Crafting A Hilarious Wedding Speech: Tips For The Jittery

Whether you're the maid of honour, best man, or a parent of the happy couple, you'll want your wedding speech to be funny, not sappy. But how do you make your wedding speech funny?

First, it's important to remember that your wedding speech is not an opportunity to roast the bride or groom. Keep the crude humour and lewd jokes for the bachelor or bachelorette party. Instead, rely on funny stories—this way, you don't have to worry about one-liners falling flat, and you can show something positive about the couple. You could also turn your target into a comedy character by exaggerating their qualities and pushing their weaknesses to the extreme.

Another tip is to avoid trite jokes and clichés. Instead, insert jokes that are unique to the couple's relationship. You could also get the guests involved by starting your speech with a question. And don't forget to pace your laughs—try to script a funny line within the first 20 seconds, and make sure to leave room for laughter throughout your speech.

Finally, practice your delivery. Focus on pacing, tone, volume, and body language to ensure your jokes land with the right impact.

Keep it light-hearted and positive

Keeping your wedding speech light-hearted and positive is a great way to honour the couple on their special day. Here are some tips to achieve that:

Know Your Boundaries

While it's important to be funny, remember that a wedding speech is not a roast. Avoid crude humour, lewd jokes, and embarrassing stories. A good rule of thumb is to use the "Grandma Test": ask yourself if you would feel comfortable reciting the joke in front of your grandma. If not, it's best to leave it out. Additionally, stay away from inside jokes that will exclude guests from the punchline.

Share Funny Stories

Instead of relying on one-liners, share light-hearted and positive stories about the couple. For example, you could recount a vacation where everything went wrong and highlight how the bride or groom handled the unexpected situations with grace and humour. This approach will not only make your speech funny but also showcase the positive traits of the couple.

Avoid Clichés and Internet Jokes

Stay away from generic wedding jokes and internet gags. These jokes are often overused and can come across as desperate. Instead, focus on unique and honest humour that is specific to the couple's love story. Exaggerate their quirks and turn them into comedy characters that guests will love.

Keep It Positive

While gentle teasing is acceptable, make sure it is done in good taste and keeps the couple's feelings in mind. Tease them about their taste in music, fashion choices, or quirky habits. However, avoid anything that might upset them or make them feel uncomfortable. The key is to keep the humour affectionate and loving.

Involve the Guests

Get the guests engaged from the beginning by starting your speech with a question or a fun activity. You could also include them in your stories by sharing anecdotes that showcase the couple's unique qualities and how they interact with others. This approach will make your speech more relatable and enjoyable for the audience.

Be Self-Deprecating

Don't be afraid to poke fun at yourself. Talk about how the bride or groom excels at something you don't, or share a story about a time they helped you. This approach will not only get a laugh but also compliment the couple and keep your speech relaxed.

Avoid crude humour, inside jokes, and cliches

Avoid Crude Humour, Inside Jokes, and Clichés

While you might be tempted to delve into some risqué jokes or roast the newlyweds, it's best to steer clear of crude humour and inside jokes. Remember, the goal is to make your speech inclusive and enjoyable for all guests. Here are some tips to help you navigate this tricky terrain:

Keep It Clean

As tempting as it may be to push the boundaries with risqué jokes or stories, it's important to respect the celebratory nature of the occasion. A good rule of thumb is to use the "Grandma Test": ask yourself, "Would I feel comfortable saying this in front of my grandma? If the answer is no, it's best to leave it out. Crude humour can easily veer into inappropriate territory and may offend some guests. It's also important to avoid any jokes or stories that might embarrass the couple or other guests.

Avoid Inside Jokes

While it's natural to want to include inside jokes that only a few people will understand, it's essential to ensure that the majority of your speech resonates with everyone. Inside jokes can make those not "in the know" feel excluded and can fall flat for most of your audience. Instead, focus on shared experiences or observations that all guests can relate to. This way, you'll create a more inclusive and enjoyable atmosphere.

Steer Clear of Clichés

When it comes to wedding speeches, it's best to avoid generic jokes and wedding-related puns. These can come across as unoriginal and may induce eye rolls from your audience. Instead, aim for unique humour that showcases the couple's true personalities. Exaggerate their quirks, play with contrasts, or share a secret (nothing too embarrassing, of course!). This will create a more memorable and personalised speech.

Be Mindful of Cultural Sensitivities

Be cautious when using humour that relies on cultural stereotypes or references that may not be understood or appreciated by all guests. What may seem harmless to you could unintentionally cause offence. It's important to be respectful and mindful of the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of your audience.

Keep It Tasteful

While it's fine to poke gentle fun at the bride or groom, be mindful of the tone and content of your jokes. Avoid anything that could be perceived as mean-spirited or cruel. You want your humour to be good-natured and affectionate. Additionally, be cautious when mentioning exes or revisiting drunken stories—these topics can be a slippery slope and may reflect poorly on the couple or other individuals.

Balance Humour with Sentiment

A successful wedding speech strikes a delicate balance between humour and sentiment. Too much of either can be overwhelming. Intersperse your funny stories or one-liners with heartfelt sentiments about the couple, their relationship, and your wishes for their future. This will create a well-rounded speech that touches on all the emotional beats of the occasion.

