Singaporebrides | The Groom Room
July 2011
How To Write A Heartfelt Speech For Your Wedding
Picture this: You’re at your wedding banquet, and all your closest friends and family (probably a few hundred of them) are gathered to witness and celebrate your entry into marital bliss. It’s time for the groom (read: you) to step up onto the stage to give a speech. You raise your champagne glass, clear your throat, and what do you say?
We’ve all heard that same speech at some point in our lives.
“I want to thank everyone here for coming. I want to thank my parents for bringing me up, and I also want to thank my bride’s parents for having brought up such a beautiful and wonderful person.”
How original.
Dear grooms, if that is what you plan to say at your wedding, please think twice. Three times, if you want. Just because almost all the grooms you know or have met at all the weddings you’ve been to so far have used these exact same words, it doesn’t mean that this is the perfect wedding speech. In fact, it has got to be the dullest, most unoriginal, most uninspiring wedding toast there ever is. Read on, and let us give you some pointers on giving a memorable speech at your own wedding.
Avoid generalising
All the people who matter to you are here. That childhood pal who has played soccer with you every weekend for the past 15 years. That best buddy who never failed to lend you his homework to copy from while you were at school. That friend who introduced you to your wife. These people have names. And what other better occasion are you going to have to thank them? Don’t just do that lazy “I want to thank my closest friends, and ALL my other friends” thing. Let them know what a difference they’ve made to your life, with that personal touch. For example, “To Tom, who has always listened to my troubles after our soccer sessions. To Dad, who taught me how to be a real man”, and so on. But of course, that doesn’t mean you should thank the whole world one by one. Prioritise. Thank only the ones that you really feel for. If you feel strongly for everyone, I don’t know what to say.
Avoid pet names
This especially applies when you’re mentioning your other half (the better half, probably). Avoid saying something like “to my darling ham cheem pang, I love you”. She may like it when you’re cuddling and whispering it into her ears. But when you announce it to the rest of the world, it’s just not that cute anymore. Always mention her by name, don’t just say ‘my bride’, ‘my wife’, or ‘my darling’.
Declare your love
Your speech should revolve around your bride. Use anecdotes. Tell stories about how you two first met, what you first thought of her, what you think of her now, how you knew she was the one, etc. Be sentimental. Don’t tell us how she snores. Or how she wears mismatched underwear. That’s wrong. That’s very, very wrong.
Short and sweet
Do not write a 10-page essay. Keep it to the point, five minutes will do just nicely. Be sincere, sensitive and appropriate.
Write it down
Spontaneity is not always a good idea. Prepare your speech in advance. Make notes, in case you get the jitters. And please use paper. Writing on your hands or on a napkin does not speak very well of you.
Testing, testing 1 2 3
Practice makes perfect. Try speaking into the mirror. And then try speaking into the microphone at the soundcheck. Get used to the PA system, so that you know exactly just how loud you should be, or how near you should be standing to the mike.
See, it isn’t as difficult as you made it out to be. Remember that there is no one here you need to impress; all of your guests are going to be at your wedding, for you. Be sincere and honest and you’ll find your words will flow. When you finish giving the wedding toast, your bride’s face will beam with pride.
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