How to deliver the perfect speech

Whether it be the father of the bride, the groom, or the best man – speeches are, most certainly, one of the key moments on any wedding day. For someone who isn’t used to public speaking however, the magnitude of the task in hand can be a nerve-wracking prospect. That is why we’ve devised an all-encompassing guide to delivering the perfect speech (no matter what!).

With practice and preparation, delivering your speech can be a very memorable and enjoyable experience. With our five easy steps, you might just find that delivering your speech makes for one of your favourite memories from the entire day!

Be prepared

It may come as no surprise that our first tip is; be prepared! Thinking about your speech early on will give you the opportunity to perfect it. In the run up to the wedding, there’s bound to be a number of other tasks in hand and so, writing your speech early on gives you both the time and the space to think it through – before revisiting it if necessary.

Structure is key!

Prior to physically writing your speech, you should spend some time mapping out its structure. What do you want to say? When do you want to say it? Have you adhered to wedding day etiquette? Creating a simple outline of your speech will help clear your mind and put you at ease.

Get help

Asking a trusted friend or family member to give their opinion on what you’ve prepared is paramount. That way, you’re able to know what’s working well, as well as receiving advice on what areas could be changed or adapted.

Practise, practise, practise

As great as your speech may look on paper, its success will ultimately depend on your delivery. Find the time and space to say your speech out loud. The more times you do this, the more variations you’ll be able to try before settling on the perfect one.

Note it down

Hopefully, if you’ve followed all of this advice, you’ll be well rehearsed and can be confident in what you’ve prepared on the day. However, it’s always a good idea to keep some notes on you. Whether you decide to write the speech in full, or simply rely on some note cards – it’s reassuring to know you have something to hand (just in case!).

Truly, if you put all of the above into practice, you can be sure to deliver a fantastic, confident speech that will be met with huge smiles and even tears of joy.

Good luck!