Etiquette For Wedding Day Speeches
Among the moments to be savored from the wedding, one of the most poignant can certainly be the wedding speeches presented at the reception. If you are one of the chosen, you should be aware of certain accepted protocols to follow to avoid gaffes. The words you will say will most likely be recorded and relived for some time to come.
Do you exactly know your role in the wedding?
Think first about your role in the wedding itself. As you were asked to be the best man or maid of honor, you were selected because you could be counted on to honor the wedding itself, along with all the participants. The speech should be about the bride and the groom and the festivities of the day.
A common practice to start the round of wedding speeches is to tap a utensil against a glass, making it ring out. This usually gets everyone’s attention, but in an alarming way. Better to do so by exhibiting poise and maturity by simply standing and raising your glass in the air. You will notice that it only takes slightly longer for the wedding guests to get the message that you are intending to begin a speech. They want to hear what you have to say, and will soon come to order.
You should be standing as you deliver the speech. To attempt to sit indicates a lack of respect for the proceedings. Everyone will then be able to see you and absorb both your verbal and non-verbal expressions. It is also a matter of exhibiting honor toward the bride and groom. Standing also allows you a better speaking posture.
Another piece of etiquette not to be taken lightly is the use of humor. If you incorporate humor, keep it as clean as possible. Using off color humor or relating incidents not appropriate for the solemnity of the occasion are must to avoids. This is a family event and children or elderly are most likely going to be hearing your words.
While on the subject, proofread your speech for any instances of cussing or profanity. You can always edit out such wording well beforehand, and not doing so will greatly compromise your speech.
If you are one of those chosen for giving a speech at the wedding reception, follow appropriate manners.
Remember that words you say in public, within a wedding speech, are very different than word used in a private conversation between friends. You will want to be honoring the happy couple and all of their invited guests by rising to the occasion and putting your best foot forward. Send them off into the future with what are your best wishes and hopes.
One last pointer: if you are being toasted, common etiquette is that you listen carefully to the speech, do not interrupt with your response, and do not raise your glass until the toast has been completed and other guests have sipped. Only after this, are you supposed to acknowledge the words and the gesture by sampling the toast yourself.
Click Here to Learn More
