When to Schedule the Wedding Speeches

Speeches should be used as punctuation marks during a wedding. Schedule them right before a course is served and/or when your guest finish a course to kick off a dance set. Be sure to let your Captain (or whoever is running the waitstaff) know that there must be no service or clearing during any speeches. Keep them short — 2 to 3 minutes each is ideal. Five minutes maximum. No open mike — that’s a party killer. Limit speakers to one parent from each side, best man, maid of honor and the couple. All other speeches should be reserved for the rehearsal dinner.