Wedding Speech Web Site Sold

Need-a-speech.com, a Web site designed to provide speech materials for the best man’s speech at a wedding has been sold to Robert Hayes-McCoy, and Irish copywriter and author.

The site sells low-cost speeches for weddings and other special occasions. In addition to getting the text for a short-but-apt speech, the site provides tips on delivery and controlling your nerves on the big day. The site also provides guidance on when speeches should be delivered and provides a rich source of one-liners to kick off the address.

Need-a-speech.com is undergoing a major redesign, thanks to Stephen Hayes-McCcoy, Robert’s son. One new addition to the site is instant coupons that visitors can redeem for whatever they buy at the site. The site has had more than 250,000 visitors since it began, and Hayes-McCoy expects to increase traffic by 25 percent.

The redesigned site will debut sometime next month. In the mean time, someone on the hunt for a good wedding speech can still be served by the existing site.

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The Proper Way to Deliver a Wedding Speech

Someone you know and love is getting married and you have either been asked to be part of the bridal party or specifically to give a speech. You must really love this person because not just anyone can give a proper wedding speech. If you are reading this then you must need some help in preparing your witty, intelligent, heartfelt, and poignant speech.

Do not wait until the last minute to write your wedding speech! So don’t just try to “wing” it! Many people assume that they will have the right words when the time comes and instead they lose all train of thought as they stand in front of their friends and family and try to give a wedding speech that will honour the bride and groom. Simple preparation is all it takes and there are no points lost for reading the speech from a piece of paper. This is not school and you will not be graded.

What should you say in your wedding speech? This depends entirely on your relationship to the couple, but there are definitely some standard items that appear in all of the best wedding speeches. Always introduce yourself first and say what your relationship is to the couple. If you are a friend then mention how long you have known one another. Perhaps you have a short, funny, and interesting story that you can share. Just make sure that this story is not too embarrassing! This introduction is important as you begin your wedding speech.

Wedding speeches are often filled with those short stories about the personal relationship with the couple. It is wonderful to offer personal insight into their relationship, especially if you have seen it grow. Include such items as the things you admire about the couple either as individuals or as a unit. Say what you hope for them for the future. Finally, wish them love, luck, and happiness.

When giving a wedding speech, it is important to address the bride and groom as well as the rest of the guests. The wedding speech is meant for the couple, but guests will find those cute stories and heartfelt words to be very endearing. Speak loudly and clearly. Do not look at your feet. These are your friends and family, and there is no reason to develop a case of stage-fright in their presence. When you deliver your wedding speech, do it with all of the emotion that you feel for the bride and groom and it will be beautiful!

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Wedding Speeches Etiquette

A wedding is one of the most beautiful of ceremonies where two people commit their lives to one another. To “love honour and cherish till death us do part” are vows exchanged before the loving couple begin their lives together. Many hours, days and often months are spent in preparation for the big occasion. The couple strives to make it a day to remember. Much thought is given to every detail to ensure perfection from the wedding invitations, wedding dress, wedding speeches, bride’s maid’s dresses, tuxedos, flower girl, ring bearer, wedding cake, and choice of reception hall.

If planning the perfect wedding without the aid of a wedding planner, it is imperative to become informed about wedding etiquette. A traditional wedding ceremony follows a prescribed format such as the ushers seating guests in the bride or groom section of the church, the flower girl delicately tossing flowers down the isle to the officiant, followed by the groomsmen escorting the bridesmaids to the front of the church to stand side by side, behind and to the side of the bride.

The formal wedding ceremony usually culminates with a more informal reception. The reception is an occasion for celebration. Friends and family of the couple gather together to enjoy a meal, dance, partake of the wedding cake, and toast to the couple’s future happiness. Although the reception is an informal occasion set aside for the couple to celebrate with their family and guests, there is a certain prescribed etiquette for wedding speeches.

Traditionally, there are three accepted wedding speeches given at the wedding reception. These wedding speeches include the brides’ fathers’ speeches, the bridegrooms’ speeches and best mans’ wedding speeches. It is not customary for other wedding speeches to be given, however, they are permissible and often welcomed. The bridegroom’s father may take this time to give a short speech thanking everyone who participated in assisting the couple with their wedding and reception. Along with the best mans’ speech, the bride may want her maid of honour to give a speech as well.

