Delivering a speech well is quite stressful, whether you are giving a speech at the request of others or of your own accord. You can reduce tension and ensure that you give yourself the best possible speech by finding a good theme, writing it clearly, and presenting your best.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Finding a Theme
Step 1. Start thinking about how to toast early
This is an opportunity for you to honor the couple, don't wait until the night before the wedding to think about what you have to say. Even if you want to give a spontaneous speech at some points, it's a good idea to write your toast down on a note first in case you forget.
- Start by thinking of a different anecdote, story or theme for your speech. What comes to your mind for the first time when you think of your friend or relative who is getting married?
- What would you like to tell about your friend? What do you want to emphasize? Start by thinking about the main idea you want to use in the speech. What is the significance of the union of these two people?
- Don't worry about abstract themes or concepts and start writing. You can start by writing down anything about the bride and groom. Try to write for 10 minutes without stopping. Just let your hands and pencil flow on their own. Then, see what comes up.
Step 2. Make the speech short, memorable and personal
Speeches to toast the best in marriage are stories that are sincere from the heart. While some toasts are funny and some are heartwarming, all wedding toasts have one thing in common: paying homage to the bride and groom, or one of them, and celebrating their union in a personal way.
You don't have to do a single joke. A funny quote or story can already be a nice touch, you just have to make it interesting. Anecdotes involving nudity, drunkenness, or ex-partners can make things awkward if the story goes flat. This is the wrong form of sincerity
Step 3. Make a speech related to the couple
Giving a speech at a wedding doesn't mean you get a chance to show off. This isn't your day and the speech shouldn't be about you, even if you are the main character in one of the stories you tell. Whether you're telling an anecdote or reading a poem, the speech should relate to the couple, honor them with sincerity.
- Double-check, recount the use of "I" in your speech and all the use of newlywed names. If you show up more of them, then you may have to revise your speech.
- Speeches that talk about how difficult a marriage is can make the couple look stupid for falling for it. You should avoid cold and intellectual speeches. It is enough to use sincere emotions.
- Treat the newlyweds as a unit, even if you are only close to one of them. Remember, too, you're not toasting to their "good old days," you're toasting to their future.
Step 4. Find your “engagement”
All toasting speeches require an anecdote, moment, or minor theme that you are involved in. Generally speaking, a speech at a wedding will revolve around the first time you hear a story about your friend's new partner, or the first time you realize that the couple is an important part of your life and this is the best way to open a speech. personal ones. This speech will be unique because it is your story. You can also think of various creative ways below:
- Start writing a toast with a story telling about a challenge the couple has experienced, or how one of them supported the other in their time of need.
- Start writing a toast with your observations of the changes in either of these couples since they started together.
- When you get old, what will remind you of the couple? what things will make you think of them?
- Start your speech by celebrating the unknown nature of one or both members of the pair. If the groom is an astrophysicist, but you've seen him do something no one else has seen, then you might consider starting your speech there.
Method 2 of 3: Writing a Speech
Step 1. Outline the speech
When you've found some themes, stories or ideas that you want to include in your speech, you can choose one of two ways to write them: write your speech word for word, or outline the main points. Both are effective ways of writing a wedding speech.
- If you want something more spontaneous and controversial, you can write down the main points of your speech to use to remind you and help you make your speech in a relaxed manner. Include a short quote or key words like "Tell me about your first meeting with the bride, mentioning how comfortable they were together." Its purpose is only to remind you, but the words you are about to speak must still be in your own mind.
- If you can't use a loose style, write it word for word and don't forget to engage the audience. Write down everything, including gestures, pauses, and times to look at the audience as you make your speech. Don't give yourself any chance to mess up the speech. Practice beforehand to make sure you don't give a stiff speech.
Step 2. Record your speech on an index card
This may remind you of your school presentation, but it's a good way to keep you organized and aware of what you have to say, especially if you're unsure of your public speaking skills.
- If you want to write your speech word for word, write it in large enough font so you can read it easily. Don't cram everything in one card. On the other hand, you still have to arrange your cards well, so don't write more than three or four pieces of paper. Number your cards so that they are neatly arranged.
- If you are only writing down the bullet points of your speech, be clear and concise. You should know your own abbreviation: make sure you don't write "Talk about the party" on the card and forget right away.
Step 3. Use a closing in the toast
Include formal indications to let them know that your speech is almost done and what to say next. For example: Let's make a toast to Jill and Jack's happiness. To Jill and Jack! As you say this, wave glasses to everyone in the audience and point at the bride and groom, or offer them a drink if you're close enough.
