If you have a wedding on the horizon and you are worrying about making a wedding speech, there are several ways that you can make sure you write a good one.

One thing some people are anxious about is whether or not to make a joke during the speech. If you do and no one understands it or finds it funny, you can feel nervous and embarrassed and even more anxious about carrying on.

The problem that often occurs is that some people feel they have a duty to be funny during their speech. But this is simply not the case. You should remember that you aren’t there to be a stand up comedian – you are there to address friends and family and remind everyone that this is the happiest day in the lives of the newly married couple.

Of course the nature of your speech will depend on what capacity you are speaking in. The groom will want to be sure he thanks the key people in the wedding party and mentions his new bride. For the best man the task will be to tell the people present a few things about the groom and how he met his bride.

But whatever you will be saying, writing it in plenty of time is the most important way to begin. If you constantly put it off and leave it until the last minute you will worry over what to include and you won’t have enough time to read it through and make any last minute changes.

The most important thing is to be yourself. Speak naturally; if you don’t like the idea of trying to crack a joke, steer clear of them altogether. On the other hand if you are known for constantly making wisecracks it might seem odd not to put one in. Don’t overdo it though – remember that the focus should always be on the occasion and on the newlyweds, not you.

Don’t feel the need to write a long speech either. If you are the groom and you only want to stand up and say a couple of things, stick with what feels best for you. Just be sure to thank the appropriate people and express your feelings for your new bride.

If you do want to include a joke or two and you are stuck for inspiration you can go online and have a look for something suitable. You can quite easily find a selection of one liners that you can either use as they are, or modify them for your own use.

Another humorous aspect to include would be a funny story about the happy couple. Just make sure that it isn’t too long, otherwise people will start to get bored. Think of a few different options and try your speech out on someone you know. If that person can give you an honest opinion on your speech before the big day, you will be able to alter it and make it as good as you possibly can. And this in turn will give you more confidence.

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