What do you say in a wedding ceremony speech?

A wedding ceremony speech is your chance to honour love, celebrate connection, and mark the start of a new chapter. Whether you're giving a toast as the best man, maid of honour, a proud parent or even one of the newlyweds, knowing what to say can feel like a lot of pressure. A great wedding speech is warm, personal, and sincere. It can make people laugh, cry, and feel something real. So how do you strike the perfect balance?

This guide will walk you through what to say in a wedding ceremony speech, how to structure it, and offer expert-backed advice to help your words leave a lasting impression.

Start with a meaningful introduction

Begin by introducing yourself and explaining your relationship to the couple. This immediately gives your words context and helps guests who may not know you feel connected to your story.

Example: “Good afternoon everyone. For those of you I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting, I’m [Your Name], and I’ve known [Partner 1] since we were awkward teenagers navigating sixth form together.”

This sets the tone in a friendly, conversational way and signals the speech will be both personal and relevant.

Tell a story that brings them to life

Weddings are about people, not performances. Focus on telling one or two short stories that show the couple’s character, values, and love for one another. Don’t just list achievements, show them in action.

According to The Knot, a compelling anecdote can carry more emotional weight than grand declarations. Choose a story that feels true and heartfelt. It could be how they met, a funny travel disaster, or a moment you realised they were truly in love.

Celebrate their connection

This is your opportunity to recognise the bond the couple shares. Whether through humour or sentiment, acknowledge what makes their relationship special.

A phrase like: “They balance each other in the best ways, [Partner 1] brings the lists, and [Partner 2] brings the laughter. Together, they bring out the best in each other.”

Use natural language and avoid clichés. Speak from a place of sincerity, and it will resonate.

Keep it warm, not embarrassing

Resist the urge to roast. While humour has a place, the wedding ceremony is not the setting for crude jokes, exes, or inside banter that alienates the audience. Instead, go for light-hearted, inclusive humour that reflects your connection.

As etiquette expert Debrett’s advises, a speech should never make anyone feel uncomfortable or be too self-indulgent. Keep the focus on the couple, not yourself.

Include a heartfelt message

Toward the end of your speech, share a wish or piece of wisdom for the couple’s journey ahead. This is where the emotional impact often lands strongest.

Example: “My hope for you both is that your home always feels like a haven, your laughter never fades, and your love only deepens with time.”

Don’t be afraid to pause here. Let your words land.

Raise a toast with purpose

The final note of your speech should be a simple, confident toast. No need to overcomplicate it.

“Here’s to a lifetime of shared dreams, late-night takeaways, and endless love. To [Partner 1] and [Partner 2]!”

Lift your glass, and encourage everyone to do the same.

Step-by-step structure for your wedding ceremony speech

1. Introduce yourself and your connection to the couple

2. Share a short, meaningful story

3. Reflect on the couple’s relationship

4. Add humour, but keep it tasteful

5. Share a heartfelt wish or piece of advice

6. Raise a clear, simple toast

   
   

Expert tip: Practice your speech aloud. This will help you spot any awkward phrasing, control your pace and ensure you sound natural. Brides.com recommends timing your speech to be between three and five minutes, short enough to keep attention, long enough to say something meaningful.

Real-world example

We recently worked with a client who felt completely stuck writing a speech for his daughter’s wedding. He had wonderful stories but struggled to put them into words.

After a consultation and a few drafts, he delivered a speech that made the room erupt with laughter and end in tears, for all the right reasons. The bride told us afterwards it was one of her favourite moments of the day.

Final thoughts

A wedding ceremony speech doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be you. Speak from the heart, keep it simple, and focus on celebrating love. Whether you’re telling a story, sharing advice or making a toast, let authenticity lead the way.

If you’d like help writing a wedding speech that’s memorable for all the right reasons, our letter writing service specialises in transforming ideas into powerful, polished words. You can also browse our example letter collection for inspiration.