How to Give a Wedding Speech or Toast

So, you’re slated to give a toast to the bride and groom or prepare a wedding speech for your friend’s special day. That means standing up in front of all those people and actually speaking eloquently. If you haven’t done a lot of public speaking you may not know the tips and tricks the pros use to make themselves look calm, cool, and collected. Here are some ways you can make it look like you give wedding speeches and toasts all the time.

Use the Right Body Language
Using proper gestures and body language is important to giving a wedding speech. Where your hands are and how you present yourself to your audience tells them how confident you are in giving a speech. Avoid wringing your hands or putting them in pockets. Stand up straight and smile as you give your wedding toast.
Speak with Conviction
Remember that you want people to believe what you are saying in your wedding speech, so be sure to speak with conviction. Since your wedding toast or speech should come from the heart, speaking with conviction should be pretty natural.

Make Eye Contact
Some people will tell you to look over the heads of the group at a point in the back of the room, but most guests will wonder why you are watching the back wall. Instead use the three-second rule by making eye contact with a number of different guests for three seconds at a time.

Avoid Looking at Your Notes
Yes, it is in your best interest to write out your wedding speech and practice your toast beforehand, but a good public speaker is so well rehearsed that notes are used as a last resort. Keep a note card in front of you to remind you of the main points of your wedding toast, but avoid reading off the cards.

Use Pauses Strategically
Any good comedian knows how effective a pause can be, because it gives “punch” to the punch line and gives your audience time to react. Use a pause during important moments of your wedding speech and give people time to laugh or clap if it is appropriate.

Add Humor
One of the best ways to decrease your stress while giving your wedding toast is to get people laughing. It will most likely relax you and get the guests prepped for the more meaningful part of your wedding speech.

Know When to Quit
Wedding speeches and toasts are not meant to be long and drawn out. Keep your speech no more than three to five minutes long. If you feel like the guests are not responding, adjust your speech to make it shorter. Remember, this is your chance to honor the bride and groom on their special day, not to show off your speaking
As you do your wedding planning, your eye is probably on your budget. Many budget conscious brides are always looking for ways to cut corners and save here and there. Your wedding invitations are no different. While most brides know to shop around for the best prices and that the type of printing on the invitation affects the cost, there are some other ways couples can save money on their wedding invitations.

Get a Package Deal
If you buy all your wedding stationery in one place you will most likely find that you are getting the best deal. Many stationers offer special package deals that can save you anywhere from 10 to 50 percent.

The Flair
You may want some flair on your wedding invitations, like bows or jewels, but that flair can add up quickly. If you are on a tight budget consider going with a simple invitation style that reflects elegance. However, if you absolutely must have some flair on your invitations, try putting it on yourself. This way you can avoid any extra assembly costs.

Mailing Your Invitations
Postage costs add up quickly, so you may want to use standard size invitations to save on postage costs. If you are not sure what the postage would be on different invitations, head over to the postal service to ask. The extra five or ten minutes to get clarification can save you hundreds on postage.

Use a Postcard RSVP
Speaking of saving money on postage, using a postcard RSVP can save you significant money on your wedding invitation costs. Postage for postcards is much less that the postage required for an envelope. Also, the lack of an extra envelope will save you money on your stationery costs.

Cut Out the Reception Card
If you are planning a wedding in which the wedding and reception are in the same place, then try cutting out the reception card completely. There is no need to direct people to the different location, so it is unnecessary. Instead, try writing “Reception to Follow,” on the invitation. Then all you need is a simple insert with directions to the wedding.