Unwanted speech at wedding

[Didntwanttochangemyname]

Soon to be DH and I are planning our wedding, and his mother has just announced she wants to do a speech.

She is a terrible public speaker, confirmed by all her children.

She does not have good social skills.

She doesn't like me because I'm not good enough for her DS, and is vocal about this.

I've spoken to stbDH and he doesn't want her to either but how on earth do we say no without coming across as horrible?

Frankly, it's stress I could do without!

"Sorry we're keeping it traditional, so just the usual father of the bride, best man and grooms speeches".

I think you just have to say a straight, clear no to this one TBH, and worry about the fallout later.

No.

It's all you need to say.

Easy peasy. Give her a reading at the wedding ceremony, pre-scripted, one of the traditional ones. So she gets to stand up and do something, but script is dictated and dots before the alcohol gets going! Explain it as you would much rather she were part of the main wedding ceremony, and get your celebrant/vicar on side in advance to explain her to that she must only say the scripted words, as time will be tight...

Trouble is are we being totally not traditional, so the speeches are a bit unusual, which I think is why she thought she could have a crack at it.
But that is a great idea to give her a reading, I'll go and suggest it to stbDH now!
Thank you!

Maybe just don't do any speeches! Or tell her you are not doing them and then have DH do and impromptu one on the night

The thing is, the people we've asked to speak are people we'd like to hear, we've thought it trough and it is important to us.
I don't want to have to cancel all speeches for fear of offending her.
I think PP were right that it's going to have to just be a 'no thanks', but offer her a reading instead.

I would understand it if it was because she felt a bit left out, but she's not shown any interest in any of it until now, 2 months before!

The last thing guests want to do is listen to too many speeches all waffling on about the same thing. Just tell her although you’d love to hear everyone speak, you have to draw a line somewhere otherwise the speeches would go on all night! Offering a reading as an alternative is a good compromise.

(Side note: It does bug me though that the “traditional” route is always the men speaking on behalf of the women...)