
TIP 1 – IT’S FUNNY BECAUSE IT’S TRUE
Bear in mind that guests want to hear about your daughter, not some generic perfect bride. Tell the truth about who she really is, in all her adorable, funny, quirky realness.
Think about what makes her unusual; strange habits, secret passions, under-rated skills.
Does she have a photographic memory of the Nandos menu? Can she respond to a text before you’ve even sent it? Does she have a weird aversion to the sound of wine being poured (though is happy enough to drink it once it is)?
It will be these little insights that will ensure your speech stands out from the rest.
TIP 2 – PROVE DON’T TELL
Something we always tell our clients is that it packs far more of a punch for guests to hear why and how the bride is ‘kind’, ‘funny’, or ‘daft’. Set the scene and be specific!
Don’t just say your daughter is clumsy, tell guests about the time she collected her graduation scroll with her gown tucked in her knickers.
Use props if you like – remind everyone how intelligent she is by bringing out her beloved Blue Peter badge or reading a few funny lines from her primary school report.
TIP 3 – THE RULE OF THREE
So this is a comedy writer technique we’re sharing here. The simple rule of three.
The Romans got there first obviously with the Latin phrase “omne trium perfectum” (everything that comes in threes is perfect), and that’s the essence of it really.
If you’re trying to make a point, do it in threes. It makes your speech convincing & catchy and gives your text a rhythm that people like and recognise.
So, if you want to make the point your daughter is a bit of a scatterbrain, think of three examples. ‘This is the girl who lost her car in a multi-story carpark, who once resigned from the wrong job and who chatted to Liam Neeson for a full 10 minutes before realising he wasn’t who she thought he was.’
The rule of three is simple but effective. Especially when it comes to eating HobNobs!
TIP 4 – NAMECHECK OTHER GUESTS
It’s always a buzz for guests to have a cameo in a wedding speech.
Get the crowd involved right from the beginning by reaching out to your daughter’s friends during the writing stage and asking them for their funny memories of her.
Perhaps her new in-laws will have a great anecdote about meeting her for the first time, or her old flatmate has some words of advice for the man who’s going to spend the rest of his life living with her.
TIP 5 – LESS IS MORE
A few well-delivered jokes have more impact than a rambling account of your daughter’s timeline, from kickboxing in your womb to marrying this lovely hunk.
Keeping your speech short will make it more humorous, more persuasive and more satisfying – so cut the waffle or anything that feels somewhat feeble.
Aim for about 1,000 words or less if you can. Remember, no one ever listened to a speech and said ‘if only it were longer.’