When and who does the speeches at a wedding reception and when are they done?

I am getting married in 9 days and I am confused on how the reception is suppose to go?? When do the speeches start? Whom does the speeches? I am so lost. Please please helpThe speeches are before, during or after dinner . depending on what you prefer to flow to be. But as as seasoned wedding guest, do them during or AFTER. The speeches ALWAYS go longer than planned, and if your guests are sitting there waiting for the speech to end before a morsel of food hits their plate . you tune out after a while.Usually the maid of honour and best man give a speech, both sets of parents say a few words and then the bride and groom say a little speech to thank everyone. You can always have more/less, whatever you are comfortable with. There is sometimes a "toast" to the bride and then the couple, which are really just two other very short speeches given by a close family member or another bridal party member. But I have been to weddings with and without the official toasts.Usually before dinner the MC will introduce everyone and set the "tone" for the night, and do a little thank you right before the meal (and a prayer if you are religious).We are doing most of our speeches after the dinner, but the best man and maid of honour speeches will be in between/at the end of each course . just so people aren't sitting through a solid hour of speeches before or after dinner.I can't stress this enough . don't do the speeches before dinner. It's really a pain, especially if there are no hors d'ouvres at the cocktail reception. I once went to a wedding that was 3 pm, there was no cocktail reception and the speeches went past 8 pm. THEN the bridal party always gets served first, and it was buffet style (nothing wrong with that but) our table didn't eat dinner until nearly 9 pm I was so tired after dinner I couldn't even think about enjoying the dancing.Keep your guests fed and satisfied with dinner first, and then they will happily sit through and enjoy the speeches and merrily toast you all night long Best Wishes