The Confetti guide to making a bride’s speech including ideas of what to include and tips on staying composed!
If you’re thinking of saying a few words on your big day, here’s some pointers as to what you might include in your wedding speech.
It may not be traditional, but making a bride’s speech is becoming increasingly popular at chic weddings the country over. Originally an American convention, the trend is slowly creeping across the pond. It’s a modern way to make your wedding memorable, and your guests will be delighted to hear about things from your perspective – after all it is all about you!
Most brides will want to thank their friends and family for making their day special, and a bride’s speech is an ideal opportunity for you to have your say. It’s also a lovely way to thank your groom for making you the happiest woman alive, what better time and place to do it than at your wedding reception surrounded by family and friends?
It’s also becoming popular among brides who are having non-traditional weddings; perhaps your father is not around to make the traditional father of the bride speech and you want to say a few words on his behalf? It’s another way of making the members of the bridal party feel extra special by thanking them personally.
Here at Confetti we’ve put together some sample speeches from real brides to inspire you, but feel free to include whatever you think is appropriate to your day and your guests, there are no hard and fast rules.
Make sure your speech is special for all the right reasons! Here are our top 10 tips for making a perfect bride’s speech:
1. Keep it short and to the point. Remember that your guests will already have listened to speeches from the best man, father of the bride and groom.
2. With that in mind, try not to repeat sections from previous speeches. Make yours special and individual by addressing things from your perspective.
3. Remember to thank your new parents in law; it’s a good idea to start things off on the right foot!
4. Thank your groom for marrying you today. This is a good point to include a joke about letting you have your say!
5. Speak slowly and clearly, and make sure that the guests at the back can hear you.
6. Make notes to help you remember key points, but don’t stand and read from a sheet. The best speeches are natural and sincere.
7. It’s a nice touch to thank your parents for supporting you throughout the wedding build up. You could also thank your chief bridesmaid for her help.
8. Make sure your speech isn’t over formal. The reception is a time for fun and celebration.
9. If you are a nervous public speaker, then practise, practise, practise!
10. Remember that you are surrounded by friends and family, have confidence and enjoy yourself!
If you’re worried about getting over emotional and ruining your make up, follow these hints to stay beautifully composed:
- Read over your speech aloud in private before delivering it in public, this will allow you to identify potential tear‐jerkers and re‐write them or get used to saying them aloud.
- Stick to positive and cheerful things like how you met your husband, how happy you are to be his wife or how beautiful the bridesmaids look.
- If you’d like to remember deceased relatives in your speech, then try to do so at the end. That way if you burst in to tears it won’t ruin the rest of your speech.
- Try to take deep breaths. This will relax you and help you to stay calm and composed.
- If you feel that you are about to cry, try looking upwards. It is said to be physically impossible to cry if you are looking up.
- Remember that nobody will judge you for a few tears, it’s an emotional time, so it’s not the end of the world if you blub!
