Have you ever been asked to make a speech at a wedding, whether you are in the wedding party, a close relative or just a friend? Many in attendance will remember the wedding speeches for the rest of their lives. Public speaking is a learned skill and if you are caught off-guard and unprepared, you might be the one with the shaky, stammering voice, caught on video for everyone to see for years to come. With some preparation and practice, you will be able to write and present wedding speeches that sound polished, neat, and compliant with all aspects of proper wedding etiquette .
Typically, the individuals who give wedding speeches are the father of the bride, the best man, and the groom. However, it is now popular for the bride, the maid-of-honor, and other loved ones to make wedding speeches as well. In each case there are etiquette guidelines, and every speech should be personalized for appropriateness to those being acknowledged. The usual order of wedding speeches is for the father of the bride to make his speech first, then the bridegroom and the best man.
The father of the bride should be called upon by the toastmaster or best man during the reception to propose a toast to the bride and groom for happiness and health. Before doing so, he should welcome the bridegroom's parents, the relatives and the guests. He should also welcome the groom into his family and say a few words about his daughter.
The groom should reply on behalf of himself and his bride in his groom speeches to thank his parents, the guests for their gifts, and any close family members who could not attend the wedding due to illness should be wished a swift recovery. It is the best man's duty to continue the wedding speeches after the groom speeches by proposing a toast on behalf of the bridesmaids. His speech should be fun, lively and amusing. Oftentimes, the ability to make humorous and well-delivered wedding speeches is a deciding factor in the selection of the best man.
Upon conclusion of the wedding speeches, the groom may say a few more words, thanking the bridesmaids and presenting the traditional attendants' gifts. If the bride wishes to join in the wedding speeches, she may now express herself. It is crucial when writing wedding speeches to be witty without using tired jokes and not-so-funny puns. An effective way to ensure laughs is to use humor relevant to the couple, so that everyone may relate. Inside jokes are appreciated if they are not insulting to the bride, the groom or their families. A look at the guest list will help you decide if any of your jokes are too bawdy or in poor taste. Traditional love quotes can also be integrated into wedding speeches for sentimentality.
You may wish to either memorize your speech or write it on cue cards . Whichever option you choose, be sure to rehearse it multiple times, perhaps in front of your friends. Read slowly and let your point sink in. Let your body language communicate confidence. Remember, the audience is on your side and they want to enjoy the wedding speeches!