Wedding Speeches

[Oor Wullie]

Does the father of the bride make a speech at the wedding? My daughter gets married next year and the thought of giving a speech terrifies me. I mean really scares me.

[country_boy]

Usually yeah, but these days you don't have to stick with tradition.

[woofgang]

how about handing the honour over to the mother of the Bride??

[Oor Wullie]

Great idea woofgang because as we all know women can talk...lol. But if I did that all there would be was a three hour speech.

[FTVS]

yes traditionally - why don't you talk it over with your daughter? It doesn't have to be very long. I was at a wedding last year and t he Dad read one of her old school reports out which was fab.

[WoWo]

most of the weddings I have been to recently (with the exception of the last) the father of the bride said very little other than to thank people for comming and to hand over to the best man. It normally falls to the best man to do a propert speech with the FOTB just doing a more formal handling of the thank you's etc. Have a chat with your Daughter and say you are terrified, as suggested there maybe somebody else who's willing to step in.

[smudge]

When our two daughters got married, my husband read out beautiful & humorous speeches. Take a little time to write one out & keep reading out to yourself, even tape it if it makes you feel better. Try not to worry too much, as I'm sure everything will go well for you on the day, have fun & good luck.

[CosmoK]

At a wedding that I attended recently, the father did not make a speech, the mother did (there wasn't a dry eye in the house afterwards!). Also one the bridesmaids also made a speech. I think Smudge's suggestion is a very good idea, but if you really don't want to do it, if her mother is not available, then perhaps an uncle or brother could do it.

[andy hughes]

Tradition says that the bride's father does a speech, but the major speech is the job of the best man. If you are unsure, stick completely to the thank-yous, keep it short, and leave it at that. You're not expected to be Bob Monkhouse, so just write down what you have to say, rehearse reading it in a nice loud voice, and sit down when you've finished. By tradition, you finish your speech by proposing a toast to the bridesmaids - "Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses to ...the bridesmaids." everyone has a slurp, you sit down. The best man stands up and begins his speech by thanking you on behalf of the bridesmaids, and then he moves straight into his speech, while you concentrate on not passing out because you got through your bit unscathed! Believe me, it's not that bad, I've done it once, two more to go!

[vittoria]

Another suggestion: write your speech (get someone to help you or to actually write it for you). Then get some index cards. Number them. Write one and only one sentence on each card. That way you'll be forced to pause in between each sentence as you move the card in front, to the back. This will give you confidence. It will stop you talking too quickly. The numbering is in case you drop them.

[archbishop]

Ha Vittoria I could have done with that in the 1st play I was in.I had a long monologue with my nephew(just before he killed me) and it went on for about 8 mins.It wasn't until the end of the act thatI found out I had completely missed out 2 mins worth.Still made sense though and the only ones who noticed was my nephew(in the play) and the prompter who when giving the speech I could see and wondered why she seemed to be having a fit.Got it right for the rest of the run.

[Mrs_Pegasus]

At my wedding, my dad never said a word!! I think he was still in shock that I arranged the wedding within 3 and only had 24 guests! He never stopped thanking me for wanting a 'small do'! Bless him. I made a speech and my lovely husband did but that was it. I feel 9 times out of 10 the bride does most of the work, has the sleepless nights etc so she should have a right to say a few words!! I love seeing small breaks in tradition if done respectfully. I have even been to a wedding with the best man was a woman, it was fab!

[Ewood27]

I've been a FotB. Thank people for coming. Welcome the groom into the family. Maybe a joke or two, then propose a toast to the bride and groom. That's your traditional duty, not the health of the bridesmaids (that's for the groom to do).

You an get away with almost anything except going on too long, umm-ing and err-ing, being the slightest bit smutty (there's always someone who will object!) and not speaking up. So stand up, speak slowly without long pauses, speak up, and shut up. Phew! All over!