The Wedding Toast

The wedding toast is one of the most memorable parts of the wedding reception. Wedding toasts are given to wish the newly married couple good luck and to acknowledge those who helped make the day possible. The best man, maid of honor, bride, groom and other any guest may give a wedding toast, and there are several things to keep in mind before presenting a wedding toast to an audience.

Plan and Prepare

1. Begin preparing the toast at least a couple of weeks before the wedding. Think about what you will say and write it down. Gather information or anecdotes about the couple. Come up with an opening line that will quickly grab the audience's attention and use humor. A best man or maid of honor should make sure to keep the theme of the speech centered on the bride and groom. Time your speech to ensure that it does not run over five minutes. When you're comfortable with the speech, present it to someone you trust for honest feedback.
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Give Thanks

3. The wedding couple should thank their guests for being part of their special day at the reception. It is also important to recognize those who helped with the planning and financing of the wedding. Bridal party members and guests giving wedding toasts should remember to thank the bride and groom for inviting them to share in their celebration.
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Presentation

5. Stand tall and don't slouch when giving a wedding toast. Enunciate your words and speak clearly and loudly. Make eye contact with the audience. Do not read your toast from a sheet of paper. Memorize the wedding toast and use index cards with keywords for prompts if necessary.
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Cautions

7. Avoid alcohol prior to giving a wedding toast. Drinking can slur speech, and lead to incoherent ramblings, and may cause you to say things that you may later regret. Watch your language. Don't use curse words in your wedding toast; these words may offend some at the reception. Be tactful, use discretion and don't make the bride or groom angry. Don't bring up details of the bachelor or bachelorette party or about the couple's prior relationships. Remember that a professional or guest may videotape the wedding toast and that it may be viewed many times, so do not give a toast that would be embarrassing