How to Start and End a Wedding Speech

Wedding speeches are surely the highlight of the wedding reception. They have the power to make a room roar with laughter or bring a tear to every eye.

Crafting the perfect beginning and ending for your wedding speech can feel daunting. The opening sets the tone and gives that all-important first impression, while the conclusion leaves a lasting memory for the couple and guests. But don’t worry! With the right approach, you can deliver a speech that’s memorable for all the right reasons. Feeling nervous? Relax — we’re here to guide you through it step by step.

In this post, we discuss the ins and outs of how to start and end a wedding speech. We talk about what you could use to kick off your wedding day toasts and how to end a wedding speech in a genuine and memorable way. Ready to start? Let’s dive in.

What is a wedding speech?

A wedding speech, also known as a wedding toast, is a heartfelt dedication to the newlyweds on their big day. Wedding speeches usually follow a specific speech order, and are traditionally made by the father of the bride, the groom, and the best man. However, as it’s your big day, you can ask anyone you’d like to make a speech and have them in any order you prefer!

Wedding speeches typically last about 30 minutes during the reception, usually following the main course but before dessert is served. Guests are often provided with a glass of prosecco, champagne, or a non-alcoholic sparkling drink to raise a toast to the newlyweds, creating a celebratory atmosphere as they listen to heartfelt speeches from family and friends.

How to start a wedding toast or speech?

The opening of your wedding speech or toast will engage your audience, set the tone for what’s to come, and create an emotional connection between you and the audience. But it can also be the hardest part to write, as there’s a lot of pressure to get it right.

But don’t let that overwhelm you! Remember that your opening should reflect your genuine feelings for the couple and your joy to participate in their special day. Speak from the heart, and you won’t go far wrong. If you’re still feeling unsure about how to open your wedding speech, the following guide will help you.

Introduce yourself

Starting your speech by introducing yourself is a standard and effective approach. It helps guests understand your connection to the couple and sets the tone for the rest of your speech. Even if many attendees already know you, introducing yourself creates a sense of formality and helps you feel more confident. Whether the groom is your brother or you’ve known the bride for years, taking a moment to state who you are and your role in the day’s celebration ensures everyone is on the same page and ready to listen to your heartfelt words.

Start with a quote or compliment

If you’re feeling unsure about how to continue, consider using a meaningful quote about love, a heartfelt compliment to the beautiful bride, or a comment on the stunning venue. A well-chosen quote can bring wisdom and sentiment to your speech, while a genuine compliment will light up the bride’s face and show appreciation for the effort put into the event. These elements help set a warm, positive tone, making the audience more receptive to the rest of your speech and easing you into the flow with confidence.

Use a funny story or anecdote

If you’re feeling confident, a funny story or anecdote about your relationship to the bride or groom is a great way to open your speech. It not only adds a touch of humour and light-heartedness to the atmosphere, but also instantly connects you with the audience through shared laughter.

But remember that humour can be a double-edged sword, so be sure to keep it light, respectful, and in good taste. The goal is to make the audience smile, not cringe. If your joke is a little risqué, consider running it past the bride or groom first to ensure they’re okay with it.

Say thank you to everyone present

If all else fails, say thank you to everyone present. Thank you to the couple for inviting you to their special day, thank you to the venue staff who have worked so hard to make it all possible, and thank you to everyone else for coming. Everyone likes it when their contributions and efforts are acknowledged, so thanking the wedding party and staff and guests is a fool-proof speech opener.

How to end a wedding speech or toast

Often, the parts of a speech that stick with guests are the beginning and the end. You’ve already nailed your opening, and now it’s time to close on a high note. To leave a lasting impression, use the following tips to craft a memorable conclusion to your wedding toast. A heartfelt sentiment, a funny yet sincere anecdote, or a final toast to the couple’s happiness can ensure your speech ends on a positive, impactful note.

Recap your key messages

A great way to round up your wedding speech is to recap the message from the body of your speech. This reinforces the central point you wanted to convey and leaves a lasting impression.

For example, if your speech was all about how perfect the happy couple is for each other, consider rounding off with, “We can all see how happy [couples’ names] make each other, and if I find a love that’s half as perfect as theirs, I’ll be a lucky, lucky person.”

This reiteration brings your speech full circle and highlights the love and happiness that radiates from the newlyweds. This will leave a heartfelt and enduring message to share with everyone.

Share your advice and thoughts

You could also round off your speech by giving your thoughts on love and marriage and any advice you may have for the newlyweds. If you aren’t in a position to offer any advice, a quote about love, a wedding reading, or a line from a song are also great ways to end your speech.

This approach not only imparts wisdom and reflection, but also serves as a thoughtful and fitting conclusion to your wedding speech.

End on a positive note

As with any part of a wedding speech, end on a positive note. This could be a final blessing, one last thank you, or even a warm smile. You’ve done the hard part; all that’s left is to seal the speech with a final dose of love and warmth.

Cheers to the couple

The highlight of any speech — it’s time to raise your glasses and toast to the happy couple! Invite all the guests to join in, lifting their glasses to wish the couple joy, good health, and a lifetime of happiness. With a smile, lead the room in a heartfelt cheer: “To the newlyweds, cheers!”

The bottom line on wedding toasts

Wedding speeches can be challenging, especially when it comes to starting and finishing strong. With thoughtful preparation, genuine emotions, and a celebratory toast to close, you can deliver a speech that not only captivates the audience but also leaves a memorable mark on the newlyweds’ special day.

A friendly introduction, expressing gratitude to the couple, venue staff, and guests, a heartfelt quote about love, and ending with a smile and a toast are simple yet effective elements that will ensure your speech is heartfelt and well-received. These steps provide a great structure for creating a memorable wedding speech that shines.

If you’re still sitting there wondering how to start your own wedding speech, or how to end it, we’ve got plenty of fabulous wedding speech examples right here on Bridebook. We have fantastic examples of father of the bride, groom, and mother of the bride speeches that you’ll love!