Speech tips for brides
“Thank you guys! I’m very happy, it looks awesome… Thank you very much for this, I reckon I’ll knock them all dead!” – Katia H
Need help with your bridal speech? Email us or call our office on 0207 118 1600
Bride Speech Writing Help and Advice
Traditionally, the speeches at a wedding are given by the father of the bride, the groom, and the best man. But today, more and more brides — and their bridesmaids — want to speak too.
A bride’s speech offers balance to the typical all-male line-up. But without proper planning, it can unintentionally cast a shadow over the day you’ve spent months (if not years) preparing.
To help avoid that, we’ve put together some speech tips for brides — practical advice to help you get it right.
- Don’t Leave It to the Last Minute
Believe it or not, it’s your words – not the flowers – that many guests will remember. A great bride speech (in fact, any wedding speech!) takes time to prepare. The spotlight will be on you more than anyone else, so being fluent, confident, and well-rehearsed matters. There’s a reason your dad has spent months working on his!
- Think Carefully About Timing
Some brides want to end the evening with their speech – but this can be risky. Guests may have left, or the room might be full of tipsy distractions. We recommend speaking right after your husband. It provides a fresh, female voice at just the right moment, before the best man rounds things off.
- Enlist a Friend
Wedding dresses rarely have pockets! Ask a bridesmaid or close friend to keep your speech safe until you need it. Using easy-to-read cards (rather than folded sheets) helps you stay calm and collected when it’s time to speak.
- Coordinate with the Other Speakers
Avoid overlap by checking in with your dad, your groom, and the best man ahead of time. No matter how original your speech feels, it’s worth coordinating to ensure each speaker brings something new to the table.
- Acknowledge Your New Family
If you’re planning to talk about your own family, it’s thoughtful to include your husband’s too. A bride speech is a chance to celebrate both sides of the family – not the time to risk a mother-in-law faux pas (there’ll be plenty of time for that later!).
- Using Rhyme? Proceed with Caution
Rhyme can be a great way to add personality and stand out from the other speeches. But it’s not easy to pull off well. If you’re set on rhyme, try a few short verses or use a meaningful poem as a structure – ideally one that reflects something about your partner.
- End with a Unique Toast
Rather than repeating the traditional toasts already used, this is your chance to do something original. You might toast your parents as hosts, or raise a glass to all your friends and family for their love and support.
Need help writing your bride speech?
If writing a bride speech on top of planning the entire wedding feels overwhelming, we’re here to help. Whether you need us to write it from scratch or edit your bride speech draft, our professional wedding speechwriters are ready to support you.
Call us on 0207 118 1600 or email us to find out more – and give yourself one less thing to worry about.
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