Being asked to give a wedding speech can feel like a big responsibility, whether you're the best man, the father of the bride or groom, or just saying a few words. Either way, the speeches at a wedding are an integral part of the day, and this is your opportunity to inject a little humour into the proceedings, provide some anecdotal stories and give a toast to the newly wedded couple.


As a Lake District wedding photographer, I’ve seen more speeches than I can count, from brilliant ones that have everyone in stitches to the occasional one that runs a little longer than it should. So, where do you start? While it's true that writing the perfect wedding speech can seem like a daunting task at first, with time, and a little bit of planning and preparation, you can ace it! Here are a few ideas and tips to help you on your way to writing that memorable speech:


  1. Start by writing down your ideas and structuring what you want to say.
  2. Keep it meaningful, personal and most importantly, from the heart. The speech that you write should be about you and your relationship with the couple, and how you feel about their marriage.
  3. A lot of people forget, but it's worth noting that it's important that what you write in your speech is respectful and appropriate - it's great to include some good jokes and anecdotal stories but try to be mindful of the tone of the event and of the people who are present. Often there will be family members of all ages, including children so if you can, keep it clean or if you can't, then air on the side of caution and insinuate rather than stipulate. Sometimes it's not what you do say but what you don't say - this can often lead people to form their own conclusions which is often funnier.
  4. Keep it short and to the point, nobody wants to hear a twenty-minute story - especially if speeches are before the meal. If you ask me, the perfect speech length is around 7 minutes, if you've practiced and read through your speech at a decent pace, allowing for pauses and (hopefully!) laughs and your speech is longer than ten minutes, then you probably need to shorten it somewhat.
  5. There's a growing trend of having your speech on your phone. I've lost count of the number of times I've seen a nervous best man lose their place when reading off a screen. Print your speech out onto paper, it will be easier to read and it will look better in photos too.
  6. Practice, practice, practice! It is important to rehearse your speech so that you feel confident and comfortable when it comes time to deliver it. Don't just knock something out with ChatGPT or some other AI text generator because it will be very noticeable when you read out a speech and don't recognise your own words. If you are nervous, tell yourself that what you're feeling is excitement, the two feelings are one and the same!
  7. Finally, don't forget to end your speech by raising your glass and offering a toast to the newlyweds.


Most importantly, keep it genuine. The speeches people remember are always the ones that feel real. Good luck!