Do’s and Don’ts wedding toast and cheers.
DO: Keep the focus on the newlyweds. This is not about you.
DON’T: Mention any old flames or problems the couple may have overcome in the past.
Look ahead to a happy, loving new life. Explain your connection to the couple. Maid of honor? Did you set them up on their first date? Were you there when the bride said she found the man she was going to marry?
Make your cheers about the bride and groom, after all its their day.
DO: Be sincere, be prepared. It’s advisable to practice ahead of time, and feel free to refer to note cards.
DON’T: Talk off the cuff or wing it. Unless you have a great deal of impromptu speaking experience, you’ll make a much better impression if you plan your thoughts.
ARTICLE SUGGESTION: Best Brother Wedding Speech Kills Crowd (hilarious ending!)
Incorporate some romantic thoughts into your toast. “May you always have a roof to keep out the rain and walls to keep you from the wind”. “May you always have laughter to cheer you, tea to comfort you by the fire and everything that your heart could want”. Congratulations, (Bride) and (Groom)!”
Your amazing toast is a gift to the person you love. It’s a gift to the audience desperate for some entertainment and, sure, it’s pretty fun to be a rock star for the evening.
DO: Call everyone to attention with a mic, or, failing that, gently tapping on your glass.
DON’T: Assume guests will automatically cease chatting when you rise.
They’ll need a nudge to interrupt side conversations. Consider taking center stage by standing on a chair, or popping a balloon rigged to shower the happy couple with confetti!
DO: Keep it short and sweet! The best toasts last no more than a few minutes.
DON’T: Launch into long, involved stories of the couple’s childhood days. Crickets!
Parents – Share an anecdote about the first time you met the intended. Wrap up with “It is written that when children find true love, parents find true joy. Here’s to your joy and ours from this day forward.”
Word of advice is to keep even the most important wedding toast to about three minutes and certainly under five!
DO: Inject some humor – just keep it light and clean. This is a new beginning, not a roast.
DON’T: Use foul language or off-color jokes. Embarrassing for the happy couple and shocking to Grandma!
Wrap up your toast with a salute to Dr. Suess. “We are all a little weird, and life’s a little weird, and when we find someone who’s weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them in and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.”
Images by:
Yumi-Matsuo-photograph
Kallidoscopephotography
Paul-Douda-Photography
