Advice for the Bride: How to Give an Amazing Bridal Shower Speech

As the bride, you likely have a lot to do during the wedding planning process. There are so many moving parts to coordinate, you might feel like you're in over your head. Nothing calms an anxious mind quite like checking things off a to-do list. Here's one thing you can tackle now: a bridal shower speech. If you're having a bridal shower, it's often the case that the guest of honor herself makes a toast.

Oh great, another thing to do, you might be thinking. But there's no need to fret. This is your ultimate guide to giving a great toast at your bridal shower. Keep reading for speech examples, information on how long your speech should be and tips for what you should never say in your toast.

How Long Should a Bridal Shower Speech From the Bride Be?

It's always tricky to decide how long your speech should be. In general, experts say short and sweet is best. "Thanking the guests should take a few minutes," says Diane Gottsman, an international etiquette expert and founder of The Protocol School of Texas. "If the bride wants to share a story, the speech should be three to five minutes long tops."
Anne Chertoff, chief operating officer at Beaumont Etiquette, agrees. "A bride's speech can be a few minutes longer or shorter if the event was truly a surprise and she's speaking without prepared remarks," she says.

Although various toasts will happen at the bridal shower, your speech should always come last. "A bride should speak at the end of the event and thank everyone who came," Chertoff says.

How to Write a Bridal Shower Speech as the Bride

Before you start writing your speech, there are a couple of helpful questions to ask yourself. Who do you want to thank? Why does this bridal shower mean so much to you? Reflecting on these questions will help you determine the tone of your toast.

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Below are two speech templates as well as advice on who to thank at your bridal shower.

A Bridal Shower Speech Template for the Bride

If you've been hit with writer's block, pull inspiration from these fill-in-the-blank templates:

• Hi everyone. I want to take this opportunity to thank [name of host] and [name of other host] for throwing this beautiful bridal shower. [Partner's name] and I are so grateful for all of your love and support. Every one of you here today has a special place in my heart. I am so lucky you took the time to spend today with me celebrating my upcoming wedding. Thank you for the gifts, for your friendship and for your love. (Template courtesy of Gottsman.)

• Thank you all so much for coming. I couldn't be happier that all of you decided to take time out of your weekend to be here today. Since we got engaged, [partner's name] and I have definitely been feeling the love—and today, I feel so thankful to be able to celebrate with all of you. A special thank you to [host's name] and [other host's name] for throwing this beautiful bridal shower. It means so much that we could gather in this way. Thank you all for the lovely gifts, and here's to seeing all of you on the wedding day.

Feel free to adjust these templates as you see fit. You can talk for more or less time—or be more or less formal—it's totally up to you.

Who Does the Bride Thank in Her Speech?

During your speech, you'll want to show your guests appreciation. Your bridesmaids and best friends have likely invested time (and money) into making your festivities special.

"A bride should thank whoever hosted or planned the event, whether it's her bridal party, sister or best friends," Chertoff says. "She may also take this time to thank her mom and her future mother-in-law."

Remember: Since every bridal shower is unique, you'll want to thank anyone who has helped make your day special, whether that meant providing decorations for the event or bringing the champagne.

How to Give a Bridal Shower Speech as the Bride

The wedding shower—and all of the events surrounding your wedding—are meant to celebrate true love. When you give your speech, feel free to show your happiness and joy as you enter this new stage of life. After all, this time is all about you.

As the bride-to-be, you might be thinking, I'm not a professional when it comes to public speaking—this is my first time speaking in front of a crowd in ages. What's the best way to deliver a bridal shower toast? Should I give a funny speech or should I keep it more formal?

Below, you'll find advice from experts on whether to share jokes, as well as some speech samples that you can use as inspiration.

Bridal Shower Speech From the Bride Jokes

When addressing your loved ones, it's tempting to want to tell some jokes and insert humor into the equation. However, Julie Blais Comeau, chief etiquette officer at Etiquette Julie, says she doesn't typically recommend telling jokes at your bridal shower.

Chertoff believes it's fine for the bride to tell jokes—there's just one caveat. "The bride can make jokes if she wishes to, but she should try to avoid inside jokes that a limited number of people would get," she says.

At the end of the day, it's OK to share jokes if you wish, but make sure they're in good taste. If you make an inside joke, make sure to explain it so everyone in attendance can be in on the fun.

Bridal Shower Speech Examples From the Bride

Another great way to get inspired when writing your speech is to look at speech samples. If you're struggling to find the right words, these examples can help guide you.

• I want to take a few minutes to say thank you to everyone here today. I am so grateful for your friendship and love, as well as for taking time out of your busy day to celebrate with me. It means so much that you would spend your afternoon with me, "showering" me with your love, gifts and good wishes. To the hosts, a special thank you for making us all feel so welcome. I'm so lucky to have all of you in my life and I can't wait to see you at the wedding. (Courtesy of Gottsman.)

• Hello everyone. Thank you so much for being here for this special day. Lisa and I can't possibly express how much we've appreciated all of your love and support during this time. As many of you know, Lisa and I have been dreaming about tying the knot for a long time—basically since high school—and it almost feels surreal that this is really happening. What I would like to say most is a big thank you for being here and celebrating our upcoming wedding ceremony. We are truly over the moon. Cheers to all of you for being such lovely friends and family. We love you dearly.

How to End the Bridal Shower Speech From the Bride

Wondering how to wrap up your speech? Because you're the bride, everyone is excited to hear what you have to say. Don't overthink it.

"A bride can simply end her speech by thanking everyone," Chertoff says. "She does not ask everyone to raise a glass to herself. However, she may ask them to raise a glass to honor someone in attendance who she feels should be toasted."

What NOT to Say in Your Bridal Shower Speech

In general, nothing is considered taboo or inappropriate to say during your bridal shower speech.

"There are no limitations as to what a bride should or shouldn't say, as she is the guest of honor," Chertoff says. "As with anyone else speaking, she may want to avoid bad language, bawdy comments or something that may be hurtful to someone."

Blais Comeau agrees, adding that it's best to avoid anything that might be seen as an insult about the venue or food.

As you write your speech, it will likely become clear what you should and shouldn't say. If you're unsure about anything, practice in front of trusted friends or family members beforehand to see how it lands.