According to tradition, wedding speeches follow a particular order and
are held by the father of the bride,
the groom and the groom’s best man.
Nowadays, there are no set rules to respect and
all those who wish to say something sweet
about the new bridal couple can intervene.
Writing an engaging wedding discourse can be a stressful task. Public speaking is not easy, especially with the additional pressure of making a speech for a close friend or a loved one in front of their extended family and guests.
Take a deep breath and remember that wedding guests are on your side and will give you all the support you need.
To steer you on the right track for an unforgettable speech, follow these useful tips and guidelines:
- Take time to prepare the talk
If you’re going to take the floor at the wedding reception, you’ll need to be prepared and spend some time writing your discourse, make it well-constructed and inclusive, choosing your words with care.
Record yourself while practicing, test the speech with someone to see what they think and remember. The more you train, the more confident you will be on the wedding day.
A good rule of thumb is to practice the talk enough times to fix in your mind the order and the points you want to express.
- Consider your audience
When preparing your speech, consider not only the newly married couple but also their extended family, their cultural background, and that there will be guests from all walks of life.
Jokes are definitely welcome and represent the most immediate way to engage and attract the audience, as long as they are respectful. Remember to read the room and pay attention to the atmosphere that you are creating.
The perfect solution is to be honest and to speak from the heart about your connection with the bride and groom, making them feel special and loved.
- Keep it short and engaging
The ideal length of a wedding speech is three to five minutes.
It is essential to have the right timing: if the discourse is too short you may seem rude or impersonal, but if you talk too long you risk boring your guests.
For a longer but engaging speech, you can insert videos, quizzes or other surprises that will entertain the audience and make your performance fun and memorable.
- What to say during the speech
First of all, start by introducing yourself and how you know or are related to the bridal couple. This will create the context and starting point of your speech.
After the introduction, the main guideline is to select one to three aspects of the newlyweds that you love and appreciate, along with short and fascinating stories about them. Everyone will likely have seen different parts of the couple’s love story, so tell it from your perspective and don’t forget to talk about your hopes for the future of the bride and groom.
Ending a wedding speech is just as important as the start. For this part the best choice is to propose a toast, asking everyone to raise their glass to celebrate the wonderful bridal couple.
Follow these tips to write an interesting, engaging wedding speech and at the same time remember to be yourself.
Be sweet, warm and authentic and focus on the new couple to create a truly lovely and charming moment.
