when to do the speeches at a wedding

[mandimoo]

we are getting married quite soon. we are doing a registry office thing, no sit down meal after, just a hot buffet at the reception venue. when would it be best for the best man to do a speech? ive hardly ever been to any weddings, i dont really know what is supposed to happen when you have all the components of a traditional wedding, let along missing bits out! so, if we are all gathered around with drinks in the reception venue, would it be better for the best man to say a few words before or after the grub is up? your thoughts would be appreciated. ta!

[carrust]

My daughter got married in May, & the protocol was as follows; Eat, father of the brides' speech, best mans speech, bridegrooms speech.

[madmaggot]

If you're having an informal 'do' it doesn't matter what order things happen or indeed if they happen at all. IE you don't have to have any speeches if you don't want to.

[tamborine]

When the guests are holding a drink to toast the bride & groom with.

[bushbaby_de]

We had a buffet at our wedding and we did the speeches and toasts before everyone got the food from the buffet, but we had them seated to do them. The men were too nervous to wait til after they'd eaten!

[joannie10]

yes I agree with tamborine and bushbaby_de - is a nerve racking thing for most people to do so best sooner rather than later. As suggested if guests are being given a drink on arrival the best man could speak then. Congratulations!

[chas2008]

depends how nervous the people are making the speeches, at my 2nd daughters wedding the best man was absolutely pooing himself, ruined the meal for him. Spent most of the time in the toilet !!
After that experience if i had to do it again i would aim to get the speeches out of the way so at least they can enjoy the food/meal and the rest of the day

[ummmm]

Wait until they are half cut....everything funnier then.

[sn�gs]

I gave the ''father of the bride'' speech at my sister's wedding... the order of the speeches went out the window as everyone was bladdered... I may have given my speech twice lol...

[China Doll]

I had to give my 'best man' speech (I have an evil father) after my dad gave his groom one... Fortunately his mother in law grabbed the mike off him and made one which gave me enough time to come up with something as my father only told me I was 'best man' the night before.

[LouisCyfer]

Watch the film "The Wedding Crashers" and follow suit.................

[ELVIS68]

CD, I`ve read your reply 5 times and I still can`t make head nor tail of it

[China Doll]

Sorry.... I was best man at my dads wedding, something he ownly told me the night before the wedding as he apparently didn't want me to 'feel nervous.' Hence I had no speech prepared when he shoved the mike under my nose asking 'did you want to say something?' (Which I clearly didn't). Hence being quite pleased that his mother in law grabbed the mike off him before I could take it as it gave me five minutes to put something together. Does that make more sense?

[sn�gs]

No lol...

[China Doll]

Is it the bit about me being the best man that's causing the problem? ;0)

[sn�gs]

For me, yes... like Elvis, I didn't understand it the first time either...and why did the Mother In Law grab the mike off your Dad when you were about to make the speech?

[ELVIS68]

It the "after my dad gave the groom one" I don`t understand

[ummmm]

I thought you was a lady China???

[zig.zag]

me too ummmm

tables do turn lol

[China Doll]

Hmmm... Not usually so articulately flawed.

After dad did his speech (thanking all for coming and his bride for agreeing to marry him etc...), he then gave the mike to the best man (me) to give theirs. Something I hadn't prepared for because I hadn't known I was going to be best man until the night before the wedding. (In regards to the actual question, this just meant that the best man speech came after the grooms speech at this wedding).

The mother in law grabbed the mike because she's a rude btch with mental health issues I imagine... I don't think mother in law is supposed to give any speech at all traditionally so I thought it might be interesting for the original question.

DId I do better yet or should I get my coat?

[sn�gs]

And close the door behind you...