Wedding Receptions
What to say in a great wedding toast
When you’re giving a wedding toast, you have a fantastic opportunity to congratulate and honour the newly-wedded couple and show them how much they mean to you. However, a combination of nerves and free-flowing drinks make it relatively easy to go off-piste – here’s what to keep in mind if you want to give a great toast.
1. Start your toasts by thanking the hosts for a beautiful day, and for being included in the happy occasion. Then explain your relationship to the bride or groom, which helps bring the rest of the guests into the picture.
2. A great wedding toast gives a snapshot of the couple from an outsider’s perspective, so use it to demonstrate why you think they’re such a fantastic couple, and how being together changed them both for the better. However, make sure you don’t go overboard and paint their pre-marriage selves as completely dysfunctional train wrecks. Nobody wants to hear that.
3. Tailor your toast to your personality – whether you’re better at light and funny stories, or tender and heart-warming tales, play to your strengths for a genuine and memorable speech.
4. A few big don’ts to keep in mind: don’t mention exes; don’t be vulgar – even if dirty jokes are your forte, your audience on the big day is most likely full of very prim and proper relatives; don’t get too drunk before giving the toast or nobody will be able to understand a word of what you’re saying; keep the inside jokes to a minimum – you’re addressing a wide range of people here.
5. Keep it simple! The ideal toast should be no longer than three minutes, tops. Practice ahead of time to make sure you have it down, but keep it natural and friendly.
Cheers to you!
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Capture Photography Malta