Help! Too many speeches for reception!

Have them do it at the rehearsal dinner?

I second @MMB - your guests will thank you.

I second MMB. Too many speeches at weddings go on forever. RD is a great place for the extras!

I'd have everyone but the moh and bm do them at the rehearsal dinner. 5 is way too many for a wedding. if you end up doing them all at the wedding, i would keep people on a pretty strict time limit (2-3 mins tops).

That's too many. We had 3 (not including me and DH welcome toast which was at a different time) and that started to seem like it dragged on... I would definitely see about having them say something at the rehearsal dinner instead.

I could maybe try suggesting that. The rehearsal dinner is a smaller crowd so I'm not sure how they'll take it. I considered telling them no more than 45 seconds to a minute each but I still think 5 speeches may be too much

Rehearsal dinner!

The most speeches I have seen is 3 and that felt long to me. They were really good speeches, it was just a lot of talking to focus on. I agree that the rehearsal dinner would be good for the other bridesmaids.

Agree with PP's- Rehearsal dinner!

Speeches are so painful to sit through... I think they really put a lull in the reception, where everyone would rather be socializing/drinking/dancing instead. After BM and MOH, my attention span goes out the window.

My only memories of speeches at weddings are that they drone on too long and that most of the best men and mohs suck at public speaking.

I second doing them at the rehearsal dinner if not having 1 short one from each side.

5 speeches is way too many. Hopefully they'll like the rehearsal dinner option!

I would definitely have one or more give a speech at the rehearsal dinner. We are having 4 speeches at the wedding (my dad, my MOH, his dad who is also his BM, and one of his groomsmen). I would also give your speakers some parameters (approx. length of speech). I have been to weddings where one or more speeches went on and ON and it was so awkward. Also, make sure your DJ knows who the speech givers are so it doesn't turn into open mic night. Once people start going up and grabbing the mic, before you know it an hour of your reception is eaten up by speeches most people don't want to hear

I was thinking of how to handle this too. I've seen it done both ways. If more than the BM and MOH speak its usually over dinner so that it isn't holding up/ interrupting anything. I have 5 on each side i cant see 10 speeches lol. So I am going to go with both Maid&Matron and BM.