Today, many brides seem to be unsure whether to give a speech or not at their weddings. Now that more and more brides are taking the opportunity to speak at their weddings, wedding speeches are no longer restricted to the groom, best man, or their fathers.
Does There Need to be a Bride Speech?
If you are the bride, then no. Those who aren’t comfortable speaking in public may want to skip this part. You can use it to add some modern flair to the reception or display a momentous occasion to express thanks or share with your guests. (You can also make an excellent impression on your future family this way.)
In a Bride Speech, What Should be Included?
There’s no limit to what you can do in theory. Thanks can be expressed to those who attended, gratitude can be expressed to the people who helped you on your wedding day, or a touching moment about your relationship can be shared. When it comes to your wedding prep, you should thank anyone who helped you, even if they aren’t there or passed away in the past. Any topic that gets too sensitive, intimate details, or anything that feels even a little awkward should be avoided. You have your in-laws in the room!
Prepare your wedding speech with these tips
You can still write (or improvise) a perfect bridal speech if you are up to it. Here are a few do’s and don’ts.
It should be short and sweet
Make sure whatever you plan to say doesn’t go beyond five minutes since you won’t be the only speaker that night. Make sure your guests aren’t bored. The introduction, middle, and conclusion of your speech should all be structured. The flow should be clear. Otherwise, people might think you’re babbling. In addition to helping you memorize everything, a structure is also helpful.
Be humorous
Keep your audience in mind when inserting a joke or two. Please refrain from using inappropriate language or making inside jokes since it will not be appropriate. Having a sense of humor may sound right, but now may not be the right time to try out for stand-up if you are not the jokester type. It is more important to be sincere.
Keeping it Real
Try not to take your wedding too seriously, regardless of how formal it might be. Instead of auditioning for the debate team, you should let your speech reflect your personality. Consider it more like a toast than a speech, if that helps.
Staying Calm
No matter how much experience you have as a speaker, it’s natural to get the jitters when you stand in front of a crowd. Let’s hope these tips will calm your nerves.
Keep your drinking to a minimum
Too much liquid courage can be disastrous, but a little can help. At least until you have said everything you wanted to say, keep your alcohol intake at a reasonable level.
Don’t rush it
Your speech should not be rushed. The first thing it will do to you makes you look nervous, but it might also make you stutter, which will add to your stress. Another risk of too fast speaking is that some people will not understand what you’re saying. Remember to take pauses between critical points.
Pause and reflect
You can take a deep breath if you get stuck or feel like you’re going off-topic. If you need to disguise yourself, try taking a sip of water or champagne. The short break will allow you to gather your thoughts.
Look at your notes
Writing out your entire speech is considered a poor idea since you will be tempted to read from it. Rather than fumbling around for brief notes, keep a small notecard with bullet points that you can refer to.
The key to success is to practice
Don’t stop practicing until you’re comfortable. It would help if you practiced again and again, even after you think you’ve got it. When you expect to get emotional, practicing is especially important. Have a friend or two listen to you as you speak in front of a mirror. Filming yourself by giving a speech can also be helpful. This will help you to spot areas of strength and weakness. The last thing is to smile and look around during your speech. Eye contact is also essential. The extra confidence you’ll gain from appearing relaxed will make a significant difference.
The bride’s speech – a surprise or planned one?
If you plan on surprising your groom or scheduling your speech into the day, you should first consider whether you want to do so.
It’s always exciting to hear the groom’s speech, but you should be aware of his thanks so that you don’t needlessly repeat themselves. You should also pay attention to the length of time you spend. It’s your responsibility to keep your speech short if there’s no limit on how long the groom can speak.
Using a thank you list (and checking that you aren’t retelling classic stories) is an excellent way to distribute the thank yous if the groom knows you’re giving a speech. While you’ll both want to thank your parents, one of you will get to recount the story where you and your friends got locked in that dangerous club.
If both of you agree, you can limit your speeches to about six minutes each so that you both get equal air time.
For people who have difficulty estimating their word count, there are lots of good online resources.
The Don’ts of Public Speaking
There’s no need to thank the caterers or the venue.
A bride speech doesn’t need a justification – Even though you might have the last word, it’s entirely unnecessary to justify it.
Your special day isn’t the time to show off. It’s not okay for you to brag about it. Keep in mind that single women exist. Humility & self-deprecation are the keys to success. Do not follow Paltrow’s example. Take this opportunity to be the hot girl everyone still loves by channeling Jennifer Aniston.
Make the thank-you personal by not using clichés – Sure, you can thank your in-laws for raising your wonderful son, but make it personal as well. Your mother-in-law should be thanked for the additional inch in your waistline you have gained since you first tried her Yorkshire Puddings.
Do not talk over laughter – You have worked hard for those giggles, do not rush them. It would be best if you only continued speaking once your guests have gathered themselves.
