Making a Perfect Wedding Toast
Sooner or later it had to happen, right? Your best bud would get married leaving you cruising in the single lane on your own. You played that scenario in your mind a few times before.
What did catch you by surprise when he told you about his wedding plans was that he wants you to make a wedding toast at the reception, one of your duties as his best man.
You feel honored to be asked but also so far out of your comfort zone that you can’t even picture your old security blankie! But you’re a take-charge kind of guy who always steps up to the mark. Where do you start when making a wedding toast?
Here are some pointers on making a superb wedding toast.
– It’s important to get started early when planning, writing, practicing delivery and everything else involved in making a wedding speech. Don’t be tempted to “play it by ear”. Trust me, the results wouldn’t be pretty. Hit the books for research and the web for tips too.
– Learn to like butterflies. Make them fly in formation by embracing and harnessing the energy that fear produces. That extra burst of energy will enhance your wedding toast.
– Write, edit, relax and don’t look at the wedding toast for a few days. Then repeat the process as often as necessary until you just know you have done the best job you can. Look at this as a journey and try to enjoy the whole thing, otherwise it will just seem like a chore that you want to get out of the way.
– A bit of laughter, some smiles, these are what you are aiming for when you use humor in a wedding speech. Never tell intimate stories, use crude language or off-color jokes. Never!
– Take a stroll down memory lane. Recount how you met the groom, about a shared experience or two. Say what a super guy he is. In your wedding toast, compliment his choice of bride and comment about the wonderful future you believe they will have together. Today’s the day you can wear your heart on your sleeve.
– Shorter is better. Try for three to five minutes for your wedding speech.
– Face time! Practice delivering your wedding toast in front of a full-length mirror, complete with props and features. Time it too.
– Testing, one, two. If at all possible, find a few minutes before the reception starts to stand at the mike where you will be giving your wedding speech. Get a feel for the room from this point of view. Practice delivering to the audience, using eye contact with a few friendly faces or if looking directly at people makes you nervous, aim slightly over their heads.
– Lift a full glass for the toast. Raise your arm from the shoulder and lock eyes with the bride and groom when you toast them at the end of your wedding speech.
– Move to the bride and groom and hug them when your wedding toast is complete. Then it’s back to your seat amidst well-earned applause.
Filed under: Public Speaking