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Ladies and Gentlemen, I Would Like to Propose a Toast!
This page gives resources for preparing and delivering a successful wedding toast.
Wedding Toasts
 So, you never took a public speaking course. In fact, you've never given a speech about anything before and now you have been asked to give a wedding toast, or speak at a wedding. And you're nervous, worried, and wondering what you will talk about. Now's the perfect time to join a Toastmasters Club and learn the skills to give a memorable speech or toast.
Your best options are to find a Toastmasters Club that's running a Speechcraft Course, or visit and join your nearest Toastmasters Club in plenty of time to learn the skills you need. It's a move you'll never regret!
Read about the experiences of a "Master of the Toast" further down on this page, and how Toastmasters training helped ensure a successful day.
Set the tone
Giving a wedding toast is a special moment during the wedding reception. Wedding toasts are meant to set the tone for the rest of the reception, allow the guests to learn more about the bride or groom, and to celebrate the couple's new life together. A toast is also used to wish the couple well and to remind them to remember this wonderful day always and why they decided to marry.
A toast is only part of the reception celebration, but it can be a very special time. In fact a well-prepared toast can be a memorable gift to both the bride and the groom. The best man, a friend or relative usually toasts the bride, or both bride and groom.
Secrets to a Great Toast
1. Know what you are going to say and practice ahead of time. Know how much time has been allowed for your toast.
2. Make sure everyone has a filled glass. Traditional toasting drinks are champagne, wine, mixed drinks or even non-alcoholic punch.
3. Stand and face who you are toasting.
4. Raise your glass up with your right hand.
5. Use a microphone if necessary. There is nothing worse than loosing the audience's attention because they can't hear what you have to say.
6. Say your toast mentioning those you are toasting by name, your relationship
to them and a thought about their good fortune and their future. Add witty anecdotes wherever possible but don't recite a joke or story that only means something to a few people. Use notes if necessary but keep it short and sincere.
7. Wave your glass to all and cap off the toast with a hearty "To the Bride and Groom" or "Cheers!"
8. Take a sip and sit down.
"Here's to you!" in other languages...
British - Cheers!
Chinese - Wen Lie!
French - A votre sante!
German - Prosit!
Greek - Yasas!
Hebrew - L'Chayim!
Hungarian - Ege'sze'ge're!
Irish - Slainte!
Italian - Alla Salute!
Japanese - Kanpai!
Polish - Na Zdrowie!
Russian - Za vashe zdorovye!
Spanish - Salud!
Swedish - Skal!
The Universal Toast
Observe, when Mother Earth is dry
She drinks the dropping of the sky,
And then the dewy cordial gives
To every thirsty plant that lives.
The vapors which at evening weep
Are beverage to the swelling deep;
And when the rosy sun appears
He drinks the ocean's misty tears.
The moon too quaffs her paly stream
Of luster from the solar beam.
Then hence with your sober thinking!
Since nature's holy law is drinking,
I'll make the law of Nature mine,
And pledge the Universe in wine.
Tom Moore
Visit the following websites for information and resources:
http://www.great-wedding-toasts.com/ for Wedding Toasts
http://www.weddings.co.nz/index.htm - New Zealand's premier online wedding magazine and directory
http://www.weddingspeeches.co.nz/ - for help with preparing and delivering wedding speeches
http://www.hitched.co.uk/speeches/examples/index.asp - for examples of wedding speeches
or search for wedding speeches, wedding toasts etc in Google.
The Toastmaster Magazine, June 2007 - "Want to Become a Wedding Speechwriter?" gives tips on how to prepare a wedding speech. "The Toast: That Other Proposal" describes how to make a toast correctly.
The Toastmaster Magazine, December 2003 - "The Toast in History" analyses the history of the toast and the rituals which have evolved around a toast.
The Toastmaster Magazine, December 2002 - "Here's to your Toast" gives some excellent background and tips for toasting, including several famous toasts.
Also refer to Toastmasters Advanced Manual "Special Occasion Speeches" - "Mastering the Toast". This assignment requires the speaker to recognise the characteristics of a toast, and present a toast honouring an occasion or a person. Timing 2-3 minutes.
