Everyone thinks they can speak in front of people. But not everyone is born with the gift of oral communication. Some people shy away from public speaking as a result. It can be especially challenging for women who are expected to uphold the honour of their family, tribe, or community through appearances and interactions at ceremonies and rituals or other formal settings.
The good news? Many people think your wedding will be the perfect opportunity for you to test out your confidence in front-of-a-crowd speaking skills. Here are some wedding etiquette tips to help you shine at your engagement party, ceremony, and reception:
Plan with a speaking plan
The best way to avoid nervousness? To talk out loud about what you might say. You can do this in your car or at the gym or even in your closet. Just talk out loud as if you’re a friend or family member who’s listening in, and try to imagine all the possible responses that person could give.
You’ll soon realize how unnecessary your anxiety is. When planning your speech, be sure to take into account your values and beliefs and what you want to say to the people in your life. It’s also a good idea to consult your partner or close friends, family members, or your wedding officiant. They might have some helpful tips or suggestions.
Practice your speech before the event
If you aren’t sure what to say, why not have your fiancé, your mom, or a close family member read it out loud? You might be surprised at how different this is from hearing your own words. If you don’t have someone to do this for you, find a friend or family member who can help.
You can ask them to read a few sections at a time. The best way to practice is to imagine yourself listening to yourself, so you need to put on some headphones and listen to yourself speaking to see how it sounds.
Don’t be afraid to practice again after the event
There’s no reason you can’t try out your speech again after the engagement party or after the ceremony. If you don’t feel comfortable with a speech, you don’t have to give it.
If you do feel a bit more confident, try it again. You might find that you don’t feel as nervous so you have more confidence in your speech. If you do feel more confident after a second try, don’t be afraid to practice more. Just keep practising until you feel comfortable with your speech and delivery.
If you’re still nervous, do improv training beforehand
Practising your delivery in a non-threatening way might help you get over your nerves before an event. Tons of improv classes and workshops are also great ways to work on your public speaking skills. It’s a fun, interactive way to get comfortable with public speaking. You can also join a public speaking group or practice at home with a coaching session.
Be flexible and be yourself!
If you’re worried about what to wear to your engagement party or what to say at your engagement party, don’t stress about those things. Just try to keep it as simple and relaxed as possible. You don’t need to talk about your grand plans for the future; you just need to be yourself.
There are so many cultural norms that you might not even be aware of that you can use to help you feel more comfortable while you’re speaking. For example, you might be surprised to learn that many cultures prefer women to wear white or pastel colours, or that Asian cultures prefer that women hold chopsticks in their left hand. You might also want to try some breathing techniques or visualise yourself as a confident speaker.
Conclusion
If you’re worried about speaking in front of people, don’t be. Many people feel nervous before speaking in front of crowds. It can be especially challenging for women who are expected to uphold the honour of their family, tribe, or community through appearances and interactions at ceremonies and rituals or other formal settings.
The good news is that many people think your wedding will be the perfect opportunity for you to test out your confidence in front-of-a-crowd speaking skills. Here are some wedding etiquette tips to help you shine at your engagement party, ceremony, and reception.