Tell funny stories and anecdotes

How to Tell Funny Stories and Anecdotes in a Wedding Speech

Preparation

Start by writing down the story in longhand, as you remember it happening. If it's a story you heard from someone else, write it down as closely as you can remember it being told to you. Then, juggle the facts around until you find the funniest combination. It's okay to exaggerate a little, as long as you do it gently and with sincerity. Re-read your story and ask yourself: will this make the happy couple, the top table, and all the guests laugh? Make sure to keep your story simple, light, and funny, avoiding complicated narratives or too many characters.

Story Placement

Don't let the story seem like it's been dropped into the speech without reason. Instead, weave it in gently, so gently that no one sees it coming. Start with an introduction, then seamlessly introduce the story, and finish with a happy toast to the newly married couple.

Story Types

There are several types of stories you can tell about the bride or groom. These include:

• The roast: an embarrassing story about the bride or groom. Make sure the person you're roasting is comfortable with it, or at least that they won't seek revenge!
• The other roast: a bold story about the bride or groom, perhaps about something wild and daring they did in their youth.
• Impressive character stories: these stories are usually inspirational, focusing on a time when the bride or groom showed courage or perseverance. They can also be funny, especially if linked to a well-known characteristic of the person.

Story Sources

If you're struggling to come up with stories, try asking the bride or groom, or their parents and friends, for anecdotes. You can also look through old photographs or consider the arguments, crashing parties, or disagreements you had with the person when you were younger.

Storytelling Tips

• Keep your stories light-hearted, focusing on positive traits of the bride or groom.
• Make your story unique, honest, and insightful, steering clear of generic wedding-related jokes.
• Keep your content pacey and your jokes short. If you have a lengthy anecdote, save it for the bar.
• Be self-deprecating. Talk about how the bride or groom excels at something you don't, and poke fun at yourself.
• Tease the couple a bit, but keep it light and good-natured.

Make it personal

Making your wedding speech funny and personal can be a challenging task. Here are some tips to help you achieve this:

Know Your Subjects

The key to making your speech personal is to focus on the unique qualities of the couple. Think about their personalities, interests, and quirks. What makes them a bit odd or unique as individuals? Are they obsessed with the gym, bossy, or lacking hair? Do they have any standout qualities or characteristics? Exaggerate their qualities and push their weaknesses to the extreme. This will show that you care about them and make your speech more memorable.

Ask Questions

Asking questions can help you uncover funny stories or incidents to include in your speech. Ask the couple what annoys them about each other, or ask friends and family for stories. Think about the first time you met the couple or the bride/groom – was it particularly comical? Retell the story, as first impressions can be haphazard and ridiculous, making for great anecdotes.

Share Secrets

Do you know any secrets about the couple that are worth sharing? Perhaps the bride used to fancy Ed Milliband, or the groom won a Butlins Talent Contest as a teenager. Now might be the time to mention it! Just make sure it's not too embarrassing.

Exaggerate

If the couple has a reputation for something, have a laugh with it. For example, "Her legs have done more rotations than the best man's head when the bridesmaids walked in."

Be Self-Deprecating

Make fun of yourself in addition to the couple. Talk about how the bride or groom excels at something you don't. This will get a laugh, keep the speech relaxed, and compliment the couple all at the same time.

Include Relatable Content

Share something that most people in the audience can relate to. For example, "You won't believe it, but (the bride) has finally given up holding out for Ryan Gosling and decided a kebab-munching, golf-obsessed Project Manager from Basingstoke is a better option instead."

Practice your delivery

Practice makes perfect, and this is especially true when it comes to wedding speeches. Even the most well-written, hilarious speech will fall flat if it's not delivered effectively. Here are some tips to help you nail your delivery and have your guests rolling with laughter:

Know Your Material

Before you focus on your delivery, make sure you know your material inside out. Read through your speech several times to familiarise yourself with the content. The better you know your speech, the more confident you'll feel when delivering it.

Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse

Recite your wedding speech out loud at least three to six times before the wedding day. The more you practise, the more comfortable you'll become with the material, and the more natural your delivery will sound. Practising aloud will also help you identify any areas that need improvement and make sure there are no clunky phrases or difficult words.

Focus on Pacing

Pay attention to the pace at which you're delivering your speech. Some sections may require you to slow down, while others will have a stronger impact when delivered at a faster pace. Vary your pacing to maximise the humour and keep your audience engaged.

Play with Tone

The tone of your voice can make or break a joke. Experiment with different tones to see what helps your jokes land best. Try a dry, sarcastic tone for some jokes, and a cheeky, playful tone for others.

Project Your Voice

Make sure you speak loudly and clearly so that everyone can hear your funny lines, even those at the back of the room. This is important even if you're using a microphone, as it will ensure your voice carries and your speech is easy to follow.

Use Body Language

Use body language to convey confidence and engage your audience. Maintain strong posture and make eye contact, and use facial expressions and hand gestures to emphasise your points and add humour to your delivery. Remember to appear relaxed and confident, even if you're feeling nervous.

Embrace Mistakes

If you stumble over your words or make a mistake during your speech, embrace it! Often, the audience will find it amusing, and it can even add to the humour of your speech. Remember, everyone knows that delivering a speech can be nerve-wracking, so they will be sympathetic if things don't go exactly according to plan.

Frequently asked questions