Advice for Your Wedding Speech
There have been reports of the groom saying something along the lines of "wooo, I'm Freaking Married, get your drink on... wooo wooo," before collapsing on the floor. Then there was the other end, where the speaker kept everyone awake for an entire hour before finally leaving.
Many of the wedding speech guides we've seen focus on WHAT to say instead of HOW to say it.
Who hands them out? When do they usually get handed out? What about them makes them a "must"? Dare we stray from the norm? Just what is the distinction, anyway?
The wedding speeches and toasts are some of our favourite parts of the whole wedding day, while being the most nerve-wracking things to compose and deliver. The speeches at a wedding are as anticipated as the bride and groom's vows. Everyone in the room leaves with a new understanding of the pair, as well as a sense of camaraderie and shared experience.
Speeches may go from "boring" to "BOOM!!" with the right presentation, preparation, and writing from the heart. PERFECTLY ON POINT. To sum up, the purpose of this site is to provide helpful hints for the wedding speech. Writing the perfect wedding speech can be difficult, whether you're the groom, best man, maid of honour, or just a guest.
Planning and communicating in advance is essential if you want to give other guests the floor at your wedding reception.
Here are some tried-and-true strategies for crafting an outstanding wedding speech or toast, as well as video samples to serve as inspiration and put the pressure off!
Now is the time to relax, grab yourself a glass of your favourite mid-strength lager, and let me help you overcome the obstacles you'll face on the way to stag paradise.
Before the blessing is said at the beginning of a gathering, the customary welcome toast is made. Immediately following the first dance and any parent dances, the bride and groom will take their seats.
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Who delivers the speeches and toasts?
The groom typically gives a speech on the couple's behalf at weddings, while the best man, maid of honour, and hosts all deliver speeches and toasts. In all seriousness, though, it can be anyone you like. We've seen sisters make toasts to the newlyweds after the MOH and Best Man, and mothers give toasts to the groom. If you're going off the beaten path, keep the speeches to a minimum (no more than five) and avoid having an open mic where anyone can speak.
While the best man in some cultures may just give a speech, in others he may give the best man a figurative or physical grilling. It's not enough to simply have interesting material; you also need the correct amount of drama, humour, and so on.
The father of the bride or the host(s) of the wedding typically delivers the traditional welcoming toast. This speech can be given by either parent individually or together, breaking with precedent.
When to deliver wedding speeches?
The majority of wedding toasts and speeches are delivered during the reception, either before or after dinner. If you'd like them to be a bit more private, or if you're not having a typical wedding reception, you could always have them at the rehearsal dinner.
Wedding Speech Sequence
When speaking at a wedding, knowing your time slot is crucial. People have been known to forget their lines, get their jokes ready out of context, or simply not realise they were expected to speak at all.
Knowing WHEN you are supposed to speak can help keep the meeting on track, and cooperation amongst presenters is crucial. Below is a suggested order for speeches, separated into those that are "Traditional" (meaning that individual is typically called upon to speak) and those that are "Optional" (not compulsory).
Both sets of parents may deliver a toast to greet guests and congratulate their kid, rather than acting as hosts, because modern couples are less likely to be deeply conventional and more likely to pay for their own weddings. This address serves primarily as a smooth segue from the guests' arrivals and dancing to the evening meal.
Introduce yourself first
Introduce yourself and share the story of how you know the bride and groom or are linked to them. It's possible that not everyone is familiar with you; therefore, some background information would be helpful.
Provide a pertinent example with a story
Review the points you made before you began writing, and pick an anecdote that illustrates an aspect of the bridegroom or groom that you find particularly endearing. The goal is to make this warm, charming, and suitable. Be sure the narrative has a purpose so that you can easily incorporate it into the rest of your presentation.
If you are hosting a more secular celebration and a blessing isn't your thing, that's fine. Even if you decide to forego hiring help, it's polite to have a welcoming toast at the beginning of the evening. It can be unsettling if a group of people dance and eat together without exchanging any words.
Describe the first time you saw your partner again after meeting them
Tell the couple's narrative from your point of view; everyone in the room has probably heard or seen a different part of their romance. Describe the first time you saw their future spouse and how you knew it was the one.
Share the good things about them with their companion. In every speech, whether it's for the bride or the groom, you should make reference to both of them. Describe all the reasons your best friend's relationship is perfect for her, and what you love most about her.
Share your optimism for their relationship
If you are married, please share any helpful suggestions you have for maintaining a happy marriage here. Even if you're not a married person, you should still wish the couple the best. Create a bright, hopeful, and heartfelt vision for their future together as a couple, and close with your well-wishes and advise.
