Wedding Toasts

By: Charles Baker Click author's name for more of his/her articles

The anticipation of a wedding is a wonderful, exciting time for nearly everyone involved in the big day. But nothing makes some people more nervous than the thought of having to get up before a crowd of people and make a toast to the bride and groom. These days, toasts aren’t only limited to the Best Man. Often, the Maid of Honor is called upon to deliver a word about the bride, and the host of the reception – generally the father of the bride – may be asked to say a few words as well.

If you have a fear of public speaking, your first thoughts probably include devising a way to be excused from this responsibility. However, that would probably disappoint the bride and the groom. Instead, a little preparation can make your wedding toast worry-free and a speech that the bride and groom will long remember.

If you are a Best Man or Maid of Honor, your toast will probably include a few words about the groom and/or bride. Remember, however, that toasts should not be too extensive. Include just a humorous thought or two, add blessings and good wishes, and then raise your glass to the new Mr. and Mrs. Don’t let the wedding guests stand there for 10 minutes with their champagne raised, rolling their eyes, and waiting for the speech to end. In addition, you may be tempted to ramble on about your relationship with the couple, but it is essential to keep the spotlight on the bride and groom and not on you. After all, it is THEIR special day!

Usually, a good rule is “shorter is better.” But do remember to prepare. Winging it never works and could result in some hard feelings between the toast-giver and the couple. If you’re very uncomfortable with public speaking, write out your wedding toast in its entirety and read it. Another option is to just jot down some notes and use these as cues. Choose whatever way is best for you and remember to keep the remarks appropriate for all audiences.

If you are a parent of the bride or groom, your toast may be a little different. If you’re the host of the party, remember to welcome all your guests and thank them for coming. As the toast proceeds, mention a few funny or endearing things about the bride and groom, express your love for them, and wish them a happy future. End with a hearty “here, here” and raise your glass in a toast to these two people that mean so much to you.

Experts say that the ideal wedding toast makes the guests laugh and cry. Often, the toaster himself will get a little choked up as well. If you’re quick to cry, try to keep the speech light-hearted and save the very personal thoughts for a time that you can share them privately with the bride and groom. While a few tears are expected, a sobbing toast-maker often leads to some awkward moments.

So when it’s your turn to speak, simply take a few deep breaths, gather your thoughts (and your notes), and remember that this special day is all about the bride and groom. Give them a speech that they’ll long remember.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author:

Charles Baker provides best tips on his site about how to choose personalized gifts such as personalized southampton bag, personalized groomsmen gifts and personalized sanibal Island Tote bag.