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Write an amazing wedding speech in 15 minutes - using just 5 easy steps!!SUCCESSFUL WEDDING

SPEECH SECRETS!!!

The essential tips for every one!making a speech at a wedding reception!! !

Compiled by professional wedding MC Pete Miller!

** Save this file immediately to your desktop **!!!© 2000 till current A Corporate Compere ‘SUCCESSFUL WEDDING SPEECH SECRETS’ Complied by Pete Miller �1

Hi there - this is Pete Miller. !!Congratulations on being selected to give a speech at the wedding reception of your loved ones.!!Speaking in public at anytime is a great honour and not something to be taken lightly. !!So I guess that’s why you are reading this now - because you understand how important it is to be able to express your feelings in a clear and heartfelt way.!!

Believe me - any preparation you do now it will pay off big time. I know what I’m talking about. As a professional wedding MC, I have seen just about every kind of speech - funny and hilarious, sincere and sensitive, unprepared and unconfident, indulgent and arrogant.!!So this book is a culmination of the very best of those speeches - with a warning about the worse.!!At our professional master of ceremonies online agency WeddingMC.com.au we feel it’s the MCs responsibility to make sure the speeches go well; that all the speakers say what they want to say in the manner they want to say them; and that nothing inappropriate is mentioned and the energy in the room is electrified afterwards.!!Like most of your guests, I love the speeches part of the reception. I hope that your MC will make everyone feel comfortable and create an atmosphere that gives the speakers the greatest opportunity to shine.!!Best wishes from!!Pete Miller!Petemiller.com!!

Photo by Cathy Vella!!NB: This book is sold across the globe. We have used a mix of both British UK English spellings as well as the standard USA.!!

© 2000 till current A Corporate Compere ‘SUCCESSFUL WEDDING SPEECH SECRETS’ Complied by Pete Miller �2

Thank you’s!While I have changed the actual people’s names to protect their privacy, I would sincerely like to show my appreciation to all the wedding speakers who have allowed me to directly copy their speeches word-for-word. !!Their courage, dedication and determination to tame the public speaking ‘tiger’ resulted in a better reception and a more successful transition for the couple into their new role as husband and wife.!!Thank you to Cathy Vella for the photograph of myself and Alan Khan for the black and white photographs on the cover and of the bride and groom.!!For more techniques and excellent products on how to be a great speaker, visit instantmc.com or send an email to instantmc AT gmail.com


!

This document is meant to be an idea-prompter. Read it from beginning to end in one sitting;!this should take only about 20 to 30 minutes. !

!Then you are ready to use all the best bits !

to make your wedding speech the best ever. !!

Too easy!


The Table of Contents!The essential tips for every one!

making a speech at a wedding reception!

ORDER OF SPEECHES (Modern)!

ORDER OF SPEECHES (Traditional)!

A DEFINING MOMENT!

HOW LONG SHOULD MY SPEECH GO FOR?!

THE ZIG ZAG METHOD!

FOLLOW THE 5 EASY STEPS!

THE GROOM’S sample speech!

THE GROOMS sample speech in point form!

THE BRIDE’S sample speech!

BRIDES FATHER sample speech!

GROOMS FATHER sample speech!

FATHERLY QUOTES!

MAID OF HONOR sincere toast 1!



MAID OF HONOR light-hearted toast 1!



BRIDESMAID quick sincere toast 1!

BRIDESMAID quick sincere toast 2!

BRIDESMAID quick light-hearted toast 1!

BRIDESMAID quick light-hearted toast 2!

THE MOTHER OF THE GROOM SPEECH 1!


!





THE MOTHER OF THE GROOM quick toast 1!

THE MOTHER OF THE GROOM quick toast 2!

THE BEST MAN!

THE BEST MAN’S sample speech!

TOASTS!

TELEGRAMS!

RECENTLY DECEASED!


ORDER OF SPEECHES!Even though it is one of the most traditional parts of the wedding reception, the order of wedding speeches is always changing. From the number of speakers to the format to the length and style, wedding speeches represent a moment in time and will often become the emotional high-point of the entire event.!!It is great to see so many ladies getting involved and taking up the microphone for their chance to express how they feel - from the Maid and Matron of Honour to the Mothers of the Bride and Groom.!!Women add a different point of view; and their manner of speaking is more direct and sentimental.!!If the women choose to make a speech, then alternate the order e.g. male female male female.!!ORDER OF SPEECHES (Modern)!!ENTREE SERVED!!The Parents speak:!Father of the Bride (+ Mother?)!Father of the Groom (+ Mother?)!!MAIN COURSE SERVED!!The Bridal Party speak:!The Best Man (+ MOH?)!The Groom (+ Bride?)!!!ORDER OF SPEECHES (Traditional)!!

TOAST to the Bride & Groom proposed by !!RESPONSE, and TOAST to the Bridal Party by the Groom / Bride!!Response on behalf of the Bridal Party by the Best Man!!Toast to the Bride's Parents by !!Response by the Bride's Father!!Toast to the Groom's Parents by!!Response by the Groom's Father


A DEFINING MOMENT!!There is always a rise in the room’s energy after the speakers at a wedding have revealed their vulnerabilities and exposed their deepest feelings, words of advice, humorous stories, and heartfelt messages of romance. !!Allowing yourself to be open to these strong feelings is the key to a great wedding speech.!!To express love is a humbling experience; many veteran speakers are surprised how the power of this sentiment can make their public speaking experience at work seem irrelevant when it comes to speaking emotionally. !!Even substantial presentation practice in your career cannot prepare you enough when it comes to conveying happiness, pleasure and affection (as opposed to promoting and selling a product).!!Human beings will surprise themselves and often say the strangest things when they get up to speak in front of an audience gathered to celebrate love. (The memory of the event will last a long time - and that’s why it is essential that the entire episode must be videoed. I speak from unfortunate experience here.)!!The pressure a speaker feels in front of a group at a wedding can magically make TIME and SPACE leap into another dimension. However, not all is lost as this pressure is easily controlled by some prior preparation and these sample speeches.!!If you are lucky enough to have experienced public speakers in amongst your guest list, it might be wiser to chose them. However, this is rare - and whether or not you have spoken in public before or not, you now have the best tool in your hand right now to help all the wedding speakers make a speech they all can be proud of. !!!HOW LONG SHOULD MY SPEECH GO FOR?!!Most intelligent human beings can put together a decent 3 to 5 minute speech. To speak any longer than this and still keep them interested, you need to have a practiced, rehearsed public speaking routine or an interesting and engaging (excuse the pun) multimedia presentation.!!Note to the bride: Like you would rather not reveal your dress to the groom’s eyes before he sees you at the church, the same goes for the groom’s speech until it comes time to speak at the reception. So, if he seems a bit secretive, then this might be the reason why.!!!!!


THE ZIG ZAG METHOD!AKA the emotional roller-coaster!!One method to keep people’s attention and entertain them at the same time is to break up the speaker's series of sincere thoughts with funny quips, quotes, and anecdotes. !!This style works well because it gets a genuine message across while making people laugh at the same time. The order becomes serious / funny / serious / funny and so on; thus, it is called the Zig Zag method.!!For example, the juxtaposition can be contained in one phrase: “Thank you all for joining together and helping us celebrate this great day in our lives - I particularly want to make mention of those people who knew I was going to be making a speech - but turned up anyway!”!!OR !!“I wont speak for long because like me, I know you are here to witness the MAIN EVENT latter on tonight; thats right - seeing Jeremy (the groom) dance!”!!!FOLLOW THE 5 EASY STEPS!Prepare mentally, physically and emotionally!!For many people attending a wedding reception, the speeches are a highlight of the entire day. This is because speaking is based on personality (rather than content)* and a wedding reception offers an interesting variety of behaviours from the various personality styles of speakers.!!* its not what you say, its HOW you say it!!However, before revealing the character of the speaker, there’s always the same tough preparation that everyone must go through – every time. !!Without applying the discipline to prepare, the unique and interesting individuality I’ve just mentioned will struggle rise above the words.!!!

!Spoken words are simple words!We use completely different words when we speak than when we write. For instance, think of the change in writing styles between a poem and novel. !

Winston Churchill once commented that it takes him 8 hours to prepare a 1-hour speech but a week to prepare a 5-minute speech. By that, he meant that the shorter the time you intend to speak the more succinct you must be.


The 5 easy steps to preparing a wedding speech!The big advantage of the using the 5 easy steps method is the ‘naturalness’ it achieves; like you are enjoying leading an intimate conversation - it just happens to be with a large group of people!!!The following steps help make your speech personal, heartfelt, and sincere (we can the humour later)!!1. Starting a few weeks before the reception, write down or "brainstorm" a few topics, subjects, or stories that you want to cover.!!2. With this list in front of you, stand in a room by yourself, and imagine you are at the reception, with the microphone in your hand (you could use a pen). Start talking, and see where these topics lead you. A good start is: “Thank you Peter (or whoever is your MC). It is a great feeling for me to be here giving this speech because....”!!3. After you have done this a few times, a pattern or sequence of ideas should develop. Write down the pattern, and work with it to establish a beginning, middle and end. The opening sets the tone; the middle is the substance, while the conclusion ties everything together.!!4. Stick with the pattern as an outline. Edit it into key words, topic headings, or phrases that you can easily recall. Write these down on an A4 piece of paper to guide you using a double-spaced size 16 font Times New Roman font. It should look like this:!!

!To give you an idea of what key words look like, we have bolded our own key words throughout this book.!!*Double spacing is found in the Format tab of WORD; then click paragraph, then Indents and Spacing, and then go to the Line Spacing drop down box.!!(I am not a fan of using the hand-size cards that they teach in schools. It is too easy to lose your place and it looks like you are trying to hide something. No one will begrudge you for using notes – I am a professional public speaker and I would never dream of walking onto a stage without at least a folder and some notes.)!

