How to start a wedding speech (with example opening lines)

By the speechwriters.ai editorial team · Last updated 21 October 2026

How to open a wedding speech with confidence – what to say in the first 30 seconds, how to introduce yourself, and example opening lines for every speaker.

The first 30 seconds of a wedding speech decide how relaxed the room feels for the next five minutes – and how relaxed you feel. The good news is that the opening is the easiest part to get right, because it's short and you can learn it word for word. A strong start does three things: it gets attention, tells people who you are, and gives them a reason to warm to you.

Before you say a word

• Wait for quiet. If the toastmaster or previous speaker has introduced you, stand, smile and pause. Starting over chatter means your first line is lost.
• Check the microphone. Hold it a fist's width from your chin. Don't tap it or ask "Can everyone hear me?" – just begin, and adjust if someone signals.
• Find a friendly face. Look at someone you know will smile back, then start.
• Take one slow breath out. It steadies your voice more than any line will.

Step 1: Introduce yourself (briefly)

Half the room won't know who you are. One sentence is enough: your name and how you know the couple.

• "Good afternoon, everyone. For those who don't know me, I'm Dan, and I've been Tom's friend since we were eleven."
• "Hello, I'm Sarah – Lucy's sister, flatmate for nineteen years and, today, maid of honour."

The father of the bride usually speaks first as host, so he can skip the introduction and open with a welcome instead.

Step 2: Get the room on side

Your opening line doesn't need to be a big joke. In fact, a gentle, self-aware line usually works better than a punchline, because the room is still settling and people laugh more easily once they've relaxed. Good options:

• Acknowledge the nerves: "I've been told to speak from the heart, so apologies in advance – it's a bit shorter than I'd planned."
• Acknowledge the order: "Following that speech is a bit like going on after the headline act at Glastonbury."
• Set expectations: "I've been asked to keep this short, so I've cut the stories down to the ones that won't get me arrested."
• Something about the day: "What a wedding. Even the British weather has decided to behave."

Step 3: Say why you're here

A sentence that links you to the couple makes the shift into your first story feel natural: "When Tom asked me to be his best man, I was honoured. Then I realised I'd have to do this bit."

Example opening lines by speaker

Father of the bride

"Good afternoon, everyone. On behalf of my wife Jane and myself, welcome. Thank you for coming – some of you have travelled a long way, and it means a great deal to us that you're here to celebrate Emily and Sam."

Groom

"Good afternoon, everyone. On behalf of my wife and I… sorry, I've been waiting to say that all day. On behalf of my wife and I, thank you all for coming."

Best man

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. For those who don't know me, I'm Dan, Tom's best man. I've known Tom for twenty years, so I've got plenty of material – but I've been told by the bride to stick to the five stories her mum's allowed to hear."

Maid of honour

"Hi everyone, I'm Sarah, Lucy's sister. I've been given five minutes, a glass of fizz and strict instructions not to cry. I'll manage one of those."

Bride

"I know it's not traditional for the bride to speak, but I've spent the whole day not being allowed to say anything, so here we go."

Openings to avoid

• The dictionary definition – "The Oxford English Dictionary defines marriage as…" Guests have heard it many times.
• Apologising for the speech – "This won't be very good." It lowers expectations in the wrong way.
• A long list of thank-yous before anything else. Thanks belong in the speech, but open with a human sentence first.
• An in-joke. If only six people will get it, it's not an opener. Run your speech through the room check to spot these.
• Jokes borrowed from the internet. If you found it in a list of "best man openers", so did someone else at the last wedding your guests went to.

Learn the first lines by heart

Nerves peak in the first minute and fade once you hear the room respond. Memorise your first two or three sentences so you can look up and connect, then use your notes for the rest. Rehearse them aloud – they will sound different from how they read on paper.

Need a starting point? The outline tool gives you a structure and three opening lines to adapt, and the speech timer tells you how long your whole speech will run. Then read our guide to ending a wedding speech.

Frequently asked questions

How do you start a wedding speech?

Wait for quiet, introduce yourself in one sentence with your name and how you know the couple, then use a gentle, self-aware line to get the room on side before your first story.

What should the first line of a best man speech be?

Something short that says who you are and gets a smile – for example acknowledging your nerves or the speech you're following. Avoid in-jokes and well-worn internet openers.

Should I start a wedding speech with a joke?

Not necessarily. A light, self-aware line usually works better than a big punchline, because the room is still settling. Save your best jokes for your stories.

Do I need to introduce myself in a wedding speech?

Yes, unless you're the father of the bride or the groom. Many guests won't know you, so one sentence on who you are and how you know the couple helps.

Related guides

• How to end a wedding speech (with example closing lines)
• Best man speech structure: a UK template that works
• How to calm nerves before a speech
• Wedding speech order in the UK: traditional and modern