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 speech, and who knows, you may even have fun doing it.

Before you even start your speech, get comfortable and relaxed. Writing a speech while you’re relaxed will help you write relaxed, and in turn, speak more relaxed. The best speech will come from an open, relaxed mind, so make sure you’re in a comfortable mind set.

Avoid giving your speech a rigid structure. You want to avoid sounding like a 5th grader’s first essay paper. Trust in your personality and have some ingenuity, and you can write an original, creative, and memorable speech that the whole audience will never forget.

The best man speeches examples 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 man speech without incident. Everyone knows that making a best man speech is hard, so practice all you can and do your best.