Wedding Speech Technique

Witnessing a wedding ceremony is exciting in itself. Celebrating the momentous event is even more anticipated. Besides the heartwarming traditions done by the bride and groom during the celebration, there is the delicious meal shared by the newlyweds and the guests who have witnessed the wedding. But the wedding celebration is not all about the fun activities and food. It is also about the solemnity of wedding speeches, which are prepared by special people important to their lives to welcome them into the amazing union they have both willingly entered together.

Who Gives Wedding Speeches?

The time for giving wedding speeches is an intimate moment shared by the bride, groom, families, friends, and guests. The bride and groom specifically choose who will be giving the wedding speeches. The honor of giving the wedding speeches is usually given only to those really close to the couple. These usually include the parents, maid of honor and best man. There really is no standard to be followed as to how the speeches will be given. But as a general unwritten rule, the father of the bride goes first. After her father, her mother may follow then the parents of the groom. Subsequently, the best man would deliver his speech and toast followed by the maid of honor. Special friends not notified to make a speech are most likely welcome to give one if they wanted to.

Preparing Your Wedding Speech

Wedding speeches should not be a challenge for anyone assigned to deliver one. It can even take less than a minute. Avoid making wedding speeches that are more than three to five minutes in length. You would not want to bore the newlyweds and the guests with all your incessant talking. It should be short but simple and remarkable.

Wedding speeches should be heartfelt messages or advices. You can insert a few jokes or unforgettable experiences with the bride or groom, but wedding speeches should never make the couple or the guests present uncomfortable. Of course, it should be respectful and in honor of the bride and groom.

Practice makes perfect as well. If you should ever be faced with the task of delivering a wedding speech, it will not hurt you to prepare as much as you can. You could list a number of all the things you want to say in the delivery of the wedding speech. Later on, you can narrow it down to the most essential and interesting things only. Making an outline and drafting it first before making the final wedding speech is very helpful.

If you are shy in making speeches in front of people, it will help if you practice in front of a mirror as frequently as you can. It would also help if you ask someone to help you out by pretending to be an audience at the wedding reception.

But the most important thing in making wedding speeches is that it should be sincere and interesting. It should show how much you care for the couple. The bride and groom will definitely appreciate genuine wedding speeches than speeches taken from books, magazines and the Internet.
By Eric Hartwell

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Wedding Speeches: A Quick Outline

Wedding speeches are reserved for the most important members of the wedding party and closest family and friends.

If you are one of the ones expected or asked to do a wedding speech, then preparing is a must. Winging it just won’t cut it especially when your wedding speech will be on video from now until eternity.

Wedding speeches should not last more than three or four minutes. It reminds me of that famous quote by John F. Kennedy,

“Public speaking is the art of diluting a two-minute idea with a two-hour vocabulary.”

It’s actually much harder to do a short wedding speech than a long one which reminds me of another quote,

“It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.” --Mark Twain

You have to have an opening and closing. You probably want to throw in a story and at least one piece of humor. And it all has to make sense. Please, please, please don’t apologize for how bad you are as soon as you stand up, which reminds me of yet another quote by Kin Hubbard,

“Why doesn't the fellow who says, "I'm no speechmaker," let it go at that instead of giving a demonstration?” hahaha I love that one.

Here’s a quick outline for a wedding speech: Note: each one of the bullet points below could have many variations

· Opening – Could be comments about the lovely affair
· Comments about the bride and groom
· Story about your interactions with the bride, groom or both.
· Humor- Pick something that applies to them and is appropriate
· Closing – Something touching
· Toast – Brief and touching or funny

You’ll rarely be the hit of a wedding because of your wedding speech and rightfully so. The bride and groom are the stars. But poor preparation of your wedding speech certainly could make you the laughing stock.

Remember, you are going to perform your wedding speech live, but you’ll be on video forever. Take the time to prepare.
By Tom Antion

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The Wedding Speeches

The 3 most common wedding speeches fall under the headings of the bride's father's speech, the bridegroom's speech, and, last of all, the best man's speech.

The toastmaster should call upon the bride's father to propose a blessing of "health and happiness to the bride and groom." Try to make it heartfelt and genuine because crudeness is inappropriate. A little humor, however, is fitting. The toastmaster is often the best man but could also be someone that has been especially employed for the position. Professional toastmasters are available for an appropriate fee and can take a lot of the pressure off the occasion. . The bride's father will have his blessing preceded by welcome messages to the groom's parents, all relatives, and all the guests. Finally, he'll utter some words off in appreciation and admiration of his precious daughter and bless her and her new husband their future marriage.

The groom will typically reply with a speech of thanksgiving to his own parents for their contributions to his character, health, and current success. He will gives thanks to the gift-bearers and mention those that couldn't attend due to illness. In other words, he'll be conciliatory and considerate to all members of the group. He could even toast the bridesmaids and thank them with a small gift as a token of thanksgiving.

The best man will then arise, usually on behalf of the bridesmaids, to give a heartfelt, funny, and light-hearted speech about the groom. This is a familiar scene in movies whereupon the best jokes, anecdotes, and stories are brought up. This is a critical point in the selection of a best man.

Obviously, giving a speech at a wedding is prefaced with an acknowledgement of your role and the person or people you'll be giving the speech to ... here are some good tips for preparing and delivering an excellent speech to a lot of people for the first time ...

