|
|
Toasts At the reception toasts should be short and formal. Traditionally, they are given just after the dinner plates are cleared, first by the best man to the couple, then by the couple to their parents and to one another, and finally by the bride’s father to the guests. These rules aren’t appropriate for every wedding, however, and can be altered to suit a couple’s wishes. A mother or bridesmaid may say the first toast, or the couple may begin by welcoming everyone to their wedding.
The
rehearsal dinner is a more intimate and casual atmosphere and toasts often
become a free-for-all that extends well into the evening. But they are
usually kicked off by a toast from the official host of the night.
Two to three months before the wedding, the couple should make three
things clear to everyone involved: who will make the first toast, when it
will take place, and how it will be signaled or announced. If the rest of
the toasts are to follow a set order, that too should be specified. Knowing
what’s expected makes the toasters’ roles much easier. Preparing a toast
Are you
frightened by the prospect of speaking in front of a group? These feelings
are common, most people are not naturally confident. You just have to learn
how to keep your fears from getting the best of you. The first step is to plan what you are going to say. Spend some time collecting your thoughts, recalling moments with the bride or groom, and thinking about what you want to say to the couple. Here are some questions to help you get started: What do you want their friends and family to know about them, individually and as a couple? What feelings do you want to share with the bride and groom at this special moment? Don’t try to make a toast that doesn’t suit your character. If you’re naturally shy or serious, leave it to others to be brilliant and hilarious; instead, aim for something simple and honest.
The next step is to rehearse your toast. Practice it in front of a
mirror, or with a friend. But don’t practice it in your head, It’s
important to make sure that you can say the words out loud. Rehearse a few
times, but don’t memorize it word for word. Otherwise you’ll spend your
moment in the spotlight rifling through your memory banks rather than
connecting with the audience. Plus, if your memory skips a beat, you’ll
stumble, possibly forgetting some key part, and not be able to pick it back
up.
The best man and fathers of
the bride and groom often have several important points to make and may want
to outline them on a note card. But the rest of the guests should keep their
toasts to less than three minutes, which is just enough time to recount one
story or convey one key idea. Presenting a Toast
There are ways to cope with
sweaty palms and a thumping heart. First of all, know what your own bodily
reaction is and expect it. Avoid advertising your anxiety by apologizing as
you begin to speak. Chances are, no one will notice how nervous you are
unless you point it out, and since stage fright usually passes after the
first few words, you’re better off forging bravely ahead. Take a moment,
breath in, count to three, look at the bride and groom (or whomever you are
toasting), and start speaking directly to them. Addressing a friendly face
will add warmth and life to your presentation and will remind you to keep
your chin up and your voice slow and clear.
A toast should end with a
drink by everyone except the people to whom it’s presented. It doesn’t
have to be alcoholic. Guests should never refuse to join in; it’s impolite
and considered bad luck for the couple. It may make you feel better to know
that no one will remember all the details of your toast anyway. The bride
and groom are lost in a happy blur, and the other guests are busy having a
good time or thinking about what they want to say.. After the celebration
ends, the main thing everyone will recollect is the effort you made to share
a few carefully chosen words in honor of the wedding day.
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
|
||
|
|
||
