So you’re a groom on your wedding day. The reception plans have been made months ago, the ceremony ended an hour ago, and the stress you have had built up around this day since your engagement can finally be put aside and replaced with relaxation and good tidings with family and friends, right?
Sure…unless you forgot to prepare a toast for the reception.
Often an overlooked part of the wedding festivities, the toast can create feelings of laughter and warm nostalgia or create an awkwardness that your guests won’t soon forget.
Well, don’t fret, because here are a few tips to make things go much smoother.
- If you are not known to 50 percent of the assembled group, plan to briefly identify yourself and your relationship to the couple before you launch into the toast.
- Like a speech, a wedding toast has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Don’t plan to offer an impromptu wedding toast unless you’re very good at thinking on your feet. Instead, well before the wedding ceremony, write down your thoughts about the couple. What have people who love them said about their match? What occurs to you about their union? Do they have shared
- Identify and articulate positive qualities about the bride, the groom, and the two as a couple as you start to write the wedding toast. If you want to briefly walk down memory lane in your wedding toast, it’s ideal to choose a memory that involves both the bride and the groom. Was there anything unique in the way they met? Or their engagement? These can make interesting anecdotes.
- Essentially, the wedding toast you give should be warm, personal, and brief. If you are a stand-up comedian, insert jokes. If you are not, play it straight. While you may have the urge to entertain, keep in mind that to the bride and groom your words will be remembered forever.
- Stumped for what to say? The Internet is filled with great quotes that you can use to start off your speech or get inspiration from.
- Do not give a wedding toast if you’re drunk. Period. If the wedding toast is being recorded by a photographer or videographer, visit the restroom before you give the toast to straighten your hair and clothing.
- Other don’ts: Don’t mention previous girlfriends, boyfriends, or spouses in a wedding toast. Don’t talk about the cost of the wedding or wedding gifts. Don’t talk about future plans the couple may have confided to you. This includes pregnancy and children. And don’t make jokes about the honeymoon.
- Do end the wedding toast on a high and hopeful note. Express all the good wishes in the room for the new couple’s happy, healthy, prosperous future.
- Finally, ask the assembled group to join you in the wedding toast, lift your Champagne glass, and say, “To (name of bride) and (name of groom)….”
- Let everyone know the wedding toast is complete by adding your favorite clean down-the-hatch phrase, such as Cheers!
Tips:
- Keep the wedding toast short, under five minutes.
- Focus on the couple, and face them when you toast. Avoid talking about your own marriage or relationship.
- Keep in mind that parents and older people will be present, so don’t work blue.
- Allow yourself time beforehand to rehearse the wedding toast. If you tend to get nervous in front of groups, it’s okay to read it from a card.
- Let your warmest feelings for the couple shine through.
