(*Of course, if you’re looking for more than ‘advice’, check out all the different ways the Speechy team can help you write & deliver a great speech. Or check out our new AI-powered team member, SpeechyAI.)
‘(Of course, if you’re looking for more than ‘advice’, check out Speechy’s bespoke speechwriting service. We also have a range of excellent speech templates that might be just what you need.)
(*Of course, if you’re looking for more than ‘advice’, check out our eulogy writing service or our eulogy template.)
(Of course, if you’re looking for more than ‘advice’, check out Speechy’s bespoke speechwriting service. We also have a range of excellent speech templates that might be just what you need.)
Including a great quote in your speech isn’t essential – but done well, it can elevate your best man moment from good to genuinely unforgettable. The right quote can bring gravitas, trigger belly laughs, or even wrap up your toast with the kind of sentiment that gets a round of applause (or a tear or two).
But a word of warning: best man quotes are seasoning, not the whole meal. They should amplify your speech – not replace it.
Here’s how to use quotes well… plus over 30 of the best quotes to consider.
Think about the films, books, songs, or comedians that reflect your friendship with the groom. Choose a quote that feels like you – not one that sounds like it came from a novelty card.
One or two quotes max. One near the start to grab attention, one towards the end to land a laugh or a moment of sincerity.
Quotes hit harder when the audience knows the source. But if your favourite line comes from an obscure screenwriter or stand-up comic, just add a little intro to ground it.
Use the quote as a launchpad. Add an anecdote, an in-joke, or a story that puts it into context.
“Oscar Wilde said, ‘Who, being loved, is poor?’ – clearly before he’d seen the bill for this wedding.”
If you want help wrapping great quotes around great stories, check out our Best Man Speech Advice or try our Edit Service.
Use these if you’re opening your speech with a warm anecdote or want to transition into talking about the chaos you’ve shared.
“There is nothing like puking with somebody to make you into old friends.” – Sylvia Plath
Perfect if you bonded with the groom over a heavy night out or a stag-do gone wrong.
“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.’” – C.S. Lewis
Follow it with something niche you both love (e.g. a guilty music pleasure).
“You can always tell a real friend: when you’ve made a fool of yourself, he doesn’t feel you’ve done a permanent job.” – Laurence J. Peter
Works well before telling a story about that time the groom… well, you’ll know.
“It’s the friends you can call up at 4am that matter.” – Marlene Dietrich
Even better if you add: “…and yes, he has. Usually about kebabs.”
“Good friends don’t let you do silly things… alone.” – Anonymous
Drop this before launching into a shared escapade. Embarrassment guaranteed.
“A best friend is the one who brings out the best in you… even if it’s your worst dance moves at 2am.” – Adapted from Henry Ford
End this one with a toast to the DJ if it’s that kind of party.
“A good friend will help you move. But a best friend will help you move a body.” – Jim Hayes
Great if you’re going full dark humour – just make sure it suits the audience.
“Had you said the word, I would have left the Jedi Order.” — Obi-Wan Kenobi
One for the Star Wars geeks.
These are great when you’re transitioning from childhood stories into the enduring nature of your bond.
“Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It’s not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.”– Muhammad Ali
Open with this and follow it with an epic story of loyalty or laughs.
“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.” – Elbert Hubbard
Use this if you’ve helped each other through tricky times.
“We are all a little weird… and when we find someone…” – Dr. Seuss
A lovely line before turning your focus to the couple’s quirks.
“A true friend is someone who thinks you’re a good egg…” – Bernard Meltzer
A charming way to wrap up a roast-y section of your speech.
“Friends buy you food. Best friends eat your food.” – Unknown
Ideal for a line about living together or uni years.
“It’s not what we have in life, but who we have in life that matters.” – Unknown
Applies to friendship and marriage.
Perfect for the section of your speech that moves from roasting the groom to giving a tongue-in-cheek nod to love and matrimony.
“Marriage is like chess. Except the board is flowing water, the pieces are made of smoke, and no move you make will have any effect on the outcome.” – Jerry Seinfeld
Use this if you’re mocking the complexity of relationships.
“Before you marry a person, you should first make them use a computer with slow internet to see who they really are.” – Will Ferrell
Pair with an observation about the couple’s relationship dynamic.
“Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes.” – Jim Carrey
Classic. Set it up with a story of the bride enduring the groom’s quirks.
“Husbands are the best people to share secrets with… because they aren’t listening.” – Anonymous
Delivered dryly, this quote gets a laugh from the back rows.
“I love being married. It’s so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.” – Rita Rudner
It’s a classic but it works. Clearly only if you’re married.
Save these for when you want to bring in a bit of sentiment – usually toward the end of the speech.
“It doesn’t matter if the guy is perfect or the girl is perfect, as long as they are perfect for each other.” – Robin Williams, Good Will Hunting
A great quote to follow with “And blooming lucky as the groom is far from perfect’ 😉
“Happily ever after is not a fairy tale. It’s a choice.” – Fawn Weaver
Back-ref it with a nod to their efforts in making love work.
“We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.” – Dr. Seuss
A good one to round up a roast on a sweet note!
“Love doesn’t make the world go round; love is what makes the ride worthwhile.” – Franklin Jones
A love-related quote that still sounds a bit rock n’roll.
Still hunting for the perfect line? Here are a few favourite haunts for brilliant quotes:
🎤 Try our Best Man Speech Template
📝 Or send us your draft and use our Edit Service
🤖 Want to start from scratch? Check out the AI Best Man Speech Generator
Or go bespoke and let us write the whole thing for you. That’s what we’re here for. 🍻
The Speechy team are TV-trained scriptwriters/comedians by trade & we’ve helped 1,000s of speakers around the world deliver their dream speech.
Our advice has been quoted everywhere from The New York Times to Grazia and from Forbes to The Observer. Our founder has also featured on the BBC Sounds’ Best Men podcast with Jason Manford and written ‘The Modern Couple’s Guide to Wedding Speeches’, published by Little, Brown.
