Comments on: Make every word count http://manolobrides.com/2008/07/14/some-dos-and-donts-of-speechifying/ Manolo Loves the Brides! Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:59:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: La BellaDonna http://manolobrides.com/2008/07/14/some-dos-and-donts-of-speechifying/comment-page-1/#comment-191087 La BellaDonna Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:58:54 +0000 http://manolobrides.com/?p=1648#comment-191087 Twistie, my mouth is hanging open. I don't know the pie joke - and I'm pretty sure I don't want to. That's horrific. (Note to self: Prepare moderately expensive line of "Bridal" Super-Soakers, with minimum 25-foot distance, suitable for cutting short similar speeches.) Twistie, my mouth is hanging open. I don’t know the pie joke – and I’m pretty sure I don’t want to. That’s horrific.

(Note to self: Prepare moderately expensive line of “Bridal” Super-Soakers, with minimum 25-foot distance, suitable for cutting short similar speeches.)

]]> By: Dianasaur http://manolobrides.com/2008/07/14/some-dos-and-donts-of-speechifying/comment-page-1/#comment-190733 Dianasaur Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:11:22 +0000 http://manolobrides.com/?p=1648#comment-190733 Our best man and MOH were the only ones to do speeches. We wanted to keep it short. I've seen both sides of the spectrum. On the positive end we went to a wedding where the groom had been addicted to drugs as a teenager and young man, but went through a year long rehab program called teen challenge and it was a beautiful wedding focused on the amazing good that God can bring from horrible circumstances. Several people shared and it was so honoring and uplifting of the bride and groom. On the negative, we were at a wedding where the groom's father was the best man, and he went on and on about how they were sure he'd never amount to anything, fail's at everything. Probably the nicest quote, "we never thought he'd get a driver's license, I don't know how he got a marriage license." The worst part was that the dad seemed to think he was being funny and complimentary. It was so dysfunctional. Sadly that marriage didn't last long. Our best man and MOH were the only ones to do speeches. We wanted to keep it short. I’ve seen both sides of the spectrum.

On the positive end we went to a wedding where the groom had been addicted to drugs as a teenager and young man, but went through a year long rehab program called teen challenge and it was a beautiful wedding focused on the amazing good that God can bring from horrible circumstances. Several people shared and it was so honoring and uplifting of the bride and groom.

On the negative, we were at a wedding where the groom’s father was the best man, and he went on and on about how they were sure he’d never amount to anything, fail’s at everything. Probably the nicest quote, “we never thought he’d get a driver’s license, I don’t know how he got a marriage license.” The worst part was that the dad seemed to think he was being funny and complimentary. It was so dysfunctional. Sadly that marriage didn’t last long.

]]> By: Twistie http://manolobrides.com/2008/07/14/some-dos-and-donts-of-speechifying/comment-page-1/#comment-190433 Twistie Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:56:28 +0000 http://manolobrides.com/?p=1648#comment-190433 Mr. Twistie's best man had a lot of practice, having been best man at about six other weddings before ours...including Mr. Twistie's first one. It went swimmingly and was both funny and sweet. Unfortunately, I was MOH in a wedding once where after the best man and the bride's uncle who came all the way from New Zealand for the event both gave wonderful, touching speeches, the groom's entire family gave a set of hideously tacky performances...including his brother who gave a fifteen-minute rendition of the moose turd pie joke (told as personal experience) as a wedding speech. Suddenly, I had a much greater appreciation for my own family who aren't much given to speechifying, but know what's appropriate to say - and not to say - if called upon to speak. Mr. Twistie’s best man had a lot of practice, having been best man at about six other weddings before ours…including Mr. Twistie’s first one. It went swimmingly and was both funny and sweet.

Unfortunately, I was MOH in a wedding once where after the best man and the bride’s uncle who came all the way from New Zealand for the event both gave wonderful, touching speeches, the groom’s entire family gave a set of hideously tacky performances…including his brother who gave a fifteen-minute rendition of the moose turd pie joke (told as personal experience) as a wedding speech. Suddenly, I had a much greater appreciation for my own family who aren’t much given to speechifying, but know what’s appropriate to say – and not to say – if called upon to speak.

]]> By: La BellaDonna http://manolobrides.com/2008/07/14/some-dos-and-donts-of-speechifying/comment-page-1/#comment-190427 La BellaDonna Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:29:28 +0000 http://manolobrides.com/?p=1648#comment-190427 I'd like to take a moment to give props to my brother, who was best man at our eldest brother's wedding. He spoke fluidly and eloquently, and it was both very funny and genuinely touching. It was also apparently completely <i>ex tempore,</i> and he didn't remember a word of it. Fortunately, I believe it has been immortalized on video (thanks, video!) and put on CD, and I look forward to being able to appreciate it again. I’d like to take a moment to give props to my brother, who was best man at our eldest brother’s wedding. He spoke fluidly and eloquently, and it was both very funny and genuinely touching.

