A best man speech, in front of six guests.

Good evening everyone. For those who don't know me I'm Nate, Sam's best man and roommate for three years in college and then two more after that because neither of us could afford anything else.

Mom: smiling · Grandpa: smiling · The new in-law: nodding · The best friend: laughing · The boss: smiling · The kid, age 6: listening

Before I start I want to thank Priya's parents Anjali and Vikram for this incredible venue and the food, and Sam's parents Diane and Rob for everything, and the bridesmaids who look amazing, and everyone who traveled.

Mom: smiling · Grandpa: nodding · The new in-law: smiling · The best friend: listening · The boss: listening · The kid, age 6: yawning

Also I've never given a speech before so bear with me.

Mom: smiling · Grandpa: nodding · The new in-law: nodding · The best friend: smiling · The boss: listening · The kid, age 6: listening

Sam and I have been through a lot.

Mom: nodding · Grandpa: nodding · The new in-law: nodding · The best friend: nodding · The boss: nodding · The kid, age 6: listening

Freshman year we got locked out of our dorm at 2am in January.

Mom: smiling · Grandpa: listening · The new in-law: listening · The best friend: laughing · The boss: listening · The kid, age 6: listening

Sophomore year we drove to Montreal on a whim and he got us lost for four hours because he refused to use the GPS.

Mom: smiling · Grandpa: smiling · The new in-law: smiling · The best friend: laughing · The boss: smiling · The kid, age 6: listening

Junior year was the year of the couch, which some of you will remember, and we don't need to get into it.

Mom: confused · Grandpa: confused · The new in-law: confused · The best friend: cracking up · The boss: confused · The kid, age 6: listening · The best friend whispers "I was there for the couch. Never again."

There was also the night at Kevin's when Sam decided he could definitely climb the fence and it turns out he could not.

Mom: wincing · Grandpa: confused · The new in-law: listening · The best friend: laughing · The boss: checking phone · The kid, age 6: laughing · The kid, age 6 whispers "Did he fall off the fence? Did it hurt?"

And then there's what happened at the bachelor party in Nashville, which I have been legally advised not to discuss.

Mom: gasping · Grandpa: wincing · The new in-law: gasping · The best friend: cracking up · The boss: wincing · The kid, age 6: listening · The new in-law whispers "Legally advised? What exactly happened in Nashville?"

Anyway. The point is Sam is a great guy.

Mom: smiling · Grandpa: nodding · The new in-law: listening · The best friend: nodding · The boss: checking phone · The kid, age 6: yawning

He's loyal, he's funny, he's generous, he's the kind of friend who will always be there for you.

Mom: smiling · Grandpa: nodding · The new in-law: listening · The best friend: listening · The boss: checking phone · The kid, age 6: yawning

Here's the thing about Sam though.

Mom: listening · Grandpa: listening · The new in-law: listening · The best friend: listening · The boss: checking phone · The kid, age 6: listening

When we lived together he had one plate.

Mom: laughing · Grandpa: smiling · The new in-law: smiling · The best friend: laughing · The boss: listening · The kid, age 6: listening

One. He'd eat off it, rinse it, and eat off it again.

Mom: laughing · Grandpa: laughing · The new in-law: smiling · The best friend: laughing · The boss: smiling · The kid, age 6: smiling

I bought him a set of plates for his birthday and he re-gifted them to his mom.

Mom: cracking up · Grandpa: laughing · The new in-law: laughing · The best friend: cracking up · The boss: laughing · The kid, age 6: listening · Mom whispers "I still have those plates in my cupboard."

That's Sam. Then he met Priya.

Mom: smiling · Grandpa: nodding · The new in-law: smiling · The best friend: smiling · The boss: nodding · The kid, age 6: listening

Within a month there were eight plates in the cabinet, and coasters, and a candle that I'm pretty sure has never been lit but is very important.

Mom: laughing · Grandpa: smiling · The new in-law: laughing · The best friend: laughing · The boss: smiling · The kid, age 6: listening · Grandpa whispers "Did he say eight plates or eight crates?"

He started saying things like "we" and "our place."

Mom: aww · Grandpa: smiling · The new in-law: aww · The best friend: smiling · The boss: smiling · The kid, age 6: listening

He started leaving Kevin's before midnight.

Mom: smiling · Grandpa: confused · The new in-law: smiling · The best friend: laughing · The boss: nodding · The kid, age 6: yawning

I asked him about it once and he said, and I quote, "I just want to be home."

Mom: aww · Grandpa: aww · The new in-law: aww · The best friend: smiling · The boss: smiling · The kid, age 6: listening

I had never once heard him call anywhere home.

Mom: tearing up · Grandpa: aww · The new in-law: tearing up · The best friend: aww · The boss: smiling · The kid, age 6: yawning

Priya is amazing and she makes Sam a better person and they're perfect together and I'm so happy for both of them.

Mom: smiling · Grandpa: nodding · The new in-law: smiling · The best friend: listening · The boss: listening · The kid, age 6: yawning

I know they're going to have an amazing life together.

Mom: smiling · Grandpa: nodding · The new in-law: nodding · The best friend: listening · The boss: checking phone · The kid, age 6: yawning · The kid, age 6 whispers "Is it cake time yet?"

So let's raise a glass to Sam and Priya.

Mom: smiling · Grandpa: smiling · The new in-law: smiling · The best friend: smiling · The boss: smiling · The kid, age 6: smiling

And Sam, remember, happy wife happy life. Let's party!

Mom: wincing · Grandpa: wincing · The new in-law: wincing · The best friend: laughing · The boss: checking phone · The kid, age 6: listening