Best Man Speech: The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Brilliant Wedding Speech
Image: Best Man Speech: The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Brilliant Wedding Speech
Writing a best man speech? Discover how to structure your speech, choose the best stories and jokes, overcome nerves and deliver a memorable wedding speech.
Being asked to be the best man is a huge honour — but it also comes with one fairly daunting responsibility: the best man speech.
For some people, writing and delivering a best man speech is something they genuinely look forward to. For others, the thought of standing in front of a room full of wedding guests with a microphone is enough to cause sleepless nights.
The good news is that you don't need to be a professional comedian or a brilliant public speaker to give a great best man speech.
The best speeches are usually the ones that feel genuine. A few great stories, some well-judged humour, a little emotion and a strong ending can create a speech that the groom, his partner and the wedding guests will remember for all the right reasons.
As a professional wedding videographer, I've filmed countless wedding speeches, and I've seen first-hand what makes a speech work — and what makes one drag on a little too long!
So, if you've been asked to be best man and you're wondering how to write a best man speech, this guide will take you through everything you need to know.
Image: Best Man Speech: The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Brilliant Wedding Speech
10 Best Man Speech Jokes and Examples
If you're looking for inspiration for your best man speech, here are 10 examples of the type of joke that can work particularly well at a wedding.
The best man jokes below are deliberately varied. Some are short one-liners, while others can be adapted into longer stories. The important thing is to make the joke feel natural and, wherever possible, personalise it so it relates to the groom.
1. The questionable friendship
"I've known James for nearly 15 years, and when he asked me to be his best man, I was genuinely touched. Mostly because, after all these years, he's finally admitted I'm his best friend."
Why it works: It's simple, friendly and immediately establishes the relationship between you and the groom.
2. The best man responsibility
"When James asked me to be his best man, I was incredibly honoured. Then he explained that my main responsibilities were organising the stag do, looking after the rings and giving a speech. So naturally, I immediately started looking for someone else."
A joke like this works particularly well near the beginning of the speech because it acknowledges the fact that everyone is waiting for the best man to speak.
3. The groom's new life
"Marriage is all about compromise. James has already learned this important lesson. He gets to make all the big decisions — as long as his wife has already made them."
This is a classic style of wedding joke, but it works best when delivered affectionately rather than making the groom appear unhappy about being married.
4. The groom's advice
"James has always been someone I've looked up to. He's given me advice on everything from relationships to careers to finances. I've ignored every single piece of it, and judging by his bank balance, that may have been the right decision."
This type of joke is easy to personalise around the groom's job, hobbies or particular habits.
5. The groom's dating history
"Before he met Sarah, James had quite a complicated approach to relationships. He believed in keeping his options open. Fortunately, Sarah came along and closed all of them."
This works particularly well if you can follow it with a genuine story about when the groom first met his partner.
Image: Best Man Speech: The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Brilliant Wedding Speech
6. The stag do
"I'm not going to tell you everything that happened on the stag do. Not because there isn't enough material — but because there are several people in this room who paid for the hotel."
This is a useful way of referencing a potentially embarrassing stag-do story without actually revealing what happened.
Sometimes the suggestion of a story gets a bigger laugh than telling the whole thing.
7. The groom's appearance
"James has spent an incredible amount of money and time getting ready for today. And Sarah looks absolutely stunning as well."
Pause.
"Sorry, James — I meant Sarah."
This is a classic misdirection joke and can work particularly well if the groom has made an unusually big effort with his appearance.
8. The emotional moment
"When I first met James, I never imagined we'd eventually reach this moment. Mainly because, at the time, I wasn't sure he'd make it past 25."
You can then transition into something genuine:
"But honestly, seeing him today, I've never seen him happier."
This is a good example of combining humour with emotion rather than keeping the speech funny from beginning to end.
9. The groom's qualities
"James is loyal, generous, kind and incredibly dependable. I've written several more lovely things about him, but unfortunately the speech has a time limit."
This works well if you've just said several genuine compliments about the groom.
The joke allows you to acknowledge that you've become slightly too sentimental without completely destroying the emotional moment.
10. The final toast
A best man speech should finish strongly, so your final joke can lead naturally into the toast.
"So, James, I think I speak for everyone here when I say that you've found the perfect partner. Someone who loves you, supports you and clearly has exceptional taste in men."
Pause.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses to the happy couple."
The final joke should ideally lead into the toast, rather than simply stopping the speech.
Image: Best Man Speech: The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Brilliant Wedding Speech
How to make these best man jokes funnier
Don't simply copy a joke from the internet and read it word-for-word.
