What are some effective ways to use humor in a wedding speech?

2 Balance humor and sincerity

The second rule of humor is to balance it with sincerity. You don't want to make your speech a stand-up comedy routine, nor do you want to make it a dry and dull lecture. You want to mix humor with heartfelt sentiments, compliments, and well-wishes. Humor can help you break the ice, lighten the mood, and connect with your audience, but sincerity can help you express your genuine feelings, gratitude, and respect for the wedding couple. Use humor to enhance your message, not to distract from it. For example, you might start your speech with a funny anecdote or a witty remark, but then transition to a sincere statement or a meaningful story.

3 Use self-deprecation and exaggeration

The third rule of humor is to use self-deprecation and exaggeration. These are two techniques that can help you create humor without hurting anyone's feelings or risking controversy. Self-deprecation is when you make fun of yourself or your own flaws, mistakes, or experiences. Exaggeration is when you embellish or overstate something for comedic effect. Both techniques can help you show humility, honesty, and relatability, as well as make your audience laugh. For example, you might joke about how nervous you are, how bad you are at giving speeches, how long you have known the wedding couple, or how much you have spent on the wedding gift.

4 Use callbacks and references

The fourth rule of humor is to use callbacks and references. These are two techniques that can help you create humor by connecting your speech to something that has already been said or done, either by yourself or by someone else. Callbacks are when you repeat or refer to a joke or a point that you have made earlier in your speech, or that someone else has made in their speech. References are when you mention or quote something that is familiar or relevant to your audience, such as a movie, a song, a book, or a cultural phenomenon. Both techniques can help you show creativity, intelligence, and awareness, as well as make your audience feel involved and amused. For example, you might call back to a funny story that the best man or the maid of honor has told, or reference a favorite movie or a song of the wedding couple.

6 Be flexible and adaptable

The sixth rule of humor is to be flexible and adaptable. You don't want to stick to your script or your plan rigidly, especially if you encounter any unexpected situations or reactions. You want to be able to adjust your speech and your humor according to the mood, the atmosphere, and the feedback of your audience. You want to be able to improvise, add, or omit jokes and stories as needed, depending on how your audience responds. You also want to be able to handle any interruptions, distractions, or mishaps with grace and humor, without losing your composure or your focus. For example, you might want to acknowledge or comment on a loud noise, a technical glitch, or a heckler, with a witty remark or a clever comeback.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?