Conquering Wedding Speech Nerves

Most people will admit to having certain reservations about giving the all important wedding speech. For some however, the fear is so deep-rooted that the very thought of standing up in front of the guests leaves them with a sick feeling, shaky hands and a grim sense of foreboding.

If this sounds familiar to you, don’t give up just yet. There are a number of practical steps to take to help fight the battle against this common wedding phobia.

Here are a few tips that I have shared with clients over the years to help with wedding speech nerves:

Remember it’s ok to be nervous: A little bit of adrenalin can give you focus and clarity.

Become familiar with your venue: Find out where you’ll be standing, whether there will be a microphone, and if there will be somewhere to rest your notes.  This will avoid nasty surprises that might keep you awake the night before.

Practise, practise, practise! Get to know your speech so well that you only need to glance at your notes to remember what comes next.  This also allows you to make eye contact with your audience, giving you reassurance and confidence.

Perfect your posture: Good posture can make you look and feel more confident. It opens up the organs, which in turn oxygenates the brain enabling you to think on your feet quicker.

Breathe!: It might sound simple, but try some slow deep breathing exercises just before you start speaking. It is amazing the effect they can have almost immediately.

From my experience, great content is the greatest stress-relief of all.  If you believe that what you have to say is punchy, interesting and easy to deliver then the worries should start to diminish.

If you would like some help putting yours together, or simply want another pair of eyes to run over your draft, please feel free to contact me via my Great Speech Writing supplier page on The Wedding Community.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Lawrence

Article by Wedding Speech Writing Specialist Lawrence Bernstein

Image Courtesy of Surrey Wedding Photographer Matt Pereira Photography

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