Please help me...

Swissy

Swissy

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With a wedding speech

My daughter gets married in 6 weeks and i need to help with my speech, i'm quite a private person and i hate to be the centre of attention, unless i have my camera in my hand :)

I've been in attendance to loads of wedding speeches but my mind has just gone blank.

What do i need to cover? I'm looking at 2 or 3 minutes maximum lol

Help please ;)
 
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I understand and sympathise with you, Giovanni.

I can't help from personal experience because I have not done it, but have a look online. I am sure there will be guides about the things that are usually included. They won't be personal but may give you a starting point.

All the best

Dave
 
Thank you Dave, i have been googling for a while now, but i just end up going round in circles lol
 
Just a few things off the top of my head. A few words to welcome your new son-in-law into the family. Acknowledging the groom's parents. Thank the guests for coming. How proud you are of your daughter.
 
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"If the groom's family can be likened to a compost heap, and I think they can, then Gerald is the biggest weed growing out if it. I wouldnt trust any of them to sit the right way round on a lavatory"

I'd be tempted to avoid that sort of thing if I were you. :)
 
Lol that's exactly right ha ha
 
start by making notes as you google. There will be formal things you will be expected to say at the beginning and end of your speech. Make notes of these. Do NOT try to be a stand up comedian. The middle part should be about what you want to say about your precious daughter, emotional gooey stuff (straight from the heart) will go down well. Start with notes then take each point and write it down as you would say it, this is not the same as if you were conveying it in writing.
Use postcards and write quite large (lighting may not be brilliant and you need to be able to see the script without holding it close), word for word what you want to say. Remember to number the cards in the correct order (in case you drop them). The purpose of the cards is to give you confidence on the day so if you dry up you can just read from them. Ideally though you rehearse, speaking out loud, and keep rehearsing until you know it and can deliver it without reading.
Remember to breathe and do not rush. You will be fine.
 
Giovanni

Lots of ways of going about this but the key is to make it personal and something you would naturally say/in your style.

A few points that you might want to consider (where I mention jokes/embarassing stories these are all light hearted anecdotes etc. nothing too aargh!)

- Welcome everyone to the wedding "what a fantastic day"
- Daughter is beautiful and you are proud parents (always nice to include something gushing about the mother of the bride at this point - unless you want a thick ear later!!)
- Insert a couple of stories of daughter when she was growing up (one could be something funny/embarassing for her and the other more sentimental/emotional for you as a proud father)
- Include a recollection of first meeting son-in-law? Something light hearted
- XXX is a fantastic person and welcome him to the family (the old saying of not losing a daughter but gaining a son!)
- Perhaps include a joke about him looking the smartest you've seen him or give him a couple of tips about keeping your daughter happy
- Do you know the in-laws well? Mention them too if it feels right - they don't get a speech so always nice to acknowledge them too.
- Propose a toast to the happy couple

There are lots of one liners etc. on google - find the ones that make you small and feel natural

As Brian says, number the cards and it does help to write on the cards "PAUSE" or "BREATH" as you can forget and try and deliver the speech in 30 seconds in one breath if you are not careful

edit: Here's a link that may help

http://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-sp...room_speeches_3/keith_2656.htm?selection=Best
http://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-speeches/example_father-of-the-bride_speeches_3/

Good luck!

(y)
 
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Some great tips here chaps, many thanks :)
 
BBR said:
Ideally though you rehearse, speaking out loud, and keep rehearsing until you know it and can deliver it without reading.
Remember to breathe and do not rush. You will be fine.
Click to expand...

Lots of good advice on what to say - I would say the above is the most important bit. Practise and practise, out loud. You will feel more confident, and will tweak it as you practise (written and spoken word don't always align).
 
keep it short and sweet - no one wants to hear a 45 minute run down of your daughters every achievement since she managed to go pottie on her own.
 
Everybody present will be a friend or family member so whilst it may seem daunting - remember nobody will be dwelling on it like you are.

Have wee practice but just speak from the heart.
 
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