Wedding speeches

[anaemicenglishtea]

To hate weddings where all the men do the talking and the women sit around looking lovely like wall flowers. I have been to a few where the only time a woman spoke to everyone was when the bride said her vows. I asked dh and he said that's the tradition. (British white-weddings, not the race but the type of wedding)

I gave the only speech at my wedding.

It went:

"Oy, you lot, be quiet. Right, S and I love you all, thanks for coming to our wedding. Pig on a stick is that way, cider is that way. Knock you're selves out.

We're going to try to dance now, please don't laugh at us too much."

But then, I had no table plans, no formal meal and no day or evening guests. We got married in the late afternoon and then piled over to the sports club for a massive piss up party.

Edit, we did have guests - but nobody was a defined guest. Everyone that was invited came to the whole thing.

I agree. It bugs me too.
Given that lots of the speeches contain thank yous I sort of feel a bit disappointed if the bride is content to let everyone else do it on her behalf.

But Captain maybe the bride doesn't want to. I can't help thinking that people are making too much of an issue about this.

Well I (female) am doing the best man's speech at my (male) mate's wedding next year. I'm shitting myself about doing a good job but hopefully it will at least be a nice change for the guests to hear a woman speaking.

I'm getting married in a few weeks and I am planning to give a speech. Its my wedding so I want to thank everyone for coming, etc, though I know my DP will include that in his speech too. It seems odd to sit meekly by whilst the groom, best man, and my dad give speeches and not actually say something myself. I don't need anyone to speak for me, I have a voice and I intend to use it.

I've also asked my sister to be my witness, and I will be walking down the aisle with my DP.

Is this men-only tradition particularly British? In the US, the speeches are toasts and they are, first of all, generally short. The usual order is best man, maid of honor, bride and groom, father and mother of the bride, and father and mother of the groom.

I totally agree with you. At my wedding my Husbands best man was his sister, which really upset some family members as it was not traditional. However he is very close to his sister and he also has a couple of close male friends so could not choose.
My sister also made a little speech.

I (as the new bride) did the opening speeches at our wedding, then my Dad, the best men (whom were fantastic!) and then my husband.

Everyone knows we're an equal partnership so expected me to say something

Yes, I agree OP! Me and my DH both did speeches, as did the maid of honour and the best man, and my dad. They were all short, no one wants to sit through an hour of orations.

I didn't make a speech, I wouldn't have enjoyed it as I hate public speaking. My dad is the same, I wish I had told him he really didn't have to speak but I think my mum would have insisted anyway. Speeches do get a bit long and boring sometimes, I think they should be more like short toasts.

My daughter was MOH at her best friend's wedding, and did a speech that was funny and heartwarming. Not a dry eye in house.

My wedding is a week today and I have just finished composing my speech No way am I going to sit there silently! Besides, I'm much better at public speaking than my DH-to-be so he's asked if I can do his bit too and he won't speak! I think anything goes these days - lots of my friends are doing speeches either on their own or along with their husbands and I think it's much nicer.

There was no way I wouldn't be making a speech at my wedding. As it happens female speeches outnumbered male ones! My mum did the speech as my dad doesn't like public speaking, two of my bridesmaids did a joint speech, I then did a speech, then husband and best man. They weren't too long so hopefully we didn't bore anyone! I love it when the bride gives a speech too! Saying that I went against a lot of 'tradition'....didn't change my surname, wore bright blue heels and got married on a Monday!