Quick poll ... how many of you did a speaeh or planning to do one?

If you want to and it feels right, then definitely! Men get enough moments in the whole wedding 'thing' anyway. I'm considering doing a speech, or getting my parents to do a joint speech - they suggested this themselves in the first place, so I know they're cool with it!

I'm definitely doing one! It's probably going to be half speech, half thank yous

I did it in the evening as i wanted to ambush all the guests

Thats me!!! Which is why H2B begged me to not to one, and to keep with the tradition of the men doing the speeches. This didnt go down well at first, however a compromise was reached and i will be doing a "thank you" speech at the end of the meal for gifts etc.

He doesnt know on the back of that i'm preparing a rather nice thank you to my groom himself

I never made a conscious decision to do one or not to do one. I thought about it, but in end, I was exhausted by the reception and let the others get on with it.

If it is something you want to do, do it, or else you will regret it. It is not a man only thing anymore, and even if OH is not comfortable doing one, he also can do it - after all which two people do you want to hear most from on a wedding day, rather than uncles or groomsmen.

So it is deemed as being reasonable then?

I'm going to be doing one. My H2Bs family are paying for over half the wedding so I want to make sure they are thanked properly. Plus it'll be nice to make a speech about how much I love him because I dont know if he'll make his soppy enough

Nope, I wont be doing one. Can't think of anything worse for me to have to do! I don't mind the speaking bit, but the idea of speeches is all a bit formal for me and i'd rather just say anything I have to say to whoever it's directed at, rather than to everyone if that makes sense? We aren't having any speeches at our wedding at all though.

Lots of brides do speeches though, so if you feel you'd like to do one, go ahead ?

I didn't, but we didn't do formal speeches. My H stood up and thanked everyone for coming, not much more. If we'd have done formal speeches, I might have done one - I'm quite shy, but I may have done it just to make a point!

If you want to I say go for it. I've been at weddings where the bride has made a speech and it's nice. Didn't think it was odd at all.

Personally I couldn't think of anything worse and I'm quite happy to let the men get on with it

I always have the last word so will be doing a surprise speech :-)

And the 'I always have the last word' line will be my opener

haha- that's the opening of my self written eulogy lol

my wedding speech opened with something along the lines of 'you thought you'd escaped a waffle from me, but actually i just wanted to wait to amush all you evening guests too!' hahaha

I did

I like the idea of it, but I think I'm just going to see how I feel on the day. If I do, it will just be mostly thank yous - not really interested in doing a 'typical' speech with jokes and stories and that sort of thing.

I am! It's pretty much written but I can't decide where to put myself in the running order. What did everyone else do?

I think I will do a speech/thank you's at the end of the other speeches; but maybe if I feel things haven't been said that should (I know it sounds odd).

Very conscious that I don't have any parents there (both deceased) but would like to say something about the people who got me to where I am today, and I'm not confident this will get picked up by everyone else.

Thanks everyone.

I don't plan to. I think my H2B is relieved to be able to get a word in edgeways for a change ?

We did bride, FOTB, FOTG (dont ask), groom, best man (though it was a joint speech with a BM)