The best man has one huge advantage over a professional comedian: you know the groom.
Take the basic idea and make it personal.
For example, instead of:
"James is terrible with money."
You might say:
"James once spent £400 on a pair of trainers because apparently they were an investment. Six months later, he sold them on eBay for £80."
The second version is much more memorable because it tells the audience something specific about the groom.
Remember the golden rule of best man humour
Funny beats cruel.
The groom should be able to laugh at the joke.
His partner should be able to laugh at the joke.
And ideally, his parents should be able to laugh at the joke too.
If your funniest story would cause an awkward silence when you imagine telling it in front of the bride's grandparents, it probably belongs in the stag-do WhatsApp group rather than the wedding speech.
The goal isn't to embarrass the groom as much as possible.
The goal is to create a speech that makes the room laugh, makes the couple feel loved and gives them something they'll be happy to watch and listen to again in their wedding film for years to come.
Image: Best Man Speech: The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Brilliant Wedding Speech
What makes a great best man speech?
A great best man speech doesn't need to be packed with jokes from beginning to end.
In fact, the best speeches usually combine several different elements:
A confident and entertaining opening
A brief introduction explaining who you are
Funny stories about the groom
Genuine memories from your friendship
A few carefully chosen jokes
A warm introduction to the bride or groom's partner
Something sincere about the couple
A memorable final toast
The secret is balance.
You want the room laughing, but you also want guests to understand why the groom means so much to you.
A best man speech should ultimately be about celebrating the groom and the newly married couple — not simply proving how many embarrassing stories you know.
How long should a best man speech be?
One of the most common questions is: how long should a best man speech be?
As a general guide, aim for around 5–7 minutes.
That's long enough to tell a couple of good stories, make people laugh and say something meaningful without losing the attention of the room.
If you've written a 15-minute speech, don't assume that more material automatically means a better speech.
It usually doesn't.
A shorter speech with three excellent stories will normally be much more effective than a long speech containing ten average anecdotes.
Remember that the best man is often the final speaker in the traditional wedding speech order, so keeping the momentum going is particularly important.
If you're interested in the wider structure and order of wedding speeches, take a look at my complete guide to wedding speeches.
Image: Best Man Speech: The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Brilliant Wedding Speech
How to structure a best man speech
If you're staring at a blank sheet of paper wondering where to begin, don't try to write the entire speech in one go.
Start with a simple structure.
1. Introduce yourself
Begin by explaining who you are and your relationship with the groom.
You don't need a long introduction.
Something simple is usually best.
For example:
"For those of you who don't know me, I'm Ben, and I've had the questionable privilege of being friends with James for the last 15 years."
The introduction gives the room context and provides an easy opportunity for your first laugh.
2. Start with a strong opening
Your opening matters.
You have the attention of the entire room, so avoid spending the first minute apologising for being nervous or explaining how much you hate public speaking.
Instead, get straight into your speech.
You could use:
A funny observation
A short story
A self-deprecating joke
A surprising fact about the groom
A reference to how long you've known him
Self-deprecating humour is often particularly safe because you're making yourself the target rather than embarrassing someone else.
3. Tell a great story about the groom
This should be one of the main parts of your speech.
Think about the stories that immediately come to mind when you think about your friendship.
Perhaps it's something that happened at school or university.
Maybe it was a disastrous holiday.
A stag do.
A terrible dating story.
A sporting achievement.
A ridiculous mistake.
Or simply one of those moments that perfectly sums up the groom's personality.
Don't try to include every story you've ever shared.
Choose the best one.
A great story doesn't necessarily need to be outrageous. It just needs to reveal something funny, memorable or recognisable about the groom.
Image: Best Man Speech: The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Brilliant Wedding Speech
4. Talk about the bride or groom's partner
This is an important part of the best man speech.
The speech shouldn't make the newly married partner feel like they've simply been added to the story at the end.
Talk about the couple.
Think about:
When the groom first met their partner
How you knew the relationship was serious
How the groom changed after meeting them
What makes them work well together
What you admire about them as a couple
This is often where you can naturally transition from humour into something more heartfelt.
5. Add some genuine emotion
Don't be afraid of getting sincere.
A best man speech doesn't have to be funny every second.
Some of the most memorable moments I've captured as a wedding videographer have been when a best man suddenly stops joking and says something genuinely heartfelt about his friend.
Tell the groom what his friendship means to you.
Say what you admire about him.
Talk about why you're pleased he's found someone who makes him happy.
You don't need elaborate language.
