the best man?

[DrDesmo]

how about ill send you the money my 749 and you can fck my gf?

Not really feeling the 749 -- PM me when you get the new M3 though

Adam

[lwszabo]

I'll take the 749.

[DrDesmo]

I'll take the 749.

Deal - I'll take the rest. 

Adam

[Kyna]

so wait a minute, I dont give him a card with money?? that would feel weird

It depends on your culture/tradition.  In my family the best man/maid of honor still give gifts to the groom/bride, but a nice gift is also given by the groom/bride.

As for speeches...when I was the maid of honor I talked to the best man and we gave a speech together.  We kept it short and about the couple with our own color commentary about their first date.

[That Nice Guy Beck!]

I'll take the 749.

whats your address social security number and date of birth?
also your mothers maiden name?
I'll ship the bike to you asap

[DCXCV]

I've never heard of giving the groom anything beyond a typical wedding gift (for both of them).  But based on your other posts giving big seems to be important to you so just give what you can afford.  If you feel like you're skimping then you are.  

Everyone will appreciate a thoughtful (and a bit funny) short speech.  No one wants to hear you go on and on.


Be sure to throw in something about how you never thought he'd settle down with one girl and relate some stories involving his one night stands - the bride and her family will love it  

[rgramjet]

I'm currently in the process of planning a wedding... I think you got it backwards? The groom is supposed to give the best man a thank you giftâ€"your gift to the groom is your presence at the wedding (plus the aforementioned stuff you've already done).

+1

Groom owes you for watching out for his best interests and keeping your mouth shut about batchelor party goings ons etc.  An engraved flask or something like that is typical a nice watch works too.

Cash in the envelope is for bride and groom.

[ducatiz]

everyone will LOVE you if you keep the speech short

tips:

1.  keep it to no more than 4-5 minutes TOTAL
2.  thank everyone who came, esp long distance if any
3.  name the parents and thank them
4.  refer to the bride and groom as mr and mrs (however they are calling themselves)
5.  CLOSE the speech with a toast to the couple, make sure to say that you are wishing them a happy marriage, healthy family, happy home, etc.

The Best Man speech is the most loathed portion of the evening (unless you are all in a frat together, in which case you can just fart "Volare" into the mic-- big points if you know the reference).. Otherwise, keep it short and sweet.

Best man doesn't give an especially nice present, just normal . It is customary for the groom to give the best man a gift.

[swampduc]

^^^ I should have talked to 'tizz before I gave a best man speech - I just made fun of 'em for a couple minutes, then sappy stuff about how wonderful they both are for a minute, and... done!

[herm]

in the old days, the best man was expected to stand in if the groom got cold feet/died/etc...

these days, it is sufficient to offer him a single round trip ticket to somewhere far away right before you go to stand at the alter.
if he rejects the escape offer, then you get to take the trip yourself.

if he accepts, you should have a plan b worked out for yourself.

[junior varsity]

short and sweet speech is fine. better than fine, really.

when I got married, I got all the groomsmen some nice engraved folding knives, they got together and got me a nice 12ga o/u.

[the_Journeyman]

That's a nice one ATO!

I'm in the same boat as the OP.  Except my Best Man is my father and we'll be away on Father's Day...  Didn't realize that it would fall the Sunday after our wedding way back when we planned the date ~

JM

[ducatiz]

short and sweet speech is fine. better than fine, really.

when I got married, I got all the groomsmen some nice engraved folding knives, they got together and got me a nice 12ga o/u.

was it being held at your back by her pa?

[rgramjet]

Which O/U did you get?  Inquiring minds want to know...

[junior varsity]

was it being held at your back by her pa?

Nah, they are a zero-gun family. it was an interesting convention of accents though:

her family is from michigan
my family is from TN/NC/GA.

hearing the mix of northern accents with memphis-drawl and applachian speak was a bit much.

Which O/U did you get?  Inquiring minds want to know...

starts with B, ends with eretta. One of the guys got a big deal on one of their entry levels. I'm not great at clays, and only had a benelli pump and a mossy500 before.

That was essentially their gift to "us", rather than feeling like they had to get me something off the registry. except for will, he contributed to the cause, and he went out on his own and got us a kitchen appliance. Apparently i wasn't a complete man without a deep frier.