There are a variety of ways you can reduce stage fright. Probably the best thing you can do is be prepared. By being prepared, you can walk into your best mans speech with confidence, knowing that you have what you want to say and you can say it well. A good way to do this is to practice in the mirror. Close your eyes and pretend you’re in the reception hall, take a deep breath, and start. If you need to, start by only saying little pieces at a time, then gradually build up to the whole speech. Once you have practiced the whole speech, do it again and try not to stop. If you get stuck, do your best to finish calmly and with feeling. By preparing for a mistake, you can be ready for the worst case scenario, and probably even avoid one altogether.

Breathing exercises are one of the best ways to quickly reduce your tension and help you relax. Go online and look some up and practice them. Remembering to breathe during your speech is also important. Sometimes, someone can get so nervous that they say everything in one breath, making them sound rushed and tired. Simply being relaxed can help you prevent having to experience this. Being relaxed creates a more natural breathing pattern, a slower heart rate, and a calmer voice, which all help in contributing to a good speech. Keep your muscles relaxed to avoid looking like a talking mannequin.

Act natural, and be yourself. If it helps, picture how a comedian is on stage. They look very relaxed and comfortable, even though they are the center of attention. You can have a drink to reduce your nervousness, but absolutely do not get drunk. Your goal isn’t to embarrass yourself in front of the entire crowd, so don’t let stage fright drive you into drowning your anxiety. You want your best man speechs to be memorable, but for the right reasons.

A lot of people talk about not being sure what to do with their hands while they’re speaking. Having them hang at your sides looks and feels unnatural, but you don’t want to look like a mime either. A rolled up paper towel makes a great homemade stress ball. It keeps your hands busy while also absorbing sweat. Just do your best to make it as inconspicuous as possible.

You don’t want people to spend the entirety of your speech trying to figure out what you have in your hand. A glass of water nearby does more than slake your thirst. It also provides a little opportunity to gather your thoughts and refocus. Holding your glass could be a bad idea. If you are getting into your speech and forget what you’re holding, you risk spilling it, or even worse, tossing on the Bride.

Take a few seconds before you start your best mans speeches to “get in the zone.” There are tons of people who will never get the opportunity to give such a memorable best man wedding speeches to their best friend, father, or son.