Nail Your Bride Speech With These Tips and Templates

You've reached for tissues during tear-jerker father-of-the-bride speeches and already warned your MOH to please not tell that story in her reception address, but do brides give speeches at weddings? A bride speech is not traditional or required—wedding toasts are usually reserved for the father of the bride, the best man and the maid of honor to congratulate the happy couple. But if you're a bride feeling inspired to grab the mic and shout-out your nearest and dearest (new spouse included), then we say go for it. Below, we're outlining what to say, who to thank and the best way to deliver a meaningful wedding speech, so you'll feel confident slotting yourself into the reception speech order of events. (Bonus: We've also got public speaking tips, so you won't drop the microphone—or worse, your champagne flute—with nervous, sweaty palms.)

In this article: Printable Template | How to Write | Examples | Tips | FAQs

Printable Bride Speech Template

Let this printable bride wedding speech template be your quick guide on the go. Tape it above your desk, pin it to your Pinterest board, leave it next to your computer as you search for wedding vendors for those last final touches or fold it up in your purse and look at it while waiting in line at the grocery store to keep those creative juices flowing. You'll find a deeper dive into each step in the next section.

Design: Falak Khoja

How to Write a Bride Speech Step-by-Step

Follow these steps to write a wedding speech from the bride that'll cover all your bases, from the sentimental, to the silly, to the sweet. Plus, the outline—designed by Katelyn Peterson, a wedding vow and speech writer, will help you break up the task into manageable sections and fend off wedding writer's block.

1. Thank Your Guests

The first step when it comes to how to write a killer bride speech: thank your favorite people! The room is filled with loved ones who put in the time, money and effort to support you on your special day, so the first words you say should be a big, heartfelt "thank you."

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2. Shout-Out Your VIPs

Your guests of honor—like parents, in-laws and grandparents—deserve extra gratitude. They're truly the folks that have stayed by your side through the ups and downs of wedding planning and life, so they should get a special callout. You can mention a specific moment of support or keep it general.

3. Share a Story About Your Spouse

This is your chance to shed some light on you and your partner's relationship. Whether it's surrounding a moment from the early stages of dating that turned into an inside joke or exemplifying a quality of theirs that is beloved by everyone in the room (generosity, sense of humor etc.), sharing a sweet anecdote about your relationship will remind everyone why they've gathered to celebrate your otherworldly love.

4. Connect the Story to Your Wedding Day

Tie the central theme of the story you choose into the present day to show how far you've come as a couple. Don't worry, you don't need to be a pro short story writer to accomplish this. Even a simple "they've kept me smiling from the day I met them all the way to walking down the aisle today" will help your speech feel cohesive and thought out.

5. Toast to Love

Ask everyone to raise their glasses and toast to love. It'll not only cover the newly minted married couple in the room (that's you, of course), but it also nods to the richness of the sentiment—because the room is also filled with the love between friends and family, new and old, all gathered to honor you.

Bride Wedding Speech Examples

Now that you've got the basic structure down, see it in action with these examples of a bride speech at a wedding. Get inspiration from these classic, short and sweet, and funny bride wedding speech examples to craft an address that feels true to you.

Classic Bride Wedding Speech Example

Good evening everyone and welcome! My new spouse and I would like to thank you all for being here today to make our day extra special. We'd especially like to thank both of our parents for their consistent support, generosity, and love, not only leading up to this day, but throughout our entire lives.

Northern Michigan is a special place for Charli and me. From first dates spent on the lake to family gatherings every 4th of July weekend, this very location has been the backdrop to our love story. And so it only made sense for us to get married in the same place where it all began. It brings us so much happiness and gratitude to know that the first page of this new chapter as a married couple is being written at my parent's lake house and with all of the most important people in our lives.

Here's a toast to everyone here who has been there for us in the past, who is here for us today and who we know will continue contributing to our love story through each new passing year of our marriage. We love you all. Cheers!

Funny Bride Wedding Speech Example

Just in case you didn't get the picture with the approximately 8,000 hugs I've already given out today, I'd like to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart again for coming to our wedding. I'd like to give some special shout-outs to my parents and my new in-laws for always being there for us, now and throughout our lives, including fielding absurd questions such as: "but what if everyone gets lost on their way to our very-clearly-marked-on-Google-Maps ceremony venue?" with the utmost grace and patience.

I'm not sure how many of you know this story, but on Jared and I's second date, we went ice skating. At some point during our laps around the rink, his belt fell off because of a broken buckle—we didn't notice it until a gentleman came up behind us and handed it back to him by saying, "Sir, your belt." The deadpan delivery has us both in fits of laughter—and the broken belt ended up being a fun way for me to get pulled around the rink, no longer relying on my sub-par skating skills.

