How many people usually give speeches at the wedding reception?
Is it usually a long time without music? Half an hour or so? We were thinking, Bride, Father of bride, father of groom, best man. Thoughts?
Question Asked: 19/02/2018
Wedding Date: 9/08/2018
Most Helpful Response
(443) · Melbourne & Surrounding Areas, Mornington Peninsula & Yarra Valley/Dandenong
Posted: 25/08/2025
Answered by: 14 Experts
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The Amount Of people's Given Speech's R @ Least 4ppls Max....
Spokespersons are usually
- Parents of the Bride
- Parents of the Groom
- Best Man
- Maid of Honour
- Bride and Groom
Roughly 10mins each, and broken up with music in between.
short: best man then groome
medium: best man, maid of honour, groome
long: both fathers, best man, maid of honour, bride, groome
Hi there! I've personally played at many weddings and to be honest, this can vary! I've had some Weddings have 4 speakers from each side, and the other just the Groom alone! This is your wedding and the decision is in your hands :)
Feel free to reach out if there's anything else I can help with.
Marel
Hi
I have played some weddings where there were over 8 speeches and some where the Bride and Groom alone addressed their guests. This is purely down to the bride and groom.
I would say the following at a maximum for 5 minute duration each:
- Father of the Bride
- Father of the Groom
- Best man
- Bridesmaid
- Groom & Bride (Colaborative speech / individual).
At the end of the day, speeches need to be done at the right time before quests consume too much on the night. Another factor may be that the longer you go with speeches, the more restless your guests will get. However depending on how engaging the speeches are your expectations for the recpetion will depend on the structure of the day too.
Kai Ward - Events DJ
In a traditional wedding, order of speeches are:
* Father of the Bride
* Best Man
* Groom
After this, you could have someone, friend or family member to read telegrams & mention those who are not with us today.
Hi, in my experience, I always suggest no more than 6. Keep speeches to max of 5 mins each. As to the timing of when to do the speeches, when you have the majoritys attention, that is also important. I hope this helps.
Hey there, congratulations on your engagement!
- In short, allow for 5 - 10 minutes per speech, maximum.
You may want to consider the following important people will likey want to say a word or two
- Father of the Bride
- Mother of the Bride
- Father of the Groom
- Mother of the Groom
- Groomsman
- Bridesmaid
- Brothers / Sisters
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Typically, 3–5 speeches work well, commonly the Bride, Groom (optional), Father of the Bride, Father of the Groom, and Best Man. You don’t want a long pause in the music, so spacing them out with small breaks or light background music helps keep the energy up.
At Melbourne Entertainment Company, our DJs and MCs can coordinate speeches and music so your reception flows smoothly without feeling like a long quiet stretch.
For tips on structuring speeches, avoiding repetition, and keeping the flow smooth, Melbourne Entertainment Company has a great guide: Wedding Toast Speech Tips & Ideas
https://melbourneentertainmentco.com.au/more-wedding-toast-speech-tips-and-ideas