• 1. A formal welcome to the guests, thanking them for their presence, making special mention of those who have travelled far or in difficult circumstances to be there.
• 2. What a happy, yet difficult day it is for him, both losing a daughter yet gaining a son. A brief reminisce on his daughter's childhood or teenagehood, with a few remembered incidence of special value which illustrate her character. How he is sad to lose her, and how proud and happy he is for her on this day.
• 3. A formal welcome into the family to his new son-in-law. How he could not wish his daughter to be in better hands, illustrating the reasons why this is so. How he is happy to have gained so many new friends or acquaintances in their family through their relationship, with some compliments thrown in outlining their finer qualities.
• 4. How married life has its ups and downs, and how it brought rewards into his own life. A few brief humorous words of advice to the newly weds on how to avoid trouble and stay happy.
• 5. Summing up, how he is confident of their future happiness, and how he would like to Propose a toast to the health and happiness of the bride and groom."

2. The Groom's Speech

• 1. On behalf of his new bride and himself, the groom first thanks the bride's father for his good wishes, and also for the reception, if he has funded it (or partly funded it.)
• 2. He extends his thanks to the guests for coming and for their generous gifts.
• 3. He thanks his parents for the start they have given him in life, for their encouragement, patience, example, or the training or education they have given him, with illustrations or happy memories. He pays tribute to his wife's parents, and thanks them for the wonderful `splash', i.e. the wedding.
• 4. He thanks both mother, in particular, for their help and assistance. If he wishes, he may even present them with flowers.
• 5. He thanks the best man for the role he has played, with some humorous jibe or illustration if appropriate.
• 6. He draws attention to the bridesmaids and compliments them on their grace, beauty and charm. He draws special attention to the role of the chief bridesmaid, thanking her for her assistance in getting his bride prepared and to the church on time. If he likes, he may now present the bridesmaids with a small gift. He ends by proposing a toast to the bridesmaids.

3. Best Man's Speech
The best man tells of his acquaintance with the groom, his character, his antics (the one's that are fit to mention), his achievements and triumphs, his heroic failures. It's not unknown for the best man to make seriously sexist remarks about the bridesmaids or formal girlfriends which nobody takes seriously. He says how the groom will be missed, or not missed, by the lads. How he should appreciate what he has found in his new bride. How he has every confidence in the future happiness of the couple.

The best man then reads out the telegrams and congratulatory notes which have arrived. If there are too many, its best to make a selection of the best or most important ones in advance, and for the remaining ones to simply mention the sender's names - ``Similar greetings are sent by ... / have arrived from . . ."

The best man's speech usually introduces a light-hearted note to the proceedings and to dispel the air of formality which characterises the two previous speeches. To this end he is free to make fun of the groom, to joke, cajole and banter a little.