Icebreakers play an important role when it comes to public speaking however they play a particularly important role when it comes to giving Best Man speeches, especially if you plan on giving a short Best Man speech.

A good icebreaker will help build a rapport with the audience and provide the Best Man with a boost of confidence as he starts his speech in earnest which is vital as a Best Man is typically not an experienced orator. Short Best Man speeches need to have an icebreaker that conveys to the wedding guests that the Best Man’s speech will be short, explain to guests in a humorous manner why you do not plan on speaking for too long.

Here are 2 such examples of good Best Man speech icebreakers to use;

1.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I do not plan on speaking for too long today because of my health…the Groom has threatened to strangle me if I speak for too long.

2.
A good Best Man speech should be like a lady’s dress short enough to catch your attention but long enough to cover the essentials.

These good-natured icebreakers will set the scene for a confident start to your speech. If you plan on giving a short speech make sure to speak for at least two minutes, otherwise your speech may be considered too short given the significance of the Best Man’s role on the Bride and Groom’s special day.

5 Things Not To Say In A Best Man Speech

Giving a great Best Man speech is something all Best Men aspire to achieve. A Best Man speech should charm, entertain, humor and be sincere in equal amounts so content is key in order to give a successful Best Man speech. In preparation for your toast today we take a tongue-in-cheek look at 5 lines that should not be mentioned when delivering your toast, unless ,of course, you want to have an angry Bride & Groom along with their families chasing after you all night long.

1. “Personally I was very fond of his ex-wife/ex-girlfriend.”

2. “And now I would like to show you some photos from the Bachelor /Stag Party.”

3. “Personal hygiene has never been top of the Groom’s priorities.”

4. “I am thrilled that he is getting married, it proves that his cross-dressing era was just a phase he was going through after all.”

5. “When he told me he was getting married again, I told him that I thought he would have learned from his first experience.”

 Jokes are great for Best Man speeches, as are funny props , tasteful humor inserts fun into a speech but don’t say anything that will offend rather than embarrass. You want to provide the wedding party with an unforgettable speech for all the right reasons so be humorous and be witty just make sure you don’t cause offence.

Being Best Man, despite the privilege, is often seen as an ordeal for Best Men who spend the weeks/days in the lead-up to the wedding worrying about their Best Man speeches. So when the Big Day arrives how do you know if you are giving a good speech? If you notice even a couple of these tell-tale signs when delivering your speech then you can rest assured that your speech is being received extremely well.

 10 Tell-Tale Signs That Your Best Man Speech Is Going Well.

1. When even the employees at the venue have stopped working to listen.

2. When you get some “here, here!” comments after making a generous comment towards the Bride or family members.

3. When after telling a funny joke you have to pause to let the loud laughter die down before you can continue with your speech.

4. When the Bride and Groom are smiling at you rather than glaring at you.

5. When you get laughs at unintentionally funny moments.

6. When you get an impromptu standing ovation before your speech has ended.

7. When props and gifts receive a rousing reception.

8. When as you look out towards the guests and see nobody checking their watch to signify you have spoke for too long.

9. When you look out to the crowd of guests and see the happy proud smile of a close family member.

10. When you are enjoying yourself because chances are the guests will be too.

The sense of fulfillment and pride that you will feel after giving your Best Man speech is immense so choose your words carefully and enjoy a great day. For those of you unsure of what to say then look no further than my very own set of 21 Best Man speeches and look forward to the wedding day with genuine confidence.