Who Speaks At Wedding Rehearsal Dinner?

The wedding rehearsal dinner is a crucial part of the wedding preparation process, where the immediate family and other participants in the ceremony are invited to share food, drinks, and celebrate the couple’s nuptials. The host(s) of the rehearsal dinner, typically the groom’s parents or bride’s parents, give the first speech and wedding rehearsal toast. In heterosexual couples, the groom’s father traditionally hosts the rehearsal dinner.

The rehearsal dinner schedule is typically held the night before the wedding, usually on a Friday. The host gives the first speech and wedding rehearsal toast, which is typically made by the groom’s parents. The first toast is usually made by the parents of the bride and should combine both a toast to the happy couple and a welcome message to the guests. If the parents want the parents to give a toast, they can do so without prompting.

Two main goals with storytelling in a rehearsal dinner speech are keeping it short and concise, and sharing stories about each person in the couple. Timing is also important, as everyone who plays a role in the ceremony should attend the rehearsal dinner. The father of the groom or bride can give a toast on behalf of the entire family, emphasizing the significance of coming together to celebrate the couple’s love and commitment.

The host of the rehearsal dinner (traditionally the groom’s father) gives a speech, but whoever is hosting the event should be given the option to give a speech, whether it be family members or friends. The first toast is usually made by the father of the bride midway through the party, once all the guests have arrived and had a chance to mingle.


📹 Best Father of the Groom Toast – RehearsalDinner, Denver, CO

Best Father of the Groom Toast – Rehearsal Dinner, Denver, CO.


Who speaks at wedding rehearsal dinner examples
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

How many people give speeches at a rehearsal dinner?

Close Family or Friend Members. On your wedding day, its likely that your parents, best man, and maid of honor will be giving speeches. However, there are probably other people, both attendees and wedding party members, who youd like to invite to say a few words. Your rehearsal dinner is their time to shine. Use the night before the big day to let your college roommate, uncle, cousin, or grandparent take center stage. They will appreciate the recognition, and youll love hearing what they have to say.

Open Mic Night?. After a night of emotional speeches, jubilant toasts, and free flowing champagne, many of your guests might find that they too have something they want to say. Maybe they want to say how grateful they are to have seen this beautiful relationship blossom, maybe they want to thank the couple for all of their friendship in the past, or maybe they want to tell the story of the first time they saw their best friends with their future spouse. Maybe they want to comment that, if you look this sharp in your rehearsal dinner suit, theyre anticipating whatever you wear for the Big Day tomorrow. (If youve rented your formalwear with Generation Tux, they wont be disappointed.)

Whatever it is, if theyre at your rehearsal dinner, chances are, theyve been a good friend to you, and they deserve to be heard.

Short rehearsal dinner speech examples
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Do people speak at a rehearsal dinner?

Your wedding night may be the main stage for speeches and roasts, but the rehearsal dinner is the unsung hero of the speech-making game. The rehearsal dinner is often where the funniest, most off-the-cuff speeches take place. With their relaxed vibe and free-flowing glasses of chardonnay, rehearsal dinners were practically created for memorable speeches and lifelong memories.

Like most wedding-related events, there are a number of traditions surrounding rehearsal dinner speeches; however, its up to you whether or not you want to follow the rules or create your own adventure. Well give you a run-down of the typical rehearsal dinner speeches, but of course, your final wedding rehearsal dinner speech roster is completely up to you.

Father of the Groom and/or Bride. Traditionally, the father of the groom kicks off the rehearsal dinner speeches. This tradition stems from the old-school rule that the father of the groom pays for the big dinner on the night before the wedding— but times are changing, and thats not always the case anymore. Often, neither of the couples parents are expected to pay for the rehearsal dinner: the betrothed take care of the costs.

Who speaks at a wedding reception
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

What is the order of speeches at a wedding?

Traditional wedding speech order: cheat sheet. Before we dive into the details, take a look at the cheat sheet below to see how the different speeches at a wedding all flow and fit together. First is the father of the brides speech, then the grooms speech, then the best man and maid of honour, and finally, any other speakers from the wedding party.

Traditionally, the father of the bride is the first to give a speech. The father of the brides speech is typically a touching and emotional tribute to the bride, expressing the fathers love and pride for her, and wishing her happiness in her marriage. The father of the bride will usually welcome the guests, thank the groom for loving and caring for his daughter, and make a toast to the happy couple.

Check out our top father of the bride speech examples for inspiration and a complete breakdown on how to structure your speech.

