Toasts and Speeches 

Tips: 

          Prepare what you are going to say 

          Make sure everyone’s glass is full – empty glasses don’t make for good toasts 

          Face the people you are toasting 

          Wait after standing for everyone’s attention to be focused on you before speaking 

          Try to eat something beforehand to ensure you don’t have a rumbling tummy stealing the spotlight 

          Speak slowly and clearly, but no need to shout! (You’d be surprised how many people think slow equals loud) 

          Don’t fiddle – no jingling coins in the pocket, shuffling your feet or constantly wiping the sweat off your brow 

          Keep it short and sweet - this means less pressure on you and more time for dancing! In the words of Franklin D   Roosevelt “be sincere, be brief, be seated”! 

          It doesn’t have to be funny, just speak from your heart, be sincere 

          Finish with a happy hearty toast, take a sip and sit down J 

Traditionally there are only three speeches which incorporate all the toasts, but it’s up to you if you want to speak or have your bridesmaids speak, just keep in mind the length of time you want them to go for. We recommend trying to keep them to 5 minutes maximum each if you can. 

The Bride’s Father’s speech: welcomes and thanks everyone for coming, expresses his pride in his daughter, welcomes the groom to the family, offers a word or two of wisdom and toasts the bride and groom. 

The Groom’s speech: thanks just about everyone for everything, says how beautiful his bride is and how fortunate he is, acknowledges those who helped make the wedding such a success and toasts the bridesmaids (traditionally here is where he presents them with their thank-you gifts if he hasn’t already). 

The Bestman’s speech: supposedly the highlight of the reception (so no pressure!), generally light-hearted and funny - thanks the groom for his toasts and adds his own compliments to the bridesmaids, congratulates the groom, includes a story or two about the couple, reads a few congratulatory messages from those who couldn’t be there and toasts the parents of the bride and groom. 

Your MC or toastmaster can introduce each person and keep things flowing, but if you don’t have one then each speaker can just introduce the next. Make sure the caterers know when you are planning on doing speeches, so they know to keep quiet and not interrupt with the next course.
With a bit of planning and preparation this part of your big night can be relatively stressfree!