Although bride speeches were not traditionally given at wedding receptions the practice is becoming more and more common and is now more often the case than not. Every bride wants to make a good impression to her groom, friends and new in-laws so doing a good job of speaking at the wedding reception is something you want to get right.

Of course you will have a thousand things on your mind leading up to the wedding and writing a speech will probably be the last thing on your mind. Don't put off the effort, however, because it really isn't that hard to write and present a great speech when you know how and plan ahead.

The first step is to understand the point of bride speeches and what you are expected to say. The second step is to get together with your groom well before the wedding and plan what the two of you are going to say in your speeches so you don't end up telling the same stories. I would suggest you not rehearse your speech with your groom so the final speech will be a surprise to him.

Remember that your job is not to provide the entertainment for the evening so keep your comments short. A great speech can be completed in five minutes or less.

Here are five points that need to be covered in all bride speeches:

1. Thank everyone who participated in the planning and execution of the wedding and making this a day you will always cherish. And don't just include your family and friends. Also mention the hired help, caterers, minister, etc. They also worked hard and deserve recognition.

2. Give special thanks to anyone who made an especially big contribution to making the day happen, and any guests that came from a far distance or had a difficult journey. Many brides like to remember at this time any friends or family members who could not make the journey, perhaps because they are ill or are no longer living.

3. Thank your family, your parents especially, for helping you to become the person you are. Illustrate what they mean to you with a story or two of how they taught you to be a good person or how much you enjoyed growing up with them.

4. Next thank your groom's family for welcoming you into their family. This section will vary depending on how well you know them. If you have only recently met them then you can just say what a wonderful job you think they did of raising their son. If you've known them longer then tell a story that illustrates why you admire them.

5. Finally you should talk about your new husband. Everyone loves to hear stories about how couples met so if you have a good or funny story now is the time. End with another story that shows what a special person he is and why you love him so much. The best way to end bride speeches is with a toast to the groom such as: Although I wish this moment could last forever, I also look forward to growing old with you.

Rehearse your speech as many times as you can before the wedding. The more you rehearse the less likely your emotions will get the best of you. Have a card with bullet points of what you want to say. Don't read the entire speech nor try to go without notes. And finally remember to enjoy your day.