what do you think about a bride's speech?

I don't think I can keep quiet! Is anyone else going to do a speech? If so, what are you going to say?

I did one at my wedding and I am so glad that I did. I thnaked our children (my eldest son gave me away and my 2 other sons were ushers. My Husbands 2 daughters were our bridesmaids).
I thanked my mother and father in law for their love and support and I thanked the guitarist who played at our ceremony and throughout our wedding breakfast.
Finally I made a speech about how grateful I was to have met my husband, what qualities I loved about him and how he had completely changed my life around and made me a much better person than I was before I met him. At the end I proposed a toast to my husband.
It went down a treat! I say go for it. You won't regret it. Good luck xxx

thanks ariesgirl - will start writing it tomorrow!

As we weren't going to have traditional speeches, (no best man speech or fob speech) we decided to do a joint speech. Hubby didn't feel comfortable with the idea of doing a solo one and I feel very comfortable in the spotlight so it worked well!

We took it in turns to thank people, e.g. he thanked his best man, I thanked my best woman etc... I said how wonderful is was to have this man in my life and he said some lovely words about me and then hubby finished off my saying "let's eat cake", which neatly segued into the serving of our wedding cake for our dessert.

I'd go for it if you want to. I know so many of our guests loved the idea of our joint speech!

I am toying with the idea at the minute.....

At first I wanted to do one, after the meal with the rest of the speeches.

Then I changed my mind and decided to keep that bit traditional but I was going to do a mini one during the night do, before we leave for our hotel and present my Mum with my boquet at the end of it.

Now though, my Dad has passed away so sadly there will be no FOB speech so I am again thinking of doing one with the main speeches instead of the FOB speech.

What do you all think?????

Hi

I'm definitely doing one, I think it's a great idea.

I will be a little bit nervous though but very excited at the same time. I'm going to mention some things that my h2b, father and best man won't have mentioned so that I don't repeat anything and bore our guests to death

I think you should definitely do one.

x

Hi girls, thank for your replies and ideas. I am really wanting to do one now and will write it round all the things you have suggested. I got a poem written about my H2B from a website called 'write me a poem' and it is brilliant, so I wanted to end by reading it to him. He will cry!
So many people to thank and mention, it has to be done!

hi there,
i think its a nice idea. i am currently undecided! i have a lot to say too but not sure if it will be nice just to keep quiet and let H2B do the talking as its usually the other way around! also worried i might steal a bit of his limelight and will be very emotional so will probably be a blubbering mess if i do one too! x

Hi Daisy, I'm doing one too. I'm not a public speaker though so I'm bricking it! As for the crying, sadly I think it will be me crying rather than him, and I'll probably break down during the speech! I'm going to have to practice it a million times before to try to desensitise myself to the content and hopefully can get through it on the day without my voice breaking and going all squeaky lol!

Fay - are you keeping it a secret from him?
I wrote my last draft in the early hours of this morning - too hot to sleep!!

Think I will revisit it every week just to fine tune it!

Not sure where I will keep it on the day though - in my pants? !
Or I thought I may tuck it into my garter ready for the after dinner speeches?! What do you think?

xx

I think a bride's speech is a really nice idea. My friend did one at her wedding last year - bless her, she didn't have anything planned and everyone just started chanting her name and banging the table. She got up and said some lovely words, it was really nice!

I'd really like to do one but I'm so soppy - I think I'll just break down in tears and not be able to get my words out!

Good luck to anyone who's doing one!

xx

I think everyone would be surprised if I didn't make a speech! I am so vocal normally that I am sure they will expect it - but I am still not sure. I don't want to steal anyones thunder so to speak.
Am working on it!
Will probably decide the night before whether or not I can go through with it!
Thanks for all your comments

xx

My H2B is refusing to do a speech at all as he says he is too terrible at public speaking.. and my dad isnt a keen speaker either- although i think he will manage to say something,. Its a bit upsetting that H2B wont say anything at all, but i kind of understand as he has been married before, and was so nervous that he messed up he speech and the ex had a strop!! So i've told him i'm going to do one instead- feel like someone has to thank everyone.
I feel quite terrified at the idea, but i've found some good resources on how to open and close a speech, and have a few funny comments lined up about me starting as i mean to go on- having the last word!

No! I'm only doing it cos he's insisting on it! We have two completely different sets of friends/family who for the most part have not met so he wants us both to give a speech so that it doesn't come off lilke he speaks for me or I'm under the thumb or anything like that! I'm only doing it to keep him happy (and as it's one of his very few requests, wedding wise) otherwise I'd be quite happy not to give a speech!

I'd give the speech to a bridesmaid or your dad or an usher or someone you can trust who can then pass it on to you during dinner. Or maybe give a copy to the venue coordinator incase your usher/bridesmaid etc loses theirs! I think I might do that x

Top tip Fay - will give it to my mum to look after.

Kira - no pressure then!! I am sure you will be fine, just practice a few times then have plenty of bubbly!
I'll show you mine if you show me yours!

xx