past relationships of the bride and groom

Tips for Writing Wedding Speeches LadyPens

The best man stands up, adjusts his tie with a quick tug, and nervously clinks his wine glass with his knife. All eyes turn to him, waiting in anticipation of hearing words of wisdom and even a few jabs for the newlyweds. Talk about pressure!
Whether you been asked to be the best man, maid of honor, or simply say a few words at the ceremony, you responsible for lightening the mood with some laughter and tears. And for most people, giving speeches wedding or otherwise doesn come naturally; staring out at a sea of guests can be overwhelming, especially if you not a classically trained rhetorician.
The beauty of wedding speeches, however, is the inherent spontaneity and off-the-cuff remarks that can be made. Remembering the good, old days and looking forward to better days is what makes wedding speeches so touching.
Just don stress out! Writing a wedding speech is easier than you think!
Below are some quick, easy tips to help you while writing a wedding speech that not only moves the wedding party and guests but leaves a memorable impression.
Writing a Wedding Speech with Flair
First things first. Don waste any time putting together your speech ideas. Get out a fresh piece of paper, and jot down a few ideas that you know will help celebrate the marriage of the bride and groom in a positive way. Perhaps start with a funny anecdote or joke to elicit laughs from the audience and put you more at ease. Wedding speeches should always be light, funny, and conversational. Formal language has its place, but it not here. You should also ask the bride and groom since they might be having others speak at their wedding if they would like you to speak on a special theme or subject.
When compiling and writing your wedding speech, know your order in the wedding party. Though you should know well in advance the schedule or timeline of events at the ceremony itself, you may still find it helpful to coordinate with the bride, groom, and other members as well as establish a rapport.
Keep wedding speeches to innocuous topics, such as congratulations, compliments, stories, and happy wishes. Don ever say anything you think will be even the slightest bit offensive. At any given wedding, there are dozens of people from all walks of life, so it best to avoid incendiary subjects that some people may take issue with. This includes, of course, religion, sex, politics, past relationships of the bride and groom, crude language, and anything else that not family-friendly. When writing the speech, keep it upbeat and happy, avoid negative stories, and stay polite this is key. If done right, you should also comment on the beautiful bride!
Some books that offer tips on wedding speeches may recommend that you set out to memorize your speech by heart this decision can easily go awry. Sure, you may have your paper in front of you, but searching for the words once you have forgotten them slows you down and creates long, perhaps uncomfortable silences. You would also be reading your speech verbatim, which can often sound mechanical and forced. Rather, think about having cue cards with the basic ideas you want to cover in your speech simply elaborate on each topic that you previously rehearsed while writing your wedding speech.
Wedding speeches should be kept short everyone wants to return to eating, drinking, and having a good time, so avoid dragging out your happy wishes for too long. A good rule of thumb when writing a wedding speech is to have a great opener, a joke, a brief anecdote, and a heartfelt closing, all of which should take about five minutes. In short, plan out your key points in advance. At the end, you should always thank everyone, including the bridal party, wedding planners/organizers, and out-of-town guests.
Wedding Speeches that Wow
A little planning beforehand will help you formulate some basic thoughts that you want to incorporate while writing your wedding speech. However, the best part about wedding speeches is throwing in some memories that are truly special to you remember them aloud as you would tell any intimate moment with a close group of friends. If you happen to forget your wedding speech, it okay! Just run with it and speak from the heart. Share your happiness.
Emotions run high. Above all, embrace this honor that the bride or groom has bestowed upon you and make them smile.
Last 5 posts by Cherie JohnsonA Celebration of Times Past: Planning a Vintage Wedding - June 16th, 2010Popping the Question: A Guide to Wedding Proposals - June 10th, 2010Choosing a Wedding Dress for Your Body Shape - May 13th, 2010The Collaborative Wedding Budget: Coordinating Multiple Parties with Ease - May 3rd, 2010From Favors to Food: Common Bridesmaid Duties - April 13th, 2010
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Tags: wedding speeches, writing a wedding speech
A Celebration of Times Past: Planning a Vintage WeddingPopping the Question: A Guide to Wedding ProposalsTips for Writing Wedding SpeechesChoosing a Wedding Dress for Your Body ShapeThe Collaborative Wedding Budget: Coordinating Multiple Parties with Ease
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Cherie Johnson is the founder and owner of Creative Wedding Favors, a one-stop shop for personalized, unique baby and bridal shower, graduation, quinceañera, anniversary, and wedding favors, helping countless couples and families make their big events a success. Cherie's wedding advice has appeared on several websites including Little Wedding Guide, Wedding Lenox, and The Wedding Source. Before she launched her company in 2006, Cherie worked as a professional wedding photographer, capturing the most special moments of the bride and groom's big day.