HOW TO GIVE A TOP NOTCH WEDDING TOAST
Alissa Walseman – April 26th, 2021
We have all been there, embarrassingly glancing around the room, or sheepishly at the floor as some poor soul delivers a train wreck of a speech on the wedding day. If you have just been asked to be a Maid of Honor or Best Man one of the duties of this role is to give a wedding toast during the reception. Here are a few basic tips to deliver a great, not cringe-worthy, wedding toast.
Prepare in advance
This toast is a big deal, which is why your friend has trusted you with it in the first place. Honor that by investing some time and work. Do not wait until the night before to start creating your killer speech.
Don’t drink too much before you get the mic
Hopefully, this is pretty self-explanatory. Please wait until after the speech to get your drink on.
Remember the purpose
This is not the time to tell awkward stories about the bride or groom. It’s a toast, NOT a roast. Your purpose is to congratulate, celebrate, and extend well wishes. Please preserve the wild stories of that one night for another time.
Speak to both the bride and groom
Whether your best friends with the bride or the groom, make sure you give attention to both. The whole wedding day is about the two of them coming together and becoming. Make sure to address both of them in your speech. They’re in it together from here on out.
Forget about yourself
This moment is not about you, or about a performance. Once you let that sink in, you can free yourself from the burden of being perfect and just communicate from the heart. What an incredible moment for the couple and for your friendship, take it in and be in the moment. Look at your friends as you address them. Don’t read from your phone, you can do better than that.