“The Engagement speech was a huge success. I was a bit nervous at the beginning but soon got into my stride and got loads of laughs! Lots of people complemented me on a great speech. But more importantly my fiancée thought it was a great speech too! Thanks again for crafting such a brilliant speech, it gave me so much confidence knowing that the content and the style of the speech was first class!” – Andrew V
Need help with your engagement speech? Email us or call our office on 0207 118 1600
Congratulations! You’ve proposed, she (or he) has accepted and you’ve got a wedding to plan.
But hang on a minute. You’ve decided to throw an engagement party first. And it seems sensible to give an engagement speech.
Which creates a whole myriad of dilemmas:
- What should you say?
- What shouldn’t you say?
- How do you avoid using all your best material that could work in your groom speech?
- How long should you speak for?
- Should you memorise something or read from a script?
The good news is that you have an empty canvas to work on. Many couples don’t have engagement parties. Many engagement parties don’t have speeches. And so you don’t have to say anything.
But assuming you do (and we’re all in favour!) then there are some key things to remember.
For a start, make it relevant. This is meant for the people in the room, and shouldn’t be too self-indulgent.
Then keep it brief. This isn’t a lecture series, or an Oscar speech. We suggest you avoid long stories and stick to the key points that are:
- Thanking people for coming and their love / generosity / warmth.
- Mentioning anyone who has made this possible.
- Explain how happy it has made you.
- And illustrate why – your wonderful husband / wife. Try not to make this too slushy. There are still ceremonies and wedding parties to come. Just spread some fun and a little love.
- Raise a toast. It could be to your beloved or, more relevantly, to the friends and family in the room who have made it all possible.
So that’s an engagement speech. Short, punchy, warm and cosy. Save some great stuff for the wedding day.
What should I include in my engagement speech?
We’d advise you to begin by thanking your guests, especially those who’ve travelled or helped organise the party. Then speak briefly about how you got engaged (how the question was popped, when the wedding is planned) in a warm, light-hearted tone. Finally, you could close with a toast to friends, family, and your future together, and invite everyone to celebrate the moment.
What mistakes can Great Speech Writing help me avoid in my engagement speech?
We will steer you clear of overly elaborate “in” jokes, embarrassing anecdotes, or hurtful references (such as ex-partners). We also warn against making your speech too long or formal: engagement speeches should feel friendly, inclusive and fun rather than stiff or overly serious. This speech needs to be a celebration!
Does Great Speech Writing work with couples to deliver a joint engagement speech?
We certainly do! Whether you prefer to speak individually, in turn, or as a double act, Great Speech Writing works flexibly. We will interview both of you (by call or via detailed questions) to capture your shared story, personalities and humour, then craft a polished, cohesive speech that reflects you as a team and ensures you feel entirely confident delivering it.
Why is Great Speech Writing particularly good at writing engagement speeches?
Our writers have years of experience helping clients with weddings and engagement-party speeches. Our discreet, expert speechwriters, many of whom have written hundreds of personal and emotional speeches, know how to balance levity, heart and structure. Our clients repeatedly praise us for making their words shine and helping them deliver with confidence.
How does the process work when Great Speech Writing writes my engagement speech?
You start by telling us your story, how you met, got engaged, and your hopes for the future. We will either run a phone interview or send you guiding questions. Our writers then produce a draft, after which you can request revisions until the tone, pacing and details feel exactly right. We aim for focus, warmth and originality, and quote in advance for all work.
We will steer you clear of overly elaborate “in” jokes, embarrassing anecdotes, or hurtful references (such as ex-partners). We also warn against making your speech too long or formal: engagement speeches should feel friendly, inclusive and fun rather than stiff or overly serious. This speech needs to be a celebration!
We’re here to help – to review your draft and offer comments, or to help you write from scratch. To get things started, please get in touch and we’ll send you some questions to help you prepare all the necessary background info.
And the good news is that if we write your engagement speech, we can offer a significant discount off your wedding speech on the basis that we have done all the research in advance!
We look forward to hearing from you. Please call Lawrence on 0207 118 1600 or email us.
“What a great day. Everything went smoothly and we had a lot of fun. I received a lot of compliments on the speech and I think the delivery went down well too, so thank you for all your valued input.” – Edmond G