Why Having Speeches After Your Wedding Breakfast ISN’T a Good Idea
Are you finalising those finer details for your upcoming nuptials and wondering what order speeches should come, when it comes to your wedding breakfast? The age-old conflict of before food or after you and your guests have eaten is a tough one.
BUT as a seasoned wedding photographer, I’m here to give you the inside scoop on why having speeches after you’ve tucked into your wedding breakfast can be a bit of a dicey decision.
Guests are Naturally Restless:
Imagine, you’ve just enjoyed a delightful 90-minute meal, celebrating with your nearest and dearest. Now naturally, folks want to stretch their legs, maybe have a cigarette break or nip to the bathroom to freshen up. It’s human nature after all that good food and company that after they leave that table it’s hard to get everyone back and ready to listen, as the party has officially started!
Nervous Speakers:
Then there’s your speech-givers. Bless ’em, the nerves can get the better of even the most confident of speakers and while they’ve been sitting there, fork in hand, they are unable to fully savour their meal with the looming dread of their impending speech. Let’s get them up and enjoy all the wonderful stories they have to tell, so they can enjoy your celebration.
The Dad Factor:
Ah, dads. They have a knack for loosening up a bit too much post-meal, often resulting in a slightly dishevelled appearance by speech time. Tie askew, waistcoat undone—it’s a classic dad move that’s best handled sooner rather than later, so we can grab those photos while your dad’s still looking suave.
Drinks Disasters:
And let’s not forget drinks. Sipping wine for an hour and a half before taking the mic can lead to, well, less than eloquent speeches. Slurred words and unintended ramblings? No one wants that immortalised on film.
Golden Hour Tragedy:
Those golden hour photos are a magical 10 minutes of perfect light that we wedding photographers live for. One extended speech to many and poof! There goes your window of opportunity. Trust me, you don’t want to miss capturing those breathtaking moments because of an overly enthusiastic best man.
Comfort Counts:
You’ve painstakingly organised your wedding day so that everyone enjoys your hospitality and feels comfortable celebrating with you on your day. And let’s face it, ninety minutes sitting at a dinner table is already quite the feat. Adding another half-hour or more of speeches on those same chairs is not exactly anyone’s idea of a good time.
Plan Ahead:
It’s crucial to communicate your expectations to your venue, especially regarding speech durations. Why does it matter? Well, imagine your chef meticulously timing that beef Wellington to a perfect medium rare. Then your best man decides to wax poetic a bit too long, and suddenly your beautifully cooked beef turns into a regrettable pasty.
Wedding Supplier Woes:
Believe me when I say that speeches in between courses are a logistical nightmare. Your chef, the bar staff, us wedding photographers and videographers – we’re all in sync when things run smoothly. But throw in unpredictable speech lengths, and suddenly it’s a juggling act that no one signed up for. Trust me, our priority is the smooth running of your wedding day.
So save yourselves the stress and keep those speeches before the main course. Your guests will thank you, your speeches will shine, and your wedding day timeline will flow like a well-choreographed dance. Trust me, it’s a win-win for everyone involved.
For more wedding tips check out my blog page or drop me a message and I’ll happily help with any niggling questions you may have.
Until next time, happy planning and cheers to capturing those perfect moments!