How long should a wedding speech be in total?

The total time for all speeches combined depends on how many speakers you have. If there are four speeches, aim for around 15 to 20 minutes in total, including the toasts. Each individual speech should stay under five minutes. The father of the bride or groom often speaks for three to four minutes. The best man might take four to five minutes, but only if he has good material. The couple's own speech, if they give one, can be three to four minutes. Shorter is almost always better. Guests lose attention after about five minutes, especially if they are holding a drink or waiting for dinner. A good rule is to write the speech, then cut it by a third. Practise aloud to check the time. If you are nervous, aim for three minutes. If you have a lot to say, pick the two or three most important points. Remember that pauses and laughter add time, so leave a little room. The toast itself should be one sentence, such as raising a glass to the couple.