Traditionally, wedding speeches in the UK are delivered by the father of the bride, the groom, and the best man, and usually take place after the wedding breakfast. But today, many couples are choosing to personalise this part of the day by inviting others to speak or adapting the timing to suit their schedule and style.
Whether you’re giving a speech yourself or planning who will, here’s what to keep in mind.
WHEN TO SCHEDULE SPEECHES
Our advice? Keep speeches either before or after the meal, even if you are including multiple speakers. It is best to avoid placing them between each course. Your caterers will thank you for it. Service runs much more smoothly when the kitchen can plate and serve food without interruption. Some starters and main courses are particularly time sensitive, so it is worth checking in with your caterer and your photographer or videographer before finalising the schedule.
It also gives your creative team a much needed break. Your photographers and videographers will have been capturing every detail since the morning, and dinner is often their only chance to rest and recharge before the evening reception begins.
HOW LONG SHOULD A WEDDING SPEECH BE?
Aim to keep each speech around 10 minutes or less. While it’s lovely to hear from different voices, too many speeches (or long-winded ones!) can test your guests’ attention spans. A few short, thoughtful, well-prepared speeches will always land better than a long line-up.
TONE AND CONTENT
A great speech strikes the right balance between heartfelt, light hearted and respectful. It is important to keep things appropriate for a mixed audience, so try to avoid private or potentially awkward stories, inappropriate jokes, or anything that could unintentionally cause offence.
If in doubt, leave it out. If you are unsure, ask someone you trust to listen to your speech beforehand.
WHO SAYS WHAT?
Here’s a guide to the most common roles:
FATHER OF THE BRIDE: Often the first speaker, the father of the bride usually welcomes the guests, shares a few touching or funny memories about his daughter, and offers warm words to his new son-in-law.
GROOM: The groom will typically thank his new father-in-law for his speech, and go on to thank both sets of parents for their love and support. He’ll also acknowledge the wedding party (bridesmaids, groomsmen, ushers) for their help during the planning. Then, the guests for being there to celebrate… and finally, a few loving words about his bride.
BEST MAN: Traditionally the most humorous of the speeches, but it is important to remember that this is not the moment for embarrassing stories or inappropriate jokes. The best man should speak warmly about the groom, share a funny (but suitable) anecdote or two, and thank everyone involved in the day before raising a toast to the happy couple.
And remember, not every wedding follows this exact format and nor should it. Some couples choose to speak themselves, or invite bridesmaids, mothers of the bride or groom, or siblings, to say a few words. Your wedding speech line up should be a reflection of you.
