Eliminate Wedding Speech Jitters
Over a beer last night, your best friend told you his wonderful news; he will be getting married to the girl of his dreams in a few months’ time. You never thought you’d live long enough to see that happen, for him to take the plunge and settle down.
The idea of being a best man is very appealing. There’s nothing you would rather do for your best bud on his wedding day than dazzle wedding guests with a superb wedding toast and share heartfelt sentiments, but public speaking and you, well those words were never meant to be in the same sentence.
Banish some of the jitters early by focusing on the wedding toast not on your performance jitters. You can talk yourself into panic or you can talk yourself into giving one of the best wedding speeches ever heard. You pick!
Learn from these suggestions on how to make an excellent wedding toast.
- The key to success is starting early and being totally prepared. Do your research by talking with others who have given wedding toasts and check out web sources and library books too. Don’t go with “off-the-cuff” remarks. They simply won’t cut it when the time comes, trust me!
- Learn to like butterflies. Make them fly in formation by embracing and harnessing the energy that fear produces. That extra burst of energy will enhance your wedding toast.
- Just as a Pulitzer novel doesn’t just fly off the screen onto the best- seller list, accept that you will need to write and rewrite your wedding toast. Leave some time between writing and looking at it again. You will be surprised at how you will spot things you need to change. You will know when you have it just the way you want it.
- A bit of laughter, some smiles, these are what you are aiming for when you use humor in a wedding speech. Never tell intimate stories, use crude language or off-color jokes. Never!
- Share how you met the groom, how long you have known each other and one or two of your exploits. Talk about when he introduced you to his bride, how beautiful and talented and perfect for him she is and how you believe their marriage is bound to be wonderful. Make your wedding toast remarks tasteful and sincere.
- Short and sweet. Don’t be tempted to go longer than five minutes max for your wedding toast.
- Practice makes perfect. Practice your wedding toast in front of a full-length mirror and time it, allowing moments for audience response.
- Testing, one, two. If at all possible, find a few minutes before the reception starts to stand at the mike where you will be giving your wedding speech. Get a feel for the room from this point of view. Practice delivering to the audience, using eye contact with a few friendly faces or if looking directly at people makes you nervous, aim slightly over their heads.
- Lift a full glass for the toast. Raise your arm from the shoulder and lock eyes with the bride and groom when you toast them at the end of your wedding speech.
- Hug the groom and the bride at the conclusion of your wedding toast and then take your seat. Job well done!
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