Wedding Tips
Tips for Giving the Perfect Wedding Toast
Oct
The maid of honour, best man, the parents of the newlyweds and even the bride and the groom themselves – these are those tasked with the once-in-a-lifetime chance of saying a toast or giving a speech at a wedding. As public speaking and being the centre of attention isn’t really everyone’s cup of tea, we aim to help the bridal party and the newlyweds in making their perfect wedding toast smooth, enjoyable and memorable (in a good way!) with these short guide and handy tips.
The Formula for Writing a Perfect Wedding Toast
Introduce yourself and how you are related to the couple.
Start any toast by introducing yourself and describe your relationship with the bride and groom. It’s the best way to break the ice and it also gives the audience a better perspective on how you personally know the couple.
Share an amusing story or anecdote.
It could be a short story of how you met the groom or about the first day you met the bride back in your uni days. If you were the one who introduced the couple to each other, then this would be the perfect time to break that amazing story in.
Keep things interesting with a little comic relief.
Take note, it is light ribbing and not roasting so be ready with good-natured jokes and engaging little remarks that will get the crowd, and the couple, giggling.
Emphasize a relevant life-changing turning point.
It could be when the bride introduced the groom to you or when the groom proposed to the bride. Give importance to how the couple’s lives have been enriched by the other or shed some light into how perfect they are for each other or as a team.
Always end the show with a bang.
To top off a great speech, give a heartfelt toast and invite everyone to join in raising a glass to the newlyweds. Cheers!
Got your perfect speech written? Here are a couple of pointers you should know to seamlessly deliver that well-written speech in front of the wedding crowd, read on!
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Short but sweet.
Five minutes or less is the sweet spot when it comes to wedding speeches, especially if you are not the one paying for the reception. Remember, there are others who would be giving speeches as well so keep it short. -
BYOB or Bring Your Own Booze.
Don’t forget to carry your glass with you once you go to the podium or if you have to stand up in front. You need something to raise once you ask everyone to toast so better to bring your glass right when they hand you the mic. -
Engage with the audience.
Some tend to bring their phones and read off their notes during the speech and that is perfectly fine. However, don’t forget to also glance at the crowd and be engaging, it is a toast to the newlyweds and not a class report. -
Say your thanks and pay your respects.
Thank the parents of the couple if they are the ones who are hosting the wedding and also thank the couple for including you in their special day. It is polite for a groomsman or best man to acknowledge the bridesmaids in his speech, and vice versa. -
Steer clear of bad jokes.
No ex-girlfriend or ex-boyfriend stories, no bridezilla references, no risque references, and no inside jokes. Awkward conversations aren’t meant to be documented along with the wedding vows and elderly guests would not approve of distasteful stories and jokes about their beloved family member. Keep it clean and keep it kid-friendly. -
Drink, but not too much.
A glass of wine or a shot of whiskey can help calm the nerves before you speak in front of a crowd. However, don’t become that drunk uncle who goes on rambling on and on about marriage and family right when everyone is wanting to just get the dancing started. Keep sober and drink moderately so you can still enjoy the rest of the party after the toast.
