Making a Perfect Wedding Toast

Over a beer last night, your best friend told you his wonderful news; he will be getting married to the girl of his dreams in a few months' time. You never thought you'd live long enough to see that happen, for him to take the plunge and settle down.

The idea of being a best man is very appealing. There's nothing you would rather do for your best bud on his wedding day than dazzle wedding guests with a superb wedding toast and share heartfelt sentiments, but public speaking and you, well those words were never meant to be in the same sentence.

You feel honored to be asked but also so far out of your comfort zone that you can't even picture your old security blankie! But you're a take-charge kind of guy who always steps up to the mark. Where do you start when making a wedding toast?

Learn from these suggestions on how to make an excellent wedding toast.

- The key to success is starting early and being totally prepared. Do your research by talking with others who have given wedding toasts and check out web sources and library books too. Don't go with "off-the-cuff" remarks. They simply won't cut it when the time comes, trust me!

- Learn to like butterflies. Make them fly in formation by embracing and harnessing the energy that fear produces. That extra burst of energy will enhance your wedding toast.

- Allow for several drafts. We're not talking beer here, but rewrites of your speech. Don't expect to nail it right off the bat. Write the wedding speech, let it sit for a few days and look at it again with fresh eyes. Then make some changes. Repeat this process until you feel comfortable with the results.

- A bit of laughter, some smiles, these are what you are aiming for when you use humor in a wedding speech. Never tell intimate stories, use crude language or off-color jokes. Never!

- Talk about your relationship with the groom, a youthful adventure or two, about how you just knew he had met his intended when you were first introduced. In your wedding toast, say what a wonderful guy he is, how you think his bride is a great match and how great a future you believe they have together. Speak from your heart.

- Be brief. Three to five minutes is long enough for a wedding toast.

- Mirror, mirror, who is the best prepared of all? Run through your wedding speech, gestures and all in front of a full-length mirror. Use a stopwatch.

- Take five. Try to grab a few moments in the exact place where you will be giving your wedding speech to get a feel for the mike and the room from that vantage point.

- Extend arm. No, you are not shaking hands; you are preparing to give the actual wedding toast. Use a full glass, raise your arm from the shoulder, and look directly at the bride and groom when you toast them. This is the last part of the wedding speech.

- Hug the groom and the bride at the conclusion of your wedding toast and then take your seat. Job well done!

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