Wedding Speeches FAQs

Traditionally it is the father of the bride who speaks first, then the groom followed by the best man. However, these days it is common to have other speakers, such as the maid of honor, the bride, the bride's mother or the groom's parents. It is really up to you what order you choose to have.

How long should my wedding speech be?

As a rough guide, you don't want it to be shorter than one minute or longer than five minutes. If there are going to be more than three speakers, keep the speeches shorter.

Do I have to be funny in my speech?

No you don't. If you prefer to deliver a serious speech then do that. The tone of a wedding speech varies a lot, depending on the speaker. The best man speech is usually more humorous whereas the father/mother of the bride speech is more serious. Stick to material that you feel comfortable with. The delivery of your speech is what counts. Some of the best speeches are those spoken from the heart with true sincerity.

Who is supposed to give a toast?

Any speaker can propose a toast to the newlyweds. The groom or bride may choose to toast their parents, family, guests or their new wife/husband. Traditionally it is the groom who makes a toast to the bridesmaids.

What can I include in my speech?

Here are some general ideas, not all of them will be appropriate depending on what speaker you are. Share funny stories or anecdotes about the bride or groom. Talk about them as a couple, such as how they met and if either of them changed during their relationship. Comment on the wedding ceremony (how happy they looked etc) and the lead up to the wedding. Give some advise or words of wisdom about marriage. Thank people who helped organize the wedding. Wish the newlyweds a wonderful future together.

What is the best way to start my speech?

You want to capture your audience's attention right from the start of your speech. So a good way to start is with something funny, such as a joke or one-liner. If you're feeling really nervous, you may want to make a joke about your nerves. It's also good if you can include an introduction of yourself, especially if there is no MC to introduce you.

I hate public speaking, can I turn down doing a speech?

If you have been asked by the bride or groom to make a speech and you will be attending the wedding, you should make every effort to give a speech. It is an honor to be asked. Even if you just say a few words, or propose a toast it will be greatly appreciated, rather than not saying anything at all. If it causes you great stress, then perhaps you could talk to them about someone else stepping in for you.

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