Voice Coaching Ireland

Being asked to give a speech at a wedding is a big honour.  But if you don't like speaking in public, it can often feel like a massive mountain to climb.  You may worry that you will mess up, stutter, fluff your words or go blank.  And sometimes, saying no is just not an option.  It is important that you get yourself into the right frame of mind even before you begin to prepare.  If you imagine things going wrong, you will create an even bigger fear in your mind.  So imagine what you would like to happen instead.

Here are some helpful tips that will ensure that your speech is a roaring success.

Prepare

Preparation is key. If you already know that you have a problem with talking in front of a big crowd, solve this by preparing for it. The more you prepare, the better your mindset of the speech is going to be.  Practice speaking it aloud on your own at first.  Do this in front of a mirror so that you can track your body language.  If possible, try your material out on a friend to get used to performing in public.  Record yourself speaking so that you can go back and tweak it if necessary.  This will also help to highlight where the speech needs improvement.

Write

Write your thoughts down and go from there.  Think of how the couple got together.  Recall your own personal relationship with your loved one and jot down the key points.  Some good tips for the structuring of a speech and what is expected from each person are outlined here http://www.uniqueweddingideas.ie/main/page_contents_speeches.html  Include a funny story or two about the person in question but steer clear of anything that might get them in trouble!

Relax

In the grand scheme of things, you will only be speaking for 3-5 mins on average.  When you think of it in this way, you begin to realise that this is not a huge amount of time.  It helps to get into the habit of breathing slowly and smoothly.  Everyone is rooting for you.  They WANT you to succeed.  So therefore, a slip up here and and a stutter there is not going to change that.  They are on your side. Think of the audience as your friends and that you are just there to tell a story. 

Visualise

In the days/weeks coming up to the speech, try this exercise daily.  Close your eyes and allow yourself to recall a time where you felt really confident.  See what you saw, hear what you heard, feel what you felt.  Now visualise yourself giving the speech and inject this feeling of confidence into the image.  As you stand up and give the speech, see yourself acting totally relaxed.  Hear your voice sounding smooth and effortless, feel that feeling of confidence and sheer adrenalin.  Hear the applause from the audience and see the smiles on their faces.  Imagine everything going perfectly.

For further information on coaching for wedding speeches, email us at info@vcirl.ie