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.
Speech7 cardsAbout 2 min to speakBeginnerAnyone
How to give a toast
A short toast you can give at a wedding, dinner, launch or family party: get attention, say why you are gathered, share one reason, and raise the glass.
Free to use, edit, print and study. No account needed: your set stays on this device.
The cards
- 1
Get attention
Stand up, wait for quiet, or ask the MC to introduce you.
Avoid tapping a glass with a knife in a crowded room; just say: “Could I have everyone’s attention for one minute?”
- 2
Who you are
“For anyone I haven’t met, I’m [your name], and I’m [relationship to the person or group].”
- 3
Why we’re here
Name the occasion in one line: “We’re here to celebrate [the couple / the new job / forty years of marriage / the launch].”
- 4
One reason
Give one specific reason they deserve it: [a moment, a quality, something they did].
“The thing I’ll always remember is [moment].”
- 5
Include the room
“Everyone here has a [story / reason to be grateful to them], and that says a lot.”
Thank the hosts if you aren’t one.
- 6
If you’re nervous
Hold the card in one hand and the glass in the other, at chest height.
Breathe out before your first word. Speak to one friendly face, then another.
If you lose your place, look down, find the bold line and carry on.
- 7
Raise the glass
“Please raise your glasses.” Pause until people are ready.
“To [name / the couple / the team]!”
Then sit down. Short is good.
How to use this template
A toast is the shortest kind of speech: one to two minutes, ending with everyone raising a glass. You can use these cards at a wedding when you have been asked to give a quick toast, at a rehearsal dinner, a birthday, a work celebration or any family meal where someone deserves a moment of attention. The structure is simple and works around the world: get attention politely, say who you are, name the occasion, give one specific reason, include the room and lead the toast. Because it is short, every line counts, so choose one memory or quality rather than several. Fill in the [brackets], say it out loud twice, and you are ready. If you are toasting at a meal, wait until plates are cleared or the host gives you a nod, so people are not mid-bite.
Tips
- Keep it under two minutes; a toast that turns into a speech loses the room.
- Choose one strong detail rather than a list of compliments, and tell it in the present tense to make it vivid.
- If there is a microphone, use it, even in a small room, so older guests and people at the back can hear.
- Make sure glasses are filled before you begin; it is fine to toast with water, juice or a soft drink.
- Look at the person you are toasting when you say their name, then at the room as you raise your glass.
- Avoid inside jokes, references to drinking too much and anything that needs a long explanation.
- Stand still while you speak; pacing or swaying draws attention away from your words.
- Learn the final line by heart, so you can look up and lift your glass at the same moment.
Make it fit
- For a couple, whether two partners of any gender or a long-married pair, name both and give one reason that is about them together.
- At a work event, keep it professional: thank the team, name the achievement and toast what comes next.
- In countries with their own toasting customs, learn the local word and practice, such as saying cheers, salud, santé or kanpai, and follow the host’s lead on when to drink.
- If guests do not drink alcohol, say “raise whatever you are drinking” so everyone can join in.
- For a farewell, retirement or birthday, replace the occasion line and keep the same shape: one reason, one memory, one toast.
- On a video call, ask everyone to unmute only for the final cheers, and hold your glass where the camera can see it.
Updated October 28, 2026