Stuck on what to jot down? You’ll find some top tips on wedding speeches here!

Along with some of our favourite speeches and evening fun shots of 2017, we will give you some of our advice on how to write an awesome speech.

Where do I start?

Stuck on how to get those guests close to tears with laughter or in tears of joy? Hopefully, we will help you along a bit even if it’s just to get that creative writing started off.

It is such a scary and daunting task for most, and we totally get it! Whenever I write up a blog post I stare at the screen for ages… stuck. It’s tough if you aren’t great with words or writing. I can write something beautiful on a card but that does not translate to writing for our blog posts. Throw in a heap of guests to stand up in front of as well, it’s bound to get those nerves going. It shouldn’t be that way though. Guests look forward to speeches and really do enjoy them so try and not look at it as that speech.

So no matter if you are the father of the bride, groom, best man, bride, bridesmaid… read on for more!

Things to consider whilst writing your speech. This goes for anyone.

• Length of your speech. This is a big one. As much as your guests love listening to speeches. Short and sweet is best. Loss of interest and thoughts of food set in the longer the speech is.
• The Structure. If you use a structure then it will be easier for you to improvise and not read your speech word for word and engage with your guests and your top table and Mr or Mrs.
• Who to thank. There are quite a few folk who are important to thank. I’ll cover this a bit further on.
• What makes a good speech. Read on for more as this differs on who is making the speech. As we all know the best man’s speech is all about embarrassing the groom or for the chief bridesmaid to embarrass the bride (but only just a little).
• Don’t be formal for too long at the beginning of your speech. If you try and get everyone laughing as quickly as possible it will put you at ease and get your guests laughing along and invested in what you are saying.
• This is your opportunity to speak kindly and lovingly on behalf of your other half in front of everyone. Even if you aren’t that type of gushy emotional person it will score you mega brownie points. After all you are choosing to spend the rest of your life with this person.
• Try and keep your speech from 5-8 minutes long at most.
• End your speech with the most important person you are speaking of. For example, it is custom to end a groom speech with thanking the bridesmaids. I would suggest ending your speech with the best part, your partner. The best kept for last and all!
• Nervous before even writing the speech? Write a speech you are excited to deliver. I guarantee you this will banish any nerves you may have which will actually make things much easier for you on the day leading up to the wedding breakfast.

So who should you be thanking?

• Father of the bride/groom or mother of the bride/groom: Guests. Daughter or sons in-laws for being so welcoming to your child. As a parent myself if either of my sons ended up with lovely in-laws who would do anything for them, I would be so thankful.
• Groom/bride: Everyone in attendance, parents, partner’s parents, best man/chief bridesmaid and bridal party, venue staff, anyone who put in that extra bit of help and yes it’s lovely when photographers and videographers are thanked as well. We appreciate it a lot.
• Best man or chief bridesmaid: Bride/Groom for making your best friend happy.

So fathers and mothers, what should be in your speech?

• Welcome guests and thank them for coming
• Your daughter/son. Think of funny moments growing up. These always make for funny stories.
• Welcome your daughters/sons partner into the family.
• Words of wisdom
• End with a toast to the happy couple

Tips for the best man/ Chief Bridesmaid

• Start with making everyone laugh. This speech is highly anticipated by everyone.
• Who are you to the bride or groom?
• Funny stories of them.
• Now be nice with how awesome they are together and anything about their relationship.
• Focus on your best friends partner. Don’t embarrass them too much. This is your chance to compliment them or say things you think of them (hopefully good) which you’ve never let them know before.
• Any advice to them.
• Toast to their happy future.

Picked up some good advice so far? We hope so! Just to be sure though here are some more tips.

• Make eye contact with your other half when speaking to her or him and anyone else you may be addressing. Makes it more personal and authentic.
• Gifts. Thank them personally with a gift in the morning. I realise it is custom to do so during the speeches but I feel it breaks the flow of the speech and takes guests attention away as there is a lot of time spent getting the gifts, hugs then trying to figure out where to put them.
• Again. Short and sweet!
• Practise at home before. Time yourself.
• And breathe.

Have a peek at a full wedding here with guests enjoying themselves and speech hilarity! And another one just for good measure!

CONCLUSION

Just have fun with it. Don’t overthink things and let things flow naturally… may it be in the writing of the speech or even with a bit of improvisation. I know there are a lot of customary ways of doing things but shake things up. Be yourselves. There is no longer a need for doing things the way they “should” be done. You’ll be surprised, but guests will remember a wedding that has done things a bit more uniquely then sticking to how it should be done.

So go on! Be yourselves please x