welcome speech for wedding from bride and groom

How To Write A Wedding Welcome Speech

Table of Contents:

“Welcome to (NAME) and (NAME)’s most significant day. Promises have become binding agreements today, and friends have merged into families. ” Today is a holiday, and (NAME) and (NAME) and I are here to celebrate with them. We appreciate your attendance on this special day.”.

Our wedding speech introduction examples will assist you in getting started if you have to give a speech but are unsure of where to start.

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Standing up and speaking at a wedding, whether it’s the groom’s speech, the father of the bride speech, or the eagerly anticipated best man speech, can be quite nerve-wracking. We provide examples of wedding speech introductions, along with instructions on how to start your speech, so you can feel confident and get off to a strong start.

How do you begin a wedding speech example?

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I’m honored to greet you all tonight as (name’s friend or relative). “I just wanted to say thank you for such a wonderful introduction, (name). I only hope I can live up to your kind words! ” Cached.

If you’ve read our article on how to write a great wedding speech, you’ll know how crucial it is to start strong. Today, we’re going to show you how to do just that with a list of the best wedding speech opening lines. We’ve made sure to include a variety of options so there’s something to suit every style of speech, whether you want to keep it incredibly simple, bring the audience to tears, or wow them with a joke. Some of our wedding speech opening lines can also be customized to help you. So let’s get started!

We’ve divided our sample opening lines into three categories: straightforward and sincere, humorous, and opening lines that include quotes from well-known figures. Hopefully, this will make it easier for you to find what you’re looking for.

Please take note that (name) can refer to you, the bride/groom, the couple as a whole, or another wedding party member.

How long should the welcome speech at a wedding be?

Keep it short and sweet. Typically, reception speeches shouldn’t last longer than three minutes. You could always extend your time slot if you’d like, but since you two are just married, you probably won’t. (It’s your wedding, so follow your rules.)

Let us assist you in making a memorable toast to begin your wedding.

Many family members will toast you throughout the course of your wedding. Even though family members, close friends, bridesmaids, and groomsmen frequently give wedding speeches during the ceremony and reception, you can still participate in the fun. Couple speeches, particularly welcome speeches at weddings, are increasingly common additions to the toasting repertoire. You might feel compelled to say a few words to the loved ones who have chosen to celebrate your special day with you, even if public speaking isn’t your favorite thing in the world. When else will you have all of your loved ones in one place?

You’ve come to the right place if you’re thinking about giving a welcome speech at a wedding. We’ve put together the ultimate wedding welcome speech guide right here to assist you in writing a toast that will go down in history.

How do you write a five-minute wedding speech?

Prepare ahead of time. dot. Tell them about yourself and how you know the bride and groom. dot. Congratulate the newlyweds and extend your gratitude to the hosts, visitors, and wedding party. dot. Make it your own. dot. Identify three traits and give three examples for each. dot. Describe the couple. dot. Have an introduction, middle, and conclusion. dot. Think about your audience.

You’ve just been asked to make a speech at the wedding of someone you love. It can be intimidating, which is why many people choose to avoid public speaking, so it can be both an honor and a nightmare if you’re not used to giving speeches. But it’s time to band together when your best friend asks you to give a speech at his or her wedding. Now that you’re wondering if you even know how to write a wedding speech, we’ll tell you what makes some speeches funny and memorable and what makes others cringe-worthy and uninspiring. With a focus on what you should do, what you shouldn’t do, and how to deliver your killer wedding speech like a pro, we’ve put together the ultimate guide on how to write a wedding speech.

The following list of “dos” should help you if you’re wondering how to write a wedding speech.

If the bride just asked you to give a wedding speech but you don’t know how to write one, now is not the time to put it off. You probably haven’t given too many public speeches before because public speaking is one of the top fears that people have. You might not do too well winging this one unless you’re a performer or an experienced improv comedian. The best way to avoid freezing up when you take the microphone if you get nervous in front of an audience (as most of us do) is to be prepared.

How should a welcome speech be concluded?

After thanking the audience once more for coming, conclude the speech by introducing the following speaker. As a result, it will be simpler to transition effectively from the speech to the subsequent event.

After dealing with the commotion of pre-event marketing and registration procedures, there is one more critical task you must complete: introducing yourself to the attendees. The way you greet people in person not only sets the tone for what happens later, but it also influences how attendees feel about your event. While an engaging opening speech for the event will greatly increase engagement, a dull welcome speech may kill the excitement. So how do you pick the proper words?

Actually, there are no restrictions at all. Depending on what you want to accomplish, you can create your event welcome strategy using speeches, presentations, light shows, or articles. The key here is to greet them in a way that expresses the purpose of your event. There should be something in the welcome that describes what you do, whether it’s a corporate meeting or personal achievement awards. Making this concept the focal point of your opening statement is your aim.

Here is a fantastic illustration of an opening ceremony designed for the 2016 TNW Conference:

How do you write a punchy, succinct wedding speech?

8 Tips for Better Speech Writing Make fun of the bride-to-be a little by telling a joke. Give the bride a compliment and mention the bridesmaid. Give the newlyweds a few words of wisdom. Here, something funny is fantastic.

To put it mildly, it can be difficult to write a best man speech. But it isn’t required to be. You can say what needs to be said, impress people, and still be humorous if you follow our advice for writing concise, best-man speeches. The good news is that it only takes a few minutes, after which you can breathe normally once more and enjoy the day!

An excellent speech will always contain the necessities. Just the beginning should include a toast that is appropriate, a heartfelt introduction, some jokes, and words of encouragement. Here are some pointers for crafting a fantastic best-man toast.

“Good evening, everyone! Let’s raise our glasses and wish the newlyweds a happy marriage!

How should you address guests at a wedding?

Welcome to our wedding website! dot. Yes, we did say that. We can’t wait to celebrate our marriage with all of our loved ones, so please join us. dot. The countdown to our eternal union has begun. We appreciate you saying “yes” to attending our special day. Dot, nice to see you here. The location must be here.

With these samples of wedding website wording, we’ve done the creative writing for you.

When a member of your family visits your wedding website, they will first see a welcome message. Therefore, if you want to ensure that they stay and use it, create an engaging and powerful welcome message for your wedding website. While your wedding website should contain all the pertinent information, including maps to the ceremony location, your wedding registry, a dress code, guest accommodations, and pictures of you and your spouse-to-be, In the design of your website, the welcome message is a crucial component that shouldn’t be ignored. We’ve gathered a few of our favorite examples and suggestions to help spark your creativity so you can create the best welcome message for your wedding website.

When you’re ready to get started, go to The Knot to create your own stunning wedding website quickly and easily. You can even select templates and fonts to match your save-the-dates and wedding invitations. Then, use a few of these inventive ideas for wedding websites to motivate your own.

What not to say in a wedding speech

The funny thing is, I dated the bride or groom first, so steer clear of these subjects at all costs to avoid awkward moments. I never thought they would get back together after their third breakup, you know. dot. Right now, I’m just so inebriated. No one ever imagined this day would arrive, so kiss your freedom goodbye.

If you’re given a microphone at a wedding, your top priority should be to express your congratulations to the newlyweds. By avoiding these topics, you can avoid an awkward situation.

1. It’s ironic that I first dated the bride or groom.

2. As you may recall, I never imagined they would get back together after their third breakup. any time.

What is the ideal length for a welcome speech?

For smaller events, 1-2 minutes is usually appropriate, and larger, more formal events, like conferences, typically take 5 minutes.

If you have to deliver a welcome speech at a program or event, don’t worry; with the right structure and tone, it’s very simple to write and deliver a welcome speech for just about any occasion. From your opening remarks and acknowledgements to setting the right tone and nailing your closing remarks, we’ve laid out everything you need to know. You’ve got this under control!

Use formal language to greet the audience, as this is a formal gathering. Choose a suitable salutation, such as “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Then use a greeting to welcome the audience to the occasion, such as “It is my pleasure to welcome everyone to our lovely venue tonight.” (1).

Use informal, humorous language to welcome guests. Choose a brief and direct greeting like, “Good morning everyone!” and thank the guests for coming with a sentence like, “It’s so wonderful to see you all here on this sunny day.” (2).

What are some tips for crafting the ideal welcome speech?

Typical welcome speech ingredients include a general greeting to all guests, mentioning the event’s name and the host, and expressing gratitude for their attendance. to provide a quick overview of the event or a brief introduction of the host (the company, organization, family, or individual).

• You will thus deliver the event’s welcome address. Congratulations! Now you want to double-check that you get it right.
• This comprehensive, step-by-step guide will provide you with everything you need to write and deliver a strong welcome speech.
• A summary of the procedure and the tools you have access to on this page are provided in the article.

At a wedding, who makes the opening remarks?

The Welcome Toast After everyone has settled into their seats, the host should speak first and take the microphone. The bride’s parents (or father) are most frequently the ones to make the first toast, which should include a greeting to the guests as well as a toast to the happy couple.

The toasts are a significant wedding custom that you won’t want to miss before you start dancing. When planning the timeline for the evening, be sure to leave time for them because, if they’re done well, they can be among the reception’s most cherished and memorable elements. We’re here to break down the fundamentals of a toast if you’re unsure of how much time to allocate or who should be chosen to speak.

Good preparation is essential for a successful wedding toast. While spontaneous speeches can be lovely, you won’t want to keep your guests away from the dance floor for too long, so leave the open mic at the rehearsal dinner and start by identifying exactly who you want to speak at your reception. Although you can change these roles to suit your preferences, the traditional key speakers are:

Here is a breakdown of wedding speeches.

What do you say when you greet visitors?

Hello, welcome, good morning, welcome, and hello, good afternoon are a few suggestions. Make sure to introduce yourself by name and to keep your tone both formal and informal. “Hello, I’m Nikko. Nice to meet you.”. It’s important to greet new visitors, even if you’re talking to someone else.

What is an example of a wedding speech?

“To my bridesmaids, please know that you are my oldest and closest friends, and I am truly honored to have you in my bridal party. We are grateful for your love, support, and assistance throughout the years as well as at the wedding. I appreciate you being there for me once more on this memorable day. I cherish each and every one of you.”.

The task of writing your wedding speech can be challenging. You can captivate the audience by using our wedding speech examples and advice.

Especially since they’ve gathered to commemorate your newest achievement and bestow their blessings upon you, your wedding is the ideal occasion to express to your loved ones how much you cherish and value them. Take some time to write your wedding speech in advance and practice delivering it as well.

Decide in advance who will say what and who will go first so you don’t end up being repetitive. You can choose to thank the people in your lives collectively as a couple or individually.

How do you draft a cordial welcome speech?

Good morning to everyone! Express your gratitude to the guests for coming by saying something like, “It’s wonderful to see you all here on this sunny day. More casual language might be appropriate for a gathering of close friends and family.

It’s easy to write and deliver a welcome speech for just about any occasion if you follow the right structure and tone, so if you’re in charge of giving a welcome speech at a program or event, don’t worry. From your opening remarks and acknowledgements to setting the right tone and nailing your closing remarks, we’ve laid out everything you need to know. This is in your hands!

For a formal setting, greet the audience in a serious manner. Pick a polite salutation, like “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Then use a greeting to welcome the audience to the occasion, such as “It is my pleasure to welcome everyone to our lovely venue tonight.” (1).

Use a friendly, light-hearted tone to formally welcome guests. Good morning to all, and please accept my sincere thanks for coming.” (2).

What are a few examples of greeting words?

“To say that we are thrilled to see you is an understatement.” We’re delighted to have you here, and I’d like to extend a warm welcome to everyone. ” dot. Glad to have you. dot. welcoming welcome. dot. Kindly welcome. an amiable welcome.

The challenge of a welcome speech is to come up with alternative ways to convey your sincerity without using a string of meaningless “same-old, same-old” words and phrases to welcome your guests.

There is also a further question regarding that. Your language choices will be influenced by the event’s formality or informality.

Do you plan on making a formal or informal welcome speech?

Related Articles:

• How To Write A Wedding Speech. How To Write Your Best Man Speech Or Maid Of Honour Speech
• How To Write A Wedding Toast & How To Write A Wedding Speech By King Of Print
• How To Write The Best Wedding Speech
• The Best Way To Write A Wedding Speech
• How To Write A Wedding Thank-You Speech
• How To Write A Groom’S Speech For A Wedding

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How to Write a Welcome Speech for a Wedding

• Intro • First subsection

Introduction to Crafting Your Wedding Welcome Speech

The first words you share directly with your guests at your wedding set the tone for the entire celebration. A well-crafted wedding welcome speech is not just a formality; it's an opportunity to express gratitude, share joy, and welcome your guests into one of the most memorable days of your life. The welcome address is your first step towards a day filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories.

The Anatomy of a Memorable Wedding Welcome Speech

Opening remarks: how to begin.

Your welcome speech should start with a bang. Begin by expressing your joy and gratitude for the presence of your guests. A touch of humor can also work wonders in breaking the ice and making everyone feel at ease.

Weaving Personal Stories and Humor

Personal anecdotes or a light-hearted joke can add warmth and personality to your speech. This segment is your chance to reflect the couple's personality or share a brief, endearing story that resonates with the audience.

Acknowledgments: Whom to Thank

Acknowledging the efforts of those who made the day possible is a must. From parents to wedding planners, a heartfelt thanks will not go unnoticed.

Designing the Perfect Welcome Toast for Couples

Key elements of a heartfelt toast.

A couples toast should reflect the essence of your journey together. Focus on love, commitment, and the future you're building.

Language and Tone: Speaking from the Heart

The best toasts are those that feel genuine and unscripted, even if every word has been carefully planned. Speak from the heart, and let your emotions guide your delivery.

Mastering the Welcome Address for Your Wedding

Structuring your speech.

A structured speech helps you stay on track and ensures you cover all the essential points without rambling. Briefly outline your speech to include an introduction, body, and conclusion.

Tips for a Confident Delivery

Practice is key to a smooth delivery. Familiarize yourself with your speech, but don't worry about memorizing it word for word. Remember, it's the sentiment that counts, not the letter. You can read through public speaking tips, or don't be afraid to ask for help from a public speaking expert

Sample Welcome Toasts to Inspire Your Own

Explore various examples ranging from traditional to modern toasts. These samples will provide a starting point for crafting a speech that feels true to you.

How to Write A Welcome Toast

Answer a few questions, and then watch as Provenance's Toast Builder writes a custom, heartfelt welcome toast for you and your partner.

Making It Your Own: Tips for Personalization

Incorporating unique elements into your speech, such as quotes, shared memories, or future aspirations, can make your welcome address unforgettable.

Overcoming Nerves: Delivering Your Speech with Confidence

Practice and preparation are your best allies against nerves. Learn techniques for staying calm and present, ensuring your speech is delivered with confidence.

The Impact of a Well-Delivered Welcome Speech

A compelling welcome speech can significantly impact the atmosphere of your wedding, setting a positive and inclusive tone for the entire celebration.

Crafting a personalized wedding welcome speech is an opportunity to express your joy, gratitude, and love. By focusing on heartfelt content, practicing your delivery, and leveraging digital tools like Provenance.co's Toast Builder, you can create a moment that resonates with your guesta. Don't miss the chance to make your wedding truly unforgettable. Start crafting your perfect welcome speech with Provenance today.

