Giving a wedding toast is a special moment – it gives you, the parent, a chance to put your feelings into words and express your sincerest love for your child and their new spouse. Putting the perfect words together for your wedding toast can be a bit daunting, however, if you speak from your heart then captivating your audience will be a piece of cake!
Inject your personality
Being yourself is the first thing you should do when coming up with a wedding toast. If you try to be formal, when you are naturally a very relaxed individual then your speech will come off as unnatural and insincere. Either way, you should keep the speech lighthearted and clean to make sure the guests don’t get offended.
Keep it short and sweet
As a parent, you have years of funny stories and precious moments that you may want to share with the masses, but it’s important to keep it short and sweet so others can have the opportunity to share their feelings with the bride and groom. Adding in a humorous statement, sentimental story or two, and a sincere congratulation should make for the perfect speech in both length and substance.
Rehearse before
Feeling nervous before giving a speech to a large group of people, especially when you are vulnerable and emotional, is completely normal. By rehearsing your toast before, you will feel less tense and more prepared to deliver your heartfelt message. Remember to speak slowly, clearly and loud enough for everyone to hear your kind words.
Practice but don’t memorize
Although it is important to practice your toast in order to maintain speech jitters, it’s recommended that you try not to memorize it word for word. That way, if you get nervous and forget part of your toast, then you can easily continue on by remembering the gist of what you wanted to express.
Whatever you have to say will surely bring a smile to your child and their husband or wife’s face. It is a triumph for you to see your loved one find that special someone and communicating that to them is a precious moment. Enjoying that moment and allowing others to be a part of it will make your toast a special memory and highlight of the evening.