Everything You Need To Know About The Wedding Speech!

Have you got a wedding speech to deliver but you have no clue where to start? You've come to the right place! This blog focuses on expert tips for speech writing, exactly how to structure a wedding speech, when to deliver the speech and some funny quotes to include to get your guests laughing too!

Simple Ways To Nail Your Speech

Whether you're the best man, a bridesmaid, the groom or parents of the bride or groom, you've probably been asked to make a speech! Here are some practical things you can do to nail your speech and not let nerves get the better of you!

1. Cue cards - write out your speech and turn those notes into cue cards to help jog your memory!

2. Grab the mic - use the mic to ensure everyone can hear you, especially if you're speaking to a large crowd in an open room.

3. Practice - be sure to write your speech ahead of time to give yourself enough time to practice!

4. Toast the bridge and groom - toasting “to the happy couple” while raising your glass is a strong way to end your speech!

How To Start Your Speech

Are you wondering what's the best way to start your speech? We've compiled some of the best ways to start below!

- A quick introduction

Keep it simple! Here are some examples:

“Hi, I’m Esther and I’m the bride’s sister!”

“Hello everyone! I’m Glen’s brother, Jason.”

“Good evening everybody. I’m the couple’s best bud.”

- An introduction with a twist

Add some flavour to your opening line by introducing yourself with a twist.

“If you don’t already know me by now, you’re probably in the wrong room!”

- With flattery

Open your speech by saying something complimentary about the couple.

“Doesn’t my bestie look amazing today?”

“Well, you guys look amazing today!”

- Be sentimental

Applaud the couple for their love.

“Love is not about how many days, weeks or months you’ve been together. It’s about how much you love each other every day.”

- Introduce a recurring theme

A strong way to start your speech is by introducing a theme that pops up again. For example, you could talk about how opposites attract!

“Hello, my name is Emily and I’m here to talk about my awesome friends, Faith and John. They are truly a story of opposites attracting. John’s favourite food is french fries and Faith is allergic to potatoes. Faith has an ice cream obsession and John is lactose intolerant. Thankfully, things have a way of working out. We are gathered here tonight to celebrate the most important thing they have in common… love.”

- Make them laugh

If you’re going to open with comedy, do it confidently and do it well. The first step is to know your audience! The best toast starters are usually the funniest.

“Thank you James for your very kind -and expected- compliments on the beauty of the bride and bridesmaids. What can a woman do but agree? We are indeed exceptionally gorgeous!”

“Doug and Elizabeth actually had a bit of trouble finding somebody to make a speech today. They started by asking their funniest friend, and they said no. Next, they asked their most charming friend, and they said no. Then, they asked their best-looking friend and, again, they said no. After that, they asked me, and after already turning them down three times, I couldn’t say no again.”

Do's, Don'ts & Helpful Tips

Dos:

Do your research. Find out what is expected of you; when is your speech taking place? Traditionally, what are you required to cover in your speech? Get a handle on these things and you’ll feel much more comfortable.

Do keep it sentimental. People love to hear heart-warming stories about those they love. So, if you’re delivering a speech for your bestie at his/her wedding, speak about your great friendship and how much he/she means to you!

Do keep it granny- and child-friendly. This means no swearing or saucy jokes!

Do keep it short and sweet. 10 minutes max is what we recommend. Anything longer and your speech will start to drag.

Don’ts:

Don’t drink too much before your speech.

Don’t wing it. Experts will tell you that no matter how well you know someone or how much public speaking you’ve done in the past, be prepared. Do your research, write some notes and then rehearse!

Don’t read your speech. Make sure you’ve rehearsed it so you can refer to your cue cards if needed, instead of feeling like you have to read your speech from start to finish.

Don’t include too many in-jokes. Save those for your wedding card! You want everyone in the room to enjoy your speech.

Don’t be afraid to try something unique! Props, songs or pre-made videos are some fun ways to keep your speech lighthearted and exciting. Speechless Wedding Video are the experts for wedding videos as an alternative to a speech. If you’re feeling particularly nervous about speaking in front of lots of people, this is a fab idea for you!

Handy tips for couples:

Let everyone know when their speech is taking place. To avoid people feeling flustered, it’s handy for everyone to know the order in which the speeches are taking place.

Get your speakers to work together. Now that they know the running order, they can work together! This doesn’t mean one group speech, but rather, if everyone discusses what they are saying, you can avoid duplicating anecdotes. They could even use one another’s speeches as a cue for their own!

Fun ways to introduce each speaker. You could have your MC introduce each speaker, with a little fun fact about each. Your DJ could then play a different song for each speaker as they walk up to the mic! If all your speeches are taking place in a block, another option is for the previous speaker to introduce the next. For example, the Father of the Bride could introduce the Groom.