How to Give a Good Bride's Toast
A wedding toast gives the bride an opportunity to share particular thanks with family members and friends. Although some wedding traditions do not call for the bride to make a toast at the wedding reception, more brides are choosing to prepare a short speech. In her toast, the bride can thank family and friends for sharing time together at the wedding, give thanks to family members for their support, show gratitude to her in-laws for welcoming her to the family and express love to her new husband. As toasts are given, the bride's toast is typically the last of the day, after speeches from the father of the bride, the best man and the groom, according to Wedaholic.com.
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Instructions
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Compile a list of things you want to say. Make a list of people you would like to acknowledge or stories you would like to share. There is no formal structure for a bride's toast, according to Wedaholic.com, but a bride might want to thank her guests, mention people of special importance and offer a few words to the groom. Take notes in the weeks preceding the wedding if you think of things you might want to say.
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Prepare your toast using a few key components. Alyssa Shattles offers the outline she used for her wedding toast on her website “Bride Wedding Speech Tips.” She recommends starting with an opening line (maybe a story about how you met your husband), followed by a thanks to friends and family. Then say something about your parents, your new in-laws and your wedding in general. Close with something romantic about the groom and another thank you to your guests for sharing this important day.
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Practice your toast. While the best toasts are spoken from the heart, those who are nervous public speakers should practice their toast in advance. If both the bride and groom are feeling nervous about speaking in front of an audience, they may consider a joint toast. Jot a few notes on paper or note cards; try to remember as much as you can because you don't want to read word-for-word when you give the toast.
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Relax and give your toast. Keep eye contact with your audience and try to avoid eating or drinking too much before the toast so you are comfortable in the delivery. If you find yourself looking for the right words or encountering stage fright, tell a personal story about you and the groom in your path to marriage. Remember to thank your guests and then hold up your glass at the conclusion of the toast.
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