Brian joins Conan O'Brien to talk wedding vows, toasts, the art of the perfect speech, Norm MacDonald, and sex robots!
Conan O'Brien Needs a friend
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Press, Media Coverage, guides, & Blog posts
the "needs a fan" episode - "The Wedding Ringer"
"I'm glad you're out there. This is going to help people immensely, and mostly you're helping their audience, because I want more and more people who are giving toasts at a wedding to get some advice before they do it. I don't want to be sitting there. I don't want to get violent."
- CONAN ON BRIAN FRANKLIN/VOWS & SPEECHES
The AP asked us how to keep politics out of a wedding
In October 2024, the Associated Press called Brian for a story on keeping wedding guests from turning the reception into a battleground — a fair question to ask a recovered political consultant. His answer was simple: the toast is not the place to do a comedy routine or scare up votes.
The piece went out on the AP wire and ran on more than 50 news sites nationwide, including Yahoo, U.S. News & World Report, The Washington Times, and dozens of local ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX affiliates — KTLA in Los Angeles, WGN in Chicago, KRON4 in San Francisco, WAVY in Norfolk, KSAT in San Antonio, WFLA in Tampa, and on down the list.
Read the original at AP News →
When The New York Times covered the couples turning to professional wordsmiths for their vows and toasts, Brian Franklin was one of the writers they talked to — on why the interview matters more than the writing, what people get wrong when they go it alone, and the craft of being funny at a wedding without being that speech. The piece is also where the Times dubbed him "The Humorist," a line we have never once stopped using.
Read the original at The New York Times →
Bridal Guide asked wedding pros for the advice couples don’t hear until it’s too late. Brian Franklin, founder of Vows & Speeches, weighed in on the one thing people always put off: the vows. “Start working on your vows way in advance. Summarizing what you love about your partner in about two minutes is hard, […]
Bridal Guide featured Brian Franklin, founder of Vows & Speeches, in a roundup of the wedding planning tasks couples leave until the last minute — and his contribution was the one closest to our heart: the actual words of the ceremony. “Couples often pick ceremony officiants that are friends and family members because they’re great […]
Hi all! I’m Brian Franklin and my Conan Meets a Fan episode went live for early subscribers this week (and will be live to the public roughly 7/9/26)! I thought I’d share my experience with you, with some background on why it was so meaningful to me. It was my wife and business partner, Nicole, who had […]
“Explain what you do, how you live together, and the things that you enjoy. If you can do it in a funny and not embarrassing way, talk about what you tease each other about. By personalizing your ceremony, the guests will not only enjoy the ceremony more, they’ll become more invested in the rest of […]
Many interfaith couples of a Jew and someone of a different background are married by secular officiants. Some are married by clergy of the other faith. But the majority of such couples are married by a rabbi. Regardless of the cultural reasons for these choices, it’s worthwhile to know some of the options for couples in these situations.
In this episode of the Wedding Day Podcast, hosts Sonja Babich and Amanda Holder, Publisher of California Wedding Day, sit down with Brian Franklin, founder of Vows & Speeches. Based in California, Brian is redefining how couples approach vows, speeches and ceremony scripts by offering writing and coaching services that elevate the emotional heart of […]
Brian joins Leah to discuss his insights and advice on writing wedding vows and speeches. They highlight the common pitfalls in vow writing and how to avoid them, as well as the impact that generative AI, like ChatGPT, has on wedding speeches. You can also watch it here: Full: https://youtu.be/EaB-Wv4TUGk?si=TrOJDK5hARKFdzPF To hear the podcast, click here.
Vows & Speeches helped their clients Matthew & Graeme craft their vows and the ceremony to match the beauty of this incredible wedding by Tyler Speier events. “The couple worked with Brian from Vows and Speeches to help them practice the vows they wrote for each other and to help their officiant, who was their close friend, feel confident […]
Brian Franklin from Vows & Speeches provides expert advice on how the bride’s wedding speech situation could have been avoided with some guidance, and other tips for anyone giving a reception speech. To read the article, click here.
As speechwriters for weddings and other events, we’ve helped write a lot of wedding vows. While there’s no substitute for working with a professional, where you’ll get help with both the writing and the delivery of them, here are five key elements that will help you make the most out of these moments.
Unsure about doing your own vows, or doing them in public? Here’s why you should why it’s important to not do them privately.
Brian joined The Wedding Reporter Podcast — hosted by Nashville Bride Guide — for a conversation on writing wedding vows and speeches that actually land: beating the nerves, why couples procrastinate, and the roles of personalization, humor, brevity, and (a little) AI. It’s one of my favorite topics. The vows and the speeches are the […]
Brian Franklin of Vows & Speeches appears on the DJ Insider Podcast giving tips on how not to ruin big moments at a wedding.
“Today’s episode is all about one of the most personal—and sometimes nerve-wracking—parts of a wedding: the vows and speeches. Writing your own vows can feel overwhelming, and giving a toast in front of a room full of people? Well, let’s just say it’s not everyone’s idea of fun. But don’t worry! Our guest today is […]
“Former political consultant Brian Franklin is co-founder of Vows & Speeches, a Los Angeles-based company that helps customize just that: Wedding vows, and speeches for nuptials and other events. “When it comes to the reception speeches and toasts, it’s critically important that couples instruct those speaking not to mention or joke about politics, politicians or controversial subjects,” he […]
“When we’re interviewing people, we’re looking for that story or aspect that has a comic angle but won’t be something that brings up a sore subject or could be potentially embarrassing. It’s important to make sure that the humor doesn’t create discomfort or damage — and ultimately is connected to some point about the health of your […]
“Talking about hobbies within the ceremonies and/or vows can be a lot of fun. Whether it’s poking light fun at the weird collections they have or showing appreciation for their musical talents… bringing hobbies up gives these moments a unique and personal spin that makes everything more interesting and memorable.”
