STRESS-FREE WEDDING SPEECHES: TIPS FOR A PERFECT RECEPTION

Wedding guests toasting the Bride and Groom during the reception.

Hey, friend!

Let’s face it, when it comes to the wedding reception, your wedding party’s speeches can either go one of three ways…

  1. They can be boring and unforgettable.

  2. The highlight of the night.

  3. Or a complete and total nightmare.

Here’s how you can ensure that the wedding reception goes smoothly…

By setting clear and actionable wedding speech expectations for your wedding party. 

If I had the chance to redo my wedding, here are the three wedding speech expectations I would set with my wedding party for the reception…

1. Keep It Short: No More Than 5 Minutes

Nobody likes a super long speech.

Keep each one to five minutes max.

This way, speakers will share their best stories and thoughts without losing everyone’s attention.

Pro Tip: Encourage your speakers to practice multiple times.

This will help them stay on track, nail the timing, as well as feel more confident in their delivery.

2. Be Appropriate: Don’t Embarrass Grandma

Old woman in a red hat.

Weddings are family events, so speeches should be appropriate for all ages.

Ask your speakers to steer clear of any stories or jokes that might embarrass anyone or make people uncomfortable.

Pro Tip: A mix of heartfelt moments and light humor is usually a good way to go!

Remind them to think of the audience!

3. End on a High Note: Encourage the Couple

Married Couple

Ending each speech with some encouraging words for the newlyweds is a great way to wrap things up!

It leaves everyone feeling positive and hopeful for the couple’s future, which is exactly what you want at a wedding.

Pro Tip: Sharing personal insights about the couple’s journey or giving sage marriage advice can add a special touch to the speech. 

Why These Tips Matter

I know imposing guidelines might seem totally awkward, but trust me, you’ll be thankful you did it in the long run. 

I love the quote by Brené Brown that goes: “Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.”

You want to be clear about your wedding speech expectations instead of being resentful at someone who gave a terrible speech, but you never gave them any guidelines to work off of.

That is unkind. 

I’m certain your wedding party will really appreciate these clear guidelines. 

Final Thoughts

You’ve got this, friend!

Setting these simple guidelines for the wedding speeches will help your reception run smoothly and enhance your special day!

I hope you found this helpful!

If your wedding party needs more help writing their speeches, have them CLICK HERE to book a free consultation call with me!

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