From custom speech writing to bespoke Instaframes, InStanza offers thoughtful wedding gifts that truly stand out from the rest – whether it's for the mother-of-the-bride, the newlyweds themselves or for the bride's hen party. Here, we sit down with Melanie Hunter, the woman behind the award-winning brand, to hear more about her unique wedding service.
What service do you provide at weddings?
At InStanza, I write wedding speeches for any bridal party member, and I create personalised gifts called Instaframes, a one-off gift for life and perfect for any wedding.
The word ‘speech’ gives a sense of unease for many prospective speechmakers. I help my clients by writing their speeches and giving them the tools they need so that they can deliver them effectively, without feeling like they need to down a bottle of antacid, or worse still, gin! If the words are right, the delivery will be much easier than you think. I offer two different types of speeches: traditional and rhymed.
- Traditional speeches are what most people expect to hear at a wedding, and if well-planned and rehearsed, they are fabulous to listen to. I write each one from scratch and include plenty of humour and craic, while ensuring that all relevant toasts and formalities are addressed.
- Rhymed speeches are fast-paced, humourous and highly entertaining all-in-one; they are a captivating addition to any wedding day. Rhymed speeches typically start at about six verses and the longest one I have written was forty-two verses. These speeches are a great talking point, long after the mic has been put down.
What exactly is an Instaframe?
The Instaframe is my signature service, where I write about the person receiving the gift from their perspective. I include all of their memories, anecdotes and fun times. I recount and tell their story in a light-hearted, funny but sincere way – it’s like a written caricature and is always warmly received. When the words are complete, I add in some of their favourite photos, apply them to a custom-designed template, and have it professionally printed, mounted and framed, making it a bespoke gift for life.
The wedding Instaframe collection includes a fiancé gift for the morning of the wedding, a mother-of-the-bride gift, a wedding gift for the newlyweds that recounts the wedding day itself, and one of my very favourites, a gift for the hen from all of her pals. It is guaranteed to make the hen laugh and cry, and promises to give her a good send-off as she kisses single life goodbye!
Each Instaframe is a one-of-a-kind creation. They helped me to win the Gifts and Favours Supplier of the Year Award with WeddingsOnline, in 2023 and 2024, and the Creative Professional branch winner in the Network Ireland Businesswoman of the Year Awards in June. I am really looking forward to representing Wicklow at the national level on the finals night in September.
What inspired you to start this business?
Writing was always a hobby, and my love of jotting down a few words started when I was about six. I used to write funny verses and poems for birthday cards for family and friends, and over time, it just sort of stuck! I wrote my first wedding speech when I was in my late teens.
After honing my speech-writing skills for over twenty years, a gentleman I had written a speech for asked if I had considered starting a business doing so. He told me he couldn’t have delivered his speech without my help. It really resonated with me that there are two huge fears associated with speeches – finding the right words for your speech, and the thought of actually delivering it. With InStanza, I take this fear away by writing the speech for you.
The Instaframe was inspired by someone who asked me to write something memorable for a milestone birthday, but they didn’t want to make a speech. I wrote a piece and it dawned on me that if I framed it, it would make a lovely gift… With an organic start, it took off and I have written Instaframes for nearly every celebratory occasion you can think of since!
What makes your service unique from other wedding suppliers in the same space?
Rhymed speeches are thoughtfully crafted and so personal. I love being able to offer this service for those looking for something a bit different, or who just embrace the idea of a rhymed speech. On occasion, I have written rhymed speeches and incorporated a few words of other languages throughout. So far, I have combined French, Portuguese, Irish and Spanish in my speeches; the extra language adds the je ne sais quoi, an extra layer of craic, and sounds fantástico!
The Instaframe elegantly tells a story in rhyme, and no two stories are ever the same. They truly are a distinctive one-of-a-kind gift that captures and preserves the memories of the wedding in one place. No two frames are ever the same, and my clients love the originality that it brings.
What’s your favourite part about your job?
What I love most is bringing my more nervous clients on a gentle journey, which starts with them feeling absolutely terrified about the prospect of their speech. In an easy, respectful and laid-back way, I encourage and enable them to pick up the microphone by literally putting the words into their mouth.
I remind them that I have written their speech based on their information; they gave me the ingredients, and I cooked the dinner! When the client returns after the wedding, they often admit that they looked forward to making their speech because they knew that the words were perfect. When I hear this, it makes me love my job a little bit more, as I know that I have helped my client get through what can be a very overwhelming part of their day.
How far in advance should a bride-to-be contact you before her wedding?
This is a great question! My best advice is to start thinking about your speech or Instaframe six weeks before your wedding. I have spoken with many stressed-out speechmakers, who have left themselves short on time and are writing their speeches last minute, often thinking they can generate one using AI. When they do, they realise there is no emotion or humour in it, and it sounds a bit twee.
There is so much that needs to be done in the last few weeks leading up to the wedding. It is much easier to get your speech prepared and ready to go well in advance. Believe me when I tell you that once you have navigated your way through the table plan, you won’t have much energy to start thinking about your wedding speech. Give yourself an easy win and get it sorted sooner rather than later.
What does the booking process look like?
You can book a speech or order an Instaframe through my website. I love to chat with my clients and welcome a phone call or an email if you want more information on how I can help. Once you book in with me, I send a questionnaire by email, and their answers give me the who’s who, and what’s what of the wedding. Then, I will have your speech or Instaframe ready to go within three weeks. Each speech is written in conjunction with the client’s answers my client gives to me. This helps them deliver their speech without trembling like jelly, as they are confident that the speech is on point, relevant and true to them.
What areas of Ireland do you cover? Are you available abroad?
Each speech is sent by email, and I have sent speeches to all corners of the earth… London, Paris, Melbourne and New York to name but a few.
The Instaframes are available for shipping within Ireland and the UK. I have processed orders from international clients, and I have sourced printers and framers in those countries. I take it on a case-by-case basis, and so far I have been able to fulfil every order.
What’s one of your favourite weddings you’ve worked at and why?
I recently worked with Jamie Skelton, magician and MC, and helped him with his wedding speech. It was interesting to work with a fellow wedding supplier. Although Jamie is the consummate professional and no stranger to the mic, I was delighted to collaborate with him in the context of his own wedding. On the day, he took a break from shuffling and delivered his speech like a pro.
Any advice for brides-to-be when it comes to finding the right wedding suppliers?
It is so important to find the right supplier. I encourage each bride-to-be to consider choosing local and smaller suppliers where possible, as they will receive a very personalised product or service. If there is an issue with supply, it can be harder to contact larger companies, and less stress is best where weddings are concerned. Smaller suppliers will nearly cartwheel down every aisle for you, so that when you head down the aisle yourself, you have everything you need to have the best day.
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