Comments on: Dim & Dash: The Best Man’s Toast

By: Gabe

Gabe — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 22:20:46 +0000

Not to mention, Dash hangs out with people of all colors! Whereas Dim is apparently a slightly less colorful, cheap, and likes to wear his frat boy hats to weddings.

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:52:03 +0000

Please remember it is a “toast” not a “speech.” After saying what you have to say, and thanking all the appropriate people, finish with “Join me in toasting…” or “So here’s to…” Then raise your glass and have a sip of your drink before sitting down.

I have watched too many best men finish their (otherwise fine) speech with everyone looking around awkardly wondering if it is over and now is the time to toast. Or what’s going on now?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 03:18:31 +0000

Hmm…I’ll be giving my first ever best man speech in a few months.

What is the average length? I’m thinking short, to the point and as has been established, focused on the couple. With an attempt at humor.

I’m thinking around the 60 second mark.

By: Alexander Tronchin-James

Alexander Tronchin-James — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 04:01:49 +0000

Reading this post reminds me of a great toast to be delivered only at bachelor parties (best in a drunken stupor, roared over a loud bar standing on a chair or something):

Here’s to the women we love the best
We love them best when they’re undressed
And when they’re dead and long forgotten
We’ll dig them up
And f*** them rotten

I know, it’s savage, but here’s the key: since everyone will think you have only one toast, to really impress the below is then delivered at the wedding (also well drunken or faking, so they think you just might do it):

Here’s to the women we love the best (same first line! gesturing the raised glass at the bride and bridesmaids. pause for suspense, aside to groomsmen: “don’t worry, it’s not that one!”)
And here’s to the men who passed the test (gesturing to other groomsmen)
Here’s to their folks, who brought them around (to the parents)
May they live long and prosper
And love abound

I have delivered the first at many a bachelor party (picked up long ago from someone’s dad at a bachelor party), but I just now conceived the second and the sequence, and will have to try out the combo at an upcoming bachelor party this weekend and wedding following. Concise, suspenseful, respectful, and celebratory.

By: rOGER

rOGER — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:15:28 +0000

Remember that the speech is about the new couple not about you. I have had to sit through too many best man speeches given by self absorbed best men. They drone on about growing up with the groom, living with the groom, having wild times with the groom. Save that for the bachelor’s party. The best man speech is about the new couple.

I’ve given two best man speeches. The first I wrote ahead of time. The second I put together in my head as people were arriving for the ceremony. In both cases my number one rule was to not use the words “I” or “me” in the speech. Both went over very well. After the first one the parents of the groom asked me for a copy of the speech so that they could have frame it and give it to the newly weds as a gift. After the second my parents walked up to me and said that they never knew I could speak like that.

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 02:48:05 +0000

There are many aspects and situations that come into play when developing a speech… As for a bestman’s speech, you have to take into consideration that what you say will be (in most cases) documented on video for the bride and groom to cherish forever. You want it to be perfect for them. Sure for some, Dim is great, and for others they’ll want Dash.. But the biggest question in a bestman speech is simply “What am I going to say?” People get stuck on that question all the time because of either stage fright or fear of upsetting someone. I’ve given speeches over 100′s in three different languages someone front of 1,000′s of people. The hardest speech I’ve ever had to put together was a bestman speech, which I’ve only done one.. Best advice is ask the bride and groom for some guidelines.

By: Bobby

Bobby — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 00:38:34 +0000

I would much rather hang out with Dim

By: the commodore

the commodore — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 22:47:16 +0000

My best man at my wedding had, in my opinion, the “best” best man speech I’ve heard to date. It started…..

“Giving this speech, like it would be for most people, is extremely nerve racking. I’ve read many books and articles online about how to perform a good best man speech. Everything I read, said be charming and humorous. That’s when I really panicked, because I was none of those.”

At the end of that, he had every ear at the wedding.

By: cappidad

cappidad — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:08:43 +0000

Hooray for pointing out what should be common sense, but in today’s world of increasing societal coarseness……..profanity in public by men and women, wearing ball caps in restaurants (don’t get me started on that), wife-beaters being worn anywhere in public, etc……..I’m not surprised by the need for this. Every Best Man could help the cause by simply sticking with iced tea, water, or Diet Coke at the rehearsal dinner, BEFORE giving his toast. You can always get blitzed later while accosting every semi-attractive bridesmaid. A bit off-point: one of the best one-quarter courses I took in college was Public Speaking, bar none. That’s helped me greatly during my adult life. If you’re already past college, go join a speaking group or take a course. It will make a big difference if you’re not a comfortable speaker. And, remove your hat indoors!

By: don Roberto

don Roberto — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 03:35:09 +0000

Don't do this (entirely work-safe)