Wedding Toasts & Speeches: A Cheap Way To Make Your Wedding Uniquely 'You' And Special

Like petals on a favorite flower, precious moments are what make weddings special. Among the most meaningful memories are your wedding toasts and speeches.

Perfect words are as critical to the reception as vows are to the ceremony. For the newly betrothed, their parents and wedding party, a charming, heartwarming toast costs absolutely nothing and adds big value to the big day. Here are some tips to turn bumbling efforts into two minute masterpieces?

A few words from the Newlyweds...

Adrian and I giving our speech...well, mostly Adrian. I tend to freeze in front of crowds.

When planning your wedding toasts and speeches remember this - the best weddings have a seemingly seamless flow, uninterrupted by awkward silence or lingering waits.

It’s a great idea to punctuate the early part of a reception with an appearance at the microphone. This works nicely after an entrance or once guests are seated and glasses full. Bride or groom, know this and prosper:

Be grateful - You can never say thanks enough. Let everyone know how meaningful it is to have them present. Thank your team (anyone pivotal in planning), building from minor to major players, including guests, wedding party, hosts and parents.

Be lovely - Grooms, say something sweetly personal to your wife. Brides, tell your husband how you feel and he’ll recall the sensation forever. If one of you is loathe to speak -- for whatever reason -- let the talkative spouse pontificate while the partner smiles, glass raised. Should both decline, ask your MC to read what you’ve written. This is your chance to show appreciation -- don’t blow it!

Be brief - Your wedding reception toasts & speeches needn’t be long. A room full of revelers has an attention span equivalent to a litter of kittens. Two or three minutes for any speech or toast will do the job nicely.

Wedding reception toasts from those who knew you when....

Adrian's cousin reading a speech written by his grandmother who was married on the same street as us 50 years earlier. She was unable to attend due to illness.

Most Best Men and Matrons or Maids of Honor will want to give a toast. Almost all need gentle guidance in how to prepare their wedding toast or speeches properly. Revealing a cute story that illustrates your point is a must-do. Telling tales about the old days and exes and where all the sex was -- that’s a mustn’t do.

When the wedding party speaks they can introduce themselves, explain their connection and compliment the guests. Recount a special tale about the bride or groom, one that illuminates without embarrassing, keeping it short and sweet.

What’s imperative is relative sobriety. If it’s a celebration sans alcohol -- you can skip this next sentence. Otherwise, be warned: drunken wedding reception toasts are not amusing or cool. Make your toasts before things get wild and once your duty is done, then have some fun.

When in doubt, steal a quote for your wedding reception toast and speeches

Adrian's father giving a speech at our wedding. He wrote a variation on the Rock, Stone Sand Rule For Us. It was sweet and special at the same time.

Type “wedding quotes” into your favorite search engine and what do you get? You’ll spy a wealth of gems that make you sound like a charter member of Toastmasters.

Tailor a quote to the wedding’s theme, be it a seasonal sensation or simple soiree.

Quotes work especially well for parents, pulling a lifetime of dreams into a few clever sentences. Is the blissful couple adventurous, old fashioned, destined or thunderstruck? There’s a wonderful quote just waiting for a spotlight from you.

Think you need more than prose? Learn from the pros! The importance of the right wedding toast or speech can’t be underestimated: when done well, it freezes a moment in time that otherwise can swiftly evaporate. Among the many resources available, we’ve found a site - www.weddingspeech4u.com - that has special books for brides, grooms, parents and the wedding party. With step-by-step suggestions, sample toasts and speeches perfect for people called upon to speak, it makes an ideal pre-wedding gift, too. The only other good book I've come across is Wedding Toasts Made Easy!: The Complete Guide.

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