• About
  • Find a Vendor
  • Submit
  • Advertise
  • Brides Club
  • Your Jewish Life
  • Contact

Smashing the Glass | Jewish Wedding Blog

Inspired Jewish Weddings

  • Real Jewish Weddings
    • City Chic
    • Fashion Forward
    • Outdoor
    • Destination
      • Israel
      • Italy
      • Spain
      • France
      • Beach Weddings
    • Super Luxe
    • Budget
    • DIY
    • Same Sex
    • Covid Weddings
  • Jew-ish Weddings
    • Real Jew-ish Weddings
    • Jewish-Catholic Weddings
    • Jewish-Chinese Weddings
    • Jewish-Christian Weddings
    • Jewish-Greek Weddings
    • Jewish-Hindu Weddings
    • Jewish-Humanist Weddings
    • Jewish-Irish Weddings
    • Jewish Japanese Weddings
    • Jewish-Muslim Weddings
    • Same Sex Jew-ish Weddings
  • Inspiration + Guidance
    • Engaged? Start Here
    • Ceremony
      • Chuppah ideas
      • Jewish ceremony music
      • Jewish wedding ceremony 101
      • Jewish ceremony traditions
      • Ketubah Ideas
      • Jewish wedding legalities
      • Jew-ish ceremony ideas
    • Reception
      • Music
      • Speeches
      • Entertainment
      • Venues
    • Food & Drink
      • Kosher catering
      • Wedding cakes
      • Drinks
    • Decor
      • Decorations
      • Favours
      • Floristry
      • Guestbooks
      • Stationery
    • Style
      • Brides dresses
      • Shoes & accessories
      • Grooms
      • Bridesmaids
    • Advice
      • Converting to Judaism
      • Real blogging brides
      • Dear Karen…
    • Honeymoons
    • STG Live
    • Five Minutes With
    • Wedding Must-Haves
    • Wedding Consultancy
  • Jewish Brides Club
  • Find a Wedding Vendor
Home > Mr STG

How to write a wedding speech… by Mr STG

16/09/2016 by Smashing The Glass

how-to-write-a-wedding-speech
This is a guest post by Mr STG (Karen’s husband)

“Your wedding speech — it’s important”

I say your speech but I do not mean to imply that it’s only about the  groom’s speech. At our wedding Mrs STG made a great speech. Why was it great? Because it was well thought out, it was original and it was straight from the heart….that’s Mrs STG all the way.

Further to my first post,  I have thought about what additional  contribution I could make to the ever flourishing Smashing The Glass and I thought back to our wedding to think about what I might be able to offer and I kept on coming back to my speech.

My speech was not something I was really looking forward to with relish. Like many of us I am not naturally given to making speeches even though through work I have had training and the need to do so, but making a speech at my own wedding felt very different. Why was I especially apprehensive? On reflection I think it was because this was a one-off opportunity to speak to the group of people who meant the most in the world to me.

The reason for this offering is to suggest that you take great care in making a speech and that you make it the very best you possibly can because it really is important.

bride-speech
Karen, founder of STG, making a speech at her wedding to Mr STG

It’s Important

This is the first point I wish to share. It really is the opportunity to express; your gratitude, your love, your feelings and perhaps above all else yourself.

When I say “the” opportunity I mean that there are very few other life events when your world comes together to celebrate and be joyous and that is why I strongly suggest that you seize the opportunity.

Don’t waste the opportunity

I distinctly remember attending a wedding when after a long day of ceremony and reception in the late summer sun….(I suspect you already know where I am going with this one) a groom got up after an equally long dinner and rambled and mumbled some incoherent thanks, he had to be prompted a few times to mention certain bits and pieces and I remember thinking at the time what a waste of such an opportunity.

PPPPP  (aka Preparation Prevents P*** Poor Performance)

Your wedding day is a maelstrom second to none. There is an enormous amount going on and unless you are one of those very fortunate people who can get to their feet without preparation and deliver a coherent, witty, entertaining speech whilst remembering everything that you wish to say then you will need to prepare.