* Write down your notes a week and half ahead of time.
* Rehearse for at least a week so that you won't need to fully rely on your notes.
* Thank the parents for donating time and gifts for the wedding arrangements.
* Relax.
* Leave them wanting a little more.
* Be brief, frank, honest, and nice.
* Compliment the whole group. Compliments always win smiles.
* Keep your toast less than 5 minutes to avoid lots of yawning.
* Leave out racy, inappropriate, crude, vulgar, or embarrassing jokes unless no one would be offended or annoyed.
* Let your guard down and be natural.
* Practice your speech in front of others.
* Let your personality grab the attention of those in the audience. Be yourself and let it just flow out.
* Interject quotes and jokes from books or the internet to complement your speech.
* Sincerity is better than anything. Even if you mess up a line, your sincerity will more than compensate.
* This is a not a test, essay, or exam – enjoy it.
* Focus on friends in the room and deliver your speech to them personally. That will make it easier than reaching out to the whole audience.
* Alcohol will probably make you less capable, off-center, or a little tipsy, and it might disrupt the speech's content. Stay sober.

Follow the instructions outlined above if you have to learn how to make a speech at a wedding. And try to make sure that someone gets it on video at least.
By Eric Hartwell

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Wedding Toasts And Tips You Need To Know

Wedding toasts and tips that you need to know. So you have been asked to give the wedding toast at your best friends wedding. You say you don't know what to do. There are 4 Key elements to giving a Wedding toast. Once you know what they are and how to apply them, then you are on your way to to giving that memorable wedding toast.

The 4 key elements are

1. First you need to have a wedding toast, you can write the toast yourself, or have someone write it for you. There is also the option of getting a wedding toast book that is full of several types of toasts.

Picking out the right type of wedding toast and now you need to practice the toast so that you wont be struggling along trying to deliver it.

2. Next you need to know when to give a toast at the reception. You need to check with the bride & groom on this to define the right moment. Most of the time the toast is given just after the blessing and before the meal.

3. Knowing how to get everyones complete attention at the time of the toast is important. You don't want to start talking while everyone else is talking. Usually tapping a piece of silverware on the side of your glass will get everyone quieting down. Then announce "can I please have your attention."

Then once everyone is quiet then raise your glass.

4. Knowing what to say and how to say it. Your wedding toast has been practiced to prepare you for this part so just take a couple of deep breathes. Be sure and keep a smile on your face to set the mood and start your toast. Try not to have long pauses or repetitive ums or you knows. Look at the bride and groom as you give them their special memorable toast. there you have it now you will be on your way to giving that memorable wedding toast at your best friends wedding.

I'm a motivational speaker, internet marketer and country recording artist known for my signature song and music video Hills of Pennsylvania. I have entertained at hundreds of weddings and believe me when I say there is nothing more embarrassing then to see someone unprepared get up to give a wedding toast and they stumble around looking for the right words to say. You just plain feel sorry for them.
By Sunny James

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Wedding Toasts 101 - the Basics & Tips

What would a wedding reception be without the traditional wedding toast? It’s like having a wedding cake without the icing. The wedding toast is a profoundly moving gesture, as it conveys to the bride and groom the heartfelt wishes of everyone who attended the wedding.

Sequence of the Toasts

The wedding toast is usually given first by the best man, then the father, the groom and the bride, and then followed by those who would like to give a toast. Versions may vary, however.

Other traditional sequences of wedding toasts also follow the best man as the first one to give the toast, followed by the groom who says a few words to his bride, parents, family, and members of the wedding party. After which, the groom is then followed by other people such as family members or friends who also want to give a toast, and then lastly, the father of the bride who thanks everyone for attending the wedding.

On the other hand, a nontraditional manner of the sequence of wedding toasts starts off with the emcee toasting the bride and groom. This is followed by the groom saying a few words to the guests and his bride, followed by the bride giving a little speech to her parents and in-laws, and finally, the father of the bride thanking everyone who shared this special day with them.

The Actual Toast

Ever since a monk named Dom Perignon invented champagne, it has since become the number one drink during wedding toasts. So before performing the wedding toast, make sure that your own glass as well as the glasses of other people (most especially the bride and groom’s) are also filled with drink.

Stand next to the bride and groom when giving your toast, and using a spoon, tap your own glass in order to get people’s attention. Raise your glass using your right hand held straight from your shoulder, and then you can begin the wedding toast.

Wedding Toast Tips

Preparing the Speech: Practice!

Giving a wedding toast, albeit a short one, in front of so many people can be quite a nerve-wracking experience. However, it doesn’t really have to be, not as long as you come prepared. Write your speech down so you would know exactly what to say. Let it come straight from your heart, so that you would be able to convey the sentiments you want to impart to the couple you are toasting. You can also try showing it to someone for comment so that you can get feedback in improving on your speech. Remember to keep on practicing until you feel confident and comfortable enough to deliver it in front of a crowd.

K.I.S.S.

Keep your wedding toast brief and straight to the point, since you wouldn’t want to divert attention away from the happy couple. Nobody wants to listen to an extremely long speech, so remember this word—K.I.S.S. (Keep It Short and Simple). A good measurement of a wedding toast is around 3 minutes.

Giving the Speech

In giving the wedding toast, speak loudly and clearly especially if you don’t have a microphone, so that people would understand what you’re going to say. Talking loudly gives you a certain presence, and now that you have the audience’s undivided attention, it’s important to hold it by not mumbling your words. So remember to talk slowly, because this is not a race to get you to finish your speech as fast as you can. Remember, people actually want to hear what you have to say.

Make Eye Contact & Smile!

Having your speech or cue cards printed out is indeed a great help in giving a wedding toast, but remember not to read it straight out from beginning to end. Make eye contact with the audience, so that they would feel that you really are speaking to them. Oh yeah, and don’t forget the most important detail of all: Smile! This is a joyous event, and your smile should actually say so!
By Antoinette Boulay

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Wedding Toasts To The Bride

If you have a wedding to attend in the near future and need to prepare a toast to the bride, then you need to know what it takes to do a good job. Successful toasts seem so easy to do, but you won't realize what it takes to make a public performance until you put the toast together.

