Not everyone is a natural storyteller. Some people really enjoy standing up to speak in front of a room full of people, but for the rest of us, the mere thought of standing in front of everyone, let alone delivering a speech, can be a terrifying prospect.

Remember the rule P – Advance preparation prevents poor performance. If you’ve never spoken in public before, practice! If you have a webcam, look at yourself on the screen and see what you’re doing. If you can’t do that, use a mirror. You may have a nervous nose-scratching habit that you’re unaware of, but at the wedding, everyone else will be very aware of it! If you know you’re a nervous user, for example, make sure there are no pens near you. If you think you don’t have any of those types of habits, ask a friend you can trust to tell you the truth. You may be surprised! When you practice speaking, simply start by reading a newspaper or magazine article. Get comfortable standing up to speak first. When you’ve tried it a few times, talk in front of a friend or family member and ask for an honest assessment.

Most people talk too fast and the audience misses most of what they say. The rule here is to deliberately speak slowly. If you think you’re almost sounding like you’ve gone a bit silly, then that’s probably the right speed. And if your audience starts laughing at your wit, shut them up before you continue.

The best speakers, try listening to really good speakers on TV, they sound like confidants. All that practice will help you sound confident since you’re now used to talking on your feet.

Engage your audience. Communication is not just about what you say, it is How do you say it. Smile before you start. Look at someone in the room. Don’t stare, just look at them. Then move your gaze to another person, and so on. It will mean that many different people in the room will think that you are speaking to them. You’ll need to refer to your notes from time to time, but try to look at a different face each time you look up. And keep smiling. It is possibly the happiest/proudest day of your life. That smile will help you feel happy, and therefore more confident, inside.

Use your body. Try not to stand there like you’re in line for a firing squad. If you need to hold your notes, use only one hand. Use the other hand to gesture to your audience. If you’re talking about the blushing bride, for example, wave at her and smile again!

Your notes: You need to practice what works best for you. Some people use bullet points; others prefer to write the entire script. Make three copies; keep one in your pocket, and the other two should be in sealed envelopes and left with people you trust. Losing your notes – it happens! – It would be a disaster.

You never know.

Did I mention about smiling?