Hi, Friend! Jen Glantz here. I’m a bestselling author, the first ever bridesmaid for hire and have written over 1000 wedding speeches for people all around the world. Let’s talk about how to write a funny best man speech.
This guide will take you step-by-step through crafting a hilarious best man speech that will make the bride and groom proud (and maybe blush a bit). We’ll cover everything from cracking jokes to perfecting your delivery. By the end, you’ll be ready to bring down the house. Let’s get started!
Ready to nail your best man speech? Let’s dive in!
Before you write a single joke or anecdote, you need to understand who you’re speaking to. The wedding reception room will be filled with people from different generations, backgrounds, and relationships to the couple. Your job is to create a speech that resonates with everyone.
Wedding receptions are unique gatherings where multiple social circles intersect. You’ll likely have:
The Family Circle: Parents, grandparents, and relatives who want to hear touching stories about the groom’s journey to this moment. They’re interested in tradition, family values, and heartwarming moments. Your humor needs to be clean and respectful when addressing this group.
Example approach:
“I remember when [Groom] told his parents he met someone special. His mom was thrilled, his dad was relieved, and his bank account was terrified. But looking at how happy he is with [Bride] today, I’d say it was worth every penny spent on those early impression-making dates.”
The Friends Brigade:
College buddies, work colleagues, and social circle members who know the wilder side of the groom’s history. They’ll appreciate inside jokes and references to shared experiences, but remember to provide context for others.
Example approach: “To [Groom]’s university friends here tonight – no, I won’t be mentioning the infamous karaoke incident of 2019. But let’s just say it’s a testament to [Bride]’s love that she still agreed to marry him after seeing that video.”
The Bride’s Side: People who might be meeting you (and learning about the groom) for the first time. They need enough context to feel included in the jokes and stories you tell.
Example approach:
“For those on [Bride]’s side who don’t know [Groom] as well, let me paint you a picture. Before meeting your wonderful [Bride], he was the kind of guy who thought ironing meant hanging his shirt in the bathroom during a hot shower. She’s really upgraded his life skills, and we’re all grateful.”
The key to engaging this diverse audience is finding universal themes that everyone can relate to. Focus on:
Love and Relationships: Everyone understands the journey of finding “the one” and the funny moments along the way.
Example:
“We all know that moment in a relationship when you realize it’s serious. For [Groom], it was when he voluntarily attended a farmers market without complaining. For [Bride], it was probably when she realized he had finally learned to use the washing machine without turning all his whites pink.”
Growing Up and Maturing: Stories about personal growth and life lessons tend to resonate across generations.
Example:
“[Groom]’s journey to becoming husband material has been fascinating to watch. He’s gone from a man whose idea of cooking was microwaving three different frozen meals to someone who knows the difference between sautéing and stir-frying. He still can’t do either, but at least he knows the difference.”
Friendship and Loyalty:
These themes help connect your personal stories to broader, relatable experiences.
Example:
“Friendship with [Groom] has always been an adventure. He’s the kind of friend who would help you move house, fix your car, or hide a body – I mean, help you with gardening. Definitely gardening.”
Introduction Format: “Good evening, everyone. For those who don’t know me, I’m [Name], and I’ve been friends with [Groom] since we thought instant noodles counted as fine dining.”
Key Elements:
Example Opening: “Good evening! I’m Mike, and I’ve had the honor of being [Groom]’s best man today. When he asked me to give this speech, he had two requests: keep it clean, and keep it short. So I had to throw out my first 15 drafts.”
Story Arc: Build your speech like a journey:
Beginning: “I first met [Groom] in university, back when his idea of meal prep was buying three frozen pizzas at once.”
Development: “Over the years, I’ve watched him grow from someone who thought ‘laundry sorting’ meant ‘clean pile’ and ‘dirty pile’ into someone who actually separates his whites and colors. [Bride], I think we both know who we have to thank for that miracle.”
Climax: “The real transformation came when he met [Bride]. Suddenly, the guy who could barely keep a cactus alive was planning romantic dinners and remembering anniversaries.”
Flow Structure:
Elements to Include:
Example Conclusion: “So before I raise this glass, let me say this: [Groom], you’ve been my best friend through thick and thin – mostly thick, thanks to those pizza years. [Bride], you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to him, and that includes the time he won free Netflix for a year. Please join me in raising your glasses to the happy couple – may your love continue to grow, your Netflix queue remain perfectly balanced, and your takeaway orders always arrive hot!”
For more tips, check out this guide on writing a best man speech.
Core Principle: Making yourself the target of jokes establishes goodwill with your audience and shows humility.
Best Used: At the beginning of your speech to break the ice and make yourself relatable.
Example Structure: “When [Groom] asked me to be his best man, I was honored. Then I remembered I had to give a speech, and suddenly his second choice isn’t looking so bad. I’ve been so nervous about this speech that I’ve lost three pounds this week – though looking at this suit, I clearly haven’t lost enough.”
