As the bride, it is customary for you to make a speech at your wedding reception. While the thought of giving a speech in front of all your guests can seem daunting, it’s important to remember that this is your chance to thank everyone for their love and support, and to share a few words about your new life as a married couple.
If you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry! In this post, we’ll take a look at how a bride can begin her wedding speech, including some tips and examples to inspire you.
1. Welcome your guests
As the bride, the first thing you should do is welcome your guests and thank them for coming to celebrate your wedding day. This can be a simple “Hello everyone, and thank you for being here today” or a more heartfelt and personal message to your family and friends.
2. Thank the VIPs
Next, take a moment to thank the most important guests of honor, such as your parents, bridesmaids, and groomsmen. You can begin by saying “Firstly, I’d like to thank my parents for all their love and support throughout the years” and then move on to thanking your wedding party for their help and friendship.
3. Talk about your partner
One of the most important aspects of your speech is talking about your new partner. Begin by saying some heartfelt words about how you met and fell in love, and what makes your relationship special. You can include some anecdotes, funny or serious, that explain how you and your partner came to be together. You could say something like “{Partner’s name}, when I first met you, I knew there was something special about you. Every moment spent with you since then has only confirmed that feeling and left me feeling so grateful to have you in my life.”
4. Share your hopes for the future
As a new bride, you probably have big plans and hopes for your future together. Use this opportunity to talk about your aspirations and the goals you have for your new life together as a married couple. You can also mention any exciting plans you have for your honeymoon or the next stage in your lives together. You might say: “We have big dreams for our future together and we know that with each other by our side, we’ll achieve everything we’ve ever hoped for. We’re so excited for this next chapter in our lives.”
5. Thank everyone for their support
Lastly, it’s important to thank everyone who has supported you and your partner on your journey as a couple. This includes your family members, special friends, and everyone who has helped to make your wedding day possible. You might say something like: “I cannot express how grateful I am to have such loving and supportive people in my life. Your encouragement and guidance have made this day possible, and we are so grateful to share it with you.”
Conclusion
To sum it up, starting your wedding speech as a bride involves welcoming your guests and thanking them for their presence on your special day, thanking the VIPs, talking about your partner, sharing your hopes for the future, and thanking everyone for their support. Remember, your wedding speech is a chance to express your gratitude, love, and hopes for the future in your own words. Follow these tips and speak from the heart, and you’re sure to give a memorable speech that will be cherished for years to come.
FAQ
What do you say at the beginning of a wedding?
At the beginning of a wedding, there are some traditional ways to commence the ceremony. Firstly, the guests are usually welcomed to the venue of the wedding by the ushers or wedding planner. Once all the guests are seated, the ceremony starts.
Then, the officiant or the person who is authorized to legally solemnize the marriage will generally say a few words of welcome to the guests. Usually, the officiant will start by greeting the bride and groom, followed by acknowledging the presence of the guests.
After the welcome message, the officiant usually introduces themselves and explains their role in the ceremony. Next, the purpose of the ceremony is generally stated, which is to unite the bride and groom in holy matrimony.
Once the purpose of the ceremony has been stated, the officiant will often ask the guests to stand and welcome the bride and groom as they make their entrance. This is generally followed by a few words on marriage, the importance of the union between the bride and groom, and what it means to be married.
Afterward, the officiant usually leads the guests in an opening prayer or moment of meditation, which is meant to ask for blessings upon the bride and groom and their union. The opening prayer can also be a time for reflection, depending on the couple’s religious or cultural traditions.
The beginning of a wedding ceremony is a very important part of the entire event. The opening words, message, and prayer set the tone for the rest of the ceremony and create a memorable experience for all those involved in the marriage ceremony.
What is an example of a speech introduction?
A speech introduction is the first impression that a speaker makes on their audience, so it needs to be engaging, informative, and set the tone for the entire presentation. There are various types of speech introductions, ranging from informative to entertaining ones. The following is an example of a speech introduction that could be used by a speaker:
“Hello, everyone! Thank you for having me today. My name is Jane Smith, and I am honored to be standing before you to discuss a topic that is very important to me. As you know, we live in a world that is rapidly changing, and this change brings with it many challenges and opportunities that we must face. Today, I will be talking about how we can embrace these changes and seize the opportunities that come with them, rather than being overwhelmed and left behind.
To begin, I want to share a personal experience with you. Last year, I was faced with a major dilemma that tested my resilience and ability to adapt. My employer decided to downsize the company, and I was one of the many employees who were let go. It was a difficult time for me, but I decided to turn this challenge into an opportunity. Instead of dwelling on the negative, I decided to take a course that would help me improve my skills and increase my marketability. Today, I am happy to say that I have found a much better job that not only pays more but also allows me to work in an industry that I am passionate about.
So, what does my experience have to do with you? Well, I believe that we are all faced with challenges and opportunities in our lives. If we choose to embrace them, we can achieve greatness and fulfill our potential. My aim today is to inspire you to view every challenge as an opportunity, and to show you that with the right mindset, you can achieve anything you desire.
In the remainder of my speech, I will share with you some valuable insights and practical tips that you can use to adopt a growth mindset and unleash your potential. I hope you find my speech informative, engaging, and most importantly, inspiring. Let’s get started.”
A speech introduction serves as a roadmap for the rest of the presentation, and it should be well-structured and engaging to capture the audience’s attention. The example provided includes personal experience that is relevant to the topic, as well as a clear statement of intention, to hook the listeners.
Who speaks first at a wedding?
Wedding traditions vary from culture to culture and from family to family, but one thing remains constant across most wedding ceremonies: the order of speeches. Typically, there are several speeches made during a wedding reception, with each one having its own specific purpose and tone.
If you have attended several weddings, you might have noticed that the speeches seem to be arranged in a particular order, and the question that often arises is, “Who speaks first at a wedding?” The answer to this question can depend on various factors, including the wedding traditions, the preferences of the couple, and the cultural background of the families.
Traditionally, the parents of the bride are the ones who speak first at a wedding reception. They often become the hosts of the reception, cutting the cake or delivering the welcome speech. In this first toast, the parents of the bride typically thank the guests for attending and celebrate the union of their daughter and their son-in-law. They may also express their happiness and welcome the groom’s family officially into the bride’s family. This speech is usually brief, and the parents of the groom might follow it up with a speech of their own.
If the parents do not speak first, the best man will usually go first. He is considered the “master of ceremonies” for the evening and is responsible for keeping the mood of the reception light and celebratory. The best man’s speech often includes heartfelt anecdotes, funny stories about the couple, and a well-placed wedding joke or two.
Alternatively, the maid of honor may give a speech before the best man. Similar to the best man’s role, the maid of honor is responsible for keeping things light and celebratory, and her speech usually includes personal stories about the bride.
In contemporary times, it has become increasingly common for couples to break with traditions and have speeches delivered by a number of guests. In such cases, the first speaker might be the bride or the groom, thanking the guests and expressing their gratitude for their presence at the wedding. Alternatively, they may simply choose to forego speeches altogether and let the guests enjoy the food and dancing.
The order of speeches at a wedding is up to the couple getting married. While there are traditional roles, the couple can choose who they want to speak, and in what order, to match their specific preferences and cultural background. Whatever the order, speeches made should convey heartfelt emotion, gratitude, and a sense of joy for the occasion.