Monday, July 28, 2008

Tips for giving a Wedding Toast

This weekend was another beautiful yet touching wedding ceremony. While I anxiously wait for photos from Kevin Lee Photography (Oh My... He is good! Very good! click here to take a look at Yuni & Mike's engagement photos taken by the amazing Kevin Lee)
Anyways, after coming back from this wedding, I couldn't help but to post an entry about giving a good wedding toast. I've listened to tons of wedding toasts. Some were good and some were actually pretty bad and LONG...

Here are some tips to help you give a great toast at the reception:
1. The best wedding toasts, in my opinion, are from the heart. As you're writing, think of things that you really admire about the bride and groom. Why are you friends with them? What character qualities do they have that you admire and respect about them?
2. Don't try too hard to be funny. Use humor where appropriate, but let it come naturally. Keep the inside jokes to a minimum so that the rest of the guests don't feel left out.
3. Keep it short: 2-3 minutes is best, 5 minutes should be the max. Write your toast so that it has a beginning, middle, and end, just like you're writing a short essay. Make sure you plan your speech beforehand. No trying to wing it!! The worst toasts are when the best man or maid of honor ramble on with no end in sight. And please speak slowly and loudly enough for all guests to hear.
4. Share one or two memories. Not an entire life story about them or about YOU! And no matter how funny it is talking about their exes, don't even mention them.
5. Practice makes perfect, or at the very least, it helps calm your nerves. This sounds simple, but write your toast and then practice it in front of the mirror. If speaking in public makes you nervous, don't be afraid to read from your notes.

I would like to close with one more thought. I've seen some single BM & MOH give marriage advice & tips to the bride & groom during the toast, don't even bother! If you're married, it's fine. But if you're not, you probably don't know what you're talking about. Do bless them but leave the marriage advice to the officiant or to the parent of the bride & groom!

To summarize what I just said in Korean, 짧고 굵게! NO 주절 주절~~ 하지만 마치 사랑하는사람에게 편지쓰는것처럼 확실한 포인트가있게 전달하기.. 그리고 쓸떼없는소린 하지말기~

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