August 18, 2006
Does the Idea of Giving a Wedding Toast Make You Nervous?
A common question I get asked is how to overcome nervousness.
Normally, I say... be prepared!
But often times, no matter how prepared you are "mentally" you still feel nervous.
So what's the solution? Prepare your body physically for giving your wedding speech.
Let me explain...
Everybody gets nervous before speaking in public, even the professionals.
The difference is how you handle all that nervous energy. Conquering your nerves requires you to be prepared... and this means rehearsing your speech!
Actually practicing your speech will:
* Relieve Fear
* Boost your confidence
* Get you organized
* Get you speaking clearly
But there are even secrets to rehearsing your speech!
By the way, there's an amazing resource for learning how to deliver a great wedding speech, including some very powerful tips for overcoming nervousness.
Read more about that here:
http://www.free-wedding-speeches.com/c/
Here's few tips for practicing your wedding speech so that on the big day you'll be cool and confident:
Practice speaking into a microphone and holding your glass. Sound silly? It's not. The closer you can get to the situation you'll be speaking in, the better prepared and less nervous you'll be. So go ahead, grab a kitchen spoon and start practicing.
Practice standing up from your chair. Do you need to walk to the microphone? Practice that, too. Being smooth means you've got all the angles covered.
Will you be wearing something out of the ordinary? Being uncomfortable can be distracting so, ladies, if you'll be wearing high heels, practice speaking in them. Gentlemen, suit jackets can limit arm movements and slippery dress shoes ... well, let's not find out!
Rehearse without the apologies. You never want to apologize for being a bad speaker or making mistakes, so don't get into the habit while rehearsing.
Work at it until it sounds right, then keep working on it so it sounds even better.
Never say, "I don't know if I should tell this one ... " (unless it's a setup). If it's questionable, leave it out! Remember that Grandma, Grandpa and possibly even children will be present at the wedding. Make sure your stories are appropriate for the audience. Humor should always be in good taste.
The best place to rehearse is wherever you'll be left uninterrupted. Check for a clock so you can time your speech, too. You'll want to speak from one to four minutes - no one wants to be bored by an extraordinarily long toast covering the entirety of your friendship. Even a short toast will be appreciated, if it's sincere and well-delivered.
The best time to rehearse is NOT whenever you have time. Do it when you can be uninterrupted and refreshed, even set aside time to practice.
Don't overdo it. Better to make a mistake than sound like a robot. You'll know you're ready when you're so comfortable that you're looking forward to giving your speech!
Posted by Gary at 12:41 PM
August 16, 2006
When to Use Humor in Your Wedding Toast
When a Best Man or a Maid of Honor toasts a Bride and Groom
at their wedding, gentle humor is a welcome element in their
wedding speech - as long as it's appropriate to a family
gathering If you're not a naturally funny person, or you're
just unsure how to give a humorous speech.
Here's a sample speech that you can use to create your
toast:
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. For those of you who
don't know me, my name is [insert your first name] Would you
like a drink? Please feel free to say hello and me by my
full name later on.
I know the duties of a Best Man are not to be taken lightly,
and I'm sure you'll agree that my first duty - that of
getting [insert Groom's name] to the church, sober, on time,
and eventually married was a complete success.
And so, as is customary on these occasions, I now get the
chance to tell embarrassing stories about [insert Groom's
name], which is the part I've been waiting for!
[Insert Groom's name] and I have been friends for [insert
number of years] yeas, dating back to [insert story of how
you became friends].
[Insert Groom's name] has always been [insert good qualities
of Groom], but what many of you don;t know is [insert story
or funny thing that happened to Groom while you were
present].
He also [insert another story or funny thing that happened
to Groom while you were present].
[Insert Groom's name] and [insert Bride's name] met [insert
story or funny tale about how Bride and Groom met].
[Insert Bride's name] is [insert good qualities of Bride
such as warm, talented, charming].
[Insert Groom's name], she's a lovely woman. She deserves a
good husband. Thanks God you married her before she found
one!
Before I finish, I'd like to offer a little advice to
[insert Groom's name]:
Never go to be angry ... always stay up and argue. Always
remember the three little words ... 'you're right, dear.'
The best way to remember your anniversary is to forget it
once.
On a more serious note - {insert Groom's name], you have
been a great friend to me over the years, and it's an honor
to be your best man today.
To Mr. And Mrs. [insert Groom's last name], a nicer, more
perfectly suited couple you could not wish to meet, and I
wish them all the happiness in their future together. May
your weddings be few and your anniversaries many!"
Hope these samples help!
Posted by Gary at 12:35 PM
August 15, 2006
Wedding Toasts | Funny Wedding
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Posted by Jason at 03:23 PM
