Have you ever had to give a wedding speech? As the groom or best man?
Do you remember that feeling? A knot in the stomach, sweaty palms and a panic attack!
Not a very pleasant experience. And yet, I'm sure your wedding speech has the potential to be a great success because 90 % of a typical audience want the speaker to succeed.
Yet according to the Book of Lists, speaking in public is one of our greatest fears.
Much of this anxiety is due to a lack of confidence in writing and preparing a speech rather than in the delivery.
What are the secrets of giving a great wedding speech?
Here are 10 tips for giving a great wedding speech:
1. Have a plan and set some objectives & outcomes. There is nothing worse than not knowing what you want to achieve. Do you want to be funny, thank the caterers or touch the emotions of your guests? Before anything work out what you want to achieve.
2. Have a formal structure - beginning, middle and end. Audiences love structure and the best speeches stick to this tried and true rule. Have a welcome (especially acknowledging those who have travelled a long way to be at the wedding), have three personal stories (eg how you met your wife) in the middle and an end (eg thanking and toasting the bridesmaids).
For Example:
? Greeting/Welcome (acknowledge special guests)
? Personal Story #1 ? how we met
? Personal Story #2 ? most memorable moment together and why
? Personal Story #3 ? funny habits and why I love her
? Something nice about the future
? Call to action: Toast Bridesmaids
3. Avoid having too much to say. Hands up those that are guilty of this sin. I know I am. Keep your speech short at a wedding, between 5 and 7 minutes.
4. Keep it Positive. Keep the content of your speech positive, avoid negative comments about previous wives or girlfriends or other 'black sheep' family members. Remember it is a celebration.
5. Research your speech using personal stories. Personal stories help connect with an audience. From your deep well of life reflect on three events that demonstrate how much your care for and love your wife.
6. Keep the personal stories short. Keep these very short and use them to demonstrate a point. Try and take people to that moment in time by describing the place, situation and even what time of day and what the weather was like. Paint the picture and take people back to that moment.
7. Have a strong opening and closing. People remember the opening - first impressions count! The closing is important as it should reinforce the key message you want the audience to go away with in their head after they have heard the presentation. Ending with a 'call to action' can be a powerful way to get your audience to act on your message. In the wedding speech the call to action is easy, ask people to stand, then charge their glasses and toast the bridesmaids.
8. Avoid alcohol until after the speech. You need to be on the ball. Save the celebrations until after your speech.
9. Keep eye contact and use simple notes. Use hand cards with key points. Avoid reading a speech and keep eye contact with your audience.
10.Practice and Rehearse. Practice the speech or at least get some feedback from someone you trust. Recording and listening back to a presentation is the fastest way to improve your skills.
Thomas Murrell MBA CSP is an international business speaker, consultant and award-winning broadcaster. Media Motivators is his regular electronic magazine read by 7,000 professionals in 15 different countries.
You can subscribe by visiting http://www.8mmedia.com. Thomas can be contacted directly at +6189388 6888 and is available to speak to your conference, seminar or event. Visit Tom's blog at http://www.8mmedia.com.
scheduled cleaning services Northbrook ..Wedding photography is an evolving field that requires artistic talent,... Read More
Honor your Emerald Isle heritage with traditions that are romantic,... Read More
Your success in marriage depends largely upon having sound and... Read More
In 2004' Rockland Maine celebrated its 150th anniversary, yet very... Read More
You can look fabulous at your daughter's wedding in a... Read More
Whatever your religious affiliation, or whatever you'd like to experience,... Read More
If you're going the increasingly popular route of personalizing your... Read More
Every marriage has its ups and downs, its rough periods.... Read More
How to get a spouse's attention so that he or... Read More
My belief is that most relationship problems should be given... Read More
"Couples who've had sex before marriage will inevitably have sexual... Read More
Wedding ceremonies are the stuff fairy tales are made of.... Read More
Choosing who should walk down the aisle with you is... Read More
With so many ways to ask your closest friends and... Read More
Your big day is now over all the stress of... Read More
You are locked in your seat on the most famous... Read More
A wedding planned in the spirit of nature provides the... Read More
The wearing of a man wedding ring is a relatively... Read More
The design of the traditional wedding cake has varied greatly... Read More
Being chosen as a maid of honor is a great... Read More
Just like anywhere else in America, there are a variety... Read More
The bridesmaid gift is essential to the planning of a... Read More
If you've been around long enough, you're aware of the... Read More
So your not one of those fabulous actresses or models... Read More
The vows you take to become husband and wife are... Read More
efficient cleaning crew Highland Park ..When Alicia first met Tim, she found him outgoing, charming,... Read More
Whether your wedding will be coming up roses, daffodils, or... Read More
When your marriage is in trouble and you're fighting to... Read More
Wedding receptions are not as formal as they once were,... Read More
Recently, I stumbled across something on the internet. A particular... Read More
It is the maid of honor's duty to organize the... Read More
Deciding the menu is a pretty simple affair. Once you've... Read More
Every bride wants a fairytale wedding. Therefore, this article is... Read More
When one thinks of a promise ring it is common... Read More
The reception alone will bust your wedding budget if you're... Read More
There are many great options to consider for letting your... Read More
The symbolism of Celtic Diamond Rings is relevant to all... Read More
When planning your event you should go with the most... Read More
Over the past years I have performed at many, many... Read More
Original gift ideas for your Bridesmaids and Bestman.What better way... Read More
In a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony, Jewish wedding rings play... Read More
Many of the Jewish wedding traditions are derived from ancient... Read More
Choosing who should walk down the aisle with you is... Read More
In our hungry-for-anything new pop culture world, celebrities are often... Read More
You've gotten engaged and have set the wedding date and... Read More
Nestled in the beautiful Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg's romantic and beautiful... Read More
Whatever your religious affiliation, or whatever you'd like to experience,... Read More
It's your day! The most special day of your life,... Read More
With the average cost of a wedding around ?17,000 you... Read More
As Mark Twain said "Let us not be too particular;... Read More
Marriage & Wedding |