We ran across a delightful essay with the title of: “How to Give a Wedding Toast Without Annoying Hundreds of Hungry Guests.” We recommend you read it.
The writer, Chandler Dean, is a comedian and professional speech writer. His premise is a funny one and spot on.
When you’re asked to make a toast, the host couple honors you. Take it seriously. Be prepared and rise to the occasion! Chandler Dean offers sage advice, such as these nuggets:
Don’t begin a toast by saying, “For those who of you who don’t know me …” Or: “Let me begin by saying.” Time wasters. And please, don’t read from your phone.
Make the toast about the couple, not you, and not just one of them. BOTH of them.
Tell a short story based on your relationship with them that illustrates why the couple are a good match.
Chances are, you know one of the couple best. Be sure to say something positive about the other one. This is one of the best parts of his piece. Says Chandler Dean:
“In some ways, this is the most important aspect of your speech. Everyone already knows that you love your sister. What we don’t know yet, and what is therefore most interesting, is what you love about her husband. And in any form of speechwriting, you’ve got to be cognizant of your headline—the part of your remarks that will make news. People. Love. Learning. Secrets. So delight us with an observation about your loved one’s loved one that we haven’t heard before.”
Listen to this toast
The video above by professional speaker, Neal Foard, builds on some of Chandler Dean’s ideas. Foard was at a wedding and recounts the wonderful toast he heard, which began with the best man saying nice things about the bride. He turned to her parents and said:
“You know, it’s gotta be tough, being a parent and wondering if your child is marrying somebody worthy of her.
Well, I’ve know your new son-in-law since third grade. And when we were about nine years old, a new kid came to our school. Very shy and a little awkward. Definitely not the first kid getting picked for dodgeball. And when the class was eating lunch, this little boy sat off in a corner by himself, and your daughter’s new husband, he saw that and he picked up his lunch tray. And he said to me, “Let’s go sit with the new kid.” A small thing, right? Yeah … well he does stuff like that. And they’re not small things. For today, I’m called the best man, but since the third grade, whenever I’ve been in the same room as your new son-in-law, the most I could hope for is being second best.
And then he turned to the bride’s family and said, “I think you lucked out.”
Wow. Talk about power. And it took about a minute.
Wedding celebrations should be fun. But long and winding, aimless, unrehearsed toasts erode the fun and annoy the wedding guests. There’s no need for it. This blog alone is loaded with great tips on how to write and deliver a wedding toast that has the crowd eating out of your hand. Check out our previous posts on this important subject to prepare the way for delivering a world-class wedding toast that delights the hungry wedding guests!
And when it’s time for the entertainment to begin, Columbus Pro DJs will delight your guests with dance-floor-packing music, festive decor lighting, and the ridiculously fun photo booth. Check us out.
