Top Tips for nailing your Wedding Speech
Father of one of the grooms keeps the vibes pumping at Craig & David’s reception. Photo - Love is Love Photography
Ok so I’ve emceed many a wedding reception and witnessed a myriad of speeches… from the good, the brilliant and the hmmmmm ‘room for improvement!’
When someone start out by saying: ‘I googled what to say…’ a little piece of me dies inside.
Here’s my first and most important tip:
Google doesn’t know s**t!
Luckily, I do!
So, if you've been bestowed with the honour (and pressure) of delivering a great wedding speech that'll have everyone rolling in the aisles, or at least blown away by your heart and sass, read on - I've got your back!
As you can see from everyone’s faces, Kim was killing it with the mic! Photo - Dijana Risteska
1) Keep. It. Concise!
I highly suggest you keep your speech to three minutes, which, for context, is the length of a song.
It’s important to avoid lengthy tangents and going off topic.
Keep to the point and ensure that you’re engaging.
Guests may be feigning interest when you waffle on, but trust me… they’re drifting off!
A short and sweet wedding speech is your ticket to winning the orators crown and remember the age-old stage saying... ‘always leave the audience wanting more!’
2) Know your audience and their tolerance for ‘funny’
Before you unleash your writing prowess, take a moment to gauge your potential crowd. Consider their tastes, sense of humour, and their relationship with the couple.
* Are they an older crowd that’ll be offended with potty mouth?
* Are they all a big bunch of mates that already know the stories, but will enjoy your unique version nonetheless?
* Are they likely to be cheeky / conservative / drunken…
These factors should definitely be considered with the level of the humour, the PG / R rated content and the potential for insult.
Funny is good. Humiliating isn’t!
Get this bit right and not only will it avoid embarrassment, it’s the basic recipe used by speech-makers and entertainers in order to nail the gig.
3) Plan and Polish
A well-prepared speech is often the key to success, but I do encourage you to keep it to bullet points and leave room for spontaneity, otherwise you’ll end up sounding as dry as an over-cooked chicken.
Start by brainstorming ideas and stories that reflect the couple's relationship and special moments that you have shared with them.
Create a structure for your speech, including an introduction, body, and conclusion.
Jot down the key points or prompts to guide you during the delivery, but remember to keep it natural and try not to read word for word.
A good idea to time it as well. (See point 1) this is not the moment to put them to sleep!
Helping Big Steve (father of the bride) nail his speech!
4) Inject Humour (if you’re up for the task)
Humour is a fantastic way to captivate the audience and create a light-hearted atmosphere during the wedding speech. Incorporate funny anecdotes, jokes, or witty remarks that are appropriate and relevant to the couple. However, be mindful of the tone and audience, you don’t want to be in the dog-house for revealing too much!
If you want to hang out on the safe side – keep the humour self deprecating rather than joking about the couple. It’s a great way to endear yourself to a crowd, show your humility and guarantee a laugh.
5) If you’re likely to be nervous – practice that bad boy!
Once you have crafted your wedding speech, practice delivering it in front of a mirror or with a close mate or family member.
Pay attention to your tone, pace, and body language and don’t be afraid of dramatic pauses, after all – timing is everything.
Practice will help boost your confidence and allow you to relax on the day.
6) Speak from the Heart
Authenticity is key when delivering a wedding speech.
Let your genuine emotions shine through because let’s face it, everyone loves a bit of vulnerability.
Basically, if you’re true to your heart – you can’t lose!
It doesn’t have to be a funny wedding speech, just a real one.
7) But what if I don’t like the person my friend/family member is marrying?
Obviously, that’s a tricky one, but here’s my one and only tip – just focus on what you think they’ve brought to your person’s life and how much they’ve changed etc since meeting them.
Its ok to keep details vague if you’re not feeling it.
If you try to fake it, it will come across that way, and no one wins.
But honestly, complimenting the other party is good manners, so have a crack at least!
8) Should we ‘toast the couple’ at the end of every speech?
Simply put – no.
Glasses aren’t that big and it starts to get a bit repetitive, so if you think others will do it, just skip it altogether.
Backyard MC gig for Chanelle & Matt’s hitching. Photo - Sol Foto
So in conclusion…
By following these top tips, you can create a wedding speech that reflects your connection to the couple, entertains the guests, and leaves a lasting impression.
Just think about your relationship to the couple and talk about that.
Be witty, but if you’re not naturally gifted with the funny bone; just keep it real and you can’t lose.
Please remember though, this isn’t a 21st or a bucks/hen’s party.
So, there’s no need to embarrass anyone, or bring up skeletons that should be left in the closet. A hilarious wedding speech is great.
A scathing one is not!
Embrace the honour, (they clearly have faith in you in the fact they asked) enjoy the moment, and try not to overthink it all… I know, easier said than done.
Good Luck!