It could be time to drop the mic…
ACCORDING to a Top Ten list of 2017 wedding trends the traditional wedding day speeches are on the way out to be replaced by the ‘short and sweet’ approach. You could say it’s a bit harsh minimizing the importance of saying a few words on the most important day of your life; but on deeper reflection, this might actually end up as win-win situation for everyone.
Think about it logically for a second: how many times can you recall the build up to someone’s wedding where stress, strain and anguish caused by speech preparation has left people in an awful state when they should be looking forward to the best day in their life? Quite a lot I imagine.
The fact is that the majority of people don’t like public speaking and those that do tend to waffle on for far longer than desired. Perhaps the 2017 trend of keeping speeches short and sweet is long overdue. Here’s an option: why not leave little sentimental, pre-prepared messages on tables for guests to read? This can be just as intimate as a speech, if not more so.
Why should you spend 25 minutes talking only because you think it’s going to be ‘ the best speech ever’? You don’t have to do this. The groom, best man, father of the bride – and anyone else who has been caught to say a few words – will enjoy the day far better if they stop worrying about a lengthy speech. And don’t for one second try to dismiss or underestimate the stress this causes people. It’s real.
So just enjoy the meal, say it like you mean it (you don’t have to be a standup comedian!) and enjoy the rest of the evening as you had planned. This says it all.