Watching your best buddy get married to the love of his life can be bitter sweet. As the best man you are responsible for a few key factors when it comes to the wedding day. Making sure the groom is ready to stand at the altar, keeping track of the rings and also making sure he is having fun are among the top few. But the most stressful duty for most of the guys appointed to this title is the dreaded Best Man Speech. As a wedding photographer I have witnessed quite a few of these speeches, some great and some... not so great. If you're not sure how to proceed there are a few key steps you can use to outline a speech that is sure to come out as thoughtful and enjoyable for those listening. 1. IntroductionThe first step to starting any speech is introducing who you are. We don't just end it there though. You should also introduce to everyone who you are in relation to the groom. Maybe even throw in there how long you've known him or why he means so much to you. (I know, we are getting sappy already) This is an easy way to get the ball rolling with your speech. You're likely pretty nervous standing up their in front of everyone so start the speech off easy! 2. formalitiesNow this one is really up to you on whether you want to add it in. Usually if you're related to the groom and know a majority of the guests it is nice to thank everyone for coming. You could also thank the bride and groom for putting such a great event together or their parents if they had a heavy hand in the planning. This part usually goes a long way with the older crowd and sets you up nicely for a formal and well-rounded speech. 3. The roastWe are now making our way into the body of the speech. This is a good opportunity for a light joke, right after you did your best at being "formal". As the best man you probably have some pretty embarrassing stories about the groom. Try to think of one that talks about who the groom was before he met the bride, we will make a connection to this later. If you choose to make a jab at the groom make sure it is light and that he and the bride will think it is funny. Refrain from cursing (unless you know for a fact the audience will not have a problem with it) or from talking about any ex-girlfriends or awkward topics. This is a good spot to talk about your relationship with the groom and give everyone an inside taste of who he is to you. 4. the brideAfter you've successfully got everyone's attention it's time to talk about the bride. The most popular topic is talking about the first time the groom told you about her or maybe the first time you got to meet her. You could also talk about how you could tell by the way he talked that she was the one for him. As the best friend it is likely that you were one of the first people he told about this "special girl". You will get extra bonus points if you tell the bride how you saw a change in him after he met her. This is where you might reference that goofy story from "the roast" and talk about how she has helped him grow and mature from the boy you knew. 5. words of wisdomThis is another take it or leave it section of the speech. If you are married and have some funny bits of advice for the newlyweds this is a great spot to get some laughs. You could also take the route of giving the bride some advice on how to keep her new groom laughing and happy (since you've taken on that responsibility thus far). Or you can give the bride some advice on how to deal with her new husbands "quirks". This is a section that could go a lot of different ways! Make this speech your own in as many ways as you can. 6. Best wishesNow we are beginning to wrap up the speech. You always want to be sure to put all jokes aside for a moment and genuinely wish the couple a long and happy marriage. This is also where the tears might start arriving. Keep it together, you're almost done! 7. The toastIts time to raise a glass. If you have any final thank you's or closing remarks now is the time. You'll want to speak directly to the bride and groom and ask everyone to join you in toasting their love and long marriage. As the best man it is also one of your duties to get the party going. So as you sign off it is a great time to throw in a "now let's get the party started!". A Few final things to remember
So you just got engaged. Yay! Now you want to tell everyone and anyone who will listen that this ring on your hand is like the coolest thing that has ever happened. Right? The perfect way to celebrate your new engagement is through a photo session. (in my opinion anyway lol) I've put together a list of helpful tips so that you are totally prepared to nail that engagement session and show off your love to the world, or all of your Facebook followers. Search for a PhotographerIf you haven't already, start looking for a photographer to shoot your upcoming wedding. Most of us love getting to know you as soon as possible. So even if it feels like you are jumping the gun, start making inquiries with the photographers you really like. Once you have a wedding date set go back and make sure that they are not already booked for that day. Most photographers, like me, offer discounts or a free engagement session when you purchase a wedding package with them. So waiting until you have a set date is key to landing the right photographer for you before booking an engagement session.
