He knows how much you hate public speaking, but he asked you to be his Best Man anyway. You remember the last time you had to make a speech. It was last year in your Environmental Conservation class, and you said “sex” instead of “six.” So, he’s just trying to torture you right? Probably not. Being a Best Man is an honor, and he liked you enough to ask you to be his. You’re not even completely sure what a best man does. If you are unsure where to begin, you aren’t alone. Tons of guys are in a situation similar to yours, and I bet if you looked hard enough, you could find a Best Man Support Group online. However, you won’t need to join any kind of support group. A little advice and some practice can help you write an awesome best man wedding speeches, and who knows, you may even have fun doing it.

First off, take a deep breath and relax. This speech needs to be from the heart, not formulated and insincere. Get in a good frame of mind. If you can write your speech while you’re relaxed, you can sound more relaxed when you stand up in front of the crowd and maybe feel a little less nervous. You don’t want your speech to resemble a conglomerate of all the messages in the Hallmark aisle at your local grocery store; it needs to be relevant and personal.

Also, forget any sort of formal structure you have ever learned when writing an essay or presentation. You don’t need a thesis or body paragraphs or anything. You want your speech to be conversational and to flow naturally. So tap into some fond memories and get ready to start your speech.

The best mans speech generally contains an introduction, some good memories of the Groom, and a final toast to the wedded couple. The speech usually falls between three to five minutes long. Any longer than that and the audience might get bored. The speech takes place during the reception and usually follows a few other speakers, such as the Father of the Bride, among others. Start your speech by introducing yourself. Make sure you address your relationship with the groom, as this heavily affects the mood and content of your speech. Whether you’re the father, son, cousin, best friend, or brother to the Groom opens different opportunities for you to add special touches to your speech.

A note card with some keywords on it is alright to keep on hand, but don’t write down your entire speech. Having just a few keywords keeps your speech sounding natural and in your own words, as opposed to reading directly off a paper, which looks insincere and tacky. With enough practice, you won’t even have to use your note card. Keep your card on you as a security blanket, just in case your nerves get the better of you and you forget what to say next. Simply knowing you have a little backup could possibly prevent you needing one all together.

Everyday people who are terrified of public speeches stand in front of a crowd and deliver their best mans speech without incident. Everyone knows that making a best mans speech is hard, so practice all you can and do your best.