The three techniques we use
1. Open on dialogue
A short line somebody actually said drops the room straight into a scene with no setup at all. It works because the audience has to lean in slightly to place it, and that half-second of curiosity is worth more than any amount of context.
2. Open on a precise image
One concrete picture with an age, a place or an object in it. Precision is what makes it feel true — "a jar of buttons on a kitchen floor" is memorable in a way that "she was always thoughtful" can never be.
3. Open on a confession or reframe
Admit something small and slightly unflattering about yourself, or state a fact that changes how the room sees the subject. Both create an immediate reason to keep listening.
Openings to avoid entirely
- "For those of you who don't know me…" — the single most overused line at weddings.
- "Webster's dictionary defines marriage as…"
- "Marriage is like…" followed by any simile.
- "I've known Dan for fifteen years…" as a first sentence.
- "I'll keep this short" — you will not, and now you have promised.
- Any joke about the open bar, the length of your speech, or how nervous you are.