Picture this…

Beautiful gowns, sharp tuxedos, shining accessories, and memorable speeches.

No, I am not talking about a wedding.  Although I will always enjoy weddings above all other events, I’d like to talk about another event that will be taking place this Sunday no more than an hour and a half (in good traffic) from where I sit: The 85th Annual Academy Awards.  Yes, this weekend I will be setting up shop in front of my television and watch as Hollywood’s finest make their grand entrance onto the red carpet and listen as winners of the esteemed Oscar give their acceptance speech before a combined live and television audience of millions.  Talk about pressure.  Excuse me while I take a moment to visualize the moment I receive an Academy Award for Best Actress…

My vision would have me accept this honor with grace and with an incredibly eloquent speech thanking everyone I had ever met.  The reality of course is that I would probably stumble across the stage (heels and I don’t get along), and I would proceed to give a speech comprised mostly of the not-so-eloquent sounds of “umm” and “uhh…”  And since we’re talking reality now, I must admit that I am not an actress nor have I been asked to be in any major motion pictures.  Surprising, right??

The point is, I am not well equipped to give any sort of speech at an event of such magnitude.  Maybe that’s why I enjoy Awards Season so much; I get to watch and admire those who are much more well-spoken in front of an audience than I am.  As much as I enjoy seeing all the gorgeous ensembles and catching up on the latest trends, the thing that I love the most is listening to the speeches and catching some profound moments in Hollywood history.

Alas, it all has to end.  The Academy Awards brings a close to this season, but I’m not too broken up about it.  Actually, I’m quite excited because it means my absolute favorite season is just getting started: wedding season.  You know what that means?  More speeches!  If you’re anything like me, public speaking can be an incredibly daunting task.  If you’re expected to make a toast or give a speech at a friend or family member’s wedding — well, you can already feel the nerves setting in.  Never fear, I have a few tips that I’ve gathered to help you write that perfect toast!

1. Having trouble getting started?  Just remember that it’s for the bride and groom.  It’s their wedding, let them be your inspiration.  Another thing to remember, this day is a celebration of love between two people.  Even if you are closer with one over the other, make sure you include both of them.
2. Practice!  Practice alone in your room, practice in front of a close friend, and practice whenever you get a chance.  The better you know your toast, the less chance your nerves have of taking over.
3. Keep it short.  A toast shouldn’t really be longer than a couple of minutes.  Unless you have a very engaging speech written and no short amount of confidence in your public speaking abilities, keep it short, simple, and sweet.
4. Avoid these references: those crazy college parties, any past relationships, and inappropriate jokes.  I don’t think these need any further explanation, do you?

Any speech stories, extra tips, or comments in general??   Post them in the comment section below!

First stop, wedding toasts.  Next up, your Oscar acceptance speech!  I’ll see you on the (pretend) red carpet.

-Kim