How to Deliver the Perfect Wedding Toast

The date is set, the guests are invited, and all the little details of the wedding are falling into place. But what would a wedding be without a toast? Whether you're the Best Man, father of the bride, or groom, or just a dear family friend bestowed with the honor, trying to deliver the perfect wedding toast can be a tad nerve-wracking. Here are some tips to help you through it!

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Brainstorm. Giving the perfect wedding toast is a combination of celebrating the past and wishing the couple well on their future. Take some time to think about a story you know about the couple. Where did you first meet them? Do you have a favorite story about them? Then reflecting on your own life, think about what advice you can give them. Remember the mistakes you've made and the lessons you've learned throughout life that can be helpful. Jot these ideas down. This is something that also doesn't have to be done all at once. Do it over several weeks so that you can really devote an appropriate amount of time to crafting your speech. Remember you'll be presenting it in front of quite a significant audience!
2. Streamline. You've done your brainstorming and have ideas and anecdotes galore. But now it's time to look at all of your notes and reduce it to what you truly want to say. A great way to do that is to decide on a theme. A thread of an idea that can recur through your toast. This is a nice way to bookend the wedding toast. Several ideas for themes are: love, commitment, friendship. Think about the ideas and anecdotes in your notes that speak to these themes.
3. Craft your speech. Now it's time to actually write your wedding toast. Using your theme, pick a couple of the stories and try and weave them together. It is always nice to balance a little humor and heart. It shouldn't be one punch-line after another, but it also shouldn't be too serious either. Also be sure that everything in your toast is appropriate. You don't want Aunt Helen to suddenly have an attack of angina because of a few off-color remarks. Remember the point is that this speech is going to be heard by a general audience. Make sure it is fit for one.
4. Practice. Practicing is the key. Don't wing it. We've all been at weddings where the toast drones on and on. They can seem like they are never going to end. When practicing your speech, make sure it's not too long. Three minutes is a good length to have enough time to incorporate a little humor and plenty of heart!
5. Relax and speak from the heart. The moment has arrived and you now find yourself in front of the entire wedding reception. When you deliver your wedding toast, relax and speak from the heart. Don't worry if your speech isn't memorized. Just impart your love, wisdom and sentiments to the couple as you wish them life-long happiness!

Tips & Warnings

• Get a group reaction. Practice in front of a few people. Take their notes constructively. It may help settle any nerves your feeling and you might make your speech even better!

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