Wedding reception welcome speech: who gives it, how long, what to say

A wedding welcome speech is a short address, usually by the couple or a parent, that greets the guests at the reception before the meal or the main speeches. One to two minutes is enough: thank people for coming, tell them what happens next, and raise a first glass.

What a welcome speech is

Bridebook says "A wedding's welcome speech is a short address made before any of the other wedding speeches." It says the speech "usually welcomes the guests to the reception, lets guests know what the order of speeches will be, and how long they can expect the speeches to take".

It is not a replacement for the main speeches. Think of it as the opening line of the reception.

Who gives it

Bridebook lists four people who can make the welcome speech: the bride or groom, the father of the bride, the father of the groom, or "A significant family member".

WeddingWire, a US wedding site, describes two versions:

• The couple. "The couple may wish to say a few brief words to kickstart the reception meal and thank guests for coming."
• The hosts. "If one or both sets of parents are hosting the wedding, they may choose to say a few words to welcome everyone".

If the couple are giving it together, our joint wedding speech guide covers how to split the lines between two people.

When it happens

The welcome comes first, before the other speeches, but when that is depends on the day. Guides for Brides says UK speeches are "traditionally after the main course has been cleared away and before dessert is served", and that "If you opt for speeches before the meal, ensure that guests have been given a drink and canapés first."

So there are two common shapes, which are our summary of those options:

• A short welcome as guests sit down, with the main speeches later. The welcome opens the meal and the long speeches wait until after it.
• The welcome as the first of the speeches. It runs straight into the first main speech.

Guides for Brides adds that "If you have a toastmaster or master of ceremonies, they will announce each of the speeches." If there is a toastmaster, agree with them who says what, so the guests are not welcomed twice. Our order of wedding speeches guide covers where the main speeches usually fall.

How long

No source we found gives a separate length for a welcome speech. WeddingWire's advice for all wedding speeches is "keep your wedding speech under five minutes, and aim for closer to three minutes if you can." A welcome has less to do than any other speech, so one to two minutes, about 150 to 300 words, is enough.

What to cover

A short checklist, built from the sources above:

1. Say who you are. Not everyone knows both families.
2. Welcome the guests and thank them for coming. Guides for Brides suggests you "Thank people who have travelled a long way to be with you."
3. Tell people what happens next. The meal, then the speeches, then the evening. Bridebook says the welcome lets guests know the order of speeches and how long they will take.
4. Practical notes, briefly. Where the bar is, when the band starts, anything the guests need to know.
5. A first toast or "please enjoy your meal".

Leave the big thank-yous for later. The detailed thanks to parents, attendants and suppliers belong in the main speeches; our who to thank guide shows who covers each one.

Making it sound like you

A common worry about speech writers and AI tools is that the result sounds generic, and a welcome speech is the easiest one to make generic: "thank you all for coming on this special day" could be said at any wedding. Make it specific:

• Name the journeys. "Aunt Carol has come from Perth, the one in Australia." One or two names, not a roll call.
• Name the place. Why you chose this venue, or what happened the first time you saw it.
• Add one detail only you know. The thing the couple said when they finished planning, or what the day nearly looked like.

Example welcome speech

This is an example written for this page. The names and details are invented. It runs about 190 words, a little over a minute.

Example: Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome. For those who don't know us, we're Hannah and Joe, and as of about two hours ago, we're married.

Before anyone starts eating, we wanted to say thank you. Some of you have come a long way to be here: Joe's grandparents have driven up from Cornwall, and our friend Mei flew in from Singapore on Thursday and is still not sure what time it is. Thank you, all of you.

We chose this barn because the first time we came to look at it, it was pouring with rain, the roof leaked in one corner, and we both said yes before the tour was over. Today the roof has been fixed, and the sun came out, so we are taking that as a good sign.

Here's the plan: dinner first, then speeches from Hannah's dad, Joe and our best man, Kieran. After that, the band starts at eight.

Please raise a glass and enjoy your meal.

Start your draft

Answer five questions on theweddingspeech.ai and see your free speech preview. Tell it the guests who travelled and the story of your venue; the draft can only be as specific as what you put in.