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.

5 Classic Lines For Best Man Speeches.

The onus of responsibility when giving a public speech, irrespective of scenario can be daunting indeed, but Best Man speeches in particular are amongst the most nerve-wracking of them all. Everyone wants to give a confident Best Man speech but that is easier said than done when there is an expectancy of your speech to provide laughs, compliments, tributes and a toast in a short-time frame. To help you along the way I have selected 5 examples from my own red-hot Best Man speeches  that will be enjoyed by all.

Light-hearted.

“John loved Sherry but then again he loved whisky, vodka and beer too.”

Fun.

“Not many of you know this but John could have been a pro-soccer player, only 2 things stood in his way, his left-foot and his right-foot.”

Tribute.

“John is a great friend, the first person to turn towards when needing help, a loyal friend who never wavers from your side and speaking on behalf of both myself and the Groomsmen we are lucky to have a friend like John.”

Humor.

“One of the earliest pieces of advice I was given as Best Man was to prioritize my duties in order of importance, so naturally I booked the Bachelor Party first.”

Complimentary.

“Sarah is an adorable person who radiates love wherever she goes, she looks gorgeous today but then again she looks gorgeous  everyday, John is one lucky guy.”

You should enjoy the wedding day but all too often Best Men get so anxious about the speech that they end-up being mere bystanders rather than taking center-stage behind the Bride and Groom on this day of all days. Once you have the right content for your Best Man speech it allows you focus on things other than the speech and then you can enjoy a day to cherish forever.