Sooner or later it had to happen, right? Your best bud would get married leaving you cruising in the single lane on your own. You played that scenario in your mind a few times before.
The idea of being a best man is very appealing. There's nothing you would rather do for your best bud on his wedding day than dazzle wedding guests with a superb wedding toast and share heartfelt sentiments, but public speaking and you, well those words were never meant to be in the same sentence.
You feel honored to be asked but also so far out of your comfort zone that you can't even picture your old security blankie! But you're a take-charge kind of guy who always steps up to the mark. Where do you start when making a wedding toast?
Here are a few words to the wise to make your wedding toast top-notch.
* It's important to get started early when planning, writing, practicing delivery and everything else involved in making a wedding speech. Don't be tempted to "play it by ear". Trust me, the results wouldn't be pretty. Hit the books for research and the web for tips too.
* Learn to like butterflies. Make them fly in formation by embracing and harnessing the energy that fear produces. That extra burst of energy will enhance your wedding toast.
* Allow for several drafts. We're not talking beer here, but rewrites of your speech. Don't expect to nail it right off the bat. Write the wedding speech, let it sit for a few days and look at it again with fresh eyes. Then make some changes. Repeat this process until you feel comfortable with the results.
* A bit of laughter, some smiles, these are what you are aiming for when you use humor in a wedding speech. Never tell intimate stories, use crude language or off-color jokes. Never!
* Take a stroll down memory lane. Recount how you met the groom, about a shared experience or two. Say what a super guy he is. In your wedding toast, compliment his choice of bride and comment about the wonderful future you believe they will have together. Today's the day you can wear your heart on your sleeve.
* Shorter is better. Try for three to five minutes for your wedding speech.
* Mirror, mirror, who is the best prepared of all? Run through your wedding speech, gestures and all in front of a full-length mirror. Use a stopwatch.
* Grab the mike. Not literally! Try to find a few moments and stand exactly where you will be giving the wedding toast. It will help you feel more comfortable when you take the mike for real.
* Lift a full glass for the toast. Raise your arm from the shoulder and lock eyes with the bride and groom when you toast them at the end of your wedding speech.
* Move to the bride and groom and hug them when your wedding toast is complete. Then it's back to your seat amidst well-earned applause. - 15431
The idea of being a best man is very appealing. There's nothing you would rather do for your best bud on his wedding day than dazzle wedding guests with a superb wedding toast and share heartfelt sentiments, but public speaking and you, well those words were never meant to be in the same sentence.
You feel honored to be asked but also so far out of your comfort zone that you can't even picture your old security blankie! But you're a take-charge kind of guy who always steps up to the mark. Where do you start when making a wedding toast?
Here are a few words to the wise to make your wedding toast top-notch.
* It's important to get started early when planning, writing, practicing delivery and everything else involved in making a wedding speech. Don't be tempted to "play it by ear". Trust me, the results wouldn't be pretty. Hit the books for research and the web for tips too.
* Learn to like butterflies. Make them fly in formation by embracing and harnessing the energy that fear produces. That extra burst of energy will enhance your wedding toast.
* Allow for several drafts. We're not talking beer here, but rewrites of your speech. Don't expect to nail it right off the bat. Write the wedding speech, let it sit for a few days and look at it again with fresh eyes. Then make some changes. Repeat this process until you feel comfortable with the results.
* A bit of laughter, some smiles, these are what you are aiming for when you use humor in a wedding speech. Never tell intimate stories, use crude language or off-color jokes. Never!
* Take a stroll down memory lane. Recount how you met the groom, about a shared experience or two. Say what a super guy he is. In your wedding toast, compliment his choice of bride and comment about the wonderful future you believe they will have together. Today's the day you can wear your heart on your sleeve.
* Shorter is better. Try for three to five minutes for your wedding speech.
* Mirror, mirror, who is the best prepared of all? Run through your wedding speech, gestures and all in front of a full-length mirror. Use a stopwatch.
* Grab the mike. Not literally! Try to find a few moments and stand exactly where you will be giving the wedding toast. It will help you feel more comfortable when you take the mike for real.
* Lift a full glass for the toast. Raise your arm from the shoulder and lock eyes with the bride and groom when you toast them at the end of your wedding speech.
* Move to the bride and groom and hug them when your wedding toast is complete. Then it's back to your seat amidst well-earned applause. - 15431
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