Wedding rehearsal dinners are like the first course on a menu. They prepare you for what is to follow. It’s important then that they have the right ambiance and what better way to create that but by what you say? Your speech or toast should warmly welcome the guests and make them feel important. It should stress the importance of a more intimate gathering such as this rather than the more formal wedding meal. You should mention how important this occasion is to the bride and groom and how special they are to all those present. You might mention their courtship and speak of the hectic wedding preparations. Above all though this dinner is about celebrating with all those closest to the couple. So when you toast them at the end of your speech stress the fact that they are much loved and that all those present wish them every happiness in their future lives and a wedding day to remember.

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It’s the wedding season and time to prepared for all those big days. The flowers will fade, the dress go in the back of the wardrobe and the cake will be eaten. What is said on the day will, however, be remembered by both the guest s and the couple. So capture the attention of the guests with your opening remarks. Make them feel warmly welcome. Make your speech light-hearted but still sincere. Speak about marriage itself and what it means to you. If you are the father of the bride speak of your pride in your daughter. If you are the father of the groom talk about your son and what he means to you. Maybe you are a best man and if so your speech should be reflect your relationship with the groom. Whatever your part in the wedding party a wedding speech should be about love and
laughter and happy ever after.

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The guests sit back and listen. It is a wedding day and the father of the bride is about to speak. Nominally at least he is their host and so his speech should, of course, include a warm welcome to those guests. What most people want to hear though is what he is going to say about his daughter. After all half of those present will hardly know her because they come from the groom’s side of the family. So he should speak about his delight when she was born and tell tales about her growing year. He may mention how like her mother she is or talk about his pride in the career she has chosen. He should always speak of the groom and his family and say he is delighted that his daughter has such wonderful groom and such nice in-laws. Naturally the speech will go down better if he can add a touch of humour. He might, for instance, give a few tips to his son-in-law about always keeping the job list up to date. Alternatively he might speak about his daughter’s mania for shoe shopping. Finally he will toast the couple with a carefully chosen and appropriate toast.

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You can make someone’s day by what you say. We always remember somebody who says something kind about us. In fact we usually think they have great taste and are quite correct in thinking we are kind or generous or wonderful in some way! So why not take the opportunity of making someone else feel good about themselves? Take a birthday party for instance. It gives you the opportunity to toast somebody and say how much you admire them and to give the reasons for your admiration. A wedding in another occasion when you can say how much someone means in your life. A wedding anniversary is another event that is usually celebrated with family and friends and thus gives you the opportunity to praise the couple and what they have done during their married life. So go on make somebody happy. Just say it from the heart.

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It’s an honour to be chosen to speak at a wedding. It can also be a frightening thought. What should you say and how should you say it are questions the speakers often ask. Naturally it depends on the relationship you have with the couple. A friend or peer of the bride will probably talk about t what a marvellous friend the bride has always been. The best man will undoubtedly tease the groom about past exploits. The father of the bride will speak of his pride in his daughter and his love for her. The father of the groom will probably mention the fact that his wife thinks there is nobody on earth like her son. He might even concur with her. Old family friend s are often asked to step into the breach when the father of the bride is absent or dead. He will speak of knowing the bride for many years and say that she must be wonderful because she comes from such a warm and welcoming family. Step-fathers have to be very careful about what they say, especially if the father is present. They should simply explain that the bride has brought love and laughter into his life and how much she means to him. If the bride is agreeable he might mention that she inherits some good trait of her dad such as his generosity or expertise at art. All the speeches should be short and sincere and express the speaker’s best wishes for the future happiness of the bride and groom.

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Weddings are about frills and flounces. Marriage, though, is about happy ever after. That’s just what any speaker should wish for the couple on their wedding day. It doesn’t matter if you are a best man, a family friend or the mother of the groom. Whoever you are or why you are speaking what matters is what you say on the day. A wedding speech should be sincere but it should also be short. After all it is a social occasion and nobody wants to spend ages listening to speeches. A bit of humour though will never go amiss because everyone likes to laugh, but of course it must be kindly laughter. So speak of the bride or the groom and what they mean to you. Give an incident that describes their kindness, their fun loving nature or how he proposed. Speak about the importance of marriage itself and perhaps give a few tips that you think are important. Above all your toast should wish that couple every happiness in the years ahead.

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Wedding rehearsal dinners are not only a preparation for the real thing. They are an event in themselves. They bring families and friends closer together without the strain that is often part of the big day. The families of the bride and groom can get to know one another in a more casual setting… Whether it is the father of the groom or the father of the bride who is hosting the dinner doesn’t really matter. It does matter, though, what they say if they are giving a speech. This speech should be a bit more intimate than the one on the wedding day. It should welcome guests who have travelled to attend. It should express their happiness that the couple have found each other. It should wish them well on their wedding day. The toast should be to a happy future. If the bride or groom is speaking he or she will naturally thank those who have helped them prepare for the wedding. They will express their love for each other and how much they are looking forward to being married. The toast either of them gives will be to all their loved ones present.

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Church weddings are popular. Even couples who rarely attend church like the pageantry of a church service. Linked with that are the traditional customs such as speeches from the father of the bride, the best man and the father of the groom not to mention the groom himself. Civil ceremonies are often smaller more intimate affairs and although the best wishes remain the same there may be only one speech. Second weddings too sometimes create problems for the speaker. There may be doubts about referring to a first marriage. There may be children to consider. The speech may be given by somebody outside the bridal party. For all these reasons the speaker has to be careful about what he or she says and should consult the couple as to their wishes. Basically, however the speech should skim the past and concentrate on the future. Whoever is speaking should simply wish the couple all that is good in their new life together and simply toast the bride and groom.

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Don’t be scared, be prepared. That’s the ideal advice for any public speaker. Whether you have to make a speech at a wedding, a birthday or a bar mitzvah practise still makes perfect. So prepare your speech in advance. By doing so you will also have time to do the research you will need to make the speech really personal. Check out the venue in advance too so that you know there is a microphone in working order. Has it got a stand or will you have to use it and keep your notes in your hand? Naturally the speech will sound better if you know if off by heart. Most people though like to have the comfort of having notes. If so, put them on cue cards because they are less obtrusive than long sheets of paper. Then find a friend who will be willing to listen to your rehearsal of the speech. Then, when the big day dawns you will certainly be prepared and sound professional.

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How do you choose a speech topic? Obviously it depends on your audience. Young school children will not be interested in a speech about politics or the economy. Technical talks are only of interest to those involved in the trade or profession about which you are speaking. There are occasions too where speeches have to be specific such as at weddings or indeed funerals. Generally speaking though we can persuade, inform or motivate an audience by what we say. Most of us go on vacation so a speech on that topic will be of interest to a general audience. The common cold affects lots of us during the winter and so is an ideal subject too. Nearly all of us want to improve our lives in some way so a speech telling us how to be brilliant and unlock our potential would appeal to many. Those who are speaking in public should choose topics that are relevant and appeal to that public.

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