A man in a vest delivers wedding speech tips into a microphone while holding a sheet of paper, standing at a long table adorned with flowers. Several people sit beside him, including a smiling woman in a white dress, under rustic wooden beams and floral decor.

Whether you’re dreaming of delivering an effortlessly cool speech or, more realistically, you’re having nightmares about saying the wrong thing, I am here to help by sharing my top wedding speech tips!

Public speaking is never easy, but throw in the added pressure of making the newly weds proud, and even the most confident speaker can feel out of sorts. You’ve been entrusted with a key role, and naturally, you’ll want to shine in the spotlight.

As a wedding videographer, I’ve had the privilege of capturing countless speeches. From recording and editing hundreds of wedding videos, I’ve gathered valuable insights to help you refine your speech and ensure it not only resonates with the audience but also looks and sounds amazing on film. Below are my top tips, from a videographer’s perspective, to help you craft an unforgettable speech that will definitely make the cut!

Wedding Toast Etiquette 

Key Speakers

A wedding reception at Great Tythe Barn with a long table adorned with white flowers and greenery. The father of the bride stands, reading his speech. The backdrop features a floral arch.

It is customary for the father of the bride, the groom, and the best man to deliver the wedding speeches. However, more and more couples are breaking away from tradition and inviting the mother of the bride, siblings, bridesmaids or even the bride herself to take the mic. 

From a videographer’s perspective, having a diverse group of speakers can create a more dynamic wedding video. Whether it’s a touching message from the groom or a humorous rap from the maid of honour, these moments add layers of storytelling that make the final video more engaging.

If you would like to get some more ideas about the order of your speeches or how to make them all fit in. RockMyWedding have a great guide on this for you to take a look at.

Time to Take to the Mic

The groom reading his speech at his wedding reception: the bride in a white dress sits smiling her groom's jokes. They are surrounded by vibrant floral arrangements and a grand piano in the background.

Speeches typically occur after the wedding breakfast as a bridge between the meal and the evening festivities. But, some couples prefer to have speeches before the meal. From a video production standpoint, I would recommend that all of the speeches take place at the same time. Splitting the speeches between courses can feel a bit disjointed and be time-consuming, as the audio and video camera will take a minute or two to set up.

Capturing a Wedding Speech on Film

The groom speaks into a microphone, standing behind a long table of their closest friends and family adorned with a white tablecloth and green floral arrangements at Quantock Lakes wedding venue. Seated beside him are people dressed formally, enjoying drinks. Large windows provide a view of trees outside and a great backdrop.

A wedding speech is more than just words; it’s an opportunity to celebrate the newly-weds and share your heartfelt sentiments in their wedding video. Your speech will be captured and preserved, offering the couple a chance to relive those precious moments for years to come. Therefore, it’s essential to focus not only on what you say but also how you say it. Delivering the speech well is as important as the words you recite. Learn more about how I capture wedding speeches from my recent wedding films.

Key Wedding Speech Tips from a Wedding Videographer

Don’t Look Directly at the Camera

The brides dad in a gray suit gives a speech at her daughter's wedding. The bride in a white dress and the groom in a black suit are seated at a table with flowers and drinks listening to the speeches. A decorated tent and bunting are visible in the background.

One of the most common mistakes speakers make is looking directly into the camera. If you aren’t used to being filmed, it can be a distracting thought. But instead of thinking about the camera, focus on engaging with the audience. Speak to the newly-weds and guests, glancing around the room occasionally. This approach will not only help you connect better with your audience but will also ensure a more candid and natural look on film.

Mic Check

The bride's mother in a pink dress stands speaking at a wedding reception table at Deer Park. She holds a microphone, while guests seated at the table listen. The venue features large arched windows and floral arrangements. Glasses and tableware are set in front of the guests.

Good sound is crucial to a great wedding video. For larger gatherings, using a microphone ensures that your speech is heard clearly by all guests and is properly recorded for the video.

The microphone also gives you something to do with your hands, helping to ease nervousness.

Sound and Speech Quality

A bride's father doing his speech during a wedding reception at Hyde House. In the center, the married couple listen in to the heartfelt words. Floral decorations and wine glasses add elegance, while large windows bathe everything in natural light—a perfect backdrop for classic wedding speech tips.

As your wedding videographer, I’ll use high-quality voice recorders and sound equipment to capture your voice as you deliver your speech. By using directional microphones, I can focus on your voice, minimising any background noise, so your message is heard loud and clear.

Practice, Practise, Practise

Rehearsing your speech is key to delivering it smoothly on the big day. The more you practice, the more naturally you’ll recite it in front of the audience. Practice with a friend, focusing on speaking slowly and clearly. This not only helps with nerves but also makes for better footage, as your words will be more coherent and easier to edit. A well-practised speech allows you to deliver your lines with confidence, which will shine through in the video.

Structure your Speech

The bride from the wedding shares heartfelt wedding speech tips with a microphone at the reception. Her groom sits beside her, as guests listen attentively amidst rustic stone walls and lush greenery at The Great Tythe Barn venue.

A well-structured speech can greatly enhance the narrative of the wedding video. Personal stories and anecdotes that tie together with a common theme make for compelling content. As a videographer, I can weave these moments into the wedding film, creating a seamless story that reflects the emotions and highlights of the day. Need help writing your speech? Check out these wedding speech templates on Hitched UK.

Pacing Yourself

A bride and groom at a wedding reception sit at a long table in a beautifully decorated room at Batch Country House. The groom stands, handing the microphone to the smiling bride, ready to share her wedding speech tips. Guests are seated on either side, listening attentively amidst floral arrangements and drinks.

Timing is everything when it comes to speeches. A speech that’s too long can lose the audience’s attention, while one that’s too short might feel a little underwhelming. Try not to speak too quickly, which can be easy to do if you are nervous. Aim for your wedding speech to last around 10 minutes—this is generally enough to make a significant impact.

Pause for Applause

One of the key wedding speech tips is to remember to pause after key moments in your speech, such as jokes or heartfelt statements. These pauses allow the audience to react without drowning out the next part of your speech. Capturing the audience’s applause and laughter can add depth to the final video, too.

Speak from the Heart

In a warm, sunlit room, the bride's dad in a suit delivers a heartfelt wedding speech to the attentive guests. The bride, in her elegant white gown and veil, sits beside the groom at a table adorned with flowers and drinks as natural light filters through the windows.

Ultimately, the most memorable wedding speeches are unique and delivered from the heart. Share your genuine emotions, offer meaningful advice and express your gratitude for being part of the couple’s special day. 

Editing Magic

A wedding reception at Quantock Lakes wedding venue with large windows overlooking a scenic landscape. Guests are seated at round tables, and a speaker stands at a table facing the guests. The atmosphere is formal and celebratory to celebrate their special day.

After the big day, I’ll meticulously edit the footage to ensure your speech—and you—look your best. This includes enhancing the video quality, ensuring smooth transitions and selecting the most flattering angles. I’ll also clean up the audio, removing any background noise and adjusting levels for clarity. The result? A polished wedding video that captures the essence of your speech and the joy of the occasion.

I really hope you have found these wedding speech tips helpful, if you are looking for a wedding videographer to capture your lovely day and awesome speeches, please contact us to see if we are available for your wedding day!

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