New clients often mention how cluttered the online speechwriting world is and how difficult it is to find a reputable writer with a proven track record.
Read MoreCOVID-19 has temporarily changed the way we celebrate, particularly in the number of guests attending weddings.
Read MoreThere’s rarely a week that goes by that I don’t get at least two or three calls or emails from best men, fathers of the bride or maids of honor who are a week or even a just a few days out from the wedding and in a complete panic.
Read MoreA father of the bride client in Connecticut named, Ted, called the other day to let me know how his speech went at his daughter’s wedding the previous weekend.
He said, “I must say that my speech was the highlight of the event. It left some folks laughing and crying at the same time. I think you have broken the code with your speech preparation process.”
Then he said, “You must know that you’re in a mirky sea of people who call themselves wedding speechwriters out there… how do you do it?”
So I said, “Then why did you choose me over all the others?”
Read MoreA recent article on wedding speeches in the Los Angeles Times included this:
“The best man's speech should be… the high point of the reception and it is very often his ability to make this particular speech, with humor and interest, which should be one major deciding factor for the selection of the best man.”
Read MoreA client recently directed me to a wedding “speechwriter” on-line (this one happens to be in England but they’re everywhere) who sells canned speech templates but also promises to write you an “original” speech if you like. Really? So, does that mean he won’t use any of the dull, tired lines from the generic speech templates he’s selling in your speech then? I’m skeptical.
Read MoreI’m fortunate to be able to enhance the success, excitement and intimacy of all types and sizes of weddings around the world. The largest was a 640-person celebration in Malibu for a film director.
Read MoreI was talking yesterday with Don, a new father of the bride client from Richmond, Va. He was describing how he had been online looking for ideas and guidance for his speech and was shocked at what schlock he found.
Read More"I got so many compliments I felt guilty I didn't write it myself."
Read MoreI walk the dog by Lake Michigan twice a day for about an hour each time. I used to listen to music while we walked but then Podcasts came along a few years ago. I figured I could use the time to learn something and now listen to a wide variety of Podcasts.
Read MoreI was working recently with Allan, a father of the bride in New York. We were going over his speech together and he was carefully weighing each word.
He wanted to be sure we were conveying exactly what he had always wanted to say to his daughter on her wedding day. And he wanted to make sure the words were in exactly the right tone, style and voice.
Read MoreYou'll get even more out of your rehearsals if you practice in front of friends, family, colleagues or others. That's because practicing under the types of pressure you are likely to face will help ensure you perform when it really counts.
Read MoreThe Wall Street Journal published an article recently about certain aspects of weddings getting bigger and more audacious.
Read MoreI was excited to receive a video recently from a client giving the best man speech at his friend’s wedding in Boston.
He’s a dentist without much public speaking experience so he was on edge in the days leading up to the wedding. The video showed him a little nervous but mostly energized and feeding off the crowd. He got laughs, cheers and applause throughout. A homerun by any standard.
Read MoreIn 19 years as a speechwriter, I've discovered there are 5 major reasons the speech is, for many, the most stressful part of the wedding duties:
REASON #1: You don't have a lot of speechwriting or public speaking experience, especially at high-profile social events like a wedding (most people don't).