What To Include In Wedding Speeches

Image Credit:Danielle Smith Photography

As a wedding planner I have listened to many wedding speeches and can confirm they are a fun and much anticipated element of a wedding day. Guests love to be entertained with comical stories from the best man, tear jerking words from the bride’s father, as well as hearing the groom affectionately address his new wife throughout his speech.

If on the other hand, you are the one giving a wedding speech, it can be a nerve wracking experience, often requiring a tipple or two to get you through what could feel like the longest 5 minutes of your life. If this sounds familiar, then read on, as I am sharing my top tips on what to include within your speech, which will leave you confident, prepared and ready to deliver a perfect and polished performance.

Who gives a wedding day speech

Traditionally, speeches will begin with the father of the bride, followed by the groom and finally the best man. Some couples also choose to include additional speeches from other members of the bridal party such as the mother of the bride, maid of honour and also the bride. If you are looking to include additional speeches, there is no traditional order in which they should be delivered. However, it’s always good to have a natural flow to the speeches and generally the best man would be last to deliver his speech. Of course, you can include as many speeches as you like on your wedding day, but you should consider your guests when working on timings. Half an hour is a good length of time to allocate to speeches. So, if you are incorporating additional speeches, maybe consider asking everyone to shorten their speech a little. This way guests are not expected to sit and listen for too long.

Father of the bride speech

A father of the bride speech is the perfect opportunity for a dad to let his daughter know just how proud he is of her. He should speak of heartwarming memories of his daughter growing up, sharing comical stories, whilst taking care not to embarrass her. A  special mention should also go to the groom and his parents, with them being formally welcomed to the family. The father of the bride may also use this public platform to thank guests for coming to his daughter’s wedding, as well as sharing relationship advice and top tips for a long and happy marriage to the newly weds.

 

Photo Credit:Terri & Lori Fine Art Photography & Film Danielle Smith Photography

Groom’s speech

A grooms speech is given on behalf of himself and his new wife, with the opening line often being “On behalf of my wife and I”, which of course always raises an enormous cheer from guests. A groom would thank anyone who has assisted with the planning of their wedding, or have been particularly helpful in the lead up to the big day. He would also toast the bridesmaids, presenting them with a gift to show appreciation for their hard work, not just on their wedding day but also in the months prior to the big day. It’s also the perfect time for a groom to give a special mention to his groomsmen, thanking them for their help and for an amazing and memorable stag do. A groom will also use his speech to publicly thank his parents for their love and support over the years, often mentioning special memories that he has from his childhood. Of course, it goes without saying that a groom should also pay tribute to his new wife, telling guests how lucky he is, how beautiful she looks and finally how excited he is at what the future may hold for them both.

Best Man’s speech

Always the most eagerly awaited of all the wedding speeches, the best man would usually allocate his time to sharing a handful of jokes and comical memories, all at the grooms expense. As well as entertaining the guests with embarrassing stories about the groom, the best man should also thank the happy couple for asking him to be such a big part of their day, tell the bride how amazing she looks and finally raise a toast to the newly weds.

Bride’s speech

The bridal speech is an increasingly popular and much welcomed addition to the modern wedding.  Gone are the days that you can expect to hear only from male members of the bridal party. With brides now viewing their wedding day as the perfect opportunity to personally thank their family and friends, rather than following the traditional route of allowing their new husband to do so on their behalf.  I have dedicated an entire blog post to this increasingly popular speech, which offers a whole host of ideas to include, such as  thanking both sets of parents and your bridesmaids, sharing humorous stories from your wedding planning journey  and also dedicating a few special words to your new husband.

Photo Credit: Joseph Kinerman

Mother of the bride’s speech

As with the bride’s speech, hearing the mother of the bride speaking at her daughter’s wedding is another popular addition to weddings. Whether this speech is instead of, or alongside the father of the bride’s speech, the structure would normally be the same as a speech given by the bride’s father. Although, a mum’s speech would normally focus more on sharing treasured memories that she shares of her daughter. Of course, should the bride’s dad had sadly passed away, you will no doubt want to pay tribute to him. This will be an emotional moment, so whilst remembering the bride’s father, be sure to have a hanky to hand and consider letting your daughter know that you will be saying a few words in memory of her dad, which will allow her to prepare for the moment.

Maid of honour’s speech

A maid of Honour’s speech should be lighthearted and packed with memories you have created with the bride. You may wish to share with guests how you met the bride and how your friendship has blossomed over the years. Be sure to also tell the bride how much your friendship means to you and finally wish the newly weds all the best for their future lives together.

I hope the information I have shared in this post has been helpful and has set you on the right track to deliver the most amazing wedding speech. If you are currently planning your wedding within Essex, Suffolk, Kent, Hertfordshire or Cambridgeshire and think you could benefit from working with a wedding planner, please do take a look at the planning services I offer, it would be great to hear from you.

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