to give a speech or toast

How to Give a Toast: A Guide for Memorable Speeches

• The Speaker Lab
• January 12, 2024

Table of Contents

Ever been at a party or event, glass in hand, when suddenly you’re asked to say a few words? The room goes silent. All eyes are on you. It’s your moment and…panic sets in. How exactly are you supposed to give a toast?

Fear not! Giving a memorable toast is an art that can be mastered by anyone. Think of it as sharing a piece of wisdom wrapped up with a little wit and warmth. To master this art, we’ve got the scoop for you—whether it’s understanding the essence of a good toast, learning common etiquette rules, or avoiding classic mistakes, we’ve got it all. And don’t worry—we’ll throw in some sparkling examples to inspire your own memorable moments.

Ready? Let’s delve into this guide and make sure next time those spotlight moments aren’t panic-stricken but applause-driven!

The Purpose of Toasts

Before actually delving into how to give a toast, it’s important to understand why you’re giving a toast in the first place.

Toasts can be used in multiple settings. They celebrate special occasions like weddings or anniversaries, they honor individuals on their birthdays or retirement parties, and they provide a platform to express gratitude during holiday gatherings.

In its simplest form, a toast can be seen as an act of storytelling with three main parts: introduction (setting up the context), body (the story itself), and conclusion (where we lift our glasses).

The story told through a toast should create emotional resonance while also sharing insights into the person or event being toasted. Essentially, the aim of a toast is to unite everyone present in celebrating shared values or accomplishments.

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Essential Elements of a Good Toast

To give a toast that leaves an impression, you need to master certain key elements. These include sincerity, brevity, humor, and timing.

A good toast comes from the heart. It’s not about using big words or complex sentences but conveying genuine emotions and sentiments. If you can share personal anecdotes or experiences related to the occasion or person being toasted, you’ll make your words that much more meaningful.

A memorable toast is concise. Aim for two minutes max—this isn’t your chance to tell every story about your friendship with the bride since kindergarten. When giving a toast, stay succinct for the most impact.

Injecting some well-placed humor into your speech can lighten up any occasion—but remember to keep it tasteful.

Pick the right moment for your tribute—it shouldn’t interrupt dinner or come too late in the evening when guests might be ready to leave.

Crafting Your Memorable Toast

Brainstorming is the first step in crafting your toast. To start, simply let your ideas flow without worrying about structure or editing. Don’t worry about editing or structure yet, just get all your ideas down on paper. If you need inspiration, consider personal stories, quotes you love, or keynotes speeches.

Once you have all your ideas down, it’s time to start sculpting them into a well-rounded toast. Start by picking out the most powerful points from your brainstorm session. Then create an outline with these points as your guideposts.

Next, rehearse. Rehearse your lines until they feel natural—this will help you give your toast confidently without stumbling over words. Don’t overdo it, though, that way you keep some spontaneity in your toast.

As you write your toast, make sure you adapt it both to the audience and the occasion. Wedding toasts, for example, should be written with the wedding party and other guests in mind. What kind of jokes or humor will they appreciate? Are you best friends with the bride and groom or more of a casual acquaintance? Make sure you think through these things as you craft your toast.

Delivering Your Toast

Your body speaks volumes even before you start your toast. Stand tall, shoulders back, and make sure to keep eye contact with the audience. This not only conveys confidence but also helps engage listeners.

Controlling Voice Modulation

Varying pitch and volume can bring life to your speech. But don’t overdo it. Use these tools wisely to emphasize key points or evoke emotion without becoming theatrical.

Harvard Business Review offers some great tips on voice control for speakers.

Maintaining Audience Engagement

Remember, delivering a toast is an interactive experience. You’re not just talking at people but connecting with them emotionally. To maintain an emotional connection, take pauses for dramatic effect or laughs. After all, pauses are part of the rhythm of public speaking.

If space allows, feel free to roam around since movement can add dynamism to your toast.

Lastly, enjoy yourself. A happy speaker often leads to a captivated audience.

Common Toasting Etiquette

Toasts can make or break a celebration. Knowing the etiquette rules will help you give an unforgettable toast.

First, remember to keep it brief. A long-winded speech might lose your audience’s interest.

Second, avoid embarrassing stories or inside jokes that not everyone gets. While they may seem hilarious to you, you’ll lose your audience if only half of the room understands (or appreciates) your references. Instead, aim for universal themes like love or friendship—something that will resonate with all attendees.

Third, keep things positive. After all, a toast is about honoring someone, so stick to compliments and kind words.

Last, be mindful of timing. Don’t start your toast too early or late in the event—and don’t forget to end by inviting others to raise their glasses and join in on your sentiment.

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An Example of a Successful Toast

Before actually delivering your toast, it may help to consider an example. Let’s check out one memorable toast that has resonated with crowds in the past.

This example is from an Oscar acceptance speech by Matthew McConaughey . At the beginning of his speech, McConaughey stayed positive, recognizing the talent of the other nominees for best actor and expressing gratitude for those who helped him along his journey. He wasn’t even afraid to use a little humor to get his audience laughing.

Then, he settled into the meat of his toast by talking about how he considered his future self to be his hero, the person he wanted to be. In this way, McConaughey connected with his audience over the universal theme of always striving to be better.

Remember: you don’t need fame or high stakes situations to give an impactful toast. What matters is authenticity and connection with your listeners.

Mistakes to Avoid When Giving a Toast

People presenting a toast should be aware of who they are addressing; failing to do so is one of the most common errors. It’s essential to tailor your words and tone for the crowd you’re speaking to.

In addition, avoid rambling on without structure or point. Keep it concise, focused, and relevant. Crafting a speech with purpose can help in this regard.

Another common mistake is forgetting about timing. Good speakers know that timing isn’t just about how long they speak but also when they pause for effect or humor.

