How to Write the Best Wedding Thank-You Speech, With Examples

After months of wedding planning, the big day has finally arrived. Assuming you didn't put all of this together on your own, you probably have some special people you'd like to thank before the festivities wind down. A heartfelt wedding thank-you speech is a common—and gracious—way for the newlyweds to show their appreciation for all of the people who helped them along the way. Much like wedding toasts, this special message helps celebrate the love and support surrounding your big day. It's a moment that can also stand alongside other wedding traditions like the bride's speech and the groom's speech.

Here, we chatted with experts to fill you in on everything you need to know about this special message of gratitude, including how to write a wedding thank-you speech, who to thank and wedding thank-you speech samples to inspire your own.

In this article: How Long Should a Wedding Thank-You Speech Be? | How to Write a Thank You Speech for a Wedding | Who Should You Thank in Your Wedding Thank-You Speech? | Wedding Thank-You Speech Examples | What Not to Say in a Wedding Thanks Speech

How Long Should a Wedding Thank-You Speech Be?

Experts say one to two minutes is ideal—just enough time to express your appreciation without holding up the party or disrupting the wedding timeline. "There's no need to make this a long part of your wedding reception," says Jennifer Price, CEO of Event Shoppe Chicago. "Typically, this happens right before the dance floor opens, and your guests are anxious to get the party started, so don't drag it on." So whether you're aiming for a funny wedding thank-you speech or a sentimental one, aim for a short wedding thank-you speech. Knowing who gives speeches at weddings can also help you plan when your thank-you moment should happen.

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How to Write a Thank You Speech for a Wedding

You can make it a funny wedding thank-you speech from the bride and groom or write it as touching as you'd like, but when it comes to what to say in your wedding thank-you speech, there are a few expert-backed guidelines worth keeping in mind.

Brian Franklin, cofounder of Vows & Speeches, recommends thanking family and friends who contributed to the planning and execution of your wedding. Then, don't forget your vendors and staff and "particularly the planner, and DJ or band for keeping things fun," Franklin adds. If you're wondering how to thank wedding vendors, this is the perfect time to do so.

If there is anyone in your life who played an important role in your relationship (like a friend who introduced you), give them a shoutout here, too, Franklin says. And of course, thank all of your guests for showing up for your special day. Lastly, give your spouse a thank-you as well. You can also say something sweet about them and how you feel about your marriage—similar to how couples sometimes share sentiments during a newlywed toast or even in their wedding vow examples. To wrap up your thank-you wedding speech, don't forget a call to action at the end, Price says. It could be: "meet you on the dance floor!" or "catch you in the photo booth."

The most important thing about this wedding tradition: Don't wing it. "The best public speakers always write down what they want to say, and you too should be no different," Price adds. "Writing down your thank-you speech is key to a smooth and clear delivery, and will also ensure you don't miss anyone."

Wedding Thank-You Speech Template

[Partner's name] and I want to thank everyone for being here with us today. Many of you have traveled a long way to participate, and we thank you for your time and effort.

We've spent the last [number] months planning our wedding, and we could not have done it without the help of some very special people. First, [partner's parents' names] and [other partner's parents' names], thank you for everything you've provided and done for us. You've been there every step of the way, ensuring our wedding day was the best it could possibly be. And it has been.

To our wedding party [list names or address as a whole]: You've laughed with us, celebrated our engagement with us, cried with us over ugly tablecloth colors and bad hair days and just been all-around amazing friends to us both. And for that, we thank you so much. Our day wouldn't be the same without each and every one of you involved.

To our guests: Each of you is here because you belong here. Our day wouldn't be complete without you. Thank you so much for coming.

Who Should You Thank in Your Wedding Thank-You Speech?

It's totally up to you who you choose to thank in your thank you for coming to our wedding speech. You can keep it short and sweet by offering a sweeping thanks to everyone present or you can give a shout-out to whoever made your big day possible. Here are some people you might want to thank. Take a look at our list and pick and choose as you put together your speech.

The guests: "While those coming from out of town made considerable effort and are possibly spending a lot to be there, even the locals might have had to hire babysitters, pay for clothes and/or Ubers, or take time off work to attend," Franklin says. So, ensure that you tailor your thank-you speech for guests at a wedding.

Your partner: Here's a sweet opportunity to begin by thanking the person you'll spend the rest of your life with.

Your parents: There's a good chance they've helped you financially with your wedding, or at least have contributed in some way. No matter how big or small, it's kind to acknowledge and appreciate any assistance they gave. This, of course, differs from a short thank-you speech for a wedding from parents.

Your partner's parents: Similarly, acknowledge any contribution your new in-laws made, and express how happy you are to be marrying their child.

Your maid of honor and best man: These key players are likely siblings, best friends or other close companions for you and your partner. As such, you might choose to call them out separately from the rest of the wedding party.

Your wedding party: "Typically, this is the group that has invested the most time, effort and moolah into making your day special," Price says. "They've been with you through dress fittings and tastings and helped you figure out where to seat your cousin who only wants to talk about old movies."

