25 Unforgettable Engagement Speech Examples That Will Leave Guests Speechless

Hi, Friend! Jen Glantz her. I’m a bestselling author, the first ever bridesmaid for hire and have been hired by hundreds of brides all over the world. Let’s talk about unforgettable engagement speech examples.

Let’s be real for a second: standing up in front of a room full of people is terrifying. If the thought of holding a microphone while everyone stares at you makes you want to crawl under the table, you are definitely not alone. Actually, 68% of couples feel anxious about giving engagement speeches, and I’m willing to bet the percentage is even higher for the guests giving toasts.

I still remember standing at my best friend’s engagement party, clutching a champagne flute so hard I thought the stem was going to snap. My mind went totally blank. The funny story I had rehearsed in the shower suddenly didn’t seem funny at all. That jittery feeling is universal. But honestly? Preparation is the cheat code. Once you have a solid idea of what you want to say, the fear turns into excitement (or at least manageable nerves).

Quick Resources:

• Write a confident, natural toast using the Engagement Speech Generator

• Explore everything available in All Wedding Tools

We’re going to walk through some **unforgettable engagement speech examples** that range from tear-jerkers to belly laughs, so you have the perfect words ready when the glass clinks.

TL;DR

If you are skimming this on your phone in the bathroom five minutes before you have to speak, here is the survival guide:

• Be you, not a poet. If you don’t use words like “betwixt” in real life, don’t use them in your speech.

• Keep it short. Three minutes is the sweet spot. Anything longer and people start eyeing the buffet.

• Read the room. Is everyone taking shots, or is grandma crying in the corner? Match that energy.

• Pick a lane. Don’t try to be a stand-up comic *and* a philosopher. Just pick one emotion and stick to it.

• Steal these ideas. Seriously, use the 25 examples below as a script. We won’t tell.

The Blueprint for a Killer Speech

Modern weddings are all about real moments, not generic templates. We need to move away from the stiff, rehearsed lines of the past. The most important thing? Authenticity. If you try to sound like a poet from the 1800s when you usually speak in memes and movie quotes, the audience is going to zone out. Just sound like yourself.

Also, brevity is your best friend. You want to land your point within two to three minutes. Anything longer risks losing the crowd’s attention, especially if there is an open bar waiting. Before you finalize your draft, skim these 7 wedding toast mistakes to avoid so you don’t accidentally make things awkward.

The Vibe	The Old Way (Boring)	The New Way (Better)
Authenticity	Using formal words you found in a thesaurus.	Speaking like you talk over coffee (or wine).
Length	A 10-minute history lesson of their relationship.	3 minutes max. Leave them wanting more.
Tone	Super serious and polite.	Dynamic. Mix a little humor with the sweet stuff.

You also have to know your audience. Balance the inside jokes with stuff everyone understands so you don’t alienate half the room. And don’t try to do too much—trying to make them laugh, cry, and think deeply all in 180 seconds usually ends up being a mess. Pick a lane and stay in it.

Turn your ideas into a polished toast with the Engagement Speech Generator

Category 1: The “Short & Sweet” Toasts

This category is for the people who hate the spotlight or just know that the crowd is thirsty. These speeches prove you don’t need a monologue to make an impact.

Create a short, meaningful toast using the Engagement Speech Generator

The “3-Sentence Structure” (A Cheat Sheet):

1. The Hook: Acknowledge the room (e.g., “I promised I’d be brief so we can get back to the open bar…”).

2. The Heart: One nice thing about the couple (e.g., “I’ve never seen two people look at each other the way you do.”).

3. The Cheers: Raise the glass (e.g., “To a lifetime of that look. Cheers!”).

1. The “Finally” Toast

We all know that couple who dated for a decade before getting engaged. This speech acknowledges the long haul. It works best for couples who have been together for five+ years. You can say something like, “We’ve been waiting for this day since the Obama administration, but seeing you two together now, I know the wait was worth every second.” It’s funny because it’s true.

2. The Anchor Quote

If you want to use a quote, skip the overused “Love is patient” stuff. Try something that actually fits their vibe, like the Dr. Seuss quote about mutual weirdness: “We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.” It’s sweet without being cheesy.

3. The “Team” Toast

Highlight how good of a team they are. This works great if you’ve seen them go through some stress together. You might say, “I’ve watched you two handle cross-country moves, job changes, and assembling IKEA furniture without killing each other. If you can survive an IKEA trip, you can survive marriage.”

4. The Future-Gazing Toast

Skip the history lesson and talk entirely about what comes next. This is perfect for couples who haven’t been together very long. “I don’t know all the stories of your past, but I can’t wait to watch you build a future full of ugly renovations, dogs, and beautiful memories.”

Category 2: Funny & Lighthearted

If you’re the funny friend, lean into it. Just remember: it’s a toast, not a roast (okay, maybe a *little* roast). If you need more inspiration for adding humor without being cringey, check out these short funny wedding speeches.

Balance humor and heart with the Engagement Speech Generator

5. The “Swipe Right” Origin Story

Be honest about how they met. If it was an app, own it. “I remember when [Name] showed me your profile. We weren’t sure about the shirtless fish picture, but I’m glad she swiped right anyway.” Just make sure grandma won’t be too scandalized.

6. The Gentle Roast

Poke fun at quirks before pivoting to the sweet stuff. “I love you, but you are terrible at refilling the Brita filter. Luckily, you found someone who loves you enough to stay hydrated regardless.” It shows you know them well.

7. The “Third Wheel” Perspective

Frame this speech from the viewpoint of the best friend who “survived” the dating phase. “I am officially retiring from my professional career as your third wheel. It’s been an honor, but I’m ready to hand over the reins.”