First, the father of the bride is asked by the best man to propose a toast to the health and happiness of the bride and groom. Before the father of the bride gives the toast, he would first welcome the groom and the groom’s parents into the family and say a few words about his daughter. Wedding speeches given by the father of the bride are often bittersweet as the father reflects on his daughter’s life to the present and the emotions he feels regarding giving away his “little girl”.

Wedding speeches given by the bridegroom follow that of the father of the bride. The bridegroom should take this opportunity to commend his parents for their love, support and providing him with the best start in life. He should also thank everyone for attending the wedding and for the gifts that were given. If anyone was unable to attend due to illness, the bridegroom should take the time to include in his speech his sympathies and wish for his or her speedy recovery. The conclusion of wedding speeches given by bridegrooms should include a toast to the bridesmaids with a small token gift given to show appreciation.

The best man should give the last of the wedding speeches. It is his responsibility to toast on behalf of the bridesmaids and the speech should be warm, humorous and light hearted. The wedding speeches given by the best men are often viewed as the high point of the evening and their ability to potentially pull this off may be the deciding factor on who is chosen for this honour.

Wedding speeches are a form of a toast given to wish the couple well as they start their lives together. If spoken from the heart, these speeches are bound to cause a few tears and leave smiles on many faces.

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Giving a Wedding Toast

Wedding speeches are basically a long toast to honour the bride and groom and wish them health, happiness and success as they begin a new chapter in their lives. If you have been asked by the couple to give a speech at their reception, it is just as important to know how to make an appropriate toast as it is to craft wedding speeches.

A toast generally concludes wedding speeches and should sum up your speech by offering a fitting quote, words of wisdom or a touching poem. Your glass should be raised in your hand to about the height of your shoulders. Make sure to wait to give your toast until all the glasses have been filled. This is traditionally performed by the bride’s glass being filled first, then the grooms, maid of honour, the rest of the wedding party, the parents of the bride and groom and finally the best man.

Once everyone’s glass has been filled, this is when the toast is to be given in wedding speeches. Keep it short and sweet, as the wedding speeches themselves should only be approximately 3 to 5 minutes long. At the end of the toast, make an indication for the guests to raise their glasses and to repeat your well wishes for the newlyweds or another individual for whom you are giving a toast. An example would be “Please join me as I send out a heartfelt thank you to those in the wedding party who helped to make Hannah and Todd’s wedding a day to remember; to the wedding party” at this point the guests will respond in kind, “To the wedding party.” Clink your glass with those in attendance around you and take a drink from your glass.

When giving a toast in wedding speeches it is customary for those receiving the toast to not drink from their glass, stand up or raise their glass. Traditionally they will smile or in someway acknowledge the individual giving a toast on their behalf. Wedding toasts can be given with a variety of beverages such as wine, champagne, or a mixed drink. However, coffee, tea and water are never used.

Wedding toasts are generally given during wedding speeches, but they can be performed separately as well. If wedding toasts will be given apart from the wedding speeches, they follow a traditional order. First there is a toast to the bride and groom by a relative or close friend, a toast to the bridal party by the bride and groom, a toast to the bridal party by the best man, a toast offered to the bride’s parents, a response and a toast from the bride’s parents, a toast made to the groom’s parents and finally a response to the previous toast from the groom’s parents. If another toast were to be given by others in the wedding party, family member or invited guest, it would follow the toast by the groom’s parents.

Wedding toasts are usually given during wedding speeches. However, the bride and groom may request that they be given separately. These toasts are an integral part of a wedding reception and have a prescribed format. Becoming knowledgeable about wedding toasts and how and when they are to be given will help you give the best toast possible if asked to give a wedding speech.

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Wedding Speeches Given by the Parents of the Groom

Customarily the father of the bride, groom and the best man, only gave wedding speeches. Today, this tradition has been cast to the wind as others have opted to step up to the microphone and give wedding speeches as well. Other wedding speeches that have been added to the agenda are speeches made by the bride, maid of honour and parents of the groom.

It is no longer acceptable to only allow the parents of the bride to wish the couple well and to share their fondest memories of their child with those attending the wedding. Parents of the groom want to participate in giving wedding speeches and they have certainly earned that right.

Wedding speeches given by the parents of the groom can begin by making a toast to the previous speaker. Since this speech was not usually given it falls in no particular order such as wedding speeches given by the parents of the bride, groom and best man.

