Mercifully, heckling a Best Man at a wedding is rare but as the saying goes: there’s always one. You know the one. They’re the one that thinks they’re a right card, a character and that everyone should have the privilege of enjoying their uniquely irritating sense of humour.
Writing a best man speech for Mr. Perfect might seem like a daunting task but with a bit of creativity anything is possible. Here's an example of a speech written for a best man, where I turned the Groom's "perfection" into the very thing the audience laughed at.
There are plenty of ways to get a best man speech right and also plenty of ways of getting a best man speech wrong. Here are a few basic tips to help any would-be best man avoid various pitfalls and ensure he delivers a killer speech and not a speech that gets him killed.
For those who prefer their humiliation in stereo, the double-act best man speech is a great option. Over the years I've written several of these bespoke speeches which have gone down a storm.
It's fine to get creative with a best man speech. They don't always have to follow a set structure. Here's an example of how I turned a speech into a pub quiz, where the questions were all about the groom and the audience were encouraged to interact.
Here's a heartwarming extract from a best man speech written for a client that shows no matter how hideous a mate might be, when it's time for him to get married, and he's in need of a best man, a true friend will put the hideousness to one side and be there for him.
If you're concerned about delivering a best man speech turn it into a series of diary entries from the groom. You'll be able to legitimately read out your speech without in any way seeming amateurish. All you need is to do is buy a glittery, teenage girl's diary and write all of the Groom's embarrassing tales from his point of view.
A killer best man speech doesn't have to be full of one-liners. There's plenty of funny to be found in a good story. And the more embarrassing the better. You won't need to have an expertly timed delivery and can just tell it like it is while the groom squirms.
A Best Man is in the laughter business so where do you mind the necessary material? Look no further than the Groom himself. Besides a litany of errant behaviour, he's bound to have character quirks and idiosyncrasies to extract and build upon. These won't just be recognisable to you but also to your audience, helping your best man speech be as funny and memorable as it can be.
When writing your best man speech, just like a stand-up routine, you need to have a strong opening. An early joke or a funny story that sets the tone will help both you and your audience relax. Setting you up for a killer speech that you will enjoy delivering as much as your audience will enjoy listening to. So for that extra bit of confidence be sure to get an early laugh in your best man speech.