Content
There is no traditional role for the bride as a speaker and so the content of her speech is much more open than the other speakers.
In most cases, the bride’s speech will follow the groom’s speech, and it will tend to echo the same sentiments.
If the bride does speak, it is important to agree with the groom beforehand who will make the toast to the bridesmaids. Some people favour the groom returning to the microphone after the bride’s speech. We recommend that the bride herself should make the toast to the bridesmaids at the end of her speech. This avoids too many different people bobbing up and down at the microphone. And, after all, the bridesmaids are the bride’s best friends so it is perhaps more fitting that she should toast them.
The suggested content for the brides speech would then be:-
- Thanks to her parents for bringing her up and supporting and encouraging her
- Thanks to anyone who has done something special for the wedding
- Thanks to the groom for asking her to marry him
- A declaration of love for the groom
- Thanks to the bridesmaids
- The Toast to the bridesmaids
Do’s
- Stay sober and avoid the temptation of a little ‘Dutch courage’
- Rehearse your speech beforehand – several times
- Remember to take you prompt cards with you to the wedding.
- Agree with the groom beforehand who will say what so that you ensure everyone is thanked – but without duplication
Don’ts
- Speak for more than five minutes at the most or you risk boring your audience.
- Be afraid to declare your love for the groom publicly. It is the reason everyone is at the wedding so there is no need to be embarrassed about expressing your love.