Weddings are one of, if not, the most significant days of a person’s life. This pressure builds up and can be quite nerve-wracking for those delivering a speech. Understandably, you want to ensure that your performance is flawless. In this guide, we will be outlining the different wedding speeches and the typical talking points each one makes. Hopefully, this will help you in preparing for the big occasion.
You have nothing to worry about, remember you have been chosen specifically by the couple to perform on the day. Hopefully, after reading this guide you will be one step closer to creating the most perfect wedding speech!
Wedding speeches have become a time-honoured tradition and an essential part of the wedding reception. Traditionally, the father of the bride, the groom and the best man would all speak, as well as any toasts to the couple. Nowadays, many couples will alter this list depending on their preferences, which we are all here for! It is quite common for the maid of honour, the parents of the bride, the parents of the groom and the happy couple themselves to all speak.
Typically, the father of the bride is the first to perform a speech. The intended purpose of this speech is to welcome the guests and thank them for attending. Afterwards, the father of the bride would share some stories about the bride and express how proud he is of her achievements. It is also customary for the father of the bride to share some words of advice and congratulate the newlyweds, welcoming the groom to the family.
Traditionally, it was only the groom who spoke at his wedding. However, there is no reason why the bride shouldn’t speak if she wants to! It gives the happy couple the opportunity to thank their guests and express their love for each other. It is an essential part of the day and a moment that you and your partner will look back on fondly.
The best man speech is one of the most anticipated performances of the day, there’s no denying the pressure to get it right. The speech should be lighthearted, funny and entertaining. As the best man, you are expected to deliver the laughs and put everyone in the right frame of mind for an evening of celebrations! Tell anecdotes about the couple but don’t be too harsh or embarrassing, you wouldn’t want to blemish their special day! Another top tip would be to avoid mentioning an ex, it makes it incredibly hard to not leave a sour taste in the mouths of all…
The maid of honour speech is incredibly similar to the best man’s speech in terms of intentions. It should be a humorous performance that pokes fun at the happy couple but doesn’t strike too deep. Share stories about the bride and groom as well as some words of advice and encouragement for the lovebirds.
The parents of the bride and groom speech give the families a chance for them to welcome their son or daughter’s partner into the family. During this speech, they express some words of wisdom, offer congratulations to the couple on their huge milestone and express their excitement for their future together.
Wedding speeches are a key part of any wedding celebration. They offer an opportunity for loved ones to share some kind words and their best wishes for the couple. It is an incredibly meaningful moment for the newlyweds, one that they will be surly treasuring for years to come. If you have been asked to perform a speech at a wedding you should first feel honoured, then refer to this guide. That way you can deliver a speech that is remembered for all the right reasons!
Be sure to speak from the heart, while it’s important to be prepared and organised, don’t be afraid to let your emotions show. If you have any questions feel free to get in touch. Give the team a call on 01323 848 006 or fill out our contact form. A member of the team will then get back to you as soon as possible.
A huge thank you to all the photographers and couples who allowed us to use their pictures in this blog x