Chris Tait asked: It’s a great honor when you’re asked to serve as the Best Man in a wedding. Whether you’re the groom’s brother, a childhood friend, or a college buddy, the invitation has been extended because you share a profound relationship, and the groom is entrusting you to help him through one of the most important times in his life.
As you start thinking through your host of responsibilities, from planning the bachelor party to getting the groom to the church on time, one of the most challenging duties can be delivering a meaningful speech to the bride and groom. With expectations high, you want to craft a speech that will not only make the wedding couple happy, but leave a lasting impression with the guests.
Let’s face it, whether it’s an intimate affair of 20 people or an audience of 200, delivering the right words can be nerve-racking. For many, public speaking conjures thoughts of sweaty palms, a racing heart, and dry mouth. But don’t worry, with a little pre-planning and rehearsal, you’ll be able to deliver a speech that will leave the guests wanting more. Just follow these easy steps.
1. Take a walk down memory lane. In this first stage, you’ll want to think back on your most memorable experiences with the groom. Whether embarrassing goof-ups or meaningful stories of comradery, jot down some of your favorites. To help jar your memory, look through old photos, talk to other friends and even take the groom out for a fun night to talk about the “old” times. You have a one-of-a-kind relationship with the groom, so choose memories that reflect the depth and breadth of your experiences together.
2. Remember the bride! It will be equally important for you to recognize the bride in the speech you deliver. Maybe you’ve known the bride for years, or maybe she’s a more recent acquaintance, be sure to include a story or anecdote that reflects positively on your friend’s new life partner. You’ll want to include your well-wishes for the bride and groom’s future together.
3. Decide on a tone for your speech. You’ll probably want a combination of humor and seriousness. A speech that is too weighted in humor can come across as crass and insincere, but a speech that is too serious can be downright boring. Make sure that you strike a nice balance.
4. Seek professional help. www.TheBestManSpeech.com/usabestman is a fantastic resource for creating personalized, meaningful wedding speeches that bring the house down. The site features the world’s largest collection of wedding speech material organized by a series of interactive menus that make it fun & easy to build a speech that will perfectly represent you and your relationship to the groom.
5. Start writing. You’ve already jotted down your favorite stories and memories, but now you need to compile your content into a thoughtful speech. Remember that you’ll want to start with an attention-grabbing story. Humor is always a great opener and a sure-fire way to hold the audience’s attention. Deliver your more serious stories mid-speech, and then, as you draw to a close, come full circle with another funny story. You’ll want to leave the audience smiling.
6. Rehearse. Rehearse. Rehearse. The week leading up to the wedding is a great time for you to practice your speech. And you should practice it every opportunity you get. Stand in front of the mirror and rehearse out loud. You’ll want to go through your speech at a nice even cadence. Don’t feel rushed. And stay away from filler words like “um” and “you know”. Finally, try to keep the length under 7 minutes.
By the time the wedding day rolls around, all of your preparation will pay off, and the time and effort you will have invested will be evident. When the microphone is finally handed over to you, be sure to stand up confidently, make eye contact with the wedding couple & guests, project your voice, and have fun!
You will not only deliver a memorable wedding speech, but you will also reinforce your friendship with the groom, and earn a special place in the heart of the bride and guests. And that is the mark of a wonderful best man.
Kansieo.com