Breaking tradition with the Bride's Speech...

The speeches can often be one of the best parts of a wedding day - when done well, of course! They are the opportunity to share with your nearest and dearest golden nuggets of your past, present and future that maybe they didn't know. A chance to reminisce and share your love story, thank those that have shared in it, and toast your new husband or wife for all their wonderfulness. They'll no doubt be laughter, tears and rounds of applause as the room share in your happiness on your wedding day.

Traditionally this has been left to the Groom, his Best Man and the Father of the Bride, however over recent years this has been increasingly challenged by the Brides among us that want to have the chance to share our love, our stories and our thanks. Will you be one of them?

With the Bride’s speech on the rise, it wasn't hard for us to enlist the help of two happily married wives to share with us why they took to the mic and made a speech on their wedding day. In fact, we had quite a few newly married Brides that were eager to share their story and encourage other Brides-to-be to do the same and make a speech – let’s be honest, when else are you likely to have all of your favourite people all in one room and able to shout out loud how happy you are?!

Image Credit: Kim Lee and Antonia Grace Photography

Because the Bride's speech isn't an age-old tradition, it means there are no rules to follow. It allows you total freedom over what you want to say, when in the line-up you want to speak and how short and sweet or long and telling it'll be. The choices really are all yours.

From experience, most of the Bride's speeches we've heard have all had combined elements of thanks, storytelling and a brief spell of gushing about their new husband, and their happiness. It's your opportunity to thank your guests personally for sharing your big day, for their support in life, and your future with your husband. Special thanks could be given to your bridal party for all their love, support, friendship and help - these girls have been through it all with you.

You may wish to share a little about your love story - how you met each other, special memories you’ve made, and how much you are looking forward to your future with your new husband. Don't forget, you can embarrass him just a little if you wish too!

We have shared our thoughts and tips with you, but really the best advice and inspiration comes from other Brides. First up is Kim, a newly married Bride who chose to quash traditional and make a speech at her wedding day earlier this year. Kim is a Swindon based personal trainer who in fact works regularly with Brides-to-be to get themselves looking and feeling their best for their wedding day and beyond. We're pretty sure that Kim will be encouraging all her clients to say a few words if that's what they want to do, and to dismiss any fears over breaking tradition.

Image Credit: Kim Lee and Antonia Grace Photography

Here's what Kim had to say...

What made you decide to make a speech?

I decided to do the speech because it's also my day too. Traditionally it is something that is left to the Groom, but I also wanted to thank my guests, my bridal party and of course express my love to my new husband.

Were you guests shocked when you took to the microphone?

The guests actually loved that I contributed to the day with a Bride's speech, the feedback was fab and some of my guests who are already married said, "I wish I did one at my wedding."

Can you share a little of the content of your speech? What did you choose to say?

All the workouts we've sweated, all the holidays we've shared, all the food we've demolished and told our PT clients not to eat, I am nothing without Tony. He is my best friend, my soul mate, my partner in crime and he completes me like no other.

I decided to say the traditional thank you's but I also included at what point in our relationship I knew that Tony was the one for me.

Was your groom aware you were going to say a few words, or was it a surprise!?

My husband knew I was going to do a speech, in fact he was a little worried mine would be better than his, haha!

Would you recommend other Brides-to-be make speeches at their upcoming weddings, and why?

Without a doubt, times have changed and I think it's a great way to enjoy your big day even more. I loved every minute of it.

Anything else you’d love to share or say to Brides-to-be?

Yes, we also had our bridesmaids include a speech on our wedding day, my ladies did a fab job!

Also, our top table seated just the Groom and I - we decided to do this so we could spend some time together, take in the atmosphere of the room and enjoy it for what it was meant to be for, us!

Remember that this is your day, we loved that our wedding wasn't "traditional", it was more personal to us. Don't be afraid to do something slightly different.

Image Credit: Kim Lee and Antonia Grace Photography

Up next is Steph, a happily married wife who almost a decade ago decided that it was really important she spoke on her wedding day. Steph is owner of Venues Covered, a highly successful Whitewed approved event styling and hire company based in Swindon. Steph meets hundreds of Brides-to-be every year and is always keen to encourage them to make their day special and just as they want to - speech or no speech.

Here's what Steph had to say...

What made you decide to make a speech?

It was a joint decision between myself and Baz. We both felt we had different things we could contribute to the speeches, that would only make sense if said by one of us or the other.

We did my speech at the end of the 'traditional' speeches, so I 'got the last word in'!

Were you guests shocked when you took to the microphone?

Yes and no. The whole idea of the Bride's speech was a bit different, which did catch a lot of our guests off guard; but, then again, most of our guests knew that I wouldn't not say anything!

Can you share a little of the content of your speech? What did you choose to say?

The main parts of my speech were thanking our parents, both for being supportive of us as a couple (we were only 22 and 25 when we married), but for also helping us to become the people we were by supporting our dreams and helping us get to where we wanted to be. Both Baz and I felt that this was incredibly important, but felt it would sound better coming from me. My main aim was to make my Mum cry, and I managed that, while also making my Sister and Mother-in-Law cry in the process!

Would you recommend other Brides-to-be make speeches at their upcoming weddings, and why?

Times have changed, particularly over the last decade, where Brides are wanting to put more of a personal stamp on their own weddings, and the 'traditional' ideas of a wedding are changing for the better. Speeches in general are becoming more elaborate, so why shouldn't a Bride be able to thank her guests and tell her own story, without leaving that job up to the Groom?

If you feel confident enough, go for it...it's something that I loved about my wedding day, and I know a lot of our guests still talk about my speech nearly a decade on.

If you’ve got a lot love to share and thanks to give, then don’t shy away from being a Bride having her say! Break the dated tradition of the men only speeches and excite your guests by sharing your words with them too. We’re pretty certain that you won’t regret it!

Happy Planning x

*Main Image Credit: Kim Lee and Antonia Grace Photography