Keys to Giving the Perfect Wedding Toast

If you've been appointed the duty of giving a wedding toast then there's no need to panic. There are several different styles of wedding toasts, and I truly believe that the toast is one of the highlight moments of a wedding reception. It is the point where there is a formal tribute to the bride and groom, and often times it brings humor to the reception. If you're wondering how to give an effective wedding toast then here are a few tips:

Prepare your speech.
First of all, you've known for weeks now that you were going to give a wedding speech. If you think about it, you've been appointed to speak on behalf of the entire room, so therefore your toast must be polished and well planned. Have enough material to get you through one to five minutes. This time is perfect because you're not lulling people to sleep with a long speech, nor are you cutting it short.

Relax.
There is absolutely no reason to be nervous. More than likely you'll know 75% of the people at the reception, and you should be comfortable giving a toast in front of family and friends. It's best to think of this toast as a speech to the bride and groom directly. Don't pay attention to everyone else in the room. Although many will encourage you to have a few drinks before your toast, I recommend that you hold off until the toast is over. Having drinks can affect your judgment on appropriate material.

Be yourself.
When it is your turn to speak, stand up and hold your glass up as you give your toast. This is tradition and it makes for great photography. Speak in your normal speaking voice. If you're trying too hard to be funny or serious then it seems to convey to the audience that way. Avoid lots of hand gestures and accents. The audience wants to hear a funny, but sincere version of what you have to say, not an act.

If you're nervous and there's no getting around it, just speak slowly and don't rush it. If you're rushing the speech just trying to make it through then it will come out just that way. Take your time, take a deep breath, and deliver the words. Also, if you stumble on your words or story then do not apologize for being a bad speaker. Everyone can identify with your position. Speaking in public, to the majority of people, is not an easy thing and they sympathize with your position. It takes guts to get up there and say words that are heartfelt and sincere, so for that you should not be sorry.

Be careful with what you say.
Start your speech by offering something personal. You can discuss childhood memories with either the bride or groom, things you learned from them, or the best thing to do is talk about when they first met. Always, and I mean always, use a bit of humor in your toast. Up until this moment the audience has been full of joyous tears, so by offering a bit of humor in good taste will break the monotony of the reception up and give people something to chuckle at. Jokes regarding the habits of the bride and groom are always fun, but they should never be crude or rude. That leads me to my next point.

Refrain from swearing or using inappropriate language. What's appropriate to you and your friends is not always accepted by the general public. Even if the families attending the reception are laid back, it's still not proper etiquette to use language that could offend someone.

Also, don't mention any stories regarding previous boyfriends or girlfriends, especially if it is explicit in nature. It's especially inappropriate at a wedding, and it could bother some of the family in the audience. Keep the jokes at a PG-13 rating.

Finish your toast.
To finish your toast, I would conclude your speech with a blessing or cheers for the bride and groom's future together. Give the signal for everyone in the room to raise their glass, and it's tradition to clank your glass with someone that is near. It's appropriate to toast the bride and groom's glasses.