- BY Randy Stratton
- IN Wedding Officiants
Posted On: 18th of July 2024
Public speaking isn’t easy, and that's a fact that most people can’t argue against. The task is even more difficult when you’re feeling the added pressure of giving a speech at a loved one’s wedding.
You have to face the pressure of talking to dozens or hundreds of guests you probably don’t know, people in different age brackets who mean different things to the couple. On top of that, your speech has to also resonate with the bride and the groom!
Afraid? Don’t be. We’ll cover how to write your wedding speech in this post.
Plan EarlyUnless you’re a regular public speaker, you have to plan your wedding speech well ahead of time to avoid feeling too nervous on the day. Start jotting down talking points, anecdotes, and jokes you’ll likely use in the speech well ahead of time.
And after you’ve settled on enough points, create the speech structure and start rehearsing as soon as possible. Rehearse in front of the mirror or record yourself to see where you can improve.
Whatever you do, just know that you’re less likely to freeze up on stage if you plan early. Public speaking advice doesn’t get better than this.
Start with a Question or a StatementIt’s tempting to start with a joke or a reference to how nervous you are but you shouldn’t. Every speech writing guide will recommend engaging your audience right from the first statement to avoid losing them.
A line as simple as “I can see so many beautiful faces that have loved and supported Katy and Tony throughout their lives in the room” is better than a boring joke about how it’s your first time.
Introduce YourselfAfter your opening statement, the logical next thing to do is to introduce yourself. The bulk of the people in the room probably do not know your relationship to the bride and groom. So, it’s really important that you don’t miss this part when thinking about how to write your wedding speech.
Focus On a Few PointsTempting as it might be to discuss the bride or groom’s entire life history, you’re better off focusing on just a few talking points. A good tip is to think of three positive defining traits or qualities of the groom or bride (preferably both) and then focus on examples that highlight when they exhibited those traits.
The stories could be comedic, heartwarming, or both. You just have to ensure that they are relevant and entertaining enough.
Keep Your Audience in MindOne of the most important points to keep in mind when writing your wedding speech preparation is to make sure the speech resonates with the audience.
The wedding speech is different from the bachelor or bachelorette party speech. So, delete any jokes or other details that may come off as crude to some people in the audience.
Get More Guidance on How to Write Your Wedding SpeechRandy Stratton is a licensed officiant in Mississauga committed to making weddings memorable and enjoyable. If you need more wedding speech tips or more wedding toast ideas, contact Randy Stratton today at (416) 970-2900 to schedule an appointment.
