Los Cabos Wedding

Speeches and Toasts.

Toasts from family and friends serve as entertainment and, well, an education. The toasting part of your reception is also a time for your guest to get to know you even better through the words of your closest friends and relatives. A room full of loved ones lifting a glass to you and speaking words of affection, recalling funny or touching stories about or moments with the two of you, offering compliments or telling jokes, and generally giving you a warm, fuzzy feeling (watch out for those tearjerker toasts!), can be one of the most memorable and meaningful parts of the party.

What Did You Just Say?

What’s toasting appropriate:

• Beginning by saying you are honored to be here to share the wedding day with the couple.
• Talking casually about your relationship with the bride and/or groom (What it is, When you met) and relating one or two quick anecdotes.
• Pointing out what’s special about their relationship and why you think they’re perfect for each other.
• Offering gentle advice about marriage or love,  from your own experience.

What’s not:

• Dwelling on potentially touchy subjects, like a difference in religion or race, or an unhappy ex-spouse.
• Apologizing for being a bad speaker or saying you didn’t really want to speak.
• Talking too much about the bride’s or groom’s past conquests (you may do so in a short and sweet, harmless way).
• Being cryptic (don’t tell stories that only the bride and groom will understand; you’ll lose your audience).
• Talking for too long-try not to go over five minutes, tops.
• Fidgeting or clearing your throat (if you feel dry, keep a glass of water close by and take a quick sip before you begin talking).

Credits: The Knot Guide to Wedding Vows And Traditions.  Carley Roney