• What should be included in a wedding welcome speech? A wedding welcome speech should include a greeting, expressions of gratitude, personal anecdotes or humor, acknowledgments of the people who helped make the day possible, and a heartfelt message to the guests.
• How long should a welcome speech at a wedding be? A welcome speech should be concise and impactful, typically lasting between 2 to 5 minutes.
• Can I use humor in my wedding welcome speech? Yes, humor can be a great way to engage your audience, but ensure it's appropriate and won't offend any guests.
• How can I personalize my wedding welcome speech? Incorporate personal stories, shared experiences, and specific details that reflect the couple's journey and personality.
• What tips can help me deliver a confident wedding welcome speech? Practice your speech, familiarize yourself with the flow, and focus on the message you want to convey rather than memorizing every word.
• How can Provenance.co help me craft my wedding welcome speech? Provenance.co offers digital tools, including the Ceremony Builder, to help couples and officiants design personalized and meaningful wedding speeches, vows, and toasts.

More about this topic

What Do You Do When There's An Open Mic At A Wedding?

How to Decide if Your Wedding Speech Jokes Are Appropriate — And Also Good

How to Begin a Wedding Speech: 20 Speech Introductions

Got to give a speech but don't know where to begin? Our wedding speech introduction examples will help you get started

Love them or hate them, the speeches are central to any wedding reception, but it can be nerve-wracking if you're the one standing up to say a few words. Whether you're the bride , groom , father of the bride , best man or maid of honour , we've got you covered with tips to help you begin your wedding speech , including some introduction examples, so you can start strong and feel confident. 

"Getting the introduction right is key because it sets the tone for the whole speech," explains wedding wordsmith and professional speechwriter Amerdeep Sanghera of Lovingly Penned . "You don't want guests thinking, 'Oh no, not another speech'. Instead, you want to see those smiles spread. So the introduction is pretty much the most important part of the whole thing."

Sounds stressful, right? Well, don't panic. From funny opening lines to general tips on how to get started, scroll on to make sure your speech is talked about for all the right reasons… 

How to Start Your Wedding Speech

Knowing how to start your wedding speech - whether it's a traditional wedding speech or if you're going for a more modern take - can be challenging, but we've asked the experts for tips and ideas on how to beginning a wedding speech. 

1. Introduce Yourself

It doesn't matter if you're the father of the bride, the maid of honour, the best man – even the groom – it’s always polite to introduce yourself. Smile as you do so and make a bit of a joke if you feel tense, or reference how important the day is if you don’t feel like joking:

• “Hi, I’m [BRIDE/GROOM’S NAME] – you should probably all know who I am, and if you don’t, well done for sneaking in unnoticed.”
• “Hi, I’m [BEST MAN’S NAME], but you can call me by my full name: [BEST-MAN’S-NAME-WOULD-YOU-LIKE-A-DRINK].”
• “Hello, I’m [FATHER OF THE BRIDE’S NAME] and I’m so delighted to welcome you all here on this beautiful day.”

Don’t go overboard with a long-winded introduction about yourself – a line or two about who you are and your role in the day will be enough.

To grab the audience's attention, be confident and keep it simple. If in doubt, start with the thank-yous. If you’re the best man, it’s fine to start with a joke (check out some of our  tried and tested best man jokes to inspire you) but remember, this isn't a stand-up routine and you should always add how honoured you are to be part of the day. 

2. Make Eye Contact

Pick a few reassuring faces in the crowd and pitch your speech to them – but don’t focus just on one person. Aim for a couple of different locations around the room so the whole audience feels engaged. "A simple way to do this early on is to ask people to give the couple a round of applause," adds Amerdeep. 

If the idea of making eye contact is too much, pick inanimate objects to focus on but mix them up.

3. Have Notes to Hand

Don’t think you need to know your whole speech off by heart – you’ll feel more confident if you have your notes to hand and no one will judge you for it. If you don’t want it to feel too scripted, simply give yourself cue cards to work from.

4. Don’t Drink Too Much

Don’t try and drown your nerves before you stand up. You might not remember your performance, but everyone else will (for a long time). Consider a one-drink limit before you begin your speech and save the celebratory fizz for after you’ve completed it – slur free!

5. Consider Hiring a Pro

If you're really stumped on how to begin your wedding speech, a professional speechwriter will help you gather your thoughts and anecdotes and put them into a coherent structure to get you started.

Speech Introduction Examples

Here are a few more ways to introduce your speech, no matter what role you’re playing in the wedding day – just tweak it to suit you and your speech.

Bride and/or Groom or Newlyweds 

• “We would like to welcome all of you here today to celebrate and thank you for choosing to spend the day with us."
• "Hello everyone! I hope you're having a wonderful day so far."
• "On behalf of me and my new [WIFE/HUSBAND/SPOUSE], I'd like to thank you all for coming today!"
• "Hi everyone - hopefully you all know who I am, otherwise you might be at the wrong wedding..."
• "If you don't know me, allow me to introduce myself - I'm the luckiest person in the world!"

Father of the Bride or Groom

• “Friends and family of [NAME] and [NAME], thank you for being here today to celebrate their marriage.”
• “The highest happiness on earth is the happiness of marriage.”
• “Today, promises have become permanent and friends have become family.”
• “Thank you for joining us today on such a wonderful occasion.”
• "What an honour I have, to give a speech today on my child's wedding day."

Maid of Honour or Bridesmaid Speech Introduction Examples

Mark Horton Photos

• “Welcome to the most important day in the lives of [NAME] and [NAME].”
• “Today is a celebration and we are here to celebrate with [NAME] and [NAME].”
• “Love has brought [NAME] and [NAME] and everyone in this room together today.”

Amerdeep also recommends: "Hello, beautiful people! I can't help but feel like I'm on stage at the Oscars, standing here. Sadly, there's no red carpet or golden statue for me, but I do have the privilege of celebrating two incredible people and their love story tonight."

Hitched Editor Zoe Burke chose to go for humour when it came to starting her maid of honour speech. "I was the first one speaking and I knew I needed a laugh quickly to help with my nerves, so I said 'Well, I've had the chance to wear a beautiful dress, carry a gorgeous bouquet and walk down the aisle without any of the financial pressure or stress of planning a wedding, so thank you!'

"It can be trickier figuring out how to start a wedding speech if you're not one of the traditional speech givers, but adding in some humour always helps!"

You can see more maid of honour speech examples  here.

• “My name is [BEST MAN] and it’s an honour to be here today as [GROOM]’s best man.”
• “Hi, I’m [NAME] and it’s time for me to do this speech I scribbled down about an hour before the ceremony started.”
• “I must admit, I’m not accustomed to public speaking. Up until I was asked to give this speech I thought a toastmaster was a kind of kitchen appliance!”
• “Before I begin, I must admit that [NAME] and [NAME] have asked that I remove anything resembling innuendo from this speech – I’ve promised if I come across anything even slightly risqué, I’ll whip it out immediately.”

"Another favourite of mine is, 'Alright, let's kick off this party! But before we hit the dance floor, let me share a few stories about our fearless groom and his journey to this moment…'" adds Amerdeep.

If you’re still worrying about your wedding speech, don’t miss our guide on how to deal with wedding speech nerves .

Related Hitched articles

Free Wedding Speech Examples to Celebrate the Big Day

These wedding speech examples will help your write a memorable wedding toast for the big day.

If someone has asked you to make a speech at a wedding, then you probably know the wedding couple pretty well. And since you know and love them, you'll want to make that speech personal, meaningful, engaging, and maybe even a little charming. Don't worry - we've got your back with free wedding speech examples you can use as guides. Use any of these sample wedding speeches as a jumping off point to help you speak from the heart. You've got this.

Best Man's Wedding Speech

The best man's speech is usually upbeat and lighthearted. He may tell some stories about the couple, and if he has known one or both of them since childhood, he may add a few tales from that period, too.

• Maid of Honor Speech Examples for the Sister of the Bride
• Say 'I Do' to Free Samples of Wedding Announcement Wording

Lighthearted & Amusing Best Man Speech Example

(Name) has asked me to talk today about what a great guy he is, and so I can honestly say that he's handsome, brilliant, funny and perrr.... (TURN TO GROOM) ... (Groom's name), I can't read your writing. What's this last word? Since we met, I have seen his transformation from an awkward youth to a slightly less awkward adult, and it is my great pleasure to speak on this important occasion.

Of course, we wouldn't be here today without (partner's name) and his/her/their ability to get shy old (groom's name) to propose. (Partner's name), I'm sure it was worth the wait. I often think that (partner's name) makes (groom's name) look good. Mainly by standing next to him. He/she/they is/are full of warmth, humor, and initiative.

Marriage is a serious matter which shouldn't be entered into without careful consideration and since (groom's name) took his sweet time proposing, I think it's safe to say he's thought about this for a long time. (Add humorous story about his commitment issues here).

In conclusion, these two married today for better and for worse. (Groom's name) couldn't have done better and (partner's name) couldn't have done….. (look down at notes and pause) better either. I'd like to thank the attendants on behalf of the couple. They all look wonderful, and I'm sure you'll all agree they have performed their role splendidly. And finally, on behalf of everyone here, I can truly say we wish nothing but the best for your future. You are a unique and perfectly matched couple, and we hope that all your dreams come true, and you have a magical life together. Ladies and Gentlemen, please join me in a toast............. To (couple's names).

• Toasts for a Best Man to Give

Groom's Wedding Speech

The groom's speech should be one that primarily expresses his appreciation for the love and support of his friends and family. He should also express his devotion to his new spouse.

Heartfelt Groom's Speech Example

I would just like to thank everybody for coming today, especially those that have traveled quite a ways to celebrate this day with us. Ever since I first started dating (spouse's name), his/her/their family has made me feel welcome and, well, like a member of the family. Now, I am officially part of that wonderful family, and I'm very grateful.

I would like to thank both sets of parents since neither (spouse's name) nor I would be here today if it weren't for them. I would also like to thank you for all your love and support over the years, and for all the advice you have given us. If we can raise a family half as wonderful, then we will be very happy.

I must also thank my new in-laws for bringing up such a compassionate and intelligent son/daughter/child. And, to my husband/wife/partner, you look absolutely gorgeous. Thank you for everything you've done. You know everything about me and love me just the same. I have my faults, yet you still agreed to marry me. I am extremely lucky today to be the one to marry you, and I know this is the start of many happy years together. I would like to thank (best man's name) for agreeing to be my best man and all the attendants for their help and support. Here's a toast to you all.

Bride's Wedding Speech

The bride's speech is very similar to the groom's speech. She should also express her appreciation to her family and friends and express her love for her new spouse.

Elegant Bride Speech Example

(Spouse's name) and I feel privileged to be sharing our day with all our friends and family who have been so important to us throughout our lives. Many of you traveled for quite a long distance. Thanks to all of you for the efforts and sacrifices you have made to be with us today.

I also want to thank the most wonderful parents a child could ever have. Not only for the love, support and guidance over the years, but also for everything you've done to help make this day perfect. We would have never managed without you both, and today would not have been possible or so special. Thank you to both sets of our parents from the bottom of our hearts.

Now it's time to thank my beautiful bridesmaids for everything they've done and for being the greatest friends ever. To my maid of honor, (maid of honor's name), you have been a lifesaver. You truly are the definition of a best friend and sister. Thank you for always being there for me.

(Spouse's name), I want to thank you for making my life complete. I am so lucky to be your wife, and I look forward to our life together. Finally, we would like to thank each one of you for being here with us on this special day.

Groom's or Bride's Father Speech

The groom's or bride's father should give a speech that welcomes the bride or groom into the family. He should also mention the joining of the two families and express well wishes and thoughts of happiness for the newly married couple's future.

Thoughtful Welcome Speech Example

Good afternoon everyone. First of all, on behalf of my wife and I, I would like to welcome (groom's or bride's parents) into the family. I'd also like to welcome relatives and friends of both families and thank you all for being here, especially those of you who have traveled a long way to make this special occasion so memorable. (Bride and groom's names) have obviously worked really hard on this beautiful wedding, and I'm sure everyone here agrees that the ceremony was wonderful.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone else involved in making the day so special. At this point, I would like to formally welcome (bride or groom) into the family, even though you have been part of it for a good while now. Without sounding too corny, (bride or groom's name), you are a great person who clearly loves our (son/daughter/child) and obviously makes him/her/them very happy. I think you have been with (groom or bride's name) long enough now to know what you are getting yourself into by joining our family, so, to be honest, I don't have any sympathy for you. Seriously though (groom or bride's name), we are glad that you are part of our family, and I am proud to have you as a (son-in-law or daughter-in-law).

Sticking with tradition, I'd like to leave the new couple with some words of advice as they enter into this next stage of their lives together. As a great philosopher once said, a man who gives in when he is wrong is a wise man. Whilst a man who gives in when he is right is married. All that remains is for me to ask that you all join me in a toast to the happy couple. May you both live as long as you like and have all that you need for as long as you live. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you (bride and groom's names).

Maid of Honor's Speech

The maid of honor's speech might give thanks to the bride for being chosen as the honored attendant. She might also give a little history as to how the bride and groom met, as well as when she first noticed that they had fallen in love. The bride's maid of honor could also relate some humorous, though not embarrassing, stories about the bride or the newly married couple.

• Free Maid of Honor Speeches

Gracious Maid of Honor Speech Example

When (bride's name) asked me to be her maid of honor, I started wondering where the custom of having a bridesmaid originated from. My research led me to the interesting origins of many of our wedding customs, and everything is done to protect the bride from misfortune on her wedding day.

In the old days, sometimes marriage was by capture, and a maiden was guarded by her family to prevent seizure. The bridesmaids would often act as decoys by wearing dresses similar to the bride's to confuse the kidnappers and to keep evil spirits away. Today, I have done my best to keep the evil spirits away, but at least the family wasn't a problem!

Both of you have found your other half. Thank you (bride's name) for being such a wonderful best friend. I'm glad you have found (spouse's name), and I know that he/she/they will always love you. Always love and respect each other. Remember that a married couple are indeed best friends, and good friendships are built not with time, but with trust! May you grow old together on one pillow, and may your life be filled with happiness and joy! My love to the both of you!

Craft Your Perfect Wedding Speech

Giving a wedding toast or speech doesn't have to be complicated or difficult. Base your speech ideas on your history with the couple, your friendship, and their love. With these examples to follow, you can craft a wedding speech that honors the newlywed couple and expresses your gratitude for being a part of their special day. Remember, the most important part of your wedding day speech is to speak from the heart.

Opening Words and Introduction

The Opening Words and Introduction of the wedding ceremony   sets the tone for the wedding. It’s a statement about the occasion, its importance, the significance to the world as well as the couple getting married.

Opening Words and Introduction 1

Friends and Family of the BRIDE and GROOM, welcome and thank you for being here on this important day.

We are gathered together to celebrate the very special love between BRIDE and GROOM, by joining them in marriage.

All of us need and desire to love and to be loved.

And the highest form of love between two people is within a monogamous, committed relationship.

BRIDE and GROOM, your marriage today is the public and legal joining of your souls that have already been united as one in your hearts.

Marriage will allow you a new environment to share your lives together, standing together to face life and the world, hand-in-hand.

Marriage is going to expand you as individuals, define you as a couple, and deepen your love for one another.

To be successful, you will need strength, courage, patience and a really good sense of humor.

So, let your marriage be a time of waking each morning and falling in love with each other all over again.

Opening Words and Introduction 2

Good evening, welcome to this most important moment in the lives of this couple.

We invite you to leave behind the worries and concerns of every day life and join us in the celebration of their marriage.

This is an opportunity for us to share not only in the joy of BRIDE and GROOM’s love but also to reaffirm and appreciate the love and the friendship we experience in our own lives.

May we all celebrate by being fully present during our short time together.

BRIDE and GROOM have chosen this setting in which to be married because it provides an appropriate backdrop for the public affirmation of their love.

BRIDE and GROOM view marriage as a coming together at all levels of being — mind, body, and spirit.

A marital commitment includes the willingness to be open and vulnerable, and the courage to take risks.

Marriage is a conscious act of will.

To remain in marriage we must continually renew our will to be married.

Marital partners accept the challenges that living together in love offer.

