Clamy hands, a shaky voice and a fight or flight type of thump in my chest… I’m about to speak publicly! There is nothing more terrifying than a wedding speech. But, they are not impossible. And if you do it well, you will feel an amazing high afterward!
The first step of a wedding speech for someone who is nervous is to make it as short and sweet as possible. The idea of getting half way through a speech and knowing you have another 15 minutes of words can be very daunting. Little place cards are a must, so be sure to write everything big and clear for you to be able to read easily.
Next step is practice, this is probably one of the biggest essentials. You may feel silly reading out a speech to yourself, so why not practice in front of a good friend? If you’re not ready for that yet, try your family pet!
When practicing, be sure to take note of your delivery, are you racing through your words? Is there one part you’re fumbling over? Take your time, think about what you are saying and rewrite any pieces that are making you tongue tied.
Once you’ve perfected your speech, remember to look up and make eye contact with members in the audience at appropriate times (yes, it’s okay to look down if you think you might cry!). Stand still, breathe in and pause at the appropriate times and smile as you make your speech. You may be nervous, but it’s a very happy day for everyone after all!
Last tip… Be yourself! Don’t feel like you need to put on any kind of posh voice, or speak like Audrey Hepburn. After all, people will be expecting you up there, not someone else!
Image via Scratch Weddings