Stick with the pattern as an outline.! !Edit it into key words, topic headings, or phrases that you can easily recall. !!Write these down on an A4 piece of paper to guide you using a double-spaced* size 16 font Times New Roman font. !

Your speech should look like this section.


!5. Now your speech is assembled, deliver the words using your personality (remember, it’s HOW you say it) You can never be over-rehearsed, so practice and polish it until you start to shine with spontaneity.!!This leads to timing. And with timing comes humour (Y’see, I told you we would put the laughter in later; just dont start designing your speech with jokes - its public speaking suicide.) !!Talk your speech through about 5 to 10 times. The main thing to remember is the emotion you are putting across is a feeling of happiness joy, and celebration. So teach yourself to speak and smile at the same time - this will have huge benefits in your everyday communication long after this speech has ended. !!Sincerity does not have to equal Serious. Just because you are concentrating, it doesn't mean you have to look concerned. Say Hello to Happiness!!!Pause to breathe, scan and smile!It is not necessary to memorise your speech. Otherwise, the whole exercise becomes a memory test rather than a wedding speech.!!It is absolutely fine to read your speech; just make sure to pause every so often, take a breath, look up and smile and scan the audience. By looking around and not focussing on any particular person, you will involve the whole audience. !!However, if you are referring to someone in the audience, it will add to the effect of what you say by looking directly at the subject (this is also mentioned in ’TOASTS’)!!Besides allowing the speaker to fill their lungs with air, pausing also allows the audience to absorb the spoken words and then create pictures in their own mind. !!This will help realise the full effect of your words; remember, even though you are very familiar with the contents of your speech, the audience are hearing it for the first time.!!It is not the note that makes the music

but the pause between the notes!!Furthermore, the mental pictures created for an audience develop from feelings instead of detail. That’s why personal stories work so well.!!And all good stories use vocal variety - it is difficult to retain the rapt attention of the audience with a monotone voice.!


!DO’S!

Do allow all the speakers plenty of notice so they can prepare thoroughly!!Do send all the speakers this book so they can all have an opportunity to do the best job possible!!Do type out your final draft in lowercase 16 point, double-spaced on A4 white paper!!Do bold key phrases (like in this Do’s & Don’ts) so it looks like a series of thoughts in a logical sequence!!Do speak from the heart. Be warm, sincere and show your affection!!Do use the courtship as material for stories!!Do steer clear of topics you are unfamiliar with!!Do prepare thoroughly!!Do avoid ‘in’ jokes that only a few people will understand!!Do unfold the paper early so it will flatten out!!Do remember to take your speech with you to the reception (Just to be sure, make a 2nd copy and give it to an attending guest)!!Do take a moment before the start of the speeches to collect your thoughts and rehearse alone - possibly in the foyer or restroom!!Do smile and speak at the same time


DON’TS!You can tell a speech that’s been lifted from the Internet because they always start “For those who dont know me, I am ....’ You dont ever need to announce this as the MC would’ve already done it for you.!!Don’t hand-write the speech!!Don't tell stupid jokes that make fun of marriage or ramble on about the joys of being single. You will look like an idiot who is envious and instantly get everyone against you. We are in Celebration mode NOT sarcastic mode!!Don’t apologise for any lack of experience you might feel. The audience dont want to know - they only want you to do well!!Don’t be tempted to ‘wet the whistle’ with a few drinks beforehand. Alcohol and public speaking definitely do not mix. Afterwards is OK – you have earned the reward!!Don’t be afraid to use emotional words and express your love!!Don’t be worried about how long a speech should be; time means nothing when the topic is interesting; 3 to 5 minutes is plenty!!Don’t read from the page any comments that are supposed to sound spontaneous - otherwise it will sound shallow e.g. “Dont the bridesmaids look absolutely beautiful – they have really been wonderful all day” !!Don’t be worried about being sincere; a wedding is an appropriate place for emotion!!Don’t try to embarrass anyone, resort cheap shots or tell in-jokes that the rest of the audience wont understand: e.g. This reminds me of the story about Gemma and the fire-man from Greece …!!Don’t mention past sexual relationships or tell dirty stories (which are entirely different to awkward funny stories)!!Don’t introduce any bitter comments or negativity at all e.g. “…its been so hard getting the money together for this damn wedding – for a moment there, I didn’t think we would make it because we were fighting so much over the cost of everything.”!!Don’t think about how many people are looking and listening to you – just pretend it is a conversation between you and a good friend!!Don’t leave it to the last minute to ask a guest to speak. It is unreasonable to then expect them to do a good job


Fictitious Bridal Party! !!Remember, these generic speeches have been assembled from the real speeches that I have heard in my role as a professional wedding MC. !!So to add a sense of reality, I have fabricated names and constructed typical scenario’s that might occur. !!Any resemblance to real people’s names and situations, either living or dead, past or present, is purely coincidental.!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!!Bride – Janet Miller!Groom – Patrick Brent!!PARENTS!Bride’s Mother – Elizabeth Miller!Bride’s Father – Les Miller!!Groom’s Mother – Carol Brent!Groom’s Father – (Edwin) Ted Brent!!ATTENDANTS:!Bridesmaid – Dorothy!Matron / Maid of Honour – Christine!!Groomsman – Ron Brent!Best Man – Jeremy Tan!!If you use these sample speeches word for word, remember to replace the fictitious names with the real names :)!!


THE GROOM!Preparation is cheap insurance ! !

A groom who starts off by announcing “I don’t know what I’m going to say, I haven’t prepared anything…” will a hard time expecting his guests to listen to any words that follow. !!After all, they have made an effort to get dressed up and maybe have even gone to the trouble of buying a new outfit for the occasion. They have also paid out money for baby-sitters, bought expensive gifts, and spent a large part of the day with the couple. !!However, the guests are never expecting the groom to give a

smooth and polished performance; after all, it is his wedding day and he is in unfamiliar territory! So don’t put unnecessary and unrealistic pressure on yourself.!!

All the audience really want !is the groom to sincerely tell us !

how much he loves the bride!!They are also not expecting him to give a slick PowerPoint presentation like he might have done at work. However, the audience do expect him to have done some work towards organizing what he will say on his wedding day.!“Winging it” looks like you don’t really care and shows a lack of respect for your audience.!!The longer the lead time, the better the result. !Like anything in life, groundwork is the key to a successful time with the microphone. Magically, the brain will help a nervous speaker during the critical moments in front of people - if given enough time to prepare.!With this said, the groom should start preparing his speech a few weeks prior.!


!Use notes! Even an accomplished speaker would never dream of speaking without notes (“off the cuff”) so either should the groom. Notes will prevent him from sitting down afterwards and agonizing over what he missed out or forget to say. !!!

!Sorry guys, but it is not a "Thank-fest" !!

It is tempting to show your gratitude by heaping praise on anyone who has had anything to do with the lead-up to the wedding; but a long list of the groom saying "Thank You" is difficult to maintain interest and could end up to be boring for an audience.!!Every other book on the Internet tells you the exact opposite, but take it from me - a full-time speakers coach and wedding MC - limit the thank you’s to a few, if any.!!

Unless the speaker says exactly what those people did to deserve the praise, it can sound like a group of close friends ‘patting each other on the back’. This will alienate the rest of the group who start to feel left out of the inner circle.!!

!!This is especially true for the service providers e.g. the professional MC or photographers (who are paid for their job); you have limited time, so thanking them publicly is totally unnecessary.!!This advice comes as tragic news to a groom who had planned an easy speech based solely on appreciation.!!In this case, replace the salutations with stories. Audiences love stories; they are personal, usually have a beginning, middle and an end, and are easy to tell (and remember).!!!

A useful tip:

Read the speech before sleeping and then again upon waking. !This is a great method to give the brain poise under pressure.

Thanks’ are best given briefly at the beginning or left to a private moment alone with the person or a personal card afterward.


The “How We Met” story!The groom should try to incorporate the anecdote of his courtship with the bride because there will never be a better time to tell the tale of how the couple met. It is entirely appropriate, and will always sound genuine coming from the original source. !!There is usually a good tale attached to their romance that will often divulge a lot about the personalities of the couple concerned. !!However do not say “Y’know, out of all the girlfriends I’ve had, you have been the best one.” I know it seems obvious, but I have actually heard this said! Incredible.!!A rite of passage!There is a sense that the couple is moving through a ‘rite of passage’ in their lives and from this day onwards, they will be changed forever. !!Apart from the obvious fact that they need to adjust from being single to married, there is also a sense of growing and maturing. !!Many questions can be asked and answered; !

Where will we live?!What are our plans? !How about children?!Why did we decide to get married in the first place? !!

The answers will provide fantastic material for a speech. If the groom can bring himself to cover this territory, he will not only empower himself, but also transform the opinions and beliefs of his audience forever.!!The “Proposal” story! !

Like the “how we met” story above, there is a great sense of destiny attached to the story of how the groom proposed.!!And this is where the groom can reveal his love without getting too sentimental. For instance, thew audience will roar with laughter when he tells them how he meticulously planned to surprise the bride and then, even with the best-laid plans, as he bent to one knee, he got incredibly nervous and out fell some words that were unrehearsed and nothing like he had imagined.!!And then there’s the bride’s reaction - that’s sometimes an even better story ...


