What are the Best Wedding Speeches & Toasts? Who Gives Them and What to Expect. In this Ultimate Guide to Best Wedding Speeches & Toasts, we will answer all your questions.
As a guest, it’s important to know what to expect when it comes to wedding reception speeches. From the heartfelt to the hilarious, wedding planning speeches are a staple of any wedding reception.
Speech vs. Toast
A speech at a wedding typically refers to a longer, more formal address given by one or more members of the wedding party, such as the best man, maid of honor, or parents of the couple.
A wedding toast, on the other hand, is a shorter, more casual statement typically made during a meal or reception, in which the speaker raises a glass to honor the couple and wishes them well.
While someone who gives a speech at the wedding may include personal stories, funny anecdotes about, and advice for the couple, a toast usually focuses on expressing love, congratulations, and good wishes for the future.
Both wedding toast and wedding speeches are important parts of a wedding celebration and can help bring family and friends together to honor the happy couple.
Who gives a toast at a wedding?
Traditionally, the best man and the maid of honor give toasts at a wedding. The best man usually gives the first toast during the reception, after the meal has been served, and the maid of honor follows with a few words.
However, it’s becoming more common for other members of the wedding party or family members to give a wedding toast as well.
For example, the groom’s father, the bride’s father or mother, or a close friend might want to give a toast to the couple.
It’s also becoming more common for the couple themselves to make a toast to thank their guests and express their love for each other.
Who Gives Speeches at Weddings?
The Father of the Bride Speech
Traditionally, the father of the bride will give the first speech at the reception.
This speech typically includes a heartfelt toast to best friends of the newlyweds, thanking everyone for coming and expressing pride and joy for his daughter on her wedding day.
However, these days, it’s not uncommon for the parents of the groom, or even both parents, to give speeches as well.
The Best Man’s Wedding Speech
The best man’s speech is usually the second one of the night and the most anticipated of all the wedding speeches. It is typically more lighthearted than the father of the bride’s speech.
This speech is designed to entertain the guests, while still expressing love and support for the couple.
The best man may share a funny story or anecdotes about the groom, stories of their friendship, and well wishes for the happy couple’s future together.
The Maid of Honor’s Wedding Speech
Similarly to the speech of the best man, the maid of honor’s speech is usually more lighthearted and less formal than the father of the bride’s speech.
The maid of honor will typically talk about the beautiful bride, share funny stories from their friendship, and express love and support for the couple.
However, in recent years there has been a trend toward more emotional and sentimental maid-of-honor speeches, often including a meaningful reading or quote.
The Newlyweds
While it’s not traditional for the newlyweds to give wedding speeches at their own wedding reception timeline yet, it’s becoming more and more common for them to say a few words.
This is a great opportunity for the bride and groom, to thank everyone for coming, express their love and gratitude towards each other, and share any special moments from their big day.
Other Guests – Wedding Speeches and Toasts
While these anticipated speeches are the most common speeches you’ll hear at a wedding reception, it’s not uncommon for other guests to give speeches as well.
This could be a close friend or family or wedding party member who wants to share a special memory or moment with the newlyweds.
How long should a wedding speech be?
A wedding speech generally should be about 3-5 minutes long. While it can be tempting to share every story and detail about the happy couple, it’s important to remember that the attention of the audience can wane if the speech goes on for too long.
Keeping a speech short and sweet allows for more engagement from the audience, and gives other speakers the chance to have their time in the spotlight as well.
Additionally, if there are multiple wedding speeches planned, it’s a good idea to coordinate with the other speakers to ensure that everyone has adequate time to speak without going over the allotted time limits.
Who can give a speech at the rehearsal dinner?
The rehearsal dinner is typically a more intimate gathering of close family and friends, and it’s a great opportunity for loved ones to share their thoughts and well wishes for the couple.
The rehearsal dinner speeches can be more heartfelt and personal.
While the specific lineup of speakers will depend on the couple’s own preferences and wedding traditions, it’s common for the following people to give speeches or toasts at the rehearsal dinner:
The father of the groom
The father of the bride
The maid of honor
The best man
The bride and groom themselves
Of course, other family members or close friends may also wish to speak, and the couple can decide who they want to include in the lineup.
It’s important to keep speeches relatively short (3-5 minutes) to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to speak and enjoy the evening. Saying a few words with love is more important than presenting a formal speech.
The Engagement Party
The party is typically a less formal event than the wedding or rehearsal dinner, and as such, the lineup of speakers is often more flexible.
While it’s up to the couple to decide who they want to include in the speaking lineup, some common choices include:
The parents of the bride and groom, who may offer blessings or words of congratulations to the couple
The maid of honor and best man, who may share personal anecdotes or stories about the couple
The bride and groom themselves, who may want to thank their guests and share their excitement for the upcoming wedding party
Can my parents give a speech together?
Yes, it’s absolutely acceptable for parents to give a speech together at a wedding or rehearsal dinner. In fact, it can even be a touching and memorable moment to see both the bride’s parents share their thoughts and words of wisdom as a team.
Whether they choose to write their great wedding speech together or take turns speaking, it’s important that they coordinate with each other ahead of time to ensure that their remarks complement each other and don’t repeat too much information.
Additionally, they may want to practice their speech together beforehand, so that they feel confident and comfortable delivering their message on the big day.
Does the Mother of the Groom give a speech?
Traditionally, it is not common for the mother of the groom to give a speech at the wedding reception. However, she may give a speech or toast at the rehearsal dinner, as she is one of the hosts of the event.
In recent years, it has become more common for mothers of the groom to give speeches at weddings, particularly if they have a close relationship with the couple.
Conclusion:
From the heartfelt to the hilarious, speeches and wedding toasts are a hallmark of all wedding events. By knowing who is giving a wedding speech and what to expect from them, you and the wedding guests can sit back and relax.
Whether you’re the father of the bride, the best man, the groom’s parents, or a close family friend, make sure to speak from the heart, have fun, and make it a great speech that no one will forget.
There are a variety of events leading up to a wedding where speeches are appropriate.
At the rehearsal dinner, it’s common for the groom’s parents, the maid of honor, the best man, and even the bride and groom themselves to give speeches or their best toasts.
The engagement party is typically a less formal event, and while speeches are not always required, hosts may choose more traditional toasts and include family members or close friends in the lineup.
This is the perfect opportunity to formally introduce the bride and groom to the extended family and friends.
Ultimately, the decision of who speaks and when is up to the couple, but it’s important to keep speeches relatively short, don’t include too many inside jokes others may not understand. Practice beforehand, this is not the time for an impromptu speech.
Look up helpful hints regarding public speaking, follow the simple set rules, and make sure your speech doesn’t feel forced.
Lastly, keep it short, in order to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to share their thoughts and well wishes for the happy couple.