(*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.)
Whether you’re celebrating your partner or your parents’ enduring devotion, nothing is more personal or poignant than a speech that honours their relationship with wit, warmth, and just the right amount of cheek. A speech says more than flowers ever could (and lasts longer than a garage bouquet).
“A good anniversary speech doesn’t just talk about love. It shows us what love looks like after 40 years of burnt toast and shared passwords.” – Speechy’s Founder, Heidi, Author of The Modern Couple’s Guide to Wedding Speeches
Use this as your chance to remind everyone that real romance isn’t champagne and candlelight; it’s knowing someone’s quirks and still sticking around when they forget to put the bins out. Again.
Keep it snappy: Aim for five to eight minutes. Enough time to share stories and sentiment, but not so long that people start thinking about pudding.
Dig into the past: Photo albums are gold mines. Old letters? Even better.
Stay personal: Celebrate the character traits that make the couple work. Patience, humour, the ability to ignore each other’s questionable TV choices.
Bring the laughs: As Heidi says in her book, “Laughter is the spoonful of sugar that helps the sentiment go down.”
Acknowledge the village: No long marriage is an island. Mention the people who’ve supported it.
Finish with feels: A touching end note or toast is the cherry on your well-aged cake.
The best speeches are built on stories, not adjectives. Instead of saying your dad’s “charming”, tell the tale of how he wooed your mum with a cassette tape and a trifle. That’s the stuff people remember.
Share a few unexpected anecdotes. Perhaps your parents once rowed over whether home-made wild garlic pesto was delicious or not (it wasn’t). Maybe your partner once drove 10 miles just to find your favourite brand of teabags. These details are the real love stories.
“Love stories aren’t fairytales. They’re sitcoms with heart.”
Please, step away from the dictionary definitions of love. We’ve heard them. And frankly, your audience deserves more.
Instead, talk about the real, weird, wonderful things that make a long marriage. Like how your wife names all her houseplants or how your husband narrates documentaries in a David Attenborough voice. That’s the good stuff.
Being able to tease one another is the true sign of comfort. As long as the teasing is good-natured, it’ll bring laughs and feels.
Humour is your best friend here. Use it wisely.
Be specific. “He snores” is boring. “He snores in Morse code” is brilliant.
Exaggerate slightly for comedic effect, but stay truthful.
Avoid anything generic from the internet. If it sounds like a meme, bin it.
And yes, quoting someone clever is allowed. Check out our Anniversary Quotes blog for inspiration.
“If you’re half of the couple, a bit of self-deprecating humour always wins. Let’s face it, they’ve earned the right to laugh at you.”
Behind every couple are the people who held the tissues, babysat the kids, and tolerated the karaoke nights. From children and lifelong mates to next-door neighbours and that one aunt who always brings trifle – give them a nod.
It makes your speech feel generous, not self-centred.
If the crowd is smiling and the couple are still holding hands, you’ve done your job. Time to wrap it up.
Offer a sincere tribute. Remind the room that 40 years of marriage is no small feat – it’s a masterclass in compromise, loyalty, and love in all its everyday glory.
Then raise your glass:
“To four decades of love, laughter, and putting up with each other—beautifully.”
“To two people who make commitment look easy, and ageing look good.”
If you’d like help writing your speech, check out Speechy’s credentials and all the different products and services we’ve created to help you write and deliver a great speech.
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.
