The Order of Wedding Speeches can be confusing. Many of us attend weddings but if asked who speaks first we would probably not know. This is a list of tradition Wedding Speech Order that has been modified to include the Ladies, Bride, Mother of the Bride and Maid of Honor.
Wedding Speeches typical running order during the wedding reception is as follows:
- Father of the Bride Wedding Speech.
- Mother of the Bride Wedding Speech.
- Groom’s Wedding Speech.
- Bride’s Wedding Speech.
- Best Man’s Wedding Speech.
- Maid of Honor Wedding Speech
The Master of Ceremonies
The order of events is organized and monitored by the MC (Master of Ceremonies). The MC will call for the guest’s attention and either introduces each speaker in turn or just the first speaker. First speaker being – The Bride’s Father.
To learn more about the Master of Ceremonies “Click Here”
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Father of the Bride Wedding Speech
The Father of the Bride speaks first. (If father of the bride is not present then or close friend or relative of the bride’s family will take this role of Father of the Bride to present a speech)
The bride’s father will propose a toast to the newlywed couple.
What he will speak about will depend on the individual situation, but things he should include would be the following:
Welcoming guests and appreciation for those who have traveled long distance.
Welcoming family elders (grandparents or great Aunt’s and Uncles)
Acknowledgment of the Mother of the Bride’s effort in regard to the Wedding celebration.
How proud he is of his daughter, share a personal story of the brides childhood.
A welcome to his new son-in-law and the groom’s parents to the family.
Advice to a happy marriage and well wishes to the newly wed couple.
Proposing a toast to the couple at the end of his speech.
Mother of the Bride Wedding Speech
The Mother of the Bride can add a speech here. This is optional, however many Mother’s of the Bride now choose this to share their thoughts about the daughter, the bride and other sentiments.
Her speech should include;
Thanks to the father of the bride for gracious words or eloquent speech.
Sentiments of agreement with the father of the bride.
A short or funny story of the early days of the bride and groom’s relationship.
Welcome to her new son-in-law to the family and welcome to his family as well.
Share personal “secrets of blissful marriage”.
Toast to the bride and groom.
The Groom’s Wedding Speech
Master of ceremonies will introduce the Groom to respond and toast the bridesmaids
The Groom traditionally speaks next.
His speech should include the following:
Thanking the guests for their attendance.
Thanking the bride’s parents for giving him their daughter in marriage.
Complimenting the beautiful bride.
Paying tribute to his own parents.
Acknowledging the help with wedding arrangements given by his best man and other helpers.
Proposing a toast to the bridesmaids, thanking them for their help and support to the bride at the lead up to the Wedding Day, the Wedding Ceremony and the Wedding Reception.
The Bride’s Wedding Speech
The Bride may give a speech at this point and she may include the following;
Thanking the groom for his compliments (and make positive comment on the groom)
Thanking those that helped her organize the wedding.
Thanks to her parents for their support.
Thanks to the Groom’s parent’s.
Thanking the best man and groomsmen for supporting the groom.
Thanking the maid of honor and bridesmaids.
Thanks the guests for their kind wishes and gifts.Toast the parents on both sides (ask them to be upstanding).
The Best Man’s Wedding Speech
The Best Man’s official duty is to reply on behalf of the bridesmaids, responding to the Groom and Bride speeches. 
Best Man Speech would include the following;
Thanking the Groom and Bride for their speeches.
Thanking the Groom for asking him to be Best Man at his wedding.
The appreciation of the bridesmaids already expressed during the groom’s wedding speech.
An informal speech or story about the bride and groom.
Toast to the bride and groom.
The Maid of Honor/ Head Bridesmaid’s Wedding Speech
Maid of Honor may respond to the best man’s speech and add in some personal insights about the bride. Maid of Honor or Head Bridesmaid Speech would include;
Thanks the Best Man for his speech.
Thanks the Bride for the opportunity to be Maid of Honor.
Relates a personal story about her relationship with the bride or funny story about the wedding preparations.
Toast’s the happy couple (Bride and Groom).
If there are to be other toasts or additional speeches to be made, they are done so now.
The Master of Ceremonies will then finalize the wedding speeches by encouraging the guests to enjoy the rest of the evening. This concludes the page titled Order of Wedding Speeches.