Living Up to The Great Best Man Speech Expectation

Few things in life are more difficult than dealing with the pressure of delivering a best man speech. It is usually with some great swelling of pride that we all accept this responsibility, with the best intentions, of course. Then, months later we find ourselves in the car on the way to the wedding wondering what the heck we are going to say.

It’s not that we don’t think about the best man speech frequently. We think about it in the line at the supermarket, while washing the car, cutting the grass, and just about any other time where we have nothing to write on. At those critical junctions, we usually decide to get to it later. And, of course, we never do.

Fast forward to the drive to the wedding, the sudden sinking feeling that everyone in the room will be looking at you, expecting greatness – greatness brought on by the months and months you have had to come up with something funny, witty, and classic. Sadly, the only things coming to mind are stories from college … something about the groom and a bet you lost – no way I am telling that in front of the bride’s parents.

By the time the GPS tells you the destination is 5 miles away, you look down and realize that you are running the speed limit, something that you do not do normally. Obviously, this is a stall tactic. If you slow down any more, you will miss the whole thing. At least the groomsman who speaks on your behalf will have an excuse for being unprepared. What’s yours? Cold sweat starts beading up on your forehead, that sinking feeling in your stomach, why oh why didn’t I get to this sooner.

Suddenly you find yourself awake and home, it was all a dream. The wedding is tomorrow and you have just enough time to start writing an epic, funny best man speech. But hey, there is nothing to write on by the bed and you would have to get up and grab something. Just get to it later after you get up.