8. The Survival Guide

Offer “advice” on living with your friend. “Rule number one: Don’t touch the thermostat. Rule number two: Tacos are a valid dinner every night of the week.” It’s entertaining and keeps things light.

Category 3: Proposal Speeches (The “Ask”)

These are for the person popping the question right after the “Yes.” The adrenaline is high here, so keep it from the heart. If you are planning this moment, dive deeper into our guide on Mastering the art of an unforgettable engagement proposal speech.

Shape a memorable proposal moment with the Engagement Speech Generator

9. The “Why Now” Speech

Pinpoint the mundane moment you knew. “It wasn’t on a fancy vacation. It was while we were grocery shopping on a Tuesday, arguing about cereal, that I realized I didn’t want to do mundane things with anyone else.” Real life is more romantic than movies sometimes.

10. The “Adventure” Pitch

Frame the marriage as the next big trip. “We’ve traveled the world together, but I want to trade our travel itineraries for a life commitment. This is the biggest adventure yet.” Great for couples who are always on a plane.

11. The List of Reasons

Do a rapid-fire list of the little things. “I love how you take your coffee. I love how you treat my parents. I love that you never spoil the end of movies.” It builds great momentum.

12. The “Better Person” Speech

Focus on how they changed you. “Since meeting you, I’m calmer, I’m happier, and I’m just a better human being.” It’s a classic for a reason—it works.

Category 4: Deeply Sentimental & Story-Driven

Maids of Honor, Best Men, or siblings usually crush this category because they have the dirt (and the heart).

Turn personal stories into a powerful speech using the Engagement Speech Generator

Who You Are	The Vibe	The Approach
Childhood Bestie	Nostalgia	Connect who they were as a kid to who they are now.
Sibling	Protective	Share a story of “approving” the partner.
Roommate	Witness	Talk about how their mood changed after they met “The One.”

13. The “Invisible String”

Talk about the near-misses. “It’s crazy to think we were at the same concert in 2015 and lived three blocks apart for years without meeting. The universe was just waiting for the right time.”

14. The “Moment I Knew” (Friend’s Perspective)

Tell them when *you* knew it was serious. “I knew it was real when she stayed home to make you soup instead of coming on our girls’ trip. She never misses a trip.” Concrete stories always win.

15. The “Home” Metaphor

“After years of looking for excitement, you finally found a home in each other.” Simple, effective, and usually gets a tear or two.

16. The Growth Arc

Highlight how they grew up together. “You’ve seen each other through bad haircuts, breakups, and mistakes. You earned this engagement.” Perfect for high school sweethearts.

Category 5: For Parents & Family

Parents, this is your time to welcome the new kid to the block. If you need more tips, check out our Father of the bride wedding speech guide 2025.

17. The Welcoming of the New Child

“We always wanted another son, and we are so lucky that our daughter found one for us. We have plenty of room in our hearts (and at the dinner table) for you.”

18. The Passing of the Torch

Acknowledge the shift in rank. “I used to be the first call when something went wrong. Now I’m happy to be the second call, because I know she has you.” Warning: bring tissues.

19. The Childhood Flashback

“She always wanted to marry a superhero. You might not wear a cape, but seeing how you support her, you’re definitely her Clark Kent.”

20. The “Two Families” Toast

“Tonight isn’t just about two people; it’s about two tribes becoming one.” Great for big parties where everyone is meeting for the first time.

Category 6: Modern & Interactive

For the Gen Z couples or anyone who wants to break the mold.

21. The “Crowdsourced” Speech

Get the guests involved. “I asked a few people here tonight to describe you in one word. I got ‘Loud,’ ‘Loyal,’ and ‘Hungry.’ I think that sums it up perfectly.”

How to Crowdsource:

Don’t guess—text the group chat before the party:

• “What’s the first word you think of for [Name]?”

• “What’s [Name’s] most annoying habit?”

• “If their relationship was a movie, what genre is it?”

Use the answers to build your speech. It feels like a group effort.

22. The Time Capsule

Talk to the future version of them. “I hope that ten years from now, you still look at each other the way you are right now—even when the house is messy and you’re exhausted.”

23. The “Vow Preview”

Make funny, low-stakes promises. “I promise to help you plan this wedding without complaining about the cost of napkins.”

24. The Song Lyric Deconstruction

“Taylor Swift said love is a ruthless game unless you play it good and right. Watching you two, I think you’re winning the game.”

25. The “No Advice” Speech

“I’m not going to stand here and tell you how to be married. You guys already know how to love each other better than anyone I know. Just keep doing that.”

Dreading the Microphone?

Look, reading a list of ideas is way easier than actually writing and performing them. We know that staring at a blank page (or shaking at the thought of speaking) is paralyzing.

Go from blank page to confident delivery with the Engagement Speech Generator

Feature	Doing it Yourself	Hiring a Pro
Time	Hours of staring at a blinking cursor.	One quick call.
Stress	High (Panic mode).	Low (Zen mode).
Result	“Um, yeah, cheers.”	Polished, funny, and uniquely you.

Bridesmaid for Hire is basically your support system for wedding anxiety. Our team offers professional wedding speech coaching services to turn your jumbled thoughts into something that sounds amazing.

The “Fixer” Effect:

• Your Draft: “I love you guys. You are great. Remember that time in college? That was crazy. Anyway, cheers.”

• The Polished Version: “From our chaotic college nights to this beautiful engagement, I’ve watched you grow. But the one thing that hasn’t changed is how much you light up when you’re together.”

We act as “fixers” who handle the words so you can just focus on not tripping on your way to the mic.

Final Thoughts

The best speeches don’t come from a template; they come from honesty. Whether you want to be funny, sentimental, or just quick, the goal is to make the couple feel seen. Pick a style that fits *you* and commit to it. With these **unforgettable engagement speech examples**, you’ve got everything you need to grab that mic and crush it.