Hearing speeches is always fun

You always learn more about the couple. But for the guests who have to give a speech, it’s often a different story. Most people look forward to the wedding of their sister, brother, best friend or someone else—but when it comes to the speech, they start to dread it. Giving a speech is hard and raises a lot of questions. In this blog, you’ll get answers to all of them.

Who gives a speech at the wedding?

Basically, anyone at the wedding can give a speech. As the bride or groom, you can also give a speech—either about your partner or to thank the guests for coming. It’s common for one of the witnesses to give a speech. That’s why it’s useful to discuss with all witnesses who will speak, what the topics will be, or whether multiple people will speak. You could even give a speech together. But this is not mandatory. As a witness, you don’t have to give a speech. If you’re a close family member or friend, you could also give a nice speech. It’s completely up to you and whether you think the couple would appreciate it.

When do you give the speech?

Giving a speech is always tricky—so when is the best moment? Usually, the couple will plan a time for the speeches. This helps a lot because you won’t have to worry about when the right moment is.

A good time for speeches is during the wedding dinner. You can spread them across the different courses. It makes for a lovely filler during the meal and everyone is already seated and can listen attentively.

You can also give your speech during the wedding party. There will be more guests who’ll hear it. You can even use a projector to show fun photos of the couple. If you’re nervous about speaking, you can make a video with pictures and a voice recording. This can be played on the projector, and you don’t have to worry about stuttering or finding the right words.

How long should a speech be?

The length of your speech is up to you. You can make it as short or long as you like. Just make sure you don’t say two lines and sit down again—that’s not a speech. But don’t talk for half an hour either, as people will lose interest. The best is to keep it short but meaningful. Around 5 to 10 minutes is a good length and will keep the audience engaged.

Writing the speech

Writing a speech is always tricky, especially the beginning. First, think carefully about what you want to talk about. Jot down your ideas. Then you can decide what to include and what not. Be mindful that some memories might be too personal—avoid anything that could ruin the mood. Once you’ve made a list, decide the order of your speech. It’s best to start and end with something beautiful. A heartfelt wish for the couple at the end is always a nice touch. Then you can turn your points into a story.

Write the speech out completely so you can review and revise it. Avoid inside jokes that only you and the couple understand—this may confuse other guests. One small joke like that is fine, but more than that isn’t fun for the audience. Read your speech out loud a few times—this helps you spot mistakes and hear if something sounds off.

There’s nothing more important than good preparation. Read your speech several times and practice it out loud. This will help you deliver it smoothly, which is nicer for both you and the guests. If you’re very nervous about speaking in front of others, practice with a friend. They can give you feedback and you’ll be practicing in front of someone, which is great preparation.