THE GROOM’S sample speech!(The speech that follows is obviously much longer than 3 to 5 minutes as suggested earlier, so just take what you need and assemble it to suit your own particular style).!!“But how do I know what my style is?” I hear you ask. !!My cryptic answer is to use your intuition. By this, I mean pay attention as you read through these words. If you laugh or relate to the passage immediately, then it is a good sign that it suits your style. Mark these passages with a highlighter for possible inclusion - or if you have the WORD doc, copy and paste it into a separate document for editing later.!!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------!!“Family and friends - I would call you ladies and gentlemen, but I know you too well. !!(ZIG ZAG)!Its certainly great to have everyone of you here – I had no idea I had this many friends. !!It is particularly wonderful to have everyone here from overseas - it wouldn’t have been the same without you - albeit a lot cheaper. !!I must confess to being nervous about giving this speech - you can rest assured that this is not the first time today I have risen from a warm seat with a piece of paper in my hand!!!I would like to start by putting paid to the rumor that Janet and I first met when she won me in a ‘Bachelor of the Year’ competition.!!I have been married now for (check watch) all of five hours and I think it is great - being married is just one big party.!!One of my friends said to me Janet is such a nice girl she deserves a good husband. You better marry her quick before she finds one.!!They say the ideal preparation for a husband is if he has a pierced ear – because he has bought jewellery and suffered pain.!!Seriously, on behalf of my wife and I - hmmm, that sounds good, doesn’t it ...much better than my fiancée and I - I would just like to make mention of some very special people who have made today possible.!!In the course of this wedding coming together, I have learnt one thing – you don’t just marry the bride - you marry her whole family.!!The first time I met the bride’s dad Les, he shook my hand and crushed it. Right from the start, I thought ‘Boy, this is going to be tough’.!!


However, I would like to acknowledge the way Janet’s parents have made me feel welcome into their family from the moment we met. They are a tremendous couple and a fine example of a great marriage. !!They have helped, supported, and loved Janet all her life and now I am looking forward to sharing that role with them. Congratulations to Elizabeth and Les for raising Janet into the wonderful person she is. (The groom could raise a toast to the Bride’s parents here).!!Don’t worry – you haven’t lost a daughter – you’ve gained son; and another mouth to feed!!!Also, my parents have always supported me with their love & kindness during my life. Mum and Dad, I know that you made many sacrifices for me and I want you to know how much I appreciate them. !!(here’s a good example of a ZIG ZAG as mentioned before)!However, I could’ve done without the violin lessons. My neck never has really recovered (mimics a sore bent-over neck).!!My folks are honest and hard-working people who put 110% into their kids. No one could have asked for a better start in life. I love you both and am proud to be your son. Thanks for everything. !!To show my appreciation, I would like you to accept this envelope – it contains the bill for the reception!!!Janet and I picked this date because it is now been 5 years since we first met at university. I researched what famous events happened on his day, and nothing spectacular has ever occurred – until now that is. From this day onwards, the (insert date of wedding) will be remembered as the day a love between Patrick and Janet was celebrated. (a Toast maybe?)!!With that in mind, let me turn to my wife. Many people have told me how lucky I am to marry Janet – including Janet herself.!!Janet, I want you to know that I will not be a “yes” man to you. When you say “No” I’ll also say “No”! Thank you for not doing a Julia Roberts & becoming a ‘Runaway Bride’.!!However, the most special moment of my life was when you said, “yes” to my proposal of marriage. I will never forget that moment for as long as I live. !!(You could tell the proposal story here. Click here for reference)!!However, I wasn’t sure that you were going to say “yes” after I crashed your car on the way to dinner that night. I was just so nervous about the proposal I only had eyes for you – and not the road! !!Janet, I just want to say, that for as long as I live – you can always drive the car when we go out for dinner! !!© 2000 till current A Corporate Compere ‘SUCCESSFUL WEDDING SPEECH SECRETS’ Complied by Pete Miller �19

No seriously, I want to say to everyone here how much I love you Janet and I promise to look after you for the rest of my life... I am just reading this from the contract I signed with your father.!!You are a beautiful, intelligent, and caring person who means the world to me. Our love is contagious – sorry to make you sound like a virus.!!Our bride tonight is as attractive on the inside as she is stunning on the outside. I get so passionate when we … can I read the rest of this later to you?!!To everyone here with us tonight, Janet and I sincerely appreciate all your good wishes and gifts. The presents you gave us - whether wrapped, spoken or written - will make a great start to our new home in Sydney and fill it with love and happy memories of today.!!This wedding cost so much, we had to look at ways to cut the expenditure, so the champagne is going to be served in shot glasses. !!We want to send a special kiss and hug to Auntie Betty for making the wedding cake that we will all share in a few minutes. I am certain it will be delicious.!!And now to the groomsmen I hired from Rent-A-Crowd. My best man will soon be saying a few words. I don’t know what he will say but I want to get in first and deny any knowledge and involvement in the stories he will be telling you. He suffers from this rare medical disease called ‘Best Man Syndrome’ where everything is grossly exaggerated.!!Jeremy has been a tower of strength in the last few weeks – as he has throughout our long friendship; you’ve been a great mate Jerry to me and thank you for getting me here on time today.!!Equally, my older brother Ron has always been there for me. Actually, I had no choice in the matter. In reality, Ron forced me to include him as a groomsman because he thought the Bridal table would be the best spot to survey the female talent. Ladies, Ron wants it known – he is available for a dance later. OK?!!The lovely ladies here at our table have been wonderful bridesmaids to Janet. She appreciates their loyalty and their time - especially after the 9th dress fitting! !!Their beauty and great fun attitude have really added the wedding and on behalf of Janet, I would like to express our gratitude to Dorothy & Christine for all your efforts in helping prepare her for this day.!!Ladies and gentlemen, will you now please join me in a toast to the bridesmaids.!!(Pause) To the Bridesmaids!!© 2000 till current A Corporate Compere ‘SUCCESSFUL WEDDING SPEECH SECRETS’ Complied by Pete Miller �20

It is not what you say, !but how you say it!!!

You can arrange the sequence in any order!E.g.!

Intro !Overseas!Parents!Bridesmaids!Best man !Bride


THE GROOMS sample speech in point form!(this is not recommended unless you are super practiced.)!

Family and Friends!Not Ladies & Gentlemen!Rumour - Janet won me “Bach. Of the Year” comp!Been married now (WATCH) / one big party. Turned out much better!Behalf of Wife – make mention - very special people!!Parents - Elizabeth and Les!Acknowledge - making me feel welcome!Fine example of great marriage!Helped, supported & loved Janet – I now share this role!Congratulated them on raising Janet into the beautiful person she is (TOAST)!Mum and Dad!Always supported me - love & kindness!Sacrifices thru life – appreciate them!Honest, hardworking parents 110% into their kids, exceptional job!Love them, and proud to be their son!Thanks for everything - Here’s the $$$ Bill!!Janet!‘Yes’ man – say ‘No’ too!“Yes” to proposal – never forget!Car crash – only had eyes for you not the road!Dinner – you drive!Seriously, I love you / promise to look after you – Contract!Beautiful, Intelligent and caring person – mean the world to me!So passionate...later?!!Everyone!Appreciate good wishes and gifts!Presents - great start in new house – Sydney!Investment in time / money to travel!Special Kiss- hug Aunt Betty – Cake. Delicious!!The Bridal Party (Rent-A-Crowd) The Boys!Jeremy!Deny involvement in stories!Tower of strength / long friendship / Great mate!Thanks – getting me here on time!Ron!There for me – I had no choice!He forced me - BT best place to survey talent!Available for dance later!!The Girls!Lovely ladies / wonderful bridesmaids!Janet appreciates loyalty and time – esp. after 9th dress fitting!Beauty and fun attitude – added to wedding!Express gratitude – help prepare for today (TOAST)


THE BRIDE! !It’s now common for brides to accompany their new husbands and share the microphone duties. !!This practice should be encouraged, but not at the expense of her enjoyment of the night; the bride has already done enough just to get them this far - without worrying about the added pressure of public speaking. !!If the bride chooses not to speak but wants to be involved in the speeches, a popular alternative is for her to stand next to her husband while he is speaking. !!This is actually a powerful symbol to the guests and

looks brilliant on the photos, especially if they are speaking from the bridal table. !!In addition, it saves the groom speaking down to his wife when he referring to her during his speech.!!Otherwise, the bride could simply take the middle part of the grooms speech - or just take part in a few of the ‘thank you’s’ without it becoming an entire speech as such.


!THE BRIDE’S sample speech!!!This morning I woke up as Miss Janet Miller but today I became Mrs Janet Brent.!!Good evening and thank you for joining Patrick and I as our guests to celebrate our marriage. !!So many of you have travelled long distances and we are so grateful to have you here with us on this special day.!!We understand the considerable investment in time and money that many of you have made to travel here from afar.!!At times I doubted it would, but our wedding day did finally arrive for Patrick and I and there are so many people that joined in and assisted us in making this wonderful event happen.!!Our parents have been the biggest source of inspiration. Both of our parents will be celebrating their 30 years of marriage anniversary next month. Congratulations to both of you and we hope that Patrick and I can only follow in your footsteps. !!I have know the Brent Family for over a decade and, like my family, they have seen Patrick and I grow into who we are today. !!Carol and Ted - I can’t say thank you enough for your son and all of your support and love you have shown towards us over the years. I look forward to continuing the relationship with you as your new daughter. !!Carol, thank you for joining me along with my Mother and Christine in the hours on end and the dozen of wedding gowns I tried on and stores we visited. It was fantastic to have you part of the whole process and so much fun. !!Ted - sorry if I have begun to be a bad influence on Carol with our shopping sprees but you had better get used to it as there are plenty more planned. !!Thank you to the both of you for accepting me into your family.!!To my Mum and Dad – I truly thank you for always guiding me and supporting my every dream and goal.!!(ZIG ZAG)!I wasn’t sure if my parents were going to make it here today because they missed the cut-off deadline for the RSVP!!!Dad - it was wonderful and so honourable for you to give me away at the same church today where we all spent many Sunday mornings together.


