Not every occasion needs a full speech. A rehearsal dinner, a second marriage, a small register office lunch, or the moment somebody hands you a glass and says "say something" all call for sixty seconds, not six minutes. Here are four, each complete on its own.
213 words as written25 places to fill in4 versions
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THE CLASSIC, ABOUT FORTY SECONDS
I am [YOUR NAME], and I have known [NAME ONE] for [HOW LONG].In all that time I have never seen [HIM / HER / THEM] the way [HE / SHE / THEY] looked at [NAME TWO][THE SPECIFIC MOMENT].That is really all you need to know about the two of them.Please raise your glasses. To [NAME ONE] and [NAME TWO].
THE WARM ONE, ABOUT FIFTY SECONDS
Good evening. For those who do not know me, I am [YOUR NAME].[NAME ONE] once told me that [SOMETHING THEY SAID ABOUT WHAT THEY WANTED]. I remember thinking it sounded unlikely.Then [NAME TWO] turned up and did exactly that, apparently without effort.[NAME TWO], thank you. We had been waiting.To [NAME ONE] and [NAME TWO].
THE REHEARSAL DINNER, ABOUT FORTY SECONDS
I am not going to make a speech tonight, because [BEST MAN OR SPEAKER] has one tomorrow and it would be unfair to peak early.I will just say this. Everyone in this room has, at some point, been looked after by [NAME ONE] or [NAME TWO], usually without being asked and usually without it being mentioned afterwards.Tomorrow they have got each other to do that for.To [NAME ONE] and [NAME TWO]. See you in the morning.
THE ONE FOR A SMALL ROOM, ABOUT THIRTY SECONDS
There are [NUMBER] of us here, which means every single person in this room actually knows them.So I will not explain them to you.I will just say that [ONE SPECIFIC, TRUE THING ABOUT THE TWO OF THEM TOGETHER].To [NAME ONE] and [NAME TWO].
Why it is built this way
1
One sentence of who you are
Even in a short toast the room needs to place you. Anything longer than a sentence is eating your entire runtime.
2
One observation, not a story
Sixty seconds cannot carry a narrative. It can carry one true noticing, which is often more powerful anyway.
3
Name them both
Short toasts frequently forget one half of the couple. Say both names before the final line.
4
A clean lift
End on the two names so the room knows exactly when to drink.
Delivering it
·A short toast is not a speech with bits removed. Pick one idea and let it be the whole thing.
·Say both names in the final line. It is the cue for the room to drink and it is the most commonly fumbled part.
·Do not apologise for being brief. "I will keep this short" spends four of your sixty seconds saying nothing.
·If somebody hands you a glass unexpectedly, the classic version above works with three words changed.
·Under one minute means under about 130 spoken words. Count them.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a short wedding toast?
Thirty to sixty seconds, which is roughly 65 to 130 spoken words. Anything above two minutes is a speech, and should be structured like one.
Who can give a wedding toast?
Anyone the couple asks. Outside the traditional speeches, toasts at rehearsal dinners, receptions and small ceremonies are commonly given by siblings, close friends, or whoever is holding a glass when the moment arrives.
Do I need to say something funny?
No. In a short toast a single sincere observation almost always lands better than a joke, because there is no time to build up to a punchline.