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The Point Of After Dinner Speeches At Weddings And All About Them
Weddings are an integral part of our daily lives, and there is no milestone greater for some folks than the day they were married. And part of the celebration of that wonderful day, are the after dinner speeches given at the reception after the actual ceremony is over and the crowd of well-wishers has gathered in the reception hall to party and send the couple on their way with lots of blessings and good wishes. Most weddings include these speeches so that individuals can stand up and say aloud in front of the crowd, how they feel about the couple, and what they want for them in the future.
Short and sweet is the motto you must keep in mind when you are planning to be a part of the after dinner speeches in a wedding day, because there are lots of other folks who want to wish them well too, and the crowd is anxious to get on with the party and not have to listen to a bunch of drones going on and on and on ad nauseam trying to give a meaningful speech. Most of the time, the speech should contain a little bit of fun poked at the couple, or maybe a memory or two of you and the bride or the groom or both, and then what it is that you wish for them. Keep the crowd hanging on your words and no matter what you say, if it is heartfelt, it will be well received and remembered.
The formality of the occasion also has a lot to do with how many after dinner speeches will be given, who will give them, and when they will be given. The more formal a wedding is, the more structured is the map that must be followed to keep the happenings moving in a straight line and on time. Quite often the more formal the wedding, the more likely there is to be a wedding planner, and that person takes the bull by the horns and tells the speech givers when and almost what to say. In the case of a more informal wedding, the after dinner speeches can range from a longwinded, heartfelt outpouring of emotion by the giver, to a short backslapping few words with lots of meaning for everyone present. The chain of speech givers usually starts with the best man and continues to the fathers of the couple, and then anyone in the crowd who wants to stand up and toast the couple.
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.
Most weddings run on a tight schedule and there are certain aspects of the schedule that are almost set in stone, especially when the after dinner speeches are destined to happen and who will be giving them. The more formal weddings plan the speeches usually immediately following the dinner and before the dancing and any entertainment so that the crowd is still sober and sane and will be able to join in and enjoy the speeches being given without wrecking the moment. The lineup of speakers is pretty set as well with the fathers of the couple following the best man, and then anyone else who is part of the wedding group may get up and speak, and then after dinner speeches from the floor are acceptable as long as the speaker has cleared what he wants to say before he stands up. The more relaxed the atmosphere of the wedding is, the more the constraints of what can be included in a speech are lessened and the speakers just stand up and toast the couple as the spirit moves them.
The thought of giving a speech in front of a crowd is enough to make a strong man shake at the knees and toss his cookies, so because of that, many folks would rather face a firing squad than have to give a speech. But the wedding crowd is friendly and forgiving, and if you are prepared, giving the speech is a piece of cake. For help, there are hundreds of books on the subject, and tons of internet sites that will give pointers on how to put together and then deliver an effective speech without passing out. A few minutes of preparation is worth it when the speech is done, and the applause and good feedback from the couple themselves makes you very glad you went the extra mile and stood up and gave a toast.
After dinner speeches are an integral part of the wedding show put on in every town, every country around the world; and they can range from very formal toasts with not much emotion, to tear jerking outpourings of good will, and heartfelt good wishes aimed at the happy couple. People are there attending the wedding to join the couple in celebrating their union and this milestone in their lives, and the crowd does not want long winded monologues nor sobbing emotional toasts. The after dinner speeches should be simple, to the point, and carry the all important message of good will that the speaker had intended to give the couple.
Amy Bartlett writes articles and publishes information regarding wedding speech. For more information on After Dinner Speeches visit our site.
