So you’ve been asked to give a speech at the wedding - don’t panic! There’s nothing worse than getting those pre-speech jitters. Emotions are running high and you want the happy couple to be weeping with joy, not the other way around. We’ve come up with some great ideas to get you prepped and ready to give them a speech to remember.
Be prepared
Some people are happy to leave the speech writing to the last minute - it’s easy, so they say. The couple will be expecting a beautiful speech, no matter what style you go for, and to avoid any disappointment on their part writing your speech in advance is the best idea. We’d suggest giving yourself a couple of weeks at least, leaving you plenty of time to make edits.
Go for humour
If the thought of pouring your heart out for all the guests to see fills you with dread, go for comedy instead. It’s a sure fire way to get everyone on side right from the beginning, leaving you the chance at the end of your speech for all the fluffy stuff.
(Image by Will Dolphin Photography at Martyn and Holly's wedding)
Make a Game
Give the guests something to do during the speeches - Bingo! Sitting through a whole bunch of speeches for that long can sometimes get a little tiring, especially for the little guests, so why not give them a bingo sheet with some key phrases to listen out for; ‘I’m so proud’, ‘best day of my life’, ‘the stag do’...you get the idea. Even a comedy prize for the winner will go down a storm.
Rope in your mates
If you’d prefer to have a little support in the speech, why not ask the couple if you can give the speech with another close friend or family member. You could rope in a whole group of friends to help you out if you like. People have given speeches as pairs (which can be great for comedy value) and even written songs for the occasion. There are plenty of videos out there of barbershop quartets, dance-offs, rap battles - you name it, it can be done! Check out this 20s barbershop quartet featuring all the things this bride and groom love.
Record a video
Depending how much time you have on your hands, you could let the video do the talking. It’s a nice way of allowing you to relax on the day knowing you’ve created something they’ll remember forever. Just make sure you organise a projector for the occasion.