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The wedding toast is not synonymous with the wedding speech, as many people seem to believe. The speech is a drink in honor of someone, or a group of people, usually preceded by a small speech lasting a few seconds. A wedding toast comes at the end of a speech.
Who Toasts Whom? The traditional wedding toasts are to:
Some areas of North America break with tradition in who proposes the toasts to whom, but it really doesn't matter. You should probably follow whatever convention is used in your area of residence. A wedding toast should consist of a few words relevant to the person, or people, being toasted, after which whoever is proposing the toast will drink first followed by all the guests. It is traditional to stand when drinking the toast in order to show that you are accepting your host's hospitality. The toast should last for only a few seconds. A minute is getting a bit on the long side. A toast is not a speech, though can be proposed at the end of a speech. An Example Toast "And finally - the bridesmaids. Aren't they beautiful? And the maid-of-honor - well, what can I say. Breathtaking! It's not easy, you know, to look so beautiful in these fantastic dresses without upstaging the bride, but that's what these lovely young ladies have had to do. And I must say that they've achieved it in style. They've done a great job today helping the bride (or name her) look so fabulous. They are gorgeous - you have done the job perfectly girls, and you deserve all the praise we can give you. Ladies and gentlemen, please be upstanding and join me in a toast: Ladies and gentlemen - the bridesmaids!" Everyone then stands and follows the groom in the toast. They say "the bridesmaids", and then sit as does the groom. The Toastmaster then announces the best man, or in the absence of the toastmaster the best man stands up after the groom's toast. He should reply on behalf of the bridesmaids before starting his main speech, saying: "Thanks 'groom' (his name). On behalf of the bridesmaids and maid-of-honor I'd like to thank you for these kind words. You're right, it isn't an easy job to do, but they have done wonderfully well. . . ." or something to that effect, then into his speech which not should be overly personal regarding the groom.
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