Funny rehearsal dinner speeches
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

What does a mother say at a rehearsal dinner?

  • The First Look ✨. The rehearsal dinner is usually hosted by the grooms parents, and it gives the engaged couple a chance to spend time with their inner circle before the wedding day.
  • The mother of the groom can give a speech or just a toast at the rehearsal dinner, as she is one of the hosts of the event.
  • There are some details that a speech should include, such as special memories, stories about the couple, and of course, the toast.
  • Anyone, including the maid of honor, best man, wedding party members, and even grandma and grandpa, can give a speech at the wedding rehearsal, as long as its what the couple wants.

Before the wedding day, theres a wedding ceremony rehearsal followed by the rehearsal dinner. Its the last party before the kick-off of your wedding festivities. Your most important guests are there, including your families and the wedding party.

The idea of a rehearsal dinner is to celebrate in a more intimate setting with loved ones before the big day. It gives families a chance to mingle and get to know each other better. The rehearsal dinner is also where the grooms parents can take an active part in the celebration. But, which parent should give the wedding rehearsal dinner toast or wedding speech? Zola is here to help, with everything you need to know.

Do the bride and groom give a speech at rehearsal dinner
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Does the mother of the groom say anything at a rehearsal dinner?

The Grooms Parents. Since the grooms parents are traditionally the hosts of a rehearsal dinner, they should be prepared to say a few words of welcome to guests in attendance. Typically, the parents of the groom, will start off the dinner by inviting guests to be seated (if it is a seated event) and welcoming everyone in attendance to the wonderful evening that has been planned, Pazand and Gallagher say.

The Maid of Honor and Best Man. Even though these two will be expected to shine on the main stage, its nice for the maid of honor and best man to play a role at the rehearsal dinner, too. If they intend to say a few words, their toasts should follow the parents of the groom. Keep it short and sweet—maybe share a story that didnt fit into your big reception speech. If youre having co-maids of honor and two best men, whoever isnt speaking at the wedding should give a speech now.

The Bride and Groom. Your rehearsal dinner is one of the few occasions during your wedding weekend when youll be able to spend uninterrupted time with your VIPs. Theyve no doubt invested a lot of time, money, and emotional support to the wedding planning, so now is your chance to thank them and let them know how truly excited you are to have them by your side. (Pro tip: Dont forget to thank your parents, too!)

Rehearsal dinner toasts
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

What should the mother of the groom not do?

Here are a few things a mother-of-the-groom shouldnt do.Dont overshadow the brides mother. … Dont act (or dress) like a bridesmaid. … Dont get too critical. … Dont steal the brides spotlight with your mother-of-the-groom outfit. … Dont try to invite extra guests. … Dont skip the pre-wedding events.

  • Weddings
  • Wedding ideas
  • Planning Basics
  • Trends & Tips
  • 8 Things the Mother-of-the-Groom Should Never Do

Want to slay your role as mother-of-the-groom? Here’s everything you shouldn’t do leading up to (and on) your son’s wedding day.

Your son’s wedding is on the fast approach and you, the mother-of-the-groom, couldn’t be happier. Seriously, you are downright jubilant. While you’ve already secured your spot as one of the VIP guests, you don’t want to overstep any boundaries and irk your soon-to-be daughter-in-law during the planning process (or on the big day). From acting like a bridesmaid to making empty offers, these are all the things amother-of-the-groom should skip doing.

Rehearsal dinner speech bride
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Who traditionally speaks at a wedding?

What order do wedding toasts go in?. The traditional order for wedding speeches starts with the father of the bride (a lil heartfelt few words about how great she is, and also welcoming the guests), then the groom, followed by the best man. Today, weddings look a bit different to the traditional set up, so with that in mind, its honestly up to you. Your wedding, your rules! Both partners in the marriage might want to do a speech each. Maybe a bridesmaid might balance out the best man speech with some anecdotes about the bride. However you think those speeches will flow best, thats the order for you.

How long should each speech be?. This usually depends on whos giving it! Some people are naturally comfortable chatting to an audience and others find it a challenge. The length of the wedding speech might reflect that…But a general rule of thumb is no longer than 5 minutes each. It keeps your guests interested and your speeches well prepared! Especially if the speeches and toasts are before food! That brings us to…


📹 Greatest Father of the Groom Speech EVER!

Ron Baunsgard, Father of the Groom. Caitlin and Dustin Wedding. August 21, 2010 – Roche Harbor, Washington. Very funny.


Who Speaks At Wedding Rehearsal Dinner
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

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.

About me

Add comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *