One of the Fashion Journal team is in the throes of planning her nuptials, so it’s only natural that some of our office chats lately have centred on cake tasting and dress shopping. We love weddings! However, there’s one aspect of a wedding that strikes fear in my heart: that moment when you clink your glass of champagne, all eyes turn to you and it’s time to deliver your wedding speech.
The mere idea of delivering a wedding speech is enough to make me quake in my boots. Like 75 per cent of the human race, public speaking is one of my worst fears. And the fear of flubbing a toast on what should be the happiest day of a friend’s life compounds that fear exponentially.
Interested to hear how others navigate the world? Head to our Life section.
Fortunately for me, all my married friends chose to elope in secret – no speeches required. However, the rest are approaching that stage of life where weddings are a happy inevitability. Will I be asked to give a wedding speech? No clue. But if I am, I’ll be damned if it’s a subpar one. To learn more about what makes a memorable speech (and what to do if I mess up), I asked Triple J presenter Dee Salmin for notes.
Fashion Journal: What are the elements of a really, really good speech?
Dee Salmin: Like all good storytelling, a really, really good speech has a clear beginning, middle and end. A good introduction, or hook, at the start. Then they build up to a plot twist or a mic drop moment in the middle and then end with something either heartfelt or a memorable quote (I don’t even mind corny here or if they end on a toast). Personally, I love a ‘callback’ moment or something that ties the whole speech together.
Getting the tone, pace, pitch, pauses, projection and emotion right definitely helps. And being confident, authentic and the right balance of funny and sincere is an art form! When it comes to wedding speeches, I think five minutes max. Just share a memory, a story, a reflection or some thoughts about the couple. Don’t overthink it!
How much should you prepare before giving a wedding speech?
I don’t think you need to spend months preparing for a wedding speech, but also don’t just wing it on the day. If you’re a natural at public speaking and a great storyteller, you probably don’t need to write out your whole speech, just practise it a few times and off you go. But if this is something that gives you a lot of anxiety and you’re not used to speaking in front of people, I definitely recommend writing it out, practising, memorising a bit and getting some feedback.
How do you strike a good balance between giving an engaging speech that celebrates someone else and not making it ‘all about you’?
It kills me when people make speeches all about themselves. The wedding isn’t about how you didn’t make it onto the football team, but the groom did. Other than giving context and introducing yourself, I don’t care about you – no offence. My hot take is that you shouldn’t even do personal jokes. It’ll alienate the audience. Focus on the couple getting married and how much they mean to you and the people in the room.
What are your top tips for delivering a speech confidently, even if you’re terrified (and especially if you choke)?
Practise, practise, practise! Three deep breaths before you start. I do this every time before I go on air – trust me, it helps so much. I know it’s a cliche, but fake it ‘til you make it. Speak slower than slow. Usually, when you’re nervous, you speak really quickly. Pause heaps.
Look around the room when you’re speaking. Avoid eye contact if that will throw you off. Read off your phone – paper will shake if you’re nervous. Keep it short if you are really terrified. Even a cheeky drink before can help (if that’s your vibe), but no more than one. And remember not to stress too much if you choke. It’s always so much worse in our heads than in real life. People are too busy thinking about themselves.
Tell us about the best wedding speech you’ve ever heard!
I’ve actually only been to a few weddings in my life (my friends aren’t really the marrying type) and I can’t say any of the speeches were the best I’ve ever heard (if anything some of them helped the what not to do part of this article) but I came across this viral TikTok last year of a man giving his vows to his soon to be wife.
@libbylamont I know I’m biased but…I wouldn’t share a video this long if it wasn’t worth the watch. Lemme know if you make it to the final line #weddingvows #wedding #weddingtiktok #weddinginspo #emo ♬ original sound – Libby Lamont | Candid Content
I know it’s technically not a wedding speech, but I desperately needed to share it because it’s the only TikTok that’s ever had me hysterically sobbing! It’s one of the best speeches I’ve ever heard. I mean, everyone clearly thought the same, hence the virality. It’s the perfect balance of funny, heartfelt, honest and personal.
He’s not corny or tokenistic. He’s incredibly authentic. You can tell he’s put so much thought and effort into what he’s written. We learn so much about them individually and as a couple and you can really tell how deeply he knows and loves her. Sorry for ruining wedding vows for anyone who’s yet to get married, because that’s the fucking bar!
For more on giving a superb celebratory speech, head here.
This article How to give a good wedding speech, according to a professional presenter appeared first on Fashion Journal.
2025-05-27 09:18:00
#give #good #wedding #speech #professional #presenter
Source link
