In an unexpected twist of creativity and humor, Woodland’s English communications class turned the traditional lesson plan on its head by staging a series of fake speeches, culminating in a mock wedding that left both students and teachers amused. What started as a simple assignment became an unforgettable classroom experience, showcasing the students’ imagination, public speaking skills, and ability to collaborate.
On the day of the “wedding,” the class gathered in the Journalism room, where the fake wedding ceremony took place. The students were surprised to walk into the room and see tables set up with food and drinks to really make this a realistic experience. With Munchkins in place of wedding food and grape juice in place of wine and champagne for the kids to enjoy. The students were able to choose who they wanted to write their speech for, and whoever was, sat up front with the speaker. A podium was set up with a microphone for whoever was speaking.
The assignment seemed straightforward enough at first: Mr. Geary tasked his students with writing speeches as if they were a maid of honor or best man. It was meant to help them develop their public speaking skills, a vital part of the class. However, as the class began brainstorming, things quickly took an unexpected turn. In which the class decided to have an actual wedding.
“This was definitely a very different way to learn,” said senior Sophia Graffam.
The speeches were all personalized towards each other filled with heartfelt moments as well as funny ones. They showed how much the students cared about each other, whether they had been friends since elementary school or freshman year of highschool.
“I think that this was an assignment that I’ll remember doing for a while; it was a really creative idea,” said Graffam.
While the fake wedding may have been over-the-top, it was clear that the students took away important lessons about the art of communication. The assignment allowed them to tap into their creativity, practice persuasive speechwriting, and gain confidence in speaking in front of others.
Beyond the laughter and weirdness of the fake wedding, it served as a powerful exercise in communication. Students learned how to structure a speech, think on their feet, and use humor effectively to engage an audience.
“ I was a little scared to read in front of the class but once I started reading and got it over with I realised it wasn’t that bad,” said Graffam.
The feedback from the class was very positive. Many students expressed how the assignment helped them better understand the importance of communication and the role of emotion in public speaking. Some even noted that the experience had made them more confident in delivering speeches for future events, whether real or imagined.
In the end, the fake speeches and wedding weren’t just an entertaining diversion—they were a testament to how thinking outside the box can lead to unforgettable lessons in the art of communication and that even the most imagined stories can be powerful—and sometimes, the best speeches come from the heart, no matter who they’re about.
