Best Wedding Speech Order in Australia: A Pro Guide

The wedding speech order can define a reception’s flow, and after filming over 750 Australian weddings, I’ve seen what works. As a videographer, I’ve captured thousands of toasts and will share the traditional lineup that shines most often.

What makes this guide unique? Video examples from my portfolio bring each speech to life. Whether you’re planning or curious, mastering the wedding speech order ensures a seamless, unforgettable night. Here’s the classic sequence and how to make it yours.

The Traditional Wedding Speech Order in Australia

The order of wedding speeches follows a thoughtful progression, moving from formal welcomes to heartfelt personal moments before closing with the groom’s final words. It starts with the parents, who offer gratitude and set the emotional tone, before transitioning into the bridal party’s more personal and often humorous speeches. The groom’s speech brings everything together, ensuring a strong and sentimental conclusion.

Based on my experience filming over 750 weddings across Australia, the typical order of wedding speeches follows this structure:

1. Father of the Bride (or Parents of the Bride)

As the traditional hosts of the wedding, the bride’s parents usually speak first, welcoming guests and setting a warm, sentimental tone for the evening. The father of the bride often shares stories from her childhood, expresses his love and pride, and officially welcomes the groom into the family. The speech typically ends with a toast to the couple.

Why this speech comes first:

• The father’s speech is a natural starting point before shifting focus to the groom’s family.
• The bride’s parents (traditionally) host the wedding, making it fitting for them to welcome guests.
• It sets an emotional and heartfelt tone for the evening.

2. Father of the Groom (or Parents of the Groom)

Next, the groom’s parents take their turn, offering gratitude to the bride’s family and acknowledging the joy of seeing their son marry his perfect match. This speech often includes reflections on the groom’s upbringing and a warm welcome to the bride. Like the first speech, it usually ends with a toast.

Why this speech follows:

• It balances the bride’s family’s welcome by introducing the groom’s side.
• Reinforces the idea of two families coming together.
• Gives the groom’s parents a chance to personally welcome the bride into their family.

3. Maid of Honor

By this point, the more formal speeches have set the tone, and the maid of honor brings a fresh, personal perspective. As one of the bride’s closest friends or siblings, she shares heartfelt (and sometimes humorous) stories that highlight the bride’s personality and the couple’s love story.

Why this speech works here:

• It transitions from family speeches to the bridal party, making the event feel more personal.
• Offers an inside look at the bride’s personality and relationship from a friend’s perspective.
• Keeps guests engaged by introducing a mix of sentiment and humor.

4. Best Man

Traditionally one of the most entertaining speeches, the best man follows the maid of honor, keeping the energy high with a mix of humor and heartfelt moments. He shares stories about the groom—often poking fun at him in good taste—before recognizing how the bride has brought out the best in him.

Why this speech follows the Maid of Honour:

• Balances sentimentality with humor, keeping the speech segment entertaining.
• Keeps the momentum going before the final speech of the night.
• Provides a great lead-in to the groom’s speech by highlighting his character.

5. Groom

As the final speech of the night, the groom has the opportunity to bring everything together. He thanks both families, the guests, and the bridal party for their support then shifts focus to his new wife with heartfelt words about their journey together. This moment provides a meaningful conclusion to the speeches before the reception festivities continue.

Why the groom speaks last:

• Allows him to acknowledge and respond to all the previous speeches.
• Ensures the night ends on a heartfelt and meaningful note.
• Leaves guests with a final moment of love and gratitude before the celebrations continue.

This order ensures a natural flow, starting with the parents’ formal and sentimental words, leading into the bridal party’s entertaining and personal speeches, and concluding with the groom’s heartfelt remarks.

Common Variations to the Wedding Speech Order

While many Australian weddings follow a traditional speech order, couples often personalize this part of the reception to better reflect their relationships and family dynamics. Some variations adjust the flow for emotional balance, while others add new voices to make the evening even more special. Here are some common changes to the usual order:

Bride Speaking (Solo or with the Groom)

Traditionally, the groom is the one to speak on behalf of the couple, but more brides are now choosing to take the microphone. She may give a solo speech, share her gratitude and personal reflections, or join the groom for a joint thank-you toast.

This is especially popular when the bride wants to acknowledge important people in her life or express her love story in her own words. A duo speech can also add a fun, lighthearted dynamic, showing the couple’s personality together.

Both Sets of Parents Combining Their Speeches

Some weddings feature a combined speech from both sets of parents instead of separate speeches. This approach creates a warm and unified welcome, reinforcing the idea of two families coming together. It can also be a great solution when one parent is less comfortable speaking alone or when families want to keep speeches shorter and more conversational. This works particularly well for smaller, more intimate weddings.

Adding a Surprise Speaker

Some weddings include an unexpected speech from a sibling, close friend, or special guest. This can be a heartfelt tribute from someone who played a key role in the couple’s lives, such as a childhood friend or mentor. A surprise speaker adds a unique and memorable moment to the reception, but it’s best if the MC or couple is aware in advance to ensure it fits smoothly into the schedule.

Grandparents Giving a Speech

Including grandparents in the speech lineup brings a multi-generational touch to the evening. Whether sharing family wisdom, offering a blessing, or reminiscing about the bride or groom’s childhood, their words often carry deep sentiment. This variation works especially well when a grandparent has played a significant role in raising the couple, making their speech a cherished highlight of the night.

When Should Wedding Speeches Happen During the Reception?

The timing of wedding speeches plays a big role in the flow of the reception. Some couples prefer to have speeches early on, while others space them out to keep the energy high throughout the evening. Here are some common approaches:

Many couples choose to have the first speeches immediately after the bridal party introduction. This often includes speeches from the parents or a quick welcome from the groom. It’s a great way to set the tone for the evening and ensure the key speakers get their moment early.

Another common approach is to have one or two speeches between courses, typically between the entrees and mains. This allows guests to enjoy their meal while keeping them engaged with heartfelt speeches from the bridal party. This approach works well for weddings with multiple speeches, but it can be tricky if there are any delays with the meal service.

Many weddings schedule the majority of speeches after the main course, giving guests time to enjoy their food before shifting their focus to the speakers. This is a good time for the best man, maid of honor, and other key speakers, as guests are more relaxed and ready to listen. However, speeches may run late if dinner timing slips, so careful planning is important.

Some couples prefer to space speeches throughout the evening, with a mix of speeches before and after dinner. This keeps the energy up by ensuring guests remain engaged without feeling overwhelmed by too many speeches at once. While this method adds variety, it requires careful coordination to keep the evening flowing smoothly and avoid interrupting the meal or other events.

Photos in this article courtesy of Ben & Hope Photography.