Wedding speech coaching is one-on-one help writing and delivering a wedding toast, done over video so it works wherever you live. I coach best men, maids of honor, fathers of the bride and anyone else handed a microphone at a wedding. You bring the stories. I help you pick the right one, cut what drags, and practice until it sounds like you talking to a friend.
What you get
You get a speech that’s written, timed and rehearsed out loud before you stand up.
- A story call where we find the moments worth telling and drop the ones that only make sense to three people
- Writing help at the level you need: an edit of your draft, a structure you fill in, or a full draft written from your stories
- Practice runs over video with notes on pacing, pauses and where the laughs land
- A final version formatted for cards or your phone
- Coaching for the nerves: shaky hands, blanking and talking too fast
You look better to the room than you think
Your own read on your speech is harsher than an observer’s. In a 2022 study by Gallego and colleagues in the journal Behavior Modification, university students who gave impromptu speeches scored their own performance at 38.58 on average, while trained observers, rating a smaller group of 43 speeches, averaged 56.28, on the self-report and observer versions of the Social Performance Scale.
The old line that people fear public speaking more than death doesn’t hold up either. In the 2024 Chapman University Survey of American Fears, 29.0% of Americans said they were afraid or very afraid of public speaking, fewer than the 31.6% afraid of dying. Nerves are common, and a rehearsed speech gives them less to grab onto.
How it works
Speech coaching runs from a free call, through video sessions where we write and rehearse, to the day you give the toast.
The consultation
The consultation is a free video call where you tell me who’s getting married, what role you’re playing and how you feel about public speaking.
The prep
Prep happens over video sessions scheduled around your calendar. First we find the story. Then we build the speech around it, and then you say it out loud while I give notes. If you want to start on your own first, read how to write a wedding speech and bring the draft.
The day
On the day, you’re the one at the microphone, and you’ve already given the speech out loud several times. If your wedding is in Southern California, I can also be there in person as your wedding MC.
Who it’s for
Speech coaching is for anyone giving a wedding toast who wants it to land the first time.
- Best men who have a lot of stories and no idea which ones are safe. Start with these best man speech examples.
- Maids of honor writing for a sister or a best friend. See these maid of honor speech examples.
- Fathers of the bride, especially the quiet ones. Here’s a guide for the shy father of the bride.
- Mothers, siblings, grooms, brides and anyone else on the toast list
Why me
I’ve stood in wedding parties eleven times, as best man twice, groomsman seven times and flower man twice, so I’ve heard a lot of toasts from three feet away. I’ve also officiated four ceremonies, which means I’ve spoken to a full wedding crowd with the couple’s nerves right next to me. My background is in event management, so I coach for the actual room: the microphone, the timing and the guests who are three drinks in.
Frequently asked questions
Can you write my wedding speech for me?
Yes, I can write your wedding speech from your stories, or edit a draft you’ve already started. Either way, we practice it over video until the words sound like yours.
Can you help if my speech is already written?
Yes, I can help if your speech is already written. I edit what you have, cut what drags, and spend our sessions on delivery.
Do you coach maid of honor and father of the bride speeches?
Yes, I coach maid of honor speeches, father of the bride speeches, best man speeches and any other wedding toast. Every role gets the same method: find the story, build the speech around it and practice it out loud.
Is wedding speech coaching done in person or online?
Wedding speech coaching is done over video, so I can coach you wherever you live. If your wedding is in Southern California, I can also work the day in person.
What if I blank in the middle of my speech?
If you blank in the middle of your speech, you have a cue card and enough reps to recover fast.
Book a free consultation
Tell me whose wedding it is and what you’ve been asked to say. We’ll figure out the story on the first call.