Nope. There’s no such thing as “wedding police“, and therefore no rule that says a parent has to speak at your wedding. Or that anyone MUST speak – especially if they’re not comfortable.
If they want to say something, and you want them to, perfect!
But if public speaking is a no-go, or even getting up and speaking at your wedding (it’s not public speaking), there are other ways to include them:
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A pre-recorded message or toast prepared days ahead. You could even work with the videographer to have this recorded on the wedding day, after the ceremony, but in a private area at the venue, away from guests.
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A prepared speech, but read by the MC.
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A shared moment during the ceremony instead of the reception. However, this is usually the most emotionally charged part of the day.
I’ve seen weddings where the parent quietly pulled the couple aside and gave their “speech” in private. Tears, hugs, no microphone needed.
The key is it’s your wedding, and your guests aren’t going to judge you or give you a score based on who did or didn’t speak. Nobody is going to leave in a huff because a parent (or ANY parent) didn’t speak at your wedding.
I hope this helps!
