Free, Funny Wedding Day Speeches

They say that getting married can be one of the most stressful things that anyone can do. However some parts of the day can prove more stressful than others! 

Making a Wedding Speech can be a very stressful event for those involved. To stand up and make a speech in front of any group can be nerve racking but when you consider that those about to make a Wedding Speech are about to stand up before friends and family then it can bring on a whole new set of nerves!! 

Sometimes the person making the Wedding Speech will inject a few good one liners to add an element of fun and delivered well this can be very effective. One important point that goes with humor in a Wedding Speech is practise your delivery, there is no point in being flustered and saying the punchline first!! 

Many Wedding Speeches made by the groom will mention his new mother-in-law and may extend thanks for the job done in bringing up her daughter. One groom took this a step further and thanked his father-in-law for giving him two mother-in-laws!!! Generally the grooms speech will be on behalf of himself and his new wife and if he knows what is good for him he will praise her to the hilt!! 

Next in the grooms speech he will thank the bridesmaids for performing their duties and it then falls to the best man to reply on behalf of the bridesmaids in his speech. It makes sense for the groom and best man to discuss this part of their speeches before hand. 

If you are looking for free wedding speech ideas then look no further. 
Here are a few that I have discovered, 

I'm told that the best speech makers follow three simple rules. Stand Up. Speak Up. Then, very quickly, Shut Up. I'll try to stick to that advice. 

The brain is a wonderful thing. It never stops functioning from the time you're born until the moment you stand up to make a speech. - Herbert V Prochnow and Herbert V Prochnow Jnr 

The trouble with being the best man at a wedding is that you never get to prove it. 

Here's to our wives and lovers. May they never meet. 

The most effective way to remember your wedding anniversary is to forget once. 

'Grow old along with me, The best is yet to be.' - Robert Burns 


Of course the majority of Wedding Speeches, it is assumed will be made by men but that is not always the case. The brides mother is entitled to speak and sometimes even the bride herself will feel a few words are appropriate. 

So you have done your research, you have prepared a fantastic free wedding speech and you have practised in front of the mirror, possibly holding a hair brush and watch by the dog. This is it, you are ready to go! Try not to over do the dutch courage and have a great wedding!!

Ditching a Wedding

John’s cousin, Grace, is getting married in Liverpool, UK and he lives in Glasgow, UK. He does not really want to attend the wedding, weddings and such are just not his idea of a fun Saturday. He has already spent time and attended all the functions and parties over the last month that family and friends have had to congratulate her and he wants this weekend for himself. 

The big problem is that he has a planned fishing trip with the guys on the same weekend as his cousin’s wedding. He has never missed this fishing trip in the last ten years and he doesn’t want to start now. 

He decides to head to the internet and see if he can come up with any good ideas to ditch this wedding and still save face. He begins to look for UK online florists that will deliver flowers from Glasgow, UK to Liverpool, UK. 

Wow, there are florist that can deliver some nice flower arraignments and bouquets. There were so many choices from bouquets, plants, gifts sets, and even a way of creating your own unique flowers and style. 

There were many wonderful choices to consider such as the Classic Charm Basket which is a nice basket filled with scented Freesia, Alstroemeria, Carnations and Chrysanthemums, Timeless Tradition Wrap which is an elegant display of a mix of Carnations, Chrysanthemums, Alstroemeria and Asiatic Lilies, and the Hot Tropical Hand-tied with a mix of tropical flowers and Sunflowers. 

He even searched through the gift sets that he could have delivered from Glasgow, UK to Liverpool, UK and he found some very unique ideas such as the Sunbeam Chocolate Surprise which is created with beautiful summer flowers and delightful Maison Fougère chocolates and the Summer Punch & Bubbly Gift Set which uses summer flowers and Veuve Ricotteau Brut which would be perfect for the bride and groom. 

He could even choose and create his own flower arraignments and then add balloons, chocolates, or champagne. Now, to decide what would be best. He wanted to send his cousin something nice that she would enjoy and make missing her wedding smooth over easily. 

Her favorite flowers had always been tropical and her honeymoon was planned for Aruba, so he chose the Hot Tropical Hand Tied, but he also chose chocolates and champagne. Ordering the flowers and gifts were a breeze, he placed his order online with the UK floral shop and the flower arraignments and gifts were delivered in plenty of time for Grace to enjoy them before the wedding ceremony. 

Grace was happy with the flowers and John was happy on the lake fishing with the guys all because of the online UK florist. 