Thank you for always being honest with me, and putting me in line when I was heading in the wrong direction. At the time, your discipline was not liked but you have taught me so much and I appreciate it now.!!Mum – you have the biggest heart and you have always put yourself aside to give me the very best. I have never thanked you enough. You are a dear friend to me. You look beautiful Mum and I will miss you.!!I love you both so dearly. You are so admirable and I can only hope that your next chapter in life is very special and all your dreams come true. !!I left (North Ryde) today, my home for the last 17 years. Its going to be different not coming home to you both everyday - but look on the bright side. There will be food in the cupboard, less laundry and no more having to listen to me sing in the shower. Hey Patrick – that’s what you have to look forward to!!!To our bridesmaid Christine. We have made so many fond memories and I can’t thank you enough for your time, friendship and support. All our visits to the dressmakers were worth it, as you look stunning. !!Thank you for arranging all of the pre wedding celebrations, the Girl’s Day Out, Kitchen Tea and our famous wedding workshop night that ended up us drinking endless bottles of wine and chatting instead of doing what we set out to do.!!Our Groomsman have been wonderful. We have Pat’s brother Ron, and Jeremy, who has been a close friend of Pat’s since they were in nappies and is now a friend of mine. You look very spiffy tonight, boys, and I thank you for being there for Patrick and I and being part of Pat’s and my day.!!I’d like to send a ‘cheers’ out to to Michael and Renee Baker who have been so encouraging and for your assistance at the chapel today and reception this evening. !!Today is the biggest dream come true. Today, I married the person I have grown with, experienced life with, a person I laugh and cry with; today I married my best friend.!!My Chinese relatives always said to “marry a rich man” and that I have done. Patrick is rich in kindness, rich in understanding, and rich in common sense.!!11 years of friendship, 5-year relationship, an 8-month engagement and TODAY finally, we have united as Husband and Wife.!!Planning a wedding is an exciting yet stressful and emotional time but I can say, now that it is done, I am looking forward to not having endless lists of things to do, reminders going off every hour and hopefully getting restful night sleeps again. !!


So from a list of arranging flowers to taste-testing menus will soon become cooking, cleaning, and training Pat to put the toilet seat down. !!By the way, Patrick is a lovely guy but he is not the most domesticated. This is not to denigrate the great job done by his mother, but just the other day I saw Patrick scraping bread crumbs into the bowl of the toilet. When I asked what on earth he was doing he said he was feeding the toilet duck.!!I love being with you Pat as we can be just who we are; I’m so lucky to be able to share so many things with you. I am so excited about our future ahead as we will keep working together to make many more of our dreams and aspirations come to life. !!I can only hope I am a good wife to you as you have been everything to me. The person I can always rely on. My travel partner. My prince in shining armour that rescued me in times of trouble. !!You stayed right there until I believed in love. I thank you for your patience, understanding and for you giving me your heart and hand in marriage. !!With all the different challenges, adventures and experiences our school yard friendship grew into a love that just keeps growing stronger and the time together gets better and better. !!With you by my side I am not afraid. I feel so content and loved. I hope one day we are blessed with a family of our own. It’s just so exciting to know that there is so much more ahead of us. !!

I am so proud of you and I am so lucky to have you as my husband.!!Pat - my focus is you. No more counting down the months, weeks, and days. The time has come now to cherish every moment we have together and take life as it comes. I know we have reached that point in our life that we are ready to settle and make a new life for ourselves. !!That is what we have longed for and I can’t imagine life without you. I love you Patrick. !!Please charge your glasses, as I would like to propose a toast to the Groom – to my husband Patrick.!!! !


WHAT BOTH FATHERS NEED TO SAY!!The father’s of the bride and groom have lived enough of life to know what to say to deliver a reasonable tribute to their children. !!The couple can rest assure that most fathers will not embarrass themselves or the couple. !!Even though they know their subject well, it will pay the fathers well to prepare properly because there is only one chance to get it right. !!The fathers are also proud of their child’s achievements, thankful for the many happy occasions the son or daughter has provided, and glad to welcome the other half into the family

e.g. “I am not losing a daughter but gaining a son”. !!They say that when children find true

love, their parents find true happiness.!!This happiness in the quote above is echoed in the father’s speech and therefore, the monologue should be a joyful ‘letting go’ and a confident public endorsement of their child’s choice of partner.!!NB Please remember that the father is giving advice on behalf of their spouse / partner / wife, so it is courtesy to include them in any of your sentiments – otherwise …!!

!The finish can be with a wish for a long and happy future together and a toast to the bride and groom (even if a toast may have already been performed).!!

The best thing a father can do !for his children is love their mother

A useful analogy about marriage is the planting of a rose garden. There will be thorns, but from those prickly moments, beautiful roses can result. This comparison can also include the advice to ‘take time to smell the roses’.


BRIDES FATHER sample speech!“Ladies and Gentlemen, I am Janet’s Father - at least I think so - that what I've been told anyway.!!It is not a duty but my absolute pleasure to be giving this speech.!!(ZIG ZAG)!I guess this is where I am supposed to say something embarrassing about the bride. Well, I can’t because Janet has been the perfect daughter (pause)!Hey Janet you've spelt "perfect" wrong?!!This speech has been in my pocket all day – it’s all warm and sweaty. I hope you will forgive me tonight if I seem a little emotional - I assure you it’s got nothing to do with the cost of the wedding!!!Thank you to everyone who has travelled a long way to get here – it is amazing how far some people will come for a free meal.!!It is not every day that I give away a daughter - although there have been times in the past when I have wanted to. However today I have done it with much pride. !!Before the church ceremony, Janet was quite nervous; so to calm her down, I whispered to her all she has to do is remember is to walk down the aisle, go to the alter, and sing the hymns. So she kept repeating to herself: I’ll (Aisle) Alter him (Hymn) (Repeat).!!It is a special day for my beautiful wife of 30 years Elizabeth and I. Seeing our daughter Janet at the church today struck me with the realisation that an important phase in our lives has come and gone.!!Our little girl has grown up, has left home, and is now married. We can hardly believe that it is 27 years since Janet arrived to brighten our lives - it seems like only a few minutes have passed since that day. !!She was a beautiful baby and as each year has passed, she has grown increasingly beautiful - not that I am in the least bit biased of course!!!Today, she has taken a big step towards a new beginning. Together with Patrick, they must find the understanding that will take them through life - a life filled with challenges. !!However, the love that they share will lessen any hardship they might confront, and the love we have taught her to give, will be shared with those around her.!!It is difficult to speak about a loved one when they leave - it will be hard for Elizabeth and I to look into an empty room and not to see her every morning. !!


But we must not be selfish - we are caught between being happy to see her in love and sad that she will not be around all the time. Is there anyone wishing to rent a good room – freshly painted this morning?!!I just like to remind myself of all the happiness she brings with her smile and of all the happiness I feel when she hugs me and kisses me.!!I’m very grateful for the precious relationship I have shared with you Janet. Now I share you with Patrick. The only consolation is that he obviously loves you as much as I do. That makes it easier for me to stand up here now.!!I could talk about her all night, but we all know Janet. We always knew that she would do well. From the moment she first crawled, she displayed amazing determination to get what she wanted. !!In the early days, it was a rattle, and then it became the latest fad, then the results at school that she wanted - and deserved - and now the husband of her choice. !!With such determination, Patrick was a marked man. Knowing Patrick and the deep love he has for Janet, I think he was very happy to be the subject of such determination!!!Patrick, I can still remember when Janet was cute and little. Through the years, I have watched her grow into a beautiful woman – just as her mother was when we were married - and still is. (Elizabeth added the last bit herself).!!We are delighted that Patrick is entering our family - Janet could not have found a better partner to spend the rest of her life with. They deserve each other! !!The groom is a dangerous man – in fact, he is a thief! As soon as you sit down with him, he steals your heart and your mind.!!Seriously, Patrick is an outstanding young man with impressive credentials but more importantly, he possesses strong family values. !!He is a credit to his family and an asset to mine. We have also been delighted to get to know Patrick’s family better over the last few months – and it is clear that Patrick’s has inherited many of the loving and generous characteristics of his parents Carol & Ted. !!We look forward to spending more time with them over the coming years.”!!(Finish with a toast to the bride and groom. See TOASTS)! !!!


GROOMS FATHER sample speech!“I will not be speaking long because of my throat – my wife has threatened to cut it if I go beyond 5 minutes.!!Recently, I came across the following quote that I believe epitomizes the bond of marriage:!“Two are better than one!Because they have good reward for their labour!For if one should fall, the other will lift up his fellow.!But woe to him that is alone when he fall !For he hath not another to help him up.” (Ecclesiastics 4:9-10)!!This brings me to the Ten Commandments,!No, not THE Ten Commandments, the “Husband’s Ten Commandments’.!1.! The wife is always RIGHT!2.! She is never WRONG!3.! Do not confuse the two - it could prove fatal!4.! When she says ‘Yes’ she means ‘No’!5.! When she says ‘No’ she means ‘Yes’!6.! Misinterpretation could also prove fatal!7.! She is always on time!8.! She is never late!9.! When, not if, this situation arises, readily admit your mistake or risk ! becoming another statistic!10.! Never argue. Arguing only leads to thorough confusion, and as a !result, you will be proven wrong - a position from which you will never !recover.!!Marriage, as we know, is a complex union of two individuals. One of these complexities that ensures success in marriage is happiness. Here is a summary of what I’ve learned about happiness; how to achieve and keep it.!!Happiness comes with!-! Confidence in each other!-! Confiding in each other!-! Sharing each others joys and woes!-! Facing life’s challenges as a team!-! Acknowledging your individual differences!-! Respect for each other, and finally!-! Realization that your wife / husband is your best friend!!To summarize, focus on each others qualities and don’t harp on about each others imperfections.!!On behalf of my wife Carol, I take this opportunity to express sincere appreciation to the parents of the Bride, Elizabeth and Les for the manner in which they have accepted our son Patrick in to their lives.!!In addition, thank you for your commitment to ensure that the marriage of your daughter Janet to our son Patrick is the best wedding reception it can


be. It fills our hearts with pride. We have a gem of a son and now we have a jewel of a daughter”.!!

