Tips for a Memorable Wedding Toast!

April 2, 2010 - PRLog -- The Toast!

Weddings are so much fun. The week before everybody is arriving, old friends seeing each other for the first time in too long, Aunt Betty still amazed that you're getting married, and keeping your brother under control once the wine bottles are cracked open. The bustle and festivities consume you and you just fall in love all over again for the world to see. It's great!

This was the scene at my best friend's wedding two years ago. She was just so happy to have everybody together! The bachelorette party was the most fun any of us had enjoyed since college; and it was great to meet her entire family and all the mania that existed in that! Her and her fiancé were so happy and laid back that it spread to the rest of us. Then she turns to me in the middle of all and says, "Do you have your toast ready?"

Dun dun dun.

I can still hear those notes beating in my heart as the panic immediately took over! "Oh yeah, I have some ideas…." -Not! What was I going to do!? I had nothing. All those weddings I had been to and I never realized that the maid of honor gave a speech, I felt so horrible and nervous. Did I mention how nervous I was?

The day progressed and I still had no idea what I would say. And a friend of mine, who saw the panic flush my face, said, "Alicia, chill out, just say what you feel." What choice did I have, nobody else had given me any advice, so I did what she said. It was great; I think her mom cried and her brother laughed.

So, I'm here to give you that same advice, calm down and just say how you feel. Here are a few simple tricks:

1.) Be Excited!

Swallow the lump in your throat and be energized by it. Instead of dwelling on how nervous you are, just say, "I'm excited!" and get to work on writing your speech or at least knowing what message you want to get across.  How often do you get a chance to tell a room of people what you think? And they all clap afterward, that's just how it goes.

2.) Just Be Yourself.

Just be yourself. If you're not the class clown, now is not be the time to break out your stand up act.  Just like Serena Williams doesn't put on new shoes the day of the Wimbledon Downs, you do not need to try out a new personality the day of your speech. Just be yourself and people will relate to your sincerity.

3.) Know your audience.

There are more people in the room than your college buddies and some of those people are family and family friends who do not need to know how many times you can swear inside of a sentence. And the bride and groom probably do not want their family hearing that story about that one time when…Keep your toast appropriate for everybody present.

4.) Prepare and Practice.

Hopefully you are realizing before the wedding day that you will be giving a speech. Writing your speech out helps, and practice makes perfect. It doesn't have to be perfect, but if you want to seem polished and prepared; a little preparation and practice go a long way. I often find the visualizing how the speech will go many times beforehand is the best practice. Imagine it going just how you planned and when you give your toast, it will come out more naturally than you expected.

5.) Remember, It's a Gift!

A toast is a gift of your words. Bask in the joy of the new couple's love and take the opportunity to really give that gift. It is an honor to speak at somebody's wedding and I suggest that you take this opportunity to deliver a heartfelt message to your loved ones.

Wedding toasts can be emotional, funny, sentimental and romantic; just keep in mind these simple tips and you will do great. For more wedding advice, visit http://www.weddingplannershouston.com/