Tips in Giving A Wedding Speech

Weddings are a great venue for expressing your thoughts and feelings. This is especially true when you are holding an important part in the entourage like if you are the FATHER/MOTHER of the bride, BEST MAN or the MAID OF HONOR where you are OBLIGED to give a wedding speech. If you are the type of person who is used to all the spotlight, giving speeches will be a breeze but when you are like most people who get cold feet and frozen tongue, you will need these tips in giving a wedding speech with the least chance of nervous breakdown:


Writing Your Speech

The most basic outline of writing your speech is a 5-part structure:

• Introduce yourself and your relationship to the newlyweds
• Acknowledge the audience 
• Give your message to the newlyweds. You can mention fond memories.
• Give your well wishes and advice.
• End with a toast.

You can get creative by inserting quotes and wise words about marriage. You may also recall your favorite memories with the couple. USE THE LANGUAGE YOU ARE MOST COMFORTABLE TO SPEAK.


Delivering Your Speech

The spotlight and the microphone will be yours for a couple of minutes. If this gets you very nervous, here are quick tips to shrug off the nervousness.

•  After writing your speech, make time to practice it in private. 
• Face a mirror and practice your speech. See how you look, sound and feel when you are practicing.
• Practice as much as you can. The more practice you do, the better you become and the more your body will get used to it.
• Imagine yourself on the actual moment. Visualize the venue and the people.
• Remember: THEY HAVE NO IDEA IF YOU ARE FEELING NERVOUS. Don't give them the idea that you are jittery about the speech.
• On the actual moment, take a deep breath before starting your speech and gather your thoughts together.
• Make sure you have your guideline or cue cards if you are not confident in memorizing the speech by heart.
• Relax and be yourself during the speech. Everyone will remember the message you gave and not how nervous you have become during the delivery of speech.

Giving a speech during a wedding means that the couple has chosen you because you are special in their lives. Take this opportunity to give back the trust and honor that has been given to you. Not everyone will have this privilege of making their thoughts be heard during a special occasion. How you compose your speech and speak out your mind will determine how you feel and think about the couple and the occasion so give it your best shot.

If you are the kind of person who is not confident about writing and speaking, you can always ask assistance to the wedding coordinator. They are equipped with skills in these scenarios. The wedding planner will help you with the speech and how to go about it from the start. Just make sure you inform them while there is still time.

Good luck with your speech!

For more speech samples and guidelines, email leahjacobe@gmail.com.