Choosing a suitable best man for your wedding is a big decision and certainly not one to be made lightly. For a groom, choosing the best man is one of the most important decisions that he will have to make for his wedding day. A best man needs to be someone who can support you through the process, be reliable and of course help out on the day.
What Does a Best Man Do?
The best man is responsible for doing lots of jobs in the run up to the wedding, such as organising the stag do, helping you out with planning and preparation and of course on the day, he will be responsible for taking care of the rings. You need to choose someone who is reliable and will be able to be on hand to provide that support to you.
The Best Man’s Speech
A best man will also be required to give a speech on the day, so it needs to be someone who is happy to do this. Writing a great speech is something that doesn’t come naturally to everyone; however, there is plenty of help available, such as this best man speech template speechy.com/product/templates/best-man-speech-template/
Handling a Change of Plan
Another thing to be aware of is if you have previously promised the role to someone else, such as a brother or another friend. If you change your mind, you need to handle the situation graciously as the other person is likely to be upset. Whatever you do, don’t then ask them for expensive gifts or expect them to still help with the planning, as they are not likely to want to do that after being snubbed!
Related: What to Check in a Cotswolds Hotel Wedding Venue Contract
Structuring the speech from start to finish
Whatever the occasion, a good speech follows the same basic structure, and confidence comes more easily when you know where you are going. Practice, and learning a few public speaking techniques, can help a nervous best man a great deal.
Start with an introduction. At a wedding, that means introducing yourself to the guests so everyone understands who is speaking and what to expect. Be clear in your own mind about what the speech is going to cover before you stand up.
The body is the main part of the speech, where you give guests an insight into the groom, and perhaps the bride, through the stories you want to share. Plan each section carefully so it flows in a logical order rather than jumping between ideas. Finally, finish with a short conclusion that briefly sums up the key points, so the speech ends cleanly rather than trailing off.