Unlocking the Art of Rehearsal Dinner Speech

“If done well, a good speech has the potential to define the speaker’s relationship with the couple and leave a lasting imprint in their hearts. It should, not only mark the significance of the dinner, but make the guests laugh and bond them all in their love for the couple”, – Heidi Ellert-McDermott, Speechy’s director.

Embrace the joy, share the love, and craft the perfect speech for an unforgettable rehearsal dinner. Dive into the examples and tips below to ensure your words leave a lasting impact on this special occasion.

Rehearsal Dinner Speech Examples

For those who might wonder how to write a rehearsal dinner speech, below are a few examples of different kinds of rehearsal dinner speeches for different attendees. Most speeches are short, straight from the heart, but sometimes the speaker might choose to add in some wedding quotes or even romantic quotes for good measure.

Wedding rehearsal speeches are customarily given by the father of the groom. He will introduce himself, welcome everyone, and talk about his son, the bride, and the couple. He will also thank everyone who helped, gave advice, and toast to the couple.

[Groom,] as your father I am very proud to know you. I have had the rare pleasure of watching you grow from a little baby into a wonderful young man. You cannot possibly know how pride I am of you and how much I love you. Congratulations to you and your lovely wife on your wedding day.

Having a son has been my greatest blessing in life. In many ways, [groom] is like my mini-me and my twin. But over the years, he has grown and he has become his own person. While I have tried to teach him many things over the things, he has taught me caught a few important things as well. [Groom] is someone who really cares about people and he will always go the extra mile for the people in his life. I know that my son will make an amazing husband and God-willing, a spectacular father one day. Let us all raise a glass to [groom] and his lovely bride, [bride.]

Here are some hopes and dreams from a devoted father to his loving son on his wedding day. I hope that the two of you live a life together that is long. I hope that this shared of life of yours is full of joy, laughter, abundance, love, and many other good things. May you always have each other to lean on.

The father of the bride speech comes after the groom’s father. In such speeches at wedding rehearsal dinners, he’ll thank the guests and daughter’s parents-in-law. He will also welcome the new son-in-law and make a toast to them.

[Bride] and [groom,] as I look at the two of you in your beautiful dress and your nice suit, I am reminded a bit of my own wedding day where there was plenty of excitement, love, and of course some nervousness as well. Take it from someone who has been married for many years. Being in a successful marriage requires falling in love many times, and always with the same person.

When you are a parent, you always want the best for your child. My daughter was no different. So it should come as no surprise now that I am thrilled that she has met the person of her dreams. Someone who is her equal, her better half, and a wonderful person. [Groom,] I welcome you into my family and I know the two of you will keep each other very happy.

I have always wanted the best for [bride.] From the best teachers and schools to friends that were a good influence on her, you can be sure that I always wanted my daughter to have the best things in life. But she found [groom] all on her own. You can call it fate or pure luck, but whatever the cause, I am glad that they have found each other.

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It’s not customary for the best man to say a speech. But if he must, he will keep it between two to three minutes. He’ll thank everyone, say something sweet about the couple, throw some jokes and make a toast.

So the big day is tomorrow and I am a bundle of nerves. I can only imagine how [bride] and [groom] are feeling. But it is a happy occasion and it will be a day full of love and celebration. I know that I do not just speak for myself when I say that I cannot wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Hello everyone, can I have your attention for a moment? I would just like to thank [bride] and [groom] for putting their hearts and souls into this wedding, this special day that we have all been anticipating for a very long time. Thank you both for including us in this special day. Tonight’s rehearsal and dinner is just a taste of the celebration that is yet to come. Let us all raise a glass to the lovely couple and the upcoming wedding day.

A lot of blood, sweat, and tears has gone into planning this wedding. And tomorrow is the big day. So thank all of you for coming here to support [bride] and [groom], who both mean so much to me. I cannot wait to celebrate this wedding with all of you.

The maid of honor is close to the bride. So she’ll use the opportunity to tell stories relating to her experience with the bride. She will give anecdotes about the couple and will finish with one or two wedding toast quotes and have the guests raise their glasses to the happy couple.

Hi everyone, I am a friend of the bride, and after getting to know him, I have become quite good friends with [groom] as well. Watching the love that has blossomed between these two has just been magical and I am so happy that my dear friend has found the perfect match for her.

