The vows
Your wedding vows and the most important and meaningful part of your big day. Writing your own vows gives you the option to add more sentiment and personalisation to your ceremony.
There are a few rules to take into consideration. Legally a civil ceremony cannot contain vows, readings or music that have any religious references. You do have to have the statutory declarations and call upon those present to witness your vows, but other than that, you can pretty much include anything you like, from a meaningful poem to romantic quotes from your favourite films. The important thing to remember is that they should come from the heart.
Take inspiration from your favourite romantic movies – the most memorable ones –
The speech Hugh Grant gives as best man is the perfect combination of sentiment and humour - “I am, as ever, in bewildered awe of anyone who makes this kind of commitment as Angus and Laura have made today”. Yes, he had script writers do it for him, but you get the gist!
The best man speech
It can be nerve-wracking when you become the chosen one to stand up in front of a large group of friends and strangers with huge expectations to make them laugh and cry. But there are a number of inappropriate comments and phrases that need to be edited out of your moment in the spotlight.
What to avoid
Inappropriate stories from the groom’s past
In-jokes only the lads will get
Offensive comments about any of the guests
Risky remarks about honeymoon activities
What to include
An introduction and how you know the groom
Clean jokes at the groom’s expense
Advice on love and marriage
Compliments to the bride
A toast to the happy couple
Five ways to guarantee a laugh
Tell tales
Use props
Get the guests involved
Poke fun at yourself
Open with a joke
If the thought of writing your own vows or speeches fills you with dread, fear not, there are hundreds of examples and templates online that you can customise.
You can also find advice on structure, as well as tips for success and examples of speeches – good and bad!
As a couple, this is the most important day of your life so it makes sense to put in the time and effort to perfect it. If you’re giving a speech as another member of the wedding party it might be a good idea to connect with your fellow speech-givers to coordinate content and bolster confidence. Good luck!