Oh, boy! You’re the groom’s brother, and now he’s asked you to stand up for him at his wedding as his best man. What a tremendous honor! Brothers have an incredible bond, and we know that you are probably pretty stoked to be asked to perform the best man duties.
Planning the bachelor party is what you are looking forward to most, but don’t forget about the best man speech. If the toast has you a little tense and stressed, we’re here to help. We’ve created the ultimate guide on how to write a kick-ass brother of the groom’s best man speech.
We’re sure you’re going to rock this!
THE MEAT & POTATOES OF A GREAT BEST MAN SPEECH
We know that there is a lot of pressure on the best man for preparing a wedding toast that is funny, memorable, and even a little emotional. After all, it is probably the most anticipated speech of the night. Why?
Well, generally speaking, the best man speech tends to include some hilarious outtakes from your time with the groom. And sometimes even some embarrassing moments. So, sure the pressure is on. Luckily with this guide, you will be able to put the anxiety to the side, quell the nerves and write a best man toast that everyone will enjoy.
WHAT SHOULD YOUR BROTHER OF THE GROOM SPEECH INCLUDE?
- A welcome and a thank you to the guests.
- Memorable stories about your relationship.
- A bit about the groom’s exceptional traits and accomplishments
- About meeting the love of his life
- A message to the bride
- Raising your glass to toast the newlyweds
Image Source: Shutterstock.comHOW TO WRITE A ROCKSTAR BROTHER OF THE GROOM TOAST
- Be personal; you are the brother, after all.
- Discover a theme (funny, emotional, heartfelt, inspirational, etc.)
- Follow a brother of the groom speech template or outline to keep you organized.
- Write it down! Don’t just wing it, have your speech written on paper or on your phone.
- Practice, practice, practice! Make sure to practice your speech before the wedding day. You can do it in front of a friend for feedback or just in the mirror. You can thank us later.
- Don’t spend too much time taking jabs, although a few are welcomed and sometimes needed to break the ice.
- Don’t wait until the night before to create a rough draft. Come back to it several times to perfect what you want to convey.
- Practice! You’ll be surprised how much nerves and emotions can take over at the moment, but if you’re familiar with your words, you’ll stay on track!
BROTHER OF THE GROOM, BEST MAN SPEECH OUTLINE EXAMPLE
If public speaking is not your forte, we recommend that you follow a brother of the groom speech outline or template. Nerves are a real thing, we know! Having an outline to follow can help you ease into the speech and dismiss any nerves or anxiety.
It’s such a simple public speaking trick, but it really works because it keeps you organized. Here is an example of an easy-to-follow brother of the groom speech outline.
- Introduce yourself and share your relationship with the groom
- Thank other speakers, guests, and vendors
- Congratulate the newlyweds
- Say some favorable words about your brother’s new spouse
- Add in a joke or funny story about the groom
- Read any messages from guests that could not attend
- Propose a toast to the couple
TIPS FOR KNOCKING YOUR BROTHER OF THE GROOM SPEECH OUT OF THE PARK
If you really want to create a memorable brother of the groom speech, we have a few tips. We don’t think you should roast the groom or embarrass him beyond words, but you can definitely have a little fun with your brother of the groom’s best man toast.
- Find a killer opening line – this will set the tone for the toast
- Quote a few famous quotes or a poem
- Stay sober (at least until after your speech)
- Check your tone. No one wants to hear a boring speech. And since yours is the last toast of the night, make sure it is full of energy; it’s upbeat, engaging, and captivating.
- Avoid inside jokes
- Keep it short! The couple and guests will be ready to get the party started, so keep it short.
- Don’t wing it or write it the night before. Put some real thought and preparation into it. Start writing your brother of the groom speech at least two weeks ahead. This will give you time to perfect it, practice it, and get comfortable presenting it.
- Remember to be yourself.
- Don’t try to be a comedian if you aren’t naturally funny.
HIRE A PROFESSIONAL BROTHER OF THE GROOM SPEECH WRITER
Once you get started writing your brother of the groom toast, you may find that you have writer’s block. Or maybe you have plenty that you want to say, but it seems messy, and you’re not sure how to get it to flow seamlessly. If this is where you are, don’t be afraid to hire someone to help. Some freelance writers can help you write a best man speech that you (and the groom) will be proud of. Google it, and we’re sure you will find someone to help.
