They say that guests only remember two things about your wedding: the food + the speeches. Whether they were a huge success or a shocking fail, people will talk about them long after the night is over.
When it comes to delicious + hearty food, we've got you covered here at Ten22. When it comes to speeches, however, it totally depends on who you've entrusted with a microphone! That said, we do recommend these 3 guidelines to anyone giving a speech at your wedding reception.
1. Give Them a Time Limit
No one wants to listen to someone ramble on for half an hour. There'll be yawns and eye rolls across the room and people end up zoning out big time! Give your speech givers a time limit to stick to (we recommend 5-8 mins) and encourage them to make their time count. A short, sharp + shiny speech leaves guests wanting more rather than longing for it all to come to an end! Having a time limit for each person is also helpful if you have a lot of speeches to get through. Don’t let your reception be overrun by never-ending speeches!
2. Be Clear About Your No-No’s
As a bride and groom (and even a guest), there’s nothing worse than listening to a funny story that ends up revealing something SUPER embarrassing or uncomfortable. Sure, some light embarrassment is expected at a wedding reception, and your Dad has been waiting your entire life to have the opportunity to humiliate you in front of everyone you know and love… But setting boundaries before it’s too late is a must! We’ve seen our fair share of awkward moments that cause the entire room to hang their heads in embarrassment, desperately waiting for the moment to be over. It’s the biggest day of your life, so don’t apologise for having guidelines.
3. Have Fun With It
While you may set a few boundaries for your loved ones before they share at your wedding, we also encourage you to let them have fun… And for you to have fun as well! Speeches that are too serious and emotional can leave the room feeling heavy rather than uplifted and fun. Once you’ve given a time limit and some guidelines on what you definitely don’t want, let your speech givers have the freedom to make jokes, speak from the heart and maybe even surprise you with a song or some props. We’ve had the privilege of watching some amazing speeches in our space, and when people share from the heart, keep it short, have a laugh + give a great toast, it always ends in smiles (and a few happy tears!)
Ultimately, we want to encourage you to have fun and stay relaxed when it comes to your wedding speeches. Every wedding is different and should reflect the couple in the best way possible. Let your family and friends share from the heart and crack a few jokes and it will be a night to remember! If all else fails, just hit the dance floor and forget it ever happened ;-)
