Wedding speeches, including the Best Man’s Speech and the Best Man’s Toast should run between 3 to 5 minutes in length, depending on the amount of people speaking on the Big Day. If you have the traditional running order of 3 or 4 speakers then you should try to speak for up to 5 minutes. On the other hand if there are more people in the Wedding Party due to speak such as an Usher or Matron of Honor, advise them to keep their speeches relatively short, two to three minutes maximum.

On a previous post we discussed the importance, and gave great examples, of Best Man Speech Opening Lines, here are two more opening lines that break the ice if you are giving either a short Best Man speech or a long Best Man speech.

Icebreaker for a shorter Best Man Speech

Ladies & Gentlemen unfortunately I will only be giving a short speech today because of my throat..John has threatened to cut it, if I go on too long.

Icebreaker for a longer Best Man Speech

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, it has been lovely to see so many old friends here today, and for those of you who don’t know me, you might feel you do by the end of my speech.

It is the content that is key to a winning Best Man speech that will keep the guests smiling. Once you stick to the format of a Best Man speech this should ensure that you stand just behind the Groom himself as the most popular man at the party.

Tomorrow we continue our journey through the Top 20 Best Man Jokes as we chart Number 10 to Number 5.  

As Best Man, your Best Man speech is just one task expected from you on the wedding day. You usually also assume the role of Master of Ceremonies (MC) for the wedding and therefore will be introducing each speaker when it is their turn to speak. If you are asked whether you want to undertake the role as MC, accept it with both hands, as this will give you an opportunity to get used to the microphone, and talking to the wedding guests, as you introduce each preceding speaker.

Knowing the order of speakers is essential, so you should work with the Bride and Groom in the days coming up to the wedding finalizing who will be speaking. The traditional order of speakers is:

Father of the Bride

Groom

Best Man

Best Man Telegrams

Wedding Toast

You will note I said the “traditional” order of speakers, however in these modern times it is not unusual for the Bride, Maid of Honor, mother of the Bride or indeed mother of the Groom to say a few words, hence the importance of knowing who exactly will be speaking beforehand.

If the Bride and Groom ask for your input into the amount of wedding speeches, politely tell them that there should not be too many speeches, that guests will want to relax have a drink and enjoy the cake…knowing that your Best Man speech and Wedding Toast will provide the icing on the cake.

Wedding Toasts have been the subject of a previous post as many regular readers are aware. Best Man speeches often rely on Wedding Toasts to make or break their Best Man speech, so with the significance of the Wedding Toast understood and with me being the generous guy that I am here are; 

Ten further examples of successful Wedding Toasts

May the best of your yesterdays be the worst of your tomorrows.

May the laughter of children grace the warmth of your home.

May you never forget what is worth remembering nor remember what is worth forgetting.

May your troubles be less and blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door.

Here’s to the husband and here’s to the wife, may they be lovers the rest of their life.

May they grow old together on the one pillow.

May their joys be as deep as the ocean, and their troubles as light as the foam on the waves.

May they be friends as only lovers can and may they love each other as only friends can.

May they know nothing but happiness from this day onwards.

May the most they wish for, be the least they receive.

The last words of the wedding will be the words you choose to utter for your Wedding Toast so enjoy them, make them heartfelt and select a toast that will live long in the memory, just like your speech.