They decide that they will face the fears that are a necessary part of establishing and nurturing an intimate relationship.

And you, BRIDE and GROOM have made the commitment to create and recreate this conscious partnership.

Those of us who are married or in relationships may take this moment to consciously reaffirm our commitment to our partners and ourselves.

Marriage consists of entrusting our deepest selves into the loving care of another.

It is a public and legal act to be sure.

It is also an emotional and spiritual act.

The spiritual aspect of marriage must be embraced openly, seriously, and completely for the marriage to endure.

BRIDE and GROOM commit themselves today to each other in sacred trust.

They promise to embrace conflict as well as peace; to work as well as play; to struggle as well as coast; to give as well as receive; and to be with, stay with, and move toward one another.

Opening Words and Introduction  3

Today there will be no dearly beloved, no betrothed, and no ancient rhyme of the married.

Today there are no dead languages to solemnize vows that are very much alive and will remain so for a lifetime.

Today promises become permanent and friends become family.

However, this day is not about the words spoken or the rings exchanged, nor is it about grand pronouncements and recessional marches.

This day — the day of BRIDE and GROOM’s wedding — is about love.

One of my favorite authors once wrote ,  If love is not all, then it is nothing: this principle, and its opposite, collide down all the years of my breathless tale.”

BRIDE and GROOM, your breathless tale is about to begin.

If love is not all, then it is nothing.

Its opposite — If love is all, then it is everything — is going to be the basis for every aspect of your relationship.

All you have to do is simply love one another and that love shows through in everything you do for one another, how you treat each other, in good times and bad.

Love isn’t just a word; it’s an action.

Love isn’t something you say, it’s something you do.

Love is genuine, honest, and open, compassionate and kind, passionate and blind, love doesn’t know space or time, nor look through jealous eyes, and in the modified words of Paul in his letter to the Corinthians, Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Love never dies.”

There are many different kinds of love, almost if not all of which are represented here today.

There is romantic love, the love of parents and children, of brothers and sisters and family, and love among friends.

Not only do BRIDE and GROOM love one another romantically — and they do, you can see it in every look, every touch, every moment they’re together — they also love one another as friends.

In fact, they’re best friends, constantly giggling and taunting and teasing and very plainly and obviously having fun together.

That love and enjoyment of each other as best friends will sustain them through this marriage.

In addition, the love collectively in this room, from friends and family, will help sustain and support the promises they make today.

All of us here will help solidify this bond, as these two individuals are joined as husband and wife.

This new journey will be at times richly rewarding and extremely difficult, but, most importantly, it will be a journey you take together.

Marriage is much more than your signatures on a legal contract.

You are promising, in front of all these people you love, that you want to be with each other and only each other for the rest of your lives, and that you will do everything in your power to honor the promises you are making here today.

For their part, the people who love you will also do everything in their power to try to help you hold up your end of the bargain.

Opening Words and Introduction 4

Today is a celebration.

A celebration of love, of commitment, of friendship, of family, and of two people who are in it for forever.

You don’t have to have a ceremony to have a marriage.

And when you think about it, the whole thing is kind of weird, right?

You’re standing on in front of a lot of people, looking fancy, holding flowers, and being stared at by pretty much everyone who has meant anything to you.

So why do we do it?

The marriage ceremony has been an important feature across nearly every culture, religion, generation, and society.

We have thousands of important moments that happen throughout our lives, but this one is regarded as one so critical, we acknowledge its special status by sharing it with others.

Why this moment?

Because despite all of our differences, love is what we all share.

It’s the great unifier – our one universal truth.

That no matter who we are, where we’ve come from, what we believe, we know this one thing: love is what we’re doing right.

That’s why you are both standing here.

And that’s why you all are here to watch them stand up here.

We have all loved in our lifetimes, and in this moment, we’re reminded that the ability to love is the very best part of our humanity.

All of us here today have our own love stories.

Some are short, others long.

Some are yet unwritten, while others are just getting to the good part.

There are chapters in all of our stories that are sad or disappointing – and others that are exciting and full of adventure.

[Insert love story here]

And that brings them here, a time to pause, look back, and smile at all the moments that brought them here.

And a time to look ahead to all the moments that are still to come.

I’m here – we’re all here – because we want those moments for you.

We’re here to hope with you, to support you, to be proud of you, and to remind you that love isn’t happily ever after, love is the experience of writing your story.

It’s not one moment – not even this moment. It’s every moment.

Big ones like saying “I love you,” moving in together, getting engaged – but mostly a million little ones that come in between the big moments.

Falling asleep next to one another, making dinner together, spending holidays with your families, getting a big hug when you get home from work…

These everyday moments fuse together into one big experience.

And even though this experience is so incredible, words fail us when we try and explain it.

That’s just the way it is with love – it’s meant to be felt, not described.

But trying to describe love is one of our favorite pastimes.

We use the words we have to write stories, and poems, and songs about love.

And even though we describe love in different ways – and even though love can look different from one person to the next – we all know it when we see it.

And we see it here.

Opening Words and Introduction 5

We have been invited here today to witness and celebrate the uniting in marriage of BRIDE and GROOM.

They are taking the first step of their new beginning; their new life together.

The ability and desire for one human being to love another is perhaps the most precious and fulfilling gift that has been entrusted to us.

It is an all-consuming task, a lifelong endeavor — the journey we’ve been preparing for all of our lives.

Loving someone is a reason to stretch beyond our limits, to become more for the sake of the other.

It is to look into the soul of your beloved and accept what you see.

Loving is the ultimate commitment which challenges humans to become all that we are meant to be.

As they join in marriage today, BRIDE and GROOM are announcing to the world that they are welcoming that challenge.

Opening Words and Introduction 6

Hello and welcome!  May your hearts be glad and your spirits be light.

For every thing there is a season and a time for every purpose under Heaven.  Now is the time for a wedding.

BRIDE and GROOM have asked you all here today to bear witness to the forming of their covenant.

In honor of this event, they will say heartfelt words, perform age-old rituals and validate this event in your presence, their family and friends.

They will laugh and cry, dance and sing, and above all, celebrate their love with the blessings of the people who matter most to them.

To this day BRIDE and GROOM bring the joy in their hearts as a gift to one another.

They bring their shared dreams, which tie them together.

And they bring the seeds for their future, out of which will grow their life together.

You have been invited to share in their joy because of your bonds to the bride and groom and their families.

Again, they welcome you and thank you for coming.

Opening Words and Introduction 7

Hello everyone and welcome.

Thank you for joining us on this day of gladness and good fortune.

BRIDE and GROOM are coming together to publicly proclaim their undying love through the celebration of their marriage.

We are all here to learn about loving and being loved, and to watch the miracle of love exchanged enriches every one of us.

Therefore, we appreciate the opportunity to witness the shared love of this beautiful couple.

Their enthusiasm is contagious, their certainty of their destiny together is inspiring and their great expectations give us all a glimpse of the heights love can reach.

Marriage is a very special place.

It’s an oasis, a haven, and a sanctuary where we can safely learn about ourselves in the presence of another.

Like the harmony with the melody, marriage weaves two lives together, creating a deeper and richer song.

We are honored that BRIDE and GROOM are sharing some of their beautiful music with us on this day.

We ask that the vision they have of one another always reflect the electric attraction that first brought them together.

And we pray that, as they enter into the lifelong bond that is marriage, they may always see one another in the light of all light; the light of love.

Opening Words and Introduction 8

We have come together – families and friends – to witness BRIDE and GROOM as they exchange their vows of marriage.

We share with them their delight in finding love with each other, and support their decision to be together from now until the end of time.

As this couple enters into marriage, they do so with thought and reverence.

They give thanks for the past, which brought them to this place, and look forward with hope to what the future will bring.

Marriage is like a great umbrella that shelters love from the elements.

Corinthians One says that love is patient and kind.

It is not jealous or boastful, not irritable or resentful, not arrogant or rude.

Love does not insist on its’ own way.

It does not rejoice in the wrong, but rejoices in the right.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes in all things and endures all things.

Love never ends.

This marriage is a symbol of BRIDE and GROOM’s commitment to that love.

Opening Words and Introduction 9

We are here on this magnificent and beautiful day to celebrate one of life’s greatest moments – we are all present to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love – and to publicly witness the creation of an outward marriage bond that BRIDE and GROOM have already been creating inwardly.

Their love and intention has created this marriage and we are gathered here today to join in the celebration and acknowledgment of that bonding.

Opening Words and Introduction 10

We would like to welcome all of you, honored guests, and thank you for being with us today.

We are gathered here this evening, in the presence of God and of His company, to join BRIDE and GROOM in Holy Union, and bear witness to the miraculous power of love.

Love is our purpose in being here; it is the essence of who we are.

With Love as their foundation, marriage offers BRIDE and GROOM the opportunity to become their essence with one another.

Marriage is an art form that brings profound joy and demands great responsibility, awareness, and commitment.

We who partake of this occasion bind ourselves as witnesses to the journey of love that they are undertaking here.

Opening Words and Introduction 11

Love has brought BRIDE and GROOM together.

But what do we mean by love?

When we love, we see things other people do not.

We see beneath the surface to the qualities, which make our beloved special and unique.

To see with loving eyes, is to know inner beauty. And to be loved is to be known, as we are known to no other.

We who love, can look at each other’s life and say, “I touched his life,” or, “I touched her life,” just as an artist might say, “I touched this canvas.”

“Those brushstrokes in the comer of this magnificent mural, those are mine. I was a part of this life, and it is a part of me.”

Marriage is to belong to each other through a unique and diverse collaboration, like two threads crossing in different directions, yet weaving one tapestry together.

The secret of love and marriage is to be in love and in trust, to know in your hearts that you want only the best for each other.

It takes dedication, to stay open to one another, to learn and grow, even when it is difficult to do so.

And it takes faith, to go forward together without knowing what the future holds for you both.

The true art of married life is an inner spiritual journey.

It is a mutual enrichment, a give and take between two personalities, a mingling of two endowments, which diminishes neither, but enhances both.

It is, ultimately, the emergence of the Highest Selves of each person.

Opening Words and Introduction 12

You have come here today, BRIDE and GROOM because you believe that by being together your lives will be better and more productive than they would be apart.

In marriage, a new perspective is created with the joining of male and female views of life.

Through this partnership, each partner becomes stronger, each becomes wiser and each becomes more loving.

But marriage is a garden, which needs to be tended every day:  the benefits we receive through marriage are not free.

If we don’t make time to tell our partner how much we value what we have together, we will begin to take each other for granted and lost the very special quality that we originally united to enjoy.

The importance of marriage to humans is so great, that it is the oldest rite or ritual of any kind recorded in history; it’s scope so great that it is virtually the only custom recognized by every human government and religion.

It is into this dynamic and wonderful state of partnership that you two come, today, to be joined.

Opening Words and Introduction 13

We are gathered here in this beautiful place to join together this man, GROOM, and this woman, BRIDE, in marriage — a state instituted in love, occasioned by joy.

Honored and renewed by each person who pledges themselves to each other.

It is therefore, not to be entered into lightly, or, unadvisedly. It is to be entered into with praise and delight for it’s inexpressible gifts.

Let us be honest enough with ourselves to know that there is no true marriage, except the inward bond of trust and love that dwells in the hearts of BRIDE and GROOM.

Only the two of you will know what marriage exists between you — the outer forms are only signs and covers over the love of your hearts.

We wish that you will find together, a richness beyond the wealth of money — a depth of soul that will make beautiful everything you do in life,  both separately and together.

Opening Words and Introduction 14

The stream had flowed through the center of the forest for as long as anyone could remember.

It began as a cold, clear fountain in a fractured hillside, then tumbled down over mossy stones and last year’s autumn leaves.

At the foot of the hill the stream took a course running southeast through tall stands of beeches, maples, and oaks, and by the time it left the forest five miles later it carried a river’s ambitions.

But in the center of the forest it was a watery dream, about ten feet wide and ten inches deep. Fallen logs made bridges for chipmunks, foxes, and children looking for secrets.

Occasional shafts of sunlight revealed freshwater muscles in the silt, crayfish picking over pebbles, water beetles dancing on the surface, and young trout darting among roots, branches, and softly bubbling falls.

The stream was full of life, and full of lessons for those who knew how to see them.

And regarding it silently on the bank stood the master and the student.

The master and the student had arrived at the stream after walking the forest path for nearly two hours.

Every step of the way, the student spoke anxiously of the impending choices that filled his mind with confusion.

Should he travel?

If so, where?

Should he continue his studies?

If so, in what field of knowledge?

Should he learn a new trade, or perhaps join the family business?

Should he save his money, or spend freely and enjoy life to its fullest?

And on, and on, and on. And every step of the way the master only listened.

When they reached the stream the student fell silent.

They stood side by side, watching the water.

Then, pointing to a fallen twig, the master asked, If you throw that stick into the stream, where will it go?”

The student answered, It will go downstream, of course.”

But the master shook his head. No,” he said, I want you to tell me exactly where it will go.”

The student crouched down on the bank and observed the water carefully.

He noted the paths of leaves, the surge of bubbles, and the sway and drift of weeds growing on the bottom, until he was sure.

Well,” he said, If I throw the stick to land at that spot there, it will follow the current between those two rocks, rush over that fall, then swirl in that eddy for a moment, then pass under this branch, and then move off under that fallen log over there.”

The student smiled, supremely confident.

All right,” the master said. Throw the stick.”

And the student did.

And it traveled on a course entirely different from the one he had predicted.

They watched the stick drift out of sight. The student shuffled his feet and looked at the ground, but finally met the master’s eyes.

The important thing,” said the master,” is to throw the stick!”

We are here today because  BRIDE and GROOM have decided to throw the stick.

In a world of endless choices, unpredictable outcomes, and no guarantees, they are doing the finest thing two people can do: making a commitment before friends and family to devote their lives to each other.

We call this a wedding.

It comes from an old Germanic word meaning a pledge.”

And this is worth remembering as we consider what this day is all about.

We make few pledges in our modern lives.

But today we celebrate with BRIDE and GROOM as they make theirs: a pledge to and for each other, not as individuals, but as two that are choosing to become one.

Opening Words and Introduction 15

Hello and welcome.

Today we are here to witness the act of love.

Love is the magic that has brought BRIDE and GROOM together and through that magic, we are joining them today.

When we love, we see things other people do not see.

We see beneath the surface, to the qualities, which make our beloved special and unique.

To see with loving eyes, is to know inner beauty. And to be loved is to be seen, and known, as we are known to no other.

One who loves us, gives us a unique gift: a piece of ourselves, but a piece that only they could give us.

“Those brushstrokes in the corner of this magnificent mural, those are mine.

I was a part of this life, and it is a part of me.”

Marriage is a supreme sharing of experience, and an adventure in the most intimate of human relationships.

It is the joyous union of two people whose comradeship and mutual understanding have flowered in romance.

Today BRIDE and GROOM proclaim their love and commitment to the world, and we gather here to rejoice, with and for them, in the new life they now undertake together.

Opening Words and Introduction 16

Hello & welcome.

We are here to witness the creation of a marriage.

Marriage is the most intimate of all relationships.

It is the ultimate commitment to love, share, trust and grow with another person.

It is the beginning of a whole new life.

By entering into this marriage BRIDE and GROOM are stating publicly, the feelings and commitments they have held privately between them.

They are proclaiming their love for, their trust in and their loyalty to the one they cherish above all others.

Marriage has been described as living in love with your best friend.

Love is one of the few constants in the universe.

It is reality, affinity and communication.

Only love is capable of joining living beings by their deepest essence, uniting, completing and fulfilling them.

Marriage is a symbol of the commitment to create a lifelong partnership based on love.