Dress for SuccessNow, this one may seem obvious. But I feel it still needs to be said. You should definitely go shopping and pick out some new clothes for your session. Be mindful of the colors you choose and the location you are going to. You can even ask your photographer for advice on what to wear or look to my favorite... PINTEREST! Another important and sometimes overlooked detail is getting your nails done. This session will have a focus on your hands and you will want them to look nice and manicured to accent that new ring. For the guys, go get a fresh haircut. If you feel stylish and like you've got it together it will totally show in your photos. Confidence is key my friends! Have FunThe most important part of the whole engagement and wedding experience is to HAVE FUN. Lot's of it. Don't get too stressed out or think everything has to be perfect all of the time. It doesn't and it won't be.
Hopefully your photographer encourages you to have fun and focus on each other during your engagement shoot. The best photos are the ones where we can see the love shared between the two of you, not where you feel awkward because you aren't sure if your arm is in the right spot. I would even encourage you to make a date out of it. Get all dressed up for your photoshoot and then go out to a nice dinner and spend some quality time together. I mean, you've only got the rest of your lives to do that right? Congrats, you're engaged! Now what?
Almost every time I meet with a newly engaged couple we talk about what the wedding day will look like. If you've never been in a wedding before or haven't hired a day of coordinator it may be difficult to know where to begin. So here's a good place to get started. Every wedding is different and I love how each couple I work with puts a special touch on their day. But, there is almost always a consistent backbone to a wedding day that helps it run smoothly. Happy planning! Northeast Ohio Wedding and Engagement Photographer - Bre Welty Photography
Edgewater Beach Park - Cleveland, Oh Weddings Sarah and Scott were married on the morning of October 12th surrounded by their friends and family and the cutest little Corgi. One of the most beautiful wedding locations in Columbus is definitely the Franklin Park Conservatory and I was so excited to get creative with their photos. The love these two share is so pure. You will see it shine so brightly in their photos. When they saw each other for the first time on their big day the tears were flowing (by literally everyone in attendance haha). It was one of the sweetest first looks I have ever been a part of. Enjoy this Ohio fall wedding in the preview below... -B It's finally here.
1. Find a photographer your child will be comfortable aroundDo a little research. Or ask your child if they have someone in mind they would like. With the growing popularity in senior photos, chances are, they have a photographer in mind. If your child isn't excited about the session it's going to be painful. So, ask your friends, find someone with a good reputation that does well with the younger crowd. 2. If you think your presence will have a negative effect... do not attend!Look, sometimes teenagers are not the biggest fans of parental hovering. Shocker, I know. So if you think that your child will be annoyed or irritable in the slightest trust that your photographer has got it covered. Of course, every situation is different and your kid may really appreciate having you there. I guess my point is to have the conversation. If your child would rather have their best friend come as a hype man than so be it. You will still get amazing photos of your child for years to come even if you aren't there. 3. Location. Location. Location.Do some research. Ask your friends. Heck, go to the great Facebook world and ask for recommendations. If your photographer isn't familiar with where you are located it is helpful to offer some location ideas. Or maybe your photographer is local. In that case, let your child browse through the photographers photos on Facebook or Instagram and let your photographer know which images they loved. That helps us get a taste for what location might fit their personality best. One of the first questions I ask is "Does a city or country feel fit their personality best?", this usually helps me get started in planning the right 4. Sometimes appearance is everythingNow, don't take this the wrong way. When you're going to be in front of a camera for a few hours you're likely going to be nervous. Very nervous. So here's my advice, make your child feel as amazing as possible. Schedule a hair and makeup appointment with a professional or take them out to pick out a new outfit they love. Most importantly, make sure they feel comfortable. If you have strong opinions about what they should wear, that's okay, pick out one outfit for some more professional shots. Then let them be themselves. Hopefully this gave you some insight into how to start planning a senior portrait session! If you still have questions or want to learn more about how to book yours click the link:
Yesterday I got to meet up with Brad & Anna to capture their engagement photos before their June wedding!
Our first stop was Chick-fil-A which holds a special place in this couples hearts. We had so much fun and even had a crowd of employees oohing and aahing during the shots. Enjoy the first part of this adorable session below... I got to meet up with Jill & Cody to snap some engagement pictures before their 2019 summer wedding.
These two (and their cute dog) were so much fun to work with and I absolutely love how their session is turning out. Getting to work with couples before their big day is so important to me and helps us to all prepare for the wedding! Can't wait for June, and to see them say "I Do". Feel free to leave a comment or share this post! |
AuthorBre Slater Archives
April 2023
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