One of my best friends is getting married this October. He asked me to be the best man. I gladly accepted. Then, I realized I had to give the best man toast. Hmm, I’ve never done that before. So, I went did some research on the internet to help me write a great best man toast.

I’m not the greatest public speaker, so I thought of just finding a generic toast online and inserting the names of my friend and his bride. Well, I reconsidered because it seemed lame. I want to make my best man toast special and memorable for my friend and his bride. I did more internet research to help me get on the right track. Here’s a couple principles I found to writing a great best man toast.

You should definitely include these things in a best man toast:

Introduce yourself.

Thank the people hosting the wedding (usually the parents of the bride)

At the end of the speech, offer well wishes to the bride and groom with a final “congratulations” and “cheers.” That’s the easy part of the best man toast. What should you say during the middle of your speech?

First, it is helpful to think about the couple and brainstorm a few ideas. Are there any stories about the couple that perfectly illustrate their relationship and why they are perfect for each other? Quirky stories are often the most memorable parts of a best man toast so don’t be afraid to be funny. Just be sure to keep it clean for the kids and grandparents present. Thinking about how things have changed since the couple met can also be a good way to add meaning and a good dose of sincerity to your best man toast.

What are some words you would use to describe the bride and the groom? Can any of those adjectives work together in your best man toast? Remember, if you’re poking fun at the groom, keep smiling and keep it lighthearted during your delivery so no one gets offended. You know the couple, so don’t mention anything in your best man toast that will not be well-received.

In your best man toast, you can offer advice for the couple (keep it light!) or talk about your own perceptions of marriage. Finally, don’t forget these important principles: keep the best man toast meaningful without rambling, make sure to give many well wishes to the couple, and don’t forget to toast at the end of your speech.

Wish me luck as I try to apply these principles to my best man toast!