I knew I wanted to speak to a few people directly in my speech whether to express love and / or to thank amongst other things. The task was how to collate and deliver those themes in a way that involved everyone and without being boring. I suspect that this is the basis of everyone’s desire who gets up to say something on their wedding day.

wedding-speech
Write Down Your Speech

My advice is that you need to write out your speech and I mean every word. The exercise gives you the thinking time to organise what you want to say, to give your speech structure, shape and form.

This bit does come from some of my training. Your “audience” will be the most receptive and supportive of audiences you are ever likely to speak to but they still need to know what they are going to get.

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Share this post:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Cheers! A Guide to Wedding Drinks… by Mr STG

11/03/2016 by Smashing The Glass

Guide-to-Wedding-Drinks
This is a guest post by Mr STG (Karen’s husband)
 

I thought it was high time that I contributed to Smashing The Glass.

What Karen started when we got married has become a really beautiful website and the stories that I hear of connections being made through the blog make me very proud of what she has achieved. Karen has created a community of like-minded creative and dedicated people who want to deliver with a little bit more panache and who are prepared to go that bit further. How very refreshing.

Now what is it that I can contribute?

I thought at this stage I might offer up what I hope might be helpful advice as to choosing and sourcing an integral part of any celebration — the BOOZE!

Champagne wedding
First things first: a great money saving tip

Should you buy the alcohol or allow the venue or caterer to supply the booze?

This is a fundamental question. Some venues and / or caterers will want to charge corkage if you supply the alcohol but it may well prove to be a cost-effective decision to pay corkage or a fee to source and supply your own booze. I say this on the basis that with the likes of Majestic and others being more than happy to offer substantial discounts when buying in quantity. By paying a fee or corkage and choosing your bottles well, you will end up drinking far better quality for less money.

How to decide what to serve

Having decided on whether you are going to acquire the booze, now on to the selections…

This is what I suggest you do on the basis of mistakes made, lessons learnt, hospitality well received, as well as when I think I might have got it right all on my own!.

What I intend to do in keeping with STG style is suggest ideas that might be a little different and allow you, the soon-to-be-married, to stamp your own touches on your day.

So let’s start at the beginning. What do you serve your guests at a reception?

wedding-reception
Our wedding reception (click here to see our full wedding)

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Share this post:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Jewish Weddings by Country

Vendors We Love

Weddings by Colour


Jewish Wedding Gift List


Awesome Jewish Gifts

Vendors We Love

Get posts directly into your inbox

Enter your email address below and get the latest posts delivered straight to your inbox.

Biscuiteers Baking Company
Monica Vinader
Liberty London
Mr And Mrs Smith Honeymoons
Kate Spade UK Limited

Today’s Top Posts

  • Win a Luxury Three Night Stay for Two in Kosher Paradise at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, the Caribbean’s Ultimate Jewish Wedding Destination
    Win a Luxury Three Night Stay for Two in Kosher Paradise at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, the Caribbean’s Ultimate Jewish Wedding Destination
  • Jewish Wedding Traditions Explained - The Chuppah
    Jewish Wedding Traditions Explained - The Chuppah
  • Dates in 2023, 2024 and 2025 to avoid for a Jewish wedding plus a 12 Month Wedding Planning Monthly Checklist
    Dates in 2023, 2024 and 2025 to avoid for a Jewish wedding plus a 12 Month Wedding Planning Monthly Checklist
  • Chuppah ideas
    Chuppah ideas
  • Jewish Wedding Traditions Explained
    Jewish Wedding Traditions Explained

Subscribe by Email

Enter your email address below and get the latest posts delivered straight to your inbox.

Connect

Instagram
TikTok
Facebook
Pinterest
YouTube
Twitter
Advertise
Mailing List
Email Karen

Receive Smashing The Glass posts via Email

Enter your email address below and get the latest posts delivered straight to your inbox.

closeWin a Luxury stay at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, the Caribbean’s Ultimate Jewish Wedding Destination

All content © Smashing The Glass 2023