More and more couples in Spain organize bilingual weddings, destination weddings abroad, or ceremonies where part of the guests don't speak Spanish. If you have to give a speech in English, the good news is that the structure is the same as in Spanish. The challenge is to sound natural and not translated.
Here are 5 ready-to-adapt examples and the structure that works in any English-speaking wedding.
The universal structure (works in any language)
- Open with a hook. A short, warm self-introduction or a one-line joke.
- Tell one story. One anecdote is enough. Choose the one that best illustrates who the couple is.
- Say the hard, true thing. The moment where emotion shows up. Don't be afraid to be vulnerable.
- Close with a toast. "Raise your glasses to..." and you're done.
Example 1 — Best man speech (best friend of the groom)
For those of you who don't know me, my name is Mark and I have had the great fortune of being Daniel's best friend for the past fifteen years.
That means I have seen Daniel at his best, at his worst, and at every awkward stage in between. I have also seen him try to cook a three-course dinner for Sophie on their second date, and that is the moment I knew she was the one. Anyone who could eat that carbonara and still want a third date is clearly marriage material.
Daniel, you are the most loyal, stubborn and quietly brilliant person I know. Sophie, thank you for making him laugh in a way I never thought possible. We are all better because you found each other.
Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses. To Daniel and Sophie — to the love that makes ordinary days extraordinary. To the couple.
Example 2 — Maid of honor (best friend of the bride)
Hello everyone. My name is Laura and I have known Elena since we were six years old, which means I have about twenty-five years of blackmail material. Lucky for her, I will only use two of them tonight.
The first one is this: when Elena was twelve, she told me that one day she would marry a man who made her laugh harder than anyone else. The second one is that, when she met David, she came home and said, "I think I just met him." I have known Elena my whole life, and I have never seen her more herself than she is with David.
David, thank you for choosing her. And Elena, thank you for being the kind of friend a person only meets once in a lifetime.
To Elena and David — may your life together be full of laughter, good wine, and the kind of love that makes the rest of us believe in it too. Cheers!
Example 3 — Father of the bride
Good evening, everyone. For those of you who don't know me, I am Marta's father, and I have the very great honour of being the first man to love her.
When Marta was born, I made her a promise: that I would only worry about her once she found someone worthy of her. I have been worrying for thirty-one years, and I am very happy to report that I can finally stop.
Tom, you are that person. You are kind, you are smart, and — perhaps most importantly — you make my daughter laugh at her own jokes. That is a rare gift.
To Marta and Tom — may your marriage be a long, beautiful adventure. And may you always find your way home to each other.
Example 4 — From a friend (universal, no specific role)
Hi everyone. I'm Sara, and I have known Alex and Mia separately for years — Alex from university and Mia from that slightly chaotic hiking group we both pretend didn't happen.
When the two of them started dating, I had one thought: "finally, the universe is making sense." Because Alex is the kind of person who plans everything in spreadsheets, and Mia is the kind of person who buys plane tickets at 2 a.m. They shouldn't work. They absolutely do.
What I love most about them is that they make each other braver. Alex now spontaneously books weekend trips. Mia now has a colour-coded calendar. They meet in the middle, and that middle is a beautiful place.
To Alex and Mia — may you keep meeting in the middle for the rest of your lives. Cheers!
Example 5 — Vows (the groom to the bride)
Sofia, I am not a man of big speeches, so I will keep this short and true.
I promise to be the person you can call at 3 a.m. when nothing makes sense. I promise to choose you every single morning, even the mornings when you steal the duvet. I promise to keep making you laugh, even when you pretend not to find me funny anymore.
You have taught me that love is not a spark — it is a fire you build together, log by log. I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life building it with you.
Useful English phrases for a wedding speech
- "For those of you who don't know me..." — Classic opener.
- "I have known X for Y years." — Sets the context quickly.
- "If you can't do X, you don't deserve Y." — A classic toast structure.
- "Raise your glasses to / Please join me in toasting..." — The closing line.
- "To the happy couple." / "To the bride and groom." — When in doubt, classic.
Common mistakes to avoid in English
- Don't translate word by word. Spanish jokes tend to fall flat in English. Adapt, don't translate.
- Don't over-apologize. "I'm terrible at this" is not charming in English. Own it from the first second.
- Don't go on forever. English audiences value brevity. 5 minutes is the ceiling.
- Don't avoid the moment of emotion. A toast without a tear is just a pleasant speech.
Spanish expressions that also work in English
If you want to keep a Spanish touch (very common in bilingual weddings), you can drop a few words in Spanish: "gracias", "salud", "por los novios". The audience will love it, and it gives a personal stamp.
Want a personalized English speech in 30 seconds?
Tell our AI generator your relationship with the couple, the tone you want, and the language. You get a draft ready to memorise or read.
Generate my English wedding speechYou may also be interested in
- Discurso de padrino — Spanish version of the best man speech.
- Votos matrimoniales: ejemplos reales — If you need vows in Spanish.
- Votos de boda originales — 25 ideas to start writing.
- Discurso de boda civil — Civil ceremony tips in Spanish.
Frequently asked questions
How do you start a wedding speech in English?
A classic opener is: "For those of you who don't know me, my name is..." Then go straight to a short, warm anecdote. Avoid long apologies or generic introductions.
How long should a wedding speech in English be?
Between 3 and 5 minutes (about 450-700 words). Short enough to keep attention, long enough to land an emotional moment.
Should I write my vows in English or Spanish?
Always in the language you speak best. Vows are an intimate act: authenticity matters more than performance.
