Wedding speeches that are remarkable… for all the RIGHT reasons!

Public speaking can be a daunting challenge for many people. Whether for education or entertainment, it’s never easy to stand in front of an audience and deliver a speech that is both entertaining and memorable… that is, memorable for all the right reasons!

So it’s not surprising that combining the double-barrelled stress of speaking before an audience… with all the nerves and agendas running at a wedding… can be a recipe for disaster!

Fortunately, with a little thought and preparation, the challenge of delivering a great wedding speech can be a lot easier than you might think.

Firstly, remember that the same rules that apply to all speeches are no less important and relevant at a wedding. You obviously want to entertain your audience, perhaps move or inspire them and of course avoid anything that might be offensive, embarrassing or disturbing to anyone in the audience. Your wedding speech has the potential to enhance your reputation and what people think of you, but it can also ruin yours and other reputations if you’re not careful.

So start with an old favorite that straight away changes your speech from a big, daunting whole into three smaller, less complex parts… tell ‘em what you’re going to tell ‘em, tell ‘em, then tell ‘em what you just told them! That might sound overly simple, but it’s a tried and true technique used by the very best of performers.

If you’re the groom giving a groom’s speech, make sure you thank everyone who helped with the preparations and details of the wedding. In most cases, you probably haven’t had much to do leading up to the big day, so you’ll get lots of mileage from acknowledging the tireless work of those who carried the load.

Compliment your bride, her family and all who helped make her what she is today. Praise the bridesmaids and your best man for their friendship and support and don’t forget to point out your single pals in the audience so all the single girls know exactly who they are. And of course acknowledge your parents and family for their role in your life.

Next are the toasts… to your wife, your future in-laws (outlaws?), your parents, and to friends and family, both present and absent. Funny wedding toasts are always a hit, but contrast these with a serious note, paying particular attention to important people who may have passed away and are sorely missed.

Humor is very important… your goal is to be light-hearted and funny but at the same time perhaps a little whimsical and nostalgic. It’s that combination of humor and seriousness, light and shade that will impact the audience and be the most memorable. Stick to humor that’s safe for all age groups… and both genders!

Here are some oldies but goodies:

“And now a toast to our wives and lovers. May they live long and fulfilling lives… and never meet each other.”

“I’m sure the date today is forever etched in my brain… but should I ever forget it in future years, my brother (friend, father, favorite uncle) assures me I’ll only ever do that once!”

As the best man, when delivering a best man’s speech you get to tell some “Remember that time…” stories to embarrass the groom. But keep it balanced… for example, you’ll get some laughs by suggesting that if only the bride’s mother knew what YOU knew about the groom… she probably wouldn’t be looking so happy. But immediately contrast that with an anecdote that demonstrates what a genuine, loyal, dependable person he REALLY is. Again, light and shade for impact.

Here’s a good example of content for a funny best man’s speech…

“When (groom’s name) asked me to be his best man, I thought… Best at what? Making speeches? Drinking? Chatting up the ladies? I’m up for that, but really, the problem with being the best man at a wedding is that you never really get the chance to prove it!”

Whatever role you’re filling at the wedding, be careful not to flood your speech with too many jokes and funny stories. It’s not a stand-up comedy presentation. Your jokes, cracks, digs and funny stories will be all the more entertaining when they’re contrasted with serious advice, fond memories, kindness and generosity in your anecdotes and memories.

And just like any other speech, practise makes perfect. Avoid sounding over-rehearsed, but remember the success of your speech is heavily dependent upon rehearsal and familiarity with all its subtleties and nuances. Do your research for wedding speech jokes with friends and family and read as much as you can in books and on the internet for some good one-liners that will fill out your humorous wedding speech as needed.

Most of all… enjoy it, and look like you’re enjoying it. Make the most of the opportunity for a funny wedding speech to be memorable and a great contributor to a wonderful, happy occasion!

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AUTHOR Nathan Allenby is the copywriter son of a marriage celebrant and has written countless wedding speeches. Some of his favorite and most recommended resources for people planning their own wedding speech are:

• Bride Wedding Speeches
• Mother-of-the-Bride Wedding Speeches
• Father-of-the-Bride Wedding Speeches
• Maid-of-Honor Wedding Speeches
• Groom Wedding Speeches
• Best Man Wedding Speeches
• Instant Best Man Speeches
• Funny Wedding Speeches