Public speaking is the most common fear in today’s society. A survey showed that speaking in public rated higher in people’s fears than financial ruin or even death!

However, giving a wedding speech isn’t as bad as it might seem. Here are a number of hints and tips to help you make a memorable weeding speech. Follow some of the tips and guidelines below and your job should be a breeze.

When it comes to any form of public speaking, be it a wedding or a conference, the most important thing is to know your audience. Find out in advance what aspects or points you need to cover. Just as importantly, find out if there are any awkward areas or topics that you should avoid and adjust your speech accordingly. Knowing your audience will help you determine what to say and how to say it.

1. Don’t rush your wedding speech. The most important rule of good public speaking is to breathe.
Make sure the microphone is at the right height before your start your speech. Relax, establish eye contact with the audience, take a deep breath, and begin your speech.

2. As mentioned above, make eye contact with your audience. Your body language will help get your speech across. The best public speakers look natural when talking to a crowd.

3. Remember not to slouch. Standing up straight will help to project your voice. Try to look at certain individuals when making your speech as opposed to staring into the back wall. If you make eye contact with people, your speech will be a lot more intimate. Smiling will give the impression that you are at ease.

4. Your speech should be prepared before hand. Make yourself speech cards with large writing and print clearly. You might even want to use a highlighter and make pauses and paragraphs so that you can see these at a glance.

5. You should try not to use the same words or phrases too often. Also try not to repeat yourself too much.

6. If there are guests at the wedding you do not know well (and there’s bound to be), try not to include crude jokes into your speech as you do not want to offend anybody.

7. Aim to have your speech run under 5 minutes. If you speak for much longer than this, your audience will probably get bored. As soon as you have written a draft of your speech that is the right duration, look over it every now and then so that you can update it.

8. There’s no need to learn your speech by heart. A better option is to become familiar with the speech so that you will speak naturally when giving it. Have your speech cards handy so that you can glance at it from time to time as a refresher.

9. Try not to drink too much before it is your time to speak. On the same lines, always go to the toilet in advance to making your speech!

The typical running order for wedding speeches is as follows:

Master of Ceremony:
The order of events is controlled by the MC . He will call for the guests attention and either introduce each speaker in turn or just the first speaker – The Bride’s Father.

The Bride’s Father (or close friend or relative of the brides family) speaks first.
The bride’s father will propose a toast to the newlywed couple.
What he will speak about will depend on each situation, but he might include:
- how proud he is of his daughter
- a welcome to his new son-in-law and the grooms parents
- advice and well wishes to the couple
- proposing a toast to the couple at the end of his speech

The Groom traditionally speaks next.
His speech could include:
- thanking the guests for their attendance
- thanking the bride’s parents for giving him their daughter in marriage
- complimenting the bride
- paying tribute to his own parents
- acknowledging the help with wedding arrangements given by his best man and other helpers
- proposing a toast to the bridesmaids, thanking them for their help and support at both the wedding and the reception

The Bride may give a speech or say a few words now if she wishes to do so.

The Best Man’s official duty is to reply on behalf of the bridesmaids, including:
- thanking the groom for asking him to be Best Man at his wedding
- the appreciation of the bridesmaids already expressed during the groom’s wedding speech
- an informal speech or story about the bride and groom

If there are to be other toasts or additional speeches to be made, they are done so now.

The Master of Ceremony will then finalise the wedding speeches by encouraging the guests to enjoy the rest of the evening.

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