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 |
Father of the Bride Speech: Welcoming the Groom’s Family
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 wider family with genuine warmth. A few thoughtful sentences can help both families feel included from the beginning of the reception.
In Australia, wedding speeches often balance affection with relaxed humour. Whether the celebration is in a Melbourne winery, a Sydney waterfront venue, a Brisbane garden or a family backyard, the best remarks sound personal rather than ceremonial. Mention the groom’s family naturally, without turning your speech into a formal roll call.
Start with a warm welcome
A simple welcome is usually more effective than an elaborate tribute. After thanking everyone for attending, turn briefly to the groom’s parents and say how pleased you are to share the day with them. If they travelled from Perth to Sydney, came over from New Zealand, or crossed regional Australia for the wedding, that effort is worth mentioning.
Use their names if you know them, and check pronunciation beforehand. “We’re delighted to welcome Mark and Helen, and the whole Thompson family” sounds warmer than a vague reference to “the groom’s side”. If the families have met several times, refer to a specific moment that shows the relationship has grown.
Focus on the family’s influence
The strongest compliments connect the groom’s character with the people who helped shape him. You might mention his generosity, calm nature, loyalty or ability to make people laugh, then thank his parents for the values they passed on. Keep the praise believable and tied to something you have observed.
For example: “It’s easy to see where Daniel gets his kindness. Sarah and Michael have raised a thoughtful man, and we’re very grateful that he is now part of our family.” This approach feels sincere and avoids making assumptions about the groom’s upbringing. If you need help shaping a difficult personal story, writing under pressure can provide useful direction.
Include the wider family carefully
Siblings, grandparents and partners can receive a brief acknowledgement, especially if they have supported the couple. A line such as “To Emma and Josh, thank you for making Lucy feel at home from the first family lunch” gives the mention a personal detail without taking over the speech.
Be sensitive to complicated family circumstances. Divorced parents, stepfamilies, bereavements and estrangement may require neutral wording. Ask the couple privately whom they would like included. In a multicultural wedding, recognise both families’ traditions without reducing anyone to a cultural label. A respectful reference to shared meals, ceremonies or hospitality can work well.
Add light humour without creating tension
A gentle joke can make the welcome memorable, but humour about the groom’s family should never sound like criticism. Avoid jokes about the family’s finances, politics, accents, drinking habits or old rivalries. Australian audiences often respond well to understated humour, such as a playful remark about surviving a long family group chat or agreeing on a wedding playlist.
If you mention a footy team, local rivalry or a family tradition, make sure everyone understands the reference. A joke about the Swans, the Lions or the Cats may delight some guests and confuse others. Keep the warmth clear, and let the groom be the target of affectionate teasing rather than his parents.
Finish with unity and a toast
Bring the family reference back to the couple. You could say that the wedding has joined two families, then thank the groom’s parents for welcoming your daughter. This creates an emotional bridge and gives the speech a clear purpose.
Keep the wording concise so the toast does not become a second wedding ceremony. After praising the couple, invite everyone to raise a glass to their future. If you are coordinating your remarks with the groom, review a groom speech example so the two speeches complement rather than repeat each other. For tailored assistance with wording or etiquette, you can also contact the speech team.
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.