Weddingbee boards

Well, first of all don't worry about memorizing it-- write it out on note-cards as a cheat sheet. This way you can just focus on writing it out and getting through it when the time comes!

As for the speech itself, would it help to write it out as a speech just to your friend and her husband? Concentrate on your friendship, good times you shared, and how happy you are that she found a man as wonderful as him to share her life with. Then when you are giving the speech you can focus your attention only on them, and tie it together at the end with, "so here's to Friend and Hubby!" using their names, of course ;)

Good luck! Hopefully some other ladies will have better advice than I do!

I know it's totally nerve-racking! I got really nervous a few weeks before my sister's wedding last year when I started to think about the speech, and I'm usually really comfortable getting up in front of people. Here's the advice someone gave me that really helped.

Be YOU in your speech. All those people are there because they love your best friend...you have that in common with them! Now, when I found my "voice" for the speech, I knew it was going to be funny and then bring them all to tears. That's just my style. 

Keep it short, don't go on and on...and WRITE IT DOWN. Trust me, you'll ramble and it will kill the mood if you just do it on the fly. Relax, and let the speech have a bit of rhythm to it that's totally you. Your best friend will love it. (:

Seriously, just practice it. Alot. Video tape yourself, read it to your mirror, read it to your SO, etc. When you get in front of that crowd with mic in hand, you're going to be nervous. There's nothing you can do about that. BUT if you have really prepared yourself well, developed a flow for the speech and know when to take pauses and when to make inflections, you will have a solid base to fall back on when your nerves feel like you might get over whelmed.

Definitely take note cards with you. Not to read from them, but as nudges and reminders if you lose your track. Think of them as prompts. You don't need to memorize the speech, but you should be really familiar with it. When you're looking out at the people all staring at you, if you start to feel nervous look at your supports, like your best friend or your SO, for a boost of confidence. Or even look down at your note cards to give your mind a break on how many people are looking at you.

Remember to breathe, speak slowly, and smile!! It will be fine!