Speeches That Shine on Film
Speeches That Shine on Film: A Guide for Your VIPs
Introduction: Why Wedding Speeches Deserve More Attention
When most couples picture their wedding film, they think of the walk down the aisle, the first kiss, or the first dance. But time and again, the moments that give your wedding video its emotional heartbeat are the speeches. Whether it’s your father sharing a heartfelt story, your best friend making everyone laugh, or your partner pouring their heart out, speeches bring your story to life and they form the foundation on which your wedding film is created upon.
As a wedding videographer, I can tell you that speeches are one of the most powerful tools in shaping the narrative of your film. They can turn a beautiful highlight reel into something personal, timeless, and unforgettable. Yet too often, speeches are left to chance — hurriedly written the night before or delivered without much thought or practice about how they’ll translate on camera (or to the crowd), means that sometimes even the nicest sentiment can be left wanting when it comes to looking back on your memories.
That’s why I’ve put together this guide, not just for you as a couple, but also for the VIPs in your life who will be standing up to speak. As a UK & Destination wedding videographer I have been fortunate enough to film hundreds of weddings, in many different scenarios and I have seen what works, what doesn’t, what resonates and what becomes forgettable. My goal is to help you create speeches that feel natural in the room and truly shine on film.
Why Speeches Matter in a Wedding Film
They Give Your Film Its Voice
Music sets the tone, visuals capture the beauty, but speeches provide the voice. They turn a cinematic wedding film from a sequence of moments into your unique story. Without them, the film can lack intimacy, resonance and ultimately, emotion. With them, a wedding film becomes infinitely more powerful- it becomes uniquely yours.
They Connect Generations
The power of a wedding film is that it lives on long after the day itself, encapsulating how it looked and felt to be there on that special day. Imagine your children or grandchildren watching — it’s the words spoken during speeches that will resonate most and make you feel something. Wouldn’t you love to watch your grandparents wedding film, to be able to hear them speak and to hear what it meant to them? Its a timeless, priceless factor of modern wedding videography.
They Shape the Narrative
As a filmmaker, I often use snippets of speeches to structure the film. A touching opening line from a parent or a funny anecdote from a friend can guide the rhythm of the story- in actual fact when I sit down to edit and curate one of my wedding films I start with the speeches, building out the whole film with no visuals so that I know I have the best story I can have. The visuals are then added to compliment the narrative- the better prepared the speeches, the stronger the film becomes.
Common Challenges with Speeches (and How to Avoid Them)
Nervous Delivery
Public speaking isn’t easy- some find it easy, most find it fills them with dread and it’s something that is often overlooked or ignored. The pressure of standing in front of a room full of loved ones can make even the most confident person stumble, meaning that even if the sentiment and content is heartfelt and authentic, it comes across as flat and emotionless.
Pro Tip: Encourage your speakers to practice aloud, not just read silently at least two or three times before the wedding. Hearing their own words helps build confidence and makes delivery smoother, as well as helps with pacing and flow.
Overly Long Speeches
Nothing dampens a reception like a speech that drags on. The best speeches in my experience as a wedding videographer have been punctual, to the point and end on a high with the guests wanting more. Often with longer speeches there is lot’s of repetition, irrelevant references and stories that increase the difficulty in delivering because the guests in the room lose interest. On film, long speeches often lose their impact.
Pro Tip: Aim for 5–8 minutes per speech. This keeps energy high and ensures we capture the best moments without overwhelming the film.
Reading Word-for-Word
Speeches written out and read verbatim can sound stiff on film and ultimately can disconnect the speaker from the crowd and their reactions. Good speech givers maintain eye contact and react to the crowd, rather than staring at a piece of paper and reading off a monotone script.
Tip: Suggest key notes or bullet points instead of a full script. Note down where you expect natural pauses, laughter, and off-the-cuff comments to be able to pre-empt them during delivery. This will make it feel far more authentic both on camera and in-person.
How to Help Your VIPs Prepare
As the couple, you can set your speakers up for success — and for speeches that look incredible in your film. Providing some guidance for your speakers ultimately means you can avoid situations that you don’t want to experience on your wedding day and more often than not, it helps those speakers to work towards a target or set of boundaries.
Share the Importance of Film
Most people don’t realise their words will be part of a professional film that lasts for decades. Let them know so they understand the value of preparing thoughtfully. This of course isn’t the most important thing, however it can help reinforce the message to any flight risks or rogue best men!
In my experience as a wedding videographer, I have found that when couples have made it clear to their speech givers that their words could be used in their wedding film (and they show one of my bespoke wedding films to them) that they curate and write the speech partially with that in mind, which can improve the delivery and sentiment of what they’re saying.
Provide a Few Gentle Guidelines
You don’t need to write their speeches for them, but giving some guidance can really help those delivering a wedding speech. You can suggest:
Keep it heartfelt, funny, or meaningful — but appropriate for all ages.
Offer an ideal target timeframe, for example 5-8 minutes in length
Avoid inside jokes that won’t translate on film or to the wider audience in the room.
End on a positive, celebratory note.
