Your friend is getting married and you’ve been asked to speak at the wedding. If you’re like most people, you’re terrified at the idea of speaking in public. You don’t know what to do, don’t know what to say. Fear not. Check out these tips to help you deliver a memorable wedding speech.
Plan The Speech
Preparation is key. Plan what you’d like to say. Make an outline and make notes of your wedding speech in advance. Start by introducing yourself and your connection to the couple, and make sure to thank the hosts. Be a storyteller. Think about touching stories or warm memories of the couple. While a wedding is a celebration, it is also a solemn event. It’s not a good time to crack crude jokes or talk about controversial topics like sex, religion or politics. Ask other close friends and relatives for stories you can use. End your speech by proposing a toast to the new couple and wishing them the best of luck for their journey together.
Keep the tone of the speech light and fun. Make it short and interesting. Anything from three to five minutes should be fine. Longer than that and you risk losing your audience’s attention.
Practice Your Speech
Practice your speech in front of an audience, if possible. It doesn’t matter if it’s an audience of only one or two. Their feedback is valuable in crafting the perfect wedding toast. When you practice, visualise yourself at the venue, speaking with warmth and confidence to your audience.
Stay Sober
On the day of the wedding itself, don’t drink until after your speech. You may want to have one drink to calm the nerves, but then you might like another one or two more. And that could quickly lead to a disastrous speech with bad jokes and inappropriate stories. You don’t want this wedding speech to be memorable for the wrong reasons.
Familiarise Yourself with the Sound System
It pays to get to the venue early. Familiarise yourself with the surroundings and the sound system. Ask for help if needed.
Ask for Everyone’s Attention
Before you start your speech, ask for everyone’s attention. You want people to listen to you and not be distracted by some other thing. Make eye contact with the audience. Speak clearly and confidently into the microphone.
Be Sincere
Don’t forget to make the speech about the couple. Make it sincere. You won’t go wrong speaking from the heart.
A wedding speech or wedding toast is a priceless gift you give to the newly married couple. It isn’t something where you show up and just wing it. Take the time to prepare for this honour to be part of an important occasion.
(image via loveluxeblog.com)
