Wedding thank-you speech: what to say, who to thank and examples

Updated 26 October 2026 · Written by Lysela

The thank-you speech is the couple's, usually the last one at dinner, and it runs three to five minutes. You thank the guests for coming, your parents and everyone who helped, and finish with a toast. It can be one speech together or one each, and many couples also give a short speech straight to each other. Here is when it fits, who to thank and in what order, and whole speeches to borrow from. The order of the other speeches is in the guide to wedding speeches.

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When is the thank-you speech given, and how long should it be?

The couple usually speaks last, with dessert or coffee, after the parents, the wedding party and friends. That lets you respond to what has been said and thank everyone at once. If you would rather speak earlier, straight after the welcome for example, that works just as well. Tell the toastmaster, who will slot you in.

Three to five minutes is enough, as for any speech. If you speak separately, count on two to three minutes each. Read it aloud with a clock before the wedding so you know how long it takes.

Who should you thank in the speech, and in what order?

Name only the people you want to name. A long list of names loses the room. If there are many to thank, keep the closest in the speech and the rest for your thank-you cards.

Order	Who	What you can thank them for
First	The guests	Coming, especially those who travelled far.
Next	Your parents	Something specific they did for you, and for the speeches they gave.
Next	The wedding party and the toastmaster	Help before the day and during it.
Next	Everyone who helped	The kitchen, the photographer and the friends who baked, drove or decorated.
Last	Each other	One sentence to the person you are marrying, before the toast.

Wedding thank-you speech examples: whole speeches to borrow

Replace what is in square brackets, and add memories only you have.

Thank-you speech from both of you, about three minutes

Dear guests, we are so glad you are here. [Name] and I have talked about tonight for [number] months, and now that it is here we want to thank you. Thank you to those who travelled far to be with us, from [place] and [place]. It means more than you know. Thank you to our parents. [Name], thank you for [something specific]. [Name], thank you for [something specific]. You have taught us a great deal about making a home. Thank you to [name] and [name], who have helped us since spring, and to the kitchen that cooked this dinner. Thank you, [name], for saying yes. I would choose you again tomorrow. I ask you all to stand and raise a glass to yourselves, because you made this day.

A short thank-you at dinner

Thank you for coming, from near and far. Thank you to our parents for [something specific], and to [name], who has kept us in order all day. To all of you.

The groom's speech to the bride, and the bride's speech

The couple's speeches can be one joint thank-you or two personal ones, where you turn to each other in front of the guests. It is common but not required, and one does not need the other. If you want to surprise each other, tell only the toastmaster. If you are two grooms or two brides, the shape is the same.

Start with a memory from your story, say what you see in the other, and finish with a promise small enough to keep.

The groom's speech to the bride

My love, [name]. The first time I saw you, it was [memory]. I did not know then that I would end up standing here. You have taught me [something specific], and you make me laugh even on my worst day. Today I promise always to [small promise]. I love you.

The bride's speech to the groom

Dear [name]. Everyone here knows I took ages to decide what I wanted for dinner, but never about you. I love the way you [something specific], and that you always [something specific]. I promise to be your friend, even on the days we disagree. I love you.

How to keep it personal, and the nerves calmer

Leave out in-jokes only a few people get, and anything someone in the room would rather not hear. Practise aloud twice the evening before, no more, so it still sounds like you.

Thank people specifically
"Thank you for driving us to [place] at six in the morning" means more than "thank you for everything".
Write the way you talk
Read it aloud as you write. If you stumble on a sentence, swap it for something you would say at a kitchen table.
Keep notes or the full text on paper
Reading it out is fine. Print it in large type, and pick up your glass only when you reach the toast.
Look at a friendly face
Choose someone in the room who is smiling and talk to them. Take a breath before the first sentence and another at each new paragraph.

After the speech: thank the people who did not hear it

Some guests leave before the speech, and some could not come. Thank them afterwards, with a thank-you card or a message the next day. Put the speech in the schedule, so the kitchen, the photographer and the toastmaster know when it starts.

To see what a wedding website looks like on the wedding day and the day after, there are the example sites.

Toastmaster on Tove + Kasper's wedding website: Elias Moberg with email and the line about getting in touch about speeches.

The schedule and the thank-you page on the wedding website

With Lysela, the schedule is on the wedding website on every tier, with a calendar link, so guests see when dinner starts and the toastmaster can fit the thank-you speech among the day's times. On the wedding day the site shows at the top what is happening now and next. The day after, it can become a thank-you from the two of you, with a photo and your own words, together with the guest book and the pictures. You switch the thank-you page on and write it yourselves.

You pay once, SEK 795, SEK 1,795 or SEK 4,900 including VAT, and the site stays up for 12 months.

What usually goes on a wedding website, and what one costs, is in the checklist.

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Frequently asked questions

Who gives the thank-you speech at a wedding?

The couple, usually last at dinner. You can speak together or one each, and you thank the guests, your parents and those who helped.

How long should a thank-you speech be?

Three to five minutes. If you speak separately, two to three minutes each is enough.

Does the couple have to give a speech?

No, but it is usual. If only one of you wants to speak that works just as well, and a short thank-you with a toast is enough.

When is the groom's speech to the bride given?

Usually in the couple's part, last at dinner, but you decide. Tell the toastmaster if you want it earlier or as a surprise.