Best Man Speech: Examples, Tips & Structure

The best man speech is the one everyone remembers — for better or worse. Get it right and you’re a hero. Get it wrong and you’re the cautionary tale at every dinner party for the next decade.

The pressure is real. But here’s the secret: a best man speech doesn’t need to be a comedy special. It needs to be warm, specific, and just embarrassing enough. This guide shows you how.

The structure

The best man traditionally speaks last, after the father of the bride and the groom. Your job is to entertain, gently embarrass the groom, and end on a sincere note.

1. Opening (30 seconds)

Thank the groom for asking you. Acknowledge how you know each other. Set the tone — let the room know whether you’re going for funny, heartfelt, or both.

“Thank you, [groom]. When you asked me to be your best man, I was genuinely honoured. Then you told me I had to give a speech and I immediately regretted saying yes.”

2. Stories about the groom (2-3 minutes)

This is the main event. Tell 2-3 specific stories that reveal who the groom is. At least one should be funny. At least one should show his good side.

Story selection rules:

• Must be true (audiences can tell when you’re making it up)
• Must be specific (date, place, detail — not “he’s always been a great guy”)
• Must not reference exes, stag do secrets, or anything that would genuinely upset the bride
• Must land well even if the groom’s grandmother is listening

3. How he changed when he met the bride (1 minute)

This is the pivot from funny to sincere. Describe how you noticed the groom change when he met his partner. This is where the speech becomes about the couple, not just the groom.

“I knew [bride] was different when [groom] started turning down Friday night football. That has never happened in 15 years. He said he had ‘plans.’ His plans were a boxset on the sofa with a woman who was clearly too good for him. And honestly, she still is.”

4. Compliment the couple (1 minute)

Say something genuine about the couple together. What makes them work. Why you’re happy for them. This should not be a joke.

5. The toast (15 seconds)

Traditional: toast the bridesmaids (“to the bridesmaids”). Modern: toast the couple (“to [bride] and [groom]”). Either works.

Three example speeches

Example 1: Funny and warm (6 minutes)

“Good evening, everyone. I’m [name], the best man. When [groom] asked me to do this, he said — and I quote — ‘Just keep it short and don’t embarrass me.’ I’ve decided to ignore both instructions.

I’ve known [groom] for 18 years. We met at school, bonded over a shared hatred of cross-country running, and have been making questionable decisions together ever since.

For those who don’t know [groom] well, let me paint a picture. This is a man who once tried to assemble an IKEA wardrobe without the instructions because, and I quote, ‘I’m not going to let a Swedish diagram tell me what to do.’ Three hours later, he had what can only be described as a very expensive bookend. [Bride] — if anything in your house needs assembling, call me.

But I want to tell you about the moment I knew [bride] was the one for him. We were at the pub — our natural habitat — and I asked him about this new girlfriend. He put his phone down. He looked at me properly. And he said, without a trace of sarcasm, ‘She makes me want to be better.’ I nearly fell off my stool. This is a man whose previous life goal was to complete every item on a Nando’s menu. And suddenly he wanted to be better. That’s when I knew.

[Bride], you are warm, brilliant, and far too beautiful for this man. But you’ve chosen him anyway, and I think you’ve made a genuinely wonderful decision. He will annoy you. He will leave wet towels on the bed. He will insist he knows a shortcut when he absolutely does not. But he will love you completely, every day, without question. I know this because he’s loved me like a brother for 18 years, and I’m considerably less attractive.

Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses. To [bride] and [groom] — may your love be as endless as his inability to read instructions. The bride and groom.”

Example 2: Short and sharp (4 minutes)

“I’ll keep this quick because [groom] specifically asked me to, and also because I’ve seen the dessert menu and I’d like to get to it.

I’ve known [groom] since university, where his approach to cooking was to set the fire alarm off at least twice a week. The man once tried to make pasta by putting dry spaghetti in a kettle. I wish I was joking.

[Bride], on behalf of all of us, thank you for feeding him properly. He’s visibly healthier since you arrived.

In all seriousness, they’re a team. The kind of team that finishes each other’s sentences, splits the household jobs fairly, and has never once had an argument in front of me — which either means they’re perfect or very good at hiding things. Either way, I approve.

To [bride] and [groom].”

Example 3: Heartfelt with humour (7 minutes)

“I want to start by saying something I don’t say to [groom] often enough: you’re one of the best people I know. Not the most organised. Not the most punctual. But one of the best. And today, watching you marry [bride], I couldn’t be prouder to stand here.

I have three stories. The first explains why I love this man. When I lost my job in 2019, [groom] drove two hours on a Tuesday night to sit in my kitchen, drink terrible wine, and tell me it would be alright. He didn’t fix it. He didn’t try to fix it. He just showed up. That’s who he is.

The second story explains why [bride] should be slightly worried. On his stag do — and don’t worry, I’ve been fully briefed on what’s allowed — [groom] insisted on organising the restaurant reservation himself. He booked a table for 14 at a restaurant that seats 12. We ate in shifts. [Bride], if he ever says ‘I’ve sorted the restaurant,’ please verify.

The third story is about them together. Last Christmas, I watched [groom] spend 45 minutes wrapping a single present for [bride]. It looked like a crumpled napkin. But the thing inside — a first edition of the book they read together on their first holiday — was so perfectly thoughtful that even I, a man with the emotional range of a teaspoon, felt something.

That’s what they are. Imperfect wrapping, perfect contents.

Please raise your glasses. To the bride and groom.”

What NOT to say

• Exes. Not even as a joke. Not even by implication.
• Stag do secrets. If the bride doesn’t know, the wedding speech isn’t the place.
• Sex jokes. They’re never as funny as you think, and the bride’s parents are listening.
• Inside jokes that only 3 people understand. The whole room needs to be in on it.
• Internet jokes. “Marriage is like a deck of cards…” — everyone has heard it.
• Anything that makes the bride the punchline. The groom is your target. The bride is off-limits.

Delivery tips

1. Use cue cards, not a phone. A phone screen goes dark, autocorrect changes your punchlines, and it looks like you’re reading a text.
2. Pause after jokes. Give the audience time to laugh. Nervous speakers rush past the funny bits.
3. Make eye contact. Look at the groom when telling stories about him. Look at the room when delivering punchlines. Look at the couple when being sincere.
4. Stand up. Always. Even if other speakers sat down.
5. Don’t drink too much. One drink before. Celebrate after.

Further reading

• How to Write a Wedding Speech — the complete guide
• Funny Wedding Speech Ideas — one-liners and comedic techniques
• Short Wedding Speech Examples — if you want to keep it brief
• Wedding Toast Etiquette — speech order and traditions
• Father of the Bride Speech — the speech before yours