Wedding Speech: Who Speaks, What to Say and How to Write Yours

Hi everyone, I’m Kenji. I’m Ezra’s best man, and I’ve known him since we were 11 years old. We met at summer camp in Maine, where Ezra insisted on holding the map, and I learned two things very quickly: one, never let Ezra be in charge of navigation, and two, getting lost can lead to the best friendships.

Some of you know me from our Sunday soccer games, which is also where I first met Sana. Ezra told her it was 'very casual,' so she showed up in full gear—shin guards and all. She scored twice, spent the second half telling Ezra where to stand, and I realized right away she was fearless. I also realized Ezra was about to become a much better soccer player, whether he wanted to or not.

Ezra is a planner. There is a spreadsheet for everything. I’ve seen him compare four grocery stores to save fourteen cents on avocados. Sana, on the other hand, is quick and calm, the person you want next to you whether you’re facing a medical emergency or just a missing tent pole.

I’ll never forget their first camping trip. Ezra packed a laminated list. He checked off every item—except the tent poles. Most of us would have panicked, but not Sana. She just grabbed a dog leash and some shoelaces, rigged the tent between a picnic table and a couple of trees, and they slept in it all weekend. Ezra learned two things that day: first, double-check the packing list, and second, Sana will always find a way to make things work. When Ezra proposed last fall, it was at that same campsite. He packed the tent poles twice just to be safe.

Meeting Sana’s dad, Imran, was another classic Ezra moment. He came prepared, with a spreadsheet of conversation starters, including twenty facts about growing tomatoes. Imran never mentioned tomatoes. He just handed Ezra a wrench and asked him to help fix the grill. Now, the two of them text each other photos of everything they barbecue. Ezra thought he’d impress with trivia, but it turns out, you just need to show up and be useful.

What I love about these two is how they fit together. Ezra plans, Sana improvises, and somehow, they always get where they need to go. When Sana worked night shifts, Ezra left a sticky note on the coffee maker every morning. Sana kept every single one in a shoebox. That’s who they are—thoughtful and steady, quick and resourceful. And always looking out for each other.

There’s someone missing today, and that’s Ezra’s grandfather, Pop Lou. He taught Ezra to fish and always said, 'Marry someone who laughs at your jokes and fixes your mistakes.' Pop Lou, you’d have loved Sana. And I know you’d be proud of Ezra.

Before I finish, I want to thank Sana’s parents, Farah and Imran, for hosting this beautiful day, Ezra’s mom, Debbie, and all of Sana’s cousins who flew in from Toronto and Lahore. You’re what makes this day even more special.

So here’s my advice: Keep the sticky notes going. Always pack the tent poles, and when you do forget something, do what Sana does—make it work with what you’ve got. (Raise your glass) To Sana and Ezra, may your life together be full of love, teamwork, and just enough surprises to keep things interesting. Cheers!