Step 4. Practice
You should cut your speech to 2 minutes to tell good things from your heart. A wedding will usually have a lot of toast and chatter, and people will also be getting ready to eat and dance, so you definitely don't want to be the one to ramble and stumble in your own words. Whatever the tone, style, or content of your wedding speech, practice until you can do it fluently and deliver a short and memorable speech.
- Don't write long speeches. A whole wedding ceremony takes 15 to 20 minutes. You should never give a speech that is longer than 5 minutes.
- Make index cards as needed. If you feel like you're going too fast in any part of the speech, write "slow down" where you can see it on the card. If you keep getting stuck in a section, just delete that section. You should try other ways if something doesn't work out.
- If you are nervous about giving a speech, you can try to imagine where the audience will be sitting and make body movement and eye contact in that direction. If you practice, then everything will become automatic in time.
Method 3 of 3: Speech
Step 1. Find out when you will be doing the toast
If you're toasting a happy couple, then you're probably not the only person doing the speech. In formal weddings, the toasting speech is usually given after the meal, between cake cutting and dessert, or after the first dance. Always check with the toastmaster or host for a schedule for the toast. One of the traditional forms of a toasting ceremony is:
- The father of the bride or an old friend of the family will toast the couple.
- The groom will toast the bridesmaids.
- The groom's attendant will toast the parents of the couple.
Step 2. Try reading the situation
Before the last moment, you still have the opportunity to read the situation and determine whether the speech you wrote is correct or not. It's never too late! If you expect the audience to be college friends and young people but the reality is that the room is filled with people over the age of 60, is your speech still acceptable? Would you shorten your speech by removing part of the story in Las Vegas?
If you find yourself in an emergency situation where you have to throw out your speech, make sure you have a backup. You might say something very short but sincere like, "There's nothing more thrilling than seeing these two people commit to each other forever. I think it's enough to get here before I falter."
Step 3. Make the toast your first drink
A common mistake in marriage: calming yourself down by drinking too much. Don't take the risk of turning your prepared speech into an awkward scene by speaking incoherently and tripping over the microphone. Avoid excessive drinking before your toast and celebrate afterwards. It will taste better.
Step 4. Stand up when it's your turn
Some toasts will be marked by everyone starting to raise their glasses for a toast, while in others it will start with the room becoming silent and the presenter will introduce each person who will be giving a speech. Just follow the instructions from the presenter.
In some cultures, it is very important to make sure all glasses are filled before toasting. Look around you and check that all glasses (including yours) are full before you toast. You should fill your glass with wine, champagne or something that looks like champagne because toasting with water is considered rude in some cultures
Step 5. Publicize your relationship with the bride and groom
Some people at the event may not know who you are, so explain your relationship at the start of your speech to avoid confusion. Lower your glass when you start talking, but you should still hold it with one hand.
Step 6. Give your best speech
Look at the bride and groom, but you should also turn your attention to the occasional guests. Make an effort to look at them and get everyone involved. Reading your notes flat and stiff won't get the other person involved in your speech.
If you feel that you are speaking very fast, which some people will because of nervousness, then you should try to slow down your speech. Pause between sentences and breathing. Speak clearly. Then, toast
Tips
- Because weddings are individual events, you are free to customize your wording and toasting conventions to suit the occasion.
- The speech will certainly be more colorful with your view of the bride and groom, but you need to make sure that the main star is the bride (or at least one of those you know better) not the person giving the speech.
- Usually, people at a wedding will get to know one of the couples closer. Try to find out information from the other, including something that relates to a unique aspect of the couple – something to do with their traits and preferences.
- A short, impressive, and general speech will usually be very seductive. However, the bride and groom certainly prefer something more personal, otherwise you'll look like you don't care about the task, or the couple is less attractive to be the subject of your speech.
- Bring a tissue if you think you might cry while speaking.
- Guests will forgive your very short speech as long as your speech is sincere and appropriate. Even an ad on TV only takes 30 seconds. Only a confident speaker takes more than half or a minute.
Warning
- Don't drink before you make a speech. Your speech should be spoken, not slurred.
- Do not use this show to start your comedy career. If you manage to tell a joke, finish it as quickly as possible.
- Avoid jokes and references that might appear inappropriate in this event. Therefore, you should probably avoid the part that says that this is sadly the end of your friend's "wild days," even though you two are "partners in crime."
