Wedding speech cue cards: how many, what to write and how to hold them

Wedding speech cue cards should hold keywords and short prompts, not your whole speech. Two UK sources say to use cue cards rather than word-for-word notes, and Emily Post says it is fine to use notes during a toast.

Most cue card advice is craft, not rule. Where a point below has a published source we name it. Where it is only our own advice we say so.

What goes on a cue card

• Prompts, not sentences. London Speech Workshop advises cue cards rather than word-for-word notes, and Bridebook says "key prompts, well-rehearsed" tends to land best, as full memorising can add pressure and reading word for word can sound flat.
• Your opening line in full. Our advice, not from a published source: the first sentence is said when you are most nervous, so write it out.
• Your closing toast in full. Also our advice. Write the exact words of the toast so you do not lose them at the end.
• Names. Our advice: write names and the order you thank people in. Our who to thank guide lists the usual names.

How many cards

No wedding authority we found gives a number. Our rule of thumb is one card per paragraph or story. Our free cue cards tool does the same and caps a card at 45 words. That tool's own working: a five-minute speech is about 750 words at 150 words per minute, so at least 17 cards at that cap. Keyword-only cards need far fewer words per card, so your count will vary. Our how long should a wedding speech be guide has the lengths by role.

Font size, numbering and holding them

We found no published source for these, so they are our advice:

• Large and plain. Use a large, plain font you can read at arm's length. London Speech Workshop's only related advice is large text and clear paragraph breaks if you do write it all out.
• Number every card. Put the number on the front so a dropped stack goes back in order.
• Hold them low and in one hand. Keep them below your chin so guests can see your face. Do not staple them; a hole-punch and ring or a clip keeps order.
• Turn, do not shuffle. Move each finished card to the back.

Cards or phone?

Our free tool can print numbered A6 cards or show one at a time on a phone. A phone is easy to carry, but Bridebook suggests carrying a printed copy as a backup in case of "a dead battery or dodgy microphone". We found no wedding authority recommending phones over cards.

Rehearse with the cards you will use

Practise from the cards themselves, not from the full script, or you will meet them for the first time at the microphone. Emily Post says to practise out loud, and Bridebook's best man guide says to rehearse in front of one trusted person and to time it. Our advice: do one run standing, holding the cards the way you will on the day, and note which prompts did not jog your memory. Rewrite those cards with a fuller phrase, and drop any card you never looked at.

A simple layout to copy

This is our own layout, not a published standard. Card 1: opening line in full, plus who you are. Middle cards: one story or point each, as three to five words. Second-to-last card: the thank-yous, in the order you will say them. Last card: the toast, in full, with the couple's names spelled the way they spell them.

Notes are allowed

Emily Post says "It is fine to use your notes during your toast" and advises preparing them several days ahead and practising out loud. London Speech Workshop says reading from the page is an acceptable fallback if you pause for reactions and keep eye contact. Our wedding speech nerves guide compares notes and memorising.

Start your draft

Answer five questions on theweddingspeech.ai and see your free speech preview, then turn it into cards.