Speeches before or after your wedding breakfast?

I am all for speeches BEFORE the wedding breakfast…

Now, hear me out…

I always recommend doing your speeches before the food, with one very important condition… Everyone doing a speech actually sticks to their allocated time!

If you’re giving a speech, chances are, you’re thinking about the speech all morning. You’ve got the nerves, the dread and that little voice reminding you that in a couple of hours, everyone in the room is going to be looking at you and listening to your speech..

If you get the speeches done first then you can actually relax, be present and enjoy your wedding breakfast knowing that the rest of the day is pretty chilled and your main responsibilities are now done!

The other reasons are pretty simple. The first is that its much easier for the team to pour the Champagne or prosecco for the toast without guests sat at their tables. service of the Champagne is faster and there is more room on the tables without everyone sat down already.

By the time the final tables are being served their food, your top table and first few tables may have nearly finished eating.

Naturally, once everyone has had their meal, people start moving. Someone pops outside for a cigarette, someone goes to the bar, someone goes to the toilet and others just have a little wander. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, but then we have the job of trying to get everyone back into the room, seated and quiet ready for the speeches!

So my vote?

Speeches first. Get the formalities done, let everyone relax and enjoy their food and then, once the wedding breakfast is finished, everyone is free to wander, chat, drink and get ready to dance the night away.

I hope this helps with your wedding planning.

With love & support,

Yasmin