Hi, I’m Rachel.
I’m a former wedding magazine editor, and founder of The Speech Department – a speech writing and coaching service.
I help people deliver wedding toasts that bring the house down. I do it by giving you systems to dig up funny, heart-warming stories, tests to tell whether your speech will hit the mark (before you’ve got hundreds of eyes on you), and psychological hacks to crush nerves so you can stand up feeling calm and confident.
With the right tools and strategies, I believe anyone can deliver a legendary wedding speech. Even if you’re ‘not good with words’, you have ‘no idea where to start’, or you’re ‘just not a funny person’. And yes, especially if you want to deliver a speech that you’ll look back on proudly for years to come.
It’s time to ditch the stress. Let’s tackle this thing, one word at a time.
stick around to get help with…
Generating great ideas
Use my brainstorm methods to dig up original content that will make everyone smile – even if you have no ideas right now.
Writing it well
Learn storytelling formulas that turn good anecdotes into great ones, then polish the speech structure to keep everyone engaged.
Nailing the delivery
Overcome nerves and stand up feeling calm and confident, using proven rehearsal strategies to combat anxiety.
Start here
Maid of honour speech ideas for sisters: 10 brainstorming prompts
Don’t know where to start with writing your toast for your sister’s wedding? Can’t think of a single anecdote to use? Use this list to generate a stack of maid of honour speech ideas for your sister’s wedding: fresh, original material that will make your speech shine.
Keep reading Maid of honour speech ideas for sisters: 10 brainstorming prompts
10 best man speech brainstorming prompts for best friends
Even if you’ve spent a lifetime with someone, it can be hard to conjure best man speech ideas. This list of prompts will help you on your way.
Keep reading 10 best man speech brainstorming prompts for best friends
Should you use ChatGPT to write your wedding speech?
ChatGPT is amazing. But is it capable of writing your best man, maid of honour, or parent-of-the-bride-or-groom toast? Let’s investigate the merits of a ChatGPT wedding speech.
Keep reading Should you use ChatGPT to write your wedding speech?
Work with me
My coaching guides and writing services give you the tools you need to take control of your speech.
Need to deliver a wedding speech, and not quite sure where to start?
You’ve got this. Get in touch below, and we’ll cut through the overwhelm.