How to React to a Toast

Whether it’s at your wedding or your retirement party, when you’re offered a toast you should know how to react. Toasts are made to acknowledge a guest of honor, to offer congratulations or to bestow thanks. If there’s a chance someone may honor you with a toast, be prepared to respond properly.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Glass
• Beverage
• Someone wishing to toast you

1. While the whole room may stand, you--the person being toasted--remain seated. The group stands to honor you; to stand with them would be to honor yourself.

2. Listen to the sentiments of the speaker. Look at him, smile and nod. Soak up the warmth of the moment.

3. At the end of the toast when glasses are raised, hold on to your glass, but leave it on the table. You should not drink to yourself. Instead, smile at the people around the room or say, “Thank you.”

4. After you’ve been toasted, you may want to return the toast. You may stand and say, “It’s an honor to be here with you all. I’m sure we’d all like to thank our hosts for this beautiful event. Raise your glasses with me. To Desi and Lucy!”

5. Conclude by looking to Desi and Lucy and raising your glass high. Take a sip and set your glass on the table.

Tips & Warnings

• To many people, a toast isn’t a toast with the clinking glasses at the end. While this old custom is not required, many enjoy it. If you’ve followed the steps and properly kept your glass on the table, those around you may still want to clink glasses with you. Do so as a sign of friendship, but avoid taking a drink to yourself.

Resources

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