In my time as a professional MC, I have found a pattern in wedding speeches -thanks to Google searches & AI- they tend to be repetitive, cringey and sometimes just plain boring! So I have put together this very informative guide so your speech is memorable, to the point with not a cringe moment in sight! 

THESE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT TIPS (& THE ONES I SEE MOST OFTEN)-

• There is NO need to introduce yourself!! If you have a professional MC, then they MOST likely have introduced you when it’s your turn. If you must introduce yourself, then instead of starting out with ’for those of you that don’t know me…’ perhaps say ‘As X’s mother/father/sister/best friend…’

• Keep in mind that the ceremony content is going to be heavily focused on the story of how the couple met and how their relationship progressed, from their perspective. So try not to do that in your speech, but come at it from the angle of YOUR first impressions, what you saw unfold etc. Bring something new to these stories!

• Hold the mic at your chin NOT at your belly button and don’t walk around while holding the mic- this is very distracting & hard for the videographer to capture footage. If you are gifting the couple, then please leave it until the end of your speech. 

GENERAL SPEECH TIPS:

• Speeches should be no longer than 2-3 mins or 500 words especially if there are more than 5 speakers to get through

• Show don’t tell - the couple might be the most generous person you know but for it to be ENGAGING we want stories about their generosity and not adjectives

• Please DON’T get drunk before your speech- I understand it can be a nerve-wracking moment so sure, have an extra shot to gain the confidence you need to speak but getting hammered before you talk is only going to make things more awkward.. for you!

• The speech should be about the couple NOT about yourself

• Actually write down word for word what you are going to say, DON’T ‘wing’ it. Follow the notes/speech you have written down. Try not to go off track because you remember another story at the moment. 

• Consider printing your speech instead of reading off your phone.

• Look at the couple & guests when giving your speech NOT down at the floor- we want to see your lovely face!   

• If you want to end with a toast, either make sure you bring a drink up or that the professional MC has organised one for you

PARENTS OF THE COUPLE:

• Please avoid stories that start with ‘when X was two, we….’. Your stories should be relevant to the occasion and the couple - it's not a walk down memory lane! 

• Focus on stories that shaped them into who they are as individuals but also as a couple. Include first impressions of their partner, when you knew they fit in the family, what your wishes are for their lives together etc 

• Try to avoid talking about your other children- focus on the one who got married!

• Please don’t imply that the couple could potentially be related if you go far enough back in history.. This is very cringey! 

• Emotions are expected but unfortunately the message gets lost (as well as time) if you can’t get past the first line of your speech without crying. Practicing your speech at home will identify if you can or cannot make it through your speech on the day.

BEST PEOPLE/FRIENDS/SIBLINGS ETC:

• Talk about the couple as individuals and as a couple- e.g if you are related to one party, describe their traits and relate it back to party 2 and how they will enhance/bring out/match that person 

• Tell a Story - Share your favorite appropriate memories of the couple 

• Your speech can be funny but this is not an opportunity to be crude (please leave out sex or poop stories/bodily functions etc)... Write jokes/stories that nanna in the front row won’t get offended by!

• Please DON’T use any gross cliches like “happy wife, happy life”, “ball & chain” or ‘having the upper hand’ etc- we are living in the 21st century people! 

• Don't bring up your entire friendship circle for moral support, it gets too crowded and will most likely go off track

• Try to avoid to many ‘personal or in’ jokes that the rest of the guests won’t understand

• Please do not mention the bucks/hens night, exes or people from the past or embarrassing childhood stories… This is awkward and so embarrassing!

• Avoid telling random or unrelated stories- remember it’s NOT a 21st 

COUPLE:

• Try to have your speeches relatively early on in the night, so speakers (including yourselves) aren’t wasted by the time speeches start

• One party can recite the speech on both of your behalfs or you can choose sections to read one at a time- but be sure you both stick to what you have written and try to keep it short and sweet!

• Choose to have your speech last, usually before your first dance as this leads into dance floor time

• Make the thank yous meaningful! 

• Thank everyone in general for being there- no need to mention every single specific person but if there is anyone in particular that has travelled a great distance or helped organise, plan, prepare etc then definitely feel free to call them out and make the   

• Thank your guests for their kind wishes/gifts and describe what the day means to you. Describe how you want your guests to feel for the rest of the wedding- get them excited for the rest of the evening

• Feel free to thank your in-laws for ‘raising such a wonderful person’ but try to make it personal too like thanking your mother in law for all the homemade pizza or for the famous sticky date pudding she whips up every birthday.

• Feel free to thank your wedding party/I DO crew- spruce up the old sayings though… e.g. ‘Don’t the bridesmaids look stunning tonight, and boys you all scrub up alright’.. #boring.. You can totally make this better!

• Remember you most likely have written and said personal vows in the ceremony so you can briefly thank your newlywed but no need to pour your heart again here- a quick skim over what they mean to you etc.

• AVOID any bad memories- perhaps in the lead up to the wedding (i.e. fights/arguments) or that your parents disliked your partner at the start

• Keep the jokes to a minimum- definitely add in humour but avoid bad taste jokes or anecdotes etc. 

• Please DON’T use any gross cliches like “happy wife, happy life”, “ball & chain” or ‘having the upper hand’ etc- you are equals! 

• Feel free to thank your vendors; however, we would love that effort to be saved for an AMAZING review! 

MICH’S FINAL THOUGHTS;

• To avoid saying random stories with no purpose ask yourself two questions;

1. Is the story/what you have written relevant to the day? Does this gem relate to the wedding/love/marriage/the couple/your friendship? If not, take it out!

2. What’s your point? Are you just telling this story because it's funny or do you actually have a point that links to question 1?

• It always comes down to the three ‘P’s’: Preparation, practice, and presentation.

• Prepare your speech in advance – winging your speech doesn’t work and is never as successful as you think. Have it looked over by someone you trust or even feel free to send it to me/ your MC- we will review it with unbiased eyes and come back with great feedback, I promise!

• Practice – I recommend having your speech drafted about 2 weeks out from the wedding with plenty of time left to practice. Practice includes reading the speech out loud- in front of the mirror, to someone you trust or even recording it. 

• Presentation – you have 7 seconds to make a first impression. Stand strong and confidently, breathe deep, chin up, shoulders back, and smile. Save the drinks till after to celebrate a job well done!