As I look around this room, it warms my heart to see all of the love in here that people have for [bride] and [groom.] If you have been in a wedding before, you know that it takes a lot of hard work and planning. It truly is a group effort and this rehearsal is the last thing on the to-do list before the big day. I know [bride] and [groom] are so happy and grateful to have you all here and I am so lucky to get to meet and eat with all of you.

As I look at the face of close friends and family members that are here at this rehearsal dinner, I am happy to know that [bride] and [groom] have such a great community behind them. To have that type of support from the people that you love is truly invaluable. Believe me when I say that this wedding would not have been the same without all of you.

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The bride and groom are centers of attraction. They have a duty to thank everyone that helped prepare for their day until that point. They will also gush about each other and how they can’t wait to tie the knot.

While getting through a wedding rehearsal is certainly not the most fun thing that you can do on a Friday night, it will certainly help with the wedding tomorrow. I also want to thank you all for your enthusiasm, and for showering us with your love. Your support means the world to us. Now we get to relax and eat and I promise you that tomorrow is going to be a fun day that we will all remember.

I want to thank all of you for making it to tonight’s wedding rehearsal. It is a crucial part of making sure that the wedding tomorrow will go smoothly. I know that many of you could be doing something else really fun tonight, but instead, you are here helping us get ready for our big day, and for that, we are very thankful.

Hello, everyone. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming to the rehearsal dinner. It means to world to us that all of you are here with us tonight to help us prepare for our wedding. Now eat, drink, enjoy yourselves, and get a good night’s sleep. We all have a huge day ahead tomorrow.

She seldom gives a speech at the wedding, so here’s her time to shine. She’d state how proud she is, bless him and his wife-to-be, and thank everyone present. See the mother of the groom’s wedding rehearsal speech samples below.

I’m Lizette, the mother of the groom and I thank everyone for being here for my son and his wife. Bryan, you’ve always been a son after my heart, one I’m proud of. And I couldn’t be more proud of the man that you’ve become. Being your mom, my joy knows no bounds that you found the one, Alicia, who will love you forever. I am certain that you’ll cherish, respect, and love her till eternity. I’ve got a great son and I’m thankful for everyone who gave a hand in raising him.

I fell in love the first day I laid my eyes on you Bryan. From a charming baby to a bubbly toddler and a curious smart child. And then like a dream, the next thing I knew, Bryan is a man.
The man you’ve become is one I’m proud of. Everything you’ve done has made your family proud. And as you set off into a journey of forever bliss, I couldn’t be happier. I wish you only the best marriage has to offer.

The mother of the bride’s speech is an emotional one. An avenue to show your daughter just how much you love her. This is also a perfect time to remind everyone of the exceptional relationship she has with her dad.

Hi everyone, I’m Lisette, the bride’s mom. It’s common knowledge as parents that we love our kids with our hearts. And watching them grow up can be bittersweet. They make you so proud but you keep losing those little moments when they depended on you. Now my baby is a lady, and I’m delighted she found a groom deserving. May they both have a healthy, long, happy and fulfilled life together.

The prayers for my daughter never cease, just like every good mom. This isn’t because she makes me unhappy, but because I’m naturally worried and want her to have the best. She’s honest, giving and empathic and I wanted her to experience only happiness. But you see, I didn’t know what I prayed for till I saw her groom. My ever happy daughter now has a permanent sparkle in her eyes, one I’ve never seen before. She’s complete with him and this is my biggest blessing.

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Craft a brief rehearsal dinner speech by expressing gratitude, sharing anecdotes, and keeping it personal. Short speeches maintain guests’ interest, convey sincerity, and create a memorable and enjoyable atmosphere.

Thank you all for being here to celebrate with us. Excited for tomorrow! Cheers to love, laughter, and a lifetime of happiness together.

Grateful for this wonderful gathering. Let’s raise a glass to love, family, and a lifetime of joy. Tomorrow, we officially become family. Cheers!

To family and friends, thank you. Tomorrow is the big day, but tonight is about us together. Here’s to love, laughter, and a lifetime of beautiful memories. Cheers!

Wedding Rehearsal Speeches Toasts

The rehearsal dinner is intimate and more casual, hence the wedding toasts could be longer and humorous. There’s no hard-fast rule about who gives the toast but it’s celebratory and ends the speech. See some samples below.