When the wedding minister or other close family member (such as a parent or grandparent) is present at the reception, they will traditionally offer the blessing before the meal is served.
If your speech is excessively meandering or off-topic, feel free to trim it down. Keep in mind that you want to honour the couple with a memorable message, so don't be afraid to sprinkle in some light humour. If you're giving a speech at a wedding, for instance, you might want to condense a paragraph into a single sentence. That helped me convey the same meaning in fewer words without sacrificing any of the impact. Cosmopolitan events is your ultimate Wedding Reception Venue to create your dream wedding.
Wrap up with a toast
It's often just as difficult to wrap up a speech as it was to launch it, which is why a toast is the ideal way to go out. Request a toast in honour of the happy couple and, in your mind, your excellent speech.
What makes a great wedding speech and toast
Getting started is the most challenging aspect of speech writing. Make a list of your favourite characteristics of the bride and groom if you find yourself at a loss for words or having trouble narrowing down the stories you want to tell. If they are the funniest person you know, make them the focus of your speech and sprinkle in anecdotes about the weird things you've done together.
Since everyone has a distinct speaking pace, the speech should be limited to no more than four to six minutes at the most (100-160 words per minute). Consider timing yourself as you compose the initial draught of your expression. When you're finished, you'll have a time standard by which to measure future progress. Even with plenty of preparation, people have been shown to speed up their speech when it's time to deliver it.
A different option is for the newlyweds to make a toast to their guests. We decided to give a toast to our wedding guests to thank them for coming and for all of the support they gave us leading up to the big day. This kind greeting could also be given by a single member of the family, such as an aunt, uncle, grandparent, or godparent.
There are probably many great things to say about the bride and groom, so narrowing your speech's focus to your top three will help you deliver your best.
Use this outline as a starting point for crafting a fantastic speech that moves the narrative along from beginning to end.
One important rule
Always make sure you have enough of time to practise your presentation. If you don't get moving, you'll be stumbling over your words while you stare at your paper. This prevents you from looking at your guests in the eye and engaging them in conversation. At the very latest, one week prior to the wedding, you should be ready to deliver your speech. Have a rough plan in place, and then spend the time leading up to the wedding perfecting your performance. At the very least once a night, practise in front of a mirror until you have it down (Old school rules).
That's up to you! Having attended and photographed many weddings, I can attest that it is quite fine for the bride and groom to opt out of exchanging vows and vowels.
Keep a copy on hand just in case
To back up your presentation, make two copies (physical and digital). If your phone dies, you'll be glad you printed out your statement. Keep a copy on your phone and in your inside pocket, but know that you will be busy all day long and without juice.
There may not be a convenient place to plug in your electronic devices; we've had brides and grooms ask for USB chargers on several occasions in the hours leading up to the reception because they forgot to bring theirs.
With only the phone's copy available, you'll have to "wing it" if this occurs. That, or you'll have to rush to someone else to access the digital copy you stored in a service like DropBox or sent to yourself via email. You'll be disappointed in how your actual speech compares to the one you practised.
You shouldn't become drunk before hand
Don't get intoxicated in front of everyone and start stumbling over your remarks. We guarantee that if you take a couple of swigs of liquid courage, you will be able to make it through those few minutes in front of the audience.
Avoid making it about yourself
Telling a tale to make your speech more personal is fine, but don't lose sight of the fact that the speech is in honour of the couple. When it's your turn to speak, once you've introduced yourself, make sure you address the bride, groom, and then the two of them together with the proper titles and honorifics.
Having an offline copy of the file on your phone is another helpful hint. Negative reactions from the audience are possible in some cases. The only way to get any kind of answer during our wedding in the middle of nowhere was from a guest with a Telstra cell, and even then we had to get up on the roof to obtain even a weak signal. No other network could connect, and the response was less than optimum at some of the larger venues.
These speeches might be presented either before the meal or after it.
More people would choose not to have speeches if they weren't regarded as mandatory.
Maintain brevity and sweetness
There will probably be two other speakers before and after you, so don't go over the allotted five minutes (max). The happy couple will be eternally grateful, as will all of the guests.
Our rule of thumb for every wedding speech is this: keep it brief. There will be competing speakers, and you don't want to bore the audience to death. In all honesty, you do need to cover more ground than can be accomplished in five minutes, thus the five-minute rule does not apply; yet, you should not speak for more than ten.
