Having been fortunate enough to be a wedding photographer at hundreds of weddings and heard many a brilliant speech, here are a few tips on how to ease the nerves and plan your perfect wedding speech!
1. Plan in advance
The wedding day may not be well be six months off but that’s not to say writing your speech can wait until the night before, which believe me I have witnessed!
Whether you’re one of the happy couple,the best man or father of the bride, get prepared in advance.
2. Practice makes perfect
Try out your wedding speech in front of a mirror or even better an impartial audience. Ask for feedback (from the audience not the mirror obviously)and time yourself. You don’t want to over run but equally you don’t want to fall short either. Although I said practise makes perfect, some of the biggest laughs and most successful speeches have been when there has been a mistake or two!
3. Consider using props for your wedding speech
Whether it be a souvenir from the stag do (mankini springs to mind) a photo montage or ,er , a sheep (yes this actually happened) props make everything that little bit more exciting and dynamic.
4. Make notes .make sure you read the notes
Make a copy of the wedding speech and keep it in your pocket – don’t be cocky and assume you’ll learn it word for word off by heart. When it comes to actually giving your speech decide if you want to keep it in your pocket or or take it our and read from it. Some have used postcards with large text laid on the table for reference. If you forget your words, freestyle.
5. Look up some quotes you can use..
Think timeless, think romantic, think funny. You don’t have to read out the whole thing just pick out a couple of key lines and speak them with as much Shakespearean passion as you can master!
6. Tailor your content for your wedding audience
Consider who you’ll be taking too. Grandma in the audience?, small children?Check that you aren’t saying anything that could be easily offend, upset or be copied!
7. On the day, you’ll be be too happy to feel nervous
8 . Do not be put off by cries of louder from the back
If you’re asked to speak up ,clear your throat and start again. Don’t let this put you off. However do not make direct lingering eye contact with anyone as this will throw you off. If you are using a microphone, keep it close to your chest and try not to wave it around.
9. Own that stage!
Ok, so technically it’s not your day (unless you’re the bride and groom) but that’s not to say you can’t shine. Aim for happy audience, aim for laughter, aim for tears. Settle for nothing less than a standing ovation and an encore at the end.
10. Don’t forget to enjoy it!
Chesterfield , sheffield wedding photographer speeches tips