Giving a wedding speech can be a daunting task. All eyes on you, trying to keep it entertaining whilst also PG- for the grandparent’s sake. You want to make your partner feel loved, but not gross out the audience with mushy stories. So, let’s figure out how we can balance all of this. In this article, we tell you everything you need to know about how to write a good wedding speech.
Writing a Wedding Speech
It hasn’t always been the norm for the bride to make a speech on her wedding day. Luckily that’s all changing now! It’s great to hear from both the bride and groom on their special day. So how do you make your speech good?
Pick a Theme (and stick to it)
No one likes a messy speech, that goes off on tangents. They’re hard to follow and can be painful to listen to. Pick a theme from the beginning and keep coming back to it. It is important to have a distinct start, middle and end. Choose just a few anecdotes to tell, which link together so your speech flows. Just like a stand-up comedian might do, end by referring back to the overarching theme/story of the speech.
Don’t Forget to Thank People
Although this can be a little boring, it is a good idea to start off your speech with thanks. Thanks to those who helped with your wedding journey. You can say something short and sweet about each person instead of simply listing names. This makes your speech a little more personal and will make your guests feel special.
Chuck in a Few Jokes
Remember your audience and make your jokes appropriate. Don’t say anything you’ll regret later. If there are kids and elderly relatives at your wedding, then it might be wise to keep the jokes clean(ish). It’s generally a good idea not to mention ex-partners. Your wedding day is about you and your significant other. No need to dredge up the past. Ask your friends for advice on the jokes, you may think they’re funny, but they might not resonate with other people. There is nothing worse than crickets when you were expecting laughter.
Keep it Short and Sweet
When writing your wedding speech, keep it short. We recommend no longer than 5 minutes. This makes your job of writing the speech easier too! There is no need for long-winded speeches. It just makes people fidgety and look for a chance to sneak off to the bar. Anything between 3-5 minutes is perfect. Don’t forget to give this time frame to all your speech givers.
Make Your Speech Before you’ve had too Many Champagnes
Liquid courage can be useful if public speaking isn’t your forte. However, hold off drinking too much until after your speech is over. A drunk speech always becomes twice as long, riddled with errors and slurred speech- it’s not pretty.
Make it Personal
This doesn’t mean going overboard with personal jokes or mushy words. Just remember it is your and your partners special day. Let them know how much you appreciate them. How much you’re looking forward to making many more memories with them. Make sure you give them a chance to speak too- don’t hog the microphone. It’s about both of you after all.
Practice makes Perfect
Practice, practice, practice! Especially if you’re feeling anxious about standing up in front of a crowd. Practice with your parents, friends and at the rehearsal dinner. The more you do, the more comfortable you will feel.
How to Add in Sentimental Words
Words of wisdom and love add substance and value to your wedding speech. Again, make sure you’re not overusing them, but definitely add in a few. These could be quotes from famous people or a passage from your favourite book. Even a message or lesson your parents taught you from a young age. Everyone loves a little bit of soppiness, and happy tears are pretty much guaranteed at a wedding. A great wedding speech will balance both comedy and tear-jerking sentiments.
Do I have to Memorise my Whole Wedding Speech?
No definitely not. Of course, this would be ideal, but it is not practical. Even if you’ve practised a hundred times, it’s still a good idea to have a cheat sheet nearby. You never know how the nerves will affect your brain; it’d be awful to forget your words halfway through.
It has become commonplace for people to read speeches off their phone. However, I would recommend against this. Reading from a phone looks impersonal. You also run the risk of your phone dying half-way through. It will look better in photos if you are holding a nice piece of paper, rather than having your eyes glued to a phone. So, type or write your speech out neatly ahead of time. Being prepared is key.
Wedding Speeches only Happen Once, Make it Count
We hope you now feel more confident about how to write a good wedding speech. Your wedding is your time to shine. You’ll only get this opportunity once, so make it count. Tell your partner you love them and thank everyone who has helped. Give the audience something memorable. You don’t have to be a professional writer or speech giver, just speak from the heart. Stay true to yourself.
If in doubt- keep it simple. Simple is always better than over the top. Don’t speak for too long or bore people with a mountain of personal jokes. You want the audience to feel included. Don’t worry about following the traditional wedding rules. This is your day, so make it unique to you and your partner.
Planning a wedding? Contact us at Navarra Venues to see how we can make your day extra special.
