Example 1: Heartfelt, from a nephew he helped raise, about 4 minutes
570 words · about 4 min spoken
Hi everyone, I’m Marcus, Andre’s nephew. Some of you know me as the kid who used to follow him everywhere, back when he lived with us in Baltimore. I was seven when Andre moved into our basement, and I’m pretty sure he thought he was signing up for a quiet place to study. Instead, he became my part-time uncle, part-time big brother, and full-time alarm clock for four years.
My mom worked night shifts as a nurse, so every morning, Andre was up before me, making breakfast and somehow never burning the toast. He’d walk me to school and check my homework, and he was always calm, even when I was late or forgot my lunch. He’s quiet, steady, and he’s never on time—because he’s always early. And I mean always. He double-checks everything, and if something breaks in the house, he’ll fix it, no matter how long it takes. But what I remember most is the singing. Andre sings absolutely terribly, but he does it all the time, and he doesn’t care who’s listening. I think that’s a kind of confidence we can all learn from.
One memory that stands out is when I was eight and trying to learn how to ride a bike. Andre took me out to the empty church parking lot every Sunday. He’d hold onto the back of the seat and run behind me, telling me I could do it. One day, he just let go. I didn’t even notice until I heard him yelling, “You’re doing it!” when I was already halfway across the lot. He believed in me before I even knew what believing in yourself meant.
When I was seventeen and got rejected by the only college I’d applied to, Andre was right there. He woke me up early, drove me to Ocean City before sunrise, and bought us fries on the boardwalk. That same afternoon, he sat with me and helped me apply to community college. Two years after that, I transferred to Maryland, and there he was, front row, cheering at my graduation. That’s just who he is—he shows up, every time, no matter what.
The first time I met Keisha was Thanksgiving four years ago. She beat Andre at spades and talked trash the whole time. I had never seen him lose and look so happy about it. Keisha, you somehow get Andre to talk more than any of us ever could, and I’ve seen how he keeps you calm and steady right back. I love how you both cook together every Sunday, with the music so loud that nobody can hear themselves think—or sing—except Andre, who keeps singing anyway.
Keisha, I want to officially welcome you to the family, but you’ve been one of us for a long time already. And thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Grant, and to all our family who drove up from Charlotte to be here—it means so much.
There’s one person who would be out here dancing first tonight, and that’s Grandma Lorraine. She loved you, Keisha, and I know she’d be so happy for you both right now.
My wish for you two is simple: keep showing up for each other, just like Andre has always shown up for me. That’s how you build a life that lasts.
(Raise your glass) To Keisha and Andre—may your love always be steady, a little loud, and just as strong as family. Cheers!
What the writer told Toastful to get this speech
- Speaker
- Marcus, nephew of the groom
- Relationship
- Andre is my mom's younger brother, only 12 years older than me. When I was 7, he moved into our basement in Baltimore while he studied engineering and stayed four years. My mom was a single parent working night shifts as a nurse, so Andre made my breakfast, walked me to school and checked my homework. He's been half uncle, half big brother ever since.
- Personality
- Quiet, steady and always 15 minutes early. He measures twice, cuts once, and can fix anything. He sings constantly and badly, and doesn't care who hears.
- First impression
- I met Keisha at Thanksgiving four years ago. She beat Andre at spades and trash-talked him the whole game, and he grinned the entire time. I'd never seen him lose and look that happy about it.
- Stories
- When I was 8, Andre taught me to ride a bike in the empty church parking lot. He ran behind me holding the seat every Sunday, and one day he let go without telling me. I rode the whole length of the lot and heard him yelling 'You're doing it!' from fifty feet back. Years later, when I was 17 and got rejected from the only college I'd applied to, he drove me to Ocean City at sunrise, bought us boardwalk fries and helped me apply to community college that same afternoon. Two years later I transferred to the University of Maryland, and he was in the front row at graduation.
- The couple
- Keisha gets Andre to talk, which nobody else has managed, and he keeps her calm. They cook together every Sunday with the music way too loud.
- Remembering
- Grandma Lorraine, Andre's mom, passed away last spring. She adored Keisha and would have been the first one on the dance floor tonight.
- Thank-yous
- Keisha's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Grant, and our family who drove up from Charlotte.
- Wishes
- Keep showing up for each other the way Andre has always shown up for me.