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 Flat vector illustration of a best man raising a champagne flute beside a speaker's notes on a small table, in soft teal and cream tones

Flat vector illustration of a best man raising a champagne flute beside a speaker's notes on a small table, in soft teal and cream tones

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 Flat vector illustration of a groom standing with notes in hand beside a bride, rendered in muted teal and warm gold on a pale background

Flat vector illustration of a groom standing with notes in hand beside a bride, rendered in muted teal and warm gold on a pale background

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 Flat vector illustration of a father and bride sharing a quiet moment near a window, drawn in soft teal lines on a warm cream background

Flat vector illustration of a father and bride sharing a quiet moment near a window, drawn in soft teal lines on a warm cream background

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 & Bride

The 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

Discussion

How to coordinate speeches between the best man and maid of honour

Coordinating speeches between the best man and maid of honour works best when both speakers contribute to one clear tribute to the couple. Rather than writing competing jokes and stories, plan a shared theme that allows each person to bring a distinct perspective.

Agree early on the length, tone and order of the speeches. The speakers, wedding party and master of ceremonies should all understand who speaks first, when each person takes the microphone and how their remarks connect to the couple.

Establish clear roles and responsibilities

Choose speakers who communicate comfortably with each other and respect the couple’s preferences. The best man may focus more on the groom, while the maid of honour can centre the bride, but both should acknowledge the marriage as a partnership.

Each speaker should know which parts belong entirely to them and which details are shared. This avoids repeated childhood stories, duplicated jokes and references that might make the other speaker feel overlooked.

Agree on content, tone and boundaries

Begin with a brief meeting to identify what the couple most wants to hear. Some couples prefer affectionate humour, while others want formal recognition of family, friends and the journey of their relationship.

Keep the humour suitable for relatives, colleagues and guests who may not know every detail. A maid of honour review can help identify anecdotes that balance warmth with broad appeal.

Build a reception speaking order

Map the entire run of show, including the celebrant, first dance, speeches, meal service and cake cutting. The maid of honour and best man can welcome guests together, speak separately or deliver a short joint tribute before each person adds a personal section.

Saturday receptions are common in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, often taking place at hotels, pubs, restaurants or waterfront marquees. In licensed venues, RSA-trained staff and state or council requirements can affect drink service, so align speech times with the venue’s schedule.

Rehearse timing and venue logistics

A full rehearsal is useful even when both speakers are experienced. Test the microphone, check the room acoustics and time each section against the reception programme. Australian summer weddings may move speeches indoors, so confirm a weather plan and avoid relying on equipment exposed to wind or direct sun.

The celebrant normally manages the legal formalities, leaving the master of ceremonies to coordinate the reception. If one speaker is reflecting on remarriage, the advice in writing a second wedding can provide a respectful way to acknowledge that history.

Compare responsibilities and delivery

Comparing the two roles helps prevent imbalance. Neither speech needs to dominate, particularly if the bride and groom have different relationships with each speaker. Aim for comparable lengths, with each section adding something the other cannot provide.

Element	Best man	Maid of honour
Suggested length	Four to six minutes	Four to six minutes
Main emphasis	Groom’s character and shared experiences	Bride’s character and shared experiences
Shared material	One agreed anecdote and one joint message	One agreed anecdote and one joint message
Speaking position	Welcomes guests or speaks after formal toasts	Pairs with the best man or follows his remarks
Practical role	Confirms microphone and final cue	Checks venue details and shared references
Closing element	Congratulates the couple and raises a glass	Reinforces the couple’s partnership and raises a glass

A practical coordination checklist

Hold a final planning check after both drafts are complete. Keep the exchange specific, brief and focused on preventing confusion on the day.

Agree on a firm speaking time and maximum word count.
Assign one shared story and one shared congratulation.
Confirm the full reception order with the master of ceremonies.
Exchange final drafts at least one week before the wedding.
Check microphone, music, lighting and room-entry cues.
Rehearse the transition between both speeches.
Agree on who will collect glasses and address any late-running guests.

Australian law has recognised same-sex marriage since December 2018, and either partner may choose whichever speech role suits them. A shared plan gives all speakers a clear framework while preserving the individual voice each person brings to the couple.

Elaine S. · 3 weeks ago

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.
Daniel K. · 1 month ago

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.