Former BestMen, Any Tips?

[Flea]

Just keep it short and sweet. Compliment them both and predict a long happy future together. The longer you stay up there the more uncomfortable you will feel and the more it will show. Good Luck!

[CosmicCowboy]

I hate speaking in public but have to do it every other month because I am chairman of a volunteer organization that has 400 people in it. Microphones suck. My advice...all the above suggestions about content are great...just say what works for you and them...with your fear of speaking I suggest that you not just wing it...know what you are going to say and rehearse it in your mind...you don't need to do it out loud but mentally put yourself in that situation and think about the exact words you are gonna use. If you are going to be drinking at the wedding then mentally rehearse it ahead of time when you are drinking...when the time comes then take a couple of deep breaths before you start...since you will be nervous you will have a tendency to rush it so you can get it over...don't...take your time and pause occasionally...remember to keep breathing...you are really talking to/about your friends...look at them and not the crowd...talk like you are talking to them...don't say uhhhh or "ya know?" while you are collecting your thoughts on what you are gonna say next...just pause and breathe instead...

after you are done smile at everyone, excuse yourself to the restroom and then puke you guts out if you need to...

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I usually do my best speaking with a microphone in one hand and a drink in the other. If I smoked I'd hold a cigarette in the hand with my glass of scotch and I'd look like freaking Dean Martin.

I don't know why having something in my hands tends to calm my nerves, but it does. And I actually prefer speaking through a microphone, I heard some people say they don't. Hearing my voice over a loudspeaker allows me to separate myself from it all a little bit.

DON'T go up there drunk, but I think having A drink to calm the nerves a bit is ok.

I think being rested and nutritionally balanced is good as Guru mentioned. I try avoid caffeine before public speaking events because it sometimes makes my mind work faster than my mouth and that tends to mess things up a bit.

My best, best man speech was for a friend of mine who stayed single 'til the age of 35. I spoke about how picky he was when it came to women and how I thought he'd always be single. Then I unfurled the list of things he looked for in a woman and the list was on a scroll like 8 feet long. Then I went on to read some of them and compare his list to the woman he married. I made up some crazy-azz things and people thought it was hilarious. But I finished very seriously, telling the couple how special I thought they both were and how glad I was that a man with such high standards could actually find himself the perfect girl.

[Shelly]

I usually do my best speaking with a microphone in one hand and a drink in the other

You too, huh? I found that's the perfect way to liven up my reading of the PTA's treasurer report to the 3 parents that bother to show up.

[CosmicCowboy]

that works for me too!

[SpursWoman]

I like public speaking.

[FromWayDowntown]

I just gave my first best man speech in April. I didn't write anything until I got to the reception. I spent all of his wedding day just thinking about our friendship at various times, places, ages, and events. I didn't really speak to any of those particularly, but it reminded me of the overview of my friendship, which was enough to make the speech heartfelt and true, which was great.

I like the idea of opening with something funny -- in my case, my friend has an odd last name and his bride's maiden name was a little less odd. I opened by saying that if she had ever dreamed of finding an easier last name, she had missed the boat in choosing my friend -- it got a laugh. I then thanked her parents for the great time everyone was having and followed that up with a shout to my friend's parents for years and years of allowing us to be who we are.

In toasting my friend, I started by ribbing him a bit about small foibles ("Some of you might find this hard to believe, but I knew Bob when he actually had hair . . . . " things like that -- reminiscence of an embarrasing story about him as a kid) and then moved into the more emotional stuff.

On the whole, it worked out to be about 4-5 minutes.

If you're single and you give a good speech, you've created a perfect ice breaker with bridesmaids and single attendees, so keep that in mind -- it worked for me!

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

You too, huh? I found that's the perfect way to liven up my reading of the PTA's treasurer report to the 3 parents that bother to show up.

Can I go?!!

[Jimcs50]

Here is a speech you can give, I gave it at tlong's wedding.

True love is hard to find, sometimes you think you have true love and then you catch the early flight home from San Diego and a couple of nude people jump out of your bathroom blindfolded like a goddamn magic show ready to double team your girlfriend...

[SpursWoman]

Here is a speech you can give, I gave it at tlong's wedding.

True love is hard to find, sometimes you think you have true love and then you catch the early flight home from San Diego and a couple of nude people jump out of your bathroom blindfolded like a goddamn magic show ready to double team your girlfriend...

You owe me a new keyboard, er.

[scott]

GoN, yes.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Here is a speech you can give, I gave it at tlong's wedding.

True love is hard to find, sometimes you think you have true love and then you catch the early flight home from San Diego and a couple of nude people jump out of your bathroom blindfolded like a goddamn magic show ready to double team your girlfriend...

What SW said!!

[Jimcs50]

If I get married again, I want a guy there with a drum to do rimshots during the vows.

[Shelly]

If I get married again, I want a guy there with a drum to do rimshots during the vows.

looks at the promise ring sadly...

[OnlyOneGinobili]

bump

[SpursFanDan]

Nevermind, The wedding is off. Thanks for all of your help though guys.

[SpursWoman]

What?!?!?!?

[SpursFanDan]

yeah pretty crazy... I'm not going to go into details, because its my best friend.. but they called it off.

[scott]

You should have the Vegas Bachelor Party anyway... I'm going to one in August, it promises to be off the chain.

[SpursFanDan]

Yeah.. this bachelor party probably would of taken place at D&B's... no vegas.