Whether you’re the father of the bride, the groom or the best man, delivering a stellar speech can be a daunting task. Follow these rules of thumb for a guaranteed standing ovation.

Prepare properly

Don’t leave your speech to the last minute. Plan what you want to say ahead of time and, if you’re suffering from writer’s block, ask your close friends for advice – especially those who have recently got married.

Check the audio

You’ve spent time crafting the perfect speech, so make sure everyone can hear it! Take a moment before the reception to test the mic and ensure the sound levels are right for the venue.

Use notes

Unless you’re an accomplished speaker, talking off the cuff or ad-libbing is risky business. To avoid getting lost for words, write down a few key points and refer to them when you need to.

Break the ice

A fail-safe way to ease into your speech is to introduce yourself – unless you’re the bride or groom – and share a brief story about how you know the bridal couple.

Know your audience

If you’ve known the couple for years, you probably have plenty of memories and inside jokes you’d like to share, but be careful not to exclude people who aren’t part of your inner circle. You want your speech to appeal to all of the guests, not just a select few.

Watch your tone

One of the challenges of a wedding speech is striking the balance between being funny and sentimental. Remember that there are parents and grandparents in attendance, so keep it clean. It’s a wedding, not a 21st, so allude to those wild party days (if you must), but don’t go into detail.

Don’t forget the niceties

No wedding speech is complete without a few thank-yous. For a best man, it’s common practice to acknowledge the bridesmaids and thank them for their role in getting the bride ready. As the groom, be sure to thank your new in-laws, as well as any guests who have contributed to the day. And, of course, don’t forget to talk about the beautiful bride!

Keep it short

A good speech is a short one. Rather than trying to fill your allocated time slot by rambling, keep it under 10 minutes and focus on the essentials, with a few anecdotes thrown in for good measure.

Connect with the crowd

Make eye contact with guests throughout your speech, and when you’re talking about anyone specific, focus your attention on them.

Be sincere

Don’t crib from the internet or include too many quotes and excerpts from poems. When in doubt, speak from the heart.

ALSO SEE: 5 ways to avoid a family takeover at your wedding

5 ways to avoid a family takeover at your wedding

Feature image: Pexels

Written by Jessica Baxter.