A single wrong note is sometimes enough to ruin the general atmosphere and the guests. One in particular is regularly committed by the bride or groom.
Writing a wedding speech is not an easy exercise. People who think it can be done in just a few minutes don’t always know what it really is. Because generally, it takes time: between finding good ideas, the tone to use, the plan to establish and the writing. The future newlyweds will undoubtedly be able to confirm it, on paper, most try to speak with an open heart, trying to choose the right words to translate what they feel for their partner. Some even take the opportunity to slip in a few romantic or amusing anecdotes about their meeting or their shared memories, with the aim of making the audience react with laughter or tears. But sometimes, even if the groom or bride has the best of intentions, it doesn’t always go as planned.
Indeed, according to a writer specializing in wedding speeches, Heidi Ellert-McDermott, certain errors frequently recur in the bride and groom’s speeches. One of them also has the gift of dampening the general atmosphere: endless thanks. You know, that kind of speech in which we find a tirade of “thank you” that lasts for several minutes. You then risk making the moment very awkward or boring for the guests.
The expert advises instead to thank the people closest to the couple, who contributed in one way or another to their love story. This could be a good friend or a family member for example. Above all, do not thank all your guests individually and even less all of your service providers. Worse still, if you make a list of thanks, and you accidentally forget someone essential to your wedding, they could become upset. In summary, based on his expertise, a good speech should be sincere, insightful and precise, so ditch the platitudes and avoid phrases that might be used in a mundane speech.