!FATHERLY QUOTES!I am now handing over the responsibility of the bride to the groom … if anything goes wrong mate; it’s now your fault. Remember now - no refunds, no returns!!!I can remember the first day of school, I can remember the first driving lesson, I can remember... But nothing comes close to my memory of today.!!After the buck’s night, I said to my son “don’t you ever bring one of those girls home. Bring two - one for your father!”!!To worry about the wedding is only natural – my wife woke me up at 2am just this morning and told me not to worry!!!


THE MAID OF HONOR & BRIDESMAID SPEECH!Light and happy! !

The maid of honor and a bridesmaid have very important roles in the entire wedding day; and often are a major focus of attention.!!Evidence the great publicity that Princess Kate’s sister Pippa received at The Royal Wedding - she enhanced, complimented and added to the elegance … unlike Fergie’s disastrous daughters who tried to turn the event into a circus act.!!So it’s not surprising that ‘the girls’ have recently spoken up and taken the opportunity to publicly say a few words about their friend the bride. Why should the guys have all the fun?!!

As an MC, I love it when the girls speak; it brings an instant equality to the program.!!It should be encouraged because women are more ‘natural talkers’ than men; its in their DNA. It pre-historic days, women sat around socialising and protecting the nest while the men stalked their prey in the bush; often not talking for hours for fear of frighting away the prey.!!Anyway, the chance to endorse a long friendship is rare - and weddings are the perfect place to pause and say ‘Hey I value you’!!With this in mind, concentrate your speech on your friend the bride entirely.!!MOOD and TONE!No matter who you are, the contents of a maid of honour and bridesmaid speech is going to be emotional.!!However, depending on what you are most comfortable with and what style best suits the kind of friendship you have with the bride, you can approach the writing of the speech from a sincere and, dare I say it, sentimental viewpoint or a humorous and lighthearted manner.!!But remember, the famous Zig-Zag method mentioned earlier will give you the best results eg a little levity mixed with sincerity.!


!!MAID OF HONOR sincere toast 1!Friendship!!Let me first say that it’s an honor to have the opportunity to give a toast for my friend of [number of years you have been friends with bride], Janet. !!She is truly an amazing person and I couldn’t be happier that she found such a great match; and that they’ve tied the knot today.!!For those of you who don’t know me well, you might wonder how Janet and I became friends initially. Well, the answer to that question is actually quite funny. You see, [tell charming anecdote about how you and the bride became friends]. Yes, it’s funny, but that’s how we met. And ever since, we’ve been close friends.!!Now, how about Patrick? Isn’t he wonderful? Isn’t he handsome, charming, and witty? Yes, he is all of these things; and that is exactly what made me so jealous when Janet met him. Not only was I jealous that she had found a truly meaningful relationship, but I was worried that I would get pushed out!!!That’s always how these things seem to work: the girl falls in love with the guy and slowly falls out of touch with her friends. As Janet told me more and more about this guy she met and was dating, I became more and more sure that this would eventually happen.!!But to my surprise, it didn’t. Instead, I made another great friend, Patrick, who is truly an amazing match for my best friend. And that’s when I stopped being jealous and started being happy for my old friend and my new friend.!!You guys are truly meant for each other; and I love you both. Now, let’s lift up our glasses and toast. To the happiness of the bride and groom. Cheers!!!!MAID OF HONOR sincere toast 2!!Let me first thank everyone for attending. I know both the bride and the groom are honored to have all of the most important people in their lives here with them today. And even if they don’t get the chance to tell you all that individually, they mean it.!!Most of you probably don’t know this, but I first met Janet in [year you two met]. It seems like a long time ago now, but I can still remember the day clearly. [Tell an anecdote about how you met the bride. Keep it brief, but keep it charming and include some details]. !!It’s truly amazing that after all of these years. After school and uni, and now our adult lives, we have remained close friends. I can remember Janet still [give anecdote about something you remember about the bride when she was young].!


!When Janet first told me about Patrick, I wasn’t sure how to react. He sounded great initially, but sometimes the worst guys do. They have a way of laying it on thick early and then leaving fast. But not Patrick. Over time, the things that Janet said about Patrick just got better and better. !!In fact, after only weeks from the day I first heard about him, I could tell that he was the real deal. I could tell that he wasn’t an undercover bad guy, but was truly someone who could made Janet happy for the rest of their lives. So I held my breath and waited. I hoped everything would work out.!!And what I witnessed was breath-taking. Over the course of months and years, their relationship blossomed into mature, caring, and loving relationship. I knew that it would only be a matter of time before they finally tied the knot.!!And here I am today giving the toast. I love you both. Now, let’s all lift our glasses for the bride and groom. To their everlasting happiness and love for each other. Cheers!!!!MAID OF HONOR sincere toast 3!!Before I get started, I want to say something on behalf of the bride, who asked me to say this earlier: all of the bridesmaids and groomsmen look simply stunning tonight.!!(if the bride is not speaking) And the bride wants you to know that she is really over-joyed that you all were able to be here tonight to share this moment with her and her husband.!!Now, let me tell you a little bit about my friends,Janet and Patrick. Some of you may not know this, but they met when [Tell story about how the bride and group met. Keep it detailed, but brief. Some people may not know this, so it will make a good anecdote]. After a matter of months, it was clear that they were in love; and I had no doubt in my mind that they’d end up married. And here they are today—doing just that.!!But before we toast, let me tell you a little more about my friend, Janet. She wasn’t always the same elegant, stylish woman we see before us today. Oh no!!!In fact, I can remember when [Tell slightly embarrassing (but not offensive) story about the bride growing up, but keep it appropriate]. Yes, I guess a lot of things have changed.!!But one thing I’m confident will not change is the love that these two share for each other. I have had the privilege of witnessing them grow close for more than [amount of years you have known bride], and let me tell you: they’re truly meant for each other. !!


To the bride and groom: may your love grow stronger over time. May you have many years together. And may you never forget why you fell in love. Cheers!!!

!MAID OF HONOR light-hearted toast 1!!What’s so great about marriage anyway? That’s what Janet used to ask me. Truly.!!She didn’t see why getting married was a good idea; even though we all loved the magazines, TV shows and films about matrimony.!!After a while, relationships get boring and predictable. And men stop caring. That’s what Janet told me, anyway. !!Deep down, though, I knew she didn’t think that was true. I knew that she was hoping for the right guy; and that it would just be a matter of time before she found him.!!And then that day came. It was the day she met Patrick. It all started out normally. She went about her business without ever realizing that on that


same day she would meet her husband. And then [Tell funny story about how the two met].!!When she called me that night, I could tell that she had met someone who truly meant a lot to her. There was something different. This was not a relationship to take lightly; I could tell that she was hopeful this meeting had meaning.!!So I gave it some time. I waited to see how things would pan out. Would she fall for him and him for here? Or would things drift apart? !To keep a long story short, here we are today. Over the years, their relationship grew stronger, became robust, and matured. They fell in love; and Janet discarded her doubts about relationships.!!And I couldn’t be happier for my best friend and her hubby. Let’s all raise a glass to them. May you be happy forever and maintain your steadfast love for each other for all the days of your lives. Cheers!!!!MAID OF HONOR light-hearted toast 2!!Let me start by thanking everyone for coming here. On behalf of the bride and groom - who have both encouraged me to say this - it is great to have you all here. It is amazing that you all drove such long distances and some even flew to attend today. !!I expect that many you plan to recoup some of those travel expenses through the open bar, but even so, thank you for being here.!!Now, to the bride, my best friend of [number of years you have known bride]. We first met when were only in [class you were in when you met the bride], but since then, we’ve grown up together. !!We’ve been study buddies, partners in crime, listeners, talkers, and, yes, let’s face it—gossipers. We’ve shared secrets, and even though we promised each other we wouldn’t tell anyone else, we did. Wait. Maybe that was just me. Sorry.!!Anyway, you know I love you Janet. And you know that I wouldn’t accept anything less for you than the best. And that’s exactly why I tried to cry out at the ceremony when the [minister/priest] asked if anyone had any objections. By your bridesmaids gagged me. You truly choose them well.!!In all seriousness, Patrick is a great guy. Before you two met, I was really starting to worry that you would grow into an old maid who never got the change to experience true love, but when you met Patrick, that all came to an end. I knew immediately that you two were in love; and it was something that would last.!!


Things don’t always work out as we wish they would, so I held my tongue. I waited and I hoped that everything would work out. And it did. You and this wonderful guy are getting married today. And here I am, toasting you as the maid of honour. And what an honour it is!!Well, I won’t say anything more. I love you two and I hope that your marriage grows stronger each year. May you love grow boundlessly and may you come to know and understand each other better with every passing day. Cheers!!!!MAID OF HONOR light-hearted toast 3!!When Janet chose me to be her maid of honor, she probably thought about how we grew up together. How we attended grade school together, studied and played together in middle school, experienced and survived teenage drama together in high school, and maintained a strong and lasting friendship throughout college and throughout our adult lives.!!Yes, Janet must have thought that I would have more charming anecdotes about her than anyone else she knew. And she was right. What she didn’t realize is that I have also presided over her most embarrassing moments, including the ones she probably doesn’t want me to announce in front of all of her family members and friends.!!Well, too bad Janet. You should have done a better job with the maid of honour screening process. !!So what should you know about Janet? Let’s start with one embarrassing tale [Tell embarrassing, but endearing and appropriate, story about the bride before she met her husband]. !!But in all seriousness, I’m thrilled to be here tonight and to have the chance to toast this woman, my best friend and the owner of a beautiful new husband. !!You’re the best friend a person could ever hope for. I’m truly lucky to have you. But more importantly, you and Patrick are lucky to have each other.!!As Janet’s best friend, I watched this relationship grow from its early stages into a beautiful, fully blossomed, and mature union between two individuals. I’m happy to finally be here today, watching them tie the knot and make a lifelong commitment to each other.!!May you to remain happy and healthy—and may your love for each other grow without bounds. To the bride and the groom. Cheers!!!!!!