Speak honestly.
That will usually mean far more than a perfectly constructed joke.
6. Finish with a strong toast
Don't simply reach the end of your notes and say:
"Well, that's all I've got. Cheers."
Your final few sentences should feel like an ending.
Bring the focus back to the couple.
Wish them a long and happy marriage, raise your glass and invite the room to join you.
A strong ending leaves the audience with a positive final impression.
Best man speech ideas
If you're struggling to come up with material, try answering these questions.
Think about your friendship
How did you meet?
What was your first impression of him?
What is the funniest thing you've ever done together?
What's the most embarrassing thing he's ever done?
What was he like when you were younger?
What has changed about him over the years?
What is he genuinely brilliant at?
What is he absolutely terrible at?
Think about the relationship
When did he first tell you about his partner?
What did you think when you first met them?
When did you realise the relationship was serious?
What changed about him after they met?
What do they bring out in each other?
What makes them such a good match?
These questions can give you far more useful material than simply searching for best man speech jokes online.
Your own memories are what will make the speech unique.
Best man speech jokes: what actually works?
There's nothing wrong with humour — it's expected in many best man speeches.
But there is a big difference between a joke that makes the whole room laugh and one that leaves everyone wondering whether they should laugh.
The safest humour tends to be:
Self-deprecating jokes
Making yourself the punchline can immediately make you more likeable.
Gentle jokes about the groom
You know him better than most people in the room, so you can tease him about his habits, personality or harmless weaknesses.
Stories with a funny ending
Often the funniest part of a speech isn't a traditional joke at all.
It's simply a well-told story with a good punchline.
Observational humour
Notice something about the wedding, the groom or your friendship that the audience can recognise.
What should you avoid in a best man speech?
This is where a little common sense goes a long way.
Avoid jokes or stories involving:
Ex-partners
Infidelity
Sexual stories that could embarrass the couple
Family disputes
Private information
Anything potentially offensive
Inside jokes that only three people understand
Stories that could genuinely upset the groom or their partner
The fact that something happened doesn't automatically mean it belongs in the wedding speech.
Ask yourself:
"Will the groom still find this funny tomorrow morning?"
If you're not sure, leave it out.
Your job is to entertain the room and celebrate the couple — not destroy the groom's reputation in front of his new in-laws.
Image: Best Man Speech: The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Brilliant Wedding Speech
Should you include stag do stories in your best man speech?
The stag do can provide some fantastic material.
It can also provide material that absolutely should not make it into a wedding speech.
Before including a stag-do story, ask yourself whether everyone in the room needs to hear it.
Remember that the audience could include:
Parents
Grandparents
Children
Work colleagues
The bride or groom's family
Your friend's new in-laws
A story can be funny without revealing every detail.
If there is a great stag-do story, tell the clean version.
Often, suggesting that something happened without explaining every detail is actually funnier.
How to write a best man speech when you're not funny
Don't panic.
You don't need to become a stand-up comedian.
Instead, concentrate on telling interesting stories well.
A simple story about the groom doing something ridiculous can be much funnier than a collection of generic jokes copied from the internet.
And don't underestimate sincerity.
A room full of wedding guests will happily laugh at a good story and then listen carefully when you tell them why your friend matters to you.
That's the emotional journey that makes a great wedding speech.
How to practise your best man speech
Once you've written your speech, practise it.
Not once.
Several times.
Read it aloud rather than silently reading it from your screen.
You'll quickly discover that some sentences which look good on paper sound awkward when spoken.
Try recording yourself
Use your phone to record the speech.
Listen back and pay attention to:
Your pace
Your volume
Whether the jokes actually work
How often you look down
Whether you're rushing
Where you naturally pause
Practising aloud will also make the words feel much more familiar when you stand up in front of the wedding guests.
Don't try to memorise every word
Unless you're extremely comfortable with public speaking, there's no need to memorise the entire speech.
Use cue cards or clearly structured notes.
Know your opening and closing particularly well, because these are the moments when you want to feel most confident.
What should you do if you get nervous?
Almost everyone gets nervous before giving a wedding speech.
Even confident speakers can feel different when they're standing in front of a room full of people who are all looking directly at them.
Before you begin:
Take a slow breath.
Put both feet firmly on the floor.
Look at the couple.
Smile.
Speak slightly slower than feels natural.
Pause after jokes rather than immediately rushing into the next sentence.
Remember that the guests want you to succeed.
They aren't sitting there hoping you'll fail.
If you stumble over a word, simply carry on.
Often nobody notices.
