Best man speech template (3 minutes, with structure)
Updated November 2, 2026 · Anthony Delmotte
In short. A good best man speech lasts about three minutes, roughly 400 words: thank the hosts, introduce yourself, tell one story about the groom, say something sincere about the couple, and end with a toast. One good story beats five jokes.
The template
Replace everything in [brackets] before you read. Each paragraph becomes one card. 162 words as written, before you fill in the brackets.
Good evening, everyone. For those who don’t know me, I’m [your name], and I’ve known [groom] since [how and when you met].
First, a huge thank you to [hosts or parents] for this incredible day, and to [bride/partner] for looking after him — and for letting me speak, which was brave.
[Groom] has always been [one quality: loyal, stubborn, generous, chaotic]. I could give you a hundred examples, but I promised [partner] I’d keep it to one.
[Your story: three or four sentences, with a beginning, a funny or touching moment, and how it ended.]
That’s [groom]: [what the story says about him].
And then he met [partner]. I knew it was serious when [the moment you knew: a detail, a change in him].
[Partner], you make him [better, calmer, happier, on time]. And [groom], you’ve never looked happier than you do today.
So please, everyone, raise your glasses. To [partner] and [groom]: may [a wish for them]. To the happy couple!
How to make it yours
One story, well told
Pick the story that says the most about the groom and that his grandmother can hear. Cut every other anecdote.
No in-jokes
If half the room needs context, leave it out. The speech is for everyone.
Turn sincere at the end
Funny first, sincere at the end. The toast lands better after a real sentence about the couple.
Read it from your phone
Use “Read without filming” in SmoothCue or our online teleprompter: the text follows your voice and waits while people laugh.