Weddings are such a joyous celebration of love and togetherness, and toasts play a big part in that magic. It's a beautiful moment when loved ones raise their glasses to cheer on the newlyweds, share words of wisdom and wish them a big, bright future. But what about the couple themselves? What should they say in their speech? How can they make it special? And…do they really need to give one at all? Let's dive into it!
Should Newlyweds Give a Speech?
Well, it depends on your preference, really! Traditionally, wedding speeches and toasts are given during reception and are reserved for the couple’s family, best man and maid of honor. But both you and your partner can definitely grab a mic to say a few nice words to everybody attending and of course each other. If you don’t feel confident enough and think that your emotions can take over you (and we totally get it!), you can leave out the toasting part and show your gratitude by sending thank you notes later. If you do decide to give a speech though, make sure to be well prepared! We suggest going last, after the parents and the bridal party are done with their toasts. But again, there is no hard and set rules, so you do you!
@papirbyhannah, @rachelrosensteinphoto
What to Include?
Alright, let's break it down! First up, start your speech by thanking everyone who's joined you on this beautiful day. You might also want to give a shoutout to whoever traveled from afar just to be at your wedding. Then, show gratitude to the families and friends who have been there for you since day one, helping you make this day one to remember. To make your speech more engaging, share a little personal anecdote or a story that is dear to you as a couple. And don't forget to shower each other with compliments and thank-yous too! The adorable "awws" from the crowd are sure to follow. End your toast by inviting guests to raise a glass. Toast to love, life, and happily ever after!
Can We Improvise?
Of course you can, but ask yourselves first: "Do we really want to take risks?" Even the masters of improvisation have those moments when things go wrong. And let's be honest, your wedding day is definitely not the best one to test your wit and leave everything to chance. That's why we encourage you to spare an hour or a few to prepare your speech ahead of the celebration. This way, you will feel less stressed, more confident, less shy and avoid any cringe-worthy situations. Just imagine all those eyes focused on you, and all those ears tuned in – better to be prepared than sorry!
How Long Should It Be?
Don’t go too overboard! With such a tight timeline and so much planned for the reception and after-party, try to keep your speech short and sweet. Keep in mind, your reception speech just serves as a quick thank you, so stick to that concept. To make sure everything goes smooth and easy, we suggest practicing your speech a few times before the big day approaches. You can have a timer on to see how long your speech is and cut it down a bit if it’s too wordy.
What to Remember?
Relax, speak from the heart, and don't worry too much about making mistakes – we've all been there, especially when emotions run high. Make sure, though, to avoid adding any unnecessary inside jokes! Of course, everyone loves a good laugh, but if you feel uncertain about a joke or meme, save it for a more fitting moment. When delivering your speech, you can take turns with your partner or let the bravest of you take the lead. In that case, whenever possible, use "we" to show that your partner shares these sentiments too.
