演讲英语系列12：婚礼致辞.pdfVIP

Page 60 of 70 12 LISA This is The Public Speaker: Quick and Dirty Tips For Improving Your Communication Skills, with your host, Lisa B. Marshall. [Lisa]: Hey gang, today we’re doing a joint episode with Trent Armstrong, the Modern Manners Guy. Hi Trent, thanks for joining the show. [Trent]: Hi, Lisa, thanks for having me on the show. The Email Listener Raquel wrote… I’m going to be maid of honor in my best friend’s wedding and will be making a toast. I hate public speaking, but my friend and I have known each other since we were five years old. What goes into a wedding toast especially if I do not know her soon-to-be-husband that well and do not want to embarrass anyone. Honor Her, Don’t Embarrass Her [Trent] Well, first, a toast is meant to honor the person, not embarrass them. It‘s also not your chance to let a bunch of people know what a riot you are. Toasts should be polite, personal, simple, and sincere. [Lisa] Exactly, Trent, I couldn’t agree more. We’re talking about a wedding toast not a wedding roast. Keep in mind that the main purpose of your maid of honor speech is to share why the bride is so special to you in your own unique way. I do understand that finding the right words can be difficult, especially when you’re stressed out by all of your other wedding obligations. And if you aren’t comfortable with public speaking that can just make it worse. Bu t, we’re here to help! Brainstorm Memories and Feelings The first step, before you even begin to write the toast, is to brainstorm a few ideas so that you have some material to choose from. Don’t worry if you don’t know the groom very well. Just write down how the bride looks when she’s talking about him or write down memories of when the bride first mentioned the groom to you. Of course you’ll also want to