Possibly it’s due to the bride being the center of attention or the fact that they primary do all the organizing and planning but whatever the real reason brides customarily greet the guests and give the welcome toast during the reception. With so many other things to think about it can be easy for such a small item such as the bride speech to slip a brides mind leaving her little time to prep and practice.

photo credit: mpeterke

Here are some tips and advice to help the speech go well and be remembered positively by everyone..

Don’t go over the top.  The shorter it is the less time you have to say something silly, make a fool of yourself or have to remember a million little things. You need to be sincere and sound gracious then just say what you need to, that’s all you need to do. If you want to give a long heartfelt message that is fine but know that the longer it is the more people you will lose as their attention spans will lessen and they will begin drifting off losing the second half of whatever you have to say.

Write it on note cards.  You don’t need to have the whole speech with you but note cards will help you remember the main points and ensure you don’t get lost. Write some key points on note cards and have these with you so you can look at them right before your speech or refer to them as you speak if you need to.

Plan Early.  Your speech will be best done early at the reception such as after your first dance or just after the grand entrance. Anytime before or at the start of the meal so everyone will be paying attention and the welcome message still makes sense.

Use a Mirror to Practice.  If you know what you’re going to say ahead of time then practice so you can be as comfortable as possible. Stand in front of a mirror and talk to the mirror with a fake microphone in your hand like you will on your wedding day. If you are confident and relaxed then it will be easy to deliver a stunning speech.

photo credit: Torsten Mangner

Don’t list people’s names.  It is only normal that their will be special people to mention, from your life and for planning the wedding, it is right that you single them out. But listing person after person will become boring and repetitive, it will even make the mention less special for those mentioned. You aren’t Halle Berry thanking everyone from her dry cleaner to her dog groomer at the Oscars.

Speak slowly.  Don’t rush your speech too much because no one will be able to understand you. Slowing down your speech will help you think about what your saying next and ensure you are understood.

Read more about wedding toasts here or read our blog to help your wedding planning!