Wedding speech examples: four complete speeches by role

A good wedding speech example has four parts: who you are, one specific story, something about the couple together, and a toast. The four examples below, for the father of the bride, the groom, the best man and the maid of honour, were written for this page with invented names. Each is followed by a note on what makes it specific.

How long each example runs

Each example is around 180 to 200 words. At the 100 to 150 words a minute that VirtualSpeech gives as a comfortable pace, that is about one and a half to two minutes, before pauses for laughter.

A full speech is usually longer. Bridebook's length guide says a traditional speech runs 5 to 7 minutes. WeddingWire, a US source, says to keep it under five minutes and aim for closer to three. To grow an example to full length, add a second story and your thanks, not more adjectives. For one-minute versions, see our short wedding speech examples.

Father of the bride

This is an example written for this page. The names and story are invented.

Example: Good afternoon, everyone. I'm David, Emma's dad, and on behalf of Ruth and me, welcome, and thank you for being here. When Emma was nine she decided to raise money for the animal shelter by selling lemonade outside our house in November. It was four degrees. She sold eleven cups, mostly to the neighbours out of pity, and she gave every penny to the shelter. She has been that person ever since: stubborn, generous, and slightly unreasonable about the weather. Then she brought Tom home. The first thing he did was fix the gate I'd been meaning to fix for six years. Tom, I've been waiting for someone to show me up like that. You make her laugh and you make her calmer, and Ruth and I could not be happier to welcome you, and your parents, Alan and Jo, into our family. Please stand and raise your glasses. To Emma and Tom.

What makes it specific: a story with an age, a month and a number of cups, and one real act by the partner instead of "he's a great guy".

Groom

Example: Thank you, David, for those words, and for the gate story, which I'll never live down. I'm Tom, and on behalf of my wife and me, thank you all for coming, especially those who drove up from Cornwall this morning. Thank you to Ruth and David for welcoming me, and for today. Mum and Dad, thank you for everything, including the driving lessons. To our best man, Sam, and our bridesmaids, thank you for keeping us on time. Emma, the first time we met, you corrected my pronunciation of "quinoa" in front of a whole café. I knew then I'd be learning from you for the rest of my life. You are kind to everyone, even me when I've lost the car keys for the third time in a week. Today is the best day of my life. Please join me in a toast to my wife, Emma.

What makes it specific: the thanks name real people and places, and the story about the bride is one moment, not a summary of the relationship. Our wedding speech template shows where the thanks fit in the structure.

Best man

Example: Hello, everyone. For those who don't know me, I'm Sam, and I've known Tom since we were eleven, when we were both put in detention for laughing in assembly. In twenty years he hasn't changed much. He still laughs at the wrong time, and he still can't read a map. On a camping trip in Wales he led four of us two hours in the wrong direction, then said the view made it worth it. Annoyingly, it did. That's Tom: things go wrong, and somehow he makes them better. When he met Emma, he stopped getting lost. She doesn't just keep him on the right road; she makes him want to go somewhere. Emma, thank you for taking him on. He's lucky, and he knows it. Please raise your glasses to the bride and groom.

What makes it specific: the joke is about a harmless habit everyone in the room recognises, and it turns into a point about the couple.

Maid of honour

Example: Hi, everyone. I'm Priya, and I've been Emma's best friend since our first week at university, when she knocked on my door at midnight to borrow a tin opener and stayed until four. She has been turning up when I need her ever since: the day I failed my driving test, the week I moved flats, and every birthday, with a cake that was slightly burnt. When she met Tom, she called me and said, "He's annoyingly nice." I've watched him prove it. He learned to make her favourite curry from my mum's recipe. He drives her to every early shift. He listens when she talks about the shelter, and he volunteers there now too. Emma, you've always shown up for everyone else. I'm so glad someone shows up for you. Please raise a glass to Emma and Tom.

What makes it specific: three real moments in one sentence, a direct quote from the bride, and things the partner does rather than what he is like.

How to make your own speech specific

A common complaint about speeches written from a template, or with AI, is that they sound generic. The fix is detail only you have:

• Swap every quality for an action. Not "she is generous" but what she did, where and when.
• Name places, years and objects. The café, the camping trip, the tin opener.
• Say one true thing about the partner. Something you have seen them do, not a general welcome.
• Test each line. If it could be said at any wedding, cut it or add a detail.
• Read it aloud and time it. Then cut whatever drags.

Our guide to writing a wedding speech walks through finding your story, drafting and editing.

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