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The big day is approaching at breakneck speed.
There are arrangements to be finalised and a stag do
to endure, but all you can think about is your
speech - and for the nervous ones amongst you -
dreading that everything that might go wrong in it's
preparation and delivery!
You'll be glad to know that you're not alone and
the majority of grooms have felt the same way as you
are. Unless you're a founding member of
Toastmasters, making a wedding speech can be a very
daunting experience.
With this in mind, we've put together a few
important tips to help you overcome your nerves and
deliver a great wedding speech. Take a deep breath,
relax and read our guide to becoming a consummate
crowd-pleaser. Then all you have to do is stand and
deliver
Remember, these people are on your side.
They aren't secretly hoping you'll mess things up.
The reason you're there giving a speech is because
you're connected with the people there, and your
friends and family will be rooting for you all the
way.
Bearing this in mind, you can rest assured that
anything you say in your wedding speech will be
listened to and respected. Also, people listening to
speeches at weddings really want to laugh - this
breaks the tension. So any vague attempt at a joke
will get an encouraging response. |
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Practice
your wedding speech thoroughly.
The more your practice, the less nervous you'll feel on
the actual day. Remember to practice your intonation,
and the pauses. If you show you've put effort into your
preparation, any mistakes you might make on the big day
will be forgiven |
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Learn
your speech by heart.
Whenever you have some spare time - in the car on the
way to work, in the shower or wherever - practice your
speech. Repeat it over and over again as often as you
can before the big day. You'll feel much calmer, knowing
the whole speech inside and out. |
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Think
of a funny story before you stand up.
Nothing so funny that you lose your focus, but
something mildly amusing that will bring a smile to your
face. This will loosen you up, and give a nice energy to
your wedding speech that will improve the delivery
immensely.
Knowing how to structure the perfect wedding speech
will also go a long way to calming your nerves and
delivering a speech that does you and your bride credit.
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Perfect
Timing
Give yourself a time limit and stick to it. Seven
minutes is plenty. If you're writing your speech out in
full, think of it as 1,000 words. |
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Set
The Tone
Traditionally, the tone of a bridegroom's speech falls
somewhere in the middle of that of the father-in-law and
the best man.
Strike a balance between entertaining your audience and
expressing your thanks to everyone who helped you and
your bride prepare for the big day. |
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Break
The Ice
An opening joke will catch people's attention, create a
relaxed atmosphere and - most importantly - help calm
your nerves. This is a family occasion, so keep it clean
and avoid ""in-jokes", which may fall
flat - try to appeal to everyone's sense of humour
instead. |
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Give
Thanks
Here's where a few written notes will come in handy for
even the most confident of speakers, so no one's
forgotten. Tradition has it that the bride's parents are
the first to receive your gratitude, for giving his
daughter away.
Reassure them that you will look after their daughter
and are excited about joining their family. Next in line
are your parents and siblings, who deserve a special
mention for their years of support.
Thank your guests for coming and for their (you hope)
generous gifts. It's polite to acknowledge your best
man, attendants, bridesmaids and anyone else who
deserves recognition for their help. |
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Describe
The Day
Tell everyone what a wonderful time you've had. It's
inevitable that you won't be able to chat with all your
friends and family in person at your reception, so leave
some room in your speech to let them know what kind of
an experience your wedding has been. Ad-lib about the
day's little dramas. |
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Talk
To Her
Compliment your bride. Find the romantic within you and
tell your friends and family what it is you love about
her - and look at her not your guests whilst doing so.
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Tell
A Story
Explain how you first met and give your guests an
insight into how your relationship developed. What makes
you such a good match and why did you decide to get
married? If it gets too emotional, a gentle joke about
your bride will lighten the mood. |
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Time
For A Toast
Now you're almost on the home straight, it's safe to
start drinking, propose a toast to your attendants,
parents and of course, your wife.
Finally, hand over to your best man for his speech and
prepare for a verbal pummelling and the most
embarrassing five minutes of your life! |
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