The Bride's Speech

Although traditionally, the bride was not required (or even encouraged) to make her own wedding speech, modern brides have increasingly been taking to the mike and turning this antiquated custom on it’s ear (hurrah girl power!). Many brides nowadays feel obliged to formally thank their families and guests for helping to celebrate this momentous occassion, as well as simply express how they’re feeling at this incredibly important juncture. So we’ve devised a plan for how you should structure your speech to make sure that all of your bases are covered.

( Courtesy myweddingbag.wordpress.com)

Where the Bride’s Speech Fits In

In the context of the broader running sheet for the wedding, the bride should be making her speech after the groom, just before the cutting of the cake. See our article on speech running order article for more details.

Lead With Your Gratitude

Even though ‘thank- yous’ have been made by the speech givers before, it’s still a nice gesture to reiterate the same sentiments to express your personal thanks to all your guests. People you should address include:

– All the guests present for making this day and celebration possible, as well as for their kind gifts. If you want to lay on the charm, you could also thank them for putting in the effort to look so gorgeous.

– Guests who’ve travelled from far away. If you’ve got many guests who’ve travelled to be at your wedding, you can simply mention them in generalities. If, however, you’ve only got a few, you could mention them by name and where they’re from.

– Guests who couldn’t be with you on this occassion. This could be due to an inability to travel, or a  death. It’s absolutely appropriate to mention the ‘silver lining’ of each of these speeches- for example someone who couldnt be there because they’ve recently had a baby, or if you feel a deceased loved one looking over your celebrations.

– Thank individual guests, who’ve particularly helped you through this period, helped with a particular service, or contributed a significant gift. This could include, for example, your close friends and family who’ve put up with your complaints, the person who provided your cake, or even your wedding planner.

– Thank your parents for their role in the wedding, and the love and encouragement they’ve provided throughout your life.

– Thank your partner’s parents for welcoming you into their family, and assure them you’ll love and take exceptional care of their son forevermore.

Reminisce a Little

Now’s the time to give your version of how you and your partner met, perhaps when you realised he was the one,  and your version of how he proposed. Feel free to slip in any funny related anecdotes- like the first impression he made on your parents, or anything silly that happened in the lead up to the wedding. Steer clear of embarrassing him (or anyone if you can help it), however- that’s more of the best man’s domain.

You could then discuss what you think it means to be married, and to be a wife, and how you are going to show your love to him for the rest of your lives together.

Turn Your Attention to Your Husband

Express your love for your new husband. Include how happy he’s made you, and the impact he’s made not only on your life, but on you as a person. Discuss how lucky you feel to have met him, and to be able to share your life with him. And if you’re not great with words, don’t stress- there are an infinite number of poems, sonnets, songs, or verses on love and marriage that should help you express how you feel.

Wrap it Up With a Toast

Depending on how you feel, as well as who has already been toasted, this toast could be directed at your husband, the marriage ahead of you, your guests, or to love and happiness. Whatever you toast to, just make sure that you convey that at this moment, your heart is brimming with joy.