Wedding Speech Tips & Ideas
Giving a wedding speech at a reception is one of the big moments of a wedding, so it helps to know the etiquette before stepping up to the microphone. A clear plan, a short outline, and a few personal stories are usually all it takes to be remembered for the right reasons.
Wedding speeches are often the most nerve-wracking part of the day for friends and family of the newlyweds, but a little structure goes a long way. The guides below walk through what to say, when to say it, and how to keep it warm without going long.
Best Man Speeches
The best man traditionally speaks just before the champagne toast. A good best man speech thanks the couple, says something memorable about the groom, honors the groomsmen, and keeps things moving. Read the Best Man guide for tips on making it memorable without overrunning the moment.
Groom Speech
Writing a groom speech can be tricky simply because there is rarely much time to sit down and put ideas on paper. A simple structure — thank the guests, thank the parents, thank the bride — is usually enough. See the Groom Speech guide for step-by-step help.
Father of the Bride
A father of the bride speech is among the most sentimental moments of the reception. Managing the emotion, drawing on life experience, and understanding the duties of the day all matter. Open the Father of the Bride guide.
Maid of Honor & BrideThe maid of honor speaks after the best man, and a short, heartfelt toast works best. For the bride, a brief, imaginative speech — including a self-introduction and the story of how the couple met — is often plenty. Find both guides linked from the blog.
Wedding Speech Blog
Personal stories, practical guides, and discussions on writing speeches for the roles above. Recent posts include a first-person account of preparing a father of the bride speech, a look at whether free online examples are good enough, and a guide to overcoming the five biggest wedding speech obstacles. Visit the blog for the full archive.
| Role | When they speak | Core focus |
|---|---|---|
| Best Man | Just before the champagne toast | Honor the groom, thank the couple, toast |
| Groom | After the best man | Thank guests, parents, and the bride |
| Father of the Bride | Early in the reception | Welcome guests, sentiment, duties of the day |
| Maid of Honor | After the best man | Supportive, heartfelt, brief |
| Bride | Often toward the close | Introduce yourself, share your story |
Reviews
A father of the bride speech should do more than praise your daughter and welcome guests. It is also a chance to acknowledge the groom’s parents, siblings and…
A maid of honor speech should celebrate the bride while making the groom or bride’s partner feel genuinely welcomed. The strongest speeches show why the couple…
Australia legalised same-sex marriage in 2017, and since then weddings across Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane have grown more diverse and celebratory. Couples…
A wedding speech becomes easier to follow when it takes guests on a clear journey through time. Rather than arranging jokes, memories and compliments as…
Modern brides are increasingly taking the microphone at their own weddings, and thanking the people who raised them is usually the emotional centrepiece of the…
A wedding toast has shifted from a quick raised glass to a moment guests actually remember. In Australia, where receptions stretch from formal dinners in…
There's a moment in every best man speech where the groom's face softens, the parents lean forward, and you realise the room is yours. You crack a line that…
When nerves kick in and family fills the room, the question of whether to commit every line to memory becomes pressing. Many Aussies preparing for a Hunter…
Wedding reception schedules can change quickly. A delayed ceremony, late catering, weather disruption or a venue’s strict finish time may leave you with half…
A father of the bride speech becomes especially memorable when it gives guests a glimpse of the woman behind the wedding-day celebration. A short childhood…
My daughter asked me to speak as her father of the bride. The note about keeping the emotion in check while still being sentimental was the most useful line in the guide.
As a groom, I appreciated the warning against a long list of thanks. I am cutting my thank-yous down to a few key people and keeping the rest short.