One of the duties of a best man is to give a speech. Sometimes, this speech is given at the rehearsal dinner, while other times it's given at the reception. Regardless of when delivered, however, the best man's speech is the perfect time to share his happiness for the groom, the bride, and their marriage with the guests.
Sample Best Man Speeches
The three sample best man speeches below can be delivered at any time during the wedding celebrations and are intended for all ages and types of weddings. You may customize any of these speeches by inserting your name, the bride's name, and the groom's names where indicated. View and download the PDF above using Adobe Reader; print and fill in the blanks.
Best Man Speech Templates
The first wedding speech allows you to provide a personal anecdote about the couple's first date. The second outlines how the couple is suited to each other, and the third discusses their happiness.
Speech One
Hello, my name is _____________________________ (your name), and I have the honor of being ___________________'s (groom's name) best man. I have known __________________________ (groom's name) for _____________________ years (or "a short time") and am proud to call him my friend. It is with happiness that I stand here today and support him as he marries _______________________ (bride's name).
I remember when ______________________ (bride's name) and _____________________________ (groom's name) first met. Their first date was special because _________________________ ___________________________________________. This date, of course, set them on a pathway to today and their marriage, for which I think we are all grateful.
______________________ (groom's name), you are a great guy - someone who is kind, caring, and fun. In ____________________ (bride's name), you have found your perfect match - although I must admit she might be a little more fun than you are! I wish you both the best in the years to come.
Speech Two
Hello there! I'm ______________________'s (groom's name) best man, ____________________________ (your name). I have known ____________________ (bride's name) and ___________________________ (groom's name) for years and must say that I'm not surprised that we're here today at their wedding. I can think of no two people more perfectly suited for each other.
_______________________ (bride's name), in marrying _____________________ (groom's name) you are getting a husband who is considerate and fun-loving. He is a great friend and I know he will make a great spouse for you. ___________________ (groom's name), in _____________________ (bride's name) you are getting a fabulous woman; I know she will make a wonderful wife.
I wish you both the best of luck in the years to come.
Speech Three
Hello all, I'm _______________________ (your name) and I have the privilege of serving as ________________________'s (groom's name) best man today. I have been friends with _____________________________ (groom's name) for ____________ years, and was overjoyed when he asked me to act as his best man.
The reason I was so excited is because over the long years of our friendship I have never seen _______________________ (groom's name) so happy. _________________________ (bride's name) truly makes him a better person. Honestly, I've never seen _______________________ (groom's name) walk around with a goofy smile on his face so much as I've seen him do since becoming engaged to you. For making him happy and bringing that silly smile to his face, I applaud you.
I cannot express how glad I am that you two found each other and have decided to embark on this journey of life together. I wish you all the best both today and every day.
Contents of Best Man Speeches
Many best man speeches contain similar elements. These include:
- An explanation of how the best man knows the groom
- A description of how the best man views the couple
- A description of how the best man sees the groom impacted by the relationship
- A well-wishing closure
These basic elements keep a speech short, direct, and kind. Some speeches, however, may contain funny elements.
Toast Versus Speech
Before you begin writing, make sure you know the difference between a wedding toast and a speech. A best man speech normally lasts between three and five minutes and is intended to honor the wedding couple and family. It may include a personal story, heartfelt expression, or anecdote.
A best man's toast is a short statement, normally no longer than a minute or two, of well-wishing to the couple. It ends with the best main raising a glass to indicate that other guests should also raise their glasses and drink in honor of the newlyweds.
Your Best Man Speech
Your best man speech does not need to be overly intricate or long. However, it should be kind and personalized for the couple's situation and background.