Lack of Preparation

Neglecting preparation is another pitfall some fall into. Make sure you rehearse enough times so that nerves don’t get the better of you during your moment under the spotlight. Toastmasters offers great tips for dealing with stage fright.

Inappropriate Content

Last but not least, inappropriate content has no place in any toast. Jokes at someone else’s expense might get laughs from some, but they will more likely leave others feeling uncomfortable—let’s keep things classy.

How to Give a Toast FAQs

What do you say when you give a toast.

When giving a toast, share an uplifting message or story about the person or event being celebrated. Keep it heartfelt and brief.

How do you give someone a toast?

To deliver a toast, stand up, raise your glass, capture attention with engaging words, then finish by leading everyone in raising their glasses too.

What is the proper way to toast?

The right way to make a toast involves speaking clearly and sincerely. Always respect your audience’s time by keeping it short and sweet.

How do you start a toast speech example?

One simple way to start a toast: “Dear friends and family of [Name], let’s raise our glasses in tribute to this extraordinary moment…”

Mastering how to give a toast isn’t as hard as it seems, right? Not only have you learned the purpose of giving a toast, you’ve grasped essential elements like brainstorming and rehearsing. Of course, delivery matters too. The way you use body language and voice modulation can make or break your moment in the spotlight.

To ensure smooth sailing during your toast, we walked through common etiquette rules and even gave you a successful example to consider—plus a few mistakes you’ll want to avoid.

Last but not least, breathe easy—you have everything you need to give that perfect toast!

• Last Updated: February 29, 2024

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in: Featured , How To , Skills

AoM Team • December 21, 2017 • Last updated: September 25, 2021

How to Give a Toast

For each of the last four years, my wife and I (Jeremy) have hosted a Friendsgiving dinner the Sunday before Thanksgiving. It’s a chance to gather our social group together for a potluck turkey dinner and give thanks for all the good things in our lives (like friends!). Each year, I’ve been called upon to say something before we all sit down and eat, and each year, I slightly dread that short block of time in which I’m supposed to articulate something memorable. I don’t remember previous years, but this year I didn’t take any time to think about or prepare a good toast, and I fumbled through trying to recite that toast that Will Smith gives in Hitch . No joke. It was awkward. And although our friends have assuredly already forgotten (or at least forgiven) that moment, I obviously haven’t. It didn’t elevate the room or brighten people’s hearts, which is exactly what a toast is supposed to do. Rather, my toast was sort of an off note in the “music” of an otherwise wonderful evening. Wouldn’t it have been far better to have had just the right words that would have perfectly suited the occasion and enhanced everyone’s mood?

As we talked about previously, toasting has a long (and often manly history) , and we really ought to revive it more in the present age. But the tradition is so rare these days, that most of us have had little instruction and practice in it. If you’d like to help bring back toasting, how exactly do you do it?

The instructions below will help you raise a glass with real confidence, style, and event-enlivening effect.

Be Prepared

“Flubbing the toast is like serving stale champagne: it flattens the mood.” –Paul Dickson, Toasts

First, you need to be prepared. While toasting is meant to be improvisational, that doesn’t mean working entirely off the cuff in the moment; as Mark Twain once said, “It usually takes three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.” Even if you plan to give your toast extemporaneously, you ought to have a repository of some famous toasts/quotes in mind, and/or have been thinking about a theme for a few weeks and can pick just the right length and specific words once the occasion comes.

If you don’t trust yourself to do even that, go ahead and write something out. As you’re doing that, ask yourself the following questions:

• Who/what is being toasted? If it’s a best friend, it can be a little more informal. If it’s a grandparent, something sweet and sentimental is obviously far better.
• What is the reason for the toast? Is it an anniversary? A college graduation? A wedding? A promotion? Heck, even a breakup? The specific occasion will guide much of what you say.
• What type of event is it? The event type guides the formality of the toast more than anything else. A work party? Better keep it pretty straight-laced. Cocktail hour with college friends? You’re safer going off the cuff and/or with an inside joke or two.
• Who is in attendance? Related to the above point, but you really want to know your audience in order to craft your toast. You don’t want to say things that only make sense to one group of people. At a family event, you’ll say something quite different than you would at a work party. At a large, diverse gathering, you want to keep statements very broad and centered on the toastee so that everyone can get what you’re saying.

Along with these specific tips, in general, brush up on your public speaking and improvisation skills . The art of toasting deftly combines both of those things, and provides a great opportunity to practice those skills which naturally transfer into numerous other areas of life. (Also, giving a toast is a requirement for the Orator Badge in The Strenuous Life !)

Decide on Your Format

“A toast is a basic form of human expression that can be used to convey virtually any emotion, from love to rage (although raging toasts tend to cross the line into the realm of curses). They can be sentimental, cynical, lyrical, comical, defiant, long, short — even just a single word.” –Paul Dickson, Toasts

You can choose to make the whole toast an original composition, or to recite a classic set toast (see the ideas we’ve gathered below).

Arguably the best kind of toast, though, is one that combines the two elements: a brief, original introduction directed at the specific occasion and attendees, followed by a classic set toast to end things on a strong note.

Keep It Short

As Dickson notes above, toasts can involve just a single word; indeed, in ancient times, it was common to simply raise a glass “To health!”

You don’t have to keep your toasts quite that pithy, but they should always be short — about 30-60 seconds, erring on the shorter side versus the longer. Get to the point, and quickly. Only at particular gatherings should a toast exceed that, such as at a wedding, anniversary party, or other event where a longer tribute is more appropriate — and even then, you don’t want to go past a couple minutes or so.

Lean Towards Sincerity Over Humor

A lot of guys try to be funny at social gatherings, believing themselves to be far more humorous than they really are. This is especially true when giving a toast. Think about how different best man speeches are from maid of honor speeches. The former almost always tries to insert some funny story or joke that inevitably falls flat. Why is this?

