Wedding Speech by Brother of the Bride or Groom

A good wedding speech by a brother lasts about three minutes, which is 350 to 450 spoken words. Open with who you are, tell one short story about your sister or brother, say something warm about the new partner and their family, thank your parents, and end with a toast or a blessing. One good story beats ten jokes.

Below is a simple outline, then three full sample speeches you can change to fit your family. We wrote them ourselves.

The Five-Part Outline

Write it out in full, read it aloud with a timer, and cut anything that runs over four minutes. Most guests are holding a plate or waiting for the dance floor.

Sample Speech, Brother of the Bride

This one is for an elder brother at the sangeet or the reception. Change the names, the town and the story.

"Good evening, everyone. For those who don't know me, I am Rahul, Priya's elder brother. Elder by four years, which she has never once let me forget.

When Priya was eight, our father bought one bicycle for both of us in Jaipur. The deal was that we would share it. Within a week, the cycle was hers. I don't know how. Nobody knows how. That is Priya. She does not argue, she does not shout. She just smiles until the world agrees with her.

She also stayed up with me the night before my engineering exams, making Maggi at 2 am, even though she had her own board exam the next week. That is also Priya.

Kunal, when you first came home to meet Papa, you were so nervous you called him 'sir' eleven times. I counted. That is when I knew you were serious. Over the last year I have seen how you listen to her, how you call our mother every Sunday without being told, and how you lose to Priya at Ludo without complaining. Welcome to the family. You have no idea what you have signed up for, and I mean that with love.

To Kunal's parents, thank you for raising such a good man, and for welcoming my sister like a daughter.

Mummy, Papa, you have been planning this day since she was born. Everything tonight is because of you.

Please raise your glasses. To Priya and Kunal. May you always share the cycle."

That runs about three minutes at a normal pace.

Sample Speech, Brother of the Groom

For a younger or elder brother of the groom, usually at the reception or a joint sangeet.

"Hello, everyone. I am Aditya, Arjun's younger brother, and the person who got blamed for everything he broke between 2001 and 2012.

Arjun has always been the responsible one. When we were kids in Pune, he had a notebook where he wrote down every rupee of his pocket money. Every rupee. I used to borrow from him, and he would show me the page. With interest.

So when he told us he had met someone, I knew she must be special, because this is the first thing in his life he did not plan in that notebook.

Sneha, you have made my brother laugh more in two years than in the previous twenty-eight. You have also made him buy clothes that are not grey. The whole family thanks you for that.

To Sneha's parents, uncle and aunty, thank you for trusting us with your daughter. We will take care of her. And if Arjun forgets, I will remind him.

Aai, Baba, you gave us everything. Tonight is yours as much as his.

Arjun and Sneha, may your life together have more laughter than budget meetings. Cheers."

Sample Speech, Younger Brother to His Sister

Many younger brothers are more nervous than anyone else at the wedding. A short, honest speech is enough.

"Hi, everyone. I am Karan, Anjali's younger brother.

Didi, I have never said this to you, so I am saying it in front of 300 people, which seems fair. You were my second mother. You did my homework, you hid my report card from Papa in Class 7, and you lent me your scooty for my first date. You never asked for anything back.

Vivek bhaiya, she is the strongest person I know. Please don't tell her I said that. Look after her, and let her win the arguments. It is easier.

Mummy, Papa, thank you. Didi, the house is going to be very quiet. I am going to miss you every single day. Love you."

A Few Hinglish Lines Families Like

Mixing in a line or two of Hindi often gets the elders smiling. Use them only if that is how your family speaks.

• "Didi, aaj se tumhara room mera hai. Bas yahi kehna tha."
• "Bhaiya, ab se ghar ka remote bhabhi ke haath mein hai. Sorry."
• "Mummy Papa, aapki mehnat ka phal aaj stage par khada hai."
• "Kunal, welcome to the family. Ab bhaag nahi sakte."

For lines in other languages, keep it to one sentence and say it slowly so guests from the other family can follow.

Sangeet or Reception, Which Is Better

The sangeet is less formal. Jokes land better, and the crowd is mostly family and close friends. Our page on the sangeet ceremony explains how the evening runs.

The reception has more guests from work and the wider circle, and many of them do not know the stories. Keep the reception speech shorter, about two minutes, and leave out family nicknames that need explaining.

Ask the organiser or the anchor when your slot is. Speeches before dinner get more attention than speeches after.

What to Leave Out

1. Ex-girlfriends, ex-boyfriends and old crushes. Even as a joke.
2. Jokes about the other family, their town, their food or their language.
3. Stories that embarrass your sister in front of her new in-laws.
4. Money, dowry, jewellery or the cost of the wedding.
5. Inside jokes that only your college friends will get.
6. Long thank-you lists. Thank the parents and "everyone who worked so hard", and stop.

If you are not sure about a line, read it to your mother. If she frowns, cut it.

Tips for the Day

Print the speech in a large font or keep it on your phone with the screen brightness up. Hold the mic close, about one hand's width from your mouth. Look at the couple during the story and at the guests during the toast.

Speak slower than you think you need to. Nervous speakers rush, and halls echo. If your voice breaks at the emotional part, pause, smile, and carry on. Nobody minds.

For shorter lines to write in a card, see our wedding wishes for your sister or wedding wishes for your brother.