I am the maid of honor for a wedding this coming weekend. I just finished writing my speech (about 1 minute in lenghth) and have begun practicing it. I am a very emotional person and I'm afraid I'm going to get choked up and not be able to finish giving my speech once I've started it. Any advice on how to prevent this from happening?
2007-10-15 07:10:15 · 16 answers · asked by spiriteyes1350 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
It is your emotions and feelings that will make the speech special. Try to keep from blabbering, but don't worry about it too much. It will show how much you really care about the couple.
2007-10-15 07:13:08 · answer #1 · answered by nurse ratchet 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Make sure to practice your speech out loud and in front of other people at least a few times - that way if you do get choked up you will still be able to keep talking through the tears.
When it's your turn to speak make sure you have a hanky or tissue in your hand, so that if you tear up so bad that you can't read your notes, you will have something to dap your eyes with.
Try not to drink anything alcoholic before you give the speech - any drinks will make your emotions that much more labile.
If you start getting choked up - just swallow, take a deep breath and press on with the speech. You will do fine.
Arrange with someone ahead of time to be your "grounder". That's the person you will look to when you start crying and they will give you the nod or wink you need to get focused again and finish the speech. My husband is usually my "grounder" - but anyone who has a calming effect on you will do!
Good luck and have fun at the wedding!
2007-10-15 07:23:27 · answer #2 · answered by Mirage 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, personally, I'd be touched if my maid of honor got choked up during her speech at my wedding, but I can understand that you might get sort of embarrassed if that did happen to you, no matter how lovely pure sentiment can be sometimes.
My advice, and this sounds horrible, is to think of a time when your friend the bride really let you down or made you angry, and keep thinking of it the whole time you're delivering your speech. It is a reverse psychology tactic practiced by actors sometimes. They tend to do it in reverse, though- squeeze some tears using a sad memory while reading lines they feel nothing about personally, but there's no reason it wouldn't work in the reverse. Good luck on your M.O.H. day!
2007-10-15 07:20:52 · answer #3 · answered by fizzygurrl1980 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just practice it. But, you probably should plan on getting choked up, because these are very emotional things. I would have the best man nearby. Tell him ahead of time that if you get too choked up to be able to finish your speech, you will hand him your piece of paper, and point to where you left off, and ask him to finish it for you. After all, what are best men for? And, there is nothing wrong with being emotional at a wedding. Just bring some kleenex with you so you don't have to use your sleeve.
2007-10-15 07:14:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Honey, don't worry about becoming emotional giving your speech. If you need to cry, go ahead. The bride and groom would rather have it come from your heart and with emotion, then just have you read it. At my niece's wedding last year, her sister had her speech written and had practiced it several times, but as soon as she stood up to read it they both started crying so hard she couldn't get through it, so one of the bridesmaid's took the paper off of her and finished reading it while my two nieces held on to each other and cried. In fact, they had most of the guests crying too! It shows real love and more meaning if you do it with emotion.
2007-10-15 07:40:06 · answer #5 · answered by Darlene mouse 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best thing to do is to take it slowly... usually when you read the speech slowly you can still pronounce your words clearly even if you are emotional... but if I were you, dont stress out about it too much... Its okay to get emotional. You obviously mean a lot to the bride so I'm sure she definitely wouldnt mind a few tears or choke-ups... and the guests will just think its "sweet"... Just practice the speech and when it comes time, just take it slowly... Things will go fine
Good luck!
2007-10-15 07:18:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have something really ridiculous or funny to think about (if you're going to use notecards during your speech, even write a note about the funny story in the margin, or paste a funny picture of the page). It's hard to get teary if you're chuckling in your head.
I started getting choked up during my best friend's wedding, but then I remembered what the groom and his buddies were up to during the photographs. They don't speak very good English, and were a little bewildered by the photographer's orders to stand up, move this way, now you two, now do this, etc. So when she ordered the groom and best man to shake hands, they both looked blankly at her and then vigorously waved their hands in the air.
Or, if appropriate, imagine one of the groomsmen in a thong. You'll either be turned on or completely disgusted, depending on the groomsmen, and that will definitely distract you from tears.
2007-10-15 07:17:47 · answer #7 · answered by teresathegreat 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Funny Fearless Flawless Wedding Speeches - http://Speech.findpolo.com
2015-11-18 19:37:47 · answer #8 · answered by Keven 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put a few jokes in places where you know you will choke up....that way you are more likely to laugh. Also, imagine everyone in the room is naked whilst reading it out. But theres nothing wrong with getting emotional, I would be really touched if someone cared about me that way. Or just imagine the groom on the toilet. HAHA GOOD LUCK!!
2007-10-15 07:16:03 · answer #9 · answered by the_candy_raver 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There's no way you'll make it through, at least from what I've seen of maid of honor speeches. Virtually every one of them chokes up and starts crying. Just take comfort in the fact that everyone else will expect you to, as well, so they won't be offput or shocked by it.
It's up to the best man to give the dry-eyed speech.
2007-10-15 07:13:48 · answer #10 · answered by damlovash 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