Encourage Practice with a Microphone
Holding a microphone feels different from speaking casually and microphone technique and etiquette is perhaps the most overlooked part of delivering a wedding speech. Too close to your mouth and its horrible distortion, too far away and it serves no purpose- too many hand gestures and the sound will come in and out quite badly. Encourage them to test out speaking at a similar volume and pace whilst maintaining a 2-3 inch space between the microphone and their mouth.
On-the-Day Tips for Speeches That Shine on Film
Speak Slowly and Clearly
Excitement or nerves often makes people rush. Remember to breathe, pause a second and allow things to flow naturally. Even if there is a target speech time, it’s not a race. Be clear, concise and controlled.
Use the Microphone Properly
Too far away and the audio is lost, too close and it distorts. Hold it a few inches from the mouth, steady and consistent. this is especially important for your wedding film, because I will have an audio recorder attached to the microphone which becomes my primary audio track when im creating your wedding film.
Face the Couple
Speeches directed only at guests sometimes mean the couple’s reactions aren’t captured. Encourage speakers to address both the room and you — this ensures I can capture those emotional, candid reactions. As a part of the service to my couples I provide them with a microphone stand so we can have the flexibility to set the scene up rather than be dictated to by a venue.
Don’t Worry About Perfection
It’s the sincerity that counts, not perfect delivery. Some of the best speech moments come from a voice cracking with emotion or an unexpected laugh. All of these points and guidance are simply to assist you and to make your speeches an unforgettable experience.
The Videographer’s Perspective: How I Capture Speeches
I approach speeches with a cinematic filmmaker’s eye and ear. I believe my job is to let as much of the speeches unfold naturally and use my skills as an editorial wedding videographer to make it look as stunning as possible- without you even knowing.
Here’s what I do to ensure they shine:
Multiple Camera Angles — capturing both the speaker and your reactions is crucial. The laughter, the tears, the small glances- they are all so important to capture.
Professional Audio — I use discreet microphones so every word is crystal clear & I always use multiple recorders for everyone speaking to ensure I have backups available should there be a technical issue..
Editing for Flow — I take the best, most powerful moments and weave them into the story of your day- it’s the first part in my editing process.
Off-Camera Lighting - Photographers can use flash, whereas for videography I need continuous lighting. As such I bring my own lights to every wedding, allowing me to shape and control the light to give that classic ‘cinematic’ look.
This means your film isn’t just a record of what was said — it’s a carefully crafted piece of storytelling that a lot of care and attention goes into. Arguably it’s the most important part of my day as a wedding videographer, both visually and for audio content.
What to Avoid: Pitfalls of Poorly Planned Speeches
As I have mentioned above, there are some very clear don’ts when it comes to delivering a wedding speech. As an experienced wedding videographer I would say the following three points are the main things you are trying to avoid;
Inside Jokes — They may make sense to a few in the room, but on film they fall flat as the vast majority of the guests and crowd don’t react or understand what the reference is.
Overly Embarrassing Stories — Keep it fun, but avoid moments you wouldn’t want replayed in ten years’ time. Sometimes eluding to a story is enough to invoke the reaction, without a full account.
Mumbling into the Mic — Nothing ruins an otherwise heartfelt speech faster than inaudible audio- it’s sounds bad in the room and it’s irritating in a wedding film.
Why Well-Planned Speeches Elevate Your Entire Film
When speeches are given thought and care, they transform your wedding video- it quite literally invokes the emotion and is what will make you feel your wedding film. Instead of just being background moments, they become central to the storytelling, which is what my bespoke wedding films are focussed on.
Your personalities, your relationships, and your love come through in a way no music track ever could. If you are looking for the ultimate telling of your story, for the most personalised and unique keepsake from your special day, then laying the foundations for some truly authentic wedding speeches is the best place to start.
Conclusion: Give Your Film the Gift of Great Speeches
Your wedding speeches are more than a tradition — they’re the heartbeat of your film. When given thought and care, they don’t just entertain your guests; they give you a legacy. Long after the day is over, these words will carry meaning for generations, who will be able to feel what you felt on the biggest day of your life.
If you’d like to see how I weave speeches into my films, explore some of the real weddings I’ve captured in my bespoke wedding films. You’ll find plenty of examples of beautiful moments during well thought out, planned and curated wedding speeches that completely transformed the film.
If you are interested in having an editorially-inspired cinematic wedding film created for you, including a strong narrative that tells your unique story, then I would love to hear from you. Click on the link below to get in touch with me and let’s start planning your incredible, one-of-a-kind cinematic wedding film.
FAQ: Wedding Speeches & Videography
Do I have to have speeches in my film?
Not at all — but they add richness and depth. Even short speeches can transform the film’s narrative and make it uniquely yours.
What if my speakers are really nervous?
That’s natural. Some of the most touching moments come from genuine nerves. As long as they practice, it will be beautiful.
Do you edit out awkward moments?
Yes. My job is to highlight the best parts and craft a seamless story.
Can we add speeches as voiceovers instead of full clips?
Absolutely. I often use audio snippets as narration over cinematic visuals.