Your best friend is getting married and you have been asked to be the best man. Maybe you’ve been to a couple weddings before, but you had hit the bar a little too early and pretty much missed whatever the Best Man said. Now here you are, slumped over some index cards or your computer, trying to formulate the golden Best Man speech. What are you supposed to say anyway? Is it supposed to be funny? Sad? Appropriate? A little advice can go a long way when creating a best man speeches brother, or really any speech in general. Although your speech is important, it doesn’t need to be traumatic at all. In fact, it should be fun! You get to be in the limelight for a little, and who knows, maybe get the attention of that cute bridesmaid.

Before you even start your speech, get comfortable and relaxed. Writing a speech while you’re relaxed will help you write relaxed, and in turn, speak more relaxed. The best speech will come from an open, relaxed mind, so make sure you’re in a comfortable mind set.

Next, forget structures and organization. Your speech should be conversational and natural, not sounding like an essay on bacteria. You don’t need to include body paragraphs or a thesis sentence in your introduction. Make sure what you say is genuine and that it actually applies to the Groom. Try to avoid distractions, sometimes the best speeches just come from a train of thought. Spend a little bit reflecting on your relationship with the Groom, and maybe jot down some key points you’d like to touch on. A creative, memorable, heart-warming speech is possible, and with a little help, you can write one.

The best mans speech generally contains an introduction, some good memories of the Groom, and a final toast to the wedded couple. The speech usually falls between three to five minutes long. Any longer than that and the audience might get bored. The speech takes place during the reception and usually follows a few other speakers, such as the Father of the Bride, among others. Start your speech by introducing yourself. Make sure you address your relationship with the groom, as this heavily affects the mood and content of your speech. Whether you’re the father, son, cousin, best friend, or brother to the Groom opens different opportunities for you to add special touches to your speech.

It’s okay to keep a note card with keywords written on it. That doesn’t mean have a script. Reading from a piece of paper lacks ingenuity and reflects a lack of effort. By keeping an index card with some main ideas on it, you can glance down if you get stuck and quickly pick up where you left off. Try your best not to rely on your note card, though. Practice without it and keep it with you just as a crutch. Just relax and do what you’ve practiced, knowing you have a quick save if you need it.

Everyday people who are terrified of public speeches stand in front of a crowd and deliver their best man wedding speech without incident. Everyone knows that making a best mans speech is hard, so practice all you can and do your best.