TalkSpeechy
Sometimes you're asked to speak because of a role - officiant, family friend, the groom's boss - rather than deep friendship with both people. The move is to be honest about your vantage point and generous from it, not to fake stories you don't have.
Speak from the relationship you actually have
'I've known Priya for two years through work' is a fine place to start. The room doesn't expect you to have childhood stories - it expects you to be sincere about what you have seen.
Borrow observations, credited
It's completely acceptable to say 'everyone who knows Tom told me the same thing about him,' then share what they said. You're aggregating the room's affection, which is its own kind of tribute.
Focus on the one you know, then pivot to the couple
Say something specific and true about the person you know well, then describe the change you've seen since they met their partner - that's an honest bridge to toasting them both.
Keep it short
Three minutes max. A speech from someone with limited history that runs long starts to feel padded.
Example opening
'I want to be upfront: I've known Sarah for three years, and I met James for the first time at the rehearsal. But here's what I can tell you. In three years I have never seen Sarah as steady and as happy as she has been since James. That's the only endorsement I've got, and I think it's the one that counts.'
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you say in a wedding speech if you don't know the couple well?
Be honest about how you know them, speak sincerely about the person you do know, aggregate what others have told you about the other, and describe the positive change you've seen in the couple. Keep it under three minutes.
Is it okay to admit you don't know them well?
Yes - a brief, warm acknowledgment of your vantage point is more endearing than a speech full of invented closeness.
How long should this kind of speech be?
Two to three minutes. Without a deep well of stories, a shorter speech reads as considered rather than thin.
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