The traditional order of toasts has a certain logic. The first speech leads up to a toast to bride and groom, the most important people of the day. In effect at a traditional first wedding they are the honoured guests of the hosts, her parents. But while as host her father can make a speech or toast to his new son-in-law, it would be a bit immodest for him to sing the praises of his own daughter, so often a friend of the family is chosen to make a speech and toast to both bride and groom, particularly if the father is going to speak later. The honour of making the first speech may go to the best speaker or the best friend, providing your choice keeps as many people as possible happy! It falls to the groom to reply to the first speech on behalf of himself and his bride. Whom should he thank? Both his in-laws, especially if they've paid for or organized the wedding and especially his mother-in-law. Who else has helped? Presumably the bridesmaids. So he ends with a toast to the bridesmaids and/or Matron of Honour.  

The bride, however, may speak instead of her husband or as well as him. If there are no bridesmaids the groom can make a toast to his bride, who can speak next in reply. The bride can propose a toast to the bridegroom if the first toast was to her alone, or to the bridesmaids or Matron of Honour. Alternatively she can propose a toast to the family of the bridegroom, or if they are not present, to the guests.

 The best man replies on behalf of the helpers (the bridesmaids). If there are no bridesmaids he does not have to speak, though he may wish to do so. The best man or the groom can end his speech with a toast to the hosts, and the bride's father or mother, or both, can reply.

 An optional final toast to нм the Queen is made at most Jewish weddings in the UK. Lastly the best man or the toastmaster reads the telegrams in full if there are only a few, or reads the wittiest in full and then just gives the names of the senders of the others if there are many.

 Variations to these customs can be made when there are no bridesmaids, or parents, or for a second marriage where the couple are paying for their own wedding.

 When you have decided who is speaking, tell them all how many speakers there are and in which order they are speaking. Also check whom they will be toasting.

 Surprise Announcements The surprise delivery of a large gift, or the surprise arrival of a friend or relative from overseas, can be great fun. However, the best man or chief bridesmaid will have to take responsibility for the announcement, and the safekeeping of any gift. Most gifts are sent to the bride's mother's home in advance. That way the donor's cards are not muddled in the confusion of the day, and presents are kept safely and not left in hotels or halls where they might go astray.

 It is the bride's day, and surprise announcements of the engagements and forthcoming weddings of other guests might cause illwill. They could deflect attention from the bride. The announcement of the bride's sister's engagement would be acceptable, but only if the bride herself knows in advance and gladly agrees to the public announcement being made at her wedding.

 Language Barriers It can be a problem if, for example, the groom speaks no English: either he, or the bride and her family, may feel he ought to have the opportunity to speak at his own wedding, or that he has a duty to honour his hosts by thanking them publicly.

 There are two solutions. Either he speaks in his own language and an interpreter delivers a translation; the translator can be the bride or another person. Or he can remain silent except for nodding, smiling and lifting his glass, allowing the bride to speak on their behalf, making due reference to him - my husband has asked me, etc.

 The same system will be adopted if you have two receptions, one in each country. The speakers just have to do everything twice, taking note of which family is playing host.