Wedding Speech Examples: What Good UK Speeches Actually Sound Like

Most people asked to give a wedding speech have the same two worries: that it will go on too long, and that nobody will laugh. The first one you can fix completely. The second matters less than you think, because a room full of people who love the couple is the kindest audience you will ever stand in front of. Below are example speeches you can borrow from, plus the rules that make the difference between a speech people remember and one they politely sit through. ## The running order at a British wedding Traditionally the speeches come after the meal, though plenty of couples now do them before food so the nervous ones can relax and eat. The usual order is: - Father of the bride (or whoever is hosting), who welcomes everyone and toasts the couple - The couple, or the groom, who thanks everyone and toasts the wedding party - The best man, who closes with the toast to the couple Maid of honour speeches, joint speeches from both partners and speeches from mums are all common now. There is no rule about who is allowed to speak. Just tell your venue coordinator the order so they can time the courses around it. ## How long should a wedding speech be? Five minutes is lovely. Seven is fine. Ten is pushing it, and anything past that is hurting you. Read your speech aloud at a steady pace: around 130 words a minute is a comfortable speaking speed, so 700 words gives you roughly five minutes once you allow for laughter. ## Father of the bride example "Good afternoon everyone. For those who don't know me, I'm Paul, Emma's dad, and I've been told I have five minutes, which is two fewer than I asked for. On behalf of Sue and me, thank you all for being here, especially those who came up from Cornwall this morning and have been awake since four. Emma was the kind of child who organised the other children. At six she ran a café in our back garden and charged us 20p for a cup of pond water. I'd like to say she's mellowed. She hasn't. She's just better at it, which is why today has run like clockwork. James, when Emma first brought you home, you fixed the dripping tap in the kitchen without being asked. Sue decided there and then. It took me a bit longer, mainly because I'd been meaning to fix that tap for three years. But watching how you look after each other, I couldn't have picked better. So would you all please stand and raise your glasses to Emma and James." Why it works: one welcome, one story about the bride, one warm line about the partner, straight into the toast. ## Best man example "Hello everyone. I'm Tom, and I've known Dan since we were eleven, which means I've had nineteen years to collect material and about four minutes to use it. I was going to tell you about the stag do in Newcastle, but Dan's gran is on table two and she's been giving me a look since the soup. What I will tell you is this. Dan is the friend who turns up. When I moved flat he arrived with a van at seven in the morning. When my dad was ill he drove three hours just to sit in the hospital car park with me. He doesn't make a fuss about it. He just turns up. Then he met Priya, and suddenly the man who wore the same hoodie for a decade owned a coat that fits. Priya, you've made him happier than I've ever seen him, and for that we're all grateful. Also for the coat. Please stand and raise your glasses: to Priya and Dan." Why it works: the stag-do joke gets a laugh without actually telling the story. Keep anything you wouldn't say in front of a grandparent out of the speech entirely. ## Maid of honour example "Hi everyone, I'm Laura. Sophie and I met on the first day of uni in a queue for a fire drill that turned out to be a real fire. We've been inseparable ever since, although she still won't let me cook. Sophie is the person you ring at two in the morning. She never asks why. She just asks where you are. Ben, you should know what you're taking on: she will remember every birthday of everyone you've ever met, she will rearrange your cupboards, and she will love you ferociously. You're very lucky, and I think you know it. To Sophie and Ben." ## A joint speech from the couple "We just wanted to say thank you, properly. To our parents, for everything, and for pretending not to mind when we changed the menu four times. To Hannah and Rob for keeping us sane. To everyone who travelled, especially those who came from Canada. And to each other, for saying yes. Please raise your glasses to absent friends, and to everyone in this room." ## Things to leave out - Exes. Always. - In-jokes that only three people understand - Anything about how much the wedding cost - Reading out a list of dictionary definitions of "marriage" - Apologising for being nervous more than once ## A few practical tips Print it on cards in a large font rather than reading from your phone. Practise it out loud at least five times, ideally once in front of someone honest. Have one drink before, not four. And look up at the couple when you say the last line. If you're planning the day itself, our [wedding planning timeline](/blog/realistic-uk-wedding-planning-timeline) and [hour-by-hour wedding day guide](/blog) will help you work out where speeches sit.

Wedding Speech Examples: What Good UK Speeches Actually Sound Like

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