Great Wedding Toasts
The ceremony is over, the vows have been repeated, and it is now time for the celebrations to begin. One important aspect of the wedding reception is the giving of well wishes through toasting the members of the bridal party as well as the parents of the couple. If a toastmaster is present, the order of presentation and speaking is clearly outlined, eliminating any possible confusion. If there is no toastmaster, the best man is often expected to move things along in a timely but unrushed manner. Traditionally, the order of toasting depends on the closeness of the relationship to the wedding couple, with the father or a trusted family friend starting by congratulating the bride and groom. Then the groom toasts the bridesmaids, and the best man addresses the parents. After that, the bride, family friends and relatives, the maid of honor, and the mothers are invited to join in the fun.
If you will be required to make a toast, don't panic, but do prepare. Write out what you want to say, keeping in mind that it should be short (about 2 minutes), sweet, and personal. Throwing in an appropriate quote is easy as there are online sites that give you excellent choices regardless of who will be the object of your address. Humor is great as long as it is in good taste. This is not the time to embarrass anyone or bring up unfinished business or past misunderstandings. Putting your notes on index cards is a really smart idea, just in case your nerves get the best of you and your mind goes blank. Don't write every word of your speech down or you will be tempted to read it, and that's not good. Then practice delivering your toast in front of a mirror with a timer and an audience. Direct your eye contact and speak slowly, inserting meaningful pauses where appropriate.
When it is time to deliver your toast, stand, look around to see if everyone has wine or something similar-looking to toast with, and announce who you are and your intention. Never toast with water as this would be highly offensive in some cultures. Raise your glass rather than tapping it with a utensil and wait for everyone's attention. End on a positive note. Tip your glass to the one you have toasted or clink glasses very gently if you are close enough. Then sit down, relax, and enjoy the rest of the event.
If your looking for some ideas or starting points for your toast, the ULC Catalog carries The Knot Guide to Wedding Vows and Traditions by Carley Roney which contains a great section about wedding toasts.