BRIDESMAID quick sincere toast 1!!Has anyone ever seen such a lovely bride? I’m going to try not to get emotional, but it is hard not to when my best friend is consolidating the love she has found and tying the knot with such a wonderful man.!!I still remember when you first told me about Patrick. !!My thought was this: I hope this guy is for real. Who knows, but for now, he seems to be making her very happy and giggly.!!After the weeks and months passed and the relationship held strong, I knew this could turn from a friendship into a solid, lasting partnership. A match between two people who truly loved each other; and who very well may spend the rest of their lives together.!!And, now, here I am today, witnessing the next step. The biggest commitment two individuals could make to each other is a joy to share and be a part of. My best friend and this man - who has transformed her life for the better in so many ways - are finally getting married.!!I love you both and hope that you have a long and happy marriage. To the bride and groom. Cheers!!!!!!


BRIDESMAID quick sincere toast 2!!On behalf of the bride, I would like to thank you all for coming out here tonight. I know she will not get to say it publicly, but she has asked me to tell you all when I toasted. So thank you.!!I remember when I first learned about Patrick.Janet wouldn’t stop talking about him. She told me how handsome he was, how intelligent he was, how easy it was to talk to him and to hold hands with him.!!If there’s such a thing, it really was love at first sight. Not long after they met, they knew they were right for each other. And I knew they were right for each other, too. !!I couldn’t be happier to be here tonight to witness and endorse their marriage. They deserve to be together forever. They’re perfect matches for each other.!!With that said, let’s raise a glass to the bride and groom. To [names of bride and groom], may you always be healthy and happy, may your love for each other endure the inevitable tough times over the years, and may you grow closer over time. Cheers!!!!BRIDESMAID quick light-hearted toast 1!!I was told that anyone can deliver a toast tonight, so that’s exactly what I’m going to do.!!But before I do that, I want to voice my concern about the maid of honour selection process. !!I’m still not sure how I wasn’t picked, since I am clearly Janet’s best friend. The process must have been rigged; and I can only hope this matter will be investigated.!!But in all seriousness, I’m just happy to be here today and to be in the wedding party. I love you both, Janet and Patrick. And I hope the two of you have a long, loving, and health marriage for years to come.!!To the bride and groom. Cheers!!!!BRIDESMAID quick light-hearted toast 2!!Some say that love isn’t everything, but without love, everything is nothing. I think that’s a lame cliché, but it sure makes for a cool ice-breaker when you need to deliver a toast !!!


Janet, I love you and I’m glad you asked me to be a bridesmaid. Being the maid of honor would have been too much of a strain on my schedule, so I’m glad you were able to understand why I had to decline; and instead appointed your second best friend, [name of maid of honor]. !!I’m joking of course. But I’m not trying to be funny when I say this: you and Patrick were meant for each other. I knew this when you two originally starting seeing each other; and it just became clearer and clearer over time. You are two of a kind; and there is simply no better match for you guys other than each other.!!Congratulations again. I love you both. To your health and to a long, loving marriage. Cheers!!

!!


THE MOTHER OF THE BRIDE SPEECH!Expressing love! !

It is with great pleasure that I’d now give this short speech to honour the marriage of my daughter Janet.!!As a parent, you always have enormously high expectations for your children; for some families, these dreams are never realized and often seem unrealistic in retrospect.!!But Les and I have never doubted that Janet would reach the extraordinary potential we believed she possessed - and even exceed the high aspirations we held for her.!!Janet - if we haven't said it enough already, then let me say it now publicly. !!

We are so very proud of you. Proud of the beautiful woman you are. Proud of what you have achieved on the sports field, in your career and proud of the respect you show and have shown to you by your close circle of friends. !!You are an inspiration, a GREAT shopping buddy (pause), and an intelligent confidant to many people here tonight - including myself. We are honored to call you a friend; and I am also grateful to be your mother.!!They say that a parent finds true happiness when their children find true love; so it’s no surprise to anyone that Les and I are extremely happy today because Janet and Patrick found each other.!!Both families have spent the past few years observing a very special relationship develop. At first, I don’t think either family thought a great deal about it, but before long, we all saw it blossom into something substantial and intense.!!Clearly, a young couple were serious about each other - and nothing was going to come between them; not even me!!!That relationship has led us to this great celebration on this important day (or mention the actual date).!!But one of the best aspects about today is the rare coming together all our family and friends from all corners of the globe to recognize this special


occasion. By being here at the reception and attending the church ceremony earlier, we know that you all are also experiencing the same joy.!!Our strong desire is that a similar abundant happiness will continue for Janet and Patrick throughout the rest of their lives together.!!Even though they have a lot in common, Janet and Patrick stand as two unique individuals. They are both strong-minded, determined and glow with the promise of a wonderful life ahead. !!They are a good team. They help and support each other by celebrating their wins and they are there to comfort each other in the difficult times. !!(story) For instance, one day Patrick came home and …!!My husband and I respect their relationship as we do their individuality. As parents, we have found true happiness because our daughter has found true love.!!Please rise and join me in a toast to the bride and groom.!!


THE MOTHER OF THE GROOM SPEECH 1!Losing the reading glasses (humorous)!!Good evening, relatives and friends. Firstly I have to explain why it is me giving the speech tonight and not my husband Edwin - or many of you also call him, Ted.!!I am speaking to you because my husband is so excited all of today that he has forgotten where he had put his reading glasses. Even though he has searched high and low for hours, he still could not find them; and at last he gave up. The one who had practiced this speech was my husband - not me. So if I do make mistakes during this speech then you know why. !!Its lucky that new daughter-in-law is an optometrist. One thing that is still in Ted’s mind is to see Janet later this evening to make an appointment for very early Monday morning to order new reading glasses - Honeymoon or not !!!Ladies and Gentlemen, today is Patrick and Janet’s wedding celebration. It is the BIIIGGG day that they have been waiting for. And they have dropped a very subtle hint that I should keep this speech short.!!To all our guests we would like to say “Thank you very much for being here. We are so honoured by your presence at the church, and also here tonight”. !!We would especially like to thank the many close relations that made the journey from overseas so that they can share this celebration with us. These include my brother John and his wife Sue and their 3 delightful children Kim, Natalie and Sam. We really appreciate the time and effort it has taken to come all the way to visit us here.!!Also we want to sincerely thank our friends and close relatives - who we cannot name one by one, otherwise my short speech would turn into a long one, and Patrick and Janet might turn off the microphone. Our relatives have assisted in many ways today at the church and here at the reception. We will never forget your valuable support.!!For those of you who don’t know Patrick that well, I can tell you that he is a son to be proud of. Yes, I know all mothers are biased. However Janet, I can truly say from the every bottom of my heart that I’m sure that you are being entrusted to good care in Patrick’s capable hands. !!And may I offer to the lovely Janet our warmest welcome to the Brent family. Please take good care of each other for the rest of your lives! We will always pray that God will lead your lives and always guide both of you. Patrick and Janet, this is the first day of the rest of your lives together.!!Ladies and gentlemen - will you please stand and raise your glasses, and drink with me a toast to the health, happiness and prosperity of Patrick and Janet. (Pause) To Patrick and Janet.!!


Friends and relatives, thank you so much for all the gifts and best wishes that you have bestowed on Patrick & Janet. Please enjoy the rest of this evening.!!THE MOTHER OF THE GROOM SPEECH 2!Gratitude!!My dear son!!As daylight crept through my window today, I was thinking of you; remembering the day you were born as one of the happiest days of my life. I remember counting your tiny fingers and toes and cradling you in my arms certain that I would never let you go.!!But let you go I did - into the big wide world and into the life you have made your own.!!I’ve been so proud as I watched you grow. Proud of the care and love you showed me. Proud to be your mother.!!I wish I could have held you a little longer; I feel lucky to have had you as long as I did.!!Now my gifts to you no longer come in boxes filled with toy cars or toy trains, but rather in memories that we share.!!Janet your caring ways and beautiful spirit makes loving you so easy. I know that both of you will have a wonderful life.!!Let your wedding day be a celebration of your life. May you both be surrounded by those you love, and may each day of your life be filled with happiness.!!Although I cannot always be with you, I will always be with you in spirit.!!Patrick - thank you for bringing sunshine into my life. Thank you for all the love and joy you have bought. You are my loved son. Love always. Your mother.!!THE MOTHER OF THE GROOM SPEECH 3!Approval!!When the bride and groom approached me about doing a “mother of the groom speech,” I wasn’t sure what to say at first. To be honest, I had never heard of such a speech.!!But then I thought about it a little. The father of the bride gets to give a speech about his daughter. It only seems fair that I should get to say something about my son and about his beautiful new wife. So, I accepted. !!So what can I say to my son on his wedding day? The first thing I want to say is that I love you and that you will always be my little boy. No matter how old