Opening Words and Introduction 17

Today, before this company, BRIDE and GROOM will declare their intention to join their lives together, to intertwine them in the partnership of marriage for all of the seasons of their lives.

This is the beginning of the journey they now undertake together for their mutual growth in character, in mind, and in spirit.

Marriage doesn’t stay still.

Tomorrow will be different from today, and so marriages too change from day to day, year to year.

Marriage is an ever changing, ever-growing relationship moving the couple toward greater contentment within themselves, with each other, and all those whose lives they touch.

A good marriage makes room for the participants to spread their wings and soar toward their own self-realization.

Marital love is like the seasons of our hearts. BRIDE and GROOM are in the springtime of their love.

It is as tender as the green shoots that in the springtime push their heads through the earth and take nourishment from the morning sun.

With tending and care their love will grow dramatically; it will flower and bear fruit and grow ever stronger in the heat of summer.

Together they will harvest the mature fruit of their union in the warm days of autumn and enjoy the contentment of their labors.

And with the onset of the quiet days of winter when words are no longer necessary, the love that they have cultivated and harvested with such care will sustain them for always.

Someone once said to me — Man plans, and God laughs.”

I think about life that way.

We make plans and they don’t necessarily turn out the way we envisioned, but somehow life happens, and shapes and molds us to be better than we are.

Marriage is the single most important relationship that challenges us to be always better.

It molds and strengthens our character.

Opening Words and Introduction 18

We are here on this magnificent and beautiful day to celebrate one of life’s greatest moments–we are all present to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love–and to publicly witness the marriage bond that BRIDE and GROOM have been creating inwardly.

Aware that there is one Presence and Power, and that we are each part of that Divine unity, we join in blessing BRIDE and GROOM as they bring their hands together in Namaste.

Namaste is a beautiful greeting used widely in the East.

As BRIDE and GROOM join their hands in Namaste, and gaze into each other’s eyes, they will repeat after me, the meaning of this greeting as a symbol of their love and commitment to each other:

I honor the place in you,

Where the entire universe resides,

of love, of light, of peace.

I honor the place within you, where

If you are in that place in you,

And I am in that place in me,

There is only one of us.

Opening Words and Introduction 19

Welcome to all of you, who have come to share in this important moment in the lives of  BRIDE and GROOM.

I ask you to join together in celebrating, acknowledging, and honoring this day and the vows that they will be making.

By your presence, you witness and affirm the truth of their love and commitment to each other.

No one gets married in a vacuum.

Each person lives in the context of their culture and community, and most importantly, within a special network of family members and close friends who make up what we might call their tribe.”

For BRIDE and GROOM, you are these people.

By birth or good fortune, you have had a significant place in sharing, affirming and shaping their lives, and they yours.

Your cherished connections endure, despite the distances that separate you, your busy lives, and all the changes that life takes you through.

Their wedding has brought all of you to one place — an event in itself — and has made the tribes suddenly visible.

Today the two tribes are about to become one.

The Bride’s tribe will take the Groom into their hearts and the Groom’s tribe will take the Bride into theirs.

Through the joining of the couple, so are their tribes joined.

This is a wonderful thing for you, since you may never have a better opportunity to develop connections with so many good people.

You’ll be sharing the evening with some of the best people around, hand picked by the happy couple.

This occasion also provides an opportunity to stop and appreciate the love and friendship you experience in your own lives.

Take a moment to recall the special people who make up your tribe. Think of them with appreciation and gratitude.

Opening Words and Introduction 20

We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life’s greatest moments, the joining of two hearts.

In this ceremony today we will witness the joining of BRIDE and GROOM in marriage.

Today we have come together to witness the joining of these two lives.

For them, out of the routine of ordinary life, the extraordinary has happened.

They met each other, fell in love and are finalizing it with their wedding today.

Opening Words and Introduction 21

Out of affection and honor for BRIDE and GROOM, we are here today, before God, to witness their vows, which will unite them in marriage.

To this moment they bring the fullness of their hearts as a treasure to share with one another.

They bring the spark and spirit which is uniquely their own, and out of which has grown for some time, and will continue to grow, deepen, and strengthen, the precious reality of their life together.

We share joy with them this special day in their lives.

This day they affirm and declare each other as life partners in a celebration of love, which will bring empowerment to their life’s path together.

Let us all give our blessing and love to  BRIDE and GROOM during this ceremony as they pledge their love to one another.

May the wisdom and spirit of all-giving and all-understanding love pervade the words spoken and the love given here today, that these vows offered will remain strong and true in the presence of love all the days of their lives.

May all of us present feel the strength and depth BRIDE and GROOM’s love and experience a rebirth of the power of love in our own lives.

Opening Words and Introduction 22

Good evening.

It is truly a blessing from heaven for two people to find one another and to love so deeply that they embrace the holy bond of marriage.

That is why we are all here today, to witness and celebrate Bride and Groom’s commitment to their union.

On behalf of them, I welcome you all.

Opening Words and Introduction 23

Good afternoon.

We gather here today to witness and celebrate an act of deep love.

Bride and Groom, in their devotion, respect, and love for each other wish to unite in the holy bond of marriage, and to dedicate themselves to each other’s happiness and well-being as life mates and partners.

Opening Words and Introduction 24

Although this is their day, it is also a tribute to all of you.

For knowing you and interacting with you has helped to make our Bride and Groom who they needed to be to find each other.

They would like to thank you all for that.

All of you are the threads of which have woven the tapestry of their lives.

Each one of you is an important piece in the story it tells.

It is the fabric that they wrap around themselves and take comfort in when the world seems cold.

And on days like today when everything is right in their world, that tapestry is proudly spread out and displayed for everyone to see, with all the glorious colors and textures that your diversity adds.

You all hold a place in their hearts reserved for those that they have chosen to call ‘Family’ and Friends” and they are deeply grateful for each and every one of you here today

Opening Words and Introduction 25

Let us all give our blessing and love to BRIDE and GROOM during this ceremony as they pledge their love to one another.

May the wisdom and spirit of all-giving and all-understanding Love pervade the words spoken and the love given here today, that these vows offered will remain strong and true in the presence of love all the days of their lives.

May all of us present feel the strength and depth of BRIDE and GROOM’s love and experience a rebirth of the power of love in our own lives.

To make this relationship work, therefore, takes more than love.

It takes trust, to know in your hearts that you want only the best for each other.

While love is our natural state of being, these other qualities are not as easy to come by.

They are not a destination, but a journey.

Opening Words and Introduction 26

If it were possible to begin this ceremony by gathering together all the wishes of happiness for BRIDE and GROOM from all present here . . . if we could gather together those precious wishes of affection and our very fondest hopes and turn them into music, we would be listening now to a most inspiring anthem, composed of the most harmonious notes possible to produce.

Even though this is not possible, just speaking of it should assure BRIDE and GROOM that our hearts are attuned to theirs in these moments so meaningful to all of us.

For what greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined together to strengthen each other in all labor, to minister to each other in all sorrow, to share with each other in all gladness.

Marriage is an act of faith and a personal commitment as well as a moral and physical union between the parties.

Marriage has been described as the best and most important relationship that can exist between two human beings; the construction of their love and trust into a single growing energy of spiritual life.

It is a moral commitment that requires and deserves daily attention since no earthly happiness exceeds that of a reciprocal satisfaction in the conjugal state.

Marriage should be a life-long consecration to the ideal of loving kindness, backed with the will to make it last.

Opening Words and Introduction 27

Dearly beloved, we have come together in the presence of God to witness and bless the joining together of this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony.

The bond and covenant of marriage was established by God in creation, and our Lord Jesus Christ adorned this manner of life by his presence and first miracle at a wedding in Cana of Galilee.

It signifies to us the mystery of the union between Christ and his Church, and Holy Scripture commends it to be honored among all people.

The union of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind is intended by God for their mutual joy; for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity and, when it is God’s will, for the procreation of children and their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord.

Therefore marriage is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, bit reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it was instituted by God.

Into this holy union BRIDE and GROOM now come to be joined.

If any of you can show just cause why they may not lawfully be married, speak now, or else for every hold your peace.

I require and charge you both, here in the presence of God, that if either of you know any reason shy you may not be united in marriage lawfully, and in accordance with God’s Word, you do now confess it.

Opening Words and Introduction 28

Before God we have come together today, for marriage is one of the most sacred of His wishes, and now, through me, He joins you together in one of the holiest of bonds.

Opening Words and Introduction 29

Dear family and friends we have gathered here today to joyfully acknowledge the wedding of BRIDE and GROOM.

They have requested your presence on this memorable occasion in order that you might share with them the pledging of their everlasting love on this day of commitment. Let us pray in silence as we wish them all the happiness in their new life together.

Opening Words and Introduction 30

We have gathered here today, in the presence of family and friends to join BRIDE and GROOM in Matrimony.

Opening Words and Introduction 31

BRIDE, GROOM and their families extend a warm welcome to all of you.

They are elated that you could be here today for this joyous marriage celebration.

We have come together this day to uphold you, BRIDE, and you, GROOM, as you exchange your vows of marriage.

We celebrate with you the love you have discovered in each other, and we support your decision to continue your life’s journeys together as husband and wife.

BRIDE and GROOM came together from different backgrounds and experiences.

Through their marriage they do not leave those things behind, but instead form a new family that will broaden the circle of love and understanding in the world.

Whatever source of spiritual guidance you follow, I’m sure you will agree that as inhabitants of Planet Earth, we are one family.

With that in mind, BRIDE and GROOM have asked me honor you – their immediate and extended families – by combining both of their individual spiritual traditions into this ceremony.

The principles and sentiments expressed today will be very familiar to you all.

Opening Words and Introduction 32

It is the joyous union of two people whose comradeship and mutual understanding have flowered in love.

Today BRIDE and GROOM proclaim their love and commitment to the world, and we gather here to rejoice with and for them, in the new life they now undertake together.

The joy we feel now is a solemn joy, because the act of marriage has many consequences, both social and personal.

Marriage requires “love”, a word we often use with vagueness and sentimentality.

We may assume that love is some rare and mystical event, when in fact it is our natural state of being.

So what do we mean by love?

We see beneath the surface, to the qualities that make our beloved special and unique.

To see with loving eyes, is to know inner beauty.

To be loved is to be seen, and known, as we are known to no other. One, who loves us, gives us a unique gift: a piece of ourselves, but a piece that only they could give us.

We, who love, can look at each other’s life and say, “I touched his life, ” or, “I touched her life, ” just as an artist might say, “I touched this canvas.”

The secret of love and marriage is similar to that of religion itself.

It is the emergence of the larger self.

It is the finding of one’s life by losing it.

Such is the privilege of husband and wife – to be each himself, herself and yet another – to face the world strong, with the courage of two.

Opening Words and Introduction 33

We are gathered here today to unite BRIDE and GROOM in marriage.

This celebration is but an outward sign of an inward union of heart, mind and spirit.

This is a celebration of the joining of two souls already attuned to each other.

When such a true bond already exists between a man and a woman, it is fitting that an outer acknowledgment be made.

We are here to bear witness to the entry into the closer relationship as husband and wife of these beloved friends who are already one in spirit.

Opening Words and Introduction 34

Dear family and friends, we have gathered here today, together in the sight of God, to witness and celebrate the marriage of BRIDE and GROOM.

They have requested your presence on this memorable occasion in order that you might share with them the pledging of their everlasting love on this day of commitment.

Mutual love is one of the richest experiences and most precious gifts we know.

Marriage is both a threshold and a continuing process in that experience.

The relationship must continue to grow with care, nurture, and an unending awareness of each other’s needs and feelings.

It requires a solemn commitment, which is to be entered into reverently, but also with joy and celebration. In this we now share.

BRIDE and GROOM, I charge you with the responsibility to keep alive; to grow, to change, to maintain the capacity for wonder, for spontaneity, for humor; to remain pliable, warm and sensitive.

I charge you to give fully; to show your real feelings, to save time for each other, no matter what demands are made upon your day.

I charge you to see the meaning of life through the changing prism of your love; to nurture each other to fullness and wholeness, and in learning to love each other more deeply, learn to love the creation in which the mystery of your love has happened.

Opening Words and Introduction 35

We come together not to mark the start of a relationship, but to recognize a bond that already exists.

This marriage is one expression of the many varieties of love. Love is one, though its expressions are infinite.

It is fitting to speak briefly about love.

We live in a world of joy and fear and search for meaning and strength in the seeming disorder.

We discover the truest guideline to our quest when we realize love in all its magnitudes.

Love is the eternal force of life.

Love is the force that allows us to face fear and uncertainty with courage.

For the giving of our self in love is difficult, for you must learn to give of your love without total submission of yourself.

Therefore, in your giving, give your joy, your sadness, your interest, your understanding, your knowledge — all expressions that make up life.

But in this giving, remember to preserve yourself — your integrity, your individuality.

This is the challenge of love within marriage.

Although you will be sharing one life, never forget, you are two separate people.

Cherish and affirm your differences.

Love each other.

Keep your commitment primary.

Together you will laugh and cry, be sick and well, be happy and angry, share and grow.

Grow, sometimes together, sometimes separately.

But never remain stagnant. Love and life are always changing, always new.

If you will insure a healthy lasting marriage, always, always value each other.

Although you will disagree, remember to respect each other’s feelings, needs and wants.

So it is our hope for you both that in all areas of your life together you will weave a durable fabric of mutual consolation and support and of help in time of trouble.

May each of you achieve the ability to give of yourselves freely so that you will each live better life and become greater persons.

Opening Words and Introduction 36

BRIDE and GROOM, the relationship that you have nourished together stands for love that will blossom and grow with each passing day.

Before you knew love, you were friends, and it was from this seed of friendship that is now your destiny.

Marriage is the clasping of hands, the blending of hearts, the union of two lives as one.

Marriage is caring as much about the welfare and happiness of your marriage partner as your own.

It is not total absorption into each other. It is looking outward in the same direction together.

Marriage makes burdens lighter because you divide them.

It makes joys more intense because you share them.

It makes you stronger, so that you can be involved with life in ways you dare not risk alone.

To make your relationship work will take love.

This is the core of your marriage and why you are here today.

It will take trust, to know in your hearts that you truly want the best for each other.

It will take dedication, to stay open and honest with one another — and to learn and grow together.

It will take faith, to go forward together without knowing exactly what the future brings.

And it will take commitment, to hold true to the journey you both promised today to share together.

An intimate and secure relationship is not based on promises, but rather on trust, respect, faithfulness and the ability to forgive.

A lasting marriage is based on all of these, bound together by love.

Opening Words and Introduction 37

We must give ourselves in love, but we must not give ourselves away.

As Saint Exupery said, Love does not consist in gazing into each other’s eyes, but in looking together in the same direction.”

That is why love must always say no to live in a closed world with just the perfume of the beloved and no other essences from nature or humanity.

So it is on this summer eve, let us rejoice yet know that we are here not just to observe but also to participate in this marriage ceremony.

May we all remember that the path of love is meant to be walked together with God and with all of humanity.

No persons in a love relationship can have meaning apart from their family, their friends and their community.

Who gives their blessing to this marriage, and in the giving who says an enthusiastic Yes!” to this new relationship?

Opening Words and Introduction 38

A marriage between mature people is not an escape but a commitment shared by two individuals that becomes part of their commitment to themselves and society.

Yet to love is also to accept the mystery of the loved one, and to refuse to violate that mystery.

Opening Words and Introduction 39

Dear friends, we are gathered to celebrate a historic and extraordinary event.

At the invitation of BRIDE and GROOM, we are here to see for ourselves their love and commitment, to witness their claim to their civil rights, to surround them with prayer and support, and to share in their joy.

Opening Words and Introduction 40

We welcome all of you here today as we have gathered together in the presence of God and these witnesses to join GROOM and BRIDE in holy matrimony.

