Media Training Worldwide

The Speech of Your Life

Every year, around Valentine’s Day, many people begin to prepare for the biggest presentation of their life. This speech often leads to the biggest joys of their life (as well as their biggest sorrows).

What is the speech?

A wedding proposal.

“Will you marry me?” is not just a simple question. Before you make this presentation pitch of a lifetime, please take into consideration the following seven issues:

1. Have you selected a memorable location? Where you give your proposal presentation will be referred to for the next fifty years. You can not treat it as if it were a Monday morning staff meeting report. No offense to Tim Russert, but in bed together Sunday morning watching “Meet the Press” is not the best place. In the middle of a lake, while rowing a boat for just the two of you, may do the trick.

2. Dress for the part. If all goes well, your prospective mate will be replaying every detail of your pitch for the rest of your lives. Now is not the time to be charmingly scruffy or to wear your favorite baseball cap backwards. You don’t have to be in a suit and tie, but do something to make yourself look your very best. You are asking a potential buyer to make a very, very large and lengthy commitment here. Why give reasons for postponing the deal?

3. Don’t be intoxicated. You don’t want your prospect to think it was the liquor talking and not your heart. It’s fine to have half a glass of champagne before you pop the question, but don’t wait until the 2nd bottle is downed. You don’t want your prospect to think that the idea of marrying, while sober, was repellent to you.

4. Don’t read from a script (unless it is a short, original poem leading up to the proposal). Your proposal must be from the heart. Nothing screams out “flat and phony” more than reading. It’s fine to write your thoughts out in advance and to have some organization. But when the big moment comes, you should not have to read.

5. Communicate with your eyes, not just your words. Since you won’t be reading, you can give your prospective mate full and deep eye contact. This is no time to be shifty eyed.

6. Props count. Flowers, Champagne, chocolates and yes, diamond rings, will enhance your chances of the proposal pitch going smoothly.

7. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to this, but have some strong and compelling reasons as to WHY your prospective mate should marry you and how both of you will benefit together.

Cheers to you and your mate for life!