For a wedding speech to truly resonate – and be unforgettable – you need to take the audience on an emotional rollercoaster. That may sound like a daunting task but here’s the good news: you don’t need to be a professional speaker to achieve it. All you need are the right elements and a little heart. Dubai-based presenter, communication coach and TEDx speaker Flo Akinbiyi shares the art of impactful speaking…
I suggest using a simple framework with five touchpoints that you can mix, match, blend, remix and sprinkle throughout your speech. Follow them step by step or just select the ones that speak to you. Try to be authentic and use these steps in your own unique way – that will make your speech memorable.
Firstly, make them laugh. You want your audience to smile, to loosen up, to lean in. Gently poking fun at the bride and groom is one of the easiest and most effective ways to get the room laughing. Everyone knows the couple. They know their quirks, weird habits and personality traits, and that’s what makes it relatable – a little friendly teasing about how the groom can’t cook to save his life or how the bride’s obsession with organising drives everyone crazy. It brings people together and shows love. But here is the key: this is not a stand-up comedy gig. Let the laughter flow but then bring it back.
After laughter, create a moment where people feel something. If a beloved parent or family member is no longer with us, acknowledging them can be both touching and uplifting. Talk about how proud they would be, how much they would love seeing this moment, and how they live on through the love the couple shares. Alternatively, you can talk about the love between the couple, the way they care for each other, how they look at each other, how they lift each other up. That is the kind of thing that brings tears to people’s eyes.
Your friends have just got married, so talk about it. Even if some of the guests are not hitched, marriage is a universal topic that unites people. Marriage is beautiful but also requires work. It’s fun, but it’s also a commitment. It’s exciting, but it comes with challenges. Drop a little wisdom into your speech. Talk about the reality that is building a home together and supporting each other when things get hard. Let them know this is the beginning of something big and that they need to go all in. It’s not just about being in love. It’s about staying in love and choosing love every single day.
After the serious stuff, elevate the moment with inspiration. Think about the couple’s dreams, their vision and what they can achieve together. Describe the potential they have and talk about their exciting journey ahead. Give them – and the audience – a reason to believe in love and hope.
As you approach the end of your speech, leave the wedding party with a takeaway. Here’s where you can have fun. A strong finale can be simple. For example, ‘Let’s raise our glasses to the incredible Mr and Mrs!’ It could be a poignant or humorous quote from a famous person. How about a song lyric or a line from a poem? Maybe it’s a personal line from you. All of these are great and effective ways to end your speech.
But here’s something even more powerful: involve the audience. Let them be part of the moment. Ask them for a round of applause or sing a line from a love song together. Everyone knows All You Need is Love by the Beatles. Turn your speech into an experience because when the audience feels part of it, they’ll never forget it.
Here’s one last thing to remember. Don’t wing it. Being asked to make a speech at a wedding is an honour. Prepare and practice, use notes if needed, and pour your heart and soul into it. Deliver those words with meaning and conviction. When you step up there with love in your voice, joy in your heart and connection on your mind, you will enchant the wedding party and give the couple a moment that will live with them forever.
Images courtesy of Flo Akinbiyi / Karl Bjorn
