HOW TO MAKE A KILLER WEDDING SPEECH
Whether you’re a bride wanting to speak up on your big day (do it!), a maid of honour looking to out-toast a groomsman, or a mother of the bride looking for all the tears, here are five tips to take on board.
CHOOSE A THEME: Think of your speech as a story, with a beginning, middle and end. More than the ‘what’, think about the ‘why’. Why is the couple good together? Why are you there on that day? That ‘why’ becomes your theme. Introduce it in the beginning, back it up in the middle, and refer to it again at the end.
KEEP IT SHORT: Attention spans don’t last long, so keep your speech shorter than you think it should be and people might just remember it – or at least stop chowing down on their filet mignon while you speak.
DON’T (OVER) DRINK: No one in the history of the world has said, ‘Wow, I loved listening to that drunk person’s ramblings.’ If you’re trying to give a meaningful toast and people are prying the champagne from your hands, you’ve overdone it. Practise and practise some more, so when it’s your moment, you’ll have the courage to forego the liquid.
KNOW YOURSELF: Are you laugh-out-loud funny or heartbreakingly sincere? Think about who you are and what you’re known for and play to your strengths. Now is not the time to try something new.
THE PERFECT SPEECH FORMULA:
Intro >>> make ‘em laugh >>> establish a theme >>> make it personal >>> bring it back >>> make ‘em cry >>> drop the mic.