Humor is very hard to get right, especially with a large and diverse crowd. At weddings especially, you have folks of all ages, all different careers and life experiences, and different social circles. The best man trying to be funny is likely doing so for his own circle of friends, and that’s all who will laugh. So with the vast majority of toasts, avoid seemingly humorous topics like exes, failures, and inside jokes; while covering such territory is common, it’s overly dicey to do.

Humor can work if you’re with a smaller, perhaps all-male group of comrades. In those informal instances, inside jokes and even some “colorful” remarks are acceptable, and even expected. In general, though, aim for sincerity. That’s sometimes harder for guys to do (which is why we lean on humor in the first place), but if you’re prepared — it all comes back to being prepared! — you’ll be able pull off a sentimental salute without a hitch. Sincerity is far better remembered by a toast’s recipients than an ill attempt at humor.

Be Sure That Everyone Is Involved & Has a Drink

While it’s obviously most traditional to toast with alcohol, you can of course toast with anything, as these boxers who would soon be squaring off against each other in the ring demonstrate.

Toasts are all about inclusion. Nobody is to be left out — children, the elderly, non-drinkers, all should be able to be part of the toast. At a dinner party, be sure that everyone is seated with their food and drink. If food isn’t part of the gathering, or if the toast is happening during cocktail hour versus the dinner hour, be sure everyone has a drink to toast with (ginger ale or something else that’s bubbly makes it special for kiddos; and here’s a list of fun mocktails for the teetotalers out there ). Also, as much as is possible, ensure everyone is present. As the host, keep an eye on things; if someone is off to the restroom, wait until they’ve returned. You don’t want someone to have to awkwardly walk into the middle of a toast.

Don’t Toast Before the Host

If you aren’t the host of an event, don’t give a toast before they’ve had the chance to do the honor. If it’s been mutually decided that you’ll toast first, then go for it. Otherwise, wait until the host has had their say.

Announce Your Intentions With Both Words and Behavior

At a boisterous party or gathering, it can be hard to know the right time and way to make your toast. How do you get everyone’s attention? At the start of a dinner party, it’s a little easier: as host, you should be waiting to get your food until everyone else has already done so. So when you approach the table, theoretically everyone else is already seated or in the process of doing so, and you can simply stay standing and say something like, “I’d like to propose a toast.”

If people are milling about, or you’re giving a toast in the midst of a meal, you’ll need to get the room’s attention. Don’t do so by clanging your glass with a utensil, which isn’t very tasteful, and might break the glass to boot. Instead, signal your intention by standing up and raising your glass to shoulder level, with your arm pointed towards the center of the party. If people still don’t notice your gesture and quiet down, just loudly say something to the effect of “If I can have everyone’s attention.” A loud throat clearing or “Ahem” is a bit informal and just never comes across quite right; it almost reads as sheepish and shy.  

End With a Clear Invitation

You’ve surely seen toasts that end amorphously; the audience isn’t sure if you’re finished or not. So when ending your toast, make that fact clear and demonstrate what everyone should do next. Say something like “Cheers!” or “Let’s a raise a glass to ___,” and then lead the way by finding someone near you to clink glasses with (if you’re in a small gathering) or going ahead and taking a sip from your glass (if you’re in a large gathering).

When to Give a Toast

So now you know how to give a toast, but when should you do so?

In our modern, generally toast-free society, it’s hard to know when it’s appropriate to offer a toast. Luckily, there are numerous occasions where giving one would not only bring a smile to everyone’s face, but elevate the general mood and environment — always the goal of a good toast!

Below you’ll find a sampling of times where it’s appropriate to offer a toast; the list is certainly not meant to be exhaustive, and there are many other fitting times to offer one as well.

While weddings are generally a carefully orchestrated affair, there are a couple times during the celebratory events where a toast might be appropriate. At the reception, there is often the formal giving of toasts by the best man, maid of honor, bride and groom, and/or parents. This is not a point where you want to add your own toast (if you haven’t gotten permission from the couple first). You might instead give your own “unauthorized” toast at the rehearsal dinner before the wedding, or on the day of the wedding itself, you might do so at your individual table or with a group of friends during the cocktail hour. The happy couple should of course be the object of your toast.

Dinner Parties With Friends

While dinner parties are a dying breed of their own, they’re the perfect occasion for a toast. If hosting, it’s easy and can really be given anytime, though during a cocktail hour when everyone has a drink or at the start of dinner is ideal. Toasts here can focus on your thankfulness for the group involved, and perhaps even an inside joke (if everyone would be privy to it, of course). You can also toast even if you aren’t hosting, though, remember, you shouldn’t be the first to do so.

Holiday Gatherings

Holiday parties, whether they be filled with coworkers, friends, or family, are perfect occasions for toasting. You can toast to the good year behind you, the upcoming year ahead, your thankfulness for the holiday, and/or the reason it exists in the first place (Thanksgiving, 4th of July, Easter, etc. — those all have pretty clear meanings). A prayer is often part of religious holiday observances, but there’s certainly room for both that and a sincere toast.  

Graduation, Retirement Parties, Post-Funeral Gatherings

This really encompasses any occasion that’s been put together for a specific life transition, and also includes promotions, engagements, and anything else you can think of too. Toasts at gatherings like these should of course focus on the life transition at hand, reflection on past memories, and well wishes for the future. Note that while toasts don’t happen at funerals, or even typically at wakes, they are appropriate if you get together with a small group of friends at a bar or pub after these more formal events to pay more intimate respects to the dead.

Anniversaries and Date Nights

Toasts well suit the marking of romantic milestones, and that’s true even if you don’t throw a big anniversary party, and the only audience for the toast is your partner. You can offer a nice toast to your gal if you go out together to celebrate your anniversary, or even simply during the course of a normal date night. Either way, toasting to the woman you love is a great way to express sincere affection, wonder, and gratitude for her presence in your life.

