10 tips for a great wedding speech
By Lawrence | June 21, 2009
It is summer. Wedding bells are ringing and men of all shapes and sizes are desperately surfing the internet hoping to find an instant cure for the speech they have been dreading since the date was set.
Here are ten quick tips to help you get started:
- It’s not just you. Many men worry that their speech will ruin their wedding day. And that goes for grooms, best men and fathers of the bride around the country.
- Beating the nerves is all about preparation in two areas: Writing the speech and giving it.
- It’s worth contacting friends and family who have known the bride and groom at different stages of their lives to gather unusual anecdotes and insights.
- What will your audience want to hear? There is nothing worse for Grandma than a best man’s speech focusing exclusively on the Stag’s drinking exploits in Amsterdam dressed as Spiderman. Try to include something for everyone.
- Try to map out a framework for the speech that combines a sensible balance between sincerity and humour. An over-sentimental speech can be dull. But a stand-up comedy routine can miss the point entirely.
- There is no ‘perfect’ shape or style for a speech. You may want to take a thematic or chronological approach. But the key is brevity. Avoid rambling paragraphs in favour of short, punchy, deliverable sentences.
- This punchy style means you’ll be able to give the speech much more confidently. Practise it out loud over and over again, reading very slowly and emphasising key words.
- Get to know your speech so well that you only need to glance at your notes to remember what comes next. The slow pace will make this easy and allow you to make eye contact with your audience.
- Find out where you’ll be standing, whether there will be a microphone, and if there will be somewhere to rest your notes. This will avoid nasty surprises that might keep you awake the night before.
- If you are still worried, please call me. I’d love to help you write something truly original, memorable and easy to deliver.
Topics: Speechwriting | 26 Comments »
26 Responses to “10 tips for a great wedding speech”
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Hi Lawrence,
I am Father of the Bride to be, -18th of September 2009 to be exact and am just staring to address the subject of my speech. I would like to know a little more about your speech writing and of course the fees you charge.
I look forward to hearing from you,
Regards,
Ken Erwood
Ken
I have emailed you a response, but the best bet would be to have a chat.
I’m available this evening if you get a chance to speak.
Best wishes
Lawrence
Hello Lawrence,
My daughter is getting married on 31-8-09.
I’ve spent hours writing my speech and I just can not get it right! Would it be possible to e-mail to you what I’ve got so far and for you to fix it!?
hope you can help
best regards
Paul
Paul, please do! I’ve sent you an email too.
Looking forward to reading it.
Lawrence
Lawrence
I’ve got to give short talk/reading during the wedding part. There are, of course, the traditional bible readings but I’m looking for something a bit more modern with a hint of humour and a serious message about love, future, happiness etc
Can you advise me in any way?
Jon
Jon – I have sent you an email .
Best wishes
Lawrence
Hi,
Wierdly I have to do a daughter of the groom speech, can you help? I have some ideas but cant assemble it.
Thankyou
Lesley
Im alway scared of calling upon to make or write a speach, my friend is getting married Nov. ‘09 and i know what it means……pls help.
Hi Awwal
I’d be delighted to help. The best place to start would to be to have a chat. Please feel free tocall me on my landline and we can go from there.
Looking forward to speaking with you.
Lawrence
Lesley – it sounds like a magnificent challenge! Please give me a call on 020 7681 8247 and we can take it from there.
L
Hi! My dad is getting married in November and I want to say something nice to them at the reception. Can you email me with tips and how I should start out the speech and how to keep it short and sweet?
Thanks!
Gday,
I have to give a best man speech at my Brother’s wedding in September and a few laughs would be nice. I have some snippets of things i would like to say but i need help to tie it together.
Cheers,
Andrew
Hi Andrew
It would be best if you could email through what you have done so far and I’ll get back to you with some ideas (and any potential costs).
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Lawrence
Hi Hannah
I’m afraid I don’t supply ’stock’ speeches; everything I write is written around you and your audience.
I’d be delighted to chat about how I could help you.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Lawrence
Help! 40th wedding anniversarry coming up.
Need short speech with a bit of humour?one liner.
Any suggestions to help
BOB
Hi Bob – best bet would be to have a chat – I’m on 020 7681 8247 and would love to help.
Look forward to speaking to you.
Lawrence
hi, im getting married on 23oct this year and im worrying about my speech. Can you help me?
Sergio – please call me on 020 76818 247 – I would love to help.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Lawrence
Hi
I have to make a speech in the Great Hall at Hever Castle on 3rd July.
The groom is English, the bride German. The guests roughly 50:50
I would like to be able to address the guests variously in both English and German. I speak a little Deutsch and can read it!
The groom has a great sense of humour (his third wedding!), he has taken over the whole castle, is putting up all the guests in the castle, dress code is black, red and white, short dresses for ladies with good legs, and good humoured stereotypical references to getting towels down early in the morning etc in the wedding invitation package.
He is no oaf! He is a virtuoso guitar, violin and piano player (concert standard), a gifted artist, and he was on Master Chef a couple of years ago!
Enough already! Can you help me please?
JOhn
Hi Lawrence,
I’ve just picked up an excellent booklet of yours on how to write a Best Man’s Speech. Do you have anything similar about how to write a Groom’s Speech? Top Tips?
Michael
Hi Michael – that booklet is still work in progress I’m afraid; delighted to chat if you’d like to discuss your groom speech! Best wishes, L
Hey webmaster can I use some of the information from this post if I provide a link back to your site?
Yes of course; please drop me a link to the page you publish it on. Thanks, Lawrence
hi ya my mom n dad are getting married for the second time after a 13 yr split,an im best women,ive tryed to write my speech but carnt think how to approch it at all,plz help lol
kind regards
Hi Nichola – I’d be delighted to help. Please give me a call and we can decide on the best way forward. Thanks, Lawrence
Hi Lawrence
I could do with some help on my best man speech that i have to deliver on Saturday 4th September.
Please email me and lets get this finished together
Many thanks
Lee