there were two things i was certain of when i got engaged
the guy i was going to marry
and that there would be mason jars at my wedding
lots of them
everything else seemed to fall into place
around all the mason jars of course
...and then came baby...



Tuesday, October 19, 2010

keep it simple (and short), stupid: wedding toasts

{via choco studio}

me & public speaking don't get along.

after attending a bunch of weddings this year and listening to my husband give two great best man speeches, i realized it's not nearly as terrifying if you've got the speech in the bag. i started to take note of the speeches that captivated me most & thought i'd throw out a few things i learned along the way:
  • keep it short - regardless of how swell you think your speech might be, once you go over the 5 minute mark you start to lose the audience
  • while notecards can be helpful & are definitely not a deal breaker, it comes off more natural & heartfelt without a piece of paper. plus, the wedding guests won't see the paper shaking when your nerves get the best of you
  • remember what the day is about, the two lovebirds tying the knot. make sure to keep the speech about them & not how amazing of a soccer player you were in high school
  • have a theme & roll with it. once you have your focus (ie: "i could always rely on patty to be there for me through good & bad" ), follow with 3 mini stories that back up your theme & tie it all together.
  • i'm all about the laughs. my opinion, try to infuse those 3 mini stories with a little humor and finally...
  • finish up with a little lovey dovey sentimentalism
  • ALWAYS remember to include both people in your speech, regardless of how well you know your best buddy's mate...it's about them & you've got to bring both people in there one way or another
and to all you bride & grooms, let your maid of honor & best man speak as early on in the evening as possible. it's nerve wracking to get up & speak in front of a crowd, so why make them shake in their boots? let them enjoy the evening!

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