Have you ever done a Google search for advice on how to deliver the perfect wedding toast? If you’ve ever been a best man or maid of honor, there’s a good chance you have.
Chances are, however, that you never did a search on how to deliver an IMPERFECT wedding toast.
No need. We point out to two easy ways to dilute the effectiveness of your wedding toast, or worse. It’s sooo easy to deliver an imperfect wedding toast if you do two things.
1. Don’t read off of your phone
As you can see in the video above, the young toastmaster has his nose buried in his phone as he reads his toast. Kudos to him for preparing. But phones put separation between people. He would’ve been much better to either memorize the toast, or put some bullet points on a cue card. You don’t have to memorize the toast, but know it well enough so you briefly refer to notes on a cue card rather than read off a phone.
2. Don’t refer to the groom’s dating history
In the earlier video, the toastmaster with his nose buried in his phone says the groom didn’t have any dating history, suggesting he couldn’t get a date. Be careful about making jokes at the groom’s (or bride’s) expense. The groom didn’t seem particularly happy with the quip.
Worse is the best man who says that now the groom can settle down and put his playboy days behind him. Not cool. He refers to all the dates the groom went out on. Be careful. You never know how sensitive the groom, the bride or her family members may feel about such a crack.
The video’s description characterizes this toast as brief and brilliant. It IS a good length, coming in under three minutes. But brilliant it is not for the reason stated above.
By contrast, the video at the top of the page provides the perfect roadmap for delivering the perfect wedding toast. It was produced by Toastmasters International. Their website says, “since 1924, Toastmasters International has transformed nearly eight million lives through a simple, yet powerful, mission: empowering individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders.” Might want to check them out.
Here are the techniques used by the sister making this toast:
- She compliments the bride and groom: great technique to win over the crowd, get people’s attention, and create a sense of anticipation.
- She introduced herself in a straightforward way so guests understand her relationship to the couple.
- She shared an anecdote using humor and creativity. We were a little nervous at one point as she described how the groom had an embarrassing fall at a bowling alley on their first date. Never a good idea to embarrass the bride or groom, but the sister saved the day with a delightful quip: “It’s easy to see how John has fallen head over heels for Jennifer.” Well played.
- Then she officially welcomes John to the family. Nice.
- She gets personal.
- Brings it all to a well-crafted close with this beautiful toast:
“Let today be the building blocks for many years to come and may your hearts and home be filled with love and laughter. Cheers!”
Why give an imperfect wedding toast when you can give a perfect one? By the same token, why go with second rate wedding entertainment at your celebration when you go with professionals like Columbus Pro DJs who specialize in Columbus weddings. Our trained team knows how to cue up wedding toasts with the right introduction at the right time. Check us out without obligation.
