Episode 28 | Vows & Speeches

In this episode of Wedding Day Podcast, host Sonja Babich and co-host Amanda Holder, Publisher of California Wedding Day, sit down with Brian Franklin, founder of Vows & Speeches, a California-based company transforming how couples approach their wedding words. From custom vow writing to expertly crafted toasts and ceremony scripts, Brian helps couples and their loved ones find the right words—and the confidence to deliver them.

Drawing on his background in political speechwriting, Brian shares how he launched Vows & Speeches during the pandemic after noticing a gap in the wedding industry: beautifully written, emotionally resonant spoken content. Whether helping a best man deliver a crowd-pleasing toast or working with couples to write vows that feel deeply personal, Brian approaches each project with journalistic curiosity and storytelling finesse.

Listeners will learn why traditional speech templates fall flat and how Brian’s interview-based process uncovers the small, real-life details that make a couple’s love story shine. The episode also includes practical advice on how to rehearse your speech, manage nerves, avoid timeline disruption and support multiple speakers without overwhelming the flow of the event.

Brian also breaks down wedding speech etiquette—including who should speak, when they should go on and how to handle family dynamics with grace. He even shares creative alternatives to traditional speech slots and highlights the growing importance of thank-you toasts from the couple as a powerful way to close the evening.

As the conversation wraps, Brian makes the case that working with a writer doesn’t make your vows or speeches less authentic—it makes them stronger. With expert guidance and a focus on true connection, Vows & Speeches ensures that your words will be remembered long after the last dance.

🎧 Listen now to learn:

• How to write heartfelt, structured vows and wedding speeches
• What makes a toast feel personal—not generic or awkward
• Tips for timing, flow and supporting nervous speakers
• Creative ways to include speeches and toasts without slowing the evening
• The power of storytelling in ceremony scripts and wedding films
• Why working with a pro can enhance—not replace—your authentic voice