• A people so rare, two hearts so pure, two spirits uniting to become one forever. Here’s to my best friends as we get ready to ball.
• A toast to the wittiest, to the prettiest, and the truest of all who are true. Here’s to you who is all of them in one
• A toast to my sweetheart, bottle, and forever friend. The first of them is beautiful, the second of them is full, and the last ever faithful.
• I don’t need to regale you with the awesomeness that’s Juliet. But I can tell you for free that Bryan’s mom and I are quite excited to welcome our daughter-in-law. Here is to Bryan and Juliet!
• Bryan and I have enjoyed a lifetime of friendship and something that stands out is that he’s a lucky man. I mean, look at Juliet tonight and you’ll agree with me. Please raise your glasses with me in a toast to them. May they remain lucky for the rest of their beautiful lives.

Rehearsal Dinner Toast Quotes

Rehearsal dinner toasts are a wonderful opportunity to share heartfelt words, funny anecdotes, or meaningful quotes in a more intimate setting before the big day. These quotes can set the tone for the evening, expressing love, gratitude, and well wishes for the couple. Whether you’re the bride, groom, family member, or friend, a well-chosen quote can add a special touch to your toast.

1. “May your love be modern enough to survive the times and old-fashioned enough to last forever.”

   A timeless sentiment that blends the wisdom of the past with hope for the future.

2. “The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.”

   A classic quote by Audrey Hepburn, perfect for celebrating the bond between the couple.

3. “Here’s to love, laughter, and happily ever after.”

   A light-hearted and joyful toast that’s simple yet full of good wishes.

4. “A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.”

   A quote by Mignon McLaughlin, reminding the couple to keep rekindling their love.

5. 
   “To the world, you may be one person, but to one person you are the world.”

   A romantic quote that highlights the deep connection between the couple.

6. “May your joys be as deep as the ocean, your sorrows as light as its foam.”

   A poetic wish for a life filled with happiness and minimal hardships.

7. “As you start this new journey together, may your love grow stronger with every passing day.”

   A simple, heartfelt wish for a lifetime of growing love and partnership.

How To Write Rehearsal Dinner Speech

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How To Write Rehearsal Dinner Speech

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As a professional wedding speechwriter, Heidi Ellert-McDermott, Speechy’s director, is admittedly biased, but she firmly believes that speeches are what make the rehearsal dinner truly special. Below, she shares her tips on crafting the perfect speech for the occasion.

Unlike the speeches on the wedding day, rehearsal dinner speakers don’t need to be so formal, and they don’t introduce themselves if everyone already knows them! Speakers can also generally get away with a few more ‘in jokes’ as their audience is likely to be close friends and family who have plenty of background intel on the couple already.

And one bonus – in a more intimate setting, you might not need a mic, which makes using notes a lot easier.

A rehearsal dinner toast generally follows the same structure as a standard wedding speech:

• Start with amusing & insightful anecdotes
• Saying a heartfelt and emotional to the focus of your speech
• Pay tribute to their partner
• Wish them well in their future life together and raise a toast

The key is balancing the humor with the sentiment. You want a few laughs early on, and a few tears towards the latter third if possible!

Like wedding speakers, resist the urge to use googled gags or resort to marriage cliches, but instead, get specific about the people you love and pay tribute to their unique character. Make sure no line in your speech could be used in another mother of the bride’s speech or another father of the groom’s!

Finally, one rule for any wedding or rehearsal dinner toast, make sure you can deliver your speech in less than ten minutes (and keep it even shorter if there are more than three speakers planned!).

Looking for the perfect rehearsal dinner speech? Check out the amazing work of Speechy’s specialists, experts in creating warm and engaging speeches that honor the couple and set the tone for a beautiful celebration.

Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Speech Tips

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1. Tip 1: Knowledge is power
   It might be a good idea to learn more. Who is going to be present, what is the venue, and who else is going to be speaking? These details are important.
2. Tip 2: Keep it nice and simple
   Sometimes less is more. Don’t let everyone fall asleep listening to your endless speech.
3. Tip 3: Don’t spoil the fun!
   If you are invited to make a speech you know some hilarious stories about the couple. Do keep the awkward ones for another event. Now it’s the couple’s time to shine.
4. Tip 4: Holy Matrimony
   Do mention the upcoming big event in your speech, even if you decided to go for funny rehearsal dinner speech examples.
5. Tip 5: Rehearse
   Take your time to read and record the speech. Watch the recording several times – it will help you feel more confident.

Brides Often Ask

If you are searching for anything from mother-of-the-groom rehearsal dinner speech examples to examples of rehearsal dinner speeches for bridesmaids, the tips and samples above would be a great place to start.