It's safe to say that most weddings in 2017 will look significantly different from those in the past, whether the couple opts for a lavish, elaborate, and traditional affair or instead rides up on separate quad bikes.
You've probably heard this joke before if you've attended to more than one wedding. People only bring up the "internet" as an excuse for a lacklustre speech when they're feeling uneasy in front of an audience. Just put in the time to prepare the best speech you can and you should be good. "Stay Classy," as my friend likes to remark.
To prepare, practise in advance
Practice what you're about to say aloud, either with a companion or in front of a mirror. It'll help you calm your anxiety and check your flow before the big moment.
During the speech writing process, you should experience complete self-assurance and take great joy in each and every one of your speeches.
Keep a written record of your presentation
All the anticipation and anxiety of the day may cause you to forget key points of your speech. You should write it down and bring it with you even if you want to memorise it. No one will blame you if you take notes, but try to avoid reading directly from them.
Points to be taken
Invite your chosen speakers to share some words at your wedding by hand a few months beforehand. Make it clear to your wedding party early on that speeches are not required, and then let the selected individuals know they will be speaking.
Try not to be too humorous
Dad jokes are great and all, but there is such a thing as trying too hard to be humorous. Don't forget that you're supposed to be focusing on the couple, therefore it would be counterproductive to make joke after joke.
Feel free to express your emotions
Inspire self-confidene in your daughter by telling her how stunning she is. Just tell your kid that you can't believe he's grown up and settled down with a wife. The father of the bride or groom speech can never be too emotional, yet it is possible to have too many jokes.
While I type this, I'm listening to a Spotify recording of Broadway musicals, because one of my favourite parts of writing wedding speeches is coming up with the mushy, romantic sections.
Greetings on the addition of your new child to the family!
Celebrating the joining of two families with a toast to the new addition. A warm welcome will be the cherry on top of your excellent speech, as this is a major occasion.
Find yourself in need of some Father of the Bride speech ideas.
Not to worry, though; the procedure was identical to that which I have used for the past many years in writing best man speeches. The speech is co-created with the bride or groom, who provides me with background information and details why the person opposite them is special.
It is generally recommended that speakers be prepared, whether that means writing down their entire speech to read verbatim or simply jotting down some bullet points.
Advice for the Bride and Groom
Thank everyone
Begin by expressing your gratitude to the parents of the bride and groom. Thank the people who helped plan and execute the wedding, as well as those who attended the ceremony and afterwards. Do not be afraid to let your guard down and express your feelings to those you care about.
Some people have said to me in the past that they feel the emotional investment in a speech is diminished when you have it written for you. Time and time again, I am amazed by the level of detail and consideration that customers put into it.
Do your planning carefully! Consider holding the speeches at dinner if you plan on starting the reception early. You can't let your visitors go without serving them supper, even if they enjoyed the cocktail hour. Some of them have come from quite a distance just to share in your joy.
Concentrate on your partner
After you've finished thanking everyone, turn the speech over to your spouse. Express your deepest affection for them and the significance of this day to you. Be as descriptive as you can and include personal details when describing the qualities of the person you adore.
Think back on the good times you've shared together.
Share the incredible tale of how you two met, fell in love, were engaged, or how you arrived at this momentous occasion.
To put it simply, if you wanted to lose a lot of weight or feel fitter, you would see a personal trainer, and if you had plenty of great ideas for your home but weren't confident with big structural work, you would engage a builder.
They attended the ceremony and are now seated at the reception supper. Don't starve them into submission! After the dances, welcome toast, and blessing, your guests are hungry for that hot supper, even if salads are on the table.
Give a toast to your family and the years to come.
At this time, it's likely that nobody in the room isn't wiping away a tear, but it's important to give a final toast to your spouse and the people who have helped make your wedding day so special. Raise a glass to your friends and family's unwavering support and your hopes and goals for the future as a married couple.
I'm here to support you in whichever role you play, be it as a partner, Best man, Maid of Honor, Bridesmaid, Groomsman, Bride, Groom, or friend. Cheers to the future of weddings, where the speeches last a total of fifteen hours!
A good time to hold the wedding party speeches is after the plated meals have been delivered to each table or after everyone has had a chance to visit the buffet. The talks will be audible and enjoyable for guests even as they dine. The caterer and the partygoers will appreciate it.
Conclusion
Writing and giving a toast at a wedding can be one of the most nerve-wracking experiences of your life. Rather than focusing on HOW to say something, many wedding speech manuals outline WHAT to say. Methods that have been shown to result in a memorable wedding toast or speech are provided below.