Casual Social Events

Getting together with old friends at a bar? Having a bonfire with the neighbors? Tailgating at the big game? This is where you can really harness the spirit of our ancient manly ancestors. (Whether or not you drain your vessel is of course up to you and your good — or not so good — judgment.) Offer up an informal toast; this is where your wit, humor, and inside jokes can be unleashed, which isn’t the case with many of the events listed above.

Toast Ideas for Various Occasions

Having some classic toasts memorized is a great way to always be prepared to offer a fitting tribute when the opportunity presents itself; classic toasts are such for a reason — they encapsulate strong, pithy sentiments and enduring wit. But don’t do a general online search for toast ideas to add to your brain library, as those you’ll find are generally just about drinking or center on crass jokes. To solve this dearth, below we offer a nice treasury of classy and genuinely humorous toasts for a wide range of occasions.

Anniversary/ Date Nights

[For a 50 th  wedding anniversary] “With fifty years between you and your well-kept wedding vow. The Golden Age, old friends of mine, is not a fable now.” —John Greenleaf Whittier, “The Golden Wedding at Longwood”  

[For the 25 th  wedding anniversary] “Love seems the swiftest, but it is the slowest of growths. No man or woman really knows what perfect love is until they have been married a quarter of a century.” –Mark Twain

“Wine comes in at the mouth And love comes in at the eye; That’s all we shall know for truth Before we grow old and die. I lift the glass to my mouth, I look at you, and I sigh.” –William Butler Yeats

“Here’s to you who halves my sorrows and doubles my joys.”

“Were’t the last drop in the well, As I gasped upon the brink, Ere my fainting spirit fell, ’Tis to thee I would drink.” —Lord Byron  

“A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.”

“A new life begun, Like father, like son.” —Irish

[Given by fathers with a son or sons] “Father of fathers, make me one, A fit example for a son.” —Douglas Malloch

[Given by grandparents] “Grandchildren are gifts of God. It is God’s way of compensating us for growing old.” —Irish

“Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do.” —Dr. Benjamin Spock, Baby and Child Care  

“Do not resist growing old — many are denied the privilege.”

“Another candle on your cake? Well, that’s no cause to pout, Be glad that you have strength enough To blow the damn thing out.”

“Happy birthday to you And many to be, With friends that are true As you are to me!”

“Many happy returns of the day of your birth: Many blessings to brighten your pathway on earth; Many friendships to cheer and provoke you to mirth; Many feastings and frolics to add to your girth.” –Robert H. Lord

“May you live to be a hundred years with one extra year to repent.” —Irish

“To wish you joy on your birthday And all the whole year through, For all the best that life can hold Is none too good for you.”

Christmas  

“As fits the holy Christmas birth, Be this, good friends, our carol still— Be peace on earth, be peace on earth, To men of gentle will.” —William Makepeace Thackeray

“Then let us be merry and taste the good cheer, And remember old Christmas comes but once a year.” —From an old Christmas carol

“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” —Hamilton Wright Mabie

“Heap on more wood!— the wind is chill But let it whistle as it will, We’ll keep our Christmas merry still.” —Sir Walter Scott

“Here’s to the day of good will, cold weather, and warm hearts! Here’s to the holly with its bright red berry. Here’s to Christmas, let’s make it merry.”

“Here’s wishing you more happiness Than all my words can tell, Not just alone for Christmas But for all the year as well.”

“Holly and ivy hanging up And something wet in every cup.” —Irish

“I have always thought of Christmas as a good time; a kind, forgiving, generous, pleasant time; a time when men and women seem by one consent to open their hearts freely; and so I say ‘God bless Christmas.’” —Charles Dickens

“I know I’ve wished you this before But every year I wish it more, A Merry Christmas.”

“I wish you a Merry Christmas And a Happy New Year A pocket full of money And a cellar full of beer!”

“May you be as contented as Christmas finds you all the year round.” —Irish  

Death  

“Oh, here’s to other meetings, And merry greetings then; And here’s to those we’ve drunk with, But never can again.”

Dinner Party

“Here’s to eternity — may we spend it in as good company as this night finds us.”

“It is around the table that friends understand best the warmth of being together.” —Old Italian saying

“To friends: as long as we are able To lift our glasses from the table.”

“A toast to our host And a song from the short and tall of us, May he live to be The guest of all of us!”

“Here’s to our hostess, considerate and sweet; Her wit is endless, but when do we eat?”

Friendship 

“May the warmth of our affections survive the frosts of age.”

“Friendship: May differences of opinion cement it.”

“Here’s to a friend. He knows you well and likes you just the same.”

“May the friends of our youth be the companions of our old age.”

“To our best friends, who know the worst about us but refuse to believe it.”

Going Away Party

“Happy are we met, happy have we been, Happy may we part, and happy meet again.”

“Here’s to good-byes—that they never be spoken! Here’s to friendships—may they never be broken!”

“The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again.” —Charles Dickens

Graduation  

“May you never forget what is worth remembering or remember what is best forgotten.” —Irish

“If you have an appetite for life, stay hungry.”

“May you live to learn well, and learn to live well.”

“May you live all the days of your life.” —Jonathan Swift

“’Tis not so bad a world, As some would like to make it; But whether good or whether bad, Depends on how you take it.”

“May you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been, the foresight to know where you’re going, and the insight to know when you’re going too far.”

“As you slide down the banister of life May the splinters never face the wrong way.”

“Another year is dawning! Let it be For better or for worse, another year with thee.”

“As we start the New Year, Let’s get down on our knees to thank God we’re on our feet.” —Irish

“Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.” —Benjamin Franklin

“Here’s to the bright New Year And a fond farewell to the old; Here’s to the things that are yet to come And to the memories that we hold.”

“In the year ahead, May we treat our friends with kindness and our enemies with generosity.”

“May all your troubles during the coming year be as short as your New Year’s resolutions.”

“May it be the best year yet for you, and everything prosper you may do.”

“May the best of this year be the worst of next.”

