Often just before salad or between salad and main course. Start toast only after caterer is rea (with champagne in glasses) and photographers/videographers are ready. Caterer may need 15-20 minutes to pour the champagne. Your DJ should Introduce the best man and tell him to stand up. If available the DJ should bring a wireless microphone to best man. It is customerery for the DJ to invite both the best man and maid of honor to give a toast. After the toast, the DJ should ask if anyone else wants to say something to the bride or groom or offer a toast. At the end of the open toast, the DJ can ask if the bride or groom have anything to say but it is not necessary . "English Style" Toasting (optional) This is usually done just as the bride and groom are finishing their meal, but before all the guests are done. The DJ will ask the guests to stand and relate a touching or funny memory of the bride or groom, or simply offer best wishes. Even if the best man has already made the traditional toast, the DJ can have him start off. The DJ will then then keep handing the toast off, first to the father of the groom, then to the father of the bride, and so on until all guests have had an opportunity to toast the newlyweds. Sometimes having the best man take the mic through the crowd (instead of the MC) helps break the ice. When it appears there are fewer people interested in speaking, the DJ will wrap it up with everyone standing and toasting the bridal couple once more with raised glasses. THE FOLLOWING SPEECHES LISTED ARE ONLY GUIDES, WE DO ENCOURAGE YOU TO ALTER THEM TO SUIT YOUR OWN INDIVIDUAL NEEDS FOR WHAT TO SAY. TOAST FROM THE BRIDE First, I would like to thank everyone for being here today to share in our happiness. To Christy and Becky ( my bridesmaids) thanks for putting up with me today. With out you I probably would have falling apart or showed naked or something. Thanks for being great friends. To MO and Jamen ( groomsmen ) thanks for being such a big part of our lives, with out you this day would be the same. Most importantly I want to thank my mother and father and their spouse for this beautiful day. With out whom none of this would have been possible. Dad thanks for being here and giving me away. Mom thank for always being my best friend and being there no matter what. Thank you and I love you both. Also to our friends and family for the time and money that they spent to make this the most perfect day I could have asked for. Thanks to Larry's parents for having such a great kid, and thank you excepting me into your family with open arms. Last but not least a thanks to my amazing husband for always being my night in shinning armor. For all the love and happiness that you have brought me. Most of all thank for our wonderful daughter. I will love you forever and a day. TO HAPPILY EVER AFTER!! TOAST TO THE BRIDE AND GROOM: His speech is usually made by a good friend of either family or relative who is a good speaker. Sincerity is the key word here for this Speech. "I have known (Bride) since .... She has a lovely character (ATTRIBUTES) Etc. Her home life has been ..... (PARENTS ATTRIBUTES) so it only stands to reason that the Bride has some of the lovely, unselfish characteristics of her Parents. I think the Groom is a lucky man to have (Bride) to stand by his side because etc. As for (Groom) he has / hasn't always been on the scene, but over the past .... years he has proved to be a wonderful husband and companion to (Bride). Let me tell you a funny story about (Groom) .... etc. I would like take this opportunity of wishing both (Bride & Groom) the very best for their future happiness together .... etc. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I NOW WOULD LIKE (Bride & Groom) TO STAND AND INVITE EVERYONE TO DRINK WITH ME, A VERY SPECIAL TOAST TO THE BRIDE AND GROOM!.." RESPONSE BY THE BEST MAN: "Thank you (Groom), It has been a pleasure for me to be your best man. We have been friends for a long time, & I was delighted when you asked me to stand in this role today. I'd like to relate a little story about (Groom) ..... (Humorous or serious). The Bridesmaids have also assured me that it was their pleasure to assist (Bride). We have had a heap of fun together today, but seriously, on behalf of the Bridesmaids, the Groomsmen & Myself, we wish to offer our best wishes an congratulations to (Bride & Groom). We trust that they will enjoy a lifetime of love and prosperity, be happy and be able to work