Wedding speeches are usually filled with jabs at the groom, love for the bride, and a whole lot of laughs. But for Matt Rotner, brother of the bride and major fan of Broadway musicals, his speech had all of that and more by taking a very different (more musical) approach — with a Hamilton-inspired wedding rap.
“Now, this would not be a Rotner event, if I didn’t do something,” he began as he took the mic, ready to perform at the couples’ wedding at the Beverly Hills Hotel this past weekend. “I had to create a moment that we could all share a moment that we could all share that was truly unforgettable — because weddings are big and merry, and they call for celebration.” Instead, he went on to sing a speech-turned-rap with words about the wedding couple (to the opening tune of the hit Broadway musical Hamilton) — much to the surprise of the bride and groom.
Signaling to the DJ to start the show, he began his mashup of lyrical genius, channeling Lin-Manuel Miranda’s famous tunes in the process. “How does a Met fan, golfer, Long Island boy, an accountant, dropped right in the meltin’ pot. Yes, New York City, ain’t it pretty, the fancy lights and shows. Go meet this Jew from California — you know where this story goes,” he cleverly spit out to the crowd.
“Yes, Jenna Rotner, the oldest daughter of my father. Moved to The Big Apple with some pressure from her mother said time to be a wife. This year you start your life. Israeli mothers, a sharper edge than any knife,” Rotner continued, sharing tidbits about the couple of honor’s path to marriage. Throughout the entire five-minute show, the crowd was laughing and cheering him on.
Rotter got all of his info from research on the site that the couples first met, JDate, according to The Huffington Post, and starting writing the lyrics and rhymes during his commute. Of course, he kept this secret from his sister and her groom-to-be, which totally elevated the surprise factor on the big day. “I told Jenna I had something very special planned and I have been hyping it up to her and Ross for the last year, but I never gave her an inkling of what it could be,” he explained. “When the first first few notes of the track hit after my intro, I saw her face and she was in shock,” he said. “I’ll never forget her reaction and I’m so happy it was caught on camera.”
See More: 5 Simple Ways to ROCK Your Maid of Honor Speech
And while he went through their entire dating history with his lyrical genius with the crowd cheering, he ended the speech on a very sentimental and serious note, as any brother of the bride should. “We gotta get serious for one second. It’s my very last rhyme. Live, laugh, love — cherish and find the best in every situation — please cheers to the two people I love so much, the Druckers!”
Mic drop. Literally.