When Do You Do The Speeches At A Wedding?

Wedding speeches typically take place during the meal at the wedding reception, either before or after dinner. The sweet spot is starting speeches about 3/4 of the way through dinner as guests are finishing up their meal and still seated. A great wedding speech should go something like this: start by introducing yourself and sharing how you know the couple, followed by a toast to the parents, groomsmen, bridemaids, and the new wife.

The first step when writing a killer bride speech is to thank your favorite people, who put in the time, money, and effort on your special day. Shout-Out your VIPs, such as the Father of the Bride, Groom, and Best Man, and remember that there are no rules when it comes to who makes a wedding speech or in which order.

The best man speech and maid of honor speech should follow an outline similar to the best man speech but with an emphasis on the married couple. The tone for both the best man speech and the maid of honor speech is typically heartwarming, encouraging, and the focus should be on the married couple.

To open with a joke, start by telling a joke or recalling a humorous anecdote to loosen up the crowd and yourself. For example, the father or mother of the bride or groom may start by thanking everyone for attending, since they may be the host of the occasion.

In summary, wedding speeches typically take place during the meal at the wedding reception, either before or after dinner. The sweet spot is starting speeches about 3/4 of the way through dinner, allowing guests to finish their meal and have more time for the parents and themselves.


📹 Wedding Speeches

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Modern wedding speech order
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Who starts the speeches at a wedding?

Welcome toast. The host should speak first and take the microphone as soon as guests are seated. The first toast is usually made by the bride’s parents and is a welcome to the guests and a toast to the happy couple. If you want the groom’s parents to speak, they should do so after the bride’s parents. For same-sex weddings, the couple decides who should start the evening.

Blessing. If you’re inviting someone to bless the meal, do so after the welcome toasts. Do it before dinner.

Best Man and Maid of Honor Toasts. The best man and maid of honor usually speak after dinner, while guests are still seated. This way, waitstaff can clear or serve without being interrupted, and guests can still pay attention. If you’re not having a seated dinner, wait until the servers have finished with the hors d’oeuvres or until everyone has something to eat from the buffet or food truck.

Wedding speech examples
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What order do speeches go in at an event?

Speeches are usually given in order of importance. The ribbon cutting, plaque unveiling, or building opening comes at the end of the speeches. If the program puts the important moment at the start, the speeches will be given in reverse order, with the most important person speaking first.

If the event is hosted by or includes federal or international officials, the speaking order may be different.

Wedding speeches before or after dinner
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Who does speeches first at a wedding?

Welcome toast. The host should speak first and take the microphone as soon as guests are seated. The first toast is usually made by the bride’s parents and is a welcome to the guests and a toast to the happy couple. If you want the groom’s parents to speak, they should do so after the bride’s parents. For same-sex weddings, the couple decides who should start the evening.

Blessing. If you’re inviting someone to bless the meal, do so after the welcome toasts. Do it before dinner.

Best Man and Maid of Honor Toasts. The best man and maid of honor usually speak after dinner, while guests are still seated. This way, waitstaff can clear or serve without being interrupted, and guests can still pay attention. If you’re not having a seated dinner, wait until the servers have finished with the hors d’oeuvres or until everyone has something to eat from the buffet or food truck.

Order of toasts at wedding
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What order do you do speeches?

The order of speeches at a wedding: Father of the Bride Father of the Groom Groom Best Man People often ask us what the right order of speeches at a wedding is. Our answer is that it depends on you and your partner, your wedding style, and your chosen speakers. Couples usually ask, “What’s the traditional order of speeches at a wedding?” We find the traditional order of speeches unhelpful when planning a modern wedding. We’ve created a new, modern template for you to use, along with tips on customizing it for your wedding.

The traditional order of speeches at a wedding: Couples usually want the traditional order of speeches at a wedding. We’ve provided this below. This order is outdated and doesn’t accommodate same-sex couples, parents, mixed-gender bridal parties, or brides or other female wedding party members who want to speak. We’ve provided this for traditional couples, but we highly recommend our modernized version!

The traditional order of wedding speeches:

Who toasts who at a wedding
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Who gives wedding speeches and when?

The Order of Speeches at a Modern Wedding: Our new order of speeches at a wedding is a mix of old and new. We put parents first because they talk about the couple’s early lives. Then we have friends and siblings, who often talk about school and early adulthood and how the couple met. The couple should go last so they can thank everyone who helped with the wedding. There are many more things to think about when planning the order of speeches at a wedding. Keep reading to find out more! The Order of Speeches at a Wedding for Modern Couples:

Parents of the couple could give one or more speeches.

Closest friends and/or siblings could give speeches.

The couple could speak together or separately.

When did wedding speeches start?