Typically, it will be given after, before or in-between speeches given by the bride and maid of honour.

After the toast, it is appropriate to thank those who attended the wedding. At this point, the other speakers have already acknowledged those in attendance. However, a special mention could be sent to those who traveled long distances to attend the wedding from the groom’s side of the family. If the bride’s family acknowledged contributions made from the groom’s family, wedding speeches given by the parents of the groom could respond likewise. This would also be the perfect opportunity to bond the two families into one by mentioning the exceptional virtues of the bride and thanking the bride’s family for loving welcoming their son into their family.

Wedding speeches given by the parents of the groom should then focus on their son. This is the part of the speech where the bittersweet emotions of the groom’s parents can be expressed unashamedly. Occasions such as these usually occur once in a lifetime and should be used to their fullest advantage. Special memories of the groom’s childhood can be tenderly shared along with letting him know how proud they are of the man he has become. The groom’s parents can also use this opportunity to let their son know how handsome he looks and how lovely the wedding turned out to be.

Parents of the groom wedding speeches could then offer the couple wisdom on building a lasting marriage drawn from personal experience. This would also be the perfect time to recite a touching poem or add a quote that has special meaning. Wedding speeches given by the parents of the groom should conclude with offering up a toast to the next speaker. It should be noted that if only one of the parents is giving a speech, the other should stand with the speaker while the speech is given since it expresses the thoughts and feelings of both parents.

In times past, Wedding speeches by the parents of the groom were not traditionally given. Today, this is no longer the case as parents of the groom take the microphone and speak of their deep love for their son and their heartfelt wishes for the newlyweds’ health and happiness.

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Wedding Speeches Given by the Bride

The father of the bride, the bridegroom and the best man are traditionally the ones to give wedding speeches. However, in the 21st Century this tradition is no longer so rigid. Others in the wedding party have opted to take center stage and the microphone to lend their thoughts and feelings on this specialist of occasions. Wedding speeches given by others besides the father of the bride, bridegroom and best man are allowed more creativity since there are no set rules.

In years past, the bride did not give wedding speeches and her new husband spoke on her behalf in the groom’s speech. Today, brides are not content to remain passive and allow their husband to speak for them. This is the day they have dreamed of and planned to the minutest detail for months, if not years to ensure its perfection and they have much they want to say! Since there are no rules or restrictions on wedding speeches given by the bride, she has full creative reign. However, there are certain elements that can be included in the speech that will allow hers to compliment the wedding speeches traditionally given by the father of the bride, bridegroom and best man.

Wedding speeches by the bride can begin by acknowledging the speaker that has gone before. It will probably be a speech given by another non-traditional speaker such as the maid of honor or the parent’s of the groom. Since these speeches are not customary there is no set sequence as there are with the traditional wedding speeches. Many brides choose to give their speech last in order to give a final thanks to everyone for attending, for their gifts and making the wedding and reception memorable. If the bride opts to give the last speech, those guests who traveled long distances to attend the wedding have probably been mentioned previously. Therefore, she could take the opportunity to acknowledge and thank long lost friends and relatives who attended.

The groom will know that his bride will be giving a speech and will only thank those in his wedding party instead of both. This allows the bride to personally thank her maid of honor, bridesmaids and flower girl. She can also take this time to let those in her wedding party know how much their friendship means to her and share an amusing story that occurred before or after the wedding.

Wedding speeches given by the bride should include a sentimental tribute to her parents. She can convey a fond memory about her childhood, respond to a statement made by her father in his wedding speech, and tell them from the heart that even though she is now a married woman they will remain an integral part of her life. The more touching and sentimental the better as the wedding of their “little girl” is a bittersweet event for any parent.

The in-laws should be mentioned next in wedding speeches given by the bride. She can take this opportunity to thank them for any financial contributions they provided to make the wedding a reality and for welcoming her into the family. She can state that they did a wonderful job on raising their son and how blessed she feels to have him as her husband.

Wedding speeches given by the bride would not be complete if her new husband and love of her life was not mentioned. This is where she can be especially creative. She can speak of her hopes and dreams of the future with her beloved, how they met, when she first knew she was in love or how he proposed. Nothing is off limits. This is where in wedding speeches given by the bride that she can publicly confess to those attending the wedding and her husband just how much he means to her.

