How to Prepare for a Wedding Toast

By: Alexine

While the wedding toast is usually given by a close friend or family member at the wedding, it is still a very important part of the whole experience. Given the fact that most people do not give speeches on a daily basis, it can be quite nerve wracking standing in front of a bunch of people with their attention on you. To help with the whole experience, I’ve come up with some tips on how to prepare for a wedding toast. Hopefully it will put the nervousness at ease!

Brainstorm Memorable Moments
To begin the preparation process you will first want to brainstorm a list of memorable moments with the bride and groom. This can be anything from the night you first met them to a funny memory at the beach.

Then you can go through yoru list and pick your favorite moment that means the most to you. No matter which story you choose, think about how it has made you support their marriage and give thanks for being part of their lives.

Short and Sweet
When it comes to the length of the wedding toast, try to keep it short and sweet. This doesn’t mean you have to cut back on the nice things you would like to say. It just means that you should make sure you’re not saying the same thing over and over.

It is important to make sure the length is reasonable and the guests’ interests are up. This will keep your nerves from getting the best of you and avoid a rambling moment. Trust me rambling is not very fun, especially in front of a crowd of people.

Write it Down
To ensure that you are including all you would like to say, make sure and write down a rough draft of wedding toast. This will also avoid the repetition problem and keep your focus on the highlights of the toast.

Making a flash card to carry in your pocket and pull out is just fine if you want to be sure and cover certain thoughts. In the moment we all have the possibility of getting a blank mind so it’s nice to have a little reminder.

Practice the Part
The best way to make sure your wedding toast will go smoothly is to practice. Stand up at your kitchen table and pretend to be giving the toast by raising your drink and talking in a loud voice. Of course you might not want to do it in front of others so you can find another place if necessary.

The whole idea of practicing is that you’re going through the motions so the toast is more from memory than from the note card. Then when you get up to give the wedding toast, it will flow nicely and make you feel good about the job you did.

Relax
With all the time and effort put into the wedding toast it will surely pay off. It’s amazing how seeing the good in others will help you see the good in yourself. This is especially true when you’re putting the positive feelings about the bride and groom together and trying to express them in words. Not everyone is the best at putting their feelings into words, but trying to do so helps you grown. Don’t let this be the factor why you choose not to say the wedding toast. Try your best and make it happen. The bride and groom will be so thankful you did.