How To Write A Killer Toast
Writing a wedding speech can be an intimidating responsibility, especially if you aren’t keen on public speaking. But, it’s an amazing opportunity to let your best friend/daughter/son/family member know just how much they mean to you and how much you appreciate them being in your life. Below, we’ve listed a rough template to help you work through the speech writing process along with some do’s and dont’s to help kill your wedding toast!
The Method
Introduction: Introduce yourself and explain quickly to the audience how you know the Bride or Groom.
Talk About Your Friend/Family Member: What do you admire about them? This is the time to tell stories.
Talk About Their Partner or Them As A Couple: What have you seen in this other person? From your eyes, what have they done to make your best friend/family member happy? Describe their relationship.
Advice or Quote: Feel free to include some advice or include a quote that you feel accurately describes love or marriage. Although, try to avoid clichés as much as possible. Be unique. Be you!
Conclusion: End with a positive outlook and toast. “Cheers to the new happy couple!”
Do’s and Don’ts
DO: Start roughing out your speech topics at least 1-2 months in advance to give you plenty of time to polish and practice your speech. As the MOH, BM, Parents of the Bride or Groom, you will get very busy in the weeks leading up to the wedding day! The last thing you want is to worry about writing a speech befitting for your friend or family member. We recommend you start the process by writing down any memories, emotions, or ideas that make you think about the Bride or Groom. Half of the guests may not know your friend/family member that well so paint a picture of how special they truly are. If they were a character in a movie, what moments would be featured?
DON’T: Wing it! People like structure and speeches that flow. Most speeches that are done on the fly tend to crash and burn.
DO: Feel free to use short stories to help exemplify your point. (ex. simply saying “Jane is such a caring person!” versus a story about that time she saved a duckling from a storm drain.)
DON’T: Share anything negative or offputting. That includes stories about ex’s, adult humor, anything super embarrassing or intimate, or just plain mean (I’m looking at you “comedian” friends/family members). Also, and it should go without saying, don’t ever say anything negative about marriage or talk about divorce.
DO: Be courteous of guest’s time. Keep the speech to 2-5 minutes long.
DON’T: Hog the mic or get too drunk before your speech.
DO: Be yourself! If you feel you are not a funny person, don’t feel like you have to open with or even include jokes. Sentiment and sweetness just as easily can win over a crowd.
DON’T: Make it about you. Avoid a lot of “I” or “me” statements…and along that line, avoid inside jokes as well.
Lastly, enjoy yourself! However daunting it may be for you, it should be an honor to address a crowd and gush about just how fabulous your friend or family member is.
