WEDDING SPEECHES HELP!!!

Best Man Wedding Speeches Tips 

As you know www.pure-pictures.co.uk Belfast wedding Photographers stay for the speeches.  Its an important aspect of the day.  Not that you are going to blow it up on your wall but it captures very natural and as there have been some cracking speeches over the years and with the wedding season in full swing I am going to suggest a few pointers for anyone who is going to speak publicly at a wedding.

At this stage in the game we have been to 100's of weddings we have heard heart filled tear jerkers and laugh out loud roars from bridal party and guests.  But this little humble tips are what I think makes a good wedding speech, wether your a bride, groom, or proud mum heres my tuppence worth.....


KEEP IT CLEAN :
I have been to a few weddings recently where the Best man speech has been a tad raunchy, to even include blow up dolls and sexual positions.  Know your crowd.  If there are grannies and grandad's there looking proudly at their grandchildren getting married probably best to skip the 'lads night out' jokes.


SAY SOMETHING PERSONAL:
I'm not talking about their favourite cereal here.  Im talking about saying something really personal about the person, something that when you think about it, it makes you smile.  A story about the person and what makes them special.  For example a funny childhood story or recent encounter which will make anyone laugh.  Help the guests get a better feel for the person that you are talking about.


DONT FORGET THE OBVIOUS:
If you are proud shout it from the rooftops.  Tell the bride she looks awesome, the bridesmaids look great and thank the ushers for showing up :). Check out the official duties of your post and try not to thank everyone, do a blanket 'Thank you' to everyone who helped the bride and groom come to this special moment. Your not writing an oscar acceptance speech.

TIME YOURSELF:
People enjoy the speeches but you want to keep it 'like a mini skirt, sort enough to keep your attention but long enough to cover the essentials'.  Try not to bore people, try it out on a few HONEST friends who will tell you your speech sucks and you need to add a few things.

USE PROPS:
Its always good to share a few things that can be passed about the tables for guests to use.  People can pass around baby photos, sometimes they put the grooms head on brad pitts body anything that will get a PG rated laugh from all the guests not just the young ones.  Paddy Power have a betting slips which can be fun http://content.paddypower.com/weddingsweepstakes/index.php 


EYE CONTACT:
Write speech out in note form so that you look up at the guests.  this is important because as a photographer we wait until someone lifts their eyes to take a photograph.  Secondly it helps you gauge how well your speech is  going down.  If there is tumbleweed move on to the next point on your cards.

A WEE BIT ABOUT LOVE:
We at Pure Pictures love love :) if you end on a note about something beautiful then you can't go wrong by ending on a good note.  Here are my personal favourites that I have been collecting for a year :) I believe in every single one, pick your favourite and say.  'When I think of blank and blank together i think of the saying ....'
http://www.pinterest.com/purepicsbelfast/quotes-for-wedding-speeches/
my personal favourite are
"May your love be modern enough to survive the times and old-fashioned enough to last forever!"

“Make sure you marry someone who laughs at the same things you do.”

"Marry someone who would walk you home in the rain, and whose first kiss you will always remember".

CHECK IN WITH THE MATRON OF HONOR:
You don't want to cover the same things and also if she does this your screwed :)
http://vonweddingfilms.com/2013/09/rap-a-wedding-toast/

A FEW MORE POINTERS:
These guys have every type of speech imaginable and some really good tips too.
http://www.simplythebestman.co.uk/bestman-speech.html

Good luck and look up!
c
xx

www.pure-pictures.co.uk
Wedding Photographer Belfast and Northern Ireland