Thursday, October 06, 2005
Guide To Writing Wedding Speeches
Writing a wedding speech is especially hard if you don’t know what is expected of you. If you have not attended many weddings, or have not really listened to the speeches given at weddings, you may be wondering what the point of wedding speeches is. It is important that you understand the motives behind giving speeches before you try to write one of your own.
Wedding speeches are, in general, a way to help the wedding couple celebrate the wedding. They are often given in conjunction with toasts. At the reception there is usually a time allotted for wedding speeches. This can be before the meal, during the meal, or after the meal. Many speeches are also given when the new couple arrives at the reception.
At some weddings there is a separate, smaller set of speeches that takes place during the wedding ceremony. If you are part of the Bridal party you may want to ask exactly when the speeches will take place so that you know the agenda of the wedding celebration. In most cases someone who is in charge of coordinating the wedding will let you know when you’ll be giving your speech.
At the wedding reception speeches are often announced by the master of ceremonies who will invite members of the wedding party to come up and give their speech. At smaller weddings the Best Man may start off the wedding speeches. In general the speeches will take some time. Speeches will be heard by the Best Man, the Maid of Honor, the Bridesmaids, and other wedding party members. The father and mother of the Bride and Groom will also be asked to give speeches. Finally, the Bride and Groom will be asked to say a few words. At this point the floor will be opened for other guests to come forward and give their well wishes in the form of a speech or a toast.
At some weddings, however, only specific people (usually the wedding party) are asked to give speeches. The speeches will follow a short welcoming comment that is made by the Best Man or master of ceremonies. During many wedding receptions it is typical for the master of ceremonies to introduce each speaker to the audience as they are inviting them up to the microphone to give the speech.
After the speeches the Bride and Groom are toasted and then the couple will have a chance to give their own speeches. At some larger weddings the toasts and speeches are intermingled throughout the evening so that speeches don’t take up too much time all at once.
The Bride and Groom will generally reply to each speech by thanking the speaker. Many times the speaker will walk past the wedding couple for the shaking of hands or giving hugs. At many weddings the Best Man will toast the Bridesmaids or make toasts on their behalf. The Best Man will also often toast the wedding hosts. However, this does not mean that the Bridesmaids and wedding hosts will not make their own speeches.
There are several different types of wedding speeches that can take place during the wedding reception:
· The Best Man: The speech of the Best Man is often longer and more formal than any of the other speeches. It often ends with an invitation for guests to join the Best Man in a toast. At many weddings the Best Man will begin the evening’s speeches. However, the speeches of Best Man vary widely from wedding to wedding. In many cases these speeches are humorous, although many best men also deliver excellent sentimental or touching speeches as well.
· The Maid of Honor: The Maid of Honor is often expected to give a speech after the Best Man. Usually the Maid of Honor will talk about the couple and will lead the guests in a toast. The same rules that apply to the Best Man’s speech apply to the Maid of Honor’s speech as well.
· Parents of the Bride and Groom: Like the Best Man and the Maid of Honor the parents of the Bride and Groom will often deliver longer speeches. In many cases these speeches will wish the couple much joy and will reflect on the bringing together of two families. Again, these speeches often end in blessings or wishes for the Bridal couple and a toast.
· Bridesmaids and Ushers: The Bridesmaids and ushers may present a speech together or individually as friends of the Bride and Groom. Bridesmaids and ushers are not always expected to give speeches at weddings but it is a good idea if you are a Bridesmaid or usher at a wedding to be prepared to give a speech. Since the Bridesmaids and ushers are often close friends, or family, of the wedding couple it is often a nice touch for them to share their own feelings by giving a speech.
· The Bride and Groom: After the wedding party has presented their speeches the Bride and Groom may wish to offer their own speeches as well. They will usually thank their parents and anyone else who went out of their way to help them plan the wedding. They will also thank their wedding party and guests for coming together to help them celebrate their marriage. If any person has traveled a long way to take part in the wedding they are also traditionally thanked by the Bride and Groom in their wedding speeches. Often the Bride and Groom will also use their wedding speeches to declare their love, express their hopes for the future, and to reflect on the special occasion. The speeches of the Bride and Groom are very anticipated by the wedding guests and often can get quite emotional.
