Best Man Speechs – The Dos And Donts
Writing and delivering best man speechs are not as difficult as people were made to believe. When you think about it, it’s just like talking to a small group of friends and families. Everyone in the crowd knows that you have very little to no mastery of public speaking and thus are quite tolerable when it comes to imperfections. To pull your speech off, remember the following dos and don’ts.
Do try to write and deliver it in a personal tone without necessarily demeaning the newlyweds with too personal details. Do come up with a funny speech, though. However, don’t breach one of the foremost rules in wedding speeches – don’t joke at another person’s expense. Also, don’t brush on subjects that are touchy in nature as these often create uncomfortable feeling. Subjects such as ex-girlfriends and degrading subjects are best left unsaid.
Do make your speech short. It is always better to keep the audience wanting than to bore them with a very lengthy speech. Don’t just write a few sentences, though
. The ideal length should run anywhere from three to five minutes and should have at least a short story in between the introductory lines and the final toasts. Try to manage the length of your speech.
Do try to relax yourself throughout the speech. You can panic afterwards, that is if you like to. However, don’t drink alcohol before you deliver your speech so as to maintain your composure.
Do try to express your gratitude to the parents of the bride and groom in their behalf and don’t forget their names. Also, thank the bridesmaids and everyone who have helped the couple in preparing for the wedding. Do thank the guests as well. Although you are a guest in this wedding as well, consider it as favor for the bride and groom. So express your gratitude to them. Don’t thank everyone however as this could make your speech very lengthy.
Do bring with you small cards to help keep your speech on track. You can try memorizing the speech, however, but don’t trust completely on your memory. It is best to have some cards to fall back on whenever you forget your lines. If you don’t have cards like these and somehow you forgot your lines, try not to panic. Come up with fillers as fast as possible.
Do plan for your introductory lines lines. The first few lines of your speech are perhaps the most important. If you fail to get the attention of the guests in your opening line, it will be harder for you to keep their attention to your speech. Keep away from tired lines that start with lengthy thank yous and welcome messages. As alternatives, try to cite some entertaining jokes or funny one liners.
Do prepare your best man speechs ahead of time. Even well-trained public speakers ensure that they have their speeches ready days in advance. Don’t depend on your skills in extemporaneous speaking, even if you are really excellent at it. Instead, prepare your speech and ensure an almost perfect delivery.