In modern society, the brides speech is becoming very common, and many modern brides feel it is their duty to get up and say a few words.
The bride speech: what is it?
The bride’s speech, typically, comes at the end of the speeches, so that it can have a lasting impact on the guests. As the bride’s speech is not a traditional wedding speech, there is no formal order or expectations that come with it. You might see this as an opportunity to have fun and get creative with your speech, or if you are stuck for ideas you can use the following format below as a guide.
Start with a ‘thank you’ section
Even if your husband and the best man have already expressed their thanks to the guests and the wedding party, it doesn’t hurt to add your personal thanks as well. Here are some of the categories of people you could thank:
- Thank all your guests for coming and for their kind wedding gifts. You could also thank them for making the effort to look so wonderful.
- Thank guests that have travelled a long way to join you on your special day. If you only have a few out of town guests you could mention them individually, but if you have a lot just give a range of places that guests have travelled from.
- Mention guests that couldn’t make it for a specific reason, and if it is because of something positive such as they’ve just had a baby, make sure you share the good news with your guests.
- Thank guests that have made a particularly valuable contribution to the wedding
- Thank your spouse’s parents for welcoming you into their family
Slip in an anecdote or two
Funny or cute stories are great in a bride speeches, but leave the embarrassing anecdotes for the best man. You could talk about how you met, when you realised that they was the one, or when you got engaged. You could also tell a funny story from the engagement party or the run up to the wedding.
You can talk a little about your thoughts and feelings on love, marriage, or being a wife, and there are plenty of funny poems or readings about partners, and marriage that you can turn to if you can’t find the words yourself.
Address your partner
Even a light-hearted bride speeches should include a section about your feelings for your partner. Tell them how happy they make you and the ways in which they have changed your life and your views. Thank them for making you the happiest wife in the world.
End with a toast
All good wedding speeches end with a toast, and as you will be the last speech you will probably have to wait and see who has been toasted already. It’s a good idea to toast your new partner, but if this has already been done you can just raise a general toast to all of your guests and the people that have helped out with the wedding.