Image Source: Shutterstock.comHOW TO GET A DIG IN ON THE GROOM DURING SPEECH – TACTFULLY
We know most wedding guests expect to hear some funny (or hilarious) dig on the groom during the best man speech. But, please have some heart and make sure you do it tactfully. It is, after all, his wedding day. Here are a few ideas on how to do it.
Won’t Be Winning Any Singing Competition:
“I’d like to tell you that [groom] sings with a lot of feeling. But I can’t lie to you—if he had any feelings, he wouldn’t be singing at all – not even in the shower.”
Culinary Expert He Is Not:
“We shared an apartment for years during college. When we moved in, we decided that it was his job to cook all of our meals, and my job was to go from room to room removing all the batteries from each smoke alarm.”
Chats A Lot:
“[Groom] has many talents of which I am proud of most. Like his innate and uncanny ability to chat for hours on absolutely any subject —and days if he actually knows something about it. Oh, wait! That’s not one that I’m proud of.”
WHAT NOT TO TALK ABOUT IN YOUR BROTHER OF THE GROOM SPEECH
Just as there are things you “should” include in your brother of the groom speech, there are also things that you should exclude from your toast. If you want your brother to still love you after your speech and your parents to keep you in the will, don’t include any of these things in your brother of the groom’s toast.
- The exes – don’t bring up ANY, and we mean ANY exes
- Politics
- Nothing negative, especially about marriage
- Inside jokes
- Nothing of a sexual nature
AWESOME EXAMPLES OF BROTHER’S BEST MAN SPEECHES
STAYING SENTIMENTAL
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Nick, I’m Joe’s brother, and I’m honored to be serving as his best man tonight.
Those who don’t know much about me and Joe’s relationship, let me fill you in a bit. I’m the older guy, which means I’ve been around for his entire life. And I’ve had the privilege of watching him grow into the best man I know, aside from our own father.
I like to think that I’ve impacted his life somehow, but really, he’s impacted mine the most. I wanted a little brother so much before he came into my life. I wished, and I wished, and I couldn’t be more thrilled or feel incredibly lucky that God decided to give me Joe. Helping me build my sense of humor and giving me an ego boost along the way, he’s shaped me into becoming a better man myself.
Partners in crime, wingmen, and best friends, I am so happy that he’s chosen to spend his life with Cindy. If I could mold a woman specifically for my brother, it would have been her in every way. You’ve both gotten so lucky.
Let’s all raise our glass to Joe, his beautiful new wife, and the incredible journey they’re about to embark on.”
FUNNY AND UPBEAT
SHORT BROTHER OF THE GROOM SPEECH
“Good evening, everyone; from the moment that [Groom] met [Bride], I knew that this was going to be something special.
The way you two talk to each other, you’re so alike sometimes that honestly, it kind of scares me.
But to quote Mark Twain, ‘To get the full value of joy, you must have someone to divide it with.’ May your love be timeless.”
HEARTFELT BROTHER OF THE GROOM TOAST
“Most of you here know me, but for those that don’t, I am George, the groom’s older brother. I would like to say that I have been an inspiration to how Gregory has lived his life and the man he has become, but honestly, he has been more of an inspiration to me than I have been to him. His zest for life, undying love for family and friends, and his kind and generous heart are things that I, as his older brother, try to emulate.
As I stand here today, watching my baby brother marry the love of his life, Meghan, I cannot help but dream of the triumphs that we are all about to witness between the two of them.
Meghan, I cannot imagine any more perfect woman and wife for Gregory. Your calm and loving ways compliment him, ways I never knew possible. The way you look at him makes me long for that type of love when I finally find a wife (that’ll put up with me). And I know every best man includes this in their speech, but I can honestly say that I have never seen you look more radiant or beautiful than you do today. My wish for you is that the glow you have today is what you feel every day and what my brother sees every morning and night.
May your love continue to grow and blossom as each year and milestone passes. Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses to toast my baby brother and his wife for life. To Gregory & Meghan!”