The Complete Book of Wedding Toasts - by John William McCluskey, Lois E. Frevert (Editor); Paperback
Wedding Toasts & Speeches: Finding the Perfect Words
by Jo Packham (Editor) (Paperback - February 1993)
The Little Giant Encyclopedia of Wedding Toasts
by Katherine Young, David Macfarlane (Paperback)
Wedding Speeches and Toasts (Family Matters)
by Angela Lansbury
Wedding Toasts by Jo Packham (Editor) (Paperback - March 2001)
by Kevin Prohl
In February 2006, I had the opportunity to be the "Master of the Toast" for a wedding.
The couple had contacted Toastmasters New Zealand six months earlier from England looking for a Toastmaster to assist with their big day. The wedding was at a winery in Hamilton, New Zealand. During that time we discussed what was required of me and what they wanted me to wear.
I was to hire a red jacket, frilly white shirt, a white waistcoat, white gloves and bow tie, plus wear black trousers and shoes. This was similar to what they had seen the Toastmaster wear in England. (Toastmasters in England is a different organisation, Masters of the Toast for any and all events).
I had a pleasant and uneventful drive to Hamilton on the day, four hours before the event and had a sleep, shower and then changed so that I was refreshed for the occasion.
My duties were to meet the guests at the carpark and direct them to the bar and outside table for refreshments. I was also to collect gifts (envelopes with money in them as the couple would be flying back to England and didn't want to take presents back as the freight would be expensive).
As people mixed and mingled, I ensured that they were being looked after by the reception staff.
When the bridal party arrived, I met them for the first time for only a few moments as they moved to the vineyard for photographs, and then I directed all the guests to the same area for a group snap shot.
While they were having their pictures taken, I assisted the waiting staff to clear the tables. (This wasn't a requirement, I just wanted to be helpful) and then invited the guests into the main dining room.
I met the bridal party in the Wine Cellar adjacent to the dining room before announcing to the guests to be upstanding and to welcome the bridal party, then the Bride and Groom by their married name. (They both seemed chuffed at this as it was the first time that they had been addressed as such).
After they were seated, I announced my role saying that it was a very traditional thing in England to have a Toast Master and the bride and groom wanted to continue that tradition here in the colonies.
I announced the way proceedings would unfold and then directed guests by predetermined tables to the buffet for their food.
Whilst people waited to be called to the buffet, I circulated amongst the tables and chatted to the guests. It seemed that everyone took a picture of me with the cameras that were placed on every table.
After everyone had eaten their main course, the formal speeches began.
I welcomed the Father of the Bride to speak on his thoughts about the coming together of the two families, and to say a few words about his daughter, then to toast the Bride and Groom.
After he had spoken, I introduced the Groom to reply, and then followed by introducing the Best Man to Toast the Bridesmaids, and to tell us a few words about the newly married couple's first meeting etc.
This speech was followed by introducing the second Best Man to speak from telegrams and email messages.
I followed by toasting Absent Friends.
Then I invited the newlyweds to cut the cake, and had all those with cameras took pictures of this traditional ceremony.
I then invited the Bride and Groom followed by the bridal party to take to the dance floor and have the first dance. Then I mentioned that all the Bridal party would come to the tables and each would take a guest back to the dance floor to dance with encouraging everyone else to follow.
After some dancing the Bride and Groom finally stopped to chat and remarked about how professional I was and how that added to their enjoyment and the occasion. It was everything they wanted, which made me feel really proud.
They promised to send me some photographs, I look forward to receiving them.
I stayed for a few dances showing some ladies the moves for Ceroc dancing and then my role was over.
Many guests came up to me and said I had done a wonderful job and they liked the tradition of having a Toast Master.
I was back in Auckland two hours later, I found the experience was most enjoyable and know that without Toastmasters, I could not have done this.
I suggest that we can add to the enjoyment of others on special occasions with our Toastmasters training and look forward to the next wedding.
Kevin Prohl ATMG-CL
Toastmaster of the Year
(Kevin has his own company Speechworks where he MCs events.)
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Do you have a wedding story or tips to share? Tell us about the wedding speech or toast you gave for publishing on this page. Just email webmaster@toastmasters.org.nz with your comments. |
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