Bilingual wedding speech: how to include both families

A bilingual wedding speech works best when you give the main speech in one language, add a few lines in the other at the start and end, and let the other family read along in a printed translation. Avoid translating it live line by line, because that more than doubles the length and breaks your flow.

Choose a structure

There are four common shapes. Pick one before you write.

• One language, with lines in the other at each end. All Speeches Great and Small, a UK speechwriting business, advises: "Always have a couple of lines aimed directly towards the host nationality at the very start, and a couple at the end." It adds: "Try to deliver it in their language." Speechy's founder, writing for County Wedding, gives the same tip: "Include a few lines in their native tongue at the top and end of your speech."
• Alternate between languages. Inside Weddings says to have toasts "either be short enough to translate, or alternate between languages so everyone understands".
• Translate only the key parts. A planner quoted by WeddingWire says "Repeating everything in both languages will make the day drag on," and suggests you "translate key portions".
• Separate speakers, each in their own language. WeddingWire quotes another planner suggesting you invite family to "give a toast in their native language". If the couple want to share one speech, each speaking their own language, our joint wedding speech guide covers how to split it.

How much to translate

Less than you think. All Speeches Great and Small is blunt: "Do not, whatever you do attempt a running translation of your best man speech into your wife's mother tongue." A reader quoted by A Practical Wedding makes a related point about ceremonies: "often, it's more important for guests to understand the sentiment than the specific words."

So translate the parts that carry the meaning: the welcome, the thanks to each family and the toast. Leave the long stories in one language.

Printed copies and programmes

A written translation lets people follow without slowing you down. County Wedding says "Having the speech written in the guest's language can ensure they are included without it proving a distraction," and that guests "can read along as you deliver the speech."

Offbeat Bride suggests "Different language versions of your programs (printed out) explaining what exactly is going on". Inside Weddings says programmes "can feature multiple languages", on one programme or two. A schedule in both languages also helps; our wedding welcome speech guide covers how the opening words can tell everyone what happens next.

We found no independent source on translated slides for speeches.

An interpreter or a second speaker

Offbeat Bride says: "If it fits in your budget and your husband's family shares at least one common language, hire an interpreter!" A reader there adds: "use microphones to make it easy for Interpreters to hear what's being said!" Inside Weddings mentions a hired translator "complete with wireless headsets". A family member can do it too: one Offbeat Bride reader describes a father's speech "which her brother interpreted."

Whoever interprets, send them the text early. County Wedding suggests you "ask the whole line-up of speakers to email their speech to the interpreter in advance of the wedding". Kwintessential, a translation company, says "If you plan to give a speech or read from a script, give the interpreter a copy," and to "speak slowly and clearly."

Allow for the extra time

County Wedding says "Having someone interpret the speech as you go, means the speeches more than double in length". Kwintessential says interpreting "makes conversations twice as long" and that you can compensate by "cutting down your presentation or speaking in shorter, sharper sentences."

All Speeches Great and Small's advice is to "stick to the 5 minute mark, and make every word count." If you are being interpreted, write about half the length of your slot. Our guide to how long a wedding speech should be gives the usual ranges.

Jokes that don't translate

Kwintessential says "Most interpreters will agree that jokes do not translate well," and suggests you "consult the interpreter first to see if they think it will work." Toastmasters notes "Something may be humorous in certain regions but deadly serious in others," and advises you "try out your material ahead of time".

Check every translation

A Practical Wedding's advice: "if you're having printed material, have it checked more than a few times by native speakers." Ask a native speaker from the other family to read the lines and listen to you say them.

Making it specific

A translated speech can sound generic twice over. Keep it personal:

• Use one word or phrase the families already share. A pet name, a dish, a toast the other family always says.
• Name people from both sides. Thank a relative from each family by name, in their own language.
• Pick a story that needs no translation. Something visual, like a disastrous first meeting at the airport, lands with both halves of the room.
• Ask the other family for help. A native speaker can suggest a real saying from their culture rather than a translated cliché.

Example opening and close

This is an example written for this page. The names are invented. It opens and closes in Spanish, with the main speech in English.

Example: Buenas tardes a todos. Bienvenidos, y gracias por venir desde tan lejos. For everyone else, I just thanked our Spanish guests for travelling so far. I am Tom, Lucy's brother, and I promise the rest is in English, which is good news for anyone who heard my Spanish just now.

When Lucy first met Javier, she told me he was "quite quiet". He then spent four hours teaching our dad to make paella, badly. Dad still makes it every Sunday. Javier still says it needs more saffron.

Carmen and Luis, thank you for welcoming Lucy into your family. Mum and Dad, thank you for, well, everything.

Por favor, levantad vuestras copas. Por Lucy y Javier.

Start your draft

Answer five questions on theweddingspeech.ai and see your free speech preview. Write your main speech first, then choose the lines to translate and have a native speaker check them.