Everyone looks forward to the best man's speech - except the person who has to write it! But through studying those who have flourished and failed before, we've compiled all sorts of jokes, tips, roasts and toasts to help make speechwriting as painless as possible.
Jokes For A Best Man Speech - This Week's Picks
Struggling to find your funny bone? Whether your groom is a fat egotistical mechanic or a self-employed tutor with an interest in pigeons, our archive of tailored material will arm you with umpteen ways to insult him. We offer the largest and most up-to-date collection of best man speech jokes, and here's a taste of what we've come up with this week:
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"I love seeing people get married in December. Weddings, more than any other celebration, remind us what Christmas is truly about. Presents."
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"There were so many great candidates for (Groom)'s best man. The lads from school, the guys he knew at uni, and his colleagues from work - Paul loves them all equally, and any one of them could've been stood here today. But it was (Bride) who made the case for me, for I was the only one who texted him back."
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"I nearly cried when I saw (Bride) walking down the aisle with her father. 'At last!' I thought, 'she's seen sense and bagged herself a man with looks and money.'"
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"I've done my best man duties well so far. I made sure (Groom) had a proper breakfast of sausage, egg and bacon. I had him scrubbed up for his big day and got him to the church on time. But my one regret is that I failed to grant him his last wish as a single man. Damn RSPCA. Apparently, you can eat animals, but you can't f… oh, never mind."
How To Write A Best Man Speech
Our curated selection of best man material has you covered from the first word to the last, from comedy to tragedy and everything in between. To begin with, you may want to check out our list of contingency lines, which you can use in case the speech you're about to prepare is lost, interrupted or devastatingly unfunny. If you use our guides and content properly, this last one shouldn't happen, but we can't guarantee you won't cock it up somehow. We don't know you, and you might be an idiot.
All being well, you'll then want to figure out how to open your speech, followed by a quick introduction as to who you are and why anyone should care. This should lead you nicely into a description of your relation to the groom, where you can discuss how you met, what you thought of each other and why he's such a bang-up guy.
Now of course, the only reason you've praised the groom so much is to ensure the roast which follows is extra crispy. Don't get carried away, though, because while character assassination is expected, there are some lines you'll want to avoid. And once you've thrown a few harsh truths his way, maybe let the groom have a bit of a chuckle too, by reminiscing over some amusing tales from your friendship.
This would create a poignant transition into a more heartfelt tribute to the groom, where you can express pride at being asked to be best man or offer up thoughts on why he makes excellent husband material. You'll then have the perfect segue into a discussion of the day itself, where humorous wedding observations can be used to break up the mushy stuff. However, it's often a good idea to follow this up with a compliment on how the wedding day turned out, lest everyone starts to think you'd rather be somewhere else!
We also have plenty of useful speech hooks, including visual gags and seasonal lines, which work to break up anecdotes, transition to different themes or as a topper on an already funny segment. But try to steer clear of too much humour when you're addressing delicate issues, as while you may joke about such things with friends, doing so can cause awkward tension within the context of a wedding speech.
Then it's time to give the bride a mention - she's an important part of the day after all. Nothing but compliments at first, but then feel free to drop in some entertaining anecdotes about how she met the groom, or indeed your first impressions of the bride. It's also a good idea to offer up some non-anecdotal observations, such as a humorous take on the bride and groom's relationship, as this will help the audience feel more included in the speech.
Now you're on the home straight, it's time to get super sincere. Praising the couple for being a great match means your compliment is directed at both of the newlyweds equally. The best man then has a few traditional thankyous to deliver, which should be followed by your choice of a sentimental ending or a humorous closing line, depending on which seems appropriate.
Your final act will be to offer up a toast to the happy couple, which can come in the form of a joke, a blessing or even a poem if you're feeling brave. Then your job is done. Your speech is finally over. It's time to sit back, relax, and get leathered with your mates.
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Humour Types
When writing a comical best man speech, it is important to identify your character and tone as this will help your material come across as more genuine. Read this article to find out which category of humour you might fall into. Continue To Article »
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"At weddings, it is not uncommon for the best man to double up as the toastmaster, but the bride said I didn't possess the necessary communication skills for that job. I didn't know what to say to that."
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"Gary is so kind and thoughtful. In fact the reason he bought such a small engagement ring was because he didn't want the glare to hurt Heather's eyes."
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"This is a wonderful venue for a wedding celebration. I do doubt the usefulness of the brushes in the toilets though, I think I'll go back to using paper."
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"Some of you might have noticed I'm not with anyone today. But before you get any ideas you should know I do have a girlfriend. She's a stage-hand from a local theatre company. I just didn't want to risk bringing her to the wedding in case she made a scene."
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