Any brides giving a speech?

I am very very tempted! Just haven't made a final decision. Are you keeping it a secret?

Keeping it a secret from everyone except OH as I need him to know I will be doing some of the thank you presents.

Also I have included a poem to my mum and I want to give her a surprise. Im not that close to my dad and struggling what to say in my speech. he is still doing all the dad stuff but he really hasnt been interesting in the whole wedding.

Yes, yes, yes definitely! For the simple reason I can do a speech in French for my family, and H2B can do his in English for his! And because I don't like the traditional speeches, I prefer a "whoever wants to say something" approach!

I am. My OH knows I am and so do most of the bridal party. The surprise will be for the guests although I am very talkative ? and always people joke about that so my speech will start with, "As many of you no doubt thought I would, yes, I am making a speech!" It's an in-joke with friends and family that I am like the Donkey in Shrek: "Making him shut up, that's the problem!" LOL

I have difficulty planning my speech because I will be making it in English but a few guests and two of the wedding party are not fluent in English so i am debating how to make sure they understand the speeches (was thinking, as I've seen at another wedding, to have the speech text running on a plasma screen in translation, but that would cost us a fortune!). My Mum is OK with English but she gets lost when people start making a play on words, or references to things you'd have to be British to understand... Same for some of the guests (about 10% of the audience).

where are they from?

Sorry, I forgot to mention - they are from Romania, where I was born. I came to the UK in 1995 as a journalist and I was doing a course at the BBC World Service Radio Journalism Course and I met my Leeds-based ex-husband so I moved here in June 1995 (15 years already OMG!)...

This is the poem I am going to read in my speech to my mum. She has paid 75% of our wedding and means the world to me.

My Treasure (For Mum)
Kit McCallum

I look back on these years
To see how far I've come and grown,
I take a trip down memory lane,
And what I see has shown ...

That every step I've taken,
You have been there by my side ...
From infancy to adulthood,
We've stood the test of time.

You cradled me and nurtured me,
Through all these many years;
You held me and did comfort me,
Through happiness and tears.

You'd pick me up when I would fall,
You'd dust me off and then,
Encourage me to get back on
That bike and ride again.

Your constant care and loving,
And your warm inviting heart,
Has always been a treasure
that I knew would n'er depart.

If I could be "just half" the person
You have been to me ...
Then you have taught me well dear mum,
For in my heart I see ...

A woman whose most gentle soul,
Embraces me each day ...
A woman whom I dearly love,
Much more than words can say

What do you think? Its only a small part of the speech.

I'm blubbering my eyes out at that poem! It's beautiful!

Brilliant Sammyjay thats the affect im going for especially as the rest of my speech is rubbish!

I need to mention OH grandparents who are no longer with us but I never got to meet them so finding it difficult in what to say.

Awww missmidwife, you have me now so emotional! That's just how I feel about my Mum! Excellent! Fitting tribute to your Mum!

here's what I am reading for my OH's Dad (no MOG you see) - the poem is adapted - originally is for a Mother:

Our Dad

You are the father I received

The day I wed your son.

And I just want to thank you, Dad,

For all the things you've done.

You've given me a gracious man

with whom I share my life.

You are his loving father

and I his lucky wife.

You used to pat his little head

and now I hold his hand.

You raised in love a little boy

then gave to me a man.

Aw thats lovely hun.

x

Cmon guys! With only 4 weeks to go even TV ads are making me cry! I dont need poems like those! Im proper blubbing now!!![:'(]

On another note, I might make a speech by commandeering the DJs mic late in the night after Ive had a few shandies!! hehe

I will be making a speech my OH wont know about it. I want to do it at the end of the speeches and it will start like this. "I'm starting this marriage as I mean to go on me having the last word..." thats all ive got for now lol

I won't be as H2B doesn't like it! x

Nor does mine.

We were at a family wedding 10 years ago and the bride's speech was sooo much longer than the grooms, we felt it was a bit embarrassing and upstaged the groom.

It seems more popular than it was back then though.

Missmidwife im in tears just reading that! hats off to you because i dont think id make it all the way hrough reading it out! it is beauiful though!!!

Im not going to make a speach as im not really that bothered about doing one. OH will speak on behalf of us both and say the thank yous!! im more likely to say what i want to in the thank you cards hat go with the thank you gifts!!!!

Mine starts off similar with the im starting as I mean to go on line.

I had a practice and I cried so will need to read it through a few more times.

My OH really hates public speaking so is happy that I am saying something as well.

I definitely want to say something, and everyone who knows me will expect me too, I've been considering just speaking from the heart when the time comes, without planning an actual speech. I know that might sound crazy to some but it's how I work best usually!

Love the poems that people have posted, I had to wipe away some tears. Not sure how I'll not cry by the time it gets round to our day!!

We're not planning on having the traditional speeches at our wedding, no father of bride or best man speech, instead the two of us will do speeches although we haven't decided yet whether it'll be separately or together although I'd like the last word!

I aint gona be making a speach! I might be a good talker generally, but Im not good with the public speaking!! lol. Im gona leave it to the OH!!