Key Tips:
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Focus Areas: The couple’s relationship quirks and universal wedding experiences.
Example Flow: “I’ve watched [Groom]’s evolution since meeting [Bride]. He’s gone through several fascinating phases:
Best Topics:
Structure Template:
Setup: “Let me tell you about [Groom]’s first attempt at cooking for [Bride].”
Build-Up: “He spent three hours watching cooking videos, bought ingredients I can’t pronounce, and somehow convinced himself he could make restaurant-quality sushi from scratch.”
Complications: “Two hours in, there was rice stuck to the ceiling, seaweed in places seaweed should never be, and the smoke alarm was giving him a standing ovation.”
Punchline: “[Bride] arrived early and caught him trying to hide takeout containers while wearing what looked like a seaweed ninja costume.”
Connection to Present: “And that’s why, to this day, their date nights involve either restaurants or [Bride]’s cooking.”
Get a personalized & funny best man speech here >>
Check out a guide with 100 best man speech jokes here>>
Get a personalized & funny best man speech here >>
Get a personalized & funny best man speech here >>
Get a personalized & funny best man speech here >>
Get a personalized & funny best man speech here >>
Get a personalized & funny best man speech here >>
Get a personalized & funny best man speech here >>
Ladies and gentlemen, for those who don’t know me, I’m Dave, and I’ve been tasked with keeping you entertained while simultaneously embarrassing [Groom’s name]. I’ve known him since we were button-mashing Nintendo controllers, and I can honestly say he’s leveled up significantly since meeting [Bride’s name].
Before [Bride’s name] came along, his idea of a perfect date was a Red Bull-fueled gaming marathon. His dating profile literally said “seeking Player 2 for co-op life mission.” Who knew that would actually work? I remember when he first told me about meeting [Bride’s name]. He said, “She’s different, bro. She actually knows what FPS means!” That’s when I knew she was special.
Their relationship has been like watching someone master a difficult game. First came the tutorial phase – awkward dates and learning each other’s controls. Then the main quest – moving in together and discovering that “cleaning the apartment” means more than just pushing everything under the bed. Now they’ve reached the boss level – marriage.
[Groom’s name] has transformed from someone who thought “commitment” meant pre-ordering a game to someone who plans date nights and remembers anniversaries. Though I notice he still tries to convince [Bride’s name] that “just one more level” is a valid excuse for being late.
To [Bride’s name], you’ve achieved the impossible – you’ve got him to put down his controller without having to cut the power. You’re the cheat code he needed to win at life, and I’ve never seen him happier.
To the happy couple, may your marriage have unlimited lives, no game overs, and plenty of save points along the way. And remember, like any good game, communication is key – especially when one of you has the map and the other one’s too stubborn to ask for directions.
Please raise your glasses to the newest co-op team in town. Game on!
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Good evening everyone! I’m Mike, and I’ve known [Groom’s name] since we were stealing each other’s lunch in primary school. Back then, his idea of flirting was pulling girls’ pigtails. I’m glad to see his technique has improved slightly – though [Bride’s name] might disagree.
You know, preparing this speech was harder than watching [Groom’s name] try to dance – and if you stick around for the first dance, you’ll understand that reference. I’ve got enough embarrassing stories to keep us here until next week’s wedding, but his new mother-in-law has already given me that “keep it clean” look three times.
I remember when [Groom’s name] first met [Bride’s name]. He came home and said, “I’ve met someone special.” I knew she was special because he actually paid for dinner – usually his idea of a fancy date was upgrading his takeaway meal to a large size.
Their relationship has been a journey of discovery. She discovered his unique ability to turn any white shirt grey in the wash. He discovered that “cleaning the house” means more than just creating neat piles of mess. And they both discovered that love means accepting someone even when they think pineapple belongs on pizza.
[Bride’s name], I don’t know how you did it, but you’ve transformed my best friend from someone whose primary food group was instant noodles into a man who knows what quinoa is – even if he still can’t pronounce it correctly.
To the happy couple: may your love continue to grow stronger, your Netflix arguments remain civil, and your takeaway orders always arrive hot. And [Groom’s name], mate, remember – happy wife, happy life. Though looking at [Bride’s name] right now, I’d say you’ve already figured that out.
Let’s raise our glasses to the couple who proves that true love can survive questionable fashion choices, dodgy dance moves, and even different pizza topping preferences!
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Ladies and gentlemen, I’m Tom, and I’ve had the pleasure of working with [Groom’s name] for the past five years. When he asked me to be his best man, I assumed it was because I’ve covered for him at so many Monday morning meetings that I deserve some recognition.
I’ve watched [Groom’s name] evolve from a guy whose idea of a productive day was clearing his email inbox by moving everything to spam, to someone who actually sets reminders for important dates – though we all know that’s [Bride’s name]’s influence.