Marriage is a gift, a gift from God, given to us so that we might experience the joys of unconditional love with a lifelong partner.

God designed marriage to be an intimate relationship between a man and a woman–mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

Just as the two of you make vows to one another today, God also made vows to you and me that show how much He loves and cares for each one of us.

Listen to these vows God made that are recorded for us in His Word: I will betroth you to myself forever in lawful wedlock with unfailing devotion and love; I will commit myself to you, to have and to hold, and you shall know the Lord.”

GROOM and BRIDE because your deep love for each other comes from God above, this is a sacred moment, and it is with great reverence that I now ask you to declare your intent.

Renewal of Vows Opening Words and Introduction 41

Friends, we are gathered here at this hour to celebrate the marriage of these two individuals.

We are here to re-affirm BRIDE and GROOM in marriage, to rejoice with them in the making of this important commitment.

The essence of this commitment is the taking of another person in his or her entirety, as lover, companion and friend.

It is a decision which was not entered into lightly, but rather undertaken with great consideration and respect for both the other person and oneself.

Love is one of the highest experiences that we human beings can have and it can add depth of meaning to our lives.

The day-to-day companionship, the pleasure of doing things together or in exchanging individual experiences, is a continuous and central part of what two people who love each other can share.

What marriage is about is what life is about — growth.

The relationship between two people must keep growing and changing, forming a constant adventure and development which will not be without conflict.

If differences are faced openly, the possibility of learning how to convert problems into opportunities will not be lost and the marriage will prosper.

A marriage that lasts is one which is continually developing and in which each person is individually growing while growing in understanding of the others.

Deep knowledge of another is not something that can be achieved in a short time and real understanding of the other can develop fully only after years of intimacy.

This wonderful knowledge of another person grows out of caring enough to want to truly understand what the other is feeling.

Thus, it is possible to share not only joys and successes but also the burden of sorrows and failures. To be known in this way is a priceless thing.

Such understanding and acceptance makes it easier to live with our problems, failings and worries.

To give ourselves in love is not to give ourselves away.

A good and balanced relationship is one in which neither person is overpowered or absorbed by the other.

It is out of the tension between separateness and union, that love, whose incredible strength is equal only to its incredible fragility, is born and reborn.

Renewal of Vows Opening Words and Introduction 42

As these two people have come together before, pledging everlasting love, so we are gathered together today to once again join this woman and this man in holy matrimony.

But now they wish to extend that joy in a new affirmation, based not upon what they hope the future years will bring, but on what the past has already brought them and what they know of their future together.

Additionally, as they honor one another in memory of the years already shared, the family now grown, and the joys and hardships together endured, they wish to pledge their love anew.

This pledge represents not only what will be, but also honors what has already been.

When a couple first decides to marry, it is an act of faith; faith that the new spouse will be as wonderful as his or her behavior has led each of them to believe.

But we all know that sometimes married life can reveal hidden aspects to your spouse’s personality.

It then becomes a test of love and endurance to maintain a marriage.

BRIDE and GROOM have come through their challenge wiser, more mature and with their love intact.

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How to Begin a Wedding Speech: Our Favourite Opening Lines

Handy one-liners to get your speech off to an amazing start.

If you've read our feature on how to make a great wedding speech , you'll know that it's really important to start strong! Well, today, we're showing you how to do exactly that, with a list of the best wedding speech opening lines . The beauty of this list is that it works for any kind of wedding speech, whether you're the bride, groom, best man, bridesmaid, father-of-the-bride, or even the flower girl or the groom's granny! We've made sure to include lots of different options so there's something to suit every style of speech, whether you want to keep it super simple, bring the audience to tears, or wow them with a joke ! Some of our wedding speech opening lines can be customised, too, to help you make your speech even more personal. So, let's dive in!

Our Favourite Wedding Speech Opening Lines

To help you find what you're looking for, we've split our sample opening lines into three categories; simple and sincere opening lines, funny opening lines and opening lines with quotes from famous people.

Note: (name) can indicate yourself, the bride/groom, the couple as a whole, or another member of the wedding party.  

Wedding Speech Opening Lines: Simple and Sincere Opening Lines

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and thank you (name) for the kind introduction."

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. As (name's friend/relative), I'm delighted to welcome you all here tonight."

"Thank you so much, (name), for such a wonderful introduction. I only hope I can live up to your kind words!"

"Hello everyone. I hope you're all having a great night so far."

"Hello, I'm (name) and, for those of you who don't already know me, I'm (relation to couple)."

"Hi everybody, I'm (name), and I'm here to talk a little bit about my good friend (name)."

"Hi everyone, I'm (name), and I'm going to talk a little bit about (name). When I was writing this speech, I asked myself how I could sum up (X) years of friendship, laughter and adventures in one speech, and I decided that I can't. We'd be here all night."

"Hello everybody and welcome. I think we can all agree that it's been a wonderful day so far. (Couple names), you should be really proud of the amazing day you've put together. We're all very lucky to be a part of it."

"Hello everyone. I hope you're all having a great night so far. My life changed completely on (date, year), when (name) came into my life, and it changes again today, as they embark on their latest adventure with (name)."

"Hi everybody. Thank you for the warm welcome. Mark Twain once said that 'there are only two types of speakers in the world. 1. The nervous and 2. Liars.' I'm definitely in the former category, so I hope you'll forgive me if I'm a little bit shaky this evening."

Wedding Speech Opening Lines: Funny Opening Lines to Make Guests LOL

"Hi everyone, I'm (name), and before any of you ask, yes I am single."

"Hi everyone, I'm (name), and I'll be your speaker for the next 95 minutes."

"Hi everybody. If you don't know who I am... well, you're probably at the wrong wedding! But stick around, we need extra people for the conga line."

"Hi everyone. You're probably wondering why I gathered you here today. I've got a once-in-a-lifetime investment opportunity that I know you're going to - sorry, wrong speech!"

"Hello everyone! Thank you all for being here on such an exciting night. Yes, the rumours are true, I will be debuting some new choreography on the dance floor this evening. But in the mean time, I suppose I should talk a little bit about (couple names)."

"Hello, and welcome. You may know me as (name's friend/relative), but tonight, I go by the title, (name), Lord of the Dance."

"Hi everyone. Just in case you don't already know, I'm (name) and I'm the best man. There are some really successful, good-looking, charming men in the room tonight, but now that it's written on the ceremony program in black and white, it's official - I am the best."

"Hi everyone, I'm (name), and I'd like to begin my speech with a quote from the great Seamus Heaney/Maya Angelou/Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr./Mother Teresa... but unfortunately I left my speech in my other jacket. So you'll have to make do with me!"

“Hi everyone. If I could just say a few words … I’d be a better public speaker! That gag was actually stolen from Homer Simpson, which should give you an idea of the caliber of speech you can expect from me tonight.”

"Hi everyone, and welcome. Webster's dictionary describes a wedding as, 'The process of removing weeds from one's garden'. That's a Homer Simpson quote, which should give you an idea of the caliber of speech you can expect from me tonight.”

"Hello everyone, I'm (name.) According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right?"

"Hi everyone. When I was preparing this speech, (name) gave me a list of topics that were strictly off-limits, so I'd like to start with those."

"Hi everyone. I'm (name). Anyone who knows me knows that I'm (name)'s biggest fan. So much so, that I was actually quite hurt when I learned that I wasn't going to be involved in the first dance!"

"Hi everyone. I just want to take a few minutes to talk about my good friend (name). I first met (name) when we were 13, and since then, I've always looked up to him. He was, after all, the only 6ft 2' student at (school name)!"

"Good evening everyone. To our English speakers, I'd like to say welcome, we're delighted that you could be with us today to celebrate the marriage of (couple names). To our (other language) speakers, I'd like to say (use Google Translate or ask a native speaker to translate, 'My llama is very handsome. I hope my translation is correct.')"

Wedding Speech Opening Lines: Beginning with a Quote

"Hi everyone. I'd like to begin my speech with a quote from Dr. James Dobson, who said, 'Don't marry the person you think you can live with; marry only the individual you think you can't live without.' "

"Hi everyone. I'd like to begin my speech with a quote from Franz Schubert, who said, 'Happy is the man who finds a true friend, and far happier is he who finds that true friend in his wife.' "

"Hi everyone. I'd like to begin my speech with a quote from The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who said, 'There is no more lovely, friendly, and charming relationship, communion, or company than a good marriage.' "

"Hi everyone. I'd like to begin my speech with a quote from Franklin P. Jones, who said, 'Love doesn't make the world go 'round; love is what makes the ride worthwhile.' "

"Hi everyone, I'm (name.) I hope you're all having a wonderful day so far. When I got married to my partner (name), somebody told me, 'Don't just be husband and wife, be president of each other's fan clubs,' and I'd like to pass on that same advice to (couple)."

"Hello everyone. I'd like to begin with a quote from Mignon McLaughlin, who said, 'A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.' Over the past (x) years, I've had the pleasure of watching (name) fall in love with (name) over and over again."

You've found your opening line - now what? Click over to this feature  for a handy checklist of people to thank in your wedding speech.

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• Welcome Speech For Bride and Groom

Long and Short Welcome Speech For Bride and Groom

A welcome speech for Bride and Groom is emotional content delivered on the wedding day of a particular couple. It is given by someone close to the couple such as the parents or the best friends of the couples. It can be similar to or different from the father of the bride's welcome speech examples. For example, a welcome speech for the bride and groom by a close friend will show an appreciation of the journeys the couple has shared till the wedding day and wish them a fulfilling married life together. While the father of the bride welcomes speech examples will include a more bride-centred emotional appreciation and wish for a wonderful married life for both the bride and the couple as a whole. 

As the welcome speech for bride and groom is narrated, the general audience feels more connected to the couple and helps them express their wishes to the couple in a more meaningful way. This also fills the environment with positive emotional energy and the couple feels elevated, increasing their happiness as they step into another significant part of their lives. Given below are three forms of the welcome speech for bride and groom - a long speech, a short speech and 10 lines on the same. This will be helpful not only for the purpose of speech writing in English but also for their accounts while attending any such occasions.

Long Welcome Speech For Bride and Groom

Greetings of this auspicious day to everyone present for this blessed couple. A very warm welcome to all the families and friends of the bride and groom. I would like to welcome Prachi’s and Sidhu’s parents and relatives with all the love and warmth to the family. 

I hope that everyone enjoys the ceremony. It is a beautiful ceremony and was planned and organised by the beautiful and independent couple for whom we have gathered today.

Before the celebrations begin I will like to welcome Sidhu and Prachi formally into the family, although they have already become part of one big family. Even at the risk of sounding banal, I am pleased to tell you that Sidhu and Prachi are made for each other. I will extend a sincere thanks to Prachi for having filled my friend’s life with excitement and happiness. Also hats off to her for having tolerated him through the ups and downs as it is not an easy task to handle his quirkiness.

Having known Prachi for a long time now, I am pretty sure that I gave all the warning signs before getting into this family.  But as the best friend and brother, on a rather serious note, I am glad that such a beautiful, intelligent and compassionate girl has chosen my friend Sidhu for the journey of a lifetime. 

I still remember the day when Sidhu first saw Prachi and then came back to me as if having seen the last wonder of the world. And then I involuntarily became a part of their love life and their journey of coming together culminating into this beautiful wedding occasion. 

Although there are huge differences in their personalities and their habits, it’s beautiful to see how they managed through all their differences and grown together over the past eight years which can sometimes be envious as well. Sidhu being an introvert and Prachi being an extrovert have never come in between them. They have come together and have complemented each other in an alluring manner. 

Even though quirky, it has never come in between their maturity. I have seen them take some really good decisions about their life together and this wedding is just one example of their combined maturity and thinking. As we all have come together to wish this couple the best journey onwards, I think we all can appreciate the efforts the couple has put forward into organizing their wedding and even funding it completely together.

As an ending note, I would like to wish the couple a happy, eventful and everlasting married life. I will also request Sidhu to follow the advice given by his father, that a wise man gives in when he is wrong but a married man gives in even when he is right. With this, ladies and gentleman, I end my speech and give blessings to Sidhu and Prachi.

Short Welcome Speech For Bride and Groom

When George asked me to be his best man, I swear I couldn't believe the words. And this expression was not in response to him asking me to be his best man but the possibility that he could get married. 

Over the years I had always wondered how long I have to tolerate this quirky fellow. But now that Lisa is going to become a part of his life, to be honest, I feel very much relieved. I have seen George transform from a timid child to a bold and successful man Lisa has fallen for. I have also seen him grow more mature as a person since he began his relationship with Lisa. From a person who used to dislike typical romantic scenes, George made a spectacular show of his marriage proposal to Lisa. That's when I knew my buddy had grown up. 

Lisa, being a person filled with so much warmth and kindness along with a brilliant sense of humour makes George look good and decent while standing by him. I will wish them the best out of their marriage and the coming years of a maturing married life. 

Concluding, I wish them the very best in their lives both as individuals and as a couple. As I raise a toast to the lovely couple, I request you to please join me for the same. To George and Lisa.

The above-mentioned speech can be turned by adding some personal experience or attaching a personal emotion from the point of view of a father for writing the father of the bride welcome speech examples.

10 Lines on Welcome Speech For Bride and Groom

A warm welcome to the bride and groom and their family.

We thank you all for being a part of the celebration.

I hope everybody has a good time at the ceremony. It's a lovely ceremony that was prepared and organized by the lovely and self-sufficient couple with whom we've gathered here today.

While they have such different personalities and habits, it is beautiful to see how they have overcome their differences and matured together over the past eight years, which can also be envious.

As the parents always say, a successful marriage is a symbol of the best friendship. 

The bride and groom have put lots of efforts into the wedding and we all appreciate it.

I wish that their married life is filled with joy, happiness, warmth and love.

In this atmosphere of joy and purity, we all are happy to have come here. 

As the bride and groom have been the best host at their wedding we extend thanks from the bottom of our hearts.

Finally, a toast to the happy couple before the start of their wonderful journey.

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• Who Gives a Speech at a Wedding Reception? How to Write a Wedding Toast Tips for the Father of the Bride Speech How to Write a Best Man Toast Advice for the Maid of Honor Speech What to Know About a Newlywed Toast Public Speaking Experts' Wedding Speech Tips 60 Quotes to Use for Your Wedding Toast

How to Write an Unforgettable Newlywed Reception Toast

Raise a glass to your guests and new spouse.

Jaimie Mackey was the real weddings editor at Brides from 2013 to 2015. She also worked as a luxury wedding planner and produced over 100 high-end weddings and events in Colorado

Photo by Inma Fiuza

In This Article

A toast by the newlyweds during the reception isn't required, but it is a welcomed and thoughtful gesture—one that can also be useful in moving along the evening's events if need be. It's not a long one (that's usually made by the groom during the rehearsal dinner), but it's always a nice touch that reflects how humbled and thankful you are for having all of your loved ones take part in the momentous occasion with you. Your guests will definitely appreciate a few words from the couple of the night and feel truly treasured afterward. After all, they did come all this way just to celebrate the two of you, right?

But, what should you say while giving a toast and raising a glass during the reception? We've put together several guidelines, including expert tips and examples from Beth Sherman, an Emmy Award–winning comedy writer and founder of Authentically Funny Speeches to help. Read on for all the important tips and tricks to ensure your reception speech is a memorable one.

Meet the Expert

• Beth Sherman is an Emmy Award-winning comedy writer who has written for shows such as The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, and The Oscars. Sherman is also the founder of Authentically Funny Speeches , a consultation business offering courses on speech writing.

Newlywed Reception Toast Template

Finding the right words to adequately express yourself in front of all of your friends and family can be tough, so here are several components to include when addressing your beloved guests .

