New book launch: The modern couple's guide to wedding speeches

bride giving wedding speech

The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches By Heidi Ellert-McDermott

Say no to googled gags, cheesy cliches and archaic etiquette. There's no longer an excuse for wedding speeches to be a monotonous string of predictable platitudes and wedding gags.

blue book cover

The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches is for grooms and brides who want their wedding speeches to be memorable for the right reasons and to kick off their marriage with a bang.

This book is intended to benefit you whether you are straight or gay, whatever your religious beliefs are, or where you live. Heidi encourages us to reconsider old traditions, and tear up the outdated rulebook to create a modern wedding guide. Because speeches are such an important part of the day, she encourages couples to think about who they want to give speeches and what they want from the speeches.

Heidi wants to mix up the traditional 'Best man, groom, father-of-the-bride' line-up. To encourage more women to take up the microphone (or at least think about it for five minutes!) she provides new guidelines with three types of speeches that every wedding should have - encouraging couples to think about who will give a great speech, and ask speech givers if they actually want to give one!

The Modern Couple's Guide To Wedding Speeches leads readers through:
· Creating the perfect speech line-up
· Choosing how to represent your union 'on the mic'
· Brushing up on modern speech etiquette
· Gathering great content and curating your best material
· Learning simple speechwriter techniques to help you develop unique, humorous, and sentimental lines to add with and depth to your speech
· Discovering the trade secrets to delivering like a pro
· Getting inspired from a variety of wedding speech examples written by professional speechwriters

Written by Heidi Ellert-McDermott, award-winning wedding speechwriter and founder of Speechy, this guide will help you write and deliver a speech that's memorable for the right reasons. Heidi's advice has been quoted everywhere from the Daily Mail to the New York Times, and with insights and trade secrets from comedians, TV scriptwriters and wedding influencers, this is the ultimate toolkit for couples wanting to make their wedding speeches a little more wonderful.

Heidi hopes to encourage more women will speak up at weddings. She provides new guidelines for the modern trinity of wedding speeches that should be included in every wedding, encouraging couples to think about who will give a great speech!

The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches: How to Write and Deliver an Unforgettable Speech or Toast by Heidi Ellert-McDermott is out 9 March 2023, published by Little, Brown, priced £9.99

You may also be interested in

The “2 dinners a week” rule that could transform your love life, according to expert

The “2 dinners a week” rule that could transform your love life, according to expert

Google searches for 'emotional connection' are up 78% over the past month, while searches for 'relationship advice' are up 54%, showing that many are struggling and searching for ways to strengthen their bond with their significant other. Interiors brand Oak&More have spoken exclusively with award-winning sex and relationship expert Gemma Nice to find out why eating at the table a couple of nights a week can strengthen, or maybe save, your relationship.

READ ARTICLE

Stress-Free Wedding Plan: Affording Your Big Day Without Breaking the Bank

Stress-Free Wedding Plan: Affording Your Big Day Without Breaking the Bank

Chris Henderson, Save and Pay Director at Tesco Bank, said: "Money plays a really important role in our lives, helping us prepare for major life moments such as weddings or other special occasions. While it enables us to create meaningful experiences, it can also become a source of stress when facing the costs that come with them. Taking the time to understand what things may cost is the first step when saving for your big day. This awareness can help you make informed decisions, whether that's setting a realistic wedding budget, building a dedicated savings plan, or seeking support to bring your dream day to life."

READ ARTICLE

Women want a personal engagement ring not an expensive one

Women want a personal engagement ring not an expensive one

New research suggests a shift in how women approach one of the most traditional luxury jewellery purchases, with 75% saying they want an engagement ring to prioritise personal meaning over size or value. A study of 1,353 UK women carried out by 77 Diamonds* found that 75% say they would prioritise a personalised engagement ring over a larger or more expensive diamond. What seems to stand out is not a complete rejection of convention, but rather a rebalancing and reassessment of value. 59% of women say their preference still leans towards traditional ready-made ring designs, and only 11% want an entirely custom-made piece But the emotional drive behind preferences and purchasing decisions does appear to be changing with 30% expressing a desire for rings that carry additional meaning through small modifications, engravings or design adjustments.

READ ARTICLE

Perfect Wedding or Perfect Post? Gen Z Couples Feeling the Pressure

Perfect Wedding or Perfect Post? Gen Z Couples Feeling the Pressure

Wedding planning has always come with its pressures, but for Gen Z couples in 2026, the landscape has changed. Social media has transformed what should be a joyful, shared experience into a high-stakes performance. Scrolling Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest can turn inspiration into comparison, pushing couples to measure their plans against celebrity weddings, curated feeds, and friends' picture-perfect posts. Grace Loves Lace, the Australian bridal brand known for effortless, movement-friendly dresses, has partnered with relationship therapist Amanda Lambros, who has over 25 years' experience, to explore how couples can navigate these pressures and enjoy the planning journey without burning out.

READ ARTICLE

Subscribe to Your Sussex Wedding Magazine for free

VISIT SITE

Follow Your Sussex Wedding Magazine on YouTube

VISIT SITE

Follow Your Sussex Wedding Magazine on Facebook

VISIT SITE

Submit your wedding to be featured in Your Sussex Wedding Magazine

VISIT SITE