Hi everyone, ive been asked to be best man at my mates wedding but ive never done anything like this before! Theirs alot of good stuff on the tinternet but I wondered if any other forumers have done this and if you have any advice? Cheers

I did it last year for a mate.

Quite enjoyed it actually.

I searched the net for best man speech sites, and read loads, and just took out the best bits for my speech.

Try and keep it not to long about 10 mins is right.

You will be nervous so accept it, and take your time.

The main problem is people read out too fast to try and get through it quick. Take your time and make eye contact, what seams like an hour to you will be seconds to people watching.

Try it out on people not going to the wedding and get feedback.

I read it out to afew family members, who all said they thought it was good, so that gave me confidence in it, so i knew it was ok and it took alot of nerves away, knowing the speech was good.

The best bit is when you finish, the releaf is such a adrenalin buzz you will enjoy the night much more, knowing the speech is out the way.

Hope i helped.

Thanks mate that is good advice. I know i will be nervous based on one past experience of public speaking, but i understand what you say about getting it out too fast! Its just got to be natural, maybe ill have a few shandys to help. I like the suggestion of trying it out one family first, i reckon i will try that one. Cheers

I was a best man last year too - very stressful, but ultimately very enjoyable! You'll have a great time :D

For the speech, write it out on little index cards - practice it so you dont actually read it, but if you get into trouble you can always find where youre up to.

Next tip, as you go through the cards, stop after every 2-3 cards and have a sip of water (or wine! :heyhey: ). It will slow you down - it will feel like you are going too slow but its an illusion...you timing will be fine.

Keep it to about 10 minutes...most of the guests will already be half-cut and dying to get to the bar...they'll have already sat through 2-3 other speeches.

I went to the park to practice mine - the ducks laughed like drains so i knew it would be ok....good luck!

p.s. Dont get too sloshed before your speech....if you need to pee as well..it will be the longest ten minutes of your life! :P

And don't forget to snog the chief bridesmaid or she'll be sorely disappointed...

Don't have sex with the bride beforehand as this often leads to a certain amount of bad feeling at weddings, sometimes escalating to fisticuffs.

Before someone asks, no, I'm not speaking from personal experience.

haha. nice one - the ducks laughed but did the guests laugh? Some of the jokes on the internet are really good but only if you can pull them off! Thanks for the advice, and i think ill need the luck :)

Originally posted by samc
And don't forget to snog the chief bridesmaid or she'll be sorely disappointed...

Now thats something im looking forward to :clap: :clap:

Metalman - thanks for that advice but i guessed that one already!

Don't worry;

You are only being asked to become a pivotal part of somebody else's most important day in their entire life and you alone could be key in ruining it forever.

And that's the bride I'm talking about by the way.

Good luck!

(I was once asked to do it by an old friend who I no longer had much to do with. I turned him down. Figure you should only be best man to someone that you would want to be your best man).

PANIC.

seriously there are some very good books around about being a best man. well worth a look.

Thanks, you really know how to make me feel less nervous! If I ruined the day for the bride then i could always go back on metalmans advice... it may turn things back round :D

I've done it twice and on both occasions we couldn't remember who spoke first.

Last time at my mate Alans wedding the Father of the bride spoke first then the Bride Groom and fianaly the Best man.

The advice given above about taling your time and stuff is spot on.

Good luck.