“May the face of every good news and the back of every bad news be toward us in the New Year.” —Irish

“Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring happy bells across the snow; The year is going, let him go.” —Alfred, Lord Tennyson

“Here’s to the present — and to hell with the past! A health to the future and joy to the last!”  

Thanksgiving

“Here’s to the good old turkey The bird that comes each fall And with his sweet persuasive meat Makes gobblers of us all.”

“To our national birds — The American eagle, The Thanksgiving turkey: May one give us peace in all our States — And the other a piece for all our plates.”

“When turkey’s on the table laid, And good things I may scan, I’m thankful that I wasn’t made A vegetarian.” —Edgar A. Guest

“Love doesn’t make the world go ’round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.” —Franklin P. Jones  

“A toast to love and laughter and happily ever after.”

[Given by a parent] “It is written: ‘When children find true love, parents find true joy.’ Here’s to your joy and ours, from this day forward.” 

“May their joys be as deep as the ocean And their misfortunes as light as the foam.”

“May we all live to be present at their golden wedding.”

“May you grow old on one pillow.” —Armenian

“May you have enough happiness to keep you sweet; enough trials to keep you strong; enough sorrow to keep you human; enough hope to keep you happy; enough failure to keep you humble; enough success to keep you eager; enough friends to give you comfort; enough faith and courage in yourself, your business, and your country to banish depression; enough wealth to meet your needs; enough determination to make each day a better day than yesterday.”

“There is nothing nobler or more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends.” —Homer, Odyssey

“To the newlyweds: May ‘for better or worse’ be far better than worse.”

Miscellaneous/Multi-Occasion

“Cheerfulness, content, and competency. Cheerfulness in our cups, Content in our minds, Competency in our pockets.”

“May the works of our nights never fear the day-light.”

“The three H’s: health, honor, and happiness. Health to all the world, Honor to those who seek for it, Happiness in our homes.”

“Love, life, and liberty. Love pure, Life long, Liberty boundless.”

“I wish thee health, I wish thee wealth, I wish thee gold in store, I wish thee heaven upon earth—What could I wish thee more?”

“It is best to rise from life as from the banquet, neither thirsty nor drunken.”

“Make the most of life while you may, Life is short and wears away!” —William Oldys

“May our faults be written on the seashore, and every good action prove a wave to wash them out.”

“May we be happy and our enemies know it.”

“May we live respected and die regretted.”

“So live that when you come to die, even the undertaker will feel sorry for you.” –Mark Twain

“To the riotous enjoyment of a quiet conscience.”

“While we live, let us live.”

________________________

Source of the information and the specific toasts above: Toasts: Over 1,500 of the Best Toasts, Sentiments, Blessings, and Graces by Paul Dickson. Consult the book for more insight on the history and art of toasting, as well as hundreds of more toast ideas.

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How to Give a Toast

Last Updated: April 4, 2021 References

This article was co-authored by Deb DiSandro . Deb DiSandro is the Owner of Speak Up On Purpose, an organization dedicated to improving and teaching public speaking. Deb has over 30 years of experience as a national speaker and has presented at the Erma Bombeck Writer’s Conference and the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. She was awarded the National Speakers Association Member of the Year 2007 and has been published in Writer's Digest, Daily Herald, Women's Day, and Better Homes & Gardens. There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 163,801 times.

A “toast” is a short speech given in honor of a particular person, group of people, or event. Toasts emphasize the positive and provide another way for everyone to celebrate. To give a great toast spend some time getting to know the subject or person you’re toasting. Your toast should revolve around a central story that is very relatable and appropriate. Conclude by raising your glass and offering your best wishes and thanks to everyone involved.

Getting All of the Details

• You can also express your reservations to the toastee if you would like to participate but are too nervous to do so. Just because you are asked to give a toast does not mean you have to, especially if you suffer from social anxiety. [1] X Research source

• Rehearsal dinner toasts are usually informal with the hosts generally addressing everyone followed by anyone else who wishes to jump in. At a wedding, the best man and maid of honor offer the first toasts followed by the bride and groom. The parents then have a chance followed by any of the guests. [2] X Research source
• At a casual dinner party it is best to wait until the dinner or first course plates are collected before you offer a toast. [3] X Research source

• If you are really worried, run your toast by the bride or groom to gauge their reaction and ask for feedback.
• It is hard to establish a clear line for lewd humor, but most people find discussing sex or the wedding night to be in poor taste. [6] X Research source

Avoiding Common Mistakes

• Practicing will also help you to learn to moderate the volume of your voice. Nothing is worse than a mumbled or inaudible toast. [9] X Research source

• If necessary, you can use note cards while giving the toast. Remember to look up and make eye contact with the audience, though!

• Instead of saying, “I don’t know Jerry very well, but here goes nothing,” you might try, “Those times when Jerry and I can hang out are action-packed and adventure-filled.”

• However, it is acceptable to share an inside story, as long as it portrays the person you are toasting in a positive way. Just be sure to explain enough so that everyone understands the joke.

Creating Your Toast

• The old practice of tapping your glass with a knife has now gone by the wayside. A series of glass-tapping toasts can quickly get annoying at a big event. Instead, get attention with a confident voice and consistent eye contact. [15] X Research source Use a microphone, if one is available.

• Make your first few lines about the toastee, not you. Avoid using, “I” or “me/my,” to keep your focus, and that of your audience, on the person or persons of the hour. [17] X Research source

• You might say, "I'm the groom's brother and football-watching buddy."

• For example, you might tell the story about the time that you and your brother (the groom) backpacked through Europe.
• Or, share a story about the person you are toasting and other family members or friends that are in attendance to keep the focus off of yourself.

