Since the wedding speech order is considered a historic tradition then it is important to understand the customary order of the wedding speeches and know the modern changes made to the same.
The most common and formal wedding speech order is as follows:
• father of the bride
• father of the groom
• the groom
• the best man
The father of the bride will use his speech to acknowledge and appreciate the presence of guests. He should appreciate the support offered and finally pay a touching tribute to the bride. This speech should end with a toast to the couple.
The father of the groom will thank guests and acknowledge any financial support given. The groom’s speech usually compliments the father of the bride; appreciates the support given by family members especially parents through the years and later thank the guests. The groom should thank his best man and finally deliver a toast to the bridesmaids.
The last speech is for the best man who will thank the groom and toast the maids. This speech should be humorous and interesting. The best man also reads cards from invited guests that are absent. He should also take the opportunity to compliment and give toast to the couple. A toast to the parents is usually given by the groomsmen or the master of ceremony.
There have been changes to the wedding speech order and this is referred to as the modern order of the wedding speech. This features the bride and her maid of honor giving speeches. The bride will thank her guests for their presence and appreciate her family and maids for their support. The maid of honor will thank the bride for the opportunity of being a chief bridesmaid and would also compliment the groom and toast the couple.
The timing of wedding speeches varies depending on the religion and custom. Normally, the speeches are made before having dessert or just after the main meal are served. For a smooth flowing ceremony, it is wise to limit all speeches to three to five minutes.
When creating a wedding speech, it is wise to follow the following guidelines.
• One should always express their gratitude in their speech.
• The speech should focus on the couple and should not divert to other topics non-related to them or the wedding.
• Never include anything that is offensive in the speech as this could be very embarrassing. The humor should be decent and appropriate.
• A wedding speech should dish out compliments to the couple and other participants of the wedding.
• The most important aspect of a wedding speech is that of being relevant. The speech should be enjoyed by all.
• Include some words of wisdom or advice about marriage in the speech.
• Last but not the least, when concluding your speech; give a wedding toast to the newly married couple.
For a successful ceremony, plan in advance on who is going to speak, the wedding speech order and allot the time necessary for speeches.
