Sayng your wedding vow is, obviously, a very important part of your wedding.
If you are getting married in a religious setting, check with your priest / vicar as they may have specific words that you cannot deviate from. Otherwise, feel free to add your own thoughts into your wedding vows.
These vows may only be a few minutes long and although said to one another remember that the congregation would like to hear what you are saying because of this be careful not to include any embarrassing comments.
Top tips to speaking clearly and slowly.
Open your mouth wide enough for the sound to come out. A lot of churches and other venues for weddings and civil partnership ceremonies are old buidings and have quite a strong echo this means that you will have to slow down.
A good example is the word 'I' which is a two sounding vowel sound and your mouth should be open wide enough to get at least two fingers on edge in your mouth.
This will allow the sound to come out and will also physically slow you down.
Make sure you pause at the end of a sentence (or new thought) - say 'full stop' or 'comma' to your self when you need to pause.
Try to stand still - fidgeting or rocking from side to side will make you look and feel nervous.
If you're worried about forgetting your vows read them but remember to look up at your partner as much as possible.
As churches are often large buidings you will need to finish the final consonant in every word. For example if you were to say the words 'beg' 'bet' 'bed' 'ben' without sounding the final consonant, the only sound the listeners would hear would be 'be'
If the ceremony is taking place outside you will have to use more projection as the voice tends to get lost in even the smallest breeze. You can do this by opening your mouth, direct he words where you want them to go so face your partner (don't look down at the ground) and say the last consonant in every word.
If you feel your mouth drying out, try smiling as this produces saliva in the mouth.
If you really mean the words you are saying and are comfortable with them you should have no problem in conveying the meaning. It is when we try to say something that we don't mean or don't understand that problems can arise.
Don't rush the ending, the last word is just as important as the first word.
Practise OUT LOUD. If you want to memorise your vows make yourself say them without reading the words and only look at the words when you are really stuck. If you just read them over and over again you will never feel confident enough to give the words up.
Elocution Lesson
If you live in the South of England you could book a lesson in Corfe Mullen in Dorset with Serena, who will teach you all the tricks of the trade to speaking in public.
Please look
here.