You'll have to prepare, practice, and overcome nerves to do a great job. In the end, it's all about being sincere, relaxed and having fun. A wedding is something to celebrate - and this is your chance to add to the party.

You might be a friend or you might be a family member - as long as you're close to the bride, you'll most likely have a lot to share with others in your toast. A toast might be an intimidating task if you're not a great writer or speaker, but preparation will easily allow you to accomplish the job well.

A toast can last anywhere from 10 seconds to 2 minutes. If you are very close to the bride, then you might want to take a bit more time to reflect on the past before transitioning to the future. On the other hand, sometimes the best toasts are short and sweet.

For a long toast, all you need to do is follow these steps:

1. Choose Your Tone: Before you start writing your toast out, figure on whether you want the toast to be serious, humorous, or sentimental. How do you choose which is right? You'll have to consider your personality as well as what kind of relationship you have with the bride. If you're a funny person but don't have a close relationship with the bride then humour might not be fully understood by guests. If you're going to do an extremely sentimental toast, then make sure that it is something the bride and perhaps a few others will understand as a touching speech.

2. Choose Your Topic: Think about your relationship with the bride and pick something to talk about that is important to you. When people try to cover too many emotions or events in a toast, it can cause the minds of guests to drift. By focusing on one attribute or another, your toast will be easier to understand and much more effective.

3. Include Stories: If there is a story that works with what you're saying, then you should include it in your toast. Stories add a depth that is difficult to match in any other way. By recalling a favourite story of the bride, it will help others see how special of a relationship you had with her and show a side of the woman that others might not have known before.

4. Add Some Memories: Memories in point form can also be an effective way of building the bond between you and the bride, shining a light on her personality. When you bring memories up, keep it short and sweet so that you don't make others feel out of the loop.

5. Describe Your Hopes for Her: This is a very important part of the toast. It is here that you'll transition from the past to the future. By telling the bride your hopes for her future, you will show that you really care about her well being.

6. List Special Attributes: By listing a few attributes that make the bride a good wife, you'll make her feel special, flatter the groom and convey a sense of confidence in her abilities.

7. Wish the Bride and Groom Good Luck: No toast is complete without wishing the couple the best of luck for their future.

If you're planning a shorter toast, you might want to focus more on the future alone. Try not to be too cliché or general. If you can make your toast specific, it will be much more meaningful to all. Some topics that work well include love, happiness, growing up, marriage, and laughter.

When giving your toast, it's important to speak clearly and use notes if needed. If you want to get your message across effectively, then be confident about the words that you are saying. Some people are natural public speakers and others get nervous - just make sure that you practice your speech often so that it flows comfortably during your performance without any nervous pauses (ex. ummm, ahhh, etc).

Things to Avoid:

* Stories about Old Relationships: By telling stories about past relationships, all you're going to do is make people uncomfortable or upset. Don't mention old relationships at all. Focus on the relationship that matters.

* Humiliating Stories: There's a difference between funny stories and humiliating ones. Always make sure that your story won't embarrass anybody or draw any unwanted reactions.

* Drinking Too Much: Drinking might loosen you up a bit, but drinking too much will make you slur your words - and make a fool of yourself.

* Don't Read The Whole Thing: While you might to look down to refer to your notes, don't read everything word for word. Instead, try focusing on the bride to make the message more personal.

* Don't Panic: If you get lost for words and don't know what to do, don't panic. Just finish off with a simple and honest "congratulations." There's nothing wrong with ending simply.

If you're not sure how your toast sounds to others, be open to getting a friend's opinion and perspective. Read your toast over with somebody else present or have them read it and offer a critique. It's always tough to know how your toast might be received by others; it's good to get a second opinion.

The toast to the bride is a very special moment. Make sure to keep the bride as the focus of your story and always highlight her in your toast before congratulating her and wishing her well. If you are sincere about what you have to say, then it's impossible to go wrong.

Lastly, make sure that you have fun giving your toast. Your expressions will always impact the way your speech is received by others. Good luck!
By David Beart

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Wedding Toasts Keep Traditions Alive

When the wedding ceremony has concluded and the reception is moving from the reception line to the dinner, this is the time when the well-wishers have a chance to make wedding toasts. The wedding speeches and toasts are a very long-standing tradition in weddings that help celebrate the special day, while raising a glass in honor of the couple.

Wedding toasts can be formally prepared before the event or they can be a spontaneous expression of support and encouragement for the new couple. Giving one is a time to express admiration, add an element of humor or laughter, express sentiments and even provide special insights into the courtship and future of the couple.

It is usually the best man who will deliver the primary marriage speech. Once this formality has concluded, then the rest of the wedding toasts can start. This is one of the best opportunities for the other guests, who are not part of the formal marriage party, to participate in the special day as well. The time for toasting is also a good way to transition from the formal part of the event, being the ceremony, to a time that is designed to be more relaxed and informal.

Wedding toasts are generally proposed once all the champagne glasses have been properly filled. Toasts carry with them some tradition, whether the marriage reception is a formal or a casual affair.

Toasting should be done by raising the glass with the right hand and by holding the glass straight out from the shoulder. This practice harkens back to the days of concealing weapons, such as a dagger, in one's clothing. Therefore, extending the glass in such a way provides proof of good intentions.

Another element of traditional wedding toasts that goes back many centuries is the loudness of the merrymaking for the purpose of warding off evil spirits. The sound created by the clinking of the champagne glasses at the end of each marriage toast makes a sound somewhat akin to the ringing of a bell. This is another ancient belief in keeping the evil spirits away from the celebration.

