How to Write a Best Man or Woman Speech

These speeches, in the UK, tend to rely heavily on being funny. I emphasise “in the UK” and this is really important. In the US and many other places, best man or woman speeches are usually serious emotional monologues about how great the bride and groom are. They usually end with comments about how they met and are perfect for each other.

If you give a wedding speech in Mississippi and open with a story about the groom drinking too much and being sick on a trip to Ibiza, people will be genuinely offended and horrified. As in any sort of comedy situation, it’s important to know your audience.

The other key thing to remember is that the truth is funnier than fiction. New comedians are often tempted to retell a funny story they have heard elsewhere. But it’s never as funny in the retelling.

Imagine you are with a friend in the pub. Would you rather they told you the plot from a sitcom they watched recently or the story of their own most embarrassing moment?

If your speech is about the groom, do your research. Ask friends and family for their memories and anecdotes. They’ll enjoy sharing and be thrilled if you use a piece of information they gave you as part of your speech. Especially if you’ve worked a punchline onto it with some newly developed comedy skills.