and never talk to the floor. If you’re addressing individual people like bridesmaids, it’s helpful to speak directly to them in the first person. This will help build trust and a relationship with the listeners. Use good vocal variety and pause for maximum impact from your speech. DO NOT use umms and ahhs as they detract from your message.

7. Take your time to talk. You should have practiced your speech at least three times before the big day so you know the content and have the timing and pauses well rehearsed. This will also help your confidence with this public speaking commitment. It’s common for people to talk too fast when they’re nervous. Try to avoid this by consciously speaking in a calm and relaxed tone. Don’t be too quiet, especially if you don’t have a microphone.

8. At the very least, you should memorize the introduction and the toast. You don’t want to spoil a good speech by reading an article cover to cover. You can have the structure on a note card and practice delivering the speech several times in front of a mirror. And above all… ENJOY IT!