Wedding speeches by the bride were not traditionally given. However, brides of today are opting to take the microphone, alongside their husband, to thank all who attended the wedding, her parents, in-laws, wedding party and most of all her new husband whom she will be spending her life with.

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Wedding Speeches by the Bridegroom

The bridegroom’s speech is customarily the second of the wedding speeches given at a wedding reception and follows the parent’s of the bride speech. Public speaking is a common fear among many and giving wedding speeches may be just as fear producing as speaking in front of a large group of work associates. Knowing what tradition dictates in wedding speeches will not only aid in producing a memorable speech, but also help to alleviate the stress at not knowing what to say or what is expected.

Wedding speeches given by the groom is an opportunity to publicly acknowledge those who helped to make the wedding a reality. Thanks should be given to family and friends for attending and those who were in the wedding party. If the bride has opted out of giving wedding speeches the groom will be speaking on behalf of the both of them. In this case, it is imperative that he use the word “we” instead of “I” in his speech and to thank those who participated in both wedding parties.

Time should be taken to give special thanks to those who traveled a long distance to attend the wedding and reception. It is not necessary to list each person by name, but if they are comfortable with the attention they may appreciate that their time and effort was acknowledged.

Wedding speeches given by the groom should then focus on his parents. This is the time for him to thank them for their contributions to the wedding and their ongoing support throughout his life. His words need to be spoken from the heart and express his deep affection for his parents. Although most parents know that their child cares for them, the groom publicly acknowledging those feelings at his wedding reception will be a memory his parents will carry with them always.

After the groom speaks to and about his parents, the wedding speeches should then thank those who were in the wedding party. He should introduce the members of his wedding party by mentioning the groomsmen, best man and the ring bearer. Special attention should be given to how they helped to support him during the planning phase of the wedding. The groom should then thank his best man and share with those attending why he was chosen for this honor. He can inject humor by relaying a funny, but appropriate, story about some of their escapades and also take a moment to let the best man know how highly he regards their friendship.

Wedding speeches given by the groom should then be directed to his lovely bride. This is the groom’s opportunity to both publicly acknowledge and let his wife know how much he loves her and is looking forward to spending their lives together. He can also share with those attending how they met and when he first knew that she was the woman he wanted to marry.

It is customary at the end of wedding speeches given by the groom for a toast to be offered to the maid of honor and bridesmaids. The perfect ending to a speech filled with love and thanks could be a romantic kiss given to the woman who is now his wife.

Preparing and giving a speech often causes feelings of stress. Wedding speeches given by the groom are comprised of several traditional elements. Knowing what is expected in his speech may aid the groom in preparing his speech and possibly alleviate some of his pre-wedding speech gitters.

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Wedding Speeches by the Maid of Honour

There is no greater honour than to be asked to give a wedding speech. Traditionally, only three wedding speeches were given; the parents of the bride’s speech, groom’s speech and the best man speech. Today, this tradition has been tossed to the wind and others are asked to step forward and give a speech, or a long toast, to the bride and groom. Other individuals such as the bride, maid of honour and the parent’s of the groom are giving wedding speeches as well. Since this is a break from tradition, there are no hard and set rules as to what is expected in these wedding speeches. This allows for more creativity, but can also be stress producing if you are unsure of what to say.

If you were asked to be the maid of honour at a close friend’s wedding you may also be called upon to give a wedding speech. Public speaking is a common fear among many. If you are one of these chosen few, you may want to become familiar with wedding speeches and what is customarily conveyed to help relieve pre-speech gitters. By gaining knowledge about wedding speeches, you can craft a speech that is both heart warming and compliments wedding speeches given by others.

Since maid of honour speeches were not usually given, there isn’t a set placement for the speech as those given by the father of the bride, groom and best man. However, wedding speeches given by the maid of honour usually fall before or after the parents of the groom speech. This detail will ultimately be up to the discretion of the couple.

If you have been asked to be the maid of honour and speak at the reception, you may want to start by thanking those that contributed their time to preparing for the wedding. For example, you could acknowledge those who helped decorate the reception hall, helped with wedding invitations or made wedding favours. You would not want to include the officiant, those who made the wedding cake or the caterer, as these individuals will most likely be mentioned in the bride’s parents’ speech. This spoken “thank you” and acknowledgment of their hard work will mean a lot to those who helped to make the wedding a reality.

