by Johanna Osborne.

Today we try and give you a little bit of confidence when faced with the daunting task of speaking in front of a big room of wedding guests…

For many (or should I say most) public speaking is about as terrifying as stripping naked in the middle of the street – in front of a bunch of Victoria’s Secret models no less. But what’s a wedding without speeches? It’s all about perspective. If it’s your wedding, then speaking shouldn’t be nearly as scary. After all, everyone in the room is your friend or family, actually “likes” you and is supportive of what you are about to share. With that sort of encouragement it’s just a tad easier to stop the stammering and make yourself heard. Right? Easier said than done, we know.

Heartfelt speeches that aren’t too long and convey emotion are often the highlight of a wedding. It’s just a matter of cutting the waffle and getting down to what you want to say. For the bride and groom it’s all about affirming their love for one another and those that they care about. Everyone in the room will share the emotion, and that’s what guests will take away with them. How they “felt” will dominate how they remember your wedding. And whilst the speeches aren’t just for the guests, it’s important to consider openly expressing what you feel inside, rather than assume your loved one already knows. If there was ever a time to get soft and mushy this is it! Or if that’s not your style, sharing fond memories of special moments together will set you on the right path.

It’s long been a debated issue whether the bride should speak at her wedding. I personally couldn’t believe that there would ever be any doubt. As a verbose person at the best of times, I couldn’t think of a better opportunity to express myself! I couldn’t fathom staying silent and everyone else do the talking for me. I had so much to express at my wedding, and 4 pages and a lot of teeth chattering later, I got my feelings across. Nervous hand shaking, sweaty brows and speaking far too slowly – everyone forgave me for it, because I was the bride!

So what are we trying to say here? At the risk of sounding like a wayward wedding speech today, what we want to do is encourage you to speak and say what you feel. Don’t worry about sounding nervous – people will hang off your every word because they want you to do well and genuinely desire to hear what you have to say.

Our advice is to go for it – you only get one shot and you don’t want to regret not saying how you really felt down the line. Make it count and wear your heart on your sleeve!

 
Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear. ~Ambrose Redmoon