Over here at weddingsonline HQ, we’ve been to a fair share of weddings and heard A LOT of wedding speeches. We can tell you that all the best ones did not start with “For anyone who doesn’t know me.” Most guests will already know who you are, especially if you are a sibling or family member. The couple has probably spoken about you or guests would have read your name in the wedding programmes. We do recommend introducing yourself at some point, but please do it without those dreaded six words. Remember that your introduction is important because you’ve got 30 seconds to grab everybody’s attention. If you’re stuck, we’ve got some fun toast starters you can steal!
Related: How to Write a Killer Maid of Honour Speech
A quick introduction
Keep it simple! Here are some examples:
“Hi, I’m Esther and I’m the bride’s sister!”
“Hello everyone! I’m Glen’s brother, Jason.”
“Good evening everybody. I’m the couple’s best bud, Matt.”
An introduction with a twist
Add some flavour to your opening line by introducing yourself with a twist.
“If you don’t already know me by now, you’re probably in the wrong room!”
With flattery
Flattery really goes a long way! Open your speech by saying something complimentary about the couple.
“Doesn’t my bestie look amazing today?”
“Well, you guys look amazing today!”
Be sentimental
Applaud the couple for their love.
“Love is not about how many days, weeks or months you’ve been together. It’s about how much you love each other every day.”
Introduce a recurring theme
A strong way to start your speech is by introducing a theme that pops up again. For example, you could talk about how opposites attract!
“Hello, my name is Emily and I’m here to talk about my awesome friends, Faith and John. They are truly a story of opposites attracting. John’s favourite food is french fries and Faith is allergic to potatoes. Faith has an ice cream obsession and John is lactose intolerant. Thankfully, things have a way of working out. We are gathered here tonight to celebrate the most important thing they have in common… love.”
Make them laugh
If you’re going to open with comedy, do it confidently and do it well. The first step is to know your audience! The best toast starters are usually the funniest.
“Thank you James for your very kind -and expected- compliments on the beauty of the bride and bridesmaids. What can a woman do but agree? We are indeed exceptionally gorgeous!”
“Doug and Elizabeth actually had a bit of trouble finding somebody to make a speech today. They started by asking their funniest friend, and they said no. Next, they asked their most charming friend, and they said no. Then, they asked their best-looking friend and, again, they said no. After that, they asked me, and after already turning them down three times, I couldn’t say no again.”
Make them kiss
You can never go wrong by getting the newlyweds to kiss!
