What's the Correct Order of Speeches at a Wedding?

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When we're asked about the correct order of speeches at a wedding, the couple is usually looking for the traditional, typical or formal order of speeches at a wedding, which we've provided below. However, it's important to note that this order is pretty outdated, and doesn't accommodate same-sex couples or parents, mixed-gender bridal parties, or brides or other female wedding party members who would like to speak. 

The Traditional or Formal Order of Speeches at a Wedding:

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So, while we've provided it here for any traditional couples out there, we highly recommend you check out our modernised version below! The Traditional or Formal Order of Speeches at a Wedding: 1. The Father of the Bride 2. The Father of the Groom 3. The Groom 4. The Best Man

The Traditional or Formal Order of Speeches at a Wedding:

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For our updated version of the traditional order of speeches at a wedding, we've gone for a semi-chronological line-up. We placed parents first, as they tend to talk more about the couple's early lives, followed by friends and siblings, who often talk about school and early adulthood, and how the couple met. It can be useful for the couple to go last, as this gives you an opportunity to thank everyone who played a role in the day, including the speechgivers. 

The Order of Speeches at a Wedding for Modern Couples:

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That said, there are many more factors to consider when planning the order of speeches at a wedding - keep reading to find out what they are! The Order of Speeches at a Wedding for Modern Couples: 1. The Couple's Parents - could be anything from one to four speeches 2. The Couple's Closest Friends and/or Siblings - these might include Best Man, Maid of Honour, Groomsmen, 

The Order of Speeches at a Wedding for Modern Couples:

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Bridesmaids, Groomsmaids, Bridesmen, members of the wedding party or non-members 3. The Couple - speaking either together or separately

The Order of Speeches at a Wedding for Modern Couples:

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– Remember, there's no rule to say that the father-of-the-bride or best man has to give a speech. Equally, we've witnessed amazing speeches given by friends, grandparents and flower girls! Keep an open mind when deciding who will speak at your wedding, and consider who you'd like to hear from, and who would like to speak, rather than blindly following a traditional order. – It's not mandatory, but we recommend that you at least consider speaking at your own wedding

Planning the Order of Speeches at a Wedding: Our Top Tips

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Guests love to hear from couples, and most couples report that they're glad they made the effort to speak on their own big day. – When planning the order of speeches, consider whether the speeches will take place all at once, or whether you will stagger them throughout the day. As we discussed here, having some speeches before or after the ceremony, or during the drinks reception, can help combat speech fatigue at the reception, and give nervous speakers the opportunity to get their speech done early on in the day.

Planning the Order of Speeches at a Wedding: Our Top Tips

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– Think about who's going to be giving the speeches, and whether they're confident or nervous about it. It's worth asking them about this directly, as the answer might surprise you! – It's a good idea to ask one of your more confident speakers to MC the speeches. This really just means that they'll introduce each of the speakers in the line-up to give the speeches a more polished feel, and give speakers a boost by encouraging the audience to give them a round of applause when they first pick up the microphone.

Planning the Order of Speeches at a Wedding: Our Top Tips

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– You can also ask your MC to watch out for any potential technical difficulties, make sure all the other speakers are ready to go, keep an eye on the time, arrange glasses of water for each speaker, etc. You can also give them a list of people to thank on your behalf. – Place nervous speakers early on the line-up, but have your MC introduce them, preferably with a (tasteful!) joke or some words of encouragement. 

Planning the Order of Speeches at a Wedding: Our Top Tips

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Let your MC know that they're feeling a little apprehensive about their speech, so they can encourage the crowd to welcome them warmly. – Confident speakers can go anywhere on the line-up, but having a particularly confident or funny speechgiver go last will end the speeches on a high note!

Planning the Order of Speeches at a Wedding: Our Top Tips

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