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 |
Including The Bride’s Parents In A Father Of The Bride Speech
A father of the bride speech is often centred on a daughter’s childhood, character and future. It also offers a valuable opportunity to welcome the groom’s family and recognise the people who helped shape him. A thoughtful mention can make the speech feel generous, balanced and genuinely warm.
The bride’s parents may be hosting, contributing financially or simply sharing the excitement of the day. Their role varies between families, particularly at Australian weddings where traditions often blend with relaxed, modern expectations. Acknowledging that contribution should feel personal rather than like a formal roll call.
The strongest speeches give both families a clear place in the story. Instead of adding a long list of thanks at the end, connect the bride’s parents to moments you have witnessed: meeting the groom, seeing the families celebrate together or noticing how naturally the couple fit into each other’s lives.
Aim for a speech that lasts around five to seven minutes. Receptions in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane often run to a tight schedule, especially when several relatives and friends are speaking, so a concise tribute will usually have greater impact than a detailed family history.
Understand Their Role In The Day
Before writing, establish what the bride’s parents are actually doing. They may be the hosts, the people who arranged the reception, or parents who prefer to stay out of the spotlight. Ask the couple whether there are specific contributions they would like recognised.
Use accurate details rather than assumptions. If the bride’s mother organised suppliers, mention her calm during planning. If her father welcomed interstate guests or helped with transport, refer to that practical kindness. These small observations sound more sincere than generic praise.
Choose A Natural Moment To Mention Them
The opening can acknowledge both families before you move into stories about your daughter. Alternatively, introduce the bride’s parents when describing the first time you met the groom or when reflecting on the couple’s future together.
A useful transition might be: “When our family met the groom’s parents, it was clear where his warmth and good humour came from.” This lets you praise their influence without turning the speech into a separate presentation.
If the wedding includes a traditional Australian welcome, a multicultural ceremony or blended families, keep your language inclusive. Pronounce names carefully and check whether parents prefer formal titles, first names or a family nickname.
Share Specific Appreciation
Personal examples give your thanks emotional weight. You might recall the bride’s parents making you feel welcome at a family barbecue in Perth, offering a spare room during a visit to Adelaide, or making the effort to attend an engagement celebration in regional New South Wales.
Avoid mentioning money, property or wedding expenses unless the couple has specifically asked you to do so. Australian wedding costs can be substantial, particularly in popular coastal venues and major-city markets, and public references to financial help may embarrass the family.
Choose one or two details that reveal character:
Include The Groom’s Family With Care
The groom’s parents should feel welcomed rather than treated as an afterthought. Speak about them as part of the couple’s new family network, not simply as guests who happen to be present.
You could thank them for raising a considerate son, mention the ease of joining family celebrations, or recognise the friendship developing between both sets of parents. Keep the tone warm and avoid comparisons between families, even as a joke.
If you are also helping the groom prepare, the groom speech guide can help coordinate themes and prevent both speeches from repeating the same story. Agreeing on broad topics is enough; the delivery should still feel spontaneous.
Balance Emotion And Humour
A light joke can make a family acknowledgement more relaxed, but humour should never target the bride’s parents, their finances, age or parenting choices. Gentle observations work better, such as noting that wedding planning revealed an impressive talent for spreadsheets or diplomacy.
Follow humour with a sincere sentence. For example: “Behind all that organisation was a family determined to give these two a wonderful start.” This shift helps the audience understand the affection behind the joke.
If nerves are a concern, write short prompts rather than a full script once the wording is settled. Practising with using notes can help you decide whether cue cards, a printed page or memorised points suit you best.
End With A Shared Wish
Bring the speech back to the couple and the family they are creating. Thank the bride’s parents for the love and values they have given their daughter, then extend that appreciation to the groom’s family for welcoming her.
A final toast can be simple: “To both families, thank you for the love, laughter and support that brought us to this day. May the years ahead bring you many more reasons to celebrate together.”
The aim is recognition with restraint. When the bride’s parents are included through genuine memories, respectful thanks and a clear connection to the couple, the speech becomes a tribute to the family joining together rather than a collection of formal acknowledgements.
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.