(*Of course, if you’re looking for more than ‘advice’, check out all the different ways the Speechy team can help you write & deliver a great speech. Or check out our new AI-powered team member, SpeechyAI.)
‘(Of course, if you’re looking for more than ‘advice’, check out Speechy’s bespoke speechwriting service. We also have a range of excellent speech templates that might be just what you need.)
(*Of course, if you’re looking for more than ‘advice’, check out our eulogy writing service or our eulogy template.)
(Of course, if you’re looking for more than ‘advice’, check out Speechy’s bespoke speechwriting service. We also have a range of excellent speech templates that might be just what you need.)
Yes, props and photos might get you a few easy laughs (and we don’t mind easy ones) but they could also land you in trouble, and even worse, just make you look a bit ‘basic’.
Props need to be integrated into the story rather than just a random couple of photos in the middle. A good example we worked on was a groom’s presentation of his (fake) communication with his Instagram-obsessed wife.
It started with the groom acknowledging how nervous his wife had been throughout the day (shaking, teary etc) before revealing it was purely to do with her iPhone withdrawals.
He then presented the (mocked-up) texts that documented their romance to date as well as a few selfies that had not made the Instagram account.
The speech concluded with a call for everyone to take a selfie with the person they loved (or whoever was sitting beside them) to upload to their wedding hashtag. It worked well as a theme and the guests loved the extra bit of interaction.
Don’t think that you should use props. Some ideas are old hat these days – literally in some cases.
Wearing a different hat to depict the different eras of a person’s life? Er, no thanks.
And whatever you do, don’t bring out a slice of toast when mentioning the toast. Cheap gags are better left in crackers.
If you’re looking for prop inspo check out our guide to using props.
Don’t underestimate how hard it is to press a button on your laptop whilst speaking. And people are watching. And you’ve got cue cards. And you’re using a microphone.
This is the wedding equivalent of the Crystal Maze – only there are no little bald guys shouting instructions at you (a reference only our older clientele might appreciate).
Just remember, multi-tasking on this scale is a bit like ordering a salad when a jam donut is being served to the table beside you. Your brain just can’t handle it.
If you’re not a natural Powerpointer call in the help of a glamourous assistant, or if they’re lacking, the MC. Obviously, this requires even more rehearsing to ensure you’re in sync.
Yes, it’s worth doing a recce beforehand but it’s crucial to get there the morning of the wedding too as inevitably some helpful person will have packed up all the equipment and rewired something vital.
The most important thing to check is that everyone will be able to hear you. A microphone is generally a very useful ‘prop’.
Let’s face it, when we still can’t get a printer to work (so much jam, never on our toast) there’s a high chance a PowerPoint presentation might go wrong too. Always have a backup speech that doesn’t rely on visual aids.
The Speechy team are TV-trained scriptwriters/comedians by trade & we’ve helped 1,000s of speakers around the world deliver their dream speech.
Our advice has been quoted everywhere from The New York Times to Grazia and from Forbes to The Observer. Our founder has also featured on the BBC Sounds’ Best Men podcast with Jason Manford and written ‘The Modern Couple’s Guide to Wedding Speeches’, published by Little, Brown.
