The wedding speech, when well thought out, rehearsed and
properly delivered, could bring a wedding reception or dinner to
life. A good wedding speech will entertain and make the guests
feel great about being present for the celebration. Here are a
few tips for writing your own wedding speech if you don't have
any idea what to say.
Thank Anyone Important
A wedding is an ideal occasion to thank many people. Name the
people you want to give thanks to and why. For example, if you
are the best man, you can thank the groom for being his best
friend. If you are the bride, you can thank your parents for
raising you to be independent and smart.
Tell a Story
People like to hear stories about other people. Say something
you know about the person you will be talking about because you
were also there when it happened, or even if you had only heard
about it. For example, you and the groom went to the same
college but attended lectures late, if at all in the mornings
because you both played poker all night long. The groom won
often and made enough to pay for one semester's tuition.
Give a History Lesson
This is very similar to telling a story. Go over the
significant milestones, if you are familiar with them, about
this person, the bride or groom. That would include the schools
they attended, the jobs they had or the hobbies they are in to.
Disclose a Secret
Everyone likes to hear and tell secrets. Say something no one
knows about the person you will be talking about but may be
surprised to find out. For example, tell the guests that the
bride once auditioned for a popular television show. Or, that
the groom had a crush on his third grade school teacher, who by
the way is a guest tonight.
Say Something Funny
Any occasion would be fun if humor were part of it. If you can
make people laugh with a funny story, everyone will feel like
they are having a good time and enjoy themselves. You can't
force a laugh. However, the stories you tell or the situations
you describe can end up getting a few guests chuckling without
you trying to make it funny.
Give Unsolicited Advice
It's customary for someone to give the newlyweds some advice.
The most common is anything on marriage. If you are making a
speech and you are married, you can share your wisdom on how to
be a good spouse. A common advice is to resolve your argument
before you both go to sleep. Another would be that the wife is
always right. Although these examples are important, admittedly
they have been over-used. What you can do, if you can't think of
advice that no one else has ever told, is to make these original
or unique by describing how the advice has helped you in your
own marriage.
Reveal Your Feelings
You can express your feelings about the people you will be
talking about in your speech. If you are the father of the
bride, tell your daughter how proud you are of her and that you
will always be there for her. In addition, you can tell your new
son-in-law how happy you are to have him as a new member of the
family.
Get the Audience Involved
This idea is a bit unconventional and almost crosses into the
job of the MC, however you might consider getting the audience
involved by asking questions about the couple. You can ask about
the craziest thing the couple has ever done. Or, you can ask
about why they would make a good couple. You can come up with
any opened ended question that requires some explaining. Some
would be glad to participate just to be the life of the party.
By doing this, you'll loosen up the crowd and make the
celebration all the more fun.
You should consider it an honor and a privilege if asked to
make a speech at a wedding reception. The newlywed's family
asked you because they trust you and have respect in you. They
know that they can count on you to do a good job. Your moment to
shimmer in the spotlight is near. Good luck and have fun.
Copyright © 2006 By Leroy Chan
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