Welcome guests. Acknowledge all of your loved ones and how important their presence is to the occasion. "First and foremost, thank the guests for coming," advises Sherman. "You might also want to single out whoever made the longest journey to be there on the big day—and remember, the phrase ‘longest journey’ doesn’t have to be taken literally."

Show gratitude. Begin by thanking both of your parents, families, and wedding party for all the support they've provided during the planning process. "If you’ve been a difficult bride-to-be (and you know who you are), a little good-natured self-awareness will go a long way here," notes Sherman. If one (or both) set of parents contributed financially to the wedding, be sure to thank them for hosting such an amazing evening in your honor. If your wedding planner is present or the service staff has been absolutely exemplary in their performance, it's nice to say a quick thank-you for their supporting role, too, but be mindful of the time. Try not to single out too many people, lest you turn this into an Oscars acceptance speech ( cue speech play-off music ).

Don't forget to thank your new spouse. "It may sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how often it happens," says Sherman. "Save the best for last and end on a thank you that turns into a physical toast." You may have said a lot already during the ceremony , but you've been married for only a few hours. Why not gush for a moment about how happy you are to be married to the person standing next to you? A sweet aside will garner a few "awws" from the crowd and remind everyone why they are there with you.

Give instruction about whatever is coming next. As you wrap up your toast, let guests know if you'll need them to head to a different room, gather around the dance floor for the first dance , or stay in their seats as entrees are served.

A toast. Don't forget to end your toast by inviting guests to raise a glass . Toast to love, to life, to your new spouse, or to your family and friends for coming to your wedding. Then clink those glasses and take a sip!

Newlywed Reception Toast Tips

Now that you've got your thoughts outlined, check out these tips from Sherman to nail your wedding reception speech.

Go last. Save your toast for the very end of the speech-giving segment and allow all your designated loved ones to shower you with embarrassingly kind sentiments. Sherman suggests being gracious enough to allow other speakers to have first dibs on any choice anecdotes. "You and your partner are the headliners—the ones everyone is there to see—so your guests’ attention spans will reset automatically no matter how long your dad goes with his detailed review of every boyfriend you’ve had since kindergarten," she adds. "Going last also means that all your other speakers can sit back and enjoy your speech instead of preparing for or dreading their own."

Get everyone's attention. While speakers typically think to clink their glass to get people to pay attention, this can usually be ineffective and go unheard in large rooms. The best way to start the speech is to simply ask for the mic and then request your guests' attention for a few brief moments. Choose a time when all of the guests have a full glass of Champagne or a cocktail so that they can join you in raising a glass.

Don't go overboard with humor. Everyone loves a good laugh, and it's a great way to loosen up your guests a bit during your toast. But keep in mind that there is a big difference between actually saying something funny and just telling a bunch of jokes. Stick to humor that comes about organically within your content, and leave the latter for a comedy special.

Keep the drinking to a minimum. We know this can be a bit tricky, being that you're the VIPs of the day and everyone will be wanting to have a drink with you before, during, and after every event. Try to keep your drink number relatively tame if you know you'll be addressing the crowd later. A slurred speech is never a good speech.

Relax. "Even if you hate public speaking , you’re going to enjoy this," says Sherman. "This is the most loving, supportive audience you will ever have. Your friends and family want to hear from you and they want your speech to succeed." All you have to do is say a quick thank you to them for being there and you're done. Nothing to stress about.

Be mindful of body language. An exemplary toast is never just about eloquence. You have to make sure you're nonverbally communicating your message as well. Make sure to stand tall—please don't ever deliver a speech sitting down. Not only does it come across as disrespectful, but it also allows people to just tune you out. Keep a big smile on your face (this is the happiest day of your life, right?) and maintain eye contact with your guests.

You can both speak. Traditionally, if there is a bride and groom, the groom speaks and the bride does not, but this is completely up to preference. Same-sex couples can delegate the duty to one of the newlyweds as well. If the couple chooses to share the delivery, it is best to establish the speaking order beforehand so there is no awkward fumbling of the mic. If only one of you is speaking, use the inclusive "we" pronoun whenever appropriate to acknowledge that your partner also shares the sentiments. But, keep in mind that this speech is different from the longer toast that the groom traditionally makes during the rehearsal dinner. This should just serve as a quick thank-you.

Divide the speech in half or split it up by paragraphs. If it's divided in half, give the person doing the second half of the speech the very first line, so it feels like a group effort right from the very beginning.

Answer These Questions to Get Started

We know getting started is the hardest part, so here are some questions to kick off the process.

• Who is speaking before you? (Perhaps, you will want to make a reference to them or refer to part of their speech in yours. Maybe even add in a rebuttal if the prior toast-maker was exceptionally cheeky.)
• Was there someone that went above and beyond in helping make the big day a success? (This would be the perfect time to give them an extra-special shoutout.)
• Is there something the guests should be made aware of? (Prep your guests if you're planning something special or unconventional.)
• How will you invite everyone to meet your toast? (A traditional, cultural call to action like cheers, l'chaim , prost , etc. are always classic choices.)
• Did anything unexpected happen during the day's events? (You can take this moment to lightheartedly mention it and diffuse it, if need be.)

Newlywed Reception Toast Examples to Make Your Own

To help you get a feel of how all those tips and guidelines come together, Sherman provided a few examples to illustrate just that. (Names and details have been changed. Speeches are not published in their entirety to protect client confidentiality. )

And mostly what we want to do is sincerely thank each and every one of you for joining us this weekend.

"Kat and I wanted to say a few words today. We know it hasn’t been easy. In the best of times, a wedding invitation comes with an implied to-do list—a happy one, but let’s be honest, it’s a to-do list. So, we can’t say enough how grateful and flattered we are that you consider us worth the effort." —Heather

"Without this sounding too much like an awards ceremony, there are a few people I’d like to thank. First, my sister , Sam. She’s been a constant source of support throughout my life. She’s the strongest, most resilient person I know. She’s also the one of the kindest. She’s helped me plan and re-plan so many parts of this wedding. And no good award speech would be complete without thanking one’s parents! Not a day goes by that I’m not acutely aware of their love and support.  

Their calm and constant guidance has always gotten me through any uncertainty.

And even better than that, they’re a lot of fun to be with. Mom and Dad, I don’t know what I did to deserve you. I know there are times you’ve thought the same of me with a slightly different emphasis perhaps, but I am immensely proud to call myself your daughter. To Jo, Ben and Frasier, thank you for folding me so completely into your family . Jo, you have one more woman on your team! The numbers are still a bit lopsided, but we’ll get there! Truly, you are the kindest, most welcoming in-laws I could ask for, and I look forward to celebrating many more happy occasions with you." —Tia

"Dave, I know we took our vows during the ceremony, but I’d like to end with a few more. I promise to always be there when you need me. I promise to make sure you always feel safe and loved. I promise to continue pretending to enjoy and understand all sports you make me watch. (I might regret this.) And I promise to always be willing to negotiate a back scratch. Now before I go into my ugly cry, would you all raise your glass to my wonderful new husband? To Dave!" —Cynthia

A Guide to Wedding Reception Toasts

Who Gives a Speech at a Wedding Reception?

How to Write a Wedding Toast

Tips for the Father of the Bride Speech

How to Write a Best Man Toast

Advice for the Maid of Honor Speech

What to Know About a Newlywed Toast

Public Speaking Experts' Wedding Speech Tips

60 Quotes to Use for Your Wedding Toast

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Do the Bride and Groom Have to Give a Speech at Their Wedding Reception?

Talking to a crowd isn't for everyone.

Nancy is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com.

Making a speech in front of a crowd is way too difficult for some people to handle, even if the audience is comprised of their loved ones. If you're a bride or groom worried that you're expected to give wedding speeches that spill your heart out at the reception, relax. There are only a few expected speakers during the night, and these include the host (usually the father of the bride or whoever is financing the wedding), the best man, and the maid of honor. With that being said, many couples do like to take a few moments to thank everyone for joining them on this special day, and to thank their families and the vendor teams that made the entire event possible. If you fall into that camp, here's what you need to know.

Go it solo or together.

You can do it alone or as a tag team with your new spouse. If you're appearing as a duo, you could toast each other, then the bridal party , your parents, and the guests and vendors, thanking them for being a part of your special day.

Take your turn.

After the host and best man, the maid of honor makes the next toast. Should you two each want to say a few words on your own, the groom would go next, followed by his bride.

Know your words.

While you don't have to memorize a speech, do figure out what you want to say ahead of time-who to thank, which anecdotes would work best, and so forth. A glass of pre-toast Champagne or a cocktail may loosen you up, but avoid being a sloppy speaker who slurs-especially when that speaker is the bride or groom.

Speak at the right time.

The speeches can come at the tail end of the main course , when everyone is almost finished eating.

4 wedding red flags that are telltale signs a couple won't last, according to a dating coach

• A dating coach says you can often tell whether a couple will last based on their wedding.
• Anwar White, who has more than 580,000 TikTok followers, outlined four red flags at weddings. 
• His telltale signs include how much the bride or groom acts out and who's mentioned in the speeches. 

Wedding season is right around the corner.

If you're attending nuptials this year, Anwar White , a dating and relationships coach, says there are a few signs to look out for to determine whether the marriage will last.

White — who has advised clients on how to find love for 14 years and regularly shares dating advice with his more than 580,000 followers on TikTok — outlined four red flags at weddings that foreshadow speedbumps ahead for the couple.

White shared the markers that a marital union might not be long for this world in a video posted on TikTok on April 3. The clip has 1.6 million views.

Here, he breaks down each red flag to look out for at weddings this year.

A groom shoving cake into a bride's face could be a sign of underlying aggression, White says.

White says one of the biggest red flags that a couple won't work out in the long run involves wedding cake.

For some, it's tradition for the bride and groom to rub cake on each other's faces before the dessert is served to their guests. White says paying attention to how the couple approaches the act of rubbing cake is key.

"If it's loving, if it's more of a caress, that's one thing," White said. But if the cake rubbing is more forceful, he says, it indicates that the groom may harbor "deep-seated aggression" and is comfortable humiliating a partner.

"If a groom is willing to do that in front of your friends and family, I can't imagine what he's willing to do in the privacy of your own home," White said.

If either the bride or groom shows off during the wedding, it shows they aren't willing to share the spotlight, White says.

"When I see someone pulling focus to themselves, that lets me know that they're trying to make this event about them and not about the union," White said.

Examples, he says, include if the bride or groom puts on a skit that involves dancing or singing or if there's a comedic interlude or show-off moment when walking down the aisle or during the reception.

"These are all moments where it's about me, it's about me, it's about me," he said. "That's something that I always look out for, and when I see it, I'm like, 'OK, I can see how this relationship is going to be.'"

White also says he pays attention to whether the bride or groom refers to the wedding as "my day" instead of "our day."

A big wedding can also be a sign that a partner's priorities are in the wrong place, White says.

Some of the most successful marriages White has seen have started with an elopement or a more casual celebration.

By contrast, he says, some of the least successful couples hosted elaborate weddings, which can come across more like spectacles than authentic celebrations of love.

"A lot of brides really try to make the wedding as big as possible. And that is often a telltale sign that a bride is more focused on the wedding than they are on the marriage," White said. "What this means is 'I care about what other people think more than I care about the actual union.'"

If family members' speeches don't refer to both partners, it's a sign they don't like or don't know who their loved one is marrying, White says.

People giving wedding speeches will devote most of their remarks to the person in the couple they know best, White says.

But somewhere in the speech, he says, there should be at least a mention of the other person.

If the speech-giver is solely focused on their person, he says it could mean one of two things: "One, they don't like the person. They are going by the old mantra of if you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all. Or two, they don't know the other person enough."

"What you want to see is positive things being said about the other person and how they represent themselves in your person's life," he said.

Friends and family can be better judges of whether a relationship will last than the people actually in the relationship.

White says he likes to refer to friends and family of his clients as their "love jury" because they can help individuals "have all of the perspectives" they need to make "the most informed decisions" about their romantic lives.

Even if the wedding red flags aren't foolproof, White says, they can be indicators of a relationship's success.

White knows his red flags aren't an exact science.

"None of these are always right," he said. "But these are things that you can look at and be like, 'OK, this is interesting.'"

Backing up his theories is years of experience, both as a relationships coach and a frequent wedding guest.

"I probably go to a wedding once a quarter," White said. "Maybe one out of five, sometimes two out of five, will have some of these markers in it."

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Fallout’s bloody wedding continues one of fiction’s longest-running tropes

Weddings have gone dangerously wrong throughout the history of storytelling, from the Bible to Kill Bill

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The Fallout TV show isn’t particularly beautiful – at least, not like a bride is supposed to be. Its characters spend most of their time trudging through the irradiated grime of derelict California, avoiding pools of who-knows-what and drinking animal piss if they really need to. It’s a tough reality to witness, but that’s what makes the Prime Video game adaptation ’s violent first episode so critical; its bloodbath wedding welcomes viewers to Fallout’s no-nonsense approach to love and desperation. To do it effectively, Fallout mines the ancient trope for every last perversion.

The concept of a bloody wedding (or Red Wedding , as Game of Thrones popularized in 2013) goes back as far as humans were capable of idiotic passion — so, kind of forever. Jesus tells a parable in Matthew 22 in which heaven is a king throwing a wedding banquet, but those invited decide to kill the king’s servants instead. Even earlier, the Odyssey describes how Odysseus instigated a grisly massacre after a team of suitors attempted to marry the queen of Ithaca, his wife Penelope. “And therewith the head of the arrow through his tender neck thrust out, [...] The thick gush of the man’s-blood, [...] And the bread and the roasted flesh were defiled,” writes poet William Morris in his 1887 translation .

It was only natural for red weddings to make their way into contemporary media. Some of the most recognizable instances are in TV and film, including the aforementioned Game of Thrones , the 2003 revenge drama Kill Bill , Bella’s nightmare in Breaking Dawn , and the 2019 wedding slasher Ready or Not . But whether the cataclysmic wedding occurs in classic literature, a video game like Bloodborne , or famous art like Marc Chagall’s 1950 painting of red-soaked La Mariée , it challenges your expectations for the blushing bride. Fallout protagonist Lucy is at least prepared for this test — she’s spent her whole life learning how to be useful in crisis.

Before her doomed wedding, Lucy establishes herself as a toned and peppy Vault Dweller: the ideal post-apocalyptic woman. She has repair skills, she says, speech skills, gymnastic ability, and has no issue handling a rifle — she’s demure about it, too, disclaiming that she’s “not very good” at shooting despite impaling her Vault Boy target repeatedly in the heart. All that’s missing from Lucy’s life as a resourceful Miss America is a healthy Mr. Reproductive System, and so her Vault 33 council approves her application to breed with a Vault 32 tribute.

33 will provide the purportedly famished 32 with seeds in exchange for a husband, Monty (Cameron Cowperthwaite), at the Triennial Trade; Lucy prepares with red lipstick, pearl drop earrings, and an Audrey Hepburn wedding gown cut below the knees. She nearly perfectly follows Leola Coombs Kelley’s guide on “How to Conduct a Perfect Wedding” from 1957, which instructs a bride to wear satin white, but warns that “the formal wedding gown should just clear the toes to prevent tripping [...] Anything shorter is ugly.” Oh, well; things are different after a nuclear apocalypse.

Most bloodbath weddings aren’t presented as flawless. Kill Bill ’s somber black-and-white opening shot is of The Bride’s big day (Uma Thurman) already ruined, her dress smeared in blood that glues her tulle veil to the floorboards. The first boss fight in gory 2023 zombie game Dead Island 2 is with Becki the Bride , whose mutations have turned her form-fitting wedding dress into grim sausage casing.

