How to Make Toasts

Many people when called upon to make a toast at a wedding, retirement or birthday party, have no earthly idea what to say. This article will give you some ideas.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• creativity
• ability to speak to a crowd

1. The type of occasion at which you are giving the toast dictates what type to give. For example, at a wedding you would obviously need to be serious and sincere, at a retirement party, sarcastic, appreciative, or grateful, at a Bachelor Party, obnoxious, and at a birthday party it would depend on the person being honored and their age. (Don't make an over the hill joke to your 99-year-old grandmother.) Decide which type of toast you need to give.

2. Think through what you want to say in the toast. Is there something funny you could say that relates to a real life experience the person had? Did the person do something extraordinary that makes them an icon in their field? Did the person make a huge blunder at the company that gained major attention and earned them a nickname? Has the person been married as many times as Elizabeth Taylor? Has he or she impacted lives in such a positive way that you could call them the modern day Mother Theresa? Has your friend who is turning 50 had more Botox treatments than Barry Bonds has had steroids? Does your boss deserve a promotion like Dolly Parton needs implants? You get the idea.

3. A toast can be as simple as your thoughts and feelings, or you can use an excerpt from a poem or write a poem to use. (See my eHow article titled, "Writing Your First Poem," for further details on this.)

4. A couple of examples of toasts are as follows: "Here's to you and here's to me, best of friends we'll always be, but if by chance we disagree, the heck with you, here's to me. (birthday or retirement party material)
   
   For a wedding: "May your love be as deep as the ocean and your troubles as light as the foam."
   
   For any serious occasion, wedding, retirement, etc.: "May the worst of your tomorrows be better than the best of your todays."
   
   Retirement Party: "Sam is the nicest boss in the world. Every year at Christmas time he ties a tiny piece of mistletoe through the back belt -loop of his pants and walks around the office for everyone to see it.

Tips & Warnings

• There are many books available that are filled with toasts you can use.
• It is better to make up your own toast. It means more to the individual you are toasting, especially if it personalizes it.
• With video and cell phone cameras everywhere, make sure you do not make a toast you would be embarrassed of it showed up on "America's Funniest Home Videos."

[maryladd]

on 11/12/2009 good info and something one needs to know..thanks for joining our group ..recommended you 5 *

[gahazeleyes]

on 4/30/2009 Thank you very much. I will be going to a wedding soon.

[vikki9]

on 7/1/2008 Five 'Cheers'!!