I've done it 3 times, with a 4th coming up later this year.
Don't accept a drink from anyone before the speech, accept them all afterwards.
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Tue 8 Jul 2014, 20:55, 2 replies, latest was 10 years ago)

I recall you telling me about being a BM to someone you hardly knew, tough gig.

( Fucking hell Jeff I am not a robot, Tue 8 Jul 2014, 20:56, Reply)

Yeap. Made tougher by having to do the speech in a pub.
A pub that hadn't been booked for exclusive use, so it was full of weekend punters going about their Saturday afternoon.
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Tue 8 Jul 2014, 20:58, Reply)

wakkiness, uke playing and bird watching
shittest reception ever
( drimble he'd been white, he'd been black, Tue 8 Jul 2014, 20:58, Reply)

Good point
Do it coherent, also bugger off for a bit afterwards because the speech is usually the last act.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Tue 8 Jul 2014, 20:59, Reply)

On the plus side, you get a sympathetic audience.

( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Tue 8 Jul 2014, 21:00, Reply)

You get an audience waiting for the funny bits.
I've been looking for my last one because I think it's on youtube. The applause was primarily because the guests had been bored to death by the brides father explaining how wonderful he was.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Tue 8 Jul 2014, 21:05, Reply)