For the guys

Finally, a page dedicated to you. Here you will find tips, videos and information about preparing for your wedding day.
Opening up the floor
Don't be tempted to invite other guests to make a speech. I've seen this happen...
1. They bring up an embarrassing moment that was only funny at the time.
2. They fall in love with the sound of their own voice and throw you 20 minutes behind schedule.
3. They've had a drop too much of "Dutch courage" at the bar, and what they're saying makes very little sense.

Speeches
Apart from the bridal party, have each speaker deilver their speech from the front of the room in a designated spot. This stops the unsettling moving of chairs as your guests try to see the speaker and your camera operator can capture the speeches and reactions easily.

Use a microphone. Even if you have a strong voice, your guests will appreciate it. Check with the venue if they supply one. If not, ask me!

Getting your friend to film
While asking a friend or relative to video your wedding may seem like a cost effective way to have your wedding captured, there are a few downsides you may not have considered.

Friends and family members tend to focus only on the people they know, rather than including everyone in their coverage. They may also lack attention to small details, and their focus might deteriorate as the evening progresses.

Look good on camera
How to do this is so simple. Ignore it. Ignore me, ignore the camera. Just be yourself. That's all you have to do! Try to take a moment to appreciate everything that's happening around you - your friends, your family, your new family, and, of course, your beautiful wife.

My aim is to be as unobtrusive as possible. No set-up pauses, no take twos. Just simple, natural storytelling.

Who speaks first?

There are a lot of conventions about who speaks and when on the wedding day. Years ago, the bride wasn't permitted to speak at all - and, oh wow, has that changed! Traditionally, the father of the bride speaks first on behalf of the bride's family. He welcomes the groom into the fold, and will probably talk about his daughter growing up - usually with a couple of embarrassing stories. He is the only person permitted to embarrass the bride in this way, with the possible exception of the bridesmaids. For everybody else, she is sacred, untouchable and safe... unlike the groom.
Secondly and again traditionally, the groom speaks. The Groom will speak and thank everybody that needs to be thanked and expresses appreatiation on belhalf of himself and his wife. Then the Best man. His role is to genuinely make the groom out to be a lesser man than he makes out to be. It’s a bit of fun. The traditional wedding speech order goes father of the bride, groom, best man and other toasts. However, lots of brides now choose to give a speech, as do the bridesmaids or maid of honour.

If you are including these, the order should go: father of the bride, groom, bride, bridesmaids/maid of honour, best man. The best man’s speech always goes last.