Quick Answer
What are best man and maid of honor speeches?
Wedding toasts are speeches given during the reception, most commonly by the best man and maid of honor, though parents and other close family members often speak too. They typically combine humor, personal stories about the couple, and well wishes, and end with guests raising a glass.
Last updated:
Last updated:
What are best man and maid of honor speeches?
Also called: best man speech, maid of honor speech.
The best man and maid of honor toast is one of the reception's few unscripted moments — everything else on the run-of-show is choreographed, but the toast is where a friend gets the floor and says something genuinely personal. It's also the moment most likely to go sideways: too long, too inside-joke-heavy, or an accidental overshare about the couple's dating history are the most common complaints from reception guests.
How wedding toasts typically run
- •Usually happen during or right after dinner, introduced by the MC/DJ.
- •The best man speaks first, followed by the maid of honor — though order varies by reception.
- •Parents (often the father of the bride) frequently give a toast as well, sometimes before the wedding party speeches.
- •Standard structure: an anecdote about meeting or knowing the couple, a note on their relationship, and a closing well-wish followed by "raise your glasses."
Planning notes
- •Set a time limit with speakers ahead of time — 3–5 minutes each is a common guideline; unbounded toasts are the most common reception timeline overrun.
- •Ask speakers to run stories by the couple beforehand if there's any risk of an embarrassing overshare — better caught before the mic than during it.
- •Confirm mic/AV setup with the venue or DJ in advance; a toast without working sound loses the room fast.
- •Decide toast order (best man, maid of honor, parents) and give it to the MC in writing so introductions go smoothly.
Give your MC a clean, shareable reception schedule
Weddingkart's checklist tool helps you sequence toasts and speeches alongside dances and cake cutting so the reception timeline stays on track.
Try the wedding checklist →Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a best man or maid of honor speech be?
A common guideline is 3 to 5 minutes each — long enough for a real story and a toast, short enough to keep the reception moving.
Do parents give toasts too?
Frequently yes — the father of the bride is a common speaker, and both sets of parents often say a few words, either alongside or instead of the wedding party toasts.
When during the reception do toasts happen?
Most commonly during or immediately after the meal, before dancing begins — the MC or DJ typically cues each speaker.
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By Mayank JaiswalLast updated