Updated
Free tool · No sign-up · 2 minutes
Free Wedding Speech Builder and Timer
Build a best man, maid of honour, parent or host speech in your browser. Instant timer, no sign-up — then collect the toasts guests never gave.
Your speech
The counts beside the draft update as you type.
One good story, told properly, beats five in-jokes nobody else follows.
The shape of it
Four parts, with a time budget for each. At a normal speaking pace of 130 words a minute.
1. Open
36s
Who you are and how you know him. One line, no throat-clearing.
about 78 words
2. The story
1m 36s
One story that shows what he is actually like. Set the scene in a sentence.
about 208 words
3. The turn
1m 00s
What changed when they met. This is the part people remember.
about 130 words
4. The toast
48s
Raise a glass. Say both their names. Sit down.
about 104 words
Words written
0
Word budget
520
Spoken length
—
Target
4 min
Write it here
Nothing leaves this browser. The counts above update as you go.
Why it helps
- A four-part shape with a time budget for each section
- Live word count converted to real speaking time
- Warns you when it runs long, which it will
How to use it
- 1Pick your role. Best man, maid of honour, parent, host or friend — each gets a different shape.
- 2Set the length. Four minutes is plenty. The tool works out a word budget for each section.
- 3Write it in the box. Draft against the outline, and watch the spoken-length estimate as you go.
- 4Cut until it fits. If it runs long, drop a whole story rather than trimming a little everywhere.
The speeches nobody gave
Four people get a microphone. Everybody else had something to say too.
OnceRoll collects a short voice or video message from every guest, so the toasts that never made the running order still get heard.
Keep planning
Tools that go with this one
Related reading
More on planning this part
How to Give a Wedding Toast: A Four-Part Structure, Timings, and Examples for Every Role
A wedding toast is one story, one thing you've learned about the couple, and a glass in the air. Three to four minutes. Here's how to write it, with examples.
Wedding Video Guestbook: How It Works and How to Set One Up
A good wedding video guestbook does not need a production crew. It needs a clear prompt, a low-pressure moment, and a simple guest flow.
Wedding Voice Guestbook Prompts for Heartfelt, Funny Messages
A good voice prompt gives guests a starting point without scripting their message. Here are simple options for every kind of guest.
Frequently asked questions
Speech & Toast Builder questions
How long should a wedding speech be?
Three to five minutes. That is roughly 400 to 650 words spoken aloud, which is far less text than most people expect when they start writing.
How many words is a five minute speech?
About 650, at a normal speaking pace of 130 words a minute. People read their own drafts much faster than that in their head, which is exactly why speeches overrun.
What should a best man speech include?
One good story told properly, what changed when they met, and a toast. A single story beats five in-jokes that only four people in the room follow.
Do I need to create an account to use this tool?
No. The tool is free, needs no sign-up, and shows a result in your browser. Nothing is uploaded. OnceRoll the app is separate: you create a photo, video, or voice guestbook there, and guests join from a QR code with no account.