Wedding speeches have been around since ancient times. Toasting at weddings goes back to the sixth century B.C. when Greeks would pour wine from a common pitcher. The bride’s father would drink the first glass of wine to prove it was not poisoned. Wedding speeches have changed a lot. Here are some ideas for your wedding toast video: Project the video onto an outdoor screen or a wall where the wedding feast will take place.

How many speeches at a wedding
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What order are speeches given at a wedding?

Wedding speech order. Before we get into the details, check out the cheat sheet below to see how the different speeches at a wedding fit together. The father of the bride gives the first speech, then the groom, then the best man and maid of honor, and finally any other wedding party speakers. The father of the bride gives the first speech. The father of the bride’s speech is a loving tribute to the bride, expressing the father’s pride and wishing her happiness in marriage. The father of the bride welcomes guests, thanks the groom for caring for his daughter, and makes a toast to the happy couple.

Check out our top father of the bride speech examples for ideas and tips.

Should wedding speeches or food come first?

Your caterer should serve your VIP tables first so that anyone giving a toast can enjoy their meal while it’s hot. Then, as other tables are being served, or while guests are eating, those giving speeches can get up and make their toast. Start with dancing and toasts. The third option is to have toasts at the end of the meal. Have them speak at the end of dinner or when it’s time to dance. Schedule the toasts, then cut the cake. Dance the first dance and parent dances, then open the dance floor! Use the cocktail hour. If you’re planning a casual event, the best time to get guests’ attention is when they have their signature cocktail. Let guests arrive, get drinks and hors d’oeuvres, then get their attention. Speeches can be delivered early, then everyone can mingle and relax.

Wedding speech etiquette
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Do you cut the cake before or after speeches?

Traditional Time To Cut A Wedding Cake. Traditionally, cutting the cake is the last formal moment of the day, at the end of the wedding reception. This is usually after speeches and dinner. The wedding cake is usually made up of multiple tiers, sometimes up to 5. The groom with his right hand over his bride takes a silver-plated cake knife and cuts a small piece from the bottom tier. With this first cake slice, the bride and groom feed each other. Then if they wish, serve a piece of their new in-laws. When the cake has been cut it is taken away to be cut up for all the guests to share. It is important to make sure you save some to send to guests that couldnt make it. Due to this tradition, many older guests may take the cutting of the wedding cake as the sign they are then able to head home.

Sticking To Wedding Cake Cutting Tradition?. Another tradition is to keep the top and middle tiers of the wedding cake and freeze them to use later. The top tier is saved for the christening of the first child and the middle tier is saved for the first anniversary. As you can imagine, due to this, traditional wedding cakes can be very big!

Modern Wedding Cake Cutting Choices. In more modern times, not everyone goes for a multiple tier cake because of the tradition but because they have larger wedding parties. Another reason is that they look amazing! It isnt as common now to expect a couple to have a child straight after marriage meaning the cake wouldnt last. There are many different wedding cake styles to match each unique couple. Some might even opt for a wedding cake made of cheese! What you can do instead is save any wedding toppers you may use to then add to your childrens cake if you have them.

How long should wedding speeches be
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When to give wedding speeches?

Schedule toasts first. There are many reasons to do this. This lets your parents, maid of honor, best man, and anyone else who’s supposed to give a speech relax and enjoy the rest of your wedding. Toasts at the start of your reception can set the tone for the rest of the evening. You can have all the toasts done one after the other or have some activities in between. Start your toasts after the main course. The main course is usually the longest, so it’s a good time for the toasts to go on. It’s a good idea to have your toasts early in the meal so you can enjoy the rest of the night. They can get up to take the stage as the meal ends or just before dancing. That way, you can have the toasts, cut the cake, and then finish up with dancing. During Cocktail Hour If your wedding is casual, cocktail hour is a good time for your toasts. This is a great time to capture your guests’ attention, and then everyone can relax and mingle at your fun reception. The Oaks is a gorgeous location for your wedding in Maryland. If you want a waterfront venue for your wedding, contact us. Let us know. Call us today!


📹 Mother of the Bride Speech | Best Wedding Speeches | Wedding Speech Ideas

Want some inspiration for your speech? Are you the mother of the bride, giving a speech & need some ideas to get you going?


When Do You Do The Speeches At A Wedding
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Christina Kohler

As an enthusiastic wedding planner, my goal is to furnish couples with indelible recollections of their momentous occasion. After more than ten years of experience in the field, I ensure that each wedding I coordinate is unique and characterized by my meticulous attention to detail, creativity, and a personal touch. I delight in materializing aspirations, guaranteeing that every occasion is as singular and enchanted as the love narrative it commemorates. Together, we can transform your wedding day into an unforgettable occasion that you will always remember fondly.

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