Who Does Speeches at a Wedding?

Have you ever wondered who does the toast at a wedding? Who’s allowed to stand up and share their anecdotes, laughter, and special memories? Who has the honour of raising a glass and toasting to the future of the newlyweds? Well, you’re in the right place, because we’re unraveling the beautiful mystery of wedding speeches.

Wedding speeches can be as customisable as your big day. Of course, there are traditional orders and makers of speeches. But that doesn’t mean you need to stick to those! In this post, we explore who makes different wedding toasts, who can make them in their absence, and some tips on what to include in a wedding toast or speech. 

What is a wedding speech?

A wedding speech is a tribute or toast made during a wedding reception. Wedding speeches are usually made by the wedding party. For example, the father of the bride, the groom, and the best man. But they can be made by anyone close to the happy couple.

Usually, you’ll be asked to make a wedding speech — you shouldn’t just stand up and make one! Being invited to give a speech at a wedding is an honor, and it marks the significance of your relationship with the couple. It’s a chance to express your love, share memorable stories, and offer your well-wishes for their future together. 

Who does a speech at a wedding?

Many people make speeches at weddings. Some are traditional, like the father of the bride, and some are planned but unconventional, like the maid of honour. In this section, we explore who should make different toasts and give you an idea of what to include.

Who does the welcome speech at the wedding?

A wedding’s welcome speech is a short address made before any of the other wedding speeches. It usually welcomes the guests to the reception, lets guests know what the order of speeches will be, and how long they can expect the speeches to take. It might also acknowledge the guests’ efforts in coming to the wedding, a thank you for attending the celebration, or a few thoughts on love and commitment. 

The welcome speech can be made by:

• The bride or groom
• The father of the bride
• The father of the groom
• A significant family member

Who does the first speech at a wedding?

The first speech at a wedding is usually the father of the bride speech. This speech is usually a mix of pride and nostalgia, and is traditionally made by the father of the bride. But it can also be made by a father-like figure in the bride’s life. More on this later. 

The first speech at a wedding is usually designed to welcome everyone to the reception, and sets the tone for the other speeches. It should include an introduction to who you are, some words about love, and a thank you to all the people who made this day possible. For example, the venue staff, caterers, wedding party, and more.

Who does the father of the bride toast?

The father of the bride speech is usually performed by the father of the bride. However, depending on the family dynamic or circumstances, the father of the bride speech can also be made by:

• The bride’s uncle
• The bride’s step-father
• The bride’s sibling
• A father figure to the bride (for example, a godfather) 

There may be many reasons why the father of the bride isn’t able to make a speech on the big day. All that matters is that whoever steps in to deliver the speech does so with love, sincerity, and a deep connection to the bride. 

Who does the groom toast?

The groom’s speech is traditionally made by the groom. However, if the groom is feeling shy or there’s any reason why the groom can’t make the toast, the groom’s toast can also be made by:

• The bride
• The father of the groom
• The mother of the groom
• A trusted family member

The groom’s toast is supposed to be an address on behalf of the happy couple. But if this isn’t possible, the person making the groom’s toast should focus on thanking everyone for their contributions, talking about how special the day has been, and expressing their well-wishes for the future. 

Who does the best man toast?

The best man’s speech is usually made by the best man. However, if this isn’t possible, or if the groom doesn’t have a best man, the third speech in the order of speeches can be made by:

• The maid of honour
• The bride 
• The groomsmen 
• The groom’s sibling

The best man’s toast is intended to be a funny and light-hearted speech, full of jokes and anecdotes about the groom and stories of adventures over the years. However, it can also be a toast to friendship, to the couple’s love story, or an expression of your well-wishes for their future together. 

Who does the maid of honour toast?

The maid of honour speech is usually made by the bride’s maid of honour on the big day. But it’s becoming more and more common for brides not to pick a maid of honour. As a result, this speech can be made by:

• One of the bridesmaids
• The bride
• The bride’s sibling
• The bride’s mother

The maid of honour speech is a lovely but untraditional wedding speech that usually includes anecdotes about wedding planning, special memories of the bride, and support for the couple’s future. It’s a chance to express gratitude for being a part of the bride’s journey and to share in the joy of her special day.

The bottom line on wedding toasts

Wedding toasts are more than just a tradition; they’re moments of genuine emotion, humour, and connection that add depth and warmth to a wedding celebration. Wedding toasts are made by a range of people during the reception. However, the order of speeches and who makes the toasts isn’t set in stone — in fact, they can be as customisable as your wedding day.

All that really matters is that the speeches are filled with love, support, and guidance on the happy couple’s big day. Whether you’re sticking to tradition or shaking things up, you’ll need some handy guidance on what to include in a wedding speech and some handy wedding speech ideas. If you’re stuck on where to start, we have a whole host of wedding speech examples to inspire you.

You Might Also Like…

• Wedding Traditional Speech Order: Who Says What & When
• Wedding Speech Examples
• Wedding Speech Ideas
• How Long Should a Wedding Speech Be?

Happy Planning!