3 Things to Do to Combat Wedding Speech Nerves
When it comes to preparing for our big day, there is so much that we have to keep track of that the speeches can be an almost overlooked factor right up until the last minute. When there are a lot of worries about the big day, it’s a welcome distraction if someone is giving a speech and are prone to wedding speech nerves. But if you or someone else is giving a wedding speech, here are a few things to follow to minimise those nerves.
Plan What You Are Going to Say Before You Write It
Whether it’s a father of the bride speech or a groom speech, most of us think that the best approach is to write a speech but the best way to begin planning those notes is to use your voice and start talking through ideas. A great speech should sound natural rather than pre-planned. The biggest problem most people have when it comes to delivering great speeches is that they labour so much over the words on the paper that it becomes something that they rely too much on during the big event.
A great speech should come from within, and the best place to begin is by talking through your ideas, for example, by using a voice recorder app on your phone rather than getting pen to paper because this will sound like you are reading an essay and will also help you to find the stories that you want to tell.
Do Not Worry About Being Funny
Some people think that they have to make the speech funny in order to appeal to the guests. While there are plenty of ideas you can get online, the best thing to do is to stick to honesty. You may have a really funny story about the bride or groom or someone that you want to “roast,” but you’ve got to remember that everybody there is already on your side and the things that you think are funny may not potentially land, and the things that come off the cuff are more likely to result in bigger belly laughs.
When it comes to telling funny stories, you’ve also got to be aware of no-go areas. Telling stories that are very likely going to offend the great-grandmother should be avoided at all costs. You’ve got to think about your audience, and this means that depending on who you are, you will have specific stories to tell from your point of view, and this is what people will be interested in.
Prepare It Properly
When it comes to delivering a speech, make sure you start with plenty of time and run through it every day if possible, so you become more familiar with it and then you are less likely to lose your place in the speech, but also remember to keep it short. There’s no need to do an epic speech because ultimately you don’t want it to overshadow the event itself.
When it comes to a great speech, you might very well feel worried, but the solutions are all about simplicity.
