Wedding Speech – Dos and Donts for Writing Wedding Speeches

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Posted by admin | Posted in Weddings | Posted on 09-07-2010

It is customary for the Maid of Honour or Best Man to deliver a wedding speech in the midst of all the joyful laughing, dancing and dining during the wedding.  It can be absolutely nerve-wrecking for some people to hold this great responsibility as many of us suffer from the fear of public speaking.

For these people, it may be worth preparing the wedding speech and practising it with a few close friends and family members before attempting it on the day.  The most important thing about a wedding speech doesn’t have to be how you say it, but what you actually say.  Here are some wedding speech tips for deliverying a successful wedding speech.

A wedding speech, similar to any other speech requires an opening, middle and an ending note.

Introduce Yourself

Why are you giving the wedding speech? What is your relationship to the married couple? Selling yourself to the audience as an interesting character who is close to either the bride or groom, will entice the audience making them want to hear what you have to say

Mention Something About the Bride and Groom

Mention something either funny, amusing or memorable about the married couple in your wedding speech. This can be anything, ranging from how they met, to how their opposing personalities clash in such a way that makes them so perfect for other, or even to how the groom finally has someone to make sure that his socks will always match (this will only be applicable to a groom who is known for never matching his socks!).

Something Hopeful About the Future

A wedding speech should always end with a positive and promising comment about the marriage of the bride and groom.

DOs
- Keep it short, simple and sincere. Do not drag your speech on. The most memorable speeches are those that are concise and from the heart.
- Face the couple. When you are wishing the married couple a lifetime of love and happiness, tell it to them as if there were no one else in the room. The bride and groom will appreciate it more than you think.
- Read from a card.  If it helps you, read from a card. You can even begin by saying how nervous you are of making the speech! The audience will understand and will value your honesty.
- Smile. A wedding speech should be delivered with a smile. On the other hand, if you cry, make sure that your tears are happy tears.
- Involve the audience. Invite the audience the to hold their glasses with you, this will ensure that the attention is on you and no one is wandering off or chatting while you are making your wedding speech.

DONTs

- Make a wedding speech when you are drunk.  Save the heavy drinking for the after-party!
- Fidget and Mumble.  Keep your hands by your side and keep hold your posture. Speak loud and clear.  Most of all, say it like you mean it. And if you don’t mean it, don’t say it.

Remember that a short well-written, practised and delivered wedding speech, can be the most memorable part of the wedding in the eyes of the bride and groom.

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About the Author:
If you are still unsure about writing your own speech and you would prefer to just memorize a speech, you can also download wedding speech examples at http://groomspeech.info/go/wedding_speeches.  This site also has additional tips for personalizing your premade wedding speech as well.
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Wedding Speeches Without the Stress

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Posted by admin | Posted in Weddings | Posted on 09-07-2010

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!

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About the Author:
If you are struggling with your groom speech you can always go to http://groomspeech.info/go/wedding_speeches and download wedding speeches now.  All you have to do is change a few details to personalize the sample groom speeches for your own situation.
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