Wedding speeches given by the maid of honour should then be directed toward the bride. You could speak of your relationship with the bride or mention special times you spent together. If you decide to take your cue from the best man speech and make your speech humorous, steer clear of any stories or anecdotes that may embarrass or humiliate the bride. If you are unsure if a particular joke or story may cause embarrassment it would be best to err on the side of caution and leave it out.

Nearing the end of wedding speeches given by the maid of honour, it is imperative to remember to mention the groom. You can state how happy and in love your friend, the bride, appears to be whenever she is with her beloved or how you knew that he was the “one” for her. It would be endearing to mention what a wonderful choice she made in a husband and that you wish them nothing but love, happiness and success in their future together.

You could cap off your speech with a heartfelt poem that expresses your thoughts and feelings that may be difficult to convey or if you are married, words of wisdom on what constitutes a loving, successful marriage. Before handing over the microphone to the next individual giving wedding speeches be sure to offer up a toast to the next speaker. Although there are no hard and set rules to giving a maid of honour speech, it is helpful to have a guideline to ensure the speech goes smoothly and compliments other wedding speeches.

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Wedding Speeches by the Best Man

After the wedding ceremony, the wedding party and guests usually attend a less formal wedding reception. This is a celebration where all who attended enjoy a reception dinner, wedding cake, dancing and spending time with the bride and groom on their first day as husband and wife. Few occasions bring about feelings of warmth, love and unity like those brought to the forefront when two people vow to spend their lives together. Being able to capture these emotions in wedding speeches may possibly be one of the high points of a wedding reception.

Traditionally, the father of the bride, the bridegroom and the best man are the ones to give wedding speeches. Today it is common for others in the wedding party to make a speech as well such as the bride, maid of honor, and the parents of the groom.

The first to speak is the father of the bride, followed by the bridegroom and then the best man. Infused with warmth and humor, this speech is often the most anticipated. If done correctly, wedding speeches by the best man are amusing and heartfelt, but remain tasteful as not to offend those present.

In years past, the maid of honor did not give a speech at the reception; therefore, the best man was viewed as the head of the wedding party. It was customary that he would speak on behalf of the wedding party and would thank the bridegroom for his kind words to the maid of honor and bridesmaids. It is also appropriate, if not required, for the best man to compliment both the bridegroom and bride on how wonderful they look and comment on the beautiful bride and how blessed the bridegroom is to have her by his side. Mentioning the overall success of the wedding is customary in wedding speeches by the best man as well.

After everyone has been acknowledged, then the real fun begins. Wedding speeches by the best man must be humorous. This is not only traditional, but it may have been the deciding factor in him being selected as best man. The bridegroom may have chosen him for this honor because he had faith that he could pull off a heartfelt and tastefully humorous wedding speech! This is not always an easy feat as some jokes may not be appropriate for older and younger generations. If the gentle ribbing is good-natured and special attention given not to offend, wedding speeches given by the best man are assured to be a success.

After the humorous teasing and heartfelt sentiment, it is the best man’s responsibility to relay messages and read e-mails from those who were unable to attend the wedding. The bride and groom should review these with the best man before the wedding reception to point out each person’s relationship to them. Wedding speeches by the best man should culminate with him once again complimenting the bride and toasting to the couple’s future happiness.

Wedding speeches given by the best man are often one of the high points of any wedding reception. For the speech to be customary it should contain certain elements. It needs to speak on behalf of the wedding party, be heartfelt and most of all, respectfully humorous.

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Wedding Speeches by the Father of the Bride

Wedding speeches given by the father of the bride, or the bride’s parent’s speech, are traditionally the first speech given at a wedding reception. Of all the wedding speeches given, the father of the bride speech is usually the most touching and sentimental. The symbolic gesture of “giving his daughter away” at the wedding ceremony is often a bittersweet event for a father. Wedding speeches that are able to capture and convey these bittersweet emotions will stir hearts and create a fond memory that will not soon be forgotten. Although wedding speeches should be spoken from the heart, there are customary elements that should be included in a bride’s parent’s speech.

Wedding speeches given by the father of the bride or another individual substituting in their place, should be between seven to ten minutes long. This will ensure that time is allotted for others giving wedding speeches. The speech should begin with an opening statement such as a humorous anecdote or letting those in attendance know that he is slightly nervous about giving a speech. After the opening line, the speaker should thank those who financially contributed to the wedding, those involved in its planning and organization and everyone for attending.

