Best man opening lines that actually work.
The first 10 seconds of your speech set the tone for everything that follows. Here are 15 proven openers — each one explained so you can adapt it to your situation.
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The opening line of a best man speech is the hardest to write — and the most important to get right. Get it right and the room relaxes, trusts you, and leans in. Get it wrong and you spend the next five minutes trying to recover. These 15 examples are here to help you find your version.
15 opening lines — with explanations
Each line is followed by a note on why it works and how to make it your own.
“Good evening. I should warn you I've been asked to keep this short. I can already tell you that isn't going to happen.”
Why it works: Sets up immediate expectations, gets a laugh through understatement, and signals confidence. The room is immediately on your side.
“For those of you who don't know me, I'm James — Tom's best man and the person he calls when he's done something he shouldn't have. Which tells you more about our friendship than anything I could say.”
Why it works: Introduces you, establishes your role, and in one sentence paints a picture of the groom's character. All three boxes in two sentences.
“I've been writing this speech for seven months. I started this version at around 3pm this afternoon.”
Why it works: Self-deprecating, relatable, and immediately funny. Almost every best man has felt this — and everyone knows it.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to start this speech with a small amount of honesty. I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing up here.”
Why it works: Disarms the room immediately. Vulnerability, handled with timing, is one of the most effective tools in a speech.
“Good evening everyone. I've been told to keep this clean, brief, and appropriate. I'm going to try to get two out of three.”
Why it works: Raises the room's expectations of what might be coming — safely. They're now listening carefully for what the third thing might be.
“I first met Dan on a Tuesday in October 2011. He was rude, he was late, and he was wearing a truly terrible jacket. That's still my favourite Tuesday.”
Why it works: Opens with scene-setting, then subverts it completely in the last sentence. Immediately establishes both the humour and the affection.
“My name is Paul. I have been asked to describe myself as 'the best man.' I would like to be clear that this is simply what the job is called and not a personal assessment.”
Why it works: Dry British self-deprecation at its finest. Takes the formal title and deflates it. Works especially well delivered deadpan.
“The groom asked me to start this speech by saying something nice about his taste. So: lovely venue.”
Why it works: Classic misdirection structure — the audience expects you to say something about the bride, and you say something else entirely. Simple and very effective.
“I was asked to write a speech that was funny, heartfelt, and tasteful. I've managed two of those. We'll find out which two in about four minutes.”
Why it works: Creates immediate intrigue and gets the room invested in what's coming. Sets up callbacks you can pay off throughout the speech.
“Good evening. I'll be honest: I was told there'd be a microphone, and having it does make me feel considerably more prepared than I actually am.”
Why it works: Gentle, warm self-deprecation. Works because it's oddly specific — the kind of true thing that makes a room feel like they've been let in on something.
“I've known Marcus for fifteen years. In that time, I've watched him grow from someone who was occasionally late, sometimes unreliable, and entirely too confident — into someone who is, in fairness, much better at being on time.”
Why it works: The callback structure — sets up a litany of flaws, then lands with a tiny, grudging concession. Understated and very funny.
“Right. Before I begin, I'd like to acknowledge that the groom is significantly more nervous about this speech than he was about the wedding itself. That's either very flattering or slightly concerning.”
Why it works: Turns the tables — the groom becomes the nervous one, not you. Works best if you and the groom actually have this kind of relationship.
“Good evening everyone. I've prepared some jokes for this speech. They were funny in rehearsal. I'll let you know how they land.”
Why it works: Deadpan delivery is everything here. It works as a joke about itself — and it endears you to the room before you've even started.
“My name is Liam. I've been Jake's best man for six months, and his friend for twelve years — which means I know every story worth telling and every reason not to.”
Why it works: Establishes credibility and hints at hidden material. The room immediately wants to know what you've decided not to say.
“Evening everyone. The groom asked me to keep this speech to under five minutes. I told him I'd do my best. I also told him I'd keep the stag do to one night. So: here we are.”
Why it works: A callback to a shared history that the room can infer, not just the people who were on the stag. Works even without knowing the details.
Get opening lines tailored to your speech
These examples are useful for ideas — but a line built from your specific situation always lands better.
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Frequently asked questions
A great opening does three things: it gets the room on your side immediately, it establishes your relationship with the groom, and it signals the tone of the speech to come. Self-deprecation, understatement, and a well-timed misdirection all work consistently well.
Not necessarily a joke — but something with a punchline works. The key is landing something in the first 30 seconds that makes the room exhale and relax. It doesn't have to be funny in a stand-up sense — it just has to be surprising or warm.
The opening is just the first 30–60 seconds — one or two lines that settle you and the room. Don't over-extend it. Once you've landed the opening, move quickly into the content.
Yes — when you generate a full speech, Speech Smith includes opening lines tailored to your specific situation. You also receive three optional one-liners you can drop in anywhere — including the very start.
Avoid: 'For those who don't know me, my name is...' (too weak), 'I'll try to keep this brief' (undermines you), and 'I've been asked to say a few words' (everyone already knows that). Open with confidence and something that creates immediate engagement.
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