I'm the best man at my brother's wedding, and I have three minutes.
Bring two or three true stories about your brother, both names and how long you'll speak. HidenGPT's Speech format, set to Best man / maid of honor, turns 3 minutes into about 390 words written for the ear: who you are, your stories, the couple, a toast. It leaves a placeholder instead of inventing a memory.
Try it with your own details
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How to do it in HidenGPT
- 01
Pick two or three true stories that show who your brother is now, and note both names and one thing that changed when he met his partner.
- 02
With Speech picked under “Use it for”, set Occasion to Best man / maid of honor, Minutes to 3 and Your role to something like “the groom's younger brother and best man”.
- 03
Type the stories into the main box the way you'd tell them, keep Tone on Heartfelt + witty or switch to Heartfelt, and send.
- 04
Cut any detail that didn't happen, replace any [add a short memory] placeholder with something true and reword lines until they sound like you.
- 05
Read it aloud with a timer, then once more in front of a friend who will tell you which joke falls flat.
Speech & Toast: Weddings, graduations, keynotes: timed to the minute and written to be read aloud.
How long a best man speech should be
Shorter than most people plan. Toastmasters International says a toast should last no longer than three minutes. Debrett's, the British etiquette publisher, and The Art of Manliness both put the best man's speech at no more than five, and The Art of Manliness points out that by the time you stand up, guests have usually sat through other speeches.
At about 130 words a minute, the pace HidenGPT plans for in English, three minutes is roughly 390 words and five is about 650. Trust a timer over the word count: read the speech aloud, leave room for laughs, and count the toast at the end as part of your time.
What to say when the groom is your brother
A brother has more material than anyone in the room, and that's the trap. Pick one or two stories that show who he is now, not a tour of your childhood. Debrett's calls the speech an endorsement of the groom's character and therefore the marriage, says every anecdote should serve the story of how he found his partner, and warns that if you talk too long about your own bond, the speech ends up being about you.
A simple order works. Say who you are and how you're related; it's the first of Toastmasters' ten tips. Tell your stories. Then turn to the couple: how they met, what changed in him and why they work. End by asking everyone to raise a glass to both of them by name.
Leave out his exes, family fights and money, and anything that needs a long backstory. The Art of Manliness says to save inside jokes for when it's just the two of you. Debrett's allows the groom a flicker of embarrassment but never humiliation, and rules out dirty jokes and swearing for a room that spans generations, possibly including children.
What the Speech format does
Set Occasion to Best man / maid of honor and the draft opens with who you are and how you know the groom, tells one or two stories that are funny but kind, then turns to the couple and ends with a toast. Exes, money and fights stay out. Minutes runs from 1 to 15; at 3 it aims for about 390 words and warns you if the speech comes out more than 30% off. Stage cues such as [pause] and [raise your glass] are under More details and don't count as words.
It builds on your stories and is told not to invent anecdotes, names or events; where it needs a memory you didn't give, it leaves [add a short memory]. Read every line anyway and cut any small detail, a place or a time, that isn't yours. Paragraphs stay short so you can find your place with a glance, though Debrett's suggests speaking without notes if you can. The red pen runs a light pass for stock phrases like “a testament to” and “serves as a reminder”; an opener like “words cannot express” is one to catch yourself. On Pro or Pro Max, a voice built from your own writing (at least 300 characters, 2-5 pieces works best) brings the wording closer to how you talk.
Not the right tool if
- A roast or a stand-up set. The best man setting keeps the teasing kind and leaves out exes, money and fights.
- Stories you don't have. It won't make up memories; ask your family for one, or fill the placeholder with something true.
- Rehearsal. It writes the words; reading them aloud with a timer, and in front of someone, is still your job.
Other ways to do it
- Writing it yourself from a checklist
- Free. Toastmasters' ten wedding toast tips and Debrett's best man guide give you the structure; slower from a blank page.
- Your partner, a sibling or one of his friends
- Someone who knows him can tell you which story works for the whole room and which only works for the two of you.
- A professional speechwriter
- Personal and polished, if you have the budget and more than a few days.
- ChatGPT or another chatbot
- Fast, but expect stock lines and details that never happened, which you'll have to cut.
Questions
How long should a best man speech be?
Three to five minutes. Toastmasters says a toast should last no longer than three minutes, and Debrett's and The Art of Manliness both say no more than five. At about 130 words a minute, that's roughly 390 to 650 words.
How many words is a 3-minute speech?
About 390 words at 130 words a minute, the pace HidenGPT plans for in English. Read it aloud with a timer anyway, because laughs and pauses take time.
What do I say in a best man speech for my brother?
Who you are, one or two stories that show who he is now, then the couple: how they met, what changed in him and a toast to both of them. Keep the stories about him, not about you.
How do I make it funny without embarrassing him?
Tease him about something harmless he'd laugh at too, like the camping trip where he forgot the tent. Leave out exes, inside jokes and anything that needs a long backstory; Debrett's puts the line at a flicker of embarrassment, never humiliation.
How do I end a best man speech?
With a toast to the couple. Toastmasters suggests standing, lifting your glass by the stem and saying “I'd like to propose a toast”, then pausing so guests can raise theirs.
Can I use a best man speech template?
Use one for the order, not the words. Who you are, your stories, the couple and a toast is all the structure you need; a story borrowed from someone else's speech won't sound like your brother.
Does this work for a brother-in-law?
Yes. Put how you're connected in Your role, for example “the groom's brother-in-law and best man”, and say it in your first line, since some guests won't know how you're connected.
Can I try it for free?
Yes. You can try 2 drafts a day on the homepage without an account. Saving drafts and writing in your own voice need a plan; Pro is $3 for the first month.