Reach for a perfect speech 1343 views

The speeches are one of the hardest things to get right and yet incredibly most speechmakers are offered almost no assistance. Andrew Shanahan, director of specialists Burn The Toast, explains how to write and present the best speech possible.

Fear of public speaking often tops the list of the most common phobias and symptoms can range from anxiety to panic attacks to heart palpitations. In addition to this, very few people have experience in writing and delivering funny or emotional speeches, so why are so many speechmakers left to struggle on their own?

Many of our clients stress how important the speech is to them because it allows them to communicate hugely important sentiments, so it's easy to see why they are desperate to avoid mistakes. Fortunately, there is a lot that can be done to help.

For the perfect speech preparations must start early. Men often assume that the accepted order is: stag do, suits, then speeches. This can leave as little as two weeks to both write and rehearse a speech. One rule of thumb suggests a speech should be rehearsed for an hour per minute (so a seven minute speech would need seven hours rehearsal, etc).

That may sound excessive but it's a good benchmark and demonstrates that two weeks is often inadequate. A good piece of advice is to get a rough draft done by the stag do and then a finished version by the time the suits are ordered, this then allows two weeks to perfect the delivery.

A solid structure is essential. You don't need a highly stylised concept or theme - although these can be very effective - but a strong beginning, middle and end have been working for storytellers since time began, so why change now?

It's useful if you can let each speechmaker know what role their speech traditionally plays, such as who to thank as forgetting to thank someone is how feuds begin. Tradition is important but a speech should be much more than ticking items off an etiquette checklist. All speeches should include the emotions of the speaker. Some of the best speeches are the ones straight from the heart - but even these need careful preparation.

Try and arrange a practice session in the actual venue if possible, especially if you're using microphones, as this can avoid the wedding guests having to witness a feedback-laden learning curve. A live read-through from all the speechmakers will also let you know if there are going to be any problems with length. It also means everyone can see what order they're speaking in, how they are being introduced and if there is any repetition in material and can also be an essential way of discovering any inappropriate material.

Getting the speech right can cost your clients less than cufflinks but turn the task from an onerous responsibility to a moment they'll remember with pride forever.

Avoid these ten classic speech-making mistakes...

1. Volume problems. Check whether you're too loud or too quiet and regulate accordingly.
2. Reading your speech without looking up. It's essential to make eye contact with your audience and smile from time to time, otherwise your speech has all the emotional resonance of the shipping forecast.
3. Using old jokes you've stolen off the web. Ok, so it fills a hole in your speech but you're going to get the heard-it-before groans. If you're not a naturally funny person don't feel like you have to make jokes.
4. Speaking for too long - aim for between 5 and 10 minutes.
5. Inappropriate material - stories about previous partners, groom indiscretions, bad taste anecdotes and memories of the stag do are not good subjects.
6. Getting drunk before your speech.
7. Forgetting to thank the right people. Also, if you're giving out presents during your speech enlist the help of an usher who has cues for when to deliver the gifts.
8. Check yourself for visual tics. If you scratch your nose, rub your head or pace around while speaking it's off-putting for your audience.
9. Avoid wardrobe malfunctions. Check your zip before you stand up
10. Inappropriate material. Seriously, no sex stories.

Andrew Shanahan is a director of specialists Burn the Toast

Story taken from Wedding Professional, June/July issue

www.weddingprofessional.co.uk

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