Speeches - what have you found best as an attendee?

lazygal · 28-02-2017 08:54PM

We had them during the drinks reception, served loads of finger food and drinks and had them in the room. The worst for me are when groomsman number three comes out with endless stories I can't relate or one of the fathers droned on and on and on, all before we get any food but are itching to dig into the rolls at the table.
If I was doing it again I'd cut them out completely.

Jude13 · 01-03-2017 08:27AM

I am thinking at the drinks reception, pretty much after the ceremony. Loads of finger food, relaxed atmosphere and keeping it brief.

GingerLily · 01-03-2017 09:13AM

Jude13 wrote: »

I am thinking at the drinks reception, pretty much after the ceremony. Loads of finger food, relaxed atmosphere and keeping it brief.

If people are standing they would want to be VERY brief!

crisco10 · 01-03-2017 11:43AM

Reading through this, it really feels like everybody is different!

Jude13 · 01-03-2017 11:44AM

Before the meal is romping home in the poll

Bowlardo · 01-03-2017 11:47AM

Speech
Starter
Speech
Main course
Speech
Desert
Speech

Well lorried and not bloat so dancing kicked off immediately when it was all finished

Thoie · 01-03-2017 11:48AM

My personal preference as a guest, which isn't an option in the poll:

Speeches between main course and dessert.
No-one's starving wishing they'd be over.
Gives people time to digest their dinner before starting on dessert.
If you want to serve wedding cake with/as dessert, you can flow nicely from speeches into cake cutting.

optogirl · 01-03-2017 11:48AM

Was at one where Father of the Groom started with the day he was born, went on to talk about what a great Leaving Cert he got (jaysus) and what a great job he got for himself. Should have just sent us a link to his LinkedIn profile :rolleyes:

Was at another where Father of the Bride started with the day she was born and ended in floods of tears about how much they'd miss her (she'd been moved out about 15 years at this stage). Where is she going?

Another where Best Man went on about how Groom was famous for his many conquests & lack of quality control. Felt so bad for parents of the bride & bride. Horrible stuff.

Vojera · 01-03-2017 11:50AM

optogirl wrote: »

Was at another where Father of the Bride started with the day she was born and ended in floods of tears about how much they'd miss her (she'd been moved out about 15 years at this stage). Where is she going?

I think we may have been at the same wedding

Heard about the first day of school and everything.

Jrop · 01-03-2017 11:52AM

My Husband is a shy man and hates public speaking so we didn't have any speeches, The best man stood up and gave a toast and told everyone we weren't having speeches.

Jude13 · 01-03-2017 12:25PM

I am not bothered about them but both fathers want to say a few words....a few, I bloody hope so. So it basically falling back into the traditional BS>

solerina · 01-03-2017 04:10PM

We had no speeches....you can choose to do whatever you want OP, so decide for yourself, but keep them short if you do them !!

Mollyb60 · 02-03-2017 11:25AM

I am biased but my own wedding was the best for speeches I've ever been to.
We had everyone told beforehand that there would be little to no speeches. My dad insisted on saying a few words but his speech was funny and took about 2 minutes. My husband and I had flipped a coin for which of us would do the thanks. He lost so he got up, thanked everyone for coming, everyone who was involved, the hotel for the great day and me for being awesome. Boom. Done. Total time taken: 5 minutes.

Speeches are best before the meal as long as they're short. If you're gonna have a load of big sermons then I'd do what others have suggested and have a soup course first.

autumnbelle · 03-03-2017 10:24AM

Do guests mind if there are no speeches or just groom says a few words? very strongly considering no speeches at my wedding as I know one or two or the bridal party would be extremely nervous about them and Id be nervous about they would say with drink on them

Addle · 03-03-2017 10:56AM

Glad to see and hear more female members of bridal parties giving speeches nowadays.

Short, sweet and early on in the proceeding is best I think.

Romantic Rose · 03-03-2017 10:58AM

My friend(bride) got up and read a poem she wrote herself, it was beautiful. At least you can prepare it in advance and there's a good flow to it. Short and sweet

kevohmsford · 03-03-2017 10:59AM

Get them all done before the meal. I know from a best man point of view it is nice to be finished so you can relax and enjoy the meal.

dw2016 · 04-03-2017 09:08AM

After the meal all the way!guests are hungry let them eat then they can relax with the cup of tea or coffee and listen to speeches, just don't go on too long! Plus it gives the best man or groomsman a chance to make adjustments or whatever. Also the band can be setting up and ready to go when speeches are over!

harr · 04-03-2017 09:38AM

My opinion would be best before the meal...when I got married I was more nervous about the speech than anything else and the same for when I was best man...my wedding we had speeches before meal it was great I could relax and enjoy the grub...the wedding I was bestman at the speeches were after and I could not enjoy the grub with the nerves..
Give a time limit if possible...at my wedding father of the bride,me, bride and chief bridesmaid but they were quick all in I think they took about 20 minutes.
Like others have said it can be the father of the bride who waffles on a bit..last wedding I was at he took 25 minutes and gave a complete run down on his daughters life included ex boyfriends and the ones he liked and didn't like 😬

solerina · 04-03-2017 04:22PM

autumnbelle wrote: »

Do guests mind if there are no speeches or just groom says a few words? very strongly considering no speeches at my wedding as I know one or two or the bridal party would be extremely nervous about them and Id be nervous about they would say with drink on them

It's your wedding, don't worry if the guests would mind about the speeches or not...do what suits you !!! All the men involved in my wedding were phobic about speeches so we didn't have them and none said anything bad, a few sis say it was a great thing not to have to listen to speeches though !!

chocfan · 05-03-2017 04:36AM

We had all of ours after the starter and I thought it worked quite well

It meant for anybody making a speech that they could relax and enjoy dinner after that but also meant that at least people had been fed something so that they wouldn't all be starving!

As has been said previously though, do whatever you actually want to do yourselves. It's your day!!

Spanish Eyes · 05-03-2017 07:15PM

I'd record the speeches TBH and just play them back to the crowd. Three minutes max each speaker and a max of three.

All done and dusted and no nerves. Time limit and everything. Sorted.

GingerLily · 07-03-2017 12:45PM

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

I'd record the speeches TBH and just play them back to the crowd. Three minutes max each speaker and a max of three.

All done and dusted and no nerves. Time limit and everything. Sorted.

I wouldn't be very impressed with a recored speech as a guest at a wedding, do you really want to be remembered as the wedding that had those odd recorded speeches, it'll just confuse the guests if there is no obvious reason the speeches were recorded!

Speeches - what have you found best as an attendee?

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