Best Man Tips

People to Mention

Make a list of people you have to mention or thank in your speech. In a second marriage, for example, if the couple have children, they should be mentioned in the speeches in an appropriate way - the father of the bride maybe a grandfather, or now a step-grandfather; the groom may just have become a step-father - and the children, especially young children, should be reassured that they are an important part of a now larger family.

Make sure you include everyone you should mention. It would be a terrible faux pas to give a long list of thank yous and omit some key person who has contributed a lot to the success of the day. Similarly with compliments: while, for example, it is not necessary for the two mothers to be complimented on how wonderful they look in every speech, it would be a great pity if no one paid them a compliment in any of the speeches, while on the other hand praising the bride and the bridesmaid. Check with the other speakers who is going to mention whom.

Make sure you get everyone's name right, and in the case of uncommon or peculiar names, make sure you know how to pronounce them correctly.