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The wedding speeches give family and friends the opportunity to have some fun, as snippets into the background and lives of the couple are delivered.
Traditionally the bride’s father is first to make a speech followed by the groom’s father, then the groom and lastly, the best man.
It is also common for the best man or groomsmen to read messages from the guests or telegrams from guests who were unable to make the event.
Traditions are not always followed and speeches made by both parents of the bride and groom are becoming more common, as are speeches by the bride and a bridesmaid.
If it is known that someone outside the traditional wedding speakers will make a great speech, don’t overlook them.
There is a certain expectation to deliver a well-received speech. The best way to overcome nerves is to be well prepared.
Before writing your speech, check with the bride and groom for any points they would like you to cover, or avoid.
The key to writing a successful speech is to be considerate and thoughtful to your audience, while being entertaining and stimulating.
Once you have written your speech you should practise it out loud to yourself or a trusted family member or friend for their advice.
Underlining key words and phrases will help you slow down and emphasise important words.
Begin your speech with two proper deep breaths before you start talking and read through your speech slowly and clearly. Standing tall will help you to breathe normally.
Continue to take a deep breath at the end of every section in your speech to help you keep calm and allow your audience’s listening to catch-up to your speaking.
Delivering your speech with the emotion you feel for the bride and groom can be a good way to overcome any stage fright.
And finally, remember the audience is not expecting a grand performance, but rather some lovely words about the couple they have come to help celebrate with.

It took six weeks for Fabio Mazzone to learn the best man speech in Macedonian – a gesture which was a great surprise for the bridal party and guests. 

When Fab was asked to be best man by Goulburn Valley locals, David and Elishia Davkovski, he knew this was a great honour.
Breaking the Macedonian tradition of asking a family member to be best man, Fab said he felt grateful his friend of 13 years chose him.
David was best man at Fab’s wedding in 2008, and Fab looked forward to returning the favour.
Fab said he was petrified about having to make a speech, as he felt it was the most important one of the day.
‘‘Everyone hangs out for it and there’s a lot of pressure,’’ Fab said.
‘‘I thought it was a pretty big honour to be asked by David, so I wanted to do something more traditional.”
Fab prepared his speech months before the wedding to read in English, and spent six weeks perfecting a second speech to deliver in Macedonian.
With Italian roots, Fab had never spoken this language before.
He asked a Macedonian client from work for assistance. Fab described what he wanted to say and then wrote the Macedonian translation down phonetically, which was the easiest way to learn his speech.
The night before the wedding consisted of traditional celebrations of feasting, music and dancing, with more than 100 people.
This resumed the next morning as they continued to eat and dance to a Macedonian band.
Fab posed for photographs appearing to shave David’s face with an old, rusty axe, another tradition between the best man and groom before the wedding.

‘‘I knew there were a lot of traditions at the wedding that I had seen before, so I wanted to be part of it as best as I could,’’ Fab said.
‘‘I felt like I owed it to him and wanted to go the extra step.’’
Fab’s speech was polished thanks to his client, and David’s cousin, who was the only guest to know.
‘‘I thanked David and his family for the honour to be there as best man, I wished the couple all the best and many kids, and finished by demanding a strong drink!’’
‘‘Everyone loved it and David was shocked and a bit emotional.
‘‘Many people came up to me after and patted me on the back, some saying I spoke better Macedonian than them.
‘‘It felt really good afterwards and a real achievement, as it wasn’t a language I knew at all.’’

 The guests looked confused as the sound of a Boeing 747 roared through the Shepparton RSL reception room.

Groomsman and master of ceremonies, Luke Adams, stood facing the crowd as the flight attendants – the bridesmaids – stood either side of him.
He welcomed the guests to ‘Tristan Airlines’ as the ‘flight attendants’ directed them to the nearest exits and their lifejackets.
The guests had grins from ear to ear as Luke introduced the bride, Deborah Adams, and her pilot husband, Tristan Meddings.

‘‘Two days before the wedding I sat down with the best man and we bounced ideas off each other,’’ Luke said.
‘‘We decided to do a send-up of Tristan being a pilot. There were two tables of pilots at the wedding and they really liked it.’’
Luke continued this theme throughout the wedding reception, including his speech.
Former Notre Dame students and friends since they were 12, Luke spoke about the times he and Tristan went out socialising together.
‘‘Tristan would tell people he was a pilot, sometimes using this as a line to interest the ladies,’’ Luke said.
Yet with Tristan’s boyish looks, no-one ever believed him.
When asked to be MC at the reception, initially Luke was shocked.
He felt he wasn’t right for the part never having spoken publicly before.
By the end of the evening, Luke was pleased with how he delivered the speech and kept the guests entertained throughout the reception.
Luke did mention he had a few drinks beforehand to calm his nerves and said he was more anxious than the groom.
‘‘It was a bit touch and go as to how it would be received, but everyone loved it,’’ Luke said.
‘‘I just had to take into account the older and younger guests and make sure it was all PG.’’