• Leave out all mentions of exes, especially in a wedding toast. No one wants to listen to a story about a prior relationship when they are trying to celebrate a new one. [22] X Research source
• Omit all negative jokes or jabs about the state of marriage. These remarks are generally cliché and bring the mood of the party down as well. [23] X Research source

• A solid concluding line for a wedding toast is always, ““Ladies and gentlemen, to the couple.” [27] X Research source

Expert Q&A

• A toast doesn’t have to be limited to just one person. For example, if an entire group worked on a particular project, feel free to toast the team as a whole. [28] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• You can hold your glass up at chest height throughout your toast or simply lift it at the end. You can also fill your glass with any beverage that you like, it doesn’t have to be champagne or even alcohol. [29] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soloish/wp/2015/10/28/5-tips-for-giving-a-wedding-toast-skip-the-inside-jokes-and-no-roasting/
• ↑ http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/225978/reception-toasts
• ↑ http://www.chatelaine.com/living/eight-tips-for-making-a-memorable-toast/
• ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/askmen/giving-a-quality-wedding-_b_5266891.html
• ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/17/fashion/the-art-of-the-wedding-toast.html
• ↑ http://www.fluentin3months.com/cheers/
• ↑ http://jezebel.com/5836624/how-to-give-a-great-wedding-toast
• ↑ http://www.reuters.com/article/us-etiquette-toasting-idUSBRE89L0N320121022
• ↑ https://www.themuse.com/advice/holiday-cheers-how-to-give-the-perfect-toast
• ↑ http://www.esquire.com/food-drink/drinks/a12416/how-to-give-a-toast-0212/
• ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/vanessa-van-edwards/how-to-give-and-awesome-t_b_8105666.html
• ↑ http://www.scienceofpeople.com/2015/09/how-to-give-an-awesome-toast/
• ↑ http://www.cookinglight.com/entertaining/holidays-occasions/how-to-give-toast
• ↑ https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/220682

About this article

To give a toast, start by standing up, introducing yourself, and explaining your relationship with the toastee. Then, share a brief story or 2 about you and the toastee and let them know how happy you are for them. Avoid any embarrassing or lewd comments, and try to keep your toast light-hearted and positive. Also, don't be afraid to interact with the audience to make them feel included. After a few minutes, wrap up your toast by thanking everyone and then raising your glass. If you want to learn how to practice and write your toast beforehand, keep reading the article! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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22 Toast Speech

Here’s to those that love us! And for those that do not love us, may God turn their hearts. And if he cannot turn their hearts, may he turn their ankles; so that we may know them, by their limping. Irish Blessing/Curse

Cheers ,  slainte ,  skal ,  prost , and  salud ! A toast speech is a type of tribute speech meant to honor someone. Your goal as a speaker should be to make that person feel special and to allow others in the room to be included in the celebration.

Ceremonial Speaking Wheel

All ceremonial speeches should include the trio –narration, magnification, and identification.

Identification

When thinking about your toast, don’t just think about the person you are toasting but about everyone in the room and think about how to bring them into your speech.  Saying “we” are here to honor the recipient and reminding the audience of shared values helps the audience to be a part of the process.  Say things that invite the audience in several times throughout the speech.

Wedding Toast Instead of saying:  Amy and I played Barbie as children and always made sure that Barbie found her perfect soulmate. Say : As many of you know, Amy and I played Barbie for hours as children.  What you may not know is we always made sure that Barbie found her perfect soulmate.

———-

Graduation Toast Instead of saying: I wish you the best in your journey ahead as you graduate and start your new career. Say: We here, your family and friends, all wish you the best in your journey ahead as you graduate and start your new career

Retirement Toast Instead of saying: Dad, I was so happy you let me come and play in your office even if I ran your stapler out of staples by shooting them at the invisible villains that were hiding under your desk. Say: As many of you here now, dad would sometimes let me come to work with him.  And while most of you thought that I was the perfect little bosses’ kids, you may not have known that I was really a super hero executing the invisible villain that I found in dads desk. I killed it with all the staples from dad’s stapler.

The use of story helps the audience to be drawn in and want to listen. In short toasts, you can tell a series of one-sentence stories. In larger toasts, you can tell one long story or numerous little stories. Tell your story in a way that the audience relives the moment with you.

Magnification

Take a trait of the individual and magnify it. I’m not talking about superfluous embellishment; I’m talking about honest elaboration. For example, you might talk about

• Triumph over obstacles
• Unusual accomplishment
• Superior performance
• Unselfish motive
• Benefit to society
• The greatness of a simple thing

Now you know of the key elements that should be in your speech, let’s talk about the process of building a toast, writing a toast, and delivering a toast.

Gather the Details

What type of toast is it.

Always adapt your toast to the occasion: Wedding, graduation, retirement, business celebration, award celebration, birthday.

Who will attend?

You will give a different speech to your old college roommate on his birthday if it is just you and the gang versus if his conservative parents are in the room. It will be an even different speech if his new employer is present.  Remember, a toast is not just about the person being celebrated but it is about others in the room.  As you write your toast, keep imagining the key people present at the event.

Are there expectations about how long the toast will be?  It is always good to ask. It can be awkward if there are several people toasting and each gives a five-minute toast and you have prepared only a two-minute toast. Typically wedding-type toasts, retirement toasts, and graduation toasts are longer speeches and people speak from notes.  On the other hand, shorter toasts are usually memorized

Sit down and just start jotting ideas.  Think of your brain as a water faucet. You are not going to get any water until you turn the thing on. Many people complain they can’t think of ideas, but they never actually turn on the idea faucet. Think of brainstorming as turning those ideas on and getting your creative juices flowing.   Start brainstorming ideas and memories one day and then give it a day or two to think about more memories.

When I turn off my faucet at home, there are usually a few drips that happen as the rest of the water gets out of the line. Think of your brain that way. Give it time to drip out the last ideas and be there to catch them. They just might be the best ideas of all. Some people find if they brainstorm before bed that they wake up with the best ideas. Always assume that you will forget your ideas, so write them down as soon as you think of them.

