There is a lot of pressure on a best man speech these days. You are expected to be laugh out loud funny, yet also charming and tasteful and all to a room of sometimes hundreds of strangers. It’s a difficult balance and the truth is, it’s a tough gig. And with all that pressure, it’s no wonder we sometimes hear the guys getting it wrong.
If you want to strike the right balance and win the crowd with your best man speech, start here with Silvertongue Speeches top five list of things to avoid.
Don’t mention the ex
No matter how well-meaning your intentions, this is just a no-no. If you want to avoid awkwardness and bad memories, just stay away from the ex. Weddings are about celebrating the future, there is absolutely no need to dwell on the past. Stay upbeat and focus on the moment.
The bucks party
We all have heard the saying, ‘What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas’. But time and time again, the Bucks party keeps sliding into best-man speeches, and it’s just not cool. Not only are you breaking bro-code, but the audience and the bride especially do not want to hear what happened and what mischief was managed. Leave the imagery of what might have happened alone and keep it on the level.
In-jokes
You and the groom might go way back. Way way back. And while that is really lovely, we don’t know who you’re talking about when you call your friends Boof, Meat and Sweats. We only know them as James, Tom and Shaun. No matter how small the wedding, assume the room knows nothing. We definitely want to hear your stories and history with the groom – by all means tell us something we don’t know! But in choosing stories, make sure they’re relevant to the event and have a relevant link to the focus of the evening. Perfect examples are marriage, love and the future.
Swearing
Remember, guys, Granny is in the room. Would she approve? Swearing in a speech is not tasteful or necessary. An accidental slip can be forgiven, but swearing doesn’t add value to any story. Bleep it out and move on.
Winging it under the influence
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: unprepared speeches and alcohol are a recipe for wedding speech disaster. Alcohol will only give you false confidence, and if you choose to wing your speech, you need to be prepared for some or all of the above ‘no-nos’. If you want free drinks even after the tab has closed and plenty of pats on the back, prepare, practice, and go slow before you speak.
