Toasts (or speeches) have long been one wedding tradition that just can’t be skipped. The history of the wedding toast is even thought to date back to the 6th Century. Here The Feminist Bride explains more about its origins:
“The history of the wedding toast comes courtesy of my spouse from a speech he gave as a best man once. In ancient times, when people were most likely at war with their neighbours, many would come to a truce by marrying the leaders’ children. At the banquet table, the bride’s father would be the first to drink from a communal wine pitcher to show his guests that it was not poisoned.”
Whilst times have changed since the wedding speech was included to quash old rivalries, it still remains a vital part of the wedding timeline, a fact that fills many people – especially if they’re speaking! – with dread.
Whether you’re the bride, groom, best man, father of the bride, or maid of honour, speaking publicly (even in front of people you love) can be daunting. With the right knowledge and a little practice, however, even the most stage shy can deliver their wedding toast with complete confidence.
Read on to discover the public speaking tips that will help you give a great wedding toast.
DO take your time
Whilst you may think writing your wedding toast was the hard part, delivering it requires just as much care and attention. Practice does indeed make perfect; just as you took your time writing your speech, take the time to perform it.
When practising your wedding speech, avoid rushing. It’s so easy to speed up when you’re anxious but by making a conscious effort to slow down, you can portray yourself as a confident public speaker, even if you don’t feel so confident on the inside!
DON’T forget the cue cards
Memorising your wedding speech isn’t necessary. Even the best public speakers use cue cards to keep their speech on track, and you should too.
When writing your cue cards, don’t copy out your entire speech. Instead, fill your cue cards with helpful hints and pointers to keep the delivery of the speech as heartfelt and natural as it should be.
DO keep an eye on the clock
Everyone wants to make their wedding speech unforgettable, but your guests should remember your speech for all the right reasons. There’s nothing worse and forgettable than a speech that goes on and on. Time your speech just right to ensure every point you want to make is clear, concise and filled with sentiment.
As a rule of thumb, any wedding speech should be between 3 and 5 minutes long. Keeping things short and sweet will ensure your big moment is thoroughly appreciated by all. A carefully timed speech will also complement that all-important wedding timeline.
DON’T panic – have fun!
Having fun with your wedding speech should be rule number one. When writing you’ll want to include a mix of heartfelt sentiment and humour, so make sure that comes across in the way you deliver it.
Your speech should be a celebration of the occasion and the happy couple. Take a deep breath and embrace every moment, and your audience is certain to embrace it with you.
