While it’s up to you to decide on who makes them and how many you will have, speeches are a vital part of any wedding as they include proposing toasts, thanking individuals or replying to other speeches.

A great many people will have worked very hard to make the day an exciting and unforgettable one and they certainly deserve to be publicly thanked for their generous efforts.
It is also appropriate to congratulate the bride and groom and offer a toast to their future happiness together.

Often the best man or a close family friend, the master of ceremonies (or toastmaster) has the duty of introducing speakers and helping to lead toasts, generally overseeing the order of events, and should therefore be an assured public speaker. The golden rule when writing a speech is to keep it short and sweet – ideally it should last no more than four or five minutes.

While everybody enjoys an entertaining speech full of humorous anecdotes, try to avoid embarrassing the couple or using clichés and stereotypes.

Speeches need not be too traditional and can be adapted to suit the circumstances; however, it’s a good idea to check that the various themes and subject matters complement one another.

To Bride and Groom

Proposed by the bride’s father, an old family friend or a close relative, who welcomes the guests and wishes the bridal couple good fortune, usually including amusing anecdotes about the couple or events in the bride’s past.

To Bride’s Parents

The groom responds to the abovementioned toast by thanking the bride’s parents, those who have specially contributed to the ceremony and reception, and those who have travelled long distances to attend the wedding.
The groom ends his speech with a toast to his new wife.

To Bridal Couple

Made by the best man who, often being the brother or a close friend, can supply personal snippets of information about the groom’s history and the couple’s courtship.
The speech should be humorous without causing offence to the couple.
Traditionally, the best man also toasts the bridesmaids.

Others

If both sets of parents are present, it is customary to propose a toast to each of them.
Prepared by old friends of the family they may be briefly responded to by each father.
Any other speeches should be made just before the best man reads the telegrams received from those unable to attend.
The essential message of any speech is to wish the bride and groom every happiness for their future.