The term "toasting" actually got its roots from a French custom in which a piece of bread was placed in the bottom of each wine glass to absorb the sediment. Someone who was considered to be a good toaster would then drink all the way "down to the toast." Over time, this practice evolved into the current custom of drinking to someone's prosperity, health or happiness. Nowadays, they are offered to wish congratulations and good luck to the newlyweds.

Many people are not aware that during them, the bride and groom should not raise their glasses. Since they are the ones being honored, everyone else is to raise their glass to them, leaving the couple to simply sip from their glasses at the conclusion of each marriage toast.

Traditionally, wedding toasts are given either during the rehearsal dinner, the marriage reception, or on both occasions. In any event, the toasting usually follows the meal or is done just after the ceremony of cutting the cake.
By Mike Selvon

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Giving The Wedding Toasts

A memorable event in the life of a newly-married couple is the reception that immediately comes after the ceremony. Partaking of the good food that is served courtesy of the couple is something to look forward to since wedding toasts are likely to be given during this time. Toasts are made to add fuel to the already celebratory mood felt by the bride and groom and the attendees of this special occasion.

The wedding toast is normally initiated by the father of the bride. As to the proper time of making a toast, this would depend on the nature of the reception, whether it is a formal or informal affair.

If the affair is formal, then there is also a need to consider the cutting of the wedding cake. According to custom, if the wedding cake to be cut is the one to be served on the guests for dessert, the wedding toasts can start after the couple cut the cake. If the cake to be cut is not the same cake that will be served, then right after the main course, the toast can then be made.

If the affair is informal or for weddings celebrated in the afternoons, then the wedding toast usually follows the first dance of the bride and groom as married couples.

Naturally, families and friend of the newly-weds would be excited to want to toast during the reception. The most often observed order of toasting is as follows – the father of the bride to offer his toast to the couple; then the best man offering his toast to the bride following the maid of honor toasting the groom. During the wedding toasts, the newly-weds should remember to just listen and smile at the person making the toasts. They are not allowed to offer a toast to themselves. However, what they can do is to give a return toast. The bride and groom can offer a toast to their parents and guests as their way of showing their appreciation in their participation in the wedding celebration.

The rule of thumb to be observed while doing wedding toasts is to keep it brief. The person making the toast should not take too much time in relaying his message. Certainly, you do not want to bore the bride and groom as well as the other guests with such a long speech. For the best man, it is advised that he does not drink too much prior to the toast. A drunken best man could result to an embarrassing toast. The best wedding toast can be rendered in a matter of 2 to 3 minutes. For the returned toast made by the bride or the groom or both, it should even be shorter than this.

Be complimentary and sincere when making a toast. After all, this celebration is dedicated to the bride and groom so be generous with your compliments. Look them into the eye so that they know that you mean what you say. To make sure that things go well, try practicing your wedding toast before the actual wedding day.
By Eric Hartwell

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Wedding Toasts For the Reception Dinner

The wedding toasts are a short speech that is about five minute. There are three important wedding toasts on the wedding reception. That is the toasts of the father of the bride, groom of the bride, and the best man of the wedding. Although a wedding can have more wedding toasts, these are the three most important wedding toasts.

The father of the bride is traditionally the main toastmaster of the wedding reception. The father of the bride asks for toasts to the bride and groom at first. Then, he usually gives a warm thanks to the father of the groom, groom of the bride, relatives of the bride, relatives of the groom, friends of the bride, friends of the groom, and special guests of the wedding. Finally, he gives a special welcome to everyone who comes to the wedding.

Now, the groom of the bride responds to the toasts of the father. The grooms usually ask for toasts for the parents of the bride, bride of the wedding, and his parents. He may also thanks who took part in the wedding. This requires a little research and observation. For example, the best man picks up the tuxedoes of the groomsmen, the groomsmen decorates the limousine, and the bridesmaids usher on the wedding.

The best man toasts for the lovely bride and groom of course. This is the most stressful wedding roles to him. He usually knows the groom very well. This wedding toast is highly emotional which may bring tons of laughter and tears. He also speaks on behalf of the bridesmaids.

In a wedding, you are all dressed up nice and good. You may want to sound as good as your wedding attire. To avoid mistakes, you must practice ahead of time. The best way is to practice in front of the mirror with glass and spoon. In case you forget what you need to say, you can always bring up the written down copy of the wedding speech.

A short speech can still be a good wedding speech. You can speak slower to lengthen the speech. However, you may not want to bore the audience with slowness too much.

The wish of good health and happiness to the bride and groom is always a good idea. Actually, it is a very good closing of the wedding speech. Now, the wedding guests are in the mood for toasts. For example, a wish to change from for better or worse to for better, happiness, and good health.

Although alcohol can relieve stress and nervousness, the alcohol deprives the body to perform well with high consumption of alcohol. To perform at best, you may want to defer until you finish the wedding toasts.

By adding past experience, you are personalizing the wedding toasts. This shows how much you know about the groom, bride, or someone. For example, you remember what advice that you gave to win the heart of the bride. For any highly embarrassing moment for the groom or bride, you may want to save the story some other time. This is their special moment. And, the embarrassing stories might ruin the mood on the wedding.

To lighten up the wedding toasts, you may add a few jokes and humor. Not all jokes are funny. Jokes are all about timing. There are clubs, and restaurant that offers stand up comic. Watching the professional stand up comic at work, you can learn about timing and delivery. If you are brave enough, you can also try the jokes to friends, and relatives. The jokes also must relate to the background and origin of the audience. When you get a few laughs, you know that it is a hit on wedding toasts.

