Dreams come true. That’s a fact you could testify best on your wedding day. And you are not the only witness. All your guests were there; a moment will come when you share your feelings with them: the wedding speech. You are standing, overwhelmed by emotions, in front of everybody, and you have to put into words all your love and gratitude to them. But at the same time, you must have the words at hand. What to do? You may find here some tips which might help you.

 

Should I Speak Alone or as a Couple?

Before you begin to organise your thoughts, you should decide with your soulmate if you are sharing the moment or should take it all on your shoulders. Nobody will bother, no matter what your decision is.

If you or your partner are too emotional, it could be better than only one of you have the floor. In this case, you could exchange ideas or advice regarding the content.

If you are planning a speech as a couple, you have to prepare not to say the same ideas. Your discourse should be complete, as you are. So, decide who speaks first, according to your rhetoric skills. You could work together at planning the sermon or separately, as long as you share your notes with your partner. In this manner, both shall know what to say and how much time you need to speak.

 

What to say

Think of your auditorium and of what you want to address them. First, you should express your love and gratitude to those who accompanied you, in one way or another, through the adventure of your life until the wedding day: your parents, siblings, and closest friends.

Then mention your ‘crew’ who helped you plan the perfect day: your family, buddies, bridesmaids or groomsmen. Write down everybody to miss nobody.

Your guests will be delighted to hear from your mouth how much their presence means to you. It is a good opportunity to welcome and thank them for being by your side.

Before the emotion overcomes, you could change the register and say something funny. You surely have some anecdotes about you as a couple which would like to share.

Finally, remember that you will never walk alone on this path, so raise the glass and toast to your spouse.

 

Wedding Speech Examples

If you search for inspiration, find here some examples you could use for writing your speech.

Welcoming the guests: Hello, everybody! My spouse and I are glad to have you all here on the happiest day of our life (until now). We know many of you made sacrifices travelling far away from home to join us, so receive our gratitude for all your efforts.

Thanking parents and in-laws: Dear Mom and Dad, you blessed me with your love since my first breath. I couldn’t thank you enough for all your efforts and support. You always encouraged me to make my own decisions and fight for them. I stand today in front of you very proud and happy with my choice. Your strength and love was always a model that I hope to follow. Today, you didn’t lose a daughter but earned a son. I love you infinitely.

To my in-laws, my new parents, you raised the best human being on Earth. I can’t thank you enough for that, and I promise you to cherish him and our family.  You opened your arms to me, offered good advice and support, helped with the wedding preparation, and taught me priceless lessons for the new life, not to mention that you granted me access to Grama’s recipe book. I bow before you with respect.

Acknowledging siblings: Dear Sis, you saw my first steps and decoded my baby mumbles. You helped my doing my homework and covered for me when skipping classes (Mom, you didn’t hear that). I was never perfect, but perfectible, and you always stayed by my side. You may see now a new me, brighter and happier. I love you and thank you for being my best person. Your help with the wedding was invaluable; everything looks amazing due to you.

To my brother, who opened my eyes to real life while he (thought) he taught me everything about flirting. I confess that nothing worked with my sweetheart. You are the heartbreaker of the family, but I am happily married now. Anyway, you were of great help during the last month and supported me even when I drove crazy because I didn’t find the right outfit for the wedding. Love you!

Cherishing your team: To my bridesmaids, you were my hands, eyes, and sometimes my brain in organising the big day. You organised a memorable bridal party for me, masterfully managed my bridezilla behaviour, and look how beautiful you are!

My appreciation follows my groomsmen, who kept me on schedule at any price. You turned the pre-wedding journey, which I was terrified of, into an easy way to happiness. Thank you, my helpers. But remember, no good deed stays unpunished, so I promise you an after-party headache after you discover the liquid gifts I prepared for you.

Addressing your spouse: To my beloved wife/husband, with whom I am grateful to share the unknown. We don’t know the future, but we have already built a bright history together, and you witness today a glorious present. I am wishing that you will be as happy on our 70th anniversary. I raise the glass and toast for you, my love. Quoting from Shakespeare:

‘So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,

So long lives this and this gives life to thee.’

Concluding remark: Dear guests, thank you again for participating in our celebration; we hope you enjoy the party as much as we are.

 

Wedding Speech Tips

To make the ‘homework’ easier, you may call on some tips which you could find useful:

Take notes. It could be easier if you assess the main ideas first, then build your wedding speech. Thus, you will be sure that you miss nothing. Don’t wait for inspiration to come and write all at once. As soon as an idea comes to you, or you think you have found the most suitable form to dress your thoughts, put them on paper. You could come back at any time to modify or complete the draft.

Consider the audience. Among those who will listen to you are not only your best friends. Grandparents, parents and children alike will prick up their ears. So don’t insert inside jokes. Stay on the safe side; you won’t feel embarrassed watching other people blushing.

Be brief and touching. That is not an academic performance, so try to balance your time. Although it is no rule concerning the length of a wedding speech, it is recommended to take at most five minutes. When you speak too much, you could lose the audience’s attention.

At the same time, remember you are not a robot. Nobody expects that you are Cicero, but you should be eloquent and sensitive. You are addressing people you love and want to communicate it to them.

What happened in Vegas stays in Vegas. There are personal details that no one wants to reveal in front of some people. It should be wise to try to avoid such exposure. Put yourself in a similar situation and see if you feel comfortable. If not, then rewrite the story.

Compare the notes. If you decide to deliver separate speeches, avoid overlapping the ideas. The best way to do it is to share the drafts with your partner and establish who says what. The coordination of the discourse saves time and keeps the line straight.

Repeat it loudly. Once the speech is ready, you should read it loud, then memorise it and keep repeating it. To obtain a better result, practice in front of the mirror, paying attention to gestures and voice tone.

Pay back. You could successfully enter a dialogue to counter or strengthen the words of your previous speakers, as long as you don’t push it too hard. The audience will appreciate a self-sown and funny response.

 

Even if you are not a born writer, keep an eye on our tips and examples. You will succeed in keeping a memorable wedding speech: your wedding speech.