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Grooms Get Personal With Their Rings

(ARA) - With this ring, or maybe that ring, grooms have more choices than ever before. 

Once upon a time the plain gold band was the only choice for a man’s wedding ring. While brides-to-be deliberated over filigree, gem stones and other detailing, grooms simply told the jeweler their finger size and went on their way. But times have changed. 

Today grooms have a host of options, from intricately detailed to customized creations. Wedding rings come in a variety of styles, metals and finishes to fit the personality of every groom. The trend today is definitely about individual style. 

While gold will always be a popular choice, other metals are currently gaining favor. “Many men are stepping outside the box to personalize their wedding band by using alternative metals to express their individuality,” says Marsha Bryant, senior buyer for 18K gold and platinum at ShopNBC. “This season, men’s rings are both functional and fashionable.” 

Platinum, a silver-colored precious metal, is a big trend right now. According to the Platinum Guild International, the number of brides and grooms choosing platinum rings has reached 40 percent. A matte finish is hot right now, as it gives a subdued, modern look. While more expensive than gold, it is also more durable, making it a good choice for those who work with their hands. 

No longer just a girl’s best friend, many grooms are adding diamonds to their rings. Nothing over the top, according to wedding Web site, TheKnot.com. These rings give just a bit of sparkle, often in a style that compliments the bride’s ring. Most popular are channel-set or gypsy-set stones that offer a flush mounting and secure fit. 

For a personal look, many grooms are adding special details. Custom engraving is a great option for grooms who want a ring unique to them. Rings like the Personalized Message Ring from ShopNBC allow couples to imprint names, dates or a special phrase on the outside of the ring, creating a treasured family heirloom. Some grooms are creating jewelry wardrobes by matching key pieces. “Rings that compliment watchband styles were recently introduced at this season’s international jewelry shows,” says Bryant. 

Many grooms unaccustomed to wearing jewelry are discovering the newest ring metal: titanium. This lightweight, durable metal comes in either satin or polished finishes, often with an accent stripe of gold. Titanium rings provide an up-to-date look at an affordable price. 

When shopping for a ring, remember to check for marks that indicate you’re getting the metal you pay for. Gold is stamped according to its karat: 14K or 18K. Platinum is marked with PLAT, PT, PT950 or IRIDPLAT. Look for a ring that not only matches your taste, but also your life. Intricate carvings will catch debris, and may not be a good choice for those who engage in messy work. Matte finishes tend to show scratches more quickly. And some people are sensitive to metals and may have skin allergies that make one metal a more desirable choice than another. 

Take your time when selecting a ring. Remember, long after the tuxedos have been returned and the limo ride has ended, your wedding ring will be with you each moment to remind you of your lasting commitment. 

For the best selection of wedding rings, check the ShopNBC jewelry categories. Also available at www.shopnbc.com is a whole range of housewares, clothing, computers, software and health and fitness products.

Getting Your Wedding Invitations Sent

It really doesn’t matter if you are planning to have a large or a small wedding; you still have to send out invitations. For larger wedding parties, you should buy your invitations at bulk party stores, or wedding warehouses in order to get the best buy for your money. 

Of course, you can always choose to make your own invitations which is also nice and unique. 

Common homemade invitations are often made up of tissue paper over white regular paper, and decorated colored paper. When it comes to wedding invitations, some people even use calligraphy to hand craft their invitations and it adds a nice elegant touch to your invitations. 

When you make your invitations by hand, you can address each one individually so that you can add unique invitations to your guests that are addressed specifically to them. 

When you hand make your invitations, there are no limits to what you can do to them or what add-ons that you can use. The most popular additions to hand made invitations are: 

· Photos of the happy couple 

· Artful calligraphy accents 

· Paper flowers 

· Poems, verse and prose 

· Rhinestones and/or sequins 

· Gold or silver model car paint for accents 

Not everyone has the know how to create hand made specialty invitations, and if you would prefer to buy yours, you can easily find good bargains on them if you go to a wedding warehouse or a party warehouse. 

Most places offer discounts when you buy items in bulk and this is great if you are planning to have a larger wedding of 50 or more guests. Invitations do not have to break your bank account, but they do have to be there. 

You can also save money on invitations if you personally deliver as many of them as possible rather than sending them through the mail. 

You can also hand certain invitations to friends and family members to pass along for you to those who they see more often than you do. 

