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Preparation
Content • If you're unsure of what to say or what elements to include in your speech, look at those of other brides. There are a number here on Hitched. Reading what others have said can help you decide what's appropriate for you and your wedding. Other factors to consider include asking yourself: who will be in the audience? What will the Groom and Best Man already have said? How formal is the setting? What kind of 'funnies' are likely to go down well? Don't try to inject humour for the sake of it. The main thing is to be true to your personality - it's a performance, not an act. Notes • Professional speakers sometimes enjoy the luxury of autocue. Others have notes to remind themselves of what they want to say. Choose what suits you, but if you are a novice speaker you will probably have a more relaxed and enjoyable time if you don't read your speech word-for-word. By all means type it out that way, but refer to highlighted bits of it rather than reading verbatim. Your guests want to see your face, they want to make eye-contact with you - and that's hard when your head is buried in a piece of paper. Worse still, if you are nervous the paper may start to shake! Practice • You may want to practice your speech, both to check length and delivery style. Get your bridesmaid to help by listening and ask her to tell you honestly how your voice sounds. To quiet? Too rushed? Women in particular sometimes find themelves going up in pitch when trying to project the voice. In fact, by deepening your voice a little you will find it carries better. Remember it's not only the size or layout of the room that determines whether you will be heard, it's also how many people there are in the room. The more people, the more you must project. Try to exaggerate every word and consonant. Imagine you're speaking to a group of lip-readers. It may sound silly to you, but it won't at all to your audience. Before you speak • It's best to avoid excess alcohol, but make sure you have water to hand (not the fizzy variety!) and drink some of it before you stand up to speak. Don't be afraid to take a sip or two once you start speaking if you feel your mouth going very dry. • Take a couple of deep breaths. Right down to the diaphragm, feeling your whole chest and belly expanding. Yes, I know it may be difficult in that tight bodice, but getting a grip on your breathing will do wonders for disguising the outward signs of nerves. |
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