The introduction is the most important part of any speech. If you're struggling to generate content, start with the introduction. A good introduction should set the tone for your toast and demonstrate your sincerity. Here are some tactics for a great introduction:
1. Tell a story: If you work with Wedding Speech Pros, I will emphasize the importance of telling a story and how it should be central to the speech. When you figure out what story leaps to mind when you think about your subject matter, you'll know exactly what kind of speech you're going to write. A simple but fun intro starts like this: "When I think of [insert name], I'll always think of [insert story].
2. Talk about the process: Another way to get off to a good start is to talk about how difficult it was to decide what to say because you had so many memories from which to choose. This presents an easy way to introduce a theme for your speech, something that ties your memories together and defines your relationship. Theme Examples: "We've come a long way," "Your friendship makes me think of X."
3. Start with a quote: What if your subject matter loves a specific author, a scientist, or someone famous? Find a quote originating from someone they admire and tie it back to them. This can be a great way to open your speech with a laugh. However, it's important not to force this tactic because you could be searching for hours to find a quote. Make sure the quote originates from someone for whom they have a well-known affinity. For it to work, they should be a super fan.
Overall, you want your introduction to set up the speech, use it to introduce a theme or guide you into the main story of your speech. Remember, you want this to reflect well on you, and most importantly on the people who have given you this honor.
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