· Guests of the Wedding: Guests are often invited to give speeches at a wedding. They can come up individually or in groups to share their blessings for the new couple. These speeches tend to be shorter than the speeches of the wedding party and may often contain stories about the Bride and Groom. Guest speeches generally end with a toast to the new couple.
Wedding speeches are, in general, a way to help the wedding couple celebrate the wedding. They are often given in conjunction with toasts. At the reception there is usually a time allotted for wedding speeches. This can be before the meal, during the meal, or after the meal. Many speeches are also given when the new couple arrives at the reception.
At some weddings there is a separate, smaller set of speeches that takes place during the wedding ceremony. If you are part of the Bridal party you may want to ask exactly when the speeches will take place so that you know the agenda of the wedding celebration. In most cases someone who is in charge of coordinating the wedding will let you know when you’ll be giving your speech.
At the wedding reception speeches are often announced by the master of ceremonies who will invite members of the wedding party to come up and give their speech. At smaller weddings the Best Man may start off the wedding speeches. In general the speeches will take some time. Speeches will be heard by the Best Man, the Maid of Honor, the Bridesmaids, and other wedding party members. The father and mother of the Bride and Groom will also be asked to give speeches. Finally, the Bride and Groom will be asked to say a few words. At this point the floor will be opened for other guests to come forward and give their well wishes in the form of a speech or a toast.
At some weddings, however, only specific people (usually the wedding party) are asked to give speeches. The speeches will follow a short welcoming comment that is made by the Best Man or master of ceremonies. During many wedding receptions it is typical for the master of ceremonies to introduce each speaker to the audience as they are inviting them up to the microphone to give the speech.
After the speeches the Bride and Groom are toasted and then the couple will have a chance to give their own speeches. At some larger weddings the toasts and speeches are intermingled throughout the evening so that speeches don’t take up too much time all at once.
The Bride and Groom will generally reply to each speech by thanking the speaker. Many times the speaker will walk past the wedding couple for the shaking of hands or giving hugs. At many weddings the Best Man will toast the Bridesmaids or make toasts on their behalf. The Best Man will also often toast the wedding hosts. However, this does not mean that the Bridesmaids and wedding hosts will not make their own speeches.
There are several different types of wedding speeches that can take place during the wedding reception:
· The Best Man: The speech of the Best Man is often longer and more formal than any of the other speeches. It often ends with an invitation for guests to join the Best Man in a toast. At many weddings the Best Man will begin the evening’s speeches. However, the speeches of Best Man vary widely from wedding to wedding. In many cases these speeches are humorous, although many best men also deliver excellent sentimental or touching speeches as well.
· The Maid of Honor: The Maid of Honor is often expected to give a speech after the Best Man. Usually the Maid of Honor will talk about the couple and will lead the guests in a toast. The same rules that apply to the Best Man’s speech apply to the Maid of Honor’s speech as well.
· Parents of the Bride and Groom: Like the Best Man and the Maid of Honor the parents of the Bride and Groom will often deliver longer speeches. In many cases these speeches will wish the couple much joy and will reflect on the bringing together of two families. Again, these speeches often end in blessings or wishes for the Bridal couple and a toast.
· Bridesmaids and Ushers: The Bridesmaids and ushers may present a speech together or individually as friends of the Bride and Groom. Bridesmaids and ushers are not always expected to give speeches at weddings but it is a good idea if you are a Bridesmaid or usher at a wedding to be prepared to give a speech. Since the Bridesmaids and ushers are often close friends, or family, of the wedding couple it is often a nice touch for them to share their own feelings by giving a speech.
· The Bride and Groom: After the wedding party has presented their speeches the Bride and Groom may wish to offer their own speeches as well. They will usually thank their parents and anyone else who went out of their way to help them plan the wedding. They will also thank their wedding party and guests for coming together to help them celebrate their marriage. If any person has traveled a long way to take part in the wedding they are also traditionally thanked by the Bride and Groom in their wedding speeches. Often the Bride and Groom will also use their wedding speeches to declare their love, express their hopes for the future, and to reflect on the special occasion. The speeches of the Bride and Groom are very anticipated by the wedding guests and often can get quite emotional.
· Guests of the Wedding: Guests are often invited to give speeches at a wedding. They can come up individually or in groups to share their blessings for the new couple. These speeches tend to be shorter than the speeches of the wedding party and may often contain stories about the Bride and Groom. Guest speeches generally end with a toast to the new couple.