Your wedding vendors: "For the past one to two years, you've partnered with these amazing people to bring your wedding day to life," Price says. "No vendor does it for the thank yous, but it always feels good to hear that couples enjoyed working with them."

Wedding Thank-You Speech Examples

Need some guidance for what to include in your speech and how to give it? You're not alone—speech writing isn't the easiest thing to do. Our advice? Relax and speak from the heart. Your guests are there to support you, and that means during your speech as well. Here are some expert-approved wedding thank-you speech examples to help you craft your own, from funny to sentimental.

Short & Sweet Wedding Thank-You Speech Example

Hi all,

We are so glad you came today to witness our love story. [Partner's name] and I were so happy to look out into the crowd and see all of your smiling faces. Our love story would not have been complete without you here.

Thanks to our wedding party for holding us down this past year. We appreciate you answering all of our late-night texts and midday phone calls to talk about invitation printing and dress colors. Also, thank you to our parents; we are so happy that you've been by our sides this entire time.

Last but not least, a special shout-out to our wedding vendors [feel free to insert company names quickly]. You really brought our wedding vision to life, and we are so grateful for your partnership. Now that we've done all the formalities like cutting the cake and hearing the speeches… let's put this dance floor on fire!

Funny Wedding Thank-You Speech Example

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much for being with us today, and particularly thank you to my close friends for not heckling me during my vows.

I know many of you are locals, but some of you have come from exotic locations like [insert locations]. Some of you seem to be random hotel guests who walked by. But wherever you came from, thank you for spending time and money being here to celebrate with us.

Mom, Dad, we couldn't have done this without you—something that is technically true in a lot of respects—and we're so grateful for your support. I'm particularly excited about the hours of your dancing we'll get to watch when we get the video back.

To [best man's name] and [maid of honor's name], you rocked it. Thank you for everything you've said, everything you've done and everything you are in our lives. And thank you, truly, for leaving some things out. Good editing.

Thank you to our great officiant for doing such a fantastic job. Thank you to the band, to all our vendors, the wait and bar staff, and most particularly to our wedding planner [insert name], who has seen more nervous breakdowns in the last year than my psychologist has. You all have done such an amazing job. Let's give them a hand.

I'd also like to thank the algorithm at Tinder and the kind nerds whose coding sent my gorgeous partner's photo across my screen, so that I may swipe right, and we could start this journey.

But more than anything, I want to thank my incredibly awesome spouse. This has been the best day of my life, but every day with you feels like a celebration. I feel like a lottery winner, because I am with you and I didn't just win the grand prize; we also got all that stuff on the registry, so that's cool too. But I love you so much. Tomorrow I'm going to wake up for the first day as your spouse and that's really, really exciting.

Ladies and gentlemen, I don't want to get in the way of your fun, so let's get back to dancing and consuming. Thanks again!

Sentimental Wedding Thank-You Speech Example

Hi everyone!

It is such an incredible feeling to look at you—the people closest to our hearts, the friends and family that have played such an enormous role in our lives, and have you here sharing tonight with us. Everyone here has had some part in our backstory or relationship.

Some of you have helped us with our careers. Some of you are the ones we let off steam with. But each one of you is deeply important to us, and we are so grateful you've taken the time and effort to be here. You all look amazing.

But none of this could have happened as wonderfully as it has without the work of some of the best professionals in the business: Our officiant, our emcee, our videographer, our venue and the staff here, our photographer, our caterer and most importantly, our planner. I am grateful to all of you, not just for your work tonight, but for the collaboration we've had over the last year. Thank you for putting your heart into this and making it so special.

I want to say to our parents, thank you for your love, support and advice and for giving such beautiful speeches tonight. Thank you to our wedding party for your work, your friendship and for putting up with all of the things we've thrown your way. Thank you to [maid of honor's name] and [best man's name] for the incredibly sweet words and tribute. We loved it and we're forever grateful to all of you.

To my partner [name], your love makes me feel whole. You are such an incredible source of light, kindness and beauty. I love you so much, in every way, and this is truly the happiest day of my life. Thank you, and let's get back to the dancing!

What Not to Say in a Wedding Thanks Speech

This moment is truly your own, but while your wedding thank-you speech is a personal expression of gratitude, it's best to keep things positive, gracious and drama-free. "We advise our clients to avoid negativity or anything that could be misinterpreted as a ding on a guest, vendor, someone in your wedding party or your spouse," Franklin says. "Light humor is great, but only if it is benign and not going to stir up any feelings of embarrassment or anger."

Even if something didn't go as planned, your thank-you speech isn't the time to address it. "While you'll want to thank the guests for any patience that was required, it's not the time to settle any scores with vendors or people who otherwise didn't act well," Franklin adds.

Price echoes the importance of keeping the tone light and upbeat. "Don't talk negatively about any part of your wedding process," she says. "The couple's thank-you speech is most often the last thing guests hear before the party begins. Don't bring the vibe down, bring it up!" In other words, guests know that a thank-you speech at a wedding leads to the dance party, so don't keep them waiting.

Additional reporting by Shyla Watson