Sooner or later it had to happen, right? Your best bud would get married leaving you cruising in the single lane on your own. You played that scenario in your mind a few times before.
At the same time he asked you to be his best man, which includes making a wedding toast at the reception for about 375 people. Public speaking is your worst nightmare, but you can’t let your buddy down so you said you’d do the job.
You feel honored to be asked but also so far out of your comfort zone that you can’t even picture your old security blankie! But you’re a take-charge kind of guy who always steps up to the mark. Where do you start when making a wedding toast?
Learn from these suggestions on how to make an excellent wedding toast.
* It’s important to get started early when planning, writing, practicing delivery and everything else involved in making a wedding speech. Don’t be tempted to “play it by ear”. Trust me, the results wouldn’t be pretty. Hit the books for research and the web for tips too.
* Harness those jitters. The noise of knocking knees is only slightly different from the sound of applause, after all. Work with your fear to help it make your wedding speech the best ever.
* Write, edit, relax and don’t look at the wedding toast for a few days. Then repeat the process as often as necessary until you just know you have done the best job you can. Look at this as a journey and try to enjoy the whole thing, otherwise it will just seem like a chore that you want to get out of the way.
* A touch of humor is great in a wedding toast but it only works if it is gentle humor. There is no room in a wedding speech for sarcasm, spicy tidbits, gross jokes, too-personal stories, in-jokes or bad language.
* Share how you met the groom, how long you have known each other and one or two of your exploits. Talk about when he introduced you to his bride, how beautiful and talented and perfect for him she is and how you believe their marriage is bound to be wonderful. Make your wedding toast remarks tasteful and sincere.
* Be brief. Three to five minutes is long enough for a wedding toast.
* Practice makes perfect. Practice your wedding toast in front of a full-length mirror and time it, allowing moments for audience response.
* Testing, one, two. If at all possible, find a few minutes before the reception starts to stand at the mike where you will be giving your wedding speech. Get a feel for the room from this point of view. Practice delivering to the audience, using eye contact with a few friendly faces or if looking directly at people makes you nervous, aim slightly over their heads.
* Raise a glass. This is the actual toast of the wedding toast. Make eye contact with the bride and groom when you toast them. Lift your arm from the shoulder, toast with a full glass. This takes place at the very end of your wedding speech.
* Walk to the bride and groom. Embrace the groom and the bride and go back to your seat. You’re finished with the wedding toast. Wasn’t that a great experience?
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