It started with a
desire to end
boring weddings
Brian & Nicole Franklin co-founded Vows & Speeches because it seemed that every wedding they went to, the speeches dragged. Sometimes, they were downright cringy. Despite the significant expenses and time devoted to the overall wedding production, it seemed these moments were being left up to chance, without professional oversight and guidance.
As a political consultant who trained people how to make very boring topics interesting to audiences, Brian knew they could help. In mid-2021, he brought up the idea in a wedding planner discussion group on an app called Clubhouse, and it was suggested to add custom vows and ceremony scripts (for the Internet-ordained friends and family officiants). Within hours (really!), Vows & Speeches was born and the next day they had their first client.
Since 2021, Vows & Speeches has worked on hundreds of weddings and other events—everything from charity event speeches to eulogies. Covered in the New York Times, Brides, Bridal Guide, The Knot, and leading podcasts, Vows & Speeches is establishing itself as a trusted, high-touch resource for anyone who is running into difficulty saying what they want to say, is running out of time, and/or has a significant fear of public speaking.
Our Approach
Our approach is to make the entire process easy for our clients. We don't ask you to fill out a questionaire... we interview you over the phone. It usually takes about an hour, and from that conversation, we distill it down to wedding vows that are 1-2 minutes each, wedding speeches that are 3-4 minutes each, or an 8-10 minute ceremony narrative that tells your love story and gets people laughing and dabbing their eyes with tissues.
As part of our packages, we provide delivery coaching, which goes a long way towards alleiviating public speaking fears, building confidence, and maximizing the impact of what you're saying.
OUR SERVICES
Meet BRIAN FRANKLIN
Brian Franklin is the Co-Founder and CEO of Vows & Speeches, which he founded in mid-2021 with his wife and business partner, Nicole Franklin. Prior to 2023, Brian was the founder and President of an award-winning political consulting firm, where he oversaw messaging, communications (including speechwriting), and advertising for state and federal campaigns nationwide. He also served for 10 years as board member for the bipartisan trade association, American Association of Political Consultants.
"i absolutely adore this job. every day, we get to help people find words for their love of someone, and do it in a fun, entertaining, and moving way. it's so much better than working in politics!
-Brian franklin
Before working in politics or weddings, Brian taught AP Government in what was the largest high school in the country, worked as a freelance advertising creative director and marketing consultant, and even wrote Sunday car ads for newspapers back when they had such a thing. In his early 20's Brian had long hair and had a really brief career as a signed singer-songwriter. (Which included a smattering of love songs, bringing this story full circle.)
Brian still plays guitar and thinks a lot of about cars, and lives in Los Angeles with Nicole, some dogs, some kids, and a cat.
Nicole oversees all aspects of Vows & Speeches backend operations as well as much of its sales outreach, while working with Brian on the larger business strategy.
Nicole has almost 20 years of advertising and marketing experience, mostly as a media buyer and Chief Operating Officer of a political consulting firm. As a media buyer, she has bought over $150 million in television, radio, print, and outdoor advertising. As COO, she managed all administrative and accounting aspects of the business.
She can also play a mean tamborine.
Nicole FRANKLIN
Co-Founder/
Director of Entertainment
Co-Founder
"i absolutely adore this job. every day, we get to help people find words for their love of someone, and do it in a fun, entertaining, and moving way. it's so much better than working in politics!
-Brian franklin
So, a smashing success.
It went great—it was sweet, funny, and I did get a little teary, but didn't completely lose it which I was grateful for. People loved it and I got a zillion compliments afterwards.
Thanks again for you help to make it so!"
- Alison a.
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