Sometimes, the some guests may not be able to make to the wedding and reception. For example, the guest got in an accident. Another, the guest is out of town. Or, the guest is ill or sick. It is good to mention the guest who could not make to the wedding and reception for sympathy.

Best of all, many of the guests, and sponsors have greatly contributed to the success of the wedding. It is also great to mention congratulations for a job well done. In the wedding entourage, you will see the list of sponsors to congratulate.
By Dennis Estrada

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How to Write a Best Man Wedding Speech Toast

Trust me, many calm and collected people who are great at public speaking, get nervous when they are asked to speak at their friends wedding. As the spokes person for the guests of honor, there are many expectations placed on you. So, how do you write a best man wedding speech?

Well, if you are here, then you have been requested to make the best man wedding speech for the wedding day. This is not just any day, but THE day that these two special people (including all their family and friends) will look back on for years to come. After all, when you have been deemed the Best Man, this wedding speech is even more crucial. This means that you know the groom best, and will toast the newlyweds as well at their wedding.

If that is not enough, you are also one of the main coordinators for the wedding reception. You will help organize the details for the wedding and reception to make sure that everything runs smoothly. You are also expected to look after the groom (make sure his breath smells fresh and that he is not drinking excessively). Also as a host you must ensure that guests are having a good time. This means removing any stress or dealing with people that might interrupt the wedding reception. Lastly, there are other people running around with a list of responsibilities. You need to make sure these people are on top of things while enjoying themselves.

So when are you allowed to you have a good time?

I have a feeling that you are beginning to understand why many best man candidates can not handle the tasks required. I am sure that you are flattered to be given the honor as best man to prepare the best man wedding toast, but many find it hard to juggle the direction under all this stress and responsibility.

How to Write a Best Man Wedding Toast

Writing your wedding speech is not what is time consuming. It is making sure everything blends together. Your best man wedding toast will need a theme and the necessary personal, witty, emotional, and meaningful ideas, jokes, and one-liners that make a wedding speech memorable for all the right reasons.

Even for those that are used to writing and delivering speeches alone, this can still be a challenge - and for those not accustomed to public speech etiquette (more so writing the perfectly balanced wedding speech for the big day), just the thought of standing in front of hundreds of strangers with all the focus on your every word is enough to make anyone's creative juices come to a grinding halt.

Luckily, there is an easier way in the form of an extremely well written and simple to read book by author Tom Haibeck, professional speech-writer.

This book is considered the Bible of Wedding Toasts in the wedding realm. Regis Philbin referred to this book when toasting his daughters wedding and it will help you too. I have checked it out, and this book lays out you need to know about being an incomparable Best Man. This means more than just how to write and deliver the best man wedding speech, but also gives you insight into possible themes, wedding toasts 101, the correct use of humor, how to eliminate your fear of public speaking, how to hold their attention... all this, as well as TONS of written speeches and wedding speech templates.

Would not you like to get the job done quickly and efficiently?

Get Wedding Speech Samples

The main attraction of this package is, of course, the handwritten exquisitely crafted, witty professional wedding speeches (did I mention that there is are easy to use, step-by-step templates, a checklist, and Tom's top 10 Do's and Don'ts).

That is not it, there are also tasteful jokes and famous quotes that will help you personalize your best man wedding toast without sounding insincere. That is the difference between this book and all the other canned speeches that I have seen. This one will not make you look fake. Trust me, as a wedding professional I have heard many terribly delivered toasts and few had the natural well versed touch that the bride and groom deserve.

Best Man Wedding Speeches is it Worth It?

Altogether, this is a pretty impressive package. Toms got all the bases covered here, an intense variety of useful info on every single aspect of being a Best Man, from the speech-writing and delivery itself to handling problematic guests to wedding etiquette.

In short: literally everything you will ever need to pull off your responsibilities as Best Man with style and panache are included here.

But do not just take my word for it, feel free to check it out for yourself (and have a look at a couple of those testimonials while you are there, if they do not convince you, then nothing will!)
By Robert Reno

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7 Tips for Giving Best Man Speeches

Best man speeches are a very important part of a wedding. The best man usually gives a toast at the start of the reception to honor the bride and the groom. Many best men stress out a great deal about writing the toast while others simply rely on their instincts and speak from the heart on the day of the wedding. In either approach best man speeches are often difficult to compose which is why many best men find the situation to be so stressful. This article will provide tips for giving a memorable toast at a wedding.

1. First of all best man speeches should be written a few weeks before the wedding day. This is important because best men who wait until the last minute may be stressed and may have difficulty writing anything. Planning ahead gives the best man time to write the speech and rewrite or edit it as needed.

2. Best man speeches should avoid embarrassing anecdotes. Although these stories are popular fodder for television and movies, most wedding toasts do not include stories of debauchery or earlier transgressions. Inclusion of crude or vulgar references in a wedding toast is considered to be in bad taste because it may be offensive to those in attendance. Weddings are usually attended by older relatives of both the bride and the groom. These relatives will not likely appreciate this type of humor.

3. Similarly best man speeches should not include inside jokes which will not be understood by the majority of guests at the wedding. Although these little jokes may be quite funny to the couple, the best man and a few guests, most guests will likely not understand the joke. This can create an awkward situation because the guests will not know why a few guests are laughing so uproariously.

4. Keeping best man speeches short and simple is also recommended. Many best men make the mistake of thinking the toast has to be long but this isn’t true. Some of the most memorable toasts are quick and to the point. This is important because the guests will not become confused or lose track of the point being made by the best man.

5. Using common language is also recommended when giving best man speeches. A best man who attempts to use unfamiliar words may be uncomfortable and their discomfort will not translate well to the other guests.

