As the maid of honor or best man you'll likely be called upon to give a toast at the wedding reception. This can be a daunting task, but with a little preparation and practice, you can craft a heartfelt and memorable toast that will leave a lasting impression.
These are some of our overall best tips for how to prepare for the big speech.
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First and most important: remember that your toast should be about the couple and their love for one another. Avoid making the toast about yourself or getting too personal with inside jokes or embarrassing stories. Keep it light, fun, and focused on the couple.
Our next best tip is to start early. Give yourself plenty of time to brainstorm, plan, and write your speech. This will help reduce stress and allow you to take your time crafting the perfect words.
Brainstorm! We think this is one of the most fun steps because there’s no pressure to get everything just right yet. You get to think of the many wonderful reasons you love your friend and all your favorite stories with them. Write down everything and anything that comes to mind while you’re brainstorming… we’ll edit later.
Next, consider the tone of your toast. While it's okay to be emotional and heartfelt, try to avoid being overly sentimental or sappy. Instead, aim for a balance of sincerity and humor. Deciding on a tone will help you choose which tidbits to use from your brainstorming.
On a similar note… know your audience. Consider who will be attending the wedding and tailor your speech to them. Think about what they might find interesting or amusing, and try to strike the right tone.
Now that you have your tone picked out, you know your audience, and you’re prepared with stories from your brainstorming, it’s time to organize your thoughts and ideas by outlining your speech. This will help you stay on track and ensure that you cover everything you want to say.
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While you want to get in a few good stories we do recommend keeping your toast short and sweet. Aim for three to seven minutes and remember to speak slower and clearer than you do in everyday speech.
Practice, practice, practice. The more you practice your speech, the more comfortable you'll feel when it's time to deliver it. And the less you’ll use filler words such as "um" or "like” that creep in when folks get nervous. Try practicing in front of a mirror, or better yet, recruit a friend to listen to you and give you feedback.
Download more of our practice speaking tips here!
Don't forget to breathe. It's natural to feel nervous when giving a speech, but remember to take deep breaths and speak slowly to help calm your nerves.
End on a high note. Leave your audience with a memorable closing line or thought. This could be a quote, a joke, or — our favorite — simply a heartfelt message.
With these tips in mind, you'll be well on your way to giving a memorable and meaningful toast that will leave the couple feeling loved and appreciated.
Looking for more help with your maid of honor or best man speech? Vow Muse can help!
