Wedding speeches are as old as the marriage ceremony itself and has become an integral part of the whole wedding picture. Everyone wants to wish the bride and groom the very best in their new life together, and giving a speech in front of the whole gathering during the wedding, is the most pointed way of telling the couple how you feel about them and what you want for them. Most after dinner speeches are not very long; although you do get some windbags with a little too much vino under their belt that drone on and on; but for the most part, people usually keep it simple and to the point.
To keep the crowd’s attention and good humor at the reception, the after dinner speeches should be short and to the point and maybe with a little humor thrown in. Poking fun in little jabs at the happy couple is always acceptable as long as it is in good taste and not embarrassing for anyone, and in this way, the humor involves the crowd who is ready at this point for a party, and will laugh along with the speech and enjoy every word of it. There is nothing more deadly in a public situation like a wedding reception, than to have someone stand up to make a toast and just drone on and on and on until everyone in the room is ready to strangle the speaker. The good will goes down the drain, and the original point of wishing the couple well is lost because of the insensitivity of the speaker.
There is a lot to be said for formal weddings with their planners and very structured means about them, but for the average person, a more informal wedding is the preferred way to go. Yes everyone dresses up and puts on their best faces, but the informal atmosphere carries over into the reception and the people who want to give the after dinner speeches are allowed more flexibility to say what they want to say to the couple. The more formal the occasion, the more structured the situation and with that comes the establishment of a hierarchy of speech givers headed by the best man, followed by the fathers of the couple, and then members of the wedding party, and finally participants in the crowd of well-wishers.
The means of giving after dinner speeches at a wedding can vary greatly, but the speaker should always remember to keep the speech to a minimum, and include little tidbits of information that can get the crowd involved in the speech and they will follow along. The most disconcerting effect of a speech gone wrong, is the yawns from the crowd or the blank stares at the ceiling that shows the speaker that he has lost the crowd and with that the effectiveness of his speech. The crowd is usually in a partying mood when they reach the reception stage of the wedding, and will feed into a good speech if the speaker has taken the time to include fun parts that get the crowd revved up as well as emotional parts that pulls on their heartstrings.
The weddings themselves are usually following a pretty set schedule, and the lineup of after dinner speeches is no exception. The best man will take the lead and the speeches start immediately after the meal is served and before the bar is officially opened so that the crowd is still sober and has some decorum about them and can participate in what is going on, rather than be wishing they were somewhere else or possibly creating hecklers if the crowd has been drinking and the speeches are not to their liking. After the wedding party has had their say with their after dinner speeches, then the floor is opened for anyone else to wants to make a toast.
Most people blanch at the thought of standing up in front of a crowd and saying anything, even at a wedding where there is nothing but well-wishers and friends of the families. For this reason, if you or someone you know has been tapped to be part of the after dinner speeches at a wedding, don’t toss your cookies thinking about it, there are plenty of avenues where you can go to get help in putting the speech together and then how to give it properly so that you keep the crowd in the palm of your hand, and the wedding couple is pleased with what you said to them.
Wedding after dinner speeches are one of the most fun parts of a reception, and the bride and groom truly appreciate the effort that goes into giving a speech on their behalf. You are there as one of the well wishers and to stand up and say a few words toasting the couple is a meaningful gesture and one that can remain in the memories of the crowd for years if it is effective and given well. Everyone is there to celebrate this union and a new beginning for the couple, and the speeches given should be short and to the point and not drag on and on wearing thin the patience of the crowd and the couple, and putting a damper on the fun. The point of the speech is to wish the couple well, and keeping is simple and from your heart is the best road to follow when giving after dinner speeches.
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