For more on brainstorming

  Sit Down and Write

At this point, just get your ideas down. Put down more ideas than you will use.  Allow yourself to write down some cheesy things—by cheesy, I mean those ideas that are silly, extreme, or not right for the occasion. Just go with it. Write those cheesy ideas down, maybe you will use this somehow but probably not. Most importantly, the creative ideas are hiding in your brain behind the cheesy ones and if you don’t get the cheesy ideas out of the way, you will never get to the next level.

Now. Let’s think about that faucet again. Imagine there is something clogging it. You have to put some pressure on it so you can get it working. I like to think of cheesy ideas as that clog in the line. I have to get the cheesy clog out of the way by giving my mind permission to go there and once that line is clear. I need to be ready for all the great ideas that will come out in force after the clog comes out.

Taking It to The Professional Level

If you want to give your toast the professional edge, try using a theme and then adding in some parallel construction. In this next section, I will show you how that works.

Use a Theme

Pick a theme for your toast and carry it throughout the whole toast. I like to think of the theme as the container that holds the speech together.

For example, Drew gave a best man speech and used the theme of a road trip. He told stories of him and his best friend and their adventures (at least the adventures you the ones that you can tell when mom is in the room). He talked about fighting over which music is played, he told stories about bathroom breaks, and he confessed that his friend was always getting lost. These were fun stories and by hearing them we could all imagine the friendship they shared. In his speech, he told us that whoever was in the passenger seat was called the “roundtrip captain.” He gave the new bride advice on how to navigate the relationship since he knew so much about his friend from all these road trips. The speech wrapped up with Drew telling the bride that she was the map reader now and he passed to her the title of “road trip captain.”

Erin gave a graduation toast to her family members who supported her through college. She used the theme of climbing hills. It was the perfect theme since the University of Arkansas campus that she graduated from seems to be arranged so everything is uphill–both ways.  She talked about walking the hills both physically and symbolically. In her speech, she talked about how beautiful the view is from the top. She wrapped up her speech by saying now that she is graduated how she has new hills to climb.

Keep in mind the theme is just the container.  If you have only a container, it will seem cliché and sound like a cheap greeting card. The theme is not the speech, it is the container that holds your many stories.  Make sure to develop those stories.

Use Parallel Construction

Parallel construction is where you take one sentence and you repeat it. It lets you tell a lot of little stories in a short period.  Always have at least 3 sentences, keep them together, and try to give them rhythm.

Consider this format and how it might be used for the different toast types.

At a Wedding Toast

I remember when ___ I remember when ___ I remember when ___ I knew you were the “one” because… I knew you were the “one” because… I knew you were the “one” because…

At a Retirement Toast

Many of you know dad for selling insurance, but I know dad for selling me on the idea to go to college Many of you know dad for working long hours at the office, but I know dad for working long hours on school projects that I only mentioned to him the night before they were due. Many of you know dad as a business profession, but I know dad as my super hero. Many of you know dad for …., but I know dad for …. Many of you know dad for …., but I know dad for …. Many of you know dad for …., but I know dad for ….

TOAST PATTERNS

When picking a speech pattern for the toast, consider the audience and occasion. Many toasts are just one to two minutes while others can be five to seven minutes.

Short Toasts Pattern

• Let us raise our glass to… Today, I would like to recognize…
• Make a list of attributes/accomplishments of the person. With each statement there is a building sensation –each statement you make is better than the next.
•  Build to a climax. Create a building sensation using parallel construction.
• Raise your glass near the end.
• End with a poem, quote, or wish them well. (I really think a well-chosen quote makes these speeches special…it is worth the time to look for one to make it really special)

Note: Typically short toasts are memorized and longer toasts are written as a manuscript.

  Wedding Toasts Possible Patterns

Give Their New Spouse the Manual of How to Get Along with Them

• Tell a story or two about your friendship with your friend
• Tell a story about when your friend met the person they are marrying. What did they say about this person? What were your first impressions? Tell anything about the two of them together? What are they like as a couple? How do you know they are right for each other? Tell something you observe about them when they are together?
• Give the person advice on how to navigate life with your friend since you know them so well. Think of this as passing on the manual.

Three Stories

• Tell three stories about the couple.
• Maybe, how they met, the engagement, and a story they tell on themselves.
• Maybe, three ways you know they are in love.
• Maybe, three things you noticed about how they care for each other.

I Knew It Was Love…

• Tell five ways that you knew it was love. Tell a story attached to each of the ways
• Tell what your friend was like before and how they are better now than they are with the one they love.

Note: Never mention old girlfriend/boyfriends, never give away secrets to clueless family members (they are living together, that you and your friend snuck out in high school), and always keep it positive. You likely have inside information about the person you are toasting–their wedding is not the time to reveal it. 

Retirement Toast Possible Patterns

If you are a work colleague of the person retiring:

• These are the three things that set this person apart.
• These are the three things that I learned from this person.

If you are the child or the spouse of the person retiring:

• Talk about what their career looked like from your position. How were they dedicated?
• How did it help you benefit from their job and friends? What did you learn from watching them work?

Note: It can be fun to use their job as the theme. For example, if the person is a coach make the whole speech in the theme of a game. If the person is in sales, use marketing terms to hold it together. If they collected something interesting that was displayed in the office, it lends itself to the theme.

Graduation Toast Possible Patterns

Looking back, looking ahead

• Tell a few stories about them before graduation and tell what you expect to see in the future.

We’ve come through a lot together, Here’s some advice for your next step.

• Tell stories of your relationship, how that relationship talks about character attributes that led them to graduate.
• Give advice on how to navigate the next step.

Top Ten List

• Ten things you need to know about (surviving college, having your first real job, etc.).
• This can be especially fun coming from the sibling that is in college to the one headed to college.
• Top ten things you learned in school that you can use in life.
• Top ten things about you that will make you successful.

