How Long Should a Wedding Speech Be?
Wedding speeches are a traditional and much-anticipated part of any wedding reception. First comes the father of the bride, then the groom, then the best man, then… it all starts to get a little hazy.
The thing is, there are a number of wedding speeches that need to be made on the big day. Guests can quickly become bored if speeches drag on too long, while short speeches might leave the speakers feeling they haven’t properly honoured the bride or groom. So, how do you find the perfect balance while keeping everyone engaged?
No need to stress! We’ve put together a detailed guide on how long each wedding speech should be, along with tips on what to include to ensure both heartfelt moments and a captivated audience.
What is a wedding speech?
A wedding speech is a heartfelt (or hilarious) message delivered by key members of the wedding party during the reception. There’s a traditional order that many couples follow — but it’s your big day, and you can absolutely make your own rules.
Traditionally, wedding speeches are given after the main course and before dessert. It’s a great moment: guests are fed, relaxed, and ready to settle in for some laughs and tears. That said, you’re free to shake things up. You might prefer to have speeches after dessert, spread them out across the evening, or even include a short one during the ceremony itself.
One word of advice? Try to avoid doing speeches before the meal. Your guests will likely be hungry after the ceremony, and it’s hard to pay attention to sweet words when all you can think about is the smell of roast chicken.
How long should a general wedding speech be?
Generally, wedding speeches should last between 5 and 7 minutes to ensure there’s enough time for everyone who wants to speak. The entire “wedding speech” segment of the reception should last no more than 40 minutes to keep your guests engaged, but it usually wraps up within 20 to 30 minutes.
You can adjust the length of each speech to ensure everyone has a fair chance to speak. For instance, if you only have two or three speakers, you can allow for longer speeches. However, if several members of the wedding party wish to say a few words, it’s a good idea to shorten each speech to maintain the flow of the event and stick to the schedule. This way, every speaker gets their moment without overwhelming the guests or dragging out the timeline.
Pro tip: To keep things balanced, divide the total time allotted for speeches by the number of speakers. For instance, if you plan to spend 30 minutes on speeches and have five people speaking, each speech would last around 5.5 minutes, with a 30-second pause in between.
Wedding Speech Lengths: Quick Reference Guide
If you’re in a rush, check out the below quick reference guide to see how long your wedding speech should ideally be. Otherwise, read on for the full breakdown, and be sure to save this infographic for future use.
How long should a father of the bride speech be?
The father of the bride’s speech is traditionally the longest speech in the order of speeches. It’s usually the first speech made during the wedding reception and is a beloved and much-anticipated part of the bride’s big day.
The father of the bride’s speech should typically last between 7 to 9 minutes, and ideally no longer than 12 minutes, to keep the overall flow of speeches smooth and engaging. These speeches generally include heartfelt sentiments, advice, and sometimes a touch of humour, ensuring they honour the bride without taking too long.
- A thank you to everyone involved in putting together the big day (don’t forget the staff working at the reception)
- An ode to your little girl and what makes her so special
- Your words of wisdom on love and marriage
- You could round off with some quotes about love or a beautiful wedding reading
How long should a groom’s speech be?
The groom’s speech can be a little longer than the best man’s speech. It should last between 6 and 8 minutes, but no longer than 10 for the guests’ sake.
It’s usually second in the order of speeches and should be positioned as a thank-you note to all the people who have supported your relationship and wedding planning. As a basic structure, we recommend the following general structure:
- Introduce yourself and your new bride (a guaranteed cheer!)
- Thank the groomsmen, best man, bridesmaids, and maid of honour for their continued love and support throughout your wedding planning
- Thank your parents and new parents-in-law
- A recap of your wedding vows
- Toast to your new spouse and your future together
How long should a best man speech be?
The ideal length for a best man speech is about 5 minutes — just long enough to entertain, touch hearts, and raise a glass without losing the room. That said, if you’re a natural storyteller (or feeling a bit nervous), a slightly shorter or longer speech is perfectly fine. Just keep the flow of the evening in mind.
Traditionally, the best man’s speech comes third in the speech lineup. It’s your chance to bring a mix of humour, heart, and a little mischief to the mic. A well-balanced best man speech might include:
- A warm welcome and thank you to the guests
- Genuine compliments about the bride
- A playful (but respectful) roast of the groom
- A few words on the couple’s love story
- Kind wishes from you and the groomsmen
- A heartfelt toast to their future together
Think of it as part tribute, part stand-up, and all about celebrating the couple in your own voice.
How long should a maid of honour speech be?
While not a traditional element, the maid of honour’s speech can be a touching and memorable part of the wedding reception. Like the best man’s speech, it’s best to keep it brief, ideally between 4 and 6 minutes.
The beauty of the maid of honour speech lies in its flexibility — there are no strict expectations, so you can structure it however you’d like. That said, it’s a good idea to include personal anecdotes, well wishes for the couple, and a heartfelt message for the bride.
- The adventures you’ve shared with the bride
- Anecdotes about wedding planning
- How the couple’s love story unfolded
- Heartfelt advice on relationships
- A toast to the happy couple
How long should a bridesmaid’s speech be?
As with the maid of honour speech, a bridesmaid’s speech is untraditional, so there are no expectations on how long the speech should be or what it should include. We recommend keeping the speech to around 5 minutes long (less if you’d like multiple bridesmaids to make a speech).
Having a bridesmaid’s speech after the maid of honour speech may be nice way to keep things flowing. We suggest that you consider the following structure:
- Happy memories you share with the bride
- Your thoughts on love and marriage
- How beautiful the other bridesmaids look
- Your well-wishes for the happy couple
How long should a mother of the groom speech be?
The mother of the groom speech isn’t always part of the traditional wedding lineup, but it’s a heartfelt addition that many modern weddings now embrace. It’s a wonderful moment for a mother to express her love, pride, and support for her son and his new partner as they start their life together.
Typically lasting between 3 to 5 minutes, this speech often comes toward the end of the reception speeches — though you can place it wherever it feels most meaningful in your celebration.
There’s no fixed formula, but here are some lovely elements to consider including:
- A welcome to the family for the new bride
- Your happiness that the groom has found someone so special
- Fond memories of the groom’s childhood
- Heartfelt advice
- A final, celebratory toast
The bottom line on speech length
Wedding speeches are a treasured part of the reception — a chance for the wedding party and loved ones to share heartfelt words, tell a few stories, and celebrate the newlyweds in a truly personal way.
As we mentioned earlier, the sweet spot for a wedding speech is around 5 to 7 minutes. That’s just enough time to say something meaningful, entertaining, and sincere without losing the crowd’s attention.
Not sure where to begin? We’ve got loads of helpful tips, structures, and ideas to guide you on Bridebook — whether you’re giving a toast as a best friend, a proud parent, or someone who’s never touched a mic before. And, to see how long your wedding speech should be in practice, check out our wedding speech examples.
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