An expert has revealed the dos and don'ts of a wedding speech - including not reading off a phone and making sure to prepare in advance.

Heidi Ellert-McDermott, 47, delivered her own wedding speech and helps other people - including Radio 2 DJ Scott Mills - deliver theirs.

She says speeches have the power to "surprise" and "delight" wedding guests and make people in the room feel loved - leaving them remembering the speech for the rest og their lives."

Heidi has revealed her dos and don'ts for a good speech including ditching the stag do tales and ticking the etiquette boxes.

Heidi, author and founder of Speechy, from Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, said:

"As a guest, I want to know where the love is. "

"I want to learn something about the couple, either individually or as a duo, and I want to be left rooting for their marriage."

"Speeches have the power to surprise and delight, and a great speech creates the roadmap of the couple's relationship for the guests."

On Heidi's wedding day, she says she got more compliments about her speech than her dress.

She recommends starting to write the speech at least two months before the big day.

She said: "A wedding speech is not something you should be knocking out in an afternoon. "

"It has the potential to create a cherished memory and impact your relationships with people for decades to come."

One of Heidi's biggest pet peeves when it comes to a wedding speeches are clichés like 'thank you for making me a better person' because they are "meaningless" and "slightly annoying". "

She said: "Admittedly, talking about love in a unique way is difficult but read through the first draft of your speech and cut those platitudes. "

"Instead, focus on the everyday reality of your relationship and bring that into focus."

"Are they the only person you can watch the Mandalorian with? Do they make your porridge just right? Get real and get specific."

"Adjectives also make us lazy and a wedding speech dull. Bring the adjectives to life with real life examples."

Heidi says humour is a great way of engaging the audience in a speech but insists there is no need to act like a professional comedian.

Heidi said: "The trick is to be as specific as possible. Even positive qualities can be humorous if you dissect them."

"Ditch the stag do tales and only bother with the proposal story if something went wrong and it's funny."

A trend that is a big plus for Heidi is a 'double act speech' - where the bride and groom or same sex couples take part in the speech together.

She said: "You both get to thank your friends and family, no one talks on behalf of the other and you can rehearse your speech together."

"It also takes the pressure off just one of you, allows you to discuss your speech and have fun with it along the way."

Dos -
- Tick the etiquette boxes
- Prepare you speech in advance
- Find your own humour
- Make everyone in the room feel loved
- Collaborate with your partner on the speech
- Don't stick to traditional roles of who gives the speech

Don'ts -
- Don't read off phone
- Don't do a presentation
- Don't cry straight away
- Don't speak for longer than 10 minutes
- No crude gags