The office was quite invested in their love story. We knew something was different when he started taking lunch breaks instead of eating at his desk while watching cat videos. Then came the day he asked for IT’s help to make a PowerPoint presentation – not for work, but for his proposal. That’s when we knew it was serious.
[Bride’s name], I have to thank you. Since meeting you, his timekeeping has improved dramatically. He’s gone from “the dog ate my laptop” to actually showing up on time. Though I notice he still uses “traffic was terrible” as an excuse, even when working from home.
Our department has a betting pool on various aspects of [Groom’s name]’s life. The odds were 100-to-1 against him finding someone who could put up with his dad jokes. [Bride’s name], you’ve cost me twenty quid, but I couldn’t be happier to lose that bet.
To the newlyweds: may your shared calendar notifications always sync, your WiFi connection remain strong, and your love story continue to crash our office productivity in the best possible way.
Raise your glasses to the couple who proves that love can blossom even under fluorescent lighting and endless Zoom calls!
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Good evening! I’m [Groom’s name]’s brother, and I’ve been waiting for this moment since he put gum in my hair when we were kids. Don’t worry, [Bride’s name], he’s much more mature now – he switched to sticky notes.
Growing up with [Groom’s name] was like having a personal comedian who occasionally stole your clothes. He once convinced me that the washing machine was a time machine and that if I sat in it long enough, I’d meet dinosaurs. Mom wasn’t impressed when she found me there three hours later.
When he told us he’d met someone special, we were shocked. Not because he’d met someone – but because she was actually real this time. Sorry, [Groom’s name], but your imaginary girlfriend from Canada doesn’t count.
[Bride’s name], you really are a miracle worker. You’ve managed to teach him that pants don’t belong on the floor, that plants need water to live, and that “I’ll do it later” isn’t a valid time measurement. Our mother had been trying to teach him these things for decades.
I’ve watched my brother grow from someone who thought meal prep meant ordering takeaway in advance, to a man who can actually cook something without setting off the smoke alarm. Though I notice he still calls mom for recipe advice – and by recipe advice, I mean basic instructions like “how long to boil water.”
To my new sister-in-law: welcome to the family! We’re not crazy, we’re just enthusiastically quirky. And to my brother: you’ve finally found someone who laughs at your jokes – though we all know she’s just being polite.
Let’s raise our glasses to the happy couple. May your love continue to grow, your adventures never end, and your family gatherings always have backup takeaway menus!
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Ladies and gentlemen, I’m Chris, and like any good sports commentator, I’m here to give you the play-by-play of [Groom’s name]’s journey to this moment. I’ve known him since our university days, when his idea of a perfect match was finding someone who could handle his fantasy football obsession.
[Groom’s name] approached dating like he approaches his beloved team – with blind optimism and questionable strategy. His chat-up lines were about as successful as our team’s defense, which isn’t saying much. But then, like a surprise victory in extra time, [Bride’s name] came along.
Their first date was like watching a rookie’s debut match – plenty of nerves, a few fumbles, but ultimately a game-changing performance. He was so nervous, he actually wore a tie – though we later found out it was technically a Christmas decoration.
[Bride’s name], you’ve achieved what no coach could – you’ve got him to follow directions, stick to a game plan, and occasionally wear matching socks. You’ve even got him watching rom-coms without checking the sports scores every five minutes. Though I notice he still sneaks a peek during the emotional monologues.
Their relationship has had all the elements of a classic sporting season – the warm-up period of dating, the tactical planning of moving in together, and now the championship game of marriage. And like any good team, they’ve learned that success comes from playing to each other’s strengths – she remembers important dates, he remembers obscure sports statistics.
To the newlyweds: may your marriage be like your favorite team – resilient through the tough matches, celebrating the victories together, and always playing on the same side.
Raise your glasses to the happy couple – the greatest team-up since pizza and beer!
Get a personalized & funny best man speech here >>
Basic Formula: Two normal items + one surprising twist
Examples:
Definition: Referencing an earlier joke later in the speech
Example Structure:
Initial Reference: “When I first met [Groom], his idea of fine dining was adding hot sauce to instant noodles.”
Middle Callback: “Then he met [Bride], and suddenly he knew about wine pairing – though he still keeps a secret hot sauce stash.”
Final Callback: “So let’s raise a glass to the happy couple – may your love be as spicy as [Groom]’s hidden hot sauce collection.”
Technique: Lead the audience one way, then surprise them with an unexpected twist
Examples: “[Groom] has changed so much since meeting [Bride]. He’s more mature, more responsible, more organized… Sorry, I’m talking about a different [Groom]. Our [Groom] just learned how to use the washing machine last week.”
“Marriage has already transformed [Groom]. He’s started eating healthier, exercising more, and… oh wait, that’s his New Year’s resolution list from 2019. Still waiting on those to happen.”
Volume Management:
Emphasis Techniques:
Body Language:
Eye Contact:
Speech Rhythm:
Laughter Management:
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