With this formula you’ll write an unforgettable wedding speech with ease.

The maid of honour and best man have a lot to remember on the wedding day, and giving a speech is one of the most nerve-racking moments for many of them. Now you can stop stressing: with the formula below, based on Aristotle’s structure for a speech, your wedding speech practically writes itself!

The same structure also works for a speech by the father of the bride or the mother of the groom. Read the example speech, then fill the formula with your own unforgettable moments. And remember: a punchy 2–3 minute speech makes a far more lasting impression than ten minutes of rambling.

The speech formula:

​1. Opening

a. Greeting

b. Attention

c. Appeal

d. Preview of main points 1, 2, 3

2. Main point 1

a. Story

b. Conclusion/punchline

3. Main point 2

a. Story

b. Conclusion/punchline

4. Main point 3

a. Story

b. Conclusion/punchline

5. Closing

a. beginning of the end

b. Appeal (same as 1c)

c. Recap (same as 1d, but in the past tense)

d. Closing line

An example speech based on the formula above (names and content made up):

1. Opening

a. Dear Irmeli and Eemeli, honoured guests – and Pena.

b. In a moment I’ll reveal things that my soon-to-be ex-friend Eemeli doesn’t want anyone to know. Sorry in advance, Eemeli.

c. I ask that you don’t repeat any of this to anyone outside this room.

d. I’ll be telling you about a fishing trip, a blunder in March and the most embarrassing moment of the bachelor party.

2. On to the stories

a. A couple of summers ago, we lads went on a fishing trip. Eemeli bragged to everyone, Irmeli included, that he’d bring home the biggest pike. After two days of fishing, there wasn’t so much as a tiddler in the net. So it was a stop at the shop on the way home. The village shop’s selection, however, was rather limited. I wonder if Irmeli saw through the ruse when Eemeli came home with smoked Baltic herring?

b. In March we were on our annual cruise. With the lads again. We’d booked a sauna suite just for ourselves, but we fancied a trip to the public pool area too. Eemeli decided to go down the little children’s slide. He came down far too fast and the landing area was far too short. Eemeli flew all the way onto the tiles, taking out an elderly lady who happened to be walking past at that very moment. Luckily she landed on top of Eemeli and wasn’t hurt. The moment their eyes met was unforgettable. Judging by her expression, the old dear may have been hoping to get better acquainted.

c. And then the bachelor party. Eemeli, why are you giving me that murderous look? Irmeli, don’t cry just yet. Well, for the bachelor party we’d booked the activity every lads’ bachelor party always ends up with. [Awkwardly long pause]. Yes, at the go-karting our competitive streak got the better of us and we ended up in a tangled heap in the tyre wall. Luckily we got away with just bruises.

3. Closing

a. Honoured guests – and Pena

b. Once again, I ask that you don’t repeat any of this to anyone outside this room.

c. Forget that I mentioned the fishing trip, the blunder in March and especially the little mishap at the bachelor party.

d. I’d like to raise a toast to Irmeli and Eemeli – a match made in heaven

One last thing: feeling matters far more than reason.