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Best man speech

A free best man speech template with prompts, a timer that counts your minutes, and tips on what to leave out. Write it from the couple's link or here, no account.

A best man speech runs three to five minutes, about 350 to 600 words. It has four parts: an opening, one story about the person you know best, a few words about the person they are marrying, and a toast. The same shape works for a best woman.

Write it below from a free template, or open the couple's private link if they sent you one. You see your minutes as you type, you can practice it out loud with a timer, and you can print cue cards. You need no account, and nobody reads it but you.

How to write a best man speech in 5 steps

  1. Get the facts straight. Ask the couple how long they would like, who speaks before and after you, and what to leave out. A private link from the couple can carry their note.

  2. Pick one story. Choose one story that shows what your friend is like, not a list of everything they have done. If you would not tell it to a grandparent, leave it out.

  3. Fill in the template. Answer the six questions in the writer, or fill the brackets yourself. You get a first draft with a story, a few words about the partner, and a toast.

  4. Check the time. Read it aloud and watch the minutes. Three to five is usual. If you are over, cut the second story first.

  5. Practice and print. Run it through practice mode with a timer, then print cue cards in large type. Bring them on the day, with your phone as a backup.

Examples, by length and tone

The examples for this page are being read through before we publish them. The template, the questions and the writer on this page work now.

The template, with timings: Best man speech template

Four parts. The timings add up to about four minutes, which is the middle of the usual range.

About 4 minutes for the reception. Written for any couple; also works for a best woman.

  1. Openabout 30 seconds

    Good evening, everyone. I'm [your name], and I've known [Name] since [when and how you met].

    [One line to thank the hosts or the room].

  2. One story about [Name]about 90 seconds

    Here is what you need to know about [Name]. [One true story that shows who they are: where you were, what happened, what they did].

    [What that story tells you about them, in one plain sentence].

  3. Meeting [Partner's name]about 60 seconds

    And then there was [Partner's name]. [What you noticed the first time you saw the two of them together].

    [One small thing their partner does for them that you had never seen anyone do].

  4. Your wish and the toastabout 60 seconds

    [Name], [Partner's name]: [your wish for them, in one sentence].

    Everyone, please raise your glasses. To [Name] and [Partner's name].

The questions that fill it in

  1. When and how did you meet [Name]? The year, and the first time you remember.
  2. Who do you want to thank? The hosts, the venue, the room, or skip it.
  3. What story shows who [Name] is? Pick one you can tell in under a minute.
  4. What does that story tell you about them? One plain sentence.
  5. What did you notice when you saw them together? The first time, or the time you knew.
  6. What does [Partner's name] do that you have never seen anyone do? Something small and kind.
  7. What do you wish for them? One sentence, said to them.

Questions people ask

How long should a best man speech be?
Three to five minutes, about 350 to 600 words at a calm pace. Most are given at the reception, often after dinner is served. Check the couple's wishes first, because some ask for under three.
How do I start a best man speech?
Say who you are and how you know the person, in one sentence, then thank the couple for asking you. The template's first part does this in about thirty seconds.
What should I never say?
Leave out exes, past relationships, money, the couple's private life, and any story that half the room would not understand. If you would not want a grandparent to hear it, it is out. Ask the couple if there is anything else they want left out.
Can I read it off my phone?
Yes, but printed cue cards are steadier, because a phone can lock, buzz or run out of battery. Practice mode keeps the screen awake, and the on-the-day view works with no signal, so a phone is a good backup.
Is it OK to use AI?
It is fine to get help with the shape or the length, as long as the stories and the voice are yours. People notice a speech written by someone who never met the couple. Everything on this page works without it.
How do I calm my nerves?
Practice it out loud three or four times, slower than feels natural. Breathe out before you start, hold your cards in both hands, and look at one friendly face at a time. A pause is not a mistake.
What if I am not funny?
Then be warm. A true story told simply, and a sincere wish, works better than a forced joke. One light moment is enough.
How do I end with a toast?
Ask everyone to raise a glass, say the couple's names, and give a short wish. Then stop talking and drink. The last part of the template writes it out, with a gap for the names.

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