6. Seeking outside advice when writing best man speeches can be very helpful. The best man may wish to recite the speech or toast for an audience before the wedding day to ensure everything comes out as he planned. Friends of the bride and groom or the parents of the couple are good resources for this practice speech. They make a good audience because they know the couple well and can provide insight into how the speech will be received.

7. The best man should also practice reciting the speech several more times before the wedding. The trial run with others is helpful but practicing in front of a mirror or a camcorder will allow the best man to determine how well the speech sounds. Best man speeches should sound natural and not over rehearsed but repeating the words out loud a few times will help the best man to deliver the toast smoothly on the day of the wedding.
By Antoinette Boulay

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Free Best Man Speeches

It is a great honor to be asked to be the best man. It means that out of all the groom’s friends, you are the one that he has given the greatest responsibility to. This responsibility is an important one that most best men forget at first, the one that defines your duty, the most nerve-wrecking part of the wedding day for you: the speech. For it is the tradition and duty of the best man to deliver a heart-felt speech at the wedding reception in front of all the wedding guests.

However, this speech can prove to be extremely difficult to construct and even more difficult to deliver. The best man needs to captivate the moment of the wedding and the couple’s love without ruining it. The best man does not want to be remembered as the man who talked about the groom’s drinking habits or the man who accidentally implied that the bride doesn’t normally look beautiful.

However, the best man may realize that there are even more things that could go wrong. What if, for example, the best man drops the glass of champagne while giving the speech? What if the best man writes the most excellent speech then forgets it when it come times to deliver it? How does the best man write the perfect speech in the first place? How does the best man fill that all so important speech with sincere comments and thoughts without becoming too sentimental? What does the best man say to a friend without embarrassing the groom or oneself? What if the best man slips up? What if you, the best man, can’t think of anything to say? Well, here are a few ideas for Best Man Speeches that can be broken apart and reshaped to fit together for the perfect best man speech for your wedding. With just a little memorizing, the best man can deliver a perfect speech with confidence and flare. There is nothing to worry about if you are prepared. So research, research, research.

Speech 1:

On this day that two of my greatest friends begin their lives together, I can’t help but thinking about the game I watched the other day—My team won by the way— but I was thinking that it took more than one person to win that game. The offense and the defense had to work together to form the perfect team. Marriage, in my opinion, is like that game. One person cannot make a marriage work…it takes two. So may you two always work on the same team and never against one another. May your marriage be full of wins, never losses, and all the happiness in the world. Congratulations!

Speech 2:

Ladies and Gentlemen— I would like you to join me in wishing Jerold and Harriet a wonderful life together. I’ve known Jerold for the past 5 years. When I first met him, he told me that he would never get married. Then three years ago, he met Harriet, and I don't know what Harriet did, but his opinion of marriage has changed. It may have something to do with the fact that I have never seen Jerold happier than he has been these last three years. Harriet you have really brought out the best qualities in him. May you both continue to bring out the best in each other and love each other for the rest of your lives. Cheers!

Speech 3:

What advice do you give to the man who just became your brother-in-law? Well here are some of the answers I came up with: Flowers are not just for Valentine’s Day or your anniversary. Give flowers for it being Monday. Give all types of flowers, but remember roses work the best. Also remember to cook dinner every once in a while but always wash the dishes. Remember that the woman is always right…even when she’s wrong. Remember the living room carpet should be changed every two years and diamonds make the best gifts. And don’t forget to love each other. Thanks sis for all your help with this speech…may your lives be filled with happiness. Congratulations!
By Chris Dreyer

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Unique Wedding Toast Ideas for the Best Man

If you are a best man in a wedding, you will likely be responsible for giving the first toast at the wedding. There are a lot of different ways you can go about toasting the newlywed couple. By being unique, you can make the wedding even more memorable and enjoyable for the guests.

First of all, you should know what subjects should be off limits. No matter how friendly you are with the bride and groom, reliving the groom's wilder days isn't a very good idea. While this may be the standard toast in movies, in real life it oftentimes doesn't work out very well at all. The bride and even the wedding guests could become uncomfortable if the details become too racy.

While giving a speech is the most common route taken, a best man can do so much more. One idea is to turn a speech into a poem or even a song. This is a unique twist that has become more popular in recent years. You don't even need to memorize it - you can bring along notes to help you remember.

Additionally, you can meet with the parents of the bride and groom before the wedding to execute even more extravagant ideas. For example, you could surprise the bride and groom with a slideshow with pictures you obtained from the parents. Another idea is to produce a video with background footage of the couple.

If there isn't the equipment for a slideshow or a video available, you could ask for a few items from the parents that hold sentimental value. You can then present each item and give a correlating story.

Be prepared, be sincere and be complimentary. While saying a speech off the top of your head isn't a bad idea, by going the extra mile you can help the wedding be a smashing success!
By Mellisa Ingram

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10 Tips For Memorable Best Man Wedding Toasts

Giving a best man wedding toast in front of people, some of which you may not know can be stressful. You would like to give a speech that will live up to the honor of being the best man as well as being touching. Some of the following tips can get you started on the path to giving a simple but fantastic best man wedding toast.

1)Try to avoid drinking too much alcohol. You want to be able to speak clearly to your guests.

2)Begin your toast after glasses are filled.

3)Speak slowly and calmly. Do not rush. You want the guests to enjoy what you have to say.

4)Talk about how you came to know the groom and add a funny story involving the two of you. Maybe you met when you were kids and the groom liked the bride since he was in school.

5)Refrain from any insults even if they are inside jokes. You want the guests as well as the bridal party understand your speech.

6)Next speak a little about the bride. Did you go out with the couple one night and have a great time skydiving? Did the bride surprise you and the groom with her confidence? You can then weave the quality of the bride's confidence into why she's marrying the groom. This will make her and her family feel included in your toast as well.