The bride’s father speech should also include observations about the wedding itself. This could be a comment on how beautiful the wedding turned out to be, how happy and in love the couple appear to be or relaying an amusing event leading up to the wedding. Additional sentiments pertaining to his role as a father to the bride such as preparing the speech, giving his daughter away and the joy the day has brought him can also be conveyed in wedding speeches.

Wedding speeches by the father of the bride would not be complete without affectionate sentiments spoken to and about his daughter. These words need to be spoken from the heart and can include how beautiful she looks, how proud he is of her, and the happiness she has brought to his life. This part of the speech can be light hearted as well by gently poking fun at his daughter and speaking about the special bond they hold. He should take this opportunity to let his daughter know that she is loved and cared for deeply and although she is a married woman, she will always remain his “little girl”.

Other elements that can be included in wedding speeches by the father of the bride are information about the bride and groom’s relationship and romance such as how they met, when he first noticed that his daughter was in love, how well suited the couple are for one another and his reaction to the news of their engagement. The speech can be concluded by expressing confidence in their relationship and wishing them success and happiness as they begin a new chapter as man and wife.

Wedding speeches given by the father of the bride are beautiful and sentimental as the father speaks of his love for his daughter and his wish for the newly wedded couple’s future happiness. Giving a speech can be stressful regardless the event. Knowing what is customary in a father of the bride speech can help to make it a speech that will not soon be forgotten by those in attendance.

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What to Include in the Bridegroom Wedding Speech

The bridegroom wedding speech is a highlight of the wedding. This is the opportunity to thank all of the most important people as well as share some romantic and humorous stories. The bridegroom wedding speech should last around five minutes. This is enough time to thank everyone as well as provide enough stories to be interesting. It is important to remember that there are key points to be made during the bridegroom wedding speech.

The bridegroom wedding speech should be witty and lighthearted. The bridegroom can share stories about how he and his bride met, perhaps a humorous date they shared, or anything that is romantic, humorous, and endearing. It is important that the bridegroom wedding speech expresses true love for his new bride without going overboard, sharing too much information, or being boring.

One of the most important reasons for the bridegroom wedding speech is to thank the plethora of people who have impacted the wedding and lives of the bride and groom. The bridegroom should first thank the parents of the bride, thanking them for hosting a lovely wedding, as well as thanking them for allowing him to marry their beautiful daughter. This part of the bridegroom wedding speech is a sign of respect.

The bridegroom wedding speech should also include a special thank you to his own parents for supporting him throughout his life. The bridegroom should also thank the wedding officiant as well as anyone who played a major role in planning the wedding. The bridegroom wedding speech should also include a thank you to the best man. Any of these special thanks can include a short story about the wedding planning process or why these people are so special.

The bridegroom wedding speech must include a thank you for the bride. She is agreeing to spend the rest of her life with one man. He should feel humbled and honoured and he should express that in his bridegroom wedding speech.

Finally, it is tradition for the bridegroom wedding speech to end with a thank you to the bridesmaids for all their help in planning the wedding and being there for the bride. The bridegroom wedding speech ends with a toast to the bridesmaids!

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Helpful Tips on Creating Wedding Speeches

Giving a speech is a common fear held by many. This can be a stress-inducing event that causes your heart to race, your palms to sweat, and your voice to shake. These unpleasant reactions to stress can make giving wedding speeches appear insurmountable. The best defense to any stressful situation is to be as prepared as possible to face the obstacle. If asked to give a speech at a loved one’s wedding, it is crucial to become knowledgeable about what sentiments are usually conveyed in wedding speeches, how long the speech should be and what not to say or do.

Traditionally, only three wedding speeches were given at a wedding reception. These were wedding speeches by the parents of the bride, bridegroom and the best man. Today, others in the wedding party are opting to step up to the podium and give wedding speeches such as the bride, maid of honour and parents of the groom. However, the couple can ask anyone they choose to give a speech at their wedding reception as new traditions are being included with older more established traditions.

Wedding speeches should be fairly short and last between 3 to 5 minutes long. Non-traditional speeches do not have established expectations like those given by the parents of the bride, bridegroom and best man. If you are not one of these individuals, but you have been asked to give a speech, this allows for more creativity since there is no prescribed format. Although this allows for more artistic expression, it may be stressful if you are unsure of what to say and what is appropriate.

