Best man speech
Best man speech cue cards with a friendly opening, a story or two about the groom, kind words for his partner, thanks to the hosts and a toast that lands.
Speech10 cardsAbout 6 min to speakBeginnerWedding
Joint couple’s wedding speech
A joint wedding speech for two partners who want to speak together: shared thanks, your story told in two voices, words to each other and one toast.
Free to use, edit, print and study. No account needed: your set stays on this device.
The cards
- 1
[Partner 1]: Open
“Good evening, everyone. We decided to do this together, because [we do everything together / neither of us wanted to go second].”
- 2
[Partner 2]: Thank you for coming
“Thank you all for being here. Some of you have come from [places], and [name] even [a travel detail].”
- 3
[Partner 1]: Our families
Thank [partner 2’s family]: [one specific kindness].
[Partner 2] then thanks [partner 1’s family] in the same way.
- 4
[Partner 2]: The people who helped
Thank the wedding party, helpers and suppliers: [names and one detail each].
Mention anyone who could not be here: [names].
- 5
Both: How we met
Tell it in alternating lines.
[Partner 1]: “I remember [their version].”
[Partner 2]: “That is not what happened. [Their version].”
- 6
[Partner 1]: To you
Turn to your partner: “[Name], [what you love and what you promise].”
- 7
[Partner 2]: To you
“[Name], [what you love and what you look forward to].”
Take a moment before the toast.
- 8
[Partner 1]: The planning
A shared joke about getting here: “We agreed on almost everything. [The one thing you didn’t agree on].”
[Partner 2] adds the punchline: [their side].
- 9
[Partner 2]: What today means
“Looking out at all of you, we can see [what the room shows: how many people love us / how far we’ve come].”
- 10
Both: Toast
“Please raise your glasses with us…”
Together: “To [family and friends / everyone here / love]!”
How to use this template
A joint speech lets a couple thank everyone in one go and tell their story in two voices, which guests often find more natural and more fun than two separate speeches. These cards are labelled [Partner 1], [Partner 2] or Both, so each of you can hold your own set or share one. The order is: a light opening, thanks to guests, both families and helpers, your story told in alternating lines, a short message from each of you to the other and a toast you say together. It suits any couple, whatever their genders, and works well when one of you is less keen on public speaking. Fill in the [brackets], decide who says what, and rehearse together. Joint speeches usually sit where the groom’s or bride’s speech would be, so tell your MC and other speakers that you will cover the thank-yous.
Tips
- Rehearse the handovers until they feel smooth; the moment one of you passes to the other is where joint speeches can wobble.
- Use one microphone and pass it, or ask the venue for two, and practise holding it close to your mouth.
- Give the less confident speaker the shorter cards, such as thanks and the toast, and let the other carry the story.
- Keep your messages to each other short and private enough to feel real, but loud enough for the room to hear.
- Print two copies of the cards so you each have the full speech if one set goes missing.
- Say the final toast words together on a count you have agreed, such as a small nod.
- Mark your own lines with a highlighter so you can each spot your next part at a glance.
Make it fit
- For a second marriage or blended family, add a card where you both speak to your children and welcome them into the new family.
- If your families speak different languages, let each partner thank their own family in that language, with a short translation.
- For a very short slot, keep the opening, one shared thank-you card, the story and the toast.
- At a small wedding or elopement party, the same cards work as an informal thank-you speech later in the evening.
- If one of you is very nervous, let that partner speak only the messages card and the final toast, and the other covers everything else.
Updated October 28, 2026