Before, During or After…

When should we give the speeches at our wedding, before, during or after the meal? Let’s investigate the best option!

Before the meal

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Advantages:

• All speakers can enjoy the meal
• The speeches will be over and done with
• They maybe shorter than normal
• The Bestman will be have their speech out of the way
• The Bride and the Mother of the Bride worries will be over

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Disadvantages:

• The management of the hotel may have to pay staff, waitresses and waiters more money
• The Chef and his kitchen staff will be under pressure to manage the food quality as they will not know the duration of the speeches
• Wedding guests will be hungry and may not give the speeches the attention they deserve with empty stomachs
• What will the guests do to allow their meal digest?
• What ‘transitions’ from the meal to the post-reception celebrations?

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During the meal

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Advantages:

• Can deliver one to two speeches between each meal course
• Wedding guests will give more attention to the speeches as they will have been served food
• Will add variety to the meal
• As waitresses and waiters clear the table and guests are waiting for their next course to be served, a speech or two could be delivered
• Some speakers will have their speech completed and can enjoy the rest of their meal

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Disadvantages:

• The management of the hotel may have to pay staff, waitresses and waiters more money
• The Chef and his kitchen staff will be under pressure to manage the food quality as they will not know the duration of each speech between meal courses
• Will make for a longer meal duration
• Speakers may not enjoy the complete meal as they wait to be called to speak
• Guests may not be able to hear the speeches clearly as waitresses and waiters clear tables after each course and serve the next course

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After the meal

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Advantages:

• It is the norm that any speeches that need to be delivered are delivered after a meal at any celebratory event
• Wedding guests will be fully attentive to the speeches as they will have had their full meal
• The hotel can better management their staff as when the meal has been completely served, most of the waitresses waiters can finish
• The Chef and their staff can better manage the food as they will have a more accurate time when to serve the food and can plan accordingly
• Better quality could possibly be delivered

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Disadvantages:

• Speakers may not have enjoyed the meal as much as they should have in the knowledge that they have yet to deliver their speech
• Nerves for the speakers have more time to develop
• Wedding guests may want to leave immediately after the meal, but can’t as the speeches are an important part of the wedding occasion
• Too many speeches at the one time if they are long speeches could become difficult to listen to
• Wedding may be anxious to get to the bar…!

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Best option, probably After!

Whenever you decide to deliver your wedding speeches, prepare and deliver them well…it is a once-off, it will never happen again.