Most speeches and toasts take place during the reception, though they can also be given before or after the meal. The following is a suggested order for speeches, broken down into "Traditional" (i.e., the person is usually asked to speak) and "Optional" (not required) categories (not compulsory).
Choose a story that shows off a charming quality in the groom or bridegroom. Make sure the story has a specific function so that it can be readily integrated into the remainder of your presentation. It might be as challenging to conclude a speech as it was to begin it.
Ask for a toast to the newlyweds and your own great oratory skills. If you're at a loss for words, make a list of what you like best about the bride and groom.
The time to be ready to give your speech at the wedding is one week before the big day. You should always leave yourself plenty of time to prepare for a presentation. You should print your statement just in case your phone fails.
After all that preparation, you won't be happy with how your speech turns out in front of an audience. Another useful piece of advice is to save a copy of the file on your phone so that you may access it without an internet connection.
It's fine to share a personal story in order to put a human touch on your speech, but don't lose sight of the fact that you're giving this speech in the couple's honor. Don't go over your five minutes; there are two speakers before and two speakers after you (max).
While a father of the bride or groom's speech can never have too many laughs, it is possible to have too many tears. Be mindful that the event's intended focus is the couple, and that it would be unhelpful to make joke after joke. Coming up with the sappy, sentimental elements of wedding speeches is one of my favourite parts of composing them.
Whether you plan to read your complete prepared speech or just a few key points, it's always best to come prepared. If you're thinking of getting the party started early, you might want to think about having the speeches during supper.
Some individuals believe that when you have a speech written for you, you lose some of the impact it would have had emotionally on your audience. Raise a glass to your loved ones and the years ahead.
Tell the amazing story of how you two met, fell in love, were engaged, or reached this significant occasion. After the plated meals have been served to all of the guests, that's when you should have the wedding party speeches.
Content Summary
- As much as the bride and groom's vows, the wedding speeches are looked forward to by guests.
- Properly presented, meticulously researched, and written from the heart.
- It's not easy to come up with the proper words for a wedding speech, whether you're the groom, best man, maid of honour, or just a guest.
- If you want to make sure that other people get a chance to speak at your wedding reception, it's important to plan and communicate with other guests ahead of time.
- At weddings, several people offer speeches or toasts, including the groom, best man, maid of honour, and hosts.
- The traditional wedding toast is usually given by the groom's father or the wedding's host(s).
- It is customary to have some sort of speech or toast at a wedding, and it is usually given at the reception, either before or after the meal.
- It is very important to know when your allotted time is at a wedding if you are planning on giving a speech.
- Acknowledge the wonderful qualities they possess and pass them on to their partner.
- Both the bride and groom should be mentioned in each speech given at the wedding.
- An alternate tradition is a toast from the newlyweds to their friends and family.
- Don't ever give a presentation without first giving yourself ample time to prepare.
- You should be prepared to give your speech no later than the week before the wedding.
- Get your game plan together and put in the time practising before the wedding.
- Keep two copies on hand as a safety measure for your presentation.
- It's fine to share a personal story in order to put a human touch on your speech, but don't lose sight of the fact that you're giving this speech in the couple's honor.
- In general, we recommend that wedding speeches be kept to a minimum.
- While a father of the bride or groom's speech can never have too many laughs, it is possible to have too many tears.
- Say "thank you" to everyone who played a role in the wedding's preparation, execution, and reception.
- You should not be hesitant to be vulnerable in the company of those you care about.
- People have told me in the past that they don't feel as invested in a speech when someone else writes it for them.
- If you're thinking of getting the party started early, you might want to think about having the speeches during dinner.
- Pay close attention to your partner.
- As soon as you've finished your thank-yous, give your spouse the floor.
- Send them your most heartfelt greetings and tell them how much this day means to you.
- Tell the amazing story of how you two met, fell in love, became engaged, or reached this momentous occasion.
- For example, if you wanted to get in shape quickly and dramatically, you'd hire a personal trainer, and if you were full of great ideas for your home but lacked the confidence to take on major structural work, you'd hire a builder.
- The ceremony was held, and they are currently enjoying the reception dinner.
- Raise a glass to your loved ones and the years ahead.
- It's important to give a final toast to your spouse and the people who have helped make your wedding day so special, even though it's likely that everyone in the room is wiping away tears at this point.
- Cheers to your loved ones' unending belief in you and your plans for the future as a married couple.
- After the plated meals have been delivered to each table or after everyone has had a chance to visit the buffet, it is a good time to hold the wedding party speeches.