The Most Clichéd Wedding Speeches

Wedding speeches are meant to be heartfelt, personal, and memorable, but if you’ve sat through more than a handful, you’ve probably noticed they all start to sound the same.

Whether it’s the classic “Ladies and gentlemen…” opener or a heartfelt nod to “The love of my life”, the language of love tends to follow an oh so familiar script.

To find out just how predictable wedding speeches really are,we analysed some real wedding speeches to uncover the most overused lines. By tracking how often popular phrases were used (including near-identical variations), we ranked them from cheesy crowd-pleasers to emotional staples.

The results? Some phrases showed up in over half of all speeches. So if you’re writing a toast and want to stand out, maybe steer clear of these…

And, if you want to make things even more fun at the next wedding you attend, why not create your own Wedding Speech Bingo Card using our template? Eyes on the prize, ears on the clichés!

Wedding Speeches – The Most Clichéd Phrases

Based on our analysis, it’s clear that certain phrases appeared far more often than others, proving that when it comes to wedding speeches, originality is lacking!

1. Phrase: “Ladies and gentlemen”

Frequency: 51% of speeches analysed.

Taking the crown for the most clichéd wedding speech phrase is the classic opener “Ladies and gentlemen”. Over half of the speeches analysed began with this formal greeting. While it sets a respectful tone, it’s also the most predictable way to begin a wedding speech. It’s arguably the equivalent of saying “hello” on autopilot.

2. Phrase: “Raise a glass”

Frequency: 24% of speeches analysed.

Ranking as the second most clichéd phrase is “Raise a glass” – the cue that the speech is about to wrap up. From the speeches analysed, the phrase is most commonly used to signal the official toast to the happy couple. While it’s celebratory, it’s also very predictable.

3. Phrase: “I’d like to thank”

Frequency: 21% of speeches analysed.

Rounding off the top three is perhaps the most mandatory phrase, “I’d like to thank”. Whether it’s thanking the guests, the couple, or the wedding party, this phrase often leads to a long list that sounds more like a credit roll than a speech.  What’s more, the word “thank” was actually the second most used word overall, appearing 458 times across 100 speeches, just beaten to the top spot by “today” with 463 appearances.

How to Make Your Wedding Speech Stand Out

Clichés aren’t necessarily a bad thing, they’re popular for a reason. But if you want your wedding speech to stand out, even a few thoughtful changes to your wording can help you avoid sounding like everyone else.

• Start with a story, not a script. Instead of opening with “Ladies and gentlemen”, why not kick things off with a joke or a funny memory to immediately draw people in?
• Personal is best! Focus on speaking from the heart, instead of trying to craft the perfect script.
• Skip the excessive thank yous. Keep this section short and meaningful to avoid losing the crowd. One sincere thank you will mean far more than 20 name drops.
• Finish with a bang! Instead of the expected “Raise a glass”, why not opt for something more specific to the special couple?

Wedding speeches are one of the most emotional parts of any wedding day, but they often follow the same structure and reuse the same expected phrases.

There’s nothing wrong with tradition, but adding a personal or unique sentiment can really make your words stand out. Our analysis shows just how often certain phrases are used, so if you’re writing a toast, take it as a challenge to say something personal for your special day.

Whether the best man, bridesmaid or the father of the bride, your speech should say something only you could say.

And if you’re worried about your speech being too clichéd, why not print out one of our Wedding Speech Bingo Cards and challenge yourself to avoid every square?