DJ Craig.Net's Toast Tips

1. Plan the end of your toast first and then work backwards. How do you end your toast? By raising your glass. That's it. Often, inexperienced toast givers get so wrapped up in the moment they forget to raise their glasses.

A toast can be as easy as thanking the guests, and asking them to congratulate the Bride and Groom by raising their glasses in unison. It doesn't have to be any more complicated than that. If you want to extrapolate and get into humorous or touching stories about the Groom's past or how great the Bride is, feel free to do so. Just remember where your end point is. If you get hung up or lost, go to the "toast". This will make you look like a pro.

2. Toast givers should also keep in mind the comfort of the guests. Sometimes the ceremony and wedding party pictures take longer than expected. Or for some other reason there may be a large gap of time between ceremony and reception. A long winded toast while hungry guests are waiting to eat is inconsiderate. Unless you are the Best Man or father of one of the Newlyweds, keep it short or consider giving your toast later, after guests have gotten their meals.

3. Prepare notes if you like. Speaking in front of a large group of strangers can be intimidating. There's nothing wrong with preparing an outline and having it in front of you when you wax poetic about the Bride and Groom. Sample toasts can be found at web sites like: http://www.hitched.co.uk/speeches/examples/index.asp

If you would like to spice up your toast by adding a famous quote to it, go to one of the many web sites that offer these bits of wisdom. Here are two: http://www.quotationspage.com/subjects/ and http://www.brainyquote.com/ Search under "love", "marriage" or other subject titles. Here's an example:

"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person."
~ Germaine Greer