7)Keep your toast short, usually no more than 5 minutes.

8)Finish your best man wedding toast by first thanking the groom for bestowing the honor of being his best man onto you, and then wish the bride and groom congratulations and a life of happiness.

9)Raise your glass and have the guests join in the toast.

10)And the best tip of all for giving a memorable best man wedding toast is to be prepared. Practice what you will say and have fun with it.

These tips should inspire and help you give a very memorable best man wedding toast. The kind of speech the bride, groom and guests will remember for quite some time.

By Aline Klein

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Speeches And Toasts Pointers You Cannot Do Without

Most people are able to slide through life without ever needing to worry about giving speeches and toasts in front of a group of people, just as most people have not had any public speaking training. If this is true for you, but you have been asked to participate in an upcoming wedding by offering a speech or a toast, then the likelihood is that you are sweating bullets just thinking about what you will say.

Being worried, anxious, nervous and at a loss for what you are going to say is a pretty common experience for those who are asked to give speeches and toasts at the wedding reception or other large and important events. One option that some people turn to for help is to look for some wedding toast ideas on the internet.

Nowadays, it is very convenient and easy to locate good internet sites that are full of guidelines, ideas and helpful tips in putting together speeches and toasts. On top of just finding ideas, there are sites that have brief examples or even full-blown free wedding speeches that you can review. These can used as an outline or as a template for your own speech.

The examples that you find on such websites can be very helpful in stimulating ideas and getting a feel for the proper format of speeches and toasts that are offered at nuptial events. You are then able to add in touching, poignant or even funny anecdotes about the couple to make the marriage toast or speech personal. However, it should always be remembered that the comments made should be designed to honor and uplift the couple and never to put them down on their special day.

Giving speeches and toasts at the marriage reception is a special time to really set the tone for the rest of the reception event. In addition to setting the tone, the marriage toast time is when guests can offer their wishes to the couple and help celebrate their new life together. It is also an opportunity for the guests to learn more details about the bride and groom individually and as a couple.

While a marriage toast is only a part of the overall celebration, it can become one of the most memorable parts of the reception celebration. In some cases, well-crafted speeches and toasts given by those who are close to the couple can become some of the most precious gifts that the couple receives.

For the official marriage speeches, it is usually the best man, the father of the bride or groom or other close friends or relatives that will give them. The floor is then open for speeches and toasts from the rest of the guests. Another excellent resource to help you prepare to give speeches and toasts is to seek out a speaking club, such as Toastmasters. Here, you can learn the right skills for giving polished and memorable speeches. Not only can you acquire the information you need to write a good wedding speech or toast, but you will also have opportunities at such clubs to actually practice giving speeches and getting comfortable doing so.
By Mike Selvon

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Tips For Wedding Speeches

If you ask a couple what the most memorable part of their wedding was, often they will answer that it was a heartfelt wedding speech. Even though that is often the case, not much effort is put into wedding speeches, at least in comparison to the planning that goes into the rest of the event.

A well-written wedding speech will often be remembered and cherished for many years to come. It may even be referenced during anniversaries and other important moments in the lives of the couple.

Most of the time, the wedding speeches are offered by one or more of the people who are the closest and most important to the bride or the groom, or both. This is often undertaken by the best man, the maid of honor, the parents of the couple or a brother or sister of the bride or the groom.

The average length of a marriage speech, depending on how many people have been asked to speak, is usually from three to ten minutes long. What happens many times is that people will become nervous when giving wedding speeches and will have a tendency to speak very fast, making it hard to be understood or they may speak too slow, causing people to become bored.

To avoid this problem, anyone giving a marriage speech should take the time to rehearse it in private to become comfortable with what they are planning to say. Having a written outline to refer to during the speech will also help to eliminate the embarrassment of forgetting what one intended to say.

Wedding speeches should focus on talking about things that are important to the bride and groom, particularly things that relate to their relationship. Little-known stories about how the couple met, where they met, or what the spark was that started the whole thing, can be integrated into the speech to make it more interesting. Also, observations about positive or romantic ways in which their relationship blossomed, given from the perspective of the speaker, can add personal insights about the newlyweds.

However, it should always be remembered that the purpose of such speeches and toasts is to honor and recognize the couple and should focus on them in an upbeat and respectful way. Humor can often be a very effective tool when giving such a speech, but courtesy should be taken into consideration to avoid mean-spirited comments and cutting humor. Such negative attempts and interjecting humor has ruined many best man speeches and other marriage toasts.

Overall, it should be remembered that the most important element of wedding speeches is for the speaker to offer words of congratulations and support that are sincere and which come from the heart. A good, heartfelt marriage speech will also help to set the tone for each wedding toast that is sure to follow.

Generally, the first marriage toast is performed as part of the final speech to honor the bride and groom. The toast should sum up all the speeches and end on a high note. Traditionally, as the toast is being made, the bride's glass is then filled first, followed by the groom's. The maid of honor and the balance of the marriage party then have their glasses filled, followed by the parents of the couple, with the best man being served last.

Wedding speeches can be a wonderful way to take part in such a special and momentous day in the life of the new couple. Spending time to prepare a few significant and thoughtful words and polishing the speech in advance is a terrific way to honor the couple and to make your wedding speech more meaningful.
By Mike Selvon

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Father of the Bride’s Wedding Toasts

The father of the bride may wish to stand at this point, thank the bride for the toast, Thank the guests for attending, and offer a toast of his own to the Grandparents; and Bride and Groom. Last, but surely not least, is the Father of the Bride. Among his well wishes for his daughter's happiness with her new husband, the Father of the Bride will want to welcome the Groom to his family, thank the guests for attending and celebrating with his family, then announce that the festivities may now begin. The Father of the Groom may wish to speak as well, in which case announcing the beginning of festivities will fall to him.