But Vault-Tec became so powerful by luring its test subjects with false promises of safety; it convinced people they’d rather eat nuclear-resistant green beans in perpetuity than risk the uncertainty of the real world. Fallout’ s first episode deftly copies this deception by showing us a bit of Lucy’s wedding ceremony, which seems as lovely and interchangeable as any other: the bride and groom kiss under a wedding arch tied with sunflowers, and soon it’s time to enjoy the reception and talk sperm count. “I mean, sperm is pretty important in perpetuating America,” Lucy says at dinner. But trouble starts after she consummates her marriage.

Monty and the rest of Vault 32 are actually surface dwellers planning to take Lucy’s dad, Overseer Hank , hostage for reasons she doesn’t yet understand. In the moment, she can only accept the force of her instinct. She doesn’t stand idly as history recommends her to, a silent “bride of Hades,” as ancient Greeks described unmarried female virgins. Lucky for Lucy, she’s not even a virgin. So when her new husband starts to strangle her, she kicks him in the gut. When he sinks a carving knife into her already bruised abdomen, she uses a cracked blender to scoop out his throat.

A healing stimpak and tranquilizer pistol help her stay alive once she finally leaves her sweetheart behind, to hopefully die alone on the ground. With bullets slung across her chest and dark blood blooming around her stomach, Lucy now looks like Ready or Not ’s Final Bride Grace — goodbye, Audrey Hepburn. Lucy abandons a bride’s stereotypical elegance because she has no other choice.

But, with all of her Vault 33 education, she manages to hold onto some of it. Even disheveled and beaten, Lucy fares better than her wedding party. Fallout protects her with a sense of specialness, her inherent belief in justice and the determination to pursue it. This is, again, unusual for the bloodbath wedding trope. Though Roslin survives her notorious Red Wedding in Game of Thrones , two other wives, Catelyn Stark and Joyeuse Frey, are unceremonious victims of battle. They don’t get to supplant their “wife” status with complex personhood, like Lucy does. The math of their deaths is simple: Catelyn cuts Joyeuse’s pale throat to punish the woman’s husband, and then her own throat is slit, and blood pours out like wine.

Still, Vault 33 sees similar carnage, and worse. Its residents are no match for the surface dwellers’ uninhibited brutality, and, in excruciating, V.A.T.S.-type slow motion combat, we spend the next few minutes watching them get crushed into powder. An infiltrator smooshes a handful of wedding cake into his mouth before someone else starts shooting, and a man’s blood sprays into the air like peaking ocean waves. Another man gets punted across 33’s cornfield like he’s a football. You have only a moment to feel his skeletal pain before a surface dweller shoves an assault rifle into someone else’s mouth. After blasting the back of his skull, the trespasser demolishes a small crowd and innocent jelly mold with brain-stained bullets.

“Remember, there’s a danger in overdoing [wedding parties],” warns Good Housekeeping’s 1957 Complete Wedding Guide. “Gaiety and fun [can turn] into strained nerves and exhaustion.”

But Lucy is the Overseer’s daughter — a leader, then a woman — before she is a wife. The rules for her are slightly different. She can’t fully become Agamemnon’s antihero Clytemnestra, who butchers her husband after he sacrifices their daughter to a god. “How should a woman work, to the utter end,” Clytemnestra says in defiance of an admonishing chorus, “My husband, dead by my right hand, a blow / Struck by a righteous craftsman.”

Fallout doesn’t want Lucy totally veering into traditionally masculine territory the way Clytemnestra does. Lucy, instead, teeters around it (she has a gun, but it’s non-lethal; she’s dirty, but she’s also wearing pure white). She never wholly abandons her ’50s values, which encourage her to be constantly deferential to her father. So there’s panic in her wide doe eyes when she joins the fray, gawking at the spilled blood and devastation, barely reacting to the sparks and bullets flying right over her head. But she collects herself when her family is at risk, popping a tranquilizer into a woman’s eye a second before she can slice apart Norm (Moises Arias), Lucy’s brother, with a machete.

For this small moment, Lucy gets to be an avenging angel, a loose foreshadow of the hardened morality she’ll grow into later in Fallout . But, for now, Lucy lives in a blurry Romeo and Juliet world, so much like the one they experienced after their blighted wedding: “All things that we ordained festival / Turn from their office to black funeral,” remarks Lord Capulet, “Our bridal flowers serve for a buried corpse.”

Lucy seems to be sleepwalking toward the same fate. Her maimed husband approaches her with pieces of his face flapping open like a jacket, but then her dad, Hank, smashes the back of his head. Barefoot Lucy watches quietly as Hank drowns Monty in a barrel, and the last thing she sees on her wedding night is a bomb that trashes the already sparse remains of Vault 33.

And there goes another cursed wedding. Fallout makes it look as nasty as centuries of poets, bards, and Quentin Tarantino have necessitated it to be. But the show also manages to pull new information from it — Lucy’s wedding is at once the start of her tarnishing innocence, as well as the audience’s, and it forces her to demonstrate her competence. Always the survivor, never the bride.

Fallout is streaming on Prime Video.

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How to Deliver an Unforgettable Wedding Thank-You Speech

• Christin specializes in writing gift guides and shoppable articles for The Knot.
• Christin is a freelance writer, also covering lifestyle, health, and parenting.
• She has written for such publications as The Bump, Parents, VeryWell, Parade and LittleThings.

After months of planning , the big day has finally arrived. Assuming you didn't put all of this together on your own, you probably have some special people you'd like to thank before the festivities wind down. It's common—and gracious, of course—for the newlyweds to give a wedding thank-you speech to show their appreciation for all of the people who helped them along the way. Here, we'll fill you in on everything you need to know about this special message of gratitude.

How Long Should a Wedding Thank-You Speech Be?

While your wedding day likely has a detailed schedule (and it's always best to be concise when you give a toast) know that your thank-you speech does allow for more time than speeches delivered by the best man, father of the bride or maid of honor. You want to make sure you mention anyone who went above and beyond to help you with your wedding planning. Taking your time ensures you don't forget anyone, which could result in hurt feelings and possibly even a strained relationship.

If you can, aim to keep your wedding toast to about 5 or 6 minutes, especially if your partner will also be speaking. You can choose to speak at the wedding reception either before or after dinner (both common choices), at the rehearsal dinner, or even as your reception begins to wind down. It's really up to you. If you've hired a wedding planner to help your big day run as smoothly as possible, they'll likely have input on when your speech should take place.

How to Write a Wedding Thank-You Speech

You can make your speech as funny or touching as you'd like, but there are some guidelines you may want to follow as you deliver it. Below, we'll walk you through exactly who to thank so you don't leave anyone out. And if you need a bit more support (public speaking isn't for everyone), we've got you covered there as well.

A Wedding Thank-You Speech Template

[Partner's name] and I want to thank everyone for being here with us today. Many of you have traveled a long way to participate, and we thank you for your time and effort.

Find your kind of venue

We've spent the last [number] months planning our wedding, and we could not have done it without the help of some very special people. First, [one partner's parents' names] and [other partner's parents' names], thank you for everything you've provided and done for us. You've been there every step of the way, ensuring our wedding day was the best it could possibly be. And it has been.

To our wedding party [list names or address as a whole]—you've laughed with us, celebrated our engagement with us, cried with us over ugly tablecloth colors and bad hair days, and just been all-around amazing friends to us both. And for that, we thank you so much. Our day wouldn't be the same without each and every one of you involved.

To our guests: Each of you is here because you belong here. Our day wouldn't be complete without you. Thank you so much for coming.

Who Should You Thank in Your Wedding Thank-You Speech?

It's totally up to you who you choose to thank. You can keep it short and sweet by offering a sweeping thanks to everyone who's present, or you can give a shout-out to whoever made your big day possible. Here are some common people you might want to thank. Take a look at our list and pick and choose as you put together your speech.

Your partner. Here's a sweet opportunity to begin by thanking the person who you'll be spending the rest of your life with.

Your parents. There's a good chance they've helped you financially with your wedding, or at least have contributed in some way. No matter how big or small, it's kind to acknowledge and appreciate any assistance they gave.

Your partner's parents. Similarly, acknowledge any contribution your new in-laws made, and express how happy you are to be marrying their child.

Your maid of honor and best man. These key players are likely siblings, best friends, or other close companions for you and your partner. As such, you might choose to call them out separately from the rest of the wedding party.

Your bridesmaids and groomsmen (or variations of these, such as groomswomen or bridesmen). Don't forget that being in a wedding takes a lot of time and money. If your attendants made you feel special and celebrated, tell them. You could also choose to distribute a small gift as a token of your appreciation to them.

Your wedding planner. They worked hard for you, so don't be afraid to recognize their efforts.

Your photographer/DJ/cake artist/florist/other vendor. If you've worked very closely with one of your vendors, they went above and beyond for you or they were a personal recommendation, now's a good time to let them feel special by telling them so.

How to Give a Wedding Thank-You Speech

Need some guidance for what to include in your speech and how to give it? You're not alone—speech writing isn't the easiest thing to do. Our advice? Relax and speak from the heart. Your guests are there to support you, and that means during your speech as well. Here are some tips to help you along the way.

Wedding Thank-You Speech Examples

There's nothing that says your wedding toast must be completely original. Here are some speech examples, should you need them:

• To our closest family and friends, we would like to welcome you to our special day and extend our thanks to you for being here. Each one of you has played a crucial role in our love story, which is why your presence makes this day complete. As we embark on this next chapter of our lives, we couldn't be more grateful to know we have your love and support. To our parents, thank you for your undying support and encouragement. You've shown us that marriage isn't easy, but it is worth it. You've each done everything in your power to ensure our wedding day turned out just like we imagined. So please raise a glass as we toast to each and every one of you here today.
• I grew up with the love my parents shared as my example for what marriage looked like. I always hoped to marry someone who would share with me the same kind of love they had. When I met my future in-laws for the first time, I recognized that same kind of unconditional love. So I stand here today, promising each and every one of you, that [partner's name] and I will pledge to love each other in that same way.

What NOT to Say in a Wedding Thank-You Speech

This moment is truly your own, just like this day. But it's always best to avoid saying anything negative, hurtful or embarrassing in your wedding toast. Keeping things positive allows your guests to enjoy your special day in a drama-free environment, and preserves important relationships that are meant to last a lifetime.

Something borrowed, something Bluey: why we love a TV wedding

Senior Lecturer in Communication, University of Technology Sydney

Disclosure statement

Liz Giuffre does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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There is nothing like a wedding episode. Bluey’s first 28-minute special, The Sign, was the ultimate wedding television.

Full of family, and family-friendly, the wedding between Bluey’s godmother Frisky and uncle Radley was the sticky cake that held longer-than-average toddler attention spans and drew in broad audiences around and beyond Australia.

As Bluey creator Joe Brumm explained :

If you think of Bluey as a sitcom, they all have a wedding episode, so I fancied a crack. The idea lodged in my head and the story grew from there.

Bluey’s huge international success is due its creators’ ambition to make more than just a kids’ show. By drawing on tropes of other television shows like wedding episodes, as well as developed character arcs and references to pop culture, it has become some of the best Australian storytelling of all time, of any genre.

This process of creating “ easter eggs ” – hidden references for the audience to look for – is a tactic a variety of television makers now use to reward audiences of all ages.

The Sign rewarded longtime viewers of Bluey. Aunty Brandy had been wanting a baby, and now seems to finally be pregnant. Nana and Grandpa Bob are doing a flossing dance they learned in series one. Bingo’s “big girl bark” has finally developed, and baby Socks is now able to talk. Instead of Nutbush City Limits or other standard wedding music, we had “ dance mode ” and everyone’s favourite fictional cartoon-within-a-cartoon theme song (and earworm), Catsquad .

The wedding march also built to include a guitar solo a little reminiscent of 80s Oz Rock – a nod to Angry Anderson’s Suddenly for Scott and Charlene, perhaps?

Read more: The subtle sophistication of Bluey's soundtrack helped propel it to stardom

Why do we love a TV wedding?

Scott and Charlene walking down the aisle in Neighbours marked a generation of weddings for some of us. Kath Day and Cal Knight’s Pumpkin-style coach in Kath and Kim was the pinnacle for others. Both were huge ratings winners locally and internationally.

Audiences love TV weddings because they are spectacular. Amid the “ flow ” of broadcasting, wedding episodes draw us in by design. In the age of streaming, wedding episodes still have the potential to be appointment television.

From Joanie and Chachi in Happy Days to The Doctor and River Song in Doctor Who to David and Patrick in Schitt’s Creek, the appeal is the coming together of the couple – but also an excuse to draw together different groups around them.

Weddings can create big “television moments”, sometimes even overshadowing the couple at the centre. The multi-award winning second series of Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag built its entire storyline (and excuse for new character of Andrew Scott’s “hot priest”) on the upcoming wedding of her father and godmother. Building to a “love is awful” speech by the priest, it was a plot device to underpin an ultimately doomed relationship.

Even when the characters aren’t entirely fictional, a “wedding episode” is almost always successful.

Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer broke broadcast records with their 1981 wedding. Even though the wedding itself only lasted 15 years, the 40th anniversary of the broadcast was marked with a “wedding of the century” documentary.

Reality, documentary and other forms of semi- or non-scripted television also use weddings to gain audiences: Married at First Sight is now in its 11th season in Australia.

Bluey’s wedding episode drew on events that many screen weddings deal with: a dramatic fight between the bride and groom; a sweet reunion; charming if not slightly sozzled family members and kids stealing the show with impossible cuteness. The supersized episode also provided some other big plot twists (was it a “sign” that the show might end for a while?), and promises of new beginnings.

An archive of weddings

The National Film and Sound Archive’s Australian Screen collection includes a huge range of wedding related pieces – both real and fictional.

Real weddings are captured in the 1914 silent clip “ society wedding ” of an unknown but clearly very upper-class couple and their family, clips from a 1950s Greek wedding reception in Canberra, and the 1973 ABC documentary series Chequerboard episode called It’s A Big Day In Any Girl’s Life .

The archive includes clips of beloved fictional weddings such as Muriel’s Wedding , and explorations of the value of marriage like in Brides of Christ .

Other worthy examples not yet in the archive are 2019’s Top End Wedding and Neighbours’ first same sex wedding for David and Aaron in 2018, officiated by Jemima Davies-Smythe (played by Magda Szubanski).

Surely The Sign is destined to join these forebears as part of the history of Australian screen weddings. As my children and I watched Bluey, we talked about my wedding to their dad and the weddings of family and friends. We talked about what makes a great story and having to wait to see an episode of television – something they are really not used to anymore.

During the episode we had a good laugh, we had a little cry, and a big dance – just like weddings “for real life”, as Bluey would say.

Read more: A bumper Bluey episode is about to hit screens. 5 ways to get the most out of watching the show with your kids

• Australian television

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6 tornadoes hit St. Louis area Thursday during a 'busier than usual' spring storm season

Nassim benchaabane.

• Apr 19, 2024

Workers with Wright Building Systems replace a roof Friday, April 19, 2024, after it was ripped off of a wedding events venue by a tornado that hit Brookdale Farms, near Eureka, on Thursday evening as strong storms ripped through the area. The bride, groom, and guests were holding a rehearsal dinner inside when the storm hit, and no one was hurt in the incident.

• Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch

Joe Lipsmire, who works at Brookdale Farms, cleans up debris on Friday, April 19, 2024, after a tornado damaged a storage building, left, and other buildings at the farm and events center near Eureka, when strong storms ripped through the area Thursday evening.

A truck drives past a blown over tree blocking half of Buckley Road in Mehlville on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Severe storms with strong winds, hail and heavy rain and tornados rolled through the St. Louis region on Thursday afternoon. 

