I had to give a best man speech in front of 200 Americans a few years back.
I was absolutely bricking it beforehand. Shaking, sweaty palms, the whole lot. The groom, his new wife, the groomsmen and the matron of honour (Americans...) didn't think I was going to make it.

I did though and it was the best wedding speech the groom said he had ever heard. People laughed in the right places and everything. I'd also managed to pleasantly surprise the bride, who was convinced I was going to make awful jokes about god-knows-what and hideously embarrass her.

It is the first, and I'm determined it'll be the last, best man's speech that I shall ever make.
( Kroney, Thu 4 Aug 2011, 11:42, 1 reply, 14 years ago)

my friend's brother had exactly this
about 400 americans at a massive golf club society type place in maryland. just before the speeches, he was taken to one side and warned that they were pretty conservative and easily offended. his speech as drafted began:

"it's traditional that the best man's speech should last as long as the groom will last in bed tonight. so - cheers [sit down]".

it got less and less suitable the more he went through his notes. he ended up thanking everyone for coming and sitting back down...
( rachelswipe with a fork, Thu 4 Aug 2011, 11:49, Reply)

Everybody was really worried that I would be telling inappropriate stories
and so on. The groom and I have a very similar sense of humour, the only difference being that I have a better sense of when to stop.
( Kroney, Thu 4 Aug 2011, 11:59, Reply)