Who speaks first, father of the bride or father of the groom?

In a traditional UK wedding, the order is: father of the bride, then groom, then best man. The father of the bride welcomes guests, thanks them for coming, and proposes a toast to the couple. The groom then responds, thanks the bride's parents, and toasts the bridesmaids. The best man speaks last, with stories and a final toast.

However, you are free to change this. Many couples have the groom's father speak first, or both fathers speak together. Some skip the fathers entirely and have the couple speak first. The key is to agree the order before the day and tell the toastmaster, registrar or celebrant who is going first. That way no one is caught off guard.

If you have two fathers or two mothers, you can share the role. The important thing is that everyone knows their turn and the speeches flow without awkward pauses. If you are unsure, ask your venue or celebrant for advice, but the final choice is yours.