Best Mans Speeches: Tracking Down Your Naked Audience

Probably the best way to reduce nervousness is to just be prepared. Going into your speech confident, knowing that you have put a lot of effort into preparing yourself will not only make you less nervous, but it will make your speech sound great. A good way to practice is simply reciting your best man wedding speech in the mirror. You want to make your practice as real as possible, so mentally place yourself in the reception hall. Sit on the edge of the bathtub or something, and pretend you have just been called up to speak. Walk in front of the mirror and start. Practice with only little bits if you need to, and eventually build it up to the point where you can recite the whole thing. Once you have the whole speech down, work on making it sound natural. Stand in front of the mirror, and pretend you're speaking the crowd. If you stumble a little bit, just keep going and try to finish smoothly. By preparing yourself for a mistake, you can remain calm if you encounter one on the Wedding Day.

There are tons of natural and effective ways to reduce your nervousness. Even just some simple breathing exercises are a proven effective way to reduce tension. Speaking of breathing, don't forget to breathe during your speech. I have to prepare and present many speeches, and my biggest issue is remembering to breathe. Having to take a gasping breath is never convenient. Just relaxing can automatically trigger a more regulated breathing pattern and keep your heart from pounding. Make a conscious effort to relax your muscles and feel free to move around a little bit. You don't want to look rigid and stiff like a statue, but you also don't want to pace back and forth.

Act natural, and be yourself. If it helps, picture how a comedian is on stage. They look very relaxed and comfortable, even though they are the center of attention. You can have a drink to reduce your nervousness, but absolutely do not get drunk. Your goal isn't to embarrass yourself in front of the entire crowd, so don't let stage fright drive you into drowning your anxiety. You want your speech to be memorable, but for the right reasons.

Have something in your non-microphone hand, but make sure it's not noticeable. A rolled-up paper towel or two is a great DIY stress ball, and it also absorbs sweat. Keeping it inconspicuous allows the audience to stay focused on you and what you have to stay, as opposed to the mysterious object you keep waving around. Keep a glass of water nearby, but don't hold it in your hand. You don't want to accidentally spill it or toss it on the Bride. Again, think comedian when going for a drink. Don't stand there and chug the whole glass while the audience watches. A few good sips won't interrupt the flow of your speech and will give you a good quick mid-speech refresher.

Look directly above the heads of the audience. You can pretend your speaking to a room of mannequins, but that may or may not freak you out a little. Don't look straight up at the ceiling, but scan the back wall of the room with your eyes. You don't need to make eye-contact with anyone if you can make it look like you are. Pretend you're alone or just talking directly to the Groom. This sounds like it's easier said than done, but it can be pretty simple. Take a few seconds before you start your best man speeches examples to "get in the zone." Seriously, take your time. It might feel like a century to you, but time hasn't slowed down. Give your self a quick pep talk. You were chosen out of all the people in the crowd to be the Best Man for the Groom. Be proud of that! There are tons of people who will never get the opportunity to give such a memorable best man speeches brother to their best friend, father, or son.