Up until the beginning of this century, it was the bride’s father who usually delivered the first toast. Although this honor now falls on the best man, the bride’s father still has the option of offering a touching toast to his daughter and her new husband. He may deliver this toast as the bride’s father or on behalf on himself and his wife. The father of the bride as host, may also wish to propose a toast to the members of the wedding party, the guests and his new in-laws, welcoming them into the family.

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Bride’s Wedding Toasts

The Bride then stands and toasts the Groom, thanks the guests, and then proposes a toast to her parents. She may wish to include her new in-laws in the toast or save a special toast for them. It is appropriate for the Bride to toast the Maid of Honor and Bridesmaids at this time as well.

The bride may propose a toast to her parents, her grandparents, her groom’s parents or to her groom (after her groom has toasted her first). She may also toast her bridesmaids, whether or not the have already been toasted by the groom or the best man.

Now it's the Bride's turn to speak. But what could she possibly say that hasn't been said already? If any of the above thank-you have been left out, she should add them now, as well as an additional thank you to the Groom's parents for raising him to be the wonderful man he is today. And surely she won't forget to toast the love of her life, her new husband.

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Groom’s Wedding Toasts

While the Best Man may be the only person offering a toast, it is traditionally thought that the Groom should stand and at least thank the Best Man for his toast. This is also appropriate timing for the Groom to offer thanks to the Bride's parents (especially if they paid for the event) and thank the wedding attendants and the Bridesmaids for helping make the day special. And he shouldn't forget why he's here, to marry his beautiful Bride, so he should be sure to toast to her beauty and any other qualities he wants to add.

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Maid of Honor Wedding Toasts

It's becoming a new trend to hear the Maid of Honor speak at the wedding as well. Sure, she can tell the story of how the Bride and Groom met, but if she's following the Best Man, chances are he's covered this already. Her job is to offer words of inspiration and wisdom to the newlyweds, as well as her blessings.

The maid of honor can now stand and begin giving a short 3-5 minute speech followed by the Wedding Toasts to the bride and groom. The maid of honor speech is generally focused on the bride.

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Best Man Wedding Toasts

The best man stands and begins by getting the attention of the guests. A short 3-5 minute speech followed by the toast is then given to the bride and groom.

The best man usually offers the first toast to the bridge and groom and their new life together. His toast is the only essential toast offered during the wedding reception, all others being optional. It is customary for the best man to reminisce a little about his friendship with the groom, relating interesting little stories, but the audience is also looking to him to add a touching, and possibly humorous story about how the Bride and Groom met and should be ended on a serious note.

This Wedding Toasts should be delivered with as much poignancy and heartfelt sincerity as possible. The best man is also expected to propose a “thank-you” toast to the bridesmaids on behalf of the bridge and from, unless the from proposes this toast himself, in which case it is the best man’s duty to reply to the groom’s toast on behalf of the bridesmaids.

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The Difference Between a Wedding Toast and a Wedding Speech

Well although the terms are often used interchangeably, they are 2 different things.

A Wedding Toasts is only about few lines and 30 seconds. A Wedding Toast is a way of honoring the bride and groom. A Wedding Toast should not be embarrassing so think carefully about what you say at the wedding. A funny toast may not be the most appropriate style.

A Wedding Speech is just that, a speech. It is about a 3 to 5 minute speech about the Bride and Groom, and the marriage they have embarked on. You might want to call these Speeches “Stories” because, in essence, that is what they are. You are going to tell a story to the newlyweds, wishing them wealth, health and happiness, but with a lot of personalization!

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History of the Wedding Toasts Tradition

The traditional toasts at the reception following the wedding are an essential part of every wedding celebration. You will find many different versions of the “traditional” order for toasts in any Internet search for wedding toasts. What follows here is what occurred at a wedding I have been attending from some years ago until now. It made such an impression on me that, since them, I have recommended this to many couples.

Although no one knows for sure, toasts are believed to have originated from an old custom of poisoning one's enemy by slipping poison into their glass of wine.
With an evil smile, such hosts would toast to the health and happiness of the guest, only to watch their demise. But honorable hosts began showing their good intentions by pouring from a common pitcher and sipping the wine first. Then a toast was offered to the health and happiness of his guest...with true intentions!

Toasting also has a long history through many cultures. Offering a toast was deemed a gesture of good faith, but also had its twists. As history reveals, toasting started with the ancient Greeks who had a strange and often deadly habit of spiking the ale with a poison. It is said that by clinking the glasses together after the toast, you could slosh the poison that another may have put into your glass of ale, back into their glass. With friends like that, who needs enemies?
The term toasting comes from the Roman practice of putting a piece of burnt bread (toast) into a goblet of wine to mellow the sometimes harsh flavor. On the other hand; in Old England, a piece of toast was placed in the bottom of your glass to soak up the residue as a result of the heavy sediments in the bottom of the bottle.

Clinking of the glasses has many theories of its own. The most common belief is that the bell-like sound of clinking glasses was thought to drive the devil and other evil spirits out of the wine or champagne, making it safe to drink. As previously stated, another theory was to slosh poison from ones glass into another’s. Clinking could have also come around as a way to make contact since we no longer all drink from the same bowl or goblet.

Eventually this evolved into today's wedding toasts that offer congratulations and best wishes to the Bride and Groom. Yet even that simple toast of congratulations and best wishes has become less than a 5 minute speech, including other things such as stories from the Groom's past and thanks to the wedding attendants, guests, and parents for helping to make the day a success.