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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"A wedding dress is like EU membership. It's tough to get into, even harder to get out of and when you do finally shrug it off, you're likely to get shafted."
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"I'll be honest, I'd rather die than have to speak in public. But Paul and I would do anything for each other. That's how close we are. We even had a conversation about assisted suicide once, pledging that if either of us needed a way out, the other would step up and give him the exit he craved… so come on, Paul, now's the time."
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"'How do I look?' I asked the mother of the bride this morning. 'There's something missing,' she told me. 'Go out and get a flower for your jacket.' Well, my first attempt looked ridiculous. The roots kept getting tangled in my belt! No money lost, mind you."
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"He always was a popular chap, our Nick. A lot of women will be disappointed to see him settling down today. But tough luck, ladies. He belongs to Jane now. From now on, he'll be disappointing her and her alone!"
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.
New Features
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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"Richard thanked me for writing this speech before he'd even heard it - you're correct Rose, he does suffer from premature congratulations. That's what you've been saying, right?"
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"Sorry if I look a bit jaded. One of my mates knocked on my door late last night wearing just a see through negligee. He asked to come in for a cup of coffee and then winked at me. I said 'not now Richard,' I've got an early start tomorrow getting you all ready for your wedding ceremony."
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"Apologies if my best man's speech seems a little repetitive, but I'm not a writer, I don't even own a thesaurus; not only is this speech terrible, it's also terrible."
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"Firstly, if you do have a cell phone, don't switch it off; this speech would be improved immensely by an amusing ringtone."
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