For the groom, one of the most daunting parts of his upcoming wedding is likely to be his speech. This is also true for the best man, father of the bride, and also the bride, should she be planning to say a few words <standards really are falling, they’ll probably get the vote next>. If you’re not used to public speaking, the prospect of standing up in front of 150 boozed up guests baying to be entertained may not be something you’re looking forward to. As the nerves build, you get the familiar twisting in the gut, your hands start to sweat, and your mouth goes dry. It’s not the best way to spend what should be the happiest day of your life!
I didn’t want that to happen to me. I’m also very very slightly competitive, and I wanted to make sure that I gave the best speech of the day. So I prepared myself in advance. Here’s what I recommend for you nervous speakers that want to deliver a confident, polished speech that will blow your guests away.
Become a Toastmaster.
No, this is not about the blokes with the medallions and red coats who propose toasts and introduce the guests of honour. Toastmasters International is a nonprofit organisation that ‘helps people become more competent and comfortable in front of an audience’. There are 160 clubs in the UK. It’s a way of practicing speaking in a supportive environment and learning from some really great speakers.
I joined Toastmasters about nine months before my wedding. To start with, I was unbelievably nervous. By the time my wedding came round, I was able to deliver my speech without any notes, enjoyed doing it (yes,seriously), and had people coming up to me all night telling me what how superb it had been! The really nice thing was that I was able to say all the heartfelt stuff to Jenny without completely breaking down (unlike my father in law and best man!).
I’m still a member, because the confidence I gained through doing it has benefited me in so many other ways. People at work started noticing my improved presentations and presence in meetings. It’s not really surprising, if you think about it. Communication is so fundamental to how we interact with the world that if you’re a more confident communicator, you’re bound to be a more confident person full stop.
It does take time and commitment – but how many groom’s speeches are you planning on giving? Also, it’s credit crunch friendly. If going to a Toastmasters club meeting is a bit too energetic for you, here are their top ten tips for public speaking.
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