For many couples, the prospect of writing and delivering wedding vows or speeches can feel overwhelming. The pressure to perfectly capture deep emotions and shared memories, then recite them in front of a crowd, is enough to make even the most eloquent bride or groom nervous. This is where Katelyn Peterson, founder and CEO of Wedding Words, has found her calling. Peterson, now 37, has built a thriving business helping couples, their friends, and their families find the right words for these milestone moments.
Peterson’s journey to entrepreneurship began in an unlikely place—her father's request for help writing a eulogy. In 2017, Peterson was working in sales, but she had always considered herself "a writer at heart." When her father asked for help with her grandfather's eulogy, Peterson saw how difficult it was for someone, even with strong feelings, to put those emotions into words. Her father's first draft was generic, something that could have described anyone’s grandfather. With Peterson’s help, the eulogy transformed into a heartfelt tribute filled with personal stories and vivid memories. The result moved her father to tears. "He said, 'This is exactly what I wanted to say. I just didn't know how to put it into words,'" Peterson recalls. This moment was a revelation for Peterson. She realized that if her father struggled to articulate his feelings for such a significant occasion, countless others likely faced the same challenge, especially when it came to weddings.
Motivated by this insight, Peterson launched Wedding Words a few months later, determined to help people do justice to the most important moments of their lives. Her mission was simple: to help clients put their hearts into words. Over the past eight years, she has written more than 700 speeches for a variety of wedding participants, from brides and grooms to parents and members of the bridal party. Her business has grown steadily, now generating six figures in annual revenue, but Peterson remains passionate about the work itself—transforming anxiety and self-doubt into confidence and eloquence.
A common misconception about hiring a professional speechwriter, Peterson says, is that clients simply don’t care enough to write their own vows or speeches. In reality, she argues, the opposite is true. "I think you care so much that you feel like you can't do it on your own," she explains. The desire to honor a partner or loved one with words that truly capture the depth of feeling often creates a kind of emotional paralysis. Her clients, she finds, are deeply invested in expressing themselves authentically—they just need guidance to get there.
Peterson’s process is both structured and highly personal. It starts with an introductory video call, where she and her client discuss their goals for the speech and begin to uncover the personal stories and details that will make the words meaningful. These conversations often become emotional, with clients moved to tears as they reflect on the memories and relationships at the heart of the occasion. "We're hitting an emotional chord," Peterson says. "We're getting somewhere deep, and that's a good thing." She sees these moments as evidence that the process is working—that they are reaching the raw, honest emotions that make for powerful speeches.
Once the initial conversation is complete, Peterson drafts the speech, carefully weaving in the stories, humor, and emotional beats they've discussed. Next comes a second video call, where she and the client review the draft together and make revisions. This collaborative approach ensures that the final speech is not only well written, but also feels true to the client’s voice and experience. The process concludes with a practice session, where Peterson helps her client rehearse the delivery, making sure they feel comfortable with pacing, tone, and the emotional highs and lows of the speech.
In Peterson’s experience, the transformation in her clients is striking. By the end of their final call, clients often express immense relief, saying things like, "I feel so much better. I can't believe I'm actually excited to say this speech in front of 200 people." For Peterson, these moments are the ultimate validation of her work. "That's the moment that I know, OK, I did my job," she says.
Building a business in such a personal and emotional niche wasn’t easy. In the early days, Peterson spent hours scouring wedding-focused Facebook groups, searching for potential clients. Understanding that people might be hesitant to pay for such a personal service without hearing from others, she initially offered her expertise for free, in