Making a Perfect Wedding Toast
Over a beer last night, your best friend told you his wonderful news; he will be getting married to the girl of his dreams in a few months' time. You never thought you'd live long enough to see that happen, for him to take the plunge and settle down.
The idea of being a best man is very appealing. There's nothing you would rather do for your best bud on his wedding day than dazzle wedding guests with a superb wedding toast and share heartfelt sentiments, but public speaking and you, well those words were never meant to be in the same sentence.
You feel honored to be asked but also so far out of your comfort zone that you can't even picture your old security blankie! But you're a take-charge kind of guy who always steps up to the mark. Where do you start when making a wedding toast?
Learn from these suggestions on how to make an excellent wedding toast.
* The key to success is starting early and being totally prepared. Do your research by talking with others who have given wedding toasts and check out web sources and library books too. Don't go with "off-the-cuff" remarks. They simply won't cut it when the time comes, trust me!
* Face the fear and use it. It's only energy after all! When making a wedding toast, it can be very valuable to have extra energy at hand that you can use to captivate your audience and make your wedding toast memorable. A speech without the energy of performance anxiety is lacklustre and totally lacking in passion.
* Allow for several drafts. We're not talking beer here, but rewrites of your speech. Don't expect to nail it right off the bat. Write the wedding speech, let it sit for a few days and look at it again with fresh eyes. Then make some changes. Repeat this process until you feel comfortable with the results.
* A bit of laughter, some smiles, these are what you are aiming for when you use humor in a wedding speech. Never tell intimate stories, use crude language or off-color jokes. Never!
* Take a stroll down memory lane. Recount how you met the groom, about a shared experience or two. Say what a super guy he is. In your wedding toast, compliment his choice of bride and comment about the wonderful future you believe they will have together. Today's the day you can wear your heart on your sleeve.
* Short and sweet. Don't be tempted to go longer than five minutes max for your wedding toast.
* Mirror, mirror, who is the best prepared of all? Run through your wedding speech, gestures and all in front of a full-length mirror. Use a stopwatch.
* Take five. Try to grab a few moments in the exact place where you will be giving your wedding speech to get a feel for the mike and the room from that vantage point.
* Lift a full glass for the toast. Raise your arm from the shoulder and lock eyes with the bride and groom when you toast them at the end of your wedding speech.
* Move to the bride and groom and hug them when your wedding toast is complete. Then it's back to your seat amidst well-earned applause.
About the Author:
Start your writing now, with some tips here. For help to start writing your wedding toast, click www.weddingtoasttips.com.
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