• David Carson, Post-Dispatch

At least six tornadoes hit the St. Louis region Thursday night, the latest weather incident in what meteorologists say has been a stormier season than average.

“It’s been busier than usual,” said Jayson Gosselin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis.

The tornadoes that struck Thursday started and ended within a period of about three lightening-filled hours of rain.

The strongest of the tornadoes, with wind gusts up to 110 miles per hour, took the roof off a wedding venue in Eureka and sent a rehearsal party running for cover.

Weaker tornadoes cut across a wide swath of the Metro East. The winds downed powerlines and trees and took shingles off roofs. The World Wide Technology Raceway had to cancel this weekend’s drag races after winds flipped bleachers onto the strip.

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No injuries were reported.

While exact numbers comparing this year’s storms to past years were unavailable, 2024 has brought a stormier season than recent years, Gosselin said. The local office of the Weather Service had issued 132 thunderstorm warnings and 43 tornado warnings, mostly since March, across several storms in a wide area that includes mid-Missouri and southern Illinois.

“We haven’t had back-to-back-to-back days of events,” Gosselin said. “But we’ve had some especially busy days with more hail reports, wind reports and tornado reports than usual.”

That includes severe weather earlier this month, on April 1, that brought brought 2 to 4 inches of rain across parts of the metro area, causing water levels to spike in local streams and waterways. A tornado with peak winds of 85 mph struck Chesterfield.

Storms on March 14 spawned multiple tornados and hail the size of golf balls, if not bigger, damaging cars and buildings from St. Charles to Edwardsville. The night before, the St. Louis area saw heavy rain and lightening.

The storms in recent weeks have been part of an “active storm track” in the Midwest, bringing moisture up from the Gulf of Mexico to the northwest U.S., Gosselin said.

The strongest tornado Thursday started near Eureka and cut an eight-mile path to High Ridge, downing power lines and causing damage to buildings near Twin River Road. At peak winds of 110 mph, the tornado registered in the second weakest class of tornadoes, as an “EF-1.”

But it took the roof off a wedding venue in Eureka while the bride and groom and about 20 others were rehearsing.

No one was hurt in the incident about 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Brookdale Farms. The venue was repairing the roof Friday morning hoping to have it in place in time to keep the wedding date on Saturday.

“We’re just feeling very very blessed that no one was hurt,” said Marnie Schneider, office manager. “Everything else can be replaced.”

About 25 people had gathered Thursday night in Brookdale’s main wedding venue, Silo Point, when storms blew off about one-fifth of the roof, Schneider said. Two Brookdale wedding coordinators helped usher everyone into safer areas in bathrooms and back rooms in the venue.

“Everyone walked way without a scratch,” Schneider.

The venue immediately called contractors and Eureka city inspectors that night, so that by Friday morning they could repair the roof and get it reapproved for occupancy, Schneider said.

“Our goal is to be able to give the bride her wedding,” she said.

One of Brookdale’s other buildings, a storage facility, was seriously damaged in the storms, which took off the roof there and caused the building to partially collapse.

Five weak tornadoes also touched down in the Metro East on Thursday, downing power lines and damaging roofs and trees, the National Weather Service said. A tornado with up to 95-mile-per-hour winds in Dorsey caused damage there along a three-mile path. Four weaker tornadoes touched down in Marine, Pontoon Beach and Cahokia.

A set of bleachers lays on the drag race track at the World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison on Friday, April 19, 2024 after storms with strong winds came through the area on April 18. Photo by Allie Schallert, [email protected]

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Investigators found that Amazon met minimum safety requirements when an EF3 tornado destroyed part of an Illinois warehouse in December, but said they need to make improvements to protect workers.

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In This Article

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• Toast Ideas
• Wedding Party & Reception

Groom at Wedding Speech Templates And Ideas

phuket_wedding_planner via Instagram

Everyone wants to hear the groom say something at the wedding because he’s the man of the hour. For this reason, you must make the opportunity count. While it’s easy to celebrate the good fortune of finding your beloved, giving a speech is a different matter.

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Ironically, brides are always prepared, but grooms often leave the speech at the last minute, probably from panic. So whether you’re shy, confused about what to do, or don’t have the time to whip up something, we’ve got you covered. See our Post for the best groom wedding speeches tips and ideas ever.

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Groom Speech Examples

As against the best man speech which focuses more on the groom, the speech of the groom is for everyone, his bride inclusive. As a result, a groom’s speech is either light-hearted, funny, or witty. It has no blueprint or strict rules but two elements are ever-present regardless of what kind of speech it is – emotion and sincerity!

It is a special day and a lot of people made the day possible. In his speech, he will thank everyone and even those absent. He will salute his new father-in-law, the bridesmaids, the maid of honor, and even the bride’s mother.

He will thank his groomsmen and especially his best man for holding him up all the way. The highlight of this speech is when he would make a wedding toast to his beloved, with so much love in his eyes thanking her for coming into his life. He’d tell his love story and show his optimism and willingness to be her husband.

My speech today will be like a mini-skirt. Long enough to cover the essentials and short enough to hold your attention. Apparently, it’s my job to do all the thank you’s, so on behalf of my lovely new wife and I, the biggest thank-you goes to all of you for coming. The day would not have been the same without you and neither would my bank balance! But on a serious note, it is lovely to see so many of you here. Particularly those of you who have had to travel many miles. Amy and I would like to thank our parents for all the love and support both emotional and financial they have given us. And a special thank-you to Vanessa who is responsible for making our fantastic wedding cake. Sharon, Sue, Vanessa, Ray, Steve We’d also like to thank Darren for his services as the best man today and of course our ushers. You’ve all done a grand job. Darren, Mark, Jon, Jim, Adam That brings me onto our bridesmaids. Thank you all for your help and for being there for Amy through the ups and downs of wedding planning! I’m sure everyone will agree that you all look stunning today. Nina, Laura, Charlotte, Kirsty, Fiona, Lillie, Jordan, and Emily. Finally, I would personally like to thank my lovely wife, Amy, for having me as her husband! I read somewhere that “You don’t marry the person you can live with, you marry the person you cannot live without”. Well, we’ve lived together for five years and I know I’ve married the right person. I’m so glad I can at last call you my wife. Now all that remains is for me to say please enjoy the rest of the day…… and mine’s a foster!

………..Good evening ladies, gentlemen, family, and friends. First of all, I must say a big “thank you” to Colin for his kind words. His speech was so good, he’s going to do mine for me too. As many of you will know, I am of the shy retiring type that likes to keep quiet and keep my opinions to myself, therefore you can understand my nervousness at standing up here in front of all of you making a speech. And as many of you will also know, I’m also a compulsive liar, but I am still nervous, that bit is true. I have been fearful of this bit for weeks, and as you can imagine, this isn’t the first time today I have arisen from a warm seat with a piece of paper in my hand. I read while researching wedding speeches that a good speech has a good beginning and a good ending. But the best speech of all is one that keeps these close together. So I will try and keep this as short as possible and will try my best not to do a “Gwinny” with my list of thanks. Firstly I would like to thank any Rangers fans for still being here and not walking out at 4.30 as usual. Pause for cheers But then again, I don’t think we’re friends with any of them anyway. I would like to thank my parents, Ian and Margaret for all the help they have given me over the years, if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be here now. So, Helen, if it doesn’t work out you know who to blame. I would also like to thank Helen’s parents, Colin and Sandra, for making me feel like the son they never wanted, sorry the son they never had, right from day 2. Day 1 was a bit rough, but hey, they’re over it now……….

……….You are all aware of our problems over the last few years and one of my biggest worries, especially when I was “down South”, so to speak, was that my two children, Michelle and Nick would go off the rails. I’m pleased to say that they didn’t and they’ve both made us so proud of their achievements so I’d like to propose my toast to them….Michelle and Nick. Very few of you will know, but I am an erstwhile poet when the mood takes me. Anita has always complained that I have never written a poem for her, so I will today amend that omission. It’s called Wedding Day…………

………..On behalf of Julia and myself, or should I say on behalf of my wife and me, we would like to thank everyone for coming today. Everyone has traveled in some way to be here and share this special day with us and we’re delighted to see you all. A special thank-you goes out to those of you who have traveled a greater number of miles to be here today. It’s quite humbling to realize that you’re friends and family that care so much and are willing to travel all that way to share in your special day. Thank you for your cards, kind thoughts and of course all your wedding gifts. They’re all greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, there are two people who can’t be here today, my Dad and my granddad so, it would mean a lot to me if you would all stand for a toast in their memory – To Billy McCleery and James Harrison Snr…………

………….On a serious note, I’d firstly like to say a big thank you to my new Dad Dave. I’m proud to be his son-in-law and hope I can live up to his expectations, which should be easy, compared to his other son Mick! But let us not take this Father, Son thing too seriously, as I’m not into 10-mile runs before breakfast like you were in the Paras. Both Sharon and I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone for coming here today and sharing this special occasion with us. Especially those who brought expensive presents. Its much appreciated! Thank you to Edwin and Elsa, Margaret and Linda and many others who have traveled a long way to be here. It’s certainly a long way from Brighouse! We hope you all enjoy the day, have fun, relax and be merry…………….

Groom Rehearsal Dinner Speech

Congratulations on your upcoming rehearsal dinner speech! Here are three tips to help you write a memorable and meaningful speech:

• Keep it concise: Your speech should be short and sweet. Aim for no more than five minutes. Remember, this is just a rehearsal dinner, not the main event. You want to keep your guests engaged and entertained, but you don’t want to bore them with a long-winded speech.
• Personalize it: Share stories and anecdotes that are personal to you and your fiance. Talk about how you met, what you love about your fiancé, and what makes your relationship special. Don’t be afraid to show your emotions – this is a special occasion, after all.
• Thank your guests: Your rehearsal dinner is a time to thank the people who have supported you throughout your wedding planning process. Take a moment to express your gratitude and thank your guests for being a part of your special day.

Here’s an example of a groom rehearsal dinner speech that incorporates these three tips:

Good evening everyone, and thank you for joining us on this special night. I want to start by thanking our parents, who have been there for us every step of the way. Your love and support mean the world to us. I also want to thank our friends and family who have traveled from near and far to be here with us. We feel incredibly blessed to have you in our lives. As we sit here tonight, I can’t help but reflect on how lucky I am to have found my soulmate in [bride’s name]. I knew from the moment I met her that she was the one for me. Her kindness, intelligence, and beauty continue to amaze me every day. [Optional: insert a personal anecdote here] [Optional: insert a joke or humorous story here] As we prepare to start this new chapter of our lives together, I am filled with gratitude and joy. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us.

The Great Groom Speech Template

Here’s a groom speech at wedding template that will help you create a winning speech with ease.

• Thank the guests Say a heartfelt thanks to the guests for leaving their busy schedules to honor you on your big day. Many of them sacrificed time, money, work, and even their safety to come all the way because they love you. Say thank you, mean it, and crack a joke. This is also the time to distribute little gifts or wedding favors to the guests.
• Say some words about the bride Gush about the woman of the moment. Let the guests feel your joy at getting married to the love of your life. Talk about what attracted you to her, what she means to you, and reiterate your vows. You may also seal this part of your speech with a kiss and watch her blush.
• Share a memorable story Getting to your wedding day was a long journey and there are stories that bind you. Let the guests know the beautiful way you met, and share sweet memories, funny ones, and romantic events. If both of you have a favorite song, pick a line from it and incorporate it into your speech. Avoid near break-up situations, forgiveness for some errors, or unpleasant situations that happened in your relationship.
• Share your impressions about the day Recount something beautiful about your wedding day. Maybe talk about how the sun shined bright because it knows an angel got married today. Talk about the beautiful reception, cake, or decor. Just incorporate something from the present.
• Say some words about the best man Your best man is arguably one of your strongest support systems throughout wedding planning. Give him some accolades in your speech. Talk about how you met and him being your main man through life. Appreciate him sincerely and even take a friendly jab at him.
• Thank your parents There is no better time to tell everyone how awesome your parents are. Talk about the bride’s parents too because you’re family now. Thank both families for being in your corner and promise to always behave. That will get in a few laughs.
• Close with a toast Finish your speech with a toast to your wife, parents, guests, love, and happiness.

Groom Speech Tips

A lot of grooms always get confused when trying to write a speech for their wedding. Days before the wedding, they go into a fit of panic because they know absolutely nothing to write. While writing such speech, you are conscious about the introduction, body, and conclusion. You want to catch the guests at the beginning of your speech, keep them interested and close off to a magnetic finishing.

The speech tips below are simple, concise and will give answers to all your questions.

• Prepare your mind and calm your nerves for the speech.
• Run speech by your best man to sieve out off liners.
• Make eye contact with everyone.
• Address the audience as a couple. Include your wife.
• Do away with vulgar words or jokes.
• Include the decent but minimal amount of humor.
• Don’t forget to thank your parents and in-laws
• Always throw some compliments the way of your wife and make the core of your speech.
• Dedicate some part of your speech to your wife. She is the main focus.
• Make the last toast go to your wife.
• Make your speech heartfelt and let your personality shine through.

What Not to Say in the Groom Speech

kreativwedding via Instagram

A perfect speech will give you unending applause from everyone. But a bad speech? The disasters are too much to mention. You will have in-laws getting pissed at you, the bridesmaids coming for your head. Your best man gunning to have you quartered and your wife preparing to give you hell.

To avoid the later and all other unforeseen ills that could happen with a badly given speech, here are some don’ts to the rescue.

Don’ts

• Don’t build your speech around anyone else but your wife.
• Don’t include vulgar words or insensitive jokes.
• Don’t take too much time making your speech. 5-10 minutes is enough.
• Don’t forget to introduce your best man and compliments the bridesmaids.
• Don’t forget to make your last toast to the bride.

Groom Wedding Toast Ideas

The groom’s wedding toast is quite numerous, most of which he will give as he makes his speech. For every stage he concludes in his speech, there is a toast. A toast to the father-in-law, to his best man, to the bridesmaids, to the guests present, and many more. The most important toast is to his wife and both of them as a couple.

To the father of the bride

“Let us toast to my father in law for raising and giving me this beautiful woman. For being a wonderful father to her, although I’m taking over. For accepting me as a son……. “

To the best man

“To my right-hand man for being there all the way. For taking time off work to make all things ready for my big day. For all the sacrifices you made from way back until now. For being my best friend in the real sense and too many more years as friends…..a toast to my best man (insert name)”

Toast To the guests

“A toast to you wonderful people. You are all amazing. Thanks for being here today and sharing in our joy. To many more years of celebration and happiness………. “

To the bride

“Whoever thought this angelic beauty seated here will be mine? Let’s all make a toast to my heartthrob, whose smile lightens my world. A toast to you baby, for all you are, for all you’ll be. To us, to life, to our love, to your happiness, too many blissful years with me, to our future, to forever…………”

Frequently Asked Questions

What should the groom say in his speech.

The groom’s speech typically includes gratitude, compliments to the bride, thanks to guests, and a toast.

What should the groom say at the rehearsal dinner?

The groom at the rehearsal dinner can express appreciation to those involved, share anecdotes, and convey excitement for the upcoming wedding.

How Long Should A Groom’s Speech Be?

A groom’s speech typically lasts around 5 to 10 minutes. It should be long enough to express gratitude, share anecdotes, and convey heartfelt sentiments, but short enough to maintain guests’ interest and keep the overall flow of the wedding reception.

Thank you all again for being here tonight. Let’s raise a glass to love, laughter, and happily ever after! The groom’s speech is one of the most anticipated speeches at a wedding. It doesn’t need such long preparation but could flop if you don’t get the hang of it. Give the best groom speech at wedding ever with the tips, ideas, and templates we’ve curated in this post. Speak from the heart, let your love shine, add some humor and you’re home free.

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