Wedding speeches are a key part to any wedding day. However with great power comes great responsibility and it can feel like a lot of pressure writing a heartfelt speech for your loved ones.
To help you alleviate some of that stress I’ve put together some top tips to help you write the perfect speech.
Preparation
Writing a wedding speech is not something you can ‘wing’. You have to make sure you have the time to write, edit and then practice with a friend or family member.
Before you start it is a good idea to sit down with the couple and ask some questions so you know the boundaries you have to work in. Nobody wants to be embarrassed on their wedding day, especially in front of their friends and family so that story about a wild lad’s night in Benidorm might be off the table.
While most speeches tend to focus on your relationship to one member of the couple, it’s wise to remember to include the both of them. The event is their wedding so make sure the focus is less about you and more about them.
Use Your Own Words
Wedding speeches are meant to be personalised so speak from the heart. Don’t grab a boilerplate version from the internet or quote from your favourite movie. Make sure your speech is about your experiences with the couple.
Avoid using flowery metaphors or delving too deeply into the thesaurus as these may sound jarring when read from a page. It’s also very important to practice reading your speech out loud so you can pick up on any clunky parts and make the relevant alterations.
Mind the Time
Time your speech to land between 2-5 minutes. Anything longer than that will cause you audience to lose interest and you’ll find the crowd starting to get restless. There is nothing wrong with something short and sweet, especially if public speaking is not your thing.
Try not to rush through the speech. People that are nervous tend to speak very quickly and quietly. Take your time and make eye contact with the audience and the couple to increase engagement.
Be Yourself
It’s important to play to your strengths. Don’t try to be the funny person if that’s not your personality as it can come across as awkward. Bring your authentic self to the table and you’ll have a lot more fun writing your speech. There is no shame in sincerity or sentimentality after all it is a wedding.
Practice
Make sure you take the time to practice your speech, that you know it well enough that you aren’t reading straight from the paper as that will come across as stunted. Instead use your notes as a resource, something to refer back to if you need it. Your words will be a lot stronger if you are connecting with the audience when you talk and that means making eye contact and addressing the room. It’s important to get comfortable with the material as this will also make you feel more relaxed.
Quick Additional Tips
- Don’t forget to introduce yourself at the top of your speech. Tell the crowd who you are and your relation to the wedding party.
- Be gracious. Thank the hosts, the staff, and everyone that helped put the wedding together.
- Plan ahead with the wedding planner or MC so you know when you will be speaking.
- Finish your speech with a toast to the happy couple.
