Page 102 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2018

ROMANCE & WEDDING shorter is better
Tips
for Wedding Toasts
story by Lynn Lofton
T he ceremony is over, the reception is underway and it’s time to toast the newly weds. People who are not public speakers — and have no desire to be — must stand up and say a few words. Maybe the emphasis should be on ‘few’ since wedding consultants stress to keep toasts brief (three to five minutes). They also offer a few other tips to help make the toasts memorable for the right reasons.
Wendy Paris, strategic communications consultant and author of Words for the Wedding: Creative Ideas for Choosing and Using Hundreds of Quotations to Personalize Your Vows, Toasts, Invitations and More, says, “Really popular wedding toasts tend to be either funny or heartfelt, and I think it’s good to figure out how you feel in the situation or which is your strength.” So don’t feel like you have to take the same tone as other toasts you’ve heard — follow your instincts and your personality and compose a speech that’s right for you.
Other tips include:
REMEMBER IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU.
It’s fine to tell stories about experiences you’ve shared with the bride or groom, but remember, this isn’t a time to show off or prove what a great friend you are. It’s a time to honor the people getting married.
DON’T TALK ABOUT EXES.
Even if you think it’s funny, even if the bride and her ex are totally cool now, even if you joke about him all the time. The groom’s parents are there, their in-laws are there. People want to be funny, which is great, but they’re not always careful enough.
DON’T GO NEGATIVE.
Maybe you and your friend have
a teasing relationship in private,
and that can be totally fine. But his wedding probably isn’t the time to make fun of his indecisiveness or the fact that he still hasn’t found a job.
DO A TRIAL RUN BEFOREHAND. Test your toast out on a few people for content and read it to someone who has great grammar to check for errors.
WHEN IN DOUBT, ASK SOME FRIENDS.
Paris says, “If you’re stuck, talk to the person’s friends or family with
a question such as ‘when you think about Sarah, what do you think about? What do you think are her best characteristics?’” Sometimes just hearing someone else talk can help you put your feelings about your friend into words.
HIT THE BASICS, THEN SIT DOWN.
“Nervous toast-makers will be happy to know that the average toast is no more than two minutes long,” Paris adds. “Shorter is better.”
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