ERI LA Socio-Political Blog

A wedding might be the first time you have to give a formal speech in front of such a large crowd. Because of this, chances are that you may be nervous. Maybe even terrified! That’s okay because most people giving those special speeches probably feel the same way. A big part of public speaking is those little butterflies that you get in your stomach as you wait for your turn to come up. Weddings are just the most common reason (outside of work) to have to do it.

One thing that makes wedding speeches so scary is because the people that are at a wedding all waiting for that one speech that will leave the guests….speechless. The trick to giving a great speech is learning how to turn that nervous energy into a memorable speech! Here are some things that you will want to remember when it comes to giving a speech.

1. Everyone gets nervous with public speaking. It is not just you. It’s one of the scariest things in the world for most people. In fact, some people are more scared of public speaking than they are of dying!

2. You are going to be speaking to a very supportive, close, and interested audience when you are at a wedding. They are anxious to hear what you will say. Those who will be listening to you give your speech are there because they love and respect each other and not because they expect you to give a perfect speech. No matter what happens while you’re up there, they’ll all be proud of you because you tried.

There are a few things that you should really think about when you’re writing your speech that can make it a great deal easier to give. And speeches that are easier to give are generally less scary, easier for your audience to listen to, and more effective as well. Here are some quick ideas to making your speech easier to write.

* Start off with a good hook to draw them in. People will be listening to a lot of speeches at a wedding, and you want yours to stand out. The best way to do that is to start by saying something that will grap their attention. This can be in the form of a personal story, or a hypothetical scenario that will make people think, or an anecdote about the couple etc. Anything that shows why you care about the couple or why other people should too will make your audience WANT to listen to what you have to say.

* Once you have made them want to listen, you’ll want to make it as easy as possible for them to follow your speech throughout. The most effective way to do this, right after your hook is used, is to map out where your speech will go. For example: If you are planning to make your speech a funny one or sentimental.

* After you’ve mapped out your speech, all you have to do is follow your speech map. However you are hoping to speak about the couple, be sure not to drift from it. My favorite wedding speeches and toasts are those that offer both humor and sentiment.

And why not ask your Wedding MC to listen to speech. He’ll be able to cover advice on whether it’s too short or too long and whether it’s sets the right tone. The emcee is there to make sure the reception runs smoothly. For many guests the speeches are the highlight so a conscientious MC will be more than happy to help you get your speech right.
Find out more about the role of emcee at the reception
wedding mc duties
checklist for mc at wedding
wedding mc duties