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#1
08-24-2007, 02:56 PM
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OT: Need to give speech at wedding
any speech writers here? what do I say? Groom is my brother. He's a cycling nut, likes the outdoors. Bride isn't much of an outdoor person, but she's got an open mind and good attitude. I haven't known her very long - a group dinner here and there. My brother convinced her to go on a 16 mi hike in the Sierras with us once - it happened to rain that day, it was cold and windy, she slipped and feel on her ***, but she kept a smile - even though she later revealed to my brother that she wanted to cry. So I'm thinking I should say something about that (not the crying since I'm not supposed to know).
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#2
08-24-2007, 03:11 PM
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Not for nuthin', I've had to do a few of these, and I've seen a bunch. Everyone notices when you go out of your way to address the positive attributes of the bride, too many best men go on about their relationship with the groom (your brother) and barely mention the bride. Just by what you have written it's obvious you won't fall into that camp, and it sounds like you already have a great anecdote about her positive attitude in the face of a rough dose of mother nature already.
The only other thing I think is important is to remember to remind everyone is how good it was for him to have met her. I think every best man's toast should end with the fact that the groom is a better person for/since being with his bride, in your eyes the thing she's done that is most praiseworthy is making your brother the happiest he's ever been. Shouldn't be a dry eye in the house. Even better if it's true. PS This does not mean you should skip over the touching anecdote about you and your brother, just be sure to add to it.
__________________
Friends don't let friends ride junk!
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#3
08-24-2007, 03:16 PM
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short and sweet
smile say nice things about the couple say thankyou to everyone for coming the story about the rainy hike could be nice if you are tactful...or she might cry wedding speeches should be about them, not you. don't try to impress people with what a great comedian you are. i've seen too many f***ed up speeches that were obviously auditions for something.
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#4
08-24-2007, 03:21 PM
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We cyclists . . .
__________________
--- __0 __0 __0 ----_-\<,_ -\<, _(_)(_)/_(_)/ (_) A thing of beauty is a joy forever--Keats
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#5
08-24-2007, 03:23 PM
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don't say anything bad/demeaning about her. imo, the story about her falling is a no go.
you are allowed to say something slightly embarrasing about the groom, but it should not involve: alcohol, women, etc. describe the situation whereby you realized that this was the perfect woman for your brother. tell him in front of everyone how lucky he is to have her for his bride. toast to their future together. <3 minutes.
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#6
08-24-2007, 03:27 PM
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Perfect . . .
Quote:
__________________
--- __0 __0 __0 ----_-\<,_ -\<, _(_)(_)/_(_)/ (_) A thing of beauty is a joy forever--Keats
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#7
08-24-2007, 03:31 PM
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um...
yeah .. don't be a comedy writer.. just be genuine and keep it thoughtful, and warm. do a little google search on wedding speeches.... ... Svoop? wow... well done. Last edited by swoop; 08-24-2007 at 03:58 PM.
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#8
08-24-2007, 03:38 PM
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Here's my free and therefore worthless advice
Speak from the heart, welcome her to the family, and put any petty differences aside
Consider mention of the courage and enthusiasm they are bringing to the union, which they'll need in the inevitable tough times ahead (plenty of public examples right here on this board, unfortunately  ) You could digress here to make mention of the hiking story.If you think they want kids make some mention of family and the future. If it is all about your bro bc. you don't know her well then consider making a statement that you are looking forward to getting to know your new sister... Or you could just quote from Springsteen's Tunnel of Love: Then the lights go out and its just the three of us You me and all that stuff were so scared of Gotta ride down baby into this tunnel of love Theres a crazy mirror showing us both in 5-d I'm laughing at you you're laughing at me There's a room of shadows that gets so dark brother It's easy for two people to lose each other in this tunnel of love It ought to be easy ought to be simple enough Man meets woman and they fall in love But the house is haunted and the ride gets rough And youve got to learn to live with what you cant rise above if you want to ride on down in through this tunnel of love Have fun! 
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#9
08-24-2007, 03:50 PM
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A litmus test, in the church / synagogue / a silent corn field … wherever this is happening. You fart loudly. What happens? 1) Outright laughter. 2) People giggle to themselves. 3) Everyone acts like it didn’t happen. 4) People talk bad about you under their breath. 4) People talk about your lack of couth loud enough for you to hear.
I say think about and know your audience. If the answer is 1-3 you are good to go with the hiking story and other comments. Speak from the heart … if you feel so inclined say something about your brother’s childhood and him growing up into a man marrying a wonderful woman, may he one day prove himself worthy … if the answer is 4-5, skip the stories. Say a nice sentence or two and sit down rapidly. edited to add, i agree with the < 3min. time yourself. Last edited by gt6267a; 08-24-2007 at 03:57 PM.
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#10
08-24-2007, 03:55 PM
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Quote:
I was Crossjunkee's best man last year. Short and sweet. Thank the guests for coming, praise the bride, get one good laugh at the groom's expense 
__________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize that half of them are stupider than that. - George Carlin
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#11
08-24-2007, 04:17 PM
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Good thanks. I got a better direction on where to go. Yes, I definitely don't want this to end up being a tribute to my brother kind of speech. I was at a wedding once where the best man did a 10 min. speech about what a great fella the groom was and didn't mention the bride once.
Speech will be at some banquet place (not church - they're not religious), friends (my brother's) though well-educated are pretty laid back and enjoy scatological humor. Not too sure about the bride's.
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#12
08-24-2007, 05:18 PM
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Maybe you don't want to be funny, but...
a friend had given every woman at the reception a key, and at the beginning of the speech, said he had to collect all of the outstanding keys that the groom had given to girlfriends over the years. Every woman, young and old, proceeded to stand up, go forward, and hand in a key. Funny?
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#13
08-24-2007, 05:44 PM
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Try this...."In days of old, when knights were bold, and ladies weren't particular.....". Wait, that's from my book of dirty Irish Limericks. Try this site instead.
www.weddingtoasts.com
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#14
08-24-2007, 05:59 PM
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nope not to the bride where i was best man
Quote:
the bride had a great sense of humor by the way--i know her well still, and i know by her expression she did not find it funny, but she was a good sport about it. weddings for most women i know are a huge thing--for some the thing. funny in a really sweet way is good, being vulgar, sophmoric, crass, etc is not what i think most want for that day. I agree that something that emphasises what all hope--that the whole is better than the parts, that the love is inspiring, etc
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#15
08-24-2007, 06:04 PM
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short.
touching. funny bits. don't use any jokes or gags you have heard at other weddings. make the bride feel a bazillion dollars. rehearse, rehease, rehease. rewrite. rehearse. rewrite. rehearse. even the most seemingly off-the-cuff comedy routines have been tweaked extensively. delivery, pauses, facial expresions all help sell it. if you've never seem the documentary on seinfeld called 'comedian' it's a great look at the anguish and hard work that goes into coming up with good original material. jack + coke seems to help too.
__________________
Olympic hopefull 2008/2112/2116/2020/2024
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