The 3-step speech formula to impress your Audience...
Speech Outline Guide

If you follow this speech outline format, I promise that your audience will be able to follow and enjoy your wedding speech.

On this page, I'll tell the speech outline format to you. I will then show you how to organize your own speech on the Speech Writing Page.

So, what is the format?

All you need to do is follow a 3-Step formula called The 3 Tell Thems. This stands for:

Step 1: Tell Them What You'll Tell Them (Introduction)

Step 2: Tell Them (Body)

Step 3: Tell Them What You've Told Them (Conclusion and Toast)

Here's a little more detail about the 3 Tell Thems Formula:

Step 1: Tell Them What You'll Tell Them (Introduction)

The Introduction is the first portion of your speech outline. Make your introduction quick because it is only about 10 percent of the speech.

For the introduction, you'll want to:

*Say your Name and part in the wedding (Best Man, Maid of Honor, etc.).

*Say your relationship with the bride/groom (brother, friend, etc.)

*Thank the guests for attending

*Thank the host(s) of the event

*Bride and Groom only: Thank the members of your wedding party.

*Parents of the bride/groom only: Welcome the in-laws to the family and make a warm comment about the person who will marry your son/daughter (such as when you first met the person who will marry your son/daughter, his/her positive characteristics, etc.).

*Finally, say the main points that you will discuss during the speech body.

The introduction format that you just read has three nice advantages:

1. If you explain to the guests who you are and the reason(s) that you've been asked to speak, you will build a much faster rapport with the audience.

Otherwise, the guests will wonder who you are during most of your speech.

2. Your speech adds a nice touch to the occasion if you thank the guests for attending as well as the host(s) for having the event.

3. You have an opportunity to give a quick preview of the two or three items that you are about to tell the audience.

We'll go further about selecting items for your speech on the Speech Writing Page.

For now, item examples can include childhood memories, college experiences, league competitions, or three positive qualities that you see in the bride or groom.

You can even stir up a combination of these and other examples that you would like to say to the guests.

Sample Introduction

Here is the speech opening that a Best Man, Dan, prepared for a groom named Sean:

"Hello, I'm Dan Robertson, Sean's Best Man. Sean and I have known each other since our first day of college 15 years ago.

Thank you all for being here to celebrate Sean and Jennifer's Wedding and a special thank you to Jennifer's parents, Scott and Elaine Mitchell, for hosting this beautiful reception.

When I think of Sean, the first things that come to mind are his love for sports, our alma mater, Chiropractic University, and the Chiropractic Profession."

By the way, your preview of the main points is the reason we label this part of the format as Tell Them What You'll Tell Them

Step 2: Tell Them (Body)

You are now saying the longest portion of the speech outline--about 80 percent of the speech. It also is a simple part of the speech format to deliver.

The Body is also known as the Tell Them portion of this formula because it is the time when you will go into detail about the two or three ideas that you previewed in the introduction (college stories, three positive qualities, etc.).

Sample Speech Body

Here is the sample speech body that Dan created for Sean:

Main point 1: Sports

*Atlanta Braves Fan

*Paintball League

Main Point 2: College

*Student Government Fundraising Party

Main Point 3: Chiropractic Profession

*Met Jennifer, who originally Sean's Patient.

*His love for helping patients

This is just one example of how Dan's favorite ideas can quickly form his Speech Body.

You probably noticed that that the speech body is not written out word-for-word.

As you'll see on the Speech Writing Page, I strongly recommend that you AVOID writing every word of your speech body.

If you write every word, it will be very tempting to read your entire speech. You'll probably bore your audience.

After you start practicing your speech, you'll notice that the few words written for each idea will remind you of what you want to mention in your speech.

Bottom line: Simply talk about each of the main points in order and in some detail (but, don't go overboard) and your message will be very clear to the guests.

Step 3: Tell Them What You've Told Them (Conclusion and Toast)

Like the Introduction, the Conclusion and toast is about 10 percent of your speech.

This part of the speech outline is referred to as Tell Them What You've Told Them because you will briefly repeat the two or three ideas discussed earlier before moving onto your toast.

For the Conclusion and Toast, follow this plan:

*Repeat Your Main Points. This is a signal to the audience that your speech is coming to an end.

*Ask everybody to please raise their glasses for a toast to the couple.

*Give your toast

*Say Cheers! and expect a similar response from the guests.

For example: Here is the conclusion and toast that Dan prepared for Sean:

"Now you know more about Sean's love for sports, Chiropractic University, the Chiropractic Profession, and of course, his biggest love, Jennifer.

Please raise your glasses for a toast to Jennifer and Sean.

To Jennifer and Sean, we are all so happy for you and we love you very much. Not only are you a wonderful couple, but you are also best friends.

May you have a life together that is full of nothing but health, happiness, fun, and the best that life has to offer. Cheers!"

Don't worry if this seems overwhelming. Soon, you'll see how to easily and quickly create your speech outline.

Would you feel better with a speech outline cheat-sheet? One is waiting for you. Visit the Speech Outline Plan.

Where should you go from here?

Want to see a Sample Speech? Visit this page now.

The Audience Analysis Guide or Audience Analysis Plan is a must. Learning about your audience can be the difference between an outstanding speech and a disaster.

Go to Sample Speech Page

Go to Audience Analysis Guide

Go to Audience Analysis Plan

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