Today, I look back on that moment as a metaphor for how he has since "skated" through life with me with humor, spontaneity and shared joy. And also a preview into a long legacy of loveable, questionable wardrobe choices that make him who he is. So, if you see me getting twirled around the dancefloor with a stray belt tonight, just go with it—it's part of our relationship lore.

Cheers to our love and the love that surrounds us—we're so happy you're here.

Short Bride Wedding Speech Examples

Example 1
I'd just like to say thank you all for coming today, especially to my parents and grandparents, who have been there for every milestone—big and small.

I'd also like to draw your attention to the cannoli table getting set up as we speak—it's filled with pastries from our favorite North End Italian bakery that's open until midnight (and we snacked on their cannolis at least once a week when we lived in the neighborhood). We hope they'll be a sweet way to end your evening tonight as it was for us during our dating days.

With that, cheers to how sweet love is.

Example 2
Everyone, thank you so much for coming together with us to celebrate. I'd love to give a special thanks to my brother, who, despite a twice-delayed flight from the other side of the country, made it here today.

As some of you know, we got engaged on the beach below—and I remember how windy that afternoon was. And though it didn't do wonders for our hair, those powerful gusts made us feel so present and in the moment; and later became a symbol of our steady love for each other. So, since tonight is also an especially windy evening, I hope you can reframe the less-than-ideal weather to mean that love is all around you.

Cheers to you all, we love you so much.

Bride Speech Tips

Use these quick tips to help you avoid any speech snafus during both the composition and the delivery. (Don't worry, you'll do great!)

Use the "Thank You Sandwich" Method

When it comes to how to start a bride wedding speech and how to end a bride wedding speech, you'll want to show gratitude for your guests on both ends. The opening line sets the tone, while the last line can be a creative callback to earlier moments in your address. "A callback happens when you reference something from earlier in the speech," says Peterson. For instance, let's say you shared that you and your spouse fell in love while singing the Hall of Oates' song "You Make My Dreams Come True." Then, your last line could be: "Cheers to you all for being here and helping make our dreams come true."

Don't Go Too Hard on the Jokes

There's a time and place for that embarrassing story about your partner in college (it's called the bach party), but your wedding reception is definitely not the occasion to share edgy jokes or awkward anecdotes, Peterson says. Moreover, while incorporating jokes into your bride speech can certainly make it more entertaining, don't feel pressure to make it a "Saturday Night Live" monologue. The key with bride speech jokes, Peterson says, is sprinkling them throughout in a subtle way. "This isn't a comedy act, so you don't need to try too hard," she says. "Instead, add playful tones where it feels natural and where your personality can shine."

Write Your Speech in Advance

While you're busy planning a million other details of your special day (Venue! Flowers! Dress! Cake!), it's easy to forget about writing the bride speech until the last minute. Set aside some intentional time for yourself to write your bride speech ideally a month or two, but at least a week before the wedding to avoid unnecessary stress. Peterson suggests slotting in a few 30-minute speech writing sessions into your schedule. Focus the first session on brainstorming material, then dive into writing and editing in the next couple.

Rely on Practice, Not Memorization

On your wedding day, there's going to be so much going on and emotions will be running high in the best way. The last thing you want is to worry about forgetting your speech. This is why Peterson recommends printing out your speech and bringing two extra copies on the wedding day in case one gets lost. Also, one of the biggest wedding speech mistakes you can make is not practicing. Reciting it a few times at home will do wonders to help you feel confident and allow for moments where you can look up from your paper to gaze upon your loved ones.

Use a Microphone

Make sure everyone can hear your thoughtful address by using a microphone. Yes, they're necessary no matter how small your affair is or how much you can project your voice from your theater-kid days. Pro tip: Remember to move the mic when you move your head so the sound doesn't get lost or muffled.

Bride Speech Frequently Asked Questions

Got questions about what to say in a wedding speech when you're the bride? We've got answers below on the basics.

How Long Should a Bride Speech Be?

For a bride speech at the reception, the motto is the shorter, the better. Keep it between two to five minutes, max. There will likely be other speeches for the guests to listen to in the wedding line-up, so you don't want the speeches as a whole to cut into all of the other festivities too much.

Who Does the Bride Thank in Her Speech?

Time is of the essence, so you should only thank the VIP guests—such as your parents, in-laws and grandparents—in your bride speech. Peterson adds: "You can also add a sweet line about how your new spouse has supported you and what you're most excited about in your future together."

It's safe to skip thanking the wedding party and your wedding vendors during the reception (even though it can be tempting to shout-out the stellar work of your incredible vendor team). Thank your wedding party during the rehearsal dinner instead and send handwritten notes or leave a review for vendors after the wedding as a thank-you.