you are, I will always remember you playing with Tonka trucks on the floor of the living room.!!No matter how successful you are in your career and marriage, I will always remember that innocent boy that you once were. [Tell story about when groom was young].!!But I guess I also have to come to grips with reality. I have to accept that you are all grown up; and that you are moving on to create a family of your own. I cannot express how happy and sad this makes me at the same time.!!But no matter how hard it seems to give up my son to marriage and adulthood, there’s one thing that will always comfort me: his beautiful bride.!!Janet truly is the perfect match for him; and complements him in so many ways. She is my one comfort; and I cannot thank her enough for taking care of my son.!!With that, I will leave you all with a toast. To my son and to his beautiful new bride. May you two always remain happy; and may you love each other more, no matter what challenges you encounter. Cheers!!!!THE MOTHER OF THE GROOM SPEECH 4!Qualities!!Today is a special day. A beautiful day. It’s the day that my son and his beautiful, intelligent, and funny wife are finally wed. For everyone who knows the two—including myself—today couldn’t be a happier occasion.!!When I was asked to give this speech, I was a little shocked. Because I’ve never been to a wedding reception before where the Groom’s Mother spoke.!!But then I thought about it a little more. And I realized what a blessing it was to do this. I can stand up here today and say something about my son to all of his friends and family members on his wedding day. So let me tell you three things you should know about my son.!!Number 1. [Quality of son.] [Tell story about son when he was growing up that illustrates that quality.]!Number 2. [Quality of son.] [Tell story about when he was a teenager that illustrates quality.]!!Number 3. [Quality of son.] [Tell story about when he was an adult that illustrates that quality.]!!Now, as much as I love my son; and as great as he is, today isn’t about him. It’s about his union with his beautiful new wife.!!


Some mothers say that they love their son’s wife simply because they have no choice. But when I say it, I mean it. I think Janet has truly improved his life in many positive ways.!!So, to close, I want to say that I love you both. And I hope that your marriage is long, joyful, and filled with amazing experiences. Thanks again for allowing me to do this speech tonight.!!!THE MOTHER OF THE GROOM SPEECH 5!Commitment!!Today is a special occasion. It is a time in two young people’s lives when they finally commit to each other. They decide to be and remain a part of each others’ lives, no matter how difficult things get. And no matter how unpleasant things seem at times.!!For me, this is an especially important day. It is the day that my son made a lifelong commitment to his wife. And as much as it makes me happy, it also makes me feel dizzy. I feel like a whirlwind of years has blown by, carrying me from my son’s birth to my son’s wedding in a matter of days.!!But enough about me. Today is about the bride and groom. So what can I say about them? !Let me start with when they met. If you haven’t already heard the story, Janet and Patrick met when [Tell story about how they met. Try to do so in a funny or emotional way.]!!And from there, their relationship only grew in depth and intensity. I can remember that in a matter of weeks after my son first told me about Janet, she made an appearance at our house for dinner. This was the first time I met her.!!And let me tell you, she made a good first impression. She was pretty, polite, compassionate, funny, and intelligent. If you were to hire someone to pretend to be your date for the evening, she’d be the person to pick because she makes you look so much better!!!Now, instead of blabbering on, I’m going to close by proposing a toast to you two. To the bride and the groom: may your love endure all the hardships that the future has in store. May your feelings for each other strengthen as the years pass. And may you truly come to know the joy of marriage. Cheers!!!!!


THE MOTHER OF THE GROOM quick toast 1!!Well, I didn’t get a full speech slot tonight, but the bride and groom were generous enough to permit me an impromptu toast. So I will start by thanking them for that: Thank you.!!At first, I was going to lecture my son about marriage. I was going to tell him how he ought to read his wife. And that he should be incredibly thankful that such a beautiful, loving, and kind individual was willing to marry him.!!But then I realized something: he already knows this. And he’ll be a great husband. There’s nothing I need to tell him.!!So, with that, I just want to propose a toast to the groom and to his lovely new wife. I am so happy that you two have found each other and are together. May your love endure life’s hardships. And may each of you remain grateful for what you have in your partner. Cheers!!!THE MOTHER OF THE GROOM quick toast 2!!First, let me thank everyone for coming here tonight. On behalf of the bride and the groom, I can tell you that they wanted to thank each of you individually and will try to do so before the evening is over. !!Next, I want to give some advice to my son on his wedding: you’ve managed to catch a winner. How you did it, I’ll never be sure. So don’t let her go. Treat her like she’s a prize every single day of your life. Tell her how much you love her. And make sure that she always feels comforted and secure.!!And to my son’s new bride: I love my son; and I love you, too. Please take good care of him. Keep him happy and make him feel loved. You are a wonderful person; and I couldn’t be happier to welcome you into our family for good.!!Now, with everything said, I propose that we toast the bride and groom. To your marriage, to your health, to your success in life, and to your commitment to each other and to the marriage. Cheers!!!!


THE BEST MAN!Mateship! !

The Best Man feels it is his responsibility to be hilarious, clever, heartfelt, and entertaining - all in one speech. !!This unrealistic obligation can cause enormous stress when the answer is simple: all the audience want to know is why he has been chosen for the extra special role as Best Man.!!I saw this scenario well represented one night when a popular Best Man kept wiping his brow with a napkin from his pocket and whispering (so everyone could hear) “… gee, what a tough crowd”. It was very funny.!!

A Best Man’s speech originates from the particular relationship he has enjoyed with the groom, his own thoughts on the groom’s idiosyncrasies and any strange behavior the groom exhibited as he prepared to marry the bride. !!

It is not a chance !to score a point over the groom!!

Apart from these unique viewpoints, the Best Man can always espouse his own view of marriage - especially if he is married.!!Because he sits somewhere in-between the action of the protagonists, the best man starts his speech from a difficult point of view. !!It is a mark of his creativeness and ingenuity and a powerful symbol of a great male-to-male relationship if the best man can abstain from dirty jokes and just be comfortable referring to his friendship instead. !!The speech can have a cheeky attitude but must be written to have general appeal. ‘In’ jokes & stories that only a few people will understand will fall flat.!!Past sexual relationships by either the groom or the bride are very inappropriate to mention. Let the bride and groom get their marriage off to a clean start, so to speak. !!In the majority of cases where the Best Man has prepared properly, his speech is an absolute highlight of the night. !!!© 2000 till current A Corporate Compere ‘SUCCESSFUL WEDDING SPEECH SECRETS’ Complied by Pete Miller �48

THE BEST MAN’S sample speech!!“Hi my name is Jeremy and I’m an Alcoholic. Oh sorry – that’s next week’s speech …!!Good evening. My name is Jeremy and I’ll be presenting the category of ‘Best Man’.!!Anyone here from Melbourne tonight? Yeah? Well I wouldn't be proud of it.!!Patrick has had a great influence on my sense of humor - so if you don’t like my jokes tonight - then its his fault, OK?!!Actually, I’d like to clear something up before I get started. Everyone’s been calling me “Jeremy” all day,

but really, my ancestral name - which I prefer to be called- is “Jeremy Can I Get You A Drink”. Or, from the ladies, ‘Jeremy, I hear you’re still single’. So, if you see me later in the night, please come and say ‘hi’.!!Considering Patrick is a man who has many great friends, I am really honoured to be chosen as his Best Man. !!Patrick has a generous nature and a focus on health and well-being. So Janet, you don’t have to worry about Patrick’s good looks ever diminishing as he has been diligently preserving his body in alcohol since leaving school.!!I’ve been told that a Best Man’s speech is supposed to be the same length of time that the Groom takes to make love; so thank you everyone & good evening to you all (SITS DOWN)!!When Patrick asked me to be his Best Man, I wasn’t surprised because after all, I am the best man here! In fact, to have this wedding was my idea.!!Actually, Patrick promised me that if I did a good job today, I’d be his Best Man again.!!I actually haven’t known Patrick for all that long – but it is amazing how you can bond with someone when you share a cell with them!!!The groom and I have been through thick and thin – he’s thick and I’m thin.!!Traditionally, it’s the Best Man’s job to pay-out the Groom and tell the world about all the stupid things he’s done – but I wont do that, because he’s doing a fine job of it himself.!


!I would be in trouble if I stood here and told lots of embarrassing stories about the groom – so I won’t do that now. But I will be at the BAR later telling lots of embarrassing stories about the groom.!!Patrick has always been a handful – oh sorry, a thoughtful - kind of guy.!!You all would have heard in the church today the famous words: For better or for worse. Well, I am here to tell you, Patrick couldn’t have done any better, and Janet couldn’t have done any worse.!!It is lovely to see them so pure and simple – Janet is so pure and Patrick is so simple.!!Apparently, what convinced Janet to say YES to Patrick was that he started to dress like me. Well, I think the word has spread and now you have all these guys (the other groomsmen) dressing like me too. Who knows, next they’ll probably copy my haircut!!!Now comes the part of the Best Man’s speech where I offer some martial advice to the groom. Since I have not had a lot of experience in marriage myself, I offer them as Life skills instead. !!So here we go - the top 5 things NOT to say on your wedding night:!

Long kisses clog my sinuses! Do you mind if I make a few phone calls?! A good plastic surgeon can fix that! They're not bread crumbs honey; it’s just a rash! You look younger than you feel!!

