Jun
29
Tips for Writing Wedding Speeches
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Tips for Writing Wedding Speeches
The best man stands up, adjusts his tie with a quick tug, and nervously clinks his wine glass with his knife. All eyes turn to him, waiting in anticipation of hearing words of wisdom – and even a few jabs – for the newlyweds. Talk about pressure!
Whether you’ve been asked to be the best man, maid of honor, or simply say a few words at the ceremony, you’re responsible for lightening the mood with some laughter and tears. And for most people, giving speeches – wedding or otherwise – doesn’t come naturally; staring out at a sea of guests can be overwhelming, especially if you’re not a classically trained rhetorician.
The beauty of wedding speeches, however, is the inherent spontaneity and off-the-cuff remarks that can be made. Remembering the good, old days and looking forward to better days is what makes wedding speeches so touching.
Just don’t stress out! Writing a wedding speech is easier than you think!
Below are some quick, easy tips to help you while writing a wedding speech that not only moves the wedding party and guests but leaves a memorable impression.
Writing a Wedding Speech with Flair
First things first. Don’t waste any time putting together your speech ideas. Get out a fresh piece of paper, and jot down a few ideas that you know will help celebrate the marriage of the bride and groom in a positive way. Perhaps start with a funny anecdote or joke to elicit laughs from the audience and put you more at ease. Wedding speeches should always be light, funny, and conversational. Formal language has its place, but it’s not here. You should also ask the bride and groom – since they might be having others speak at their wedding – if they would like you to speak on a special theme or subject.
When compiling and writing your wedding speech, know your order in the wedding party. Though you should know well in advance the schedule or timeline of events at the ceremony itself, you may still find it helpful to coordinate with the bride, groom, and other members as well as establish a rapport.
Keep wedding speeches to innocuous topics, such as congratulations, compliments, stories, and happy wishes. Don’t ever say anything you think will be even the slightest bit offensive. At any given wedding, there are dozens of people from all walks of life, so it’s best to avoid incendiary subjects that some people may take issue with. This includes, of course, religion, sex, politics, past relationships of the bride and groom, crude language, and anything else that’s not family-friendly. When writing the speech, keep it upbeat and happy, avoid negative stories, and stay polite – this is key. If done right, you should also comment on the beautiful bride!
Some books that offer tips on wedding speeches may recommend that you set out to memorize your speech by heart – this decision can easily go awry. Sure, you may have your paper in front of you, but searching for the words once you have forgotten them slows you down and creates long, perhaps uncomfortable silences. You would also be reading your speech verbatim, which can often sound mechanical and forced. Rather, think about having cue cards with the basic ideas you want to cover in your speech – simply elaborate on each topic that you’ve previously rehearsed while writing your wedding speech.
Wedding speeches should be kept short – everyone wants to return to eating, drinking, and having a good time, so avoid dragging out your happy wishes for too long. A good rule of thumb when writing a wedding speech is to have a great opener, a joke, a brief anecdote, and a heartfelt closing, all of which should take about five minutes. In short, plan out your key points in advance. At the end, you should always thank everyone, including the bridal party, wedding planners/organizers, and out-of-town guests.
Wedding Speeches that Wow
A little planning beforehand will help you formulate some basic thoughts that you want to incorporate while writing your wedding speech. However, the best part about wedding speeches is throwing in some memories that are truly special to you – remember them aloud as you would tell any intimate moment with a close group of friends. If you happen to forget your wedding speech, it’s okay! Just run with it and speak from the heart. Share your happiness.
Emotions run high. Above all, embrace this honor that the bride or groom has bestowed upon you and make them smile.
Cherie Johnson is the founder and owner of Creative Wedding Favors, a one-stop shop for a large selection of party and wedding favors. Cherie’s articles have been published on numerous websites including Blissfully Domestic, Dress Up Your Wedding, and Wedding Museum. Since starting Creative Wedding Favors in 2006, Cherie has helped countless couples, families, and friends make their gatherings a success. Prior to Creative Wedding Favors, she worked as a professional wedding photographer, capturing the most memorable moments of the couple’s big day. To find favors and gifts for your upcoming event, please visit www.CreativeWeddingFavors.com.
The Gatward Wedding – Speeches – The Best Man, David Crawford – 2005 – Wellington New Zealand
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Jun
5
Best Man Speech: Conquer your Fear
Making a speech or speaking to a group of people was probably something you’ve tried to avoid many times in your past. For example, while you attended school, you probably had teachers that would ask the students questions. You prayed that the teacher wouldn’t pick you to answer or speak.
You try hard to stay in control, even though you can feel your heart pumping rapidly. As you speak, you can’t help yourself from stuttering. You notice you are repeating yourself or you give the answer quickly. Once your moment is over, you still feel a bit shaky.
Fast forward back to now the groom chose you as his best man and the best man traditionally gives a speech. You feel a bit anxious because you’re the main speaker at the reception, and guests expect the best man speech to be funny and memorable.
Is there a way to conquer your anxiety over speaking to an audience without taking a tranquilizer?
There’s no easy way to defeat your fear of speaking in public. The way to overcome your fears is to face them. It might be a clich, but it’s true. With practice, you’ll become more at ease and soon you’ll wonder what you were all worried about. In fact, you might learn to enjoy talking to an audience and you might want to do it even more.
However, before you make that best man speech, you might not have many opportunities to practice speaking to an audience. The second best solution is to practice in your “mind’s eye.” Visualize yourself making your speech and doing it well. If you can’t concentrate on that image, then you’ll need to practice in front of a friend or relative who will give you constructive feedback.
Get all your speech writing done well in advance. You’ll feel better and more relaxed as the big day nears. To reduce your anxiety and help your memory, you can bring along notes to glance at while you speak.
Get to know as much of the people in the wedding party and the guests as possible. When you are familiar with the people in the audience, then you will be more at ease when you deliver your speech.
As you speak to the audience, stay focused on the groom and the bride. Don’t let stray thoughts about how you are doing distract you from delivering your message.
Being the best man and giving the best man speech and wedding toast is an experience you’ll look back upon with pride. Your feelings of anxiety will disappear once you finish your speech and what will replace it is a feeling of exhilaration.
Copyright (c) 2006 by Leroy Chan
Need some free sample funny best man speeches, jokes, quotes or writing tips? Get them at http://www.BestManSpeechGuide.com.