When composing wedding speeches certain elements should be included. First, it is important to convey your appreciation. You could simply express your gratitude for being included in the wedding party, being asked to give a speech or simply being invited to be a part of the couple’s special day.

Next, your attention should be focused on the newlyweds. You could speak of fond memories or special times that were shared with the bride or groom. This is the part of your speech where you can be humorous or sentimental depending on your style and personality. It is important to remember if you decide to share a fond memory or funny escapade that you do not unwittingly embarrass or humiliate the bride or groom. Wedding speeches should only include jokes and sentiments that are appropriate for various age groups from small children to grandparents and older relatives of the bride and groom.

Most wedding speeches include compliments directed toward the newlyweds and the overall success of the wedding. Take time to state how beautiful the bride looks or how stunning the groom looks in his tuxedo. Compliment those who helped to make the wedding a day to remember such as the couples’ parents and those in the wedding party.

Your speech can culminate with words of wisdom regarding building a lasting and loving relationship, a meaningful quote or fitting poem. Wedding speeches usually end with a toast being offered to the couple’s health and happiness and a short toast to the next speaker.

This is a basic outline of what is customary in wedding speeches. However, if you are not one of the traditional speakers such as the parents of the bride, bridegroom or best man there is no prescribed format on what is expected in your speech. This will allow for more creative expression as you add your own special touch to make your speech unique and personal. In order to craft a well-presented heartfelt speech, it is also important to know what is customarily said in wedding speeches so yours will compliment the others. Another important tip is to practice your speech before the big day to help relieve pre-wedding speeches gitters!

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Writing Wedding Speeches 101

So, you’ve been chosen to deliver a speech at an upcoming wedding. Congratulations! Speeches are one of the most memorable rites of passage of any wedding celebration, and you will become a part of those memories forever.

Understandably, you may be nervous about giving a wedding speech. We’ve all heard the horror stories about wedding toasts gone wrong: guests sitting in shocked silence at inappropriately bawdy stories, jokes that sound more insulting than funny, and the slackjawed looks of boredom at droning, monotone wedding speeches that never seem to end. And now it’s your turn—gulp! What should you write? Should you be funny or serious? Irreverent or sincere? A great deal depends on your personality and how comfortable you feel speaking in front of an audience.

Here are a few rules to keep in mind that will help you write a successful wedding speech:

1. Be personal. While many of the guests may not know you personally, they will certainly know either the bride or the groom (or both). By focusing your speech on the newlyweds, you will capture the audience with a subject they care about and can relate to personally. Give examples of the wonderful qualities of the couple, happy times you have passed with them, and why they will surely be joyful together. Everyone will nod their heads in agreement and smile, thinking, “I couldn’t have said it better myself!”
2. Be sincere. Rattling off a bunch of generic platitudes may sound pretty on the surface, but if there is no real message, your audience (including the bride and groom) will feel let down. Truly take some time to reflect on your feelings about the couple, and write your words from the heart. If the groom is the best friend you’ve ever had, and you don’t know a better way to say it than that, then just say it like that. Sincerity trumps glibness every time.
3. Watch your tone. Remember: True + Tasteful = Terrific, but True + Tactless = Traumatic! If you decide to include a funny story from personal experience, it’s a good idea to test it out first. Tell the story to a few people who know the couple, and ask them to judge whether the story is appropriate and appealing. The same applies for jokes; if you wouldn’t tell it to your grandmother, don’t tell it at the wedding! And if you don’t feel comfortable telling jokes at all, then simply don’t. Just stick with what you know, and you’ll be fine.
4. Watch the time. When in doubt, brief is better. Before writing your speech, ask the person planning the event how long your speech should be. Then, practice your speech aloud and tape record yourself. That way, you’ll know exactly how long the speech took, and whether you were rushing or not speaking clearly.
5. If you’re really stuck in writing your speech, get help. Beyond friends who can help you, there are dozens of model wedding speeches online, professional wedding speech writers for hire, and even fill-in-the-blank templates that let you create a custom wedding speech with ease. Don’t feel like you have to do it all yourself.

Follow these simple rules, and you’ll be sure to leave both the couple and the audience with happy memories and warm feelings. Good luck, and enjoy the big event!

Keywords: Wedding Speeches, Weddingblog, Wedding Toasts
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