Best Man (kind of) speech... help required

thetiltmonster

Right, in a bit of a panic.

I was asked to be witness at a registry ceremony. Obviously I accepted and was delighted to be asked.
Unfortunately, I didn't put two and two together.... and it was only last week I realised I should give a speech. The groom is saying I dont need to, but everyone else is saying I should.

It doesn't have to be long, it in fact should only be 1-2minutes. It's more of an introduction for the grooms speech.

But here I am, with only a few days to go and nothing written (well, nothing good).
I'm starting to think I should pay someone to put it together for me. Obviously I will be providing everything, just need someone to word it for me in a way that works well for a speech.

I had a quick google there but can't find anything. Anyone know of a service like that? Anyone got any pointers??

thetiltmonster

I know it's probably bad to pay someone to write it....... but it would be my stuff, just packaged by a skilled writer.

Era, I probably wont in the end anyway. My issue is that I dont know a huge amount about the groom (strange, I know) and nothing about the bride. It's a tough one.

thetiltmonster

Wow, 60 views and no responses. Thanks people, appreciate the great advice.

Sulkinskimpy

thetiltmonster wrote: »

I know it's probably bad to pay someone to write it....... but it would be my stuff, just packaged by a skilled writer.

Era, I probably wont in the end anyway. My issue is that I dont know a huge amount about the groom (strange, I know) and nothing about the bride. It's a tough one.

Why don't you kow alot about the groom??

maybe if that's the case you don't need to give a speech because no one will want it to sound laboured and forced-if you don't really know them then perhaps no speech is as good as any

if you do feel you need something, tell us something about them and we'll see what we can put together

emarfrog

I think some of the nicest speeches I've heard at weddings are simple and from the heart. So I suggest that you:
1. Congratulate the newly married couple
2. Thank them for the honor of choosing you as their witness
3. Thank anyone else who has helped make the day special
4. Wish them the best of luck in their marriage and life together
5. Propose a toast (if appropriate) to the couple

thetiltmonster

Sulkinskimpy wrote: »

Why don't you kow alot about the groom??

maybe if that's the case you don't need to give a speech because no one will want it to sound laboured and forced-if you don't really know them then perhaps no speech is as good as any

if you do feel you need something, tell us something about them and we'll see what we can put together

Cheers for the reply.

I shouldn't really say I dont know him. I do, and he's someone I'm very fond of and admire. I guess I meant I dont have many funny/crazy stories about him. He's 20+ years older than me.... and not my father.

To be honest, I pretty much have the speech done now myself. I think it's quite good.... I found out that there's quite a bit to say really. What started out as a 1/2 minutes speech is now approx 6 min, maybe more depending on messages etc I have to read out.

thetiltmonster

emarfrog wrote: »

I think some of the nicest speeches I've heard at weddings are simple and from the heart. So I suggest that you:
1. Congratulate the newly married couple
2. Thank them for the honor of choosing you as their witness
3. Thank anyone else who has helped make the day special
4. Wish them the best of luck in their marriage and life together
5. Propose a toast (if appropriate) to the couple

Thanks. That's what I planned really, but as I wrote it it just got longer and longer. I think it runs well together though, and there's a few simple laughs in there as well.

thetiltmonster

btw, in part of the speech I have a section for advice to the married couple.

Now, with me being 20y younger I was going to make a comment about not have much wisdom in the area (I'm single) and give a famous romantic quote or something similar to that.

Any ideas?? Would greatly help to settle that soon.

ThePiedPiper

I'd leave out the advice part and the quote to be honest with you. A few people might get it alright and like it, but there's as much chance, with you being so much younger, that you'll come across as a bit of a know-it-all giving advice to someone 20 years your senior. Also, a lot of people tend to miss the point when quoting from films or such.

Keep it simple, the stories from the past can be hit or miss at weddings. Talk about how the married couple are so lucky to have found each other, how perfect they are together and maybe a little story about how they met.

Best of luck.

thetiltmonster

RunForestRun wrote: »

I'd leave out the advice part and the quote to be honest with you. A few people might get it alright and like it, but there's as much chance, with you being so much younger, that you'll come across as a bit of a know-it-all giving advice to someone 20 years your senior. Also, a lot of people tend to miss the point when quoting from films or such.

Keep it simple, the stories from the past can be hit or miss at weddings. Talk about how the married couple are so lucky to have found each other, how perfect they are together and maybe a little story about how they met.

Best of luck.

Cheers for the advice.

The groom is 20y my elder, but honestly is very young minded... is marrying someone pretty much my age and majority of his friends would be only a few years older than me.

In saying that, I think I will use the advice section to comment on the couple. I have zero idea how they met though so I'll leave that out, but I will say a few things about how happy he is since meeting her etc etc.

Currently, I dont have many stories about him, it's more about my memories of him growing up at family occasions etc and how much I looked up to him. (he was the cool uncle)

There is one story that I added in last night, it's hilarious on it's own, but a friend of mine turned it into a fantasticly funny peom. That's going to be the clincher in the speech and is making me feel much more confident about it.

thetiltmonster

Just to let ye know. It went down fantastically well.... dont think it could have gone any better.