The Groom's Toast.
Picture this : it's your wedding banquet, all your closest friends
and family (probably a few hundred of them, ahem) are gathered to
witness and celebrate your entrance into marital bliss. It's time
for the groom (read: you) to step up onto the stage to give a speech.
You raise your champagne glass, clear your throat, and say.
"I want to thank everyone here for coming. I want to thank my parents
for bringing me up, and I also want to thank my bride's parents for
having brought up such a beautiful and wonderful person"
How original.
Grooms, if that is what you plan to say at your wedding, please
think twice. Three times, if you want.
Just because almost all the grooms you've met at all the weddings
you've been to so far have used these exact same words, it doesn't
mean that this is the perfect little speech. In fact, it's gotta
be the dullest, most unoriginal, most uninspiring wedding toast there
ever was. Read on, and let us give you some pointers on giving a
most memorable speech at your own wedding.
Avoid generalizing
All the people who matter to you are here. That childhood pal who
has played soccer with you for 15 years. That best friend who never
failed to lend you his homework. That friend who introduced you
to your wife. These people have names. And what other better occasion
are you going to have to thank them? Don't just "I want to thank
my closest friends, and ALL my other friends. Let them know what
a difference they've made to your life, with that personal touch. "To
Tom, who always listened to my troubles after soccer sessions.
To Dad, who taught me how to be a man" and so on. But of course,
that doesn't mean you should thank the whole world one by one.
Prioritize. Thank only the ones that you really feel for. If you
feel strongly for everyone, I don't know what to say.
Avoid pet names
This especially applies when you're mentioning your other half (the
better half, probably). Avoid saying something like ' to my darling
ham cheem pang, I love you'. She may like it when you're cuddling
her and whispering it into her ears. But when you announce it to
the rest of the world, it's just not that cute anymore. Always
mention her by name, don't say 'my bride', 'my wife', 'my darling'.
Declare love
Your speech should revolve around your bride. Use anecdotes. Say
how you two first met, what you first thought of her, what you
think of her now, how you knew she was the one, etc. Keep it sentimental.
Don't tell stories of how she snores. Or how she wears mismatched
underwear. That's wrong. That's very very wrong.
Short and sweet
Do not write a 10 page essay. Keep it to the point, five minutes
will do just nicely. Be sincere, sensitive and appropriate.
Write it down
Impromptu is not a good idea. Prepare your toast in advance. Make
notes, in case you get the jitters. And please use paper. Writing
on your hands or your clothes is not a good idea.
Testing testing 1 2 3
Practice makes perfect. Try speaking into the mirror. And then try
speaking into the mike. Get used to the PA system, so that you
know exactly just how loud you should be, or how near you should
be standing to the mike.
See, that doesn't sound all too difficult does it? Be sincere and
honest. When you finish giving the toast, your bride's face will
beam with pride.
Related article:
My Best Friend's Wedding Speech |