You've just been asked to make a wedding toast at a special friend's wedding. It's a wonderful honor to be asked but you have never paid attention to what people actually say during wedding speeches. You also are more afraid of public speaking than rattlesnakes, earthquakes and broccoli soup with quiche combined.
What did catch you by surprise when he told you about his wedding plans was that he wants you to make a wedding toast at the reception, one of your duties as his best man.
Banish some of the jitters early by focusing on the wedding toast not on your performance jitters. You can talk yourself into panic or you can talk yourself into giving one of the best wedding speeches ever heard. You pick!
Learn from these suggestions on how to make an excellent wedding toast.
* It's important to get started early when planning, writing, practicing delivery and everything else involved in making a wedding speech. Don't be tempted to "play it by ear". Trust me, the results wouldn't be pretty. Hit the books for research and the web for tips too.
* Harness those jitters. The noise of knocking knees is only slightly different from the sound of applause, after all. Work with your fear to help it make your wedding speech the best ever.
* Allow for several drafts. We're not talking beer here, but rewrites of your speech. Don't expect to nail it right off the bat. Write the wedding speech, let it sit for a few days and look at it again with fresh eyes. Then make some changes. Repeat this process until you feel comfortable with the results.
* A touch of humor is great in a wedding toast but it only works if it is gentle humor. There is no room in a wedding speech for sarcasm, spicy tidbits, gross jokes, too-personal stories, in-jokes or bad language.
* Talk about your relationship with the groom, a youthful adventure or two, about how you just knew he had met his intended when you were first introduced. In your wedding toast, say what a wonderful guy he is, how you think his bride is a great match and how great a future you believe they have together. Speak from your heart.
* Short and sweet. Don't be tempted to go longer than five minutes max for your wedding toast.
* Face time! Practice delivering your wedding toast in front of a full-length mirror, complete with props and features. Time it too.
* Testing, one, two. If at all possible, find a few minutes before the reception starts to stand at the mike where you will be giving your wedding speech. Get a feel for the room from this point of view. Practice delivering to the audience, using eye contact with a few friendly faces or if looking directly at people makes you nervous, aim slightly over their heads.
* Extend arm. No, you are not shaking hands; you are preparing to give the actual wedding toast. Use a full glass, raise your arm from the shoulder, and look directly at the bride and groom when you toast them. This is the last part of the wedding speech.
* Move to the bride and groom and hug them when your wedding toast is complete. Then it's back to your seat amidst well-earned applause. - 15437
What did catch you by surprise when he told you about his wedding plans was that he wants you to make a wedding toast at the reception, one of your duties as his best man.
Banish some of the jitters early by focusing on the wedding toast not on your performance jitters. You can talk yourself into panic or you can talk yourself into giving one of the best wedding speeches ever heard. You pick!
Learn from these suggestions on how to make an excellent wedding toast.
* It's important to get started early when planning, writing, practicing delivery and everything else involved in making a wedding speech. Don't be tempted to "play it by ear". Trust me, the results wouldn't be pretty. Hit the books for research and the web for tips too.
* Harness those jitters. The noise of knocking knees is only slightly different from the sound of applause, after all. Work with your fear to help it make your wedding speech the best ever.
* Allow for several drafts. We're not talking beer here, but rewrites of your speech. Don't expect to nail it right off the bat. Write the wedding speech, let it sit for a few days and look at it again with fresh eyes. Then make some changes. Repeat this process until you feel comfortable with the results.
* A touch of humor is great in a wedding toast but it only works if it is gentle humor. There is no room in a wedding speech for sarcasm, spicy tidbits, gross jokes, too-personal stories, in-jokes or bad language.
* Talk about your relationship with the groom, a youthful adventure or two, about how you just knew he had met his intended when you were first introduced. In your wedding toast, say what a wonderful guy he is, how you think his bride is a great match and how great a future you believe they have together. Speak from your heart.
* Short and sweet. Don't be tempted to go longer than five minutes max for your wedding toast.
* Face time! Practice delivering your wedding toast in front of a full-length mirror, complete with props and features. Time it too.
* Testing, one, two. If at all possible, find a few minutes before the reception starts to stand at the mike where you will be giving your wedding speech. Get a feel for the room from this point of view. Practice delivering to the audience, using eye contact with a few friendly faces or if looking directly at people makes you nervous, aim slightly over their heads.
* Extend arm. No, you are not shaking hands; you are preparing to give the actual wedding toast. Use a full glass, raise your arm from the shoulder, and look directly at the bride and groom when you toast them. This is the last part of the wedding speech.
* Move to the bride and groom and hug them when your wedding toast is complete. Then it's back to your seat amidst well-earned applause. - 15437
About the Author:
Start your writing now, by getting some tips here. For additional help writing your wedding toast, click www.weddingtoasttips.com.