You can also post your wedding date and guest list on your family website if you have one or in the newspaper and only send invitations to those who do not have access to the internet.

Guide to the Greek Orthodox Wedding Ceremony

The wedding service in the Greek Orthodox faith is an ancient and beautiful ceremony, which has been celebrated in its current form for centuries. The wedding ceremony is full of symbolism and is a great experience if you have never attended one before, because it is likely to be quite different from other weddings you have attended in Western Europe. The service is also rather unique because the bride and groom do not make vows to each other – their presence together in the church is taken to mean that they are serious about getting married. 

The Beginning of the Wedding 

In most cases the wedding guests will wait with the groom outside the church until the bride arrives (a few sneaky wedding pros will go into the church early to secure a good seat). In the Summer, when most weddings take place, it is not unusual for ceremonies to be arranged back to back, so the guests attending a marriage will often stand around with those who have just attended the previous wedding as they prepare to leave. Wedding dress commentators among the crowd will get to consider and discuss at least two brides and maybe even a third as they leave the church – bargain! Meanwhile, the nervous groom waits for the bride at the entrance to the church, often holding her floral bouquet. He hands it to her as they meet and they then go inside together followed by the guests. There is no separation of the guests into guests of the bride and guests of the groom – everyone sits together and in the case of small churches, many people prefer to stand in a spot where they can get a good view of the proceedings. 

Service of Betrothal 

The wedding ceremony itself is in two parts: the Service of Betrothal and the Ceremony of the Sacrament of Marriage. The exchanging of rings is the focus of the Service of Betrothal. The priest blesses the rings by holding them in his right hand and making the sign of the cross over the heads of the bride and groom. The rings are then placed on the third fingers of their right hands. The “Koumbaro”, the couple’s religious sponsor, then swaps the rings over between the bride and groom’s fingers, three times. A number of rituals in the ceremony are repeated three times and this symbolises the Holy Trinity: God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

Ceremony of the Sacrament of Marriage 

This Ceremony consists of several key parts. First, several prayers are said and then as they come to an end, the priest joins the right hands of the bride and groom. Their hands remain joined until the end of the wedding ceremony, which symbolises the couple’s union. 

The Crowning 

The bride and groom are crowned with thin crowns, or “stefana”, which are joined by a white ribbon and have been blessed by the priest. The crowns symbolise the glory and honour that is being bestowed on them by God, and the the ribbon symbolises their unity. The “Koumbaro” then exchanges the crowns between the heads of the couple, three times. 

The Common Cup 

The crowning is followed by a reading of the Gospel, which tells of the marriage of Cana at Galilee. It was at this wedding that Jesus performed his first miracle, changing water into wine, which was then given to the married couple. Wine is given to the couple and they each drink from it three times. 

The Ceremonial Walk 

The priest the leads the couple, who are still wearing their “stefana”, three times around the altar on their first steps as a married couple. The “Koumbaro” follows close behind the couple holding the “stefana” place. At this point the couple (and anyone standing nearby) is usually showered with rice, which was earlier handed out to the wedding guests. The priest will often make use of the bible he is holding to give himself some protection! 

The Removal of the Crowns 

When the Ceremonial Walk has ended, the priest blesses the couple, the crowns are removed and he then separates their previously joined hands with the bible, reminding them that only God can break the union which they have just entered into. 

Wedding traditions 

Much of the information available on Greek Orthodox wedding traditions is a little outdated and contains generalisations that give the impression that certain traditions are followed by everyone who gets married. Some of these traditions are set out below 

- Rolling a baby on the marital bed to encourage fertility. 

- The throwing of money onto the marital bed. 

- The pinning of money onto the bride (and sometimes also the groom) at the wedding reception. 

Although these rituals are seen as traditional, fewer and fewer young people marrying today are following them, because they are seen as old-fashioned. Many people do not wish to put their guests through the ordeal of other people being able to see how much money they pin on the bride, for example. Although money is still a very common, as well as practical, wedding present it is often given to the couple before the wedding day or to a third person at the wedding reception, for safe-keeping. Greeks living in the more remote parts of Greece and abroad, who will naturally feel more strongly about doing things the traditional way, are more likely to follow these traditions than those living in Athens, for example. Like weddings everywhere, Greek weddings are changing. At the time of writing, there is a growing fashion to go and get married on an island and I recently heard someone say that he was looking into getting married in a ski resort. He was wisely advised by a friend “You had better first ask the priest if he wants to perform a marriage up a mountain”!