Your best man speech will probably be filmed
There's another reason to think carefully about your best man speech.
It may become one of the most replayed parts of the wedding film.
As a wedding videographer, I don't just capture the couple walking down the aisle or their first dance.
The speeches contain some of the most important words spoken during the entire wedding day.
Years later, couples can hear their friends and family talking about them, laughing at stories they had forgotten and saying things that might never otherwise have been recorded.
That's one of the reasons professional wedding videography is so valuable.
Photography captures what the wedding looked like.
Video captures what it sounded and felt like.
The laughter.
The applause.
The nerves.
The speeches.
The reactions from the guests.
And the voices of the people who were there.
My Norfolk wedding videography service, for example, includes professional audio capture specifically so important moments such as wedding speeches can be preserved clearly.
I provide Suffolk wedding videography across the county too, capturing everything from the morning preparations through to the speeches, first dance and evening celebrations.
And for couples getting married further south, I also provide Essex wedding videography at venues across the county.
Why wedding speeches are so important in a wedding film
A wedding film shouldn't simply show a sequence of beautiful shots.
The audio is what turns those images into a story.
Imagine seeing the groom laughing with his friends.
Then hearing his best man explaining how they met.
Cut to photographs or footage of them growing up together.
Back to the wedding reception.
The room laughs.
The groom looks embarrassed.
His partner smiles.
The best man becomes more emotional.
The guests applaud.
That combination of picture and sound is what makes a wedding film something you can return to years later.
It's also why I recommend that couples consider how important speeches are when choosing their wedding videographer.
Ask how the audio is recorded.
Ask whether the speeches are included.
Ask whether you'll receive the full speeches as well as having excerpts incorporated into your main wedding film.
These details can make a huge difference.
Image: Best Man Speech: The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Brilliant Wedding Speech
What happens to the best man speech in a wedding video?
At Race Wedding Videography, speeches can be preserved in several ways.
The most important moments can be incorporated naturally into the main cinematic wedding film, helping tell the story of the day.
I also provide a full wedding speeches video, so you can return to the complete speeches rather than only hearing selected sections in the main film.
That means the hilarious story you forgot about, the emotional message from your best friend and the reaction of everyone in the room don't simply disappear when the wedding day is over.
They're preserved.
Best man speech checklist
Before the big day, make sure you have:
☐ Written your speech
☐ Chosen your best stories
☐ Included the couple rather than focusing entirely on the groom
☐ Removed anything potentially embarrassing or offensive
☐ Checked your jokes with someone you trust
☐ Timed the speech
☐ Practised it aloud
☐ Prepared cue cards or notes
☐ Practised your opening
☐ Practised your closing toast
☐ Checked when you're expected to speak
☐ Had a glass of water nearby
☐ Remembered to breathe!
Most importantly, don't try to make your speech perfect.
Make it personal.
The groom chose you as his best man because of the relationship you have with him. Nobody else in the room can tell those stories in quite the same way.
Image: Best Man Speech: The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Brilliant Wedding Speech
The best best man speeches are personal
If there's one piece of advice I'd give to any best man, it's this:
Don't try to write the speech you think a best man is supposed to give.
Write the speech that only you could give.
Tell the story of your friendship.
Make people laugh.
Say something genuine about the couple.
And finish by raising a glass to their future.
Years from now, the couple probably won't remember every joke you made.
But they will remember how you made them feel.
And if their wedding is professionally filmed, there's a very good chance they'll be able to hear those words again.
Looking for more wedding planning advice?
If you're planning your wedding and want more practical advice, take a look through my Wedding Videography Advice section, where I've created guides covering wedding planning, speeches, wedding timelines, choosing a videographer and other aspects of your wedding day.
You can also read my complete wedding speeches guide for advice covering the different types of wedding speeches and how to make them memorable.
And if you're still looking for someone to capture your wedding day — including all those laughs, tears and unforgettable speeches — I'd love to hear about your plans.
Race Wedding Videography provides cinematic wedding videography across Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex, capturing the moments, voices and atmosphere that make your wedding uniquely yours.
Planning Your Wedding? Check Your Videography Availability
If you're planning your wedding in Suffolk, Norfolk or Essex, and want to make sure the laughter, stories and emotional moments — including your best man's speech — are captured for you to relive for years to come, I'd love to hear from you.
Why not check availability for your wedding date? There's no obligation to book, and I'll personally get back to you with availability, pricing and everything you need to know about having your wedding professionally filmed.
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Before you go, Read my > Mastering Wedding Speeches: Tips for Memorable Moments