5 Tips for Writing the Best Wedding Speech
Your sister or best friend or college roommate just asked you to make a toast at their wedding—what could be more flattering?! They see you as a witness and a storyteller, and they clearly want to include you in their big day. Here are some tips for making their wedding weekend as special as possible:
Tip #1, Understand the assignment: Be sure you have clear instructions before you start writing. Find out how long the couple wants your speech to be and if there are any topics that are off limits. (While common sense comes in handy here, it never hurts to ask!) You may also want to ask about the audience….For example, you may want to know if there will be children present if you’re thinking of telling a story or joke that is intended for adult ears only.
Tip #2, Focus on the couple: While it’s important to introduce yourself to the audience and provide context on how you and your sister/best friend/college roommate know one another, the focus of the speech should not be on the relationship you two share, but rather the relationship between the people getting married. What makes them a great couple? When did you know they were meant to be? What specific stories illustrate how they care for and love one another? You were intentionally chosen to give this speech, so what personal stories do you and only you have about the couple that you can share with their community?
Tip #3, Be inclusive: You and your sister/best friend/college roommate probably have a million inside jokes that you want to reference, but put yourself in the shoes of the wedding guests. They want to be in on it, too! If you plan to reference an anecdote or joke that the audience might not understand, be sure to situation your listeners and provide needed context. (This will also help your jokes land better.)
Tip #4, Be vulnerable: If there is ever a time to be earnest and borderline cheesy, it’s weddings. After all, dearly beloved, we are gathered here to celebrate love! This is especially true for parent and sibling speeches. If you have something heartfelt to say, say it. You want the couple to feel your love and excitement, and you want the audience to feel it too. You get bonus points for every person you make cry!
Tip #5, Practice, practice, practice. OK, so this tip isn’t about writing your wedding speech per se but rather what comes after. Once you’re happy with your draft, be sure to practice. Practice in front of a friend, practice in front of the mirror, and definitely practice it with a timer, making sure it’s the right length. If your speech is funny—which we hope it is—you want to account for pauses for laughter. Finally, if you’re not memorizing your speech—which is definitely not necessary—print your toast or handwrite it. (It’s easier to lose your place on a scrolling device than it is on a physical piece of paper.)
If you’ve read this post and you’re stilllooking for extra guidance, we’d love to help! Feel free to email us at hi@seconddraftstudio.com.