11 Wedding Speech Do's and Don'ts

Raise your glass! There’s something magical about hearing the toasts at a wedding – not only does a speech give you a glimpse into a bride or groom’s story, it also provides a lot of entertainment for guests! Today’s guest post infographic is provided by cinematographer Robert MacDonald of MacDonald Studio Wedding Films.

If you’ve been selected to give a speech at a friend or family’s big day, you might be searching for some inspiration to find the right words. We’ve put together some advice to get you started.

Do: Keep it under 7 minutes
Guests have a limited attention span – you don’t want to lose them mid speech. Short, sweet, and to-the-point is the best way to guarantee a captivated audience!
Don’t: Copy an internet speech template
Trust us, we get the appeal – but it’s better to use these as more of a starting point! Your relationship to the couple is personal – your speech should be too!
Do: Use a microphone!
Your grand speech won’t go over too well if no one hears it!
Don’t: Swear
Just don’t do it. There may be a time and a place for that – this is not it.
Do: Make sure your speech is different
There are likely multiple speeches that will be given that day and you don’t want to simply repeat what others are going to say!
Don’t: Rely on inside jokes
Yeah, those were good times – but keep all the guests in the loop. You don’t want anyone to feel excluded and it’s so much more rewarding when everybody laughs!
Do: Keep it positive
It’s important to keep your tone upbeat and remember that you are celebrating! It is supposed to be a happy day, after all.
Check out this WeddingMix couple’s highlight video for some heartfelt speeches sure to inspire!
Don’t: Hold speeches between courses
This can be disruptive to the kitchen staff serving you and the other guests!
Do: Raise your glass after your speech
This allows guests to know that you are finished and it is time to toast!
Don’t: Say anything that could be misinterpreted
This is not the place for sarcasm – be careful not to say anything that could be taken as remotely offensive. You might think it sounds like a joke, but others may not get it.
Do: Have fun
Speak from the heart! This is your opportunity to let a special someone know how they’ve made a difference for you!