Best Man Toasts

Hi,

My name is Ian Stewart and while I am not a professional speaker, I do have a bit of experience as a Best Man, having been one at over 9 weddings and done a fair few Best Man Toasts as a result.

My friends were asking me how they can deliver Best Man Toasts, as well as get comfortable with the idea of what a Best Man actually does, both before and after the wedding.

So I thought I would put some tips and ideas here on my Hub pages so that, if you have been asked to be the Best Man at a friends wedding, then hopefully my experience can help you too.

To Start, here are some tips:

Tip #1 – Be prepared

Best man toasts should be planned out well in advance in the form of a speech. Take the time to review the speech and memorize it. Practice does make perfect and will only help you come across as relaxed when you do deliver your Best Man Toast.

Also practice it in front of a few friends or in front of the mirror, so you can feel comfortable hearing your voice when you present your toast.

Tip #2 – Time Limit

Limit your speech to 3 – 5 minutes. The greatest Best Man Toasts are not long at all. You do not want to take up too much time; people get annoyed and impatient when someone does a long toast.

Tip #3 – The time to have a drink is after the Toast

It’s ok to have one or two drinks to loosen you up but do not give the best man toast drunk. Not only will you give a bad impression, but there's a good chance you will mess up the Toast altogether.

Tip #4 – Starting the toast

When you get ready to give your toast at the reception simply hold your glass up and tap on it gently with a spoon or knife. It's a good idea to introduce yourself and your relationship to the Groom. Then just say that you wish to give a toast to the newlyweds.

During the Toast

Tip #5 – Eye contact

When you’re giving your toast keep your eyes on the crowd as they will be looking towards the newly married couple. Not only that, you can see how your words are coming across.

Tip #6 - Be natural

Be yourself. Don't try to become a stand-up comedian or talk like Shakespeare. Relax, just be you. Don't use words you wouldn't normally use.

Tip #7 - Breathe

Make sure you breathe properly. This will keep you focused and help you to relax.

Tip #8 - Keep it Clean

Don't embarrass the Bride or the Groom with anecdotes or jokes that are crude or vulgar.

Tip #9 - Talk to all the Guests

If you do include an anecdote or references to some past deed. Make sure that it is a general idea and not part of an 'in-joke' that only a few guests will understand. This helps everyone feel they are included.

The end of the Toast

All that remains is for you to ask that everyone charge their glasses and follow you in toasting the Bride and the Groom.

Tip #10 - Give them time

Give everyone the time to fill their glasses and stand up. They will all be looking at you, ready to follow your lead.

Final Thought

Best man toasts are something that you, the Bride and Groom and a lot of the guests will remember. Be prepared and show your friend not only what an honor it was to be chosen as the best man, but also how good a Best Man you can be.

Look out and bookmark my other tips and Hints when you see them won't you?

So there we were, the five of us, sitting around having a beer when John asks "What do you guys know about Best Man Toasts"?

You could have heard a pin drop.

Mike, was the first to speak. "Erm, I know I did one for a mate last year, but don't ask me what I said, I was a bit tiddled by the time it was my turn to speak".

That broke the ice and the stories started to come out.

The one about the Best Man standing up, saying 3 words and then collapsing in a drunken stupor.

The one where the Best Man starts to tell dirty jokes until the Father of the bride tells him to 'sit down and shut up'

The story of the Best Man that forgets the Brides' name and keeps calling her by the name of the Grooms' ex-girlfriend, which has the Bride in tears and the Groom ready to kill his best friend.

The one where the best Man goes on and on for half an hour while everyone else is just thinking about how cold the food is getting.

Graham started to laugh "I know I shouldn't say it but most of the Best Man Toasts I have ever heard have been bloody awful !"

Pointing at me, he says "If you want to know how to do it, ask Ian here. We have been to 3 weddings in the past six months, each one he was the Best Man. Every Toast he gave was different and each one was just right for that wedding and had folks coming up and thanking him all during the reception. I don't know how he does it!"

A chat in the Pub part 2 will follow as soon as I get another round in.

Part 2 is now up on my other hub pages...

Just click on the link below: