Wedding Toast Etiquette
Public speaking is a top fear for a lot of people and can be even more stressful when you’re tasked to give a speech at a wedding. Whether you’re the bride or groom giving a speech to your guests, or the Maid of Honor or Best Man addressing the loved ones of your best friend, a wedding toast is no easy feat. BUT, you don’t have to be an accomplished performer or debate team champion to give a great toast. Take a deep breath, check out the following tips, and I promise you’ll deliver a memorable speech that is perfectly you.
Plan ahead. You don’t have to write out every line and spend months editing, but it’s definitely a good idea to at least write something down. Even if you just do a quick outline of the things you want to say, take the time to collect and organize your thoughts. Practicing is always a good idea too, either just to yourself or with a friend, going over what you want to say will make the main event much easier.
Speak from the heart. Being genuine is the best thing you can do when writing a speech. You can’t go wrong with getting a little vulnerable and taking the opportunity to say something kind about the couple (or your guests if you’re the newlyweds). On the other hand, feel free to include some teasing! If being funny is your go-to, then do that. Balance is key when it comes to a funny speech and as long as you touch on what you love about the couple as well, you can deliver a great comedic speech.
Be brief. It can be tempting to get up to the mic and go on, and on, and on, and on. It can also be a panic reaction to babble, but it’s easy to prevent that by planning out what you want to say and keeping it to a few minutes. There are bound to be multiple speeches throughout the wedding night and yours will be that much more memorable if it’s short and sweet.
Limit the inside jokes and embarrassing stories. No one wants to sit and listen to 5 minutes of inside jokes they don’t understand, but there is a way to strike a balance. You want your speech to be unique to you and the couple, so it’s definitely okay to include some jokes or stories, but as long as you include your audience in what makes the joke special or why it’s important to you, everyone will feel involved.
There you have it! With a little time and a dash of effort you’re ready to deliver the perfect wedding toast. Remember, just be yourself and you can’t go wrong.