Didnt Know Where To Put This.... I Have To Give Best Man Speech Soon And Am Extremely Anxious About It

[sherminator]

Just looking for help on this as I have to stand up in front of 70 people and the thought of it is making my chest hurt! it feels tight and my breathing feels erratic so just looking for any help at all to try and stop this feeling. I practised today in front of one person and I was sweating and feeling horrendous doing it!

Really, really don't want to do this :(

[ummmm]

Can't he have two best men? I wouldn't want my friend to feel how you're feeling.

[2sp_]

I have been at a wedding where the best man was a bag of nerves about the whole speech, so he prepared a PowerPoint presentation around his speech. That way he could ask for the lights to be dimmed and everyone was watching the big screen instead of him.

He had all sorts of photos of the couple, as adults and even embarrassing baby ones, pie charts and other nonsense!

It was fantastic! He still delivered the speech, but felt much more comfortable doing it that way.

[ummmm]

That's a good idea, 2sp.

I was at a wedding where the best man burst into tears.

[sherminator]

He does have two best men but we both have to do speech. and its unfortunately too late to do a power point....I did think about that and wished i had done it but I still get nerves! its just the standing up in front of people. can do it sitting down at work no issue!

[2sp_]

When is the wedding?

[sherminator]

This weekend....I have the speech done and 3 people said its quite good so just worried bout me now!

[2sp_]

Whatever you do, don't get drunk before the speech. Our best man was blazing and I could have happily strangled him as he made a total fool of himself. I had to threaten him with my fork to get him to sit down and stop rambling like a drunken bumhole.

I'm sure you could still have time to cobble something together on PP if it would make a big difference to you?

[albaqwerty]

just remember to breath, speak slowly and clearly.
Don't rush and fall over your words!

When you look up from your notes, look at the wall opposite you and change your eye-movement every so often as to give the impression that you're talking to the whole room and not the wall :-)

Best of luck x

[grasscarp]

Perhaps there may be some tips that help you here
http://www.wikihow.com/Reduce-Stress-Before-Giving-a-Speech

[sherminator]

when I did it to one person, the hardest part was finding space to breath! felt like i was running out the whole time! And never done one to this many people so just worrying bout how much harder will be in front of all those people!

[Arksided]

I've had to do public speaking and I always become a gibbering wreck before hand with the nerves... but with a best mans speech the difference is they (most of them) know you and are probably more relaxed than you might think knowing you'd be nervous.

Good luck with it, and remember they are friends and family.

[snags]

I've been in this same situation but more people and was also dreading it. What helped me was taking a positive/pro-active approach: consciously make eye contact with people throughout the room, make sure you don't read too quickly and take pauses when you need to, you're not against the clock! Have a few key reminders written down so you're not face down reading from piles of paper. The idea of doing is worse than the reality, it'll be over sooner than you think and will be appreciated by the people that matter.

[2sp_]

Can you do your speech first before the other best man? Get it out of the way quicker?

Also, are you having the speeches before or after the meal?

[sherminator]

Cheers guys... am so worried I will be all sweaty or....burst into tears or something else horrible! I have never liked being the certain of attention so this is just not natural for me!....(it's also something I do really want to get better at as well!)

[sherminator]

Think after the meal... I will ask to go first and get it over with!

[boxtops]

The thing to do is to breathe slowly, and speak quite loudly - run your eye over all the audience every now and again, you don't have to catch anyone's eye and be put off. Please do remember that they are all there to hear you, they will all be on your side, give them a good show - we know you can do it!

[2sp_]

Speak to the Groom, ask if you can do the speeches before the meal. Always better to get them out of the way before you eat so you can all enjoy your meal. I'm sure he will be glad to get his over with too!

[albaqwerty]

let us know how it went Sherm x
You WILL be fine, the speech will be great and bride and groom WILL be proud of you.

[sherminator]

Cheers guys.....Will try keep practising over next 2 days!

[albaqwerty]

if it helps, you could always imagine the guests as answerbankers :-)