It is my honored duty to reply on behalf of the beautiful bridesmaids Dorothy & Christine. They really do look magnificent – too good to be real. In fact, they aren’t real at all – they are store mannequins and really can’t talk. This is why I have been asked to speak for them. (In girlie tone: “Thank you for asking us to be your bridesmaids”)!!(Reads) I would like to say how lovely the bridesmaids look tonight. (Looks up) I am glad they do look nice because I wrote that last week!!!The bride looks gorgeous, the bridesmaids look exquisite, and the Groom? … well, we did our best. Patrick was not great at school – in fact, Patrick had to repeat Kindergarten. I did not know you could actually fail Kindergarten, but apparently, in Patrick’s case, you can! He just explains it away by saying he was absent on the days of the final year Kindergarten exams.!!Congratulations to the groom’s parents, Carol & Ted – you are gaining a beautiful daughter-in-law. And to the bride’s parents, Elizabeth & Les – you haven’t lost a daughter – you’ve just gained another problem.!!As for the newlyweds Janet & Patrick. From the day they looked into each other’s eyes (across the bar at the local tavern – and there is a cocktail involved in that as well), theirs has been a match made in heaven. !


!I have never met a couple more committed to making sure that each does their fair share around the house - they even have a pre-nuptial agreement. Nothing complicated - quite simple really: she’s going to wash and he’s going to dry.!!However, after all is said and done, I am here to say that we are the lucky ones. Lucky because we have had the good fortune to intimately know these two people who have been, and will continue to be, great examples of wonderful friends.!!No finally, I’d like to dedicate this speech to my good friend Google - without you, my dear, I wouldn’t know what to say to whom and when.!!Thank you and goodnight.!!Finish by wishing the Bride and Groom good luck and maybe offering a toast to their happiness and hope for future offspring.!!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------!!Here is a poem that was read out by the Best Man at the conclusion of his speech. Change the details to suit.!!I stand here now before you!On this their wedding day!To share a few words with you!That I feel I ought to say.!!I’ve met Ivanka’s family!Croatian one and all!Who fed us more than generously!On a feast that wasn’t small!!Their welcome was enormous!And so too was that lamb!A family to be proud of!God bless you Nick and Ann!!John has caught the youngest daughter!And she was worth the wait!He travelled half way round the world !To meet his true love fate!!And now they are finally married!With their future open wide!Could you all be now be up standing!As we toast the groom and bride.!!Remember, a happy wife is a happy life.


SWINGERS! !I’m not sure how many of you know that Patrick, Janet my wife and I are all swingers.!!Since we’d all been mates for years, we decided to give swinging a go and found not only that we enjoyed it but frankly we were pretty damn good at it!!!We swap partners for some spice and of course to add a bit of variety to the games we play.!!

I like to use my own balls .... hang on, you all look so serious and a bit shocked! What’s up?!!Oh I get it – gee, you guys have all got dirty minds – when I said swinging – I meant GOLF.!!TOASTS!According to 17th century lore, the meaning of the phrase to ‘raise a toast’ came from a practice among groups of men drinking to raise their glasses in appreciation of the beauty (and presumably other bodily delights) of the lady upon whom some man’s interest was currently fixated.!!The idea was that with the woman’s name on the lips of all the drinkers, the drink would then be spiced up - rather like a piece of spiced toast. !!

If possible, try to deliver some of the toast to the people or person

concerned. This will add to the personable nature of the speech. !!

As is the tradition now, every one of the guests stood in respect of the person being toasted. !!However, with the arrival of enormous guest’s lists, the honoured person is sometimes obscured by the sheer number of guests and often unable to be seen by the majority of the revellers, if they are not seated on a raised platform or stage. !!This has instituted a change by some MCs to reverse the traditional procedure and insist the person being toasted stand and everyone else remain seated. !!


The disadvantage of this method is the guests do not get a chance to stretch their legs (and raise the energy in the room) each time they stand up to drink a toast.!!The main difference between a toast and a speech is that a toast is a tribute or an introduction to a person whereas a speech has a definite message to it. !!The two are not mutually tied together, nor are they exclusive; however, at a wedding a speech usually precedes a toast, e.g ‘and to finish, I’d like you all to be upstanding and raise a toast to…’ !!All toasts should be brief - maybe a few sentences at most. By their very nature, they are a short summary for a reason to raise a glass and drink to the ever-lasting success and longevity of the happy couple. !!If this ‘reason’ cannot be expressed quickly and to the point, the guest’s thirst is left unquenched and they can get restless and bored. !!

To Love, Laughter and !Happily Ever After ...!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------!!Someone once said that a speech should be like a ladies skirt - long enough to cover the important points but short enough to keep it interesting!!!The toast to the bride and groom is the most important toast of all and the justification of why it is first on the list. !!In order to set a good tone for the rest of the speeches to follow, the author likes to recommend the bride and groom choose a mature person who is familiar to both of them and is comfortable at public speaking. This will give the speeches a good kick-start. !!This is a ‘tall order’ and there is a chance that this request cannot be filled. So, like any of the speaking roles during the wedding reception, the MC can always step-in and articulate the particular needs of the speech.!!Like the requirements for someone to occupy the job of first speaker going unfulfilled, a similar request to fill the shoes of a speaker able to toast the bride and grooms parents can often go unfulfilled. With this in mind, the MC can solve the dilemma by offering to raise the toast themself.!!Remember these are joyous times, so do not be too earnest or grave about the information or message you are giving out - be happy and remember to smile. !!


If you’re enjoying it !–then tell your face about it!!!!

If a toast has been raised, then the person or group being toasted must respond - it is courtesy to do so. !!For instance, the Best Man will respond on behalf of the whole Bridal Party because the groom (on behalf of his wife) has raised a toast in honour of them. He will start with firstly thanking the person who has proposed the toast.!!SAMPLE TOAST TO THE PARENTS OF THE BRIDE!!"Hi everyone. It is indeed a great honor for me to be here proposing a toast to the bride’s parents Elizabeth and Les.!!I have known them for well over 20 years now and we have shared many happy times together; probably due to the fact I lived right next door! Actually, they are pretty hard to ignore really ….!!It is clear to me that the reason why our bride Janet is such a well-adjusted person - ready to take on her new role of Mrs Brent – is because her parents have always provided her with the unconditional love and support that she needed to grow into a confident and secure adult.!!They have been great role models for her and Janet can take this fine example into her own marriage. Would you all please now stand and toast to the parents of the Bride, Elizabeth and Les Miller.!!TELEGRAMS!The telegrams can be read by anyone in the bridal party and traditionally arrive from people who cannot attend. !!To add the personal touch, find out a little background on the sender, and introduce it this way: ‘this message is from the bride’s best friend in Florida who met them while on holiday in Australia….’!!The custom of fake telegrams written by the guests lowers the tone of the speech program. They suggest to the crowd that the groom wants the reception to be a re-hash of his buck’s night. This is not recommended. !!Unless they are genuinely humorous and specifically written about the bride & groom, it is best to avoid this tired old ritual. !!Otherwise, read them beforehand and censor any offensive ones.


RECENTLY DECEASED!Because of the special emotional nature of weddings, many of the usual traditions are completely different at a reception. !!At weddings, it is a time to remember and pay tribute to “absent friends”. For instance, crying is completely appropriate at a wedding; however, unscripted tears can destroy even the most seasoned of speakers.!!It is OK to mention deceased loved ones, but only if you plan for it. Here is a sample speech that the groom might like to use for this occasion:!!!“Weddings are a time when you would like everyone who you’ve ever met to be here with you; celebrating one of the most significant days in your life.!!For most of us, it is impossible to have anyone who have ever influenced us, loved us, guided and helped us to be here on our wedding day.!!And this is true for us today. Although we have many of our friends and family here, one person who we would dearly love to be here is Janet’s father,………………………!!I never met him, but Janet tells me he was a very gentle and loving man who always encouraged and supported her in whatever she wanted to do – and there have been some pretty wild requests at times! (example of the Zig Zag Technique)!!So ladies and gentlemen, I would ask you all to please stand, raise a glass and pay tribute to a man who might not be here physically, but is here with us in spirit. To Janet’s father, Mr …………………………”!!!A FRAMED PHOTO!To get that extra feeling that the deceased relative or friend is with you in the room at your reception, a great idea is to have set up you a nice framed 10 x 8” photo of the person set up at the Gifts table. !!This works even better if the photo is of that person dancing at a party or laughing.


Final tips to keep in mind!Keep the information personal! !!Be humble (instead of brash)!!Flattery works best! !!Be careful of humor!!No matter who is talking, every audience member respects brevity at the microphone. It is a skill to say a lot in a few words.!!Like a picture painting a thousand words, facial expressions are a speaker’s best friend. The right look from a speaker can circumvent a whole page of text.!Remembering that brevity is essential, it is wise to practice some looks in the mirror just to see how rubbery your face can be.!

!Adding body language from behind a lectern is limited, but is best used for effect in a large room where the audience might have trouble reading your facial expressions.!!

Good luck with everything!!!As the ancient Vietnamese marriage

blessing says:!“I wish you 100 years of happiness”!!!!


About the Author! !Pete Miller started his working life as an actor on Australian television shows and international musicals after completing his training at the Drama Studio, Sydney.!!He began teaching presentation techniques to executives and then established the world's first online agency for professional wedding MCs!!!!

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power of your voice.

!Written and spoken by Pete Miller !

(with Yvonne Collier)!!This audio has EVERYTHING you need to know to ensure your next wedding MC job runs l ike clockwork!!Don't take our word for it - here's what other users had to say: !“As a professional speaker and speech coach, Peter Miller’s 5 EASY STEPS TO A FANTASTIC VOICE is an invaluable tool for me”.!

Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE, Past President, National Speakers Assoc.

USA!(sister of musician Robert Fripp)

Also available as an MP3 from fantasticvoice.com


CONTACT US at anytime - we pride ourselves on rapid response and excellent customer service.!!!!! !!!

(+61) 048888 2211

!!

! PO Box 6288 North Ryde NSW 2113 Australia

!

!!EMAIL!

[email protected] (MCs)[email protected] (BRIDES)!!

!InstantMC.com (MCs)!!WeddingMC.com.au (BRIDES)!!!

!Best wishes for a successful time at the lectern.!!


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