Wedding Speeches: How to Make A Great Wedding Speech In Three Steps
Wedding Speeches: How to Make A Great Wedding Speech In Three Steps
By William Burnell
Making a great wedding speech is no different to making any other speech. All speeches need the same basic structure if they are to be successful. There is more than one formula you can use that works. For example, there is one based on the past, present and the future that works well in most situations. In a wedding situation you could talk about the couple before they met, their present situation now they have met and married and what you would hope for them for the future. The one I am looking at here is a three-step process: know your subject; plan your speech; practice your speech.
Know Your Subject
For most speakers at a wedding this should not be hard. You have been asked to speak because of your relationship with someone in the wedding party. You should know a lot about them already but you still may need to do some research to find out relevant things you can use in your speech. You will need stories and insights to fit the tone of your speech. This is easy because you should have access to members of the family who can help you. There may be times when you are asked to speak about someone you do not know well. In this case research becomes more important.
Plan Your Speech
Keep the planning simple. You need a beginning, middle and an end. If you can, start with something amusing to break the ice and get the audience on side. It does not have to be a sidesplitting, rolling-in-the-aisles joke. The audience is in a good mood and is looking for things to laugh at; after all it is a happy occasion. They will laugh very easily.
The middle of your speech is what you stood up to say, so say it. Unless you are a very practised speaker, do not take too long to say it - try for three to five minutes. The end is easier if you are giving a toast, as all you have to do is ask everyone to stand and make the toast. If you are not giving a toast, make sure you finish on positive note.
Practice Your Speech
You cannot practice too much. People sometimes neglect this but this is a mistake. If you have written most of the speech yourself, it will be easier to remember. If others have helped you or you have adapted another speech, you will need to spend more time on it. Go over it until you have it off by heart. If you cannot do this, at least commit the main points to memory so you will stay on track and you will not miss the points you want to make.
By practising out loud, you will not only be committing it to memory but you will be making sure you pause at the right times and get the phrasing right to give full effect to your meaning.
The process of getting to know your subject, planning what you want to say and then practicing your speech will put you in control so that you do not falter or meander. It will keep your speech crisp and tidy. It will help you make a great wedding speech that makes a positive, memorable contribution to the day.
If you use the structure I suggest, you will make a great wedding speech. You will find a lot more tips and ideas on wedding speeches when you visit http://www.squidoo.com/how-to-make-a-wedding-speech. William Burnell has been a groom, a best man, father of the bride several times and a wedding MC.
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