One of the most important duties asked of the Best Man is the speech or toast. While this can cause the best man a great deal of anxiety, if you plan well ahead and give yourself plenty of time to practice and refine the speech, it is not so bad. Delivering a memorable speech will establish you as the BEST man and not simply AVERAGE! Then again you can always cheat and buy a book.
7 simple keys for a great Best Man Speech
Simple 7
1. Prepare about 2 weeks prior
2. Compliment Bridesmaids on the great job they did and how great they looked.
3. Compliment the bride on how great she looked
4. Say some nice things about the groom
5. Poke fun at the groom
6. Give some marriage advice (humorous if possible)
7. Propose a toast to the newly weds.
Timing and Delivery
Your goal is to speak for no more than FIVE minutes. Preparation is key. A speech that goes much longer will lose the attention of the audience. Remember that you are adding a punctuation mark to a beautiful day, not writing your own chapter! Speak slowly, with authority and make great eye contact as you methodically touch on the Simple Seven. Take a deep breath, slow down and relax. Everyone is on your side for this special moment. Use the laughter and applause to regain your composure if you are nervous! Speak from the heart and do not fumble with notes.
Adequate Preparation
I have been to many weddings and over the years and proposed many toasts during my flying career. Do not "wing it". This is your moment to shine and set the tone for the evening. I highly recommend that you invest time to adequately prepare yourself for this important event. It will make you a hero!
Mitch Biggs Freelance writer for Aviation Digest magazine. Editor for Discovering General Aviation column for Aviation Digest. Former F-15 fighter pilot and current airplane owner.
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