When it comes to weddings, everyone’s favourite part, “I do’s” aside of course, are the wedding speeches. From funny to sentimental, they can take any route but for the person actually giving the speech, it can feel like any entirely different story. Traditionally, speeches tend to fall on to the groom, father of the bride and of course, the best man but regardless of who’s giving the speeches on your big day, here are some top tips to help yours go as smoothly as possible.
First things first, we cannot emphasise enough the importance of practicing your speech and at least, getting it a little familiar. While it’s totally acceptable to read your speech from note cards, it’s always a good idea to familiarise yourself with what you talk about and at which point. It’s the secret to a smooth sailing speech and that’s what we all want, right? It’s also a fantastic way to gauge the appropriateness of some of the funnier lines in your speech – just as important, if not invaluable. Next, it’s time to look at timing. We all like a speech, especially when it’s about the ones we love but no one likes to be listening to a speech that’s over ten minutes long and most certainly not over fifteen minutes so keep it short, sweet and to the point for maximum effect. Any longer than ten minutes and you’ll find people begin to drift away, no doubt wondering when the bar will open once more and the cake will be cut.
When you’re given the honour of giving a speech, it’s important to think about others. By this, we mean considering others may have some fantastic stories and anecdotes to tell. This will give your speech extra depth and make others in the room feel even more special when they’re mentioned. Don’t underestimate the value of the bride when it comes to gathering stories on the groom especially and vice versa as they’ll be the ones who know each other the most and will no doubt have a wealth of stories and funny anecdotes to share, for all to hear. From their first date to proposals and more.
While we aren’t suggesting putting on a full show, we do suggest the use of props such as photos and sometimes videos to add a little visual humour. They’re also great in terms of taking the focus off you when you start to feel nervous. Just ensure the props you use are appropriate too. Practice, practice and once again, practice. Wedding speeches are meant to be a source of fun, enjoyment and a way to really get everyone involved on the big day, remembering just why we all chose to join together to celebrate the happy couple.
There are a number of websites online that offer not only help but basic templates too, check out Confetti online for more inspiration and guide articles!
Christmas is the most wonderful time of year. Couple it with the festive season and it’s a time like no other. Here at That Amazing Place, we’ve seen many a Christmas wedding so thought we’d share a few insights to help you plan the perfect festive wedding to keep you and your guests having the time of your life…
Christmas Trees – they seem like an obvious choice to most but let’s not forget that they’re one of the biggest symbols of Christmas for many. Whether you’re religious or not, a Christmas tree is instantly recognisable which makes it an absolute must at your ceremony and venue. It’s a super easy prop to include too as you can simply decorate it with your chosen wedding colours, keeping it in theme and of course, super chic. For table decorations, mini trees are ideal and once again, a little internet surfing will help you locate mini decorations in your chosen wedding colours.
Bridesmaid Gifts – this is something that often gets overlooked yet when you look at all the work your bridesmaids (and maid of honour especially) put into your big day, it’s something that should really have a lot of though put into it. As it’s Christmas, and of course winter, pashminas are obviously a fabulous idea. They not only look beautiful but can be worn on the day. You can also incorporate them into your day further by gifting pashminas that offer a pop of colour.
Keep The Little Ones Entertained – the subject of little ones at weddings is always a hot topic for debate but here at That Amazing Place, we know only too well the joy it can bring to have children at your nuptials. That being said however, it’s important to consider the young ones when planning your big day and by that we mean, thinking of ways to keep them entertained and out of mischief. For those enjoying festive weddings, we’ve seen Father Christmas paying a visit bringing a few small gifts to enjoy and play with throughout the wedding breakfast. We’ve also seen couples utilise one of the smaller rooms as a “chill-out” room where Christmas-themed films are played such as the Polar Express or The Grinch. This not only keeps the kids entertained but also leaves the grown-ups with a little more space to enjoy your wedding too.
Christmas Colour Schemes – we know that it can be easy to simply opt for the obvious when it comes to a colour scheme; red and green of course but we also know that others will want to opt for something different. That doesn’t mean that it can’t be Christmas inspired. Berry shades such as deep reds and purples, along with winter whites offer a chic look and can make any wedding feel luxurious. If you’re still looking for more options however, Pantone is a great place to start. From plums and aubergines to deep jewel tones, the world is your oyster.
If you’re lucky enough to be holding your big day here at That Amazing Place, then you’ll be pleased to know that our very own events manager Angie will be on hand to help you in any way shape or form, from your theme to the florist and more. For more information, simply contact us today.
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