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.
Speech8 cardsAbout 3 min to speakBeginnerWedding
Rehearsal dinner toast
A relaxed rehearsal dinner or pre-wedding dinner toast for hosts, parents or friends: welcome both families, a story, thanks and a toast to the big day.
Free to use, edit, print and study. No account needed: your set stays on this device.
The cards
- 1
Welcome
“Good evening, everyone. I’m [your name], and [we / I] are so glad you could join us tonight.”
If you are hosting, say why you chose this place: [reason].
- 2
Two families, one table
“Tomorrow our families become one. Tonight is our chance to get to know each other.”
Welcome [the other family] by name.
- 3
A story
A relaxed story about the couple or one of them that is a little more personal than a wedding story: [story].
Keep it kind; their families are here.
- 4
The people who helped
Thank the wedding party, out-of-town guests and anyone who helped plan: [names].
- 5
For tomorrow
One wish for the wedding day: [calm nerves, good weather, a chance to stop and look around].
Remind people of [start time or travel details] if needed.
- 6
Out-of-town guests
Welcome guests who travelled: “Some of you flew in from [places], and [name] even [a travel detail].”
Share a tip for their stay: [a local café, the best walk].
- 7
A word to the couple
Speak to [partner 1] and [partner 2] directly: “Tomorrow will go fast. Take a moment to [look around / hold hands / eat something].”
- 8
Toast
“Please raise your glasses to [partner 1] and [partner 2], and to tomorrow.”
“To [partner 1] and [partner 2]!”
How to use this template
In the US and Canada, the rehearsal dinner is held the night before the wedding, traditionally hosted by the groom’s family, although any family or the couple themselves may host. Many weddings elsewhere now have a similar welcome dinner. Toasts here are more relaxed than at the reception: there may be several speakers, the room is smaller and stories can be a little more personal. These cards cover a welcome, bringing the two families together, a story, thanks and a wish for the big day. They suit a host parent, sibling, grandparent or friend. Fill in the [brackets], keep it to about three minutes, and leave space for others to speak. Because this toast comes the night before, the couple are often tired and nervous, so keep it light, kind and brief.
Tips
- Ask the hosts how many toasts are planned and when; at a long table, toasts often happen between courses.
- Stand up and speak to the whole table, not just the people next to you; in a restaurant, ask for a quiet moment first.
- Avoid stories that the couple would not want told at the wedding, even if the room is smaller and more casual.
- Keep your drinking light; the couple will want calm, clear heads around them the night before.
- If you are also speaking at the wedding, save your biggest story for that day.
- Practise reading the cards at the volume you will need in a busy restaurant.
- If several people will toast, agree a rough order and a time limit of two or three minutes each.
- Tell guests where and when to meet tomorrow at the end of your toast, while you have everyone’s attention.
- Thank the restaurant staff or caterers by name if they made the evening easy.
Make it fit
- If the couple are hosting their own dinner, they can use these cards to welcome everyone and thank the wedding party.
- For a same-sex couple or a couple of any gender, use names throughout and welcome both families equally.
- If families are blended or parents are divorced, welcome each parent and partner by name and seat speakers thoughtfully.
- For a destination wedding, add a card that welcomes guests to the country and gives one tip about the next day.
- If you are the parent hosting, add a short line thanking the other family for travelling or sharing the costs and the planning.
Updated October 28, 2026