It was also apparently completely ex tempore, and he didn’t remember a word of it. Fortunately, I believe it has been immortalized on video (thanks, video!) and put on CD, and I look forward to being able to appreciate it again.

]]> By: De http://manolobrides.com/2008/07/14/some-dos-and-donts-of-speechifying/comment-page-1/#comment-190158 De Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:47:55 +0000 http://manolobrides.com/?p=1648#comment-190158 Of course, if you want your wedding party to give a speech, it would be awesome if you told them ahead of time. The Wedding We Generally Don't Speak Of (or The Trainwreck of '06) was a moment of triumph for my improv skills - because the Bride didn't mention she expected a speech of me until she hissed at me to "get up by the best man - you HAVE to give your speech". ((For the two months leading to the ceremony she'd maintained a "no speeches" position to all of us.)) Yeah....I ended up pulling something appropriate out of my butt that people seemed to like, but I hated being put on the spot. Maybe because I'm an overachiever and would have liked to practice and have a GREAT speech instead of a "that was...nice" speech. I'm determined that when the day comes, if I expect anything of someone for my ceremony or reception, by golly, I'll tell them in advance! Of course, if you want your wedding party to give a speech, it would be awesome if you told them ahead of time. The Wedding We Generally Don’t Speak Of (or The Trainwreck of ’06) was a moment of triumph for my improv skills – because the Bride didn’t mention she expected a speech of me until she hissed at me to “get up by the best man – you HAVE to give your speech”. ((For the two months leading to the ceremony she’d maintained a “no speeches” position to all of us.))

Yeah….I ended up pulling something appropriate out of my butt that people seemed to like, but I hated being put on the spot. Maybe because I’m an overachiever and would have liked to practice and have a GREAT speech instead of a “that was…nice” speech.

I’m determined that when the day comes, if I expect anything of someone for my ceremony or reception, by golly, I’ll tell them in advance!

]]> By: Never teh Bride http://manolobrides.com/2008/07/14/some-dos-and-donts-of-speechifying/comment-page-1/#comment-189929 Never teh Bride Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:39:22 +0000 http://manolobrides.com/?p=1648#comment-189929 I try to be timely when I can, met! I hope your speech went dazzlingly! I try to be timely when I can, met! I hope your speech went dazzlingly!

]]> By: met http://manolobrides.com/2008/07/14/some-dos-and-donts-of-speechifying/comment-page-1/#comment-189878 met Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:49:27 +0000 http://manolobrides.com/?p=1648#comment-189878 2 days too late! I did my speech on Saturday. If you type in wedding speech on youtube, you will find many speeches of videos. These gave me a great idea of what to do and what not to do. 2 days too late! I did my speech on Saturday. If you type in wedding speech on youtube, you will find many speeches of videos. These gave me a great idea of what to do and what not to do.

]]> By: dr nic http://manolobrides.com/2008/07/14/some-dos-and-donts-of-speechifying/comment-page-1/#comment-189797 dr nic Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:35:04 +0000 http://manolobrides.com/?p=1648#comment-189797 I just gave a toast three weeks ago when I was in my friend's wedding. I will admit that I winged it (jotted some notes as I was going from the hair salon to the bride's house to change). I kept it short and to the point. The groom's dad, however talked for > 5min with props. There's a great shot the photographer got of both bride and groom looking horrified/embarrassed. The best man at our wedding was absolutely, completely, and 100% drunk by the time he gave our toast (he actually doesn't remember giving the speech). Thankfully, no one listening to him had any idea, mostly because his (ex)wife insisted that he write it down. And it was a great speech. I'd definitely have something written down. I just gave a toast three weeks ago when I was in my friend’s wedding. I will admit that I winged it (jotted some notes as I was going from the hair salon to the bride’s house to change). I kept it short and to the point. The groom’s dad, however talked for > 5min with props. There’s a great shot the photographer got of both bride and groom looking horrified/embarrassed.

The best man at our wedding was absolutely, completely, and 100% drunk by the time he gave our toast (he actually doesn’t remember giving the speech). Thankfully, no one listening to him had any idea, mostly because his (ex)wife insisted that he write it down. And it was a great speech.

I’d definitely have something written down.

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