So you’ve been asked to speak at a wedding. Congratulations! That’s one of the most important parts of the day. A great speech can make people laugh, cry, and laugh again. But maybe you’ve never done this before and you’re a little intimidated. Not to fear! Here are some tips for making your speech stand out.
- Make Sure They Can Hear You
This one might seem obvious, but if you’re a total newbie to public speaking, it’s worth mentioning. Make sure the crowd has settled down before you begin. If they’re particularly rowdy, gentle shushing into the mic is a surprisingly effective technique for audience control. Talk in a normal speaking voice while holding the microphone about two inches from your face, tilting the mic so it’s pointed directly at your mouth.
Often, people will make the mistake of holding the microphone totally vertically, thus talking over the top of the mic, which sounds muffled. Crowds are more likely to stop paying attention if they can’t hear easily. Someone could write the greatest speech ever, and have it fall on deaf ears because they were holding the mic at chest level. A loud, clear toast is also a bonus if the wedding is being professionally filmed, as it ensures better audio quality for the editor to work with.
2. Keep It Short
But not too short! Don’t ramble, but also don’t make it seem like you didn’t have much prepared. 3-4 minutes (about one typewritten page) is ideal.
Overwriting is a valuable technique. Write as much as you want, but then chop it down to the bare essentials. Cut out unnecessary details and asides. People only have so much attention to give, and most likely everyone will be hungry (especially the bride and groom!)
3. Content
Okay, so you know how to hold the microphone, and you know not to ramble. But what about the actual content? That’s pretty much up to you, but if you’re having a hard time, here are some suggestions to get you started:
- If you’ve known the bride or groom a long time, you could tell a short, funny anecdote about them and then end with a quick joke.
- You could get a bit more sincere and tell a sweet story, or spend some time describing their good qualities. You could split the attention evenly between the bride and groom, or mostly focus on one and then say something shorter about the other.
- If you try and try to write a toast but just can’t find the right words, it’s perfectly acceptable to quote a poem or scripture verse.
4. Practice
Leading up to the big day, take a few moments and go through your toast, exactly as though you were standing in front of everyone on the day. Pretend you’re at the head table, Bride and Groom beside you, and go through all the motions. You can even grab a friend or family member to use as your audience. This practice will help you polish your storytelling, as well as take the edge off your nervousness. You’ll feel so much more comfortable when the wedding day rolls around if you’ve already rehearsed a few times!
Those are just some ideas, but the possibilities are really endless! Personalize it to how you see fit. And if you’re worried about memorization, don’t be! Reading off notes is commonplace.
Giving a wedding toast isn’t so scary if the proper preparation is taken. Just remember to have fun, keep it brief, and make sure the microphone is on!