When your daughter or your best friend decides to get married, it is usually a wonderful event you have in front of you. But, when you are the person who has to give the big speech, that event may well turn into a stressful one for you. Although you may be a great speaker at work, giving a speech that is based on emotion and feeling is often difficult for many men. Wedding speeches are particularly difficult to write because you really have to make a lot of people happy. You have to recognize the couple, the parents, the families, the friends, and you have to make sure that whatever you say is appropriate for an audience of both children and the elderly. So, that means that dirty jokes are strictly forbidden, no matter how funny they might seem to you.

Well before the big day, you should be researching wedding speeches to make sure that your speech is the right length, contains all the sentiments that you want, and also really does honor the couple. No matter who are you are in relation to the couple, you have been asked to make a speech because they feel you are important in their lives and they want you to be included in their joy. So, use this platform as an opportunity to honor them. Wedding speeches are best kept as short and succinct as possible, regardless of whether you are the father or the best man. There will be plenty of speeches, and no one really wants to hear anyone talk for more than a minute or two. So, spend your time before the wedding, refining your speech so that you can get the most sentiment and the most emotion into the least amount of time. The couple will appreciate your hard work!

It’s always nice to know what you’re in for when you have your wedding photos done as this will prepare you mentally. Important questions to consider prior to your big day would be what style of photos you prefer as this can be either traditional, spontaneous, arty etc. Another question would be whether you’d prefer colour, sepia or black and white photos; with or without frames or a mix of everything. This all needs to be discussed with your wedding photographer before the wedding day – besides the fact that he/she needs to know what your preferences and requirements are, the photographer can give you some guidance and advice on must-have shots so that the photos you imagine can take on real life form.

Although there are so many hair styles to choose from, keep in mind that you’ll have to look at these photos for ever. If you want your wedding photos to be timeless, go for a classic, simplistic hair style that would be easy to manage throughout your photo shoot and day. Its important to have a trial run with your make-up to avoid last minute disappointment. You know what you feel comfortable with, again, this needs to suit your personality. You want to mingle with your guests feeling comfortable and self assured. Your wedding make-up should compliment you, not change you – rather keep it natural and fresh.

Keep the main thing the main thing – firstly you need to feel comfortable and most importantly be yourself so that your unique personality would reflect on the photos. But a girl needs all the help she can get and if a few props will help you to relax and have fun – why not! Take some props with or ask the photographer to supply some interesting objects that you can use during your photo shoot, for example a hat, colourful sarong, a wedding invitation, your garter, a cigar for the groom etc. Give your photographer some healthy attitude and the right tools to be creative.

We so often invest our precious time in things that won’t last – yes, its important that you look absolutely breathtaking but besides looking beautiful, the photo shoot takes priority as this is what you would take with you long after the champagne has lost its bubble. You can either shy away and lose out on stunning memories or you can forget yourself, go beyond yourself and have fun.