Brian Franklin, cofounder of Vows & Speeches, a professional wedding speech and vow writing service, shares his expert tips on crafting a memorable and sincere toast.
Practice your vows out loud as many times as you can. You don’t need to memorize it, but it will help you both with delivery and to avoid choking up (too much). To read the rest of the article, click here.
Practice your vows out loud as many times as you can. You don’t need to memorize it, but it will help you both with delivery and to avoid choking up (too much).
As for who gets to speak, Brian Franklin of Vows & Speeches urges couples to select people in advance and limit toasts to approved speakers. “Whatever you do, never, ever make it an open mic,” he says. “You can easily lose control of the evening that way.”
Why Hiring a Speech Writer Might Save Your WeddingNot everyone is comfortable writing their own wedding vows, and that’s okay. For those who don’t deem themselves wordsmiths or need a little coaching on how to put together a great Best Man speech, this episode is for you! Our host, Jennifer Stein, is joined by Brian […]
For those that don’t know how to write a best man/maid of honor/father or mother of the bride speech…
The New York Times featured Brian Franklin, founder of Vows & Speeches, in a Style-section story about couples turning to professional writers for help with their wedding vows and speeches. “I wanted my vows to be real, personal and intimate.” She managed to check off all three boxes after hiring Brian Franklin, a founder of […]
Being selected as a maid of honor in a friend or family member’s wedding is a high prestige, but it can easily become a daunting task — especially when writing a speech for the reception. We asked several wedding industry experts for their best tips to ease your stress while creating a heartfelt tribute to […]
If you’ve spent any amount of time on TikTok or Instagram, you know that wedding speeches go viral so fast, whether it’s because they were really good or…not so good. And we don’t want that!
The Knot featured Brian Franklin, founder of Vows & Speeches, as an expert source in its guide to writing your own wedding vows — including how to use humor without undercutting the moment. When it comes to humor and jokes, bear in mind that all your loved ones are listening and you ultimately want your […]
We reached out to experts from across the globe in this $300-billion destination and luxury wedding industry to share tips and tricks to make your wedding planning process a breeze.
Have you been asked to write a speech for a loved one’s wedding? Consider it an honor! As couples plan their weddings, choosing VIP guests to have a role on their big day is one of the most meaningful steps.
It’s pretty clear now: artificial intelligence is here to stay. We’re seeing a new wave of technological advancement that is becoming more and more a part of our everyday lives. But can AI be useful when planning your wedding? We asked top wedding experts for their thoughts.
Interview with Brian Franklin, the Co-Founder of Vows and Speeches where they do just that… help others write what is on their heart. Finally, Brian has all the juicy stories to share with us!
The Knot featured Brian Franklin, founder of Vows & Speeches, as an expert source in its guide to writing a non-religious (secular) wedding ceremony script. “When you’re not constrained by a pre-written ceremony, you have an opportunity to craft something unique to you as a couple that both tells your story and captures your personality. […]
We spoke with wedding experts to discuss three popular ceremony styles — legal, symbolic, and religious — and weigh the pros and cons of each. Keep reading to learn the intricacies of each ceremony style — and figure out which one may be right for you.
It is one of the most critical moments of the wedding day…saying your vows. But most of us could be better writers, so why not hire someone?
Did you get engaged recently? Let us add to the chorus of congratulations! You’ve started a new chapter and are over the moon as you and your partner begin planning your dream wedding.
The Knot featured Brian Franklin, founder of Vows & Speeches, among the wedding pros sharing what to do the morning of your wedding — especially if you’re giving a speech. If you’re giving a speech during the wedding reception, Brian Franklin, cofounder of Vows & Speeches, recommends rehearsing “as many times as you can” the […]
California Wedding Day sat down with Brian Franklin, co-founder of Vows & Speeches, for a spotlight interview on writing custom vows, ceremonies, and wedding speeches — and how to make them personal instead of generic. “The wedding speech should be a tribute to both of the couple, should be short — three to four minutes […]
A chat with political speech writer turned wedding speech guru Brian Franklin about preparing for the mic time for weddings. Brian gives us a peek on how he works with couples to give them confidence from the heart.
A new year brings new wedding trends! While couples tying the knot in 2023 surely have their Pinterest boards filled with inspiration, there’s plenty more on the horizon to keep things fresh as we approach a new wedding season.
Planning a wedding is an exercise in juggling all the details. From major elements like booking the perfect venue to smaller aspects like color palettes, there are countless moving pieces for engaged couples to prepare.
From joyous tears shared during family dances to belly laughs echoed throughout toasts, weddings are filled with emotions. But for the couple, there’s one sentimental moment that stands out from the rest: the exchange of vows at the ceremony right before the marriage is made official.
If ever there was a problem needing a solution, this is it. Brian helps couples write better, more personal vows, their parents and friends write better speeches and their officiant write a better ceremony.
Listen as Brian Franklin, Co-Founder of Vows and Speeches, joins Eddie Babbage, CEO & Founder of Timeline Genius, to talk about custom-made vows, speeches/toasts, and ceremony scripts.
As couples embark on their fun and exciting journey to the aisle, they’re often struck with the realization that weddings don’t come cheap. While you can certainly pull off a low-budget celebration, it typically comes with a fair share of headaches and stress…
It is not easy trying to put emotions into writing, especially when you know that writing will be spoken in front of a crowd of people.
Our vows were a total home run!
"We both surprised each other with how heartfelt and funny/cute they were and everyone loved them. We got so many compliments and people said they were the best vows they’ve ever heard!”
