Wedding Speech Anxiety

Research says that some 27% of people asked to give a wedding speech are wracked with anxiety and nerves about it. 

This isn’t surprising.  Fear of public speaking is one of the most common fears around.  For many, speaking before an audience is something they rarely do and so lack of practice and experience can lead to doubts about their performance on the day.

On top of that, you may be more of an introvert and find large crowds somewhat overwhelming, making the thought of speaking in front of maybe 100 – 200 people feel intimidating.

Hypnotherapy and the Wedding Speech

For some people, the act of having to give a speech at a wedding can lead to fear of letting their friends down, forgetting their words, blushing, speaking too quickly, getting tongue-tied, having all eyes on you and so on.  In a hypnotherapy session, we identify what the fears are for you and, using a variety of appropriate techniques, bring the associated anxiety level right down. 

Your Alter Ego

Many people have a friend or colleague they admire for their ability to speak with ease when giving a presentation or in other situations.  When we home in on what it is about the way that person expresses themselves that you find admirable, we can build those resources within you.

There are many times when you are perfectly comfortable speaking in front of others.  This means you have skills and abilities in one area of your life that you can harness and bring forward to where they are needed – giving your wedding speech. 

Seeing Yourself Speaking

And when the fears are minimised, you are more able to see yourself speaking in front of others.  In hypnosis when you are very relaxed, you can imagine yourself speaking at the wedding with all those resources you want to be demonstrating and experiencing it going very well.  Then you will be ready for the real thing.

The Power of Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy is a very powerful tool for changing old ways of being that do not serve you.  We can identify the old conditioning and do what is necessary to change it so that you are freer to access your inner resources.  In terms of giving a wedding speech, this means you can feel more relaxed and more able to be yourself.

Enjoy It

Ultimately, a wedding is a happy occasion.  You want to feel your best, and that means being able to enjoy the moments before your speech rather than worrying about it. 

If you feel overwhelmed by the thought of giving your wedding speech, get in touch and we can see whether hypnotherapy could help you.

Further Help

I have put together a short guide on writing a best man’s speech.  As a former Toastmaster, I have experience of writing short speeches and coaching for them, and as a performance storyteller, some ideas of what will make your speech go well.