The bride’s speech: Where to start

If you’re thinking of saying a few words on your big day, here’s some pointers as to what you might include in your wedding speech

• Thank everyone who’s attending, especially long‐lost friends and people who’ve travelled a long way.
• Thank those people who’ve supported you through the stress of preparing for the wedding.
• Include a special word about your mum, not just to thank her for her role in the wedding preparations, but to describe your relationship with her over the years.
• If you like, you could echo the pattern of your new husband’s speech: how you met; your first impressions; things you like and didn’t like about him; how the relationship developed; your thoughts on love and marriage; a more personal message from you to him.
• Thank your guests for all their gifts (if the groom hasn’t done so already).
• If you are thanking other people, it might make more sense for you, rather than the groom, to thank the bridesmaids.
• A popular American innovation is for the bride to finish with a toast to the guests.