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The 10 Commandments of Toasting |
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| from
www.instantweddingtoasts.com |
The only one
required to propose a Wedding Toast is the Best
Man, but watch out for some competition...many
weddings are now including a toast from the Maid
of Honor as well!
1. Plan to speak from 1 to 4 minutes. No one
wants to be bored with an extraordinarily long
toast covering the entirety of your friendship.
With wedding toasts, even a short toast will do
if delivered with feeling and sincerity.
2. Make sure all other glasses are full before
beginning. You may want to announce to the
guests, or have the MC announce to the guests,
to fill their glasses because toasting will
commence shortly. Then give guests 3 - 5 minutes
to fill their glasses.
3. Stand to give a toast (sit to receive one)
and hold your glass with your right hand as you
toast. After the toast, it is tradition to then
clink the glasses together before sipping.
4. Start with something personal. How the bride
and groom met is always a favorite. You can also
use humor or quotes to get started.
5. Always use humor in good taste. While poking
fun at the bride and groom can add the touch of
humor you're looking for, poking too much fun
will only gain you a disapproving audience.
6. Speak in your normal voice, and avoid
unnatural hand gestures or fake accents. Wedding
audiences want to hear what you have to say, not
watch a drama unfold. Just remember you were
chosen to be you, not someone else.
7. Practice your toast. Unless you are an
accomplished public speaker, just 'winging it'
for the wedding toast is always a bad idea.
8. Look around the room at the audience and to
the bride and groom as you toast. Eye contact is
an important characteristic of a good speaker.
9. Speak clearly and don't rush. Take your time
and take a deep breath, because if you speak too
fast, no one is going to understand you.
10. And finally, finish your toast with a wish,
blessing, congratulations, or cheers.
5 of the Biggest Mistakes to Avoid
1. Having more than one drink to calm nerves
beforehand. It may seem like a good idea, but
besides calming your nerves, too much alcohol
will also keep you from speaking clearly and
hinder your good judgment of appropriate speech
material.
2. Swearing and/or lying.
3. Apologizing for being a bad speaker - Never
apologize for being a bad speaker, and don't say
you really didn't want to speak. It's a rule for
all speeches and all occasions, not just
weddings.
4. Mentioning previous girlfriends, past
marriages, or past relationships. Not only could
it be potentially embarrassing, but it's
inappropriate at a wedding. Leave this for the
stag party.
5. Stories about the Bride and Groom that aren't
rated PG. Remember, Grandma, Grandpa and
possibly even children will be present at the
wedding. Make sure your stories are appropriate
for the audience.
So here's to your next toast, my friend, may it
be a sweet success!
Copyright © 2003. All rights reserved. |
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Copyright © 2008 South Carolina Bride Online Wedding
Guide
| All Rights Reserved. |
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