through their problems together. Hang in their, and invite us to your Golden Wedding Anniversary. Thank you". TOAST TO THE BRIDES PARENTS: The MC Calls on a Relative or close friend of Bride's family, to propose a toast to the Brides parents. "I have known (Bride's parents) for many years now & our association with them has been one of pleasure and respect. I am glad / honored to be able to propose this toast to them.... (Relate briefly their virtues and quality traits of character). With Parents such as (Brides Parents), is easy to see how they have produced a lovely daughter such as (Bride). I can only recommend (Bride & Groom) that you take a leaf out of your Parents book of life IF I COULD HAVE (BRIDES PARENTS) UPSTANDING, WITHOUT ANY FURTHER WORDS CAN EVERYONE CHARGE THEIR GLASSES TO TOAST TO THE BRIDE'S PARENTS, "LADIES & GENTLEMEN TO THE BRIDE'S PARENTS!". RESPONSE BY FATHER OF THE BRIDE: This is the fathers chance to say all those things he has wanted to say about his Daughter in public!, Guests expect him to have a good say and brag if he wants to. He is usually the one paying for the Wedding, after all!. "Thank you, (Friend / Relative) for the kind words you said about my wife & myself. Now what can a father say about a daughter like (Bride) ?. She has been winding me around her little finger for so many years now that.. (I'm going to miss it?) (Groom), we are happy to welcome you into our family. We've come to appreciate you as the person who (Bride) has entrusted with her love, and my wife and I want to wish you both every happiness. THANK YOU". TOAST TO THE GROOM'S PARENTS: MC Calls on a Relative or close friend of the Groom's family, to propose a toast to the Groom's parents. This will be a similar speech to the one proposed to the parents of the Bride. (Or changed to suit on the night) RESPONSE BY FATHER OF THE GROOM: This will be a similar speech to the one by the Father of the Bride. "Thank you (E. g.: Jim) for your kind words. We would like to add our congratulations to the newly weds. We feel that we are not losing a son, but gaining a Daughter. If I myself could have chosen a wife for my son, I couldn't have made a better choice than (Groom) has done himself. We are more than happy to welcome (Bride) into our family, etc... THANK YOU". LETTERGRAMS, Emails, Faxes (The Old fashioned Telegrams) The MC calls on the Best Man & Groomsmen to stand up and read the telegrams or lettergrams. (Funny or not so funny ones received). TOAST TO ABSENT FRIENDS Toast proposed usually by the MC or a very good Friend or close Relative of the Bride & Groom. "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IF I COULD HAVE EVERYONE UP STANDING WITH CHARGED GLASSES AND WE WILL HAVE A TOAST TO ABSENT FRIENDS" "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN TO ABSENT FRIENDS!" SPEECHES KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL SPEAKING ARE: It's easy to see why most guides recommend that three minutes is quite long enough for a wedding speech! keyed up by wedding jitters, buoyed up by champagne, often unaccustomed to facing an audience of people, every speaker longs to do well, yet dreads putting both feet in their mouth. And if you've never (or hardly ever) had to make a speech before, it's easy to panic. The most common traps are speaking faster than normal, stumbling and adlibbing to cover up, and speaking well over the three minute time limited. THERE ARE JUST FOUR KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL SPEECH MAKING. 1. Keep it short, keep it clean, learn it by heart. Remember to bring your notes and don't be afraid to use them! 2. Use numbered postcard size notes with one sentence or short paragraph printed in bold clear writing on each. They don't get lost, they don't rustle and they fit comfortably into a suit pocket. 3. Rehearsal is a must! Persuade a friend to listen and watch, or use a tape recorder and talk to the bathroom mirror. 4. Light humor and gentle jokes are warmly received in any wedding speech, but be aware of clumsy phrasing or risqu頪okes which might embarrass or offend any member of the wedding party or guests. Cliches about the Bride in her Nappys (or the Groom without his), innuendo about previous relationships and mother-in-law jokes are definitely OFF the wedding speaker's list (but you have the choice). Finally, remember you have lots of friends among the guests, all of whom want your speech to go over well just as much as you do!..... |