Let Us Not Forget

• A series of memories that you and most of the group present share. Great for a group of friends
• Find some great meaning to it all. What did it all mean? what did you learn?

Note: It can be fun to use their major, their future job, or their hobbies as the theme. 

Anniversary Toast Patterns

• Maybe how they met, the engagement, and a story they tell on themselves.
• Tell five ways that you knew it was love and tell a story attached to each of the ways. Interview five of their friends and tell the five stories from their friends about love.

How They Taught You What Love Is

• What have you learned by watching them love each other well?

A Biography of Love

• Tell a story about their love when they met when they overcame when they did things together.
• Tell a timeline of love events and stories about every major milestone.

Ending a Toast Speech

Typically, a toast speech ends with a thoughtful saying, witty quote, or poem.  There are many toast websites with great one-liners or short poems you can use to end a toast. If it is a longer toast, consider using a theme and connecting the ending with the theme.

“May misfortunes chase you all of your life and never catch up.” “As you slide down the banister of life may the splinters never point the wrong way.”

Short, Short Toasts

There may be times you are called to give a quick, one to three-sentence toast. It is a good idea to have a few memorized quotes ready that can be woven into a short, short toast.

Here is to those who’ve seen us at our best and seen us at our worst and can’t tell the difference. May you live for as long as you want, and never want for as long as you live! May we get what we want, but never what we deserve. May you always lie, cheat, and steal. Lie beside the one you love, cheat the devil, and steal away from bad company. Here’s to friends and family who know us well but love us just the same. Let us drink to bread, for without bread, there would be no toast. “Here’s to that long straight piece in Tetris.”

Toast Etiquette

How Do You Hold the Glass?

Both wine and champagne glasses should be held by the stem, not by the bowl. “You should always hold the glass by the stem, no matter what the shape or size of the glass or the type of wine,” says Michael Greenlee, the sommelier and wine director of Gotham Bar and Grill, in New York City. “The most common mistake I see in restaurants and at dinner parties is people holding a wineglass by the bowl.”

Three reasons to hold the glass by the stem: 

• The glass is pretty;  you don’t want your fingerprints to mess it up.
• Putting your hand on the glass would block seeing the color of the wine or block your ability to watch the bubbles dance in the champagne.
• White wine and champagne are chilled, and red wine is served a room temperature. The temperature influences the taste and your hands on the glass will warm up the beverage and change it from its optimal temperature.

What Do You Do When Listening to a Toast?

Those who are listening to someone being toasted should hold their glass when the toast is being made.  At the end of the toast, listeners should raise their glasses, tilt the glass towards the person being toasted, and then take a sip.

What Do You Do If You Are the One Being Toasted?

When you are being toasted, you should sit and listen.  Smile and nod to let the person toasting know you are listening. You should not hold or lift your glass.  Once the toast is over and everyone has had a sip, then you may nod and/or say, “Thank You.”  One of the more common questions I get is, “Do I drink to myself?” and the answer is “no, you do not drink to yourself.”

Should We Clink our Glasses?

Check five different etiquette specialists and you will get five different answers. Some groups clink and some groups don’t clink. It is best to take your lead from those with the highest power of those in the center of the event. For example, if you have dinner with your co-workers and your boss is present, see what the boss does. If you are at a wedding, see what the head table does and copy.

The larger the group, the less likely there will be glass touching because it is difficult to touch everyone’s glasses. If you are in a clinking group, when you touch the bowl of the glasses together, you should always look them in the eye and smile.

“As with many of our food traditions, the clinking of glasses traces its root to the health and safety of the drinker. In this case, it goes back to the tendency of nobles to kill each other off by poisoning their food! Wine was very commonly drunk during medieval days because it was one of the only safe liquids available. Water was often polluted, and milk was both useful for other things and thought to be for children only. As the wine was often full of sediment, a poison was easily introduced into it. To prove that his wine was safe, the host would pour a bit of his guest’s wine into his own glass and drink it first, to prove it was safe. If the guest trusted his host, however, he would merely clink his flagon against that of his host’s when his host offered his cup for the sample. The ‘clink’ (or perhaps ‘clunk’ back then, since wood or metal was more common for drinking vessels) was a sign of trust and honesty.” Text from Wineintro.  Clinking of Wine Glasses and Toasts. Retrieved March 28, 2008, from  http://www.wineintro.com/champagne/clinkglass.html

Toasting Rules

Hold up your glass while giving a toast.

Never toast with an empty glass, it is considered bad luck.

Always hold the glass by the stem.

Avoid getting the beautiful glasses smudged. That means, not touching the bowl. It also means sipping from the same place on the glass.

Always drink to the person being toasted. If you don’t take a sip then it means that you disagree with the nice things that were said about the person. If you are full of liquid or prefer not to sip the alcohol, just put your lips to the glass and fake it.

If you oversee the filling of the glasses, hold the wine bottle near the bottom and only fill glasses halfway up to give the wine room to breathe. Always offer wine to others before pouring your own wine.

In some regions, people will gently use a knife to tap the glass to bring the group to attention.

At some weddings, the quests may tap their glasses to mean the bride and groom should kiss.

Brainstorm About Your Person

Read through these questions and try to answer them about your person. Not all the questions will relate, and that is OK. That question may trigger an unrelated memory that you can use.

Story What is the story of the two of you as children? What is the first memory you have of this person? How did you meet? What is the story of the two of you as teens? What is the story of the two of you as adults? What is an adventure you had together? When did you do something involving this person that didn’t work out as planned? What is a story that is often told about this person? What is a struggle this person has overcome or a story of where you overcame together? What story will history remember about this person? What story will you tell your kids one day? Why is this person special to you in a way that no one else knows? When did you and this person make a difficult situation fun? How have you seen this person grow?

Stuff What do they collect? What are their hobbies? What types of things are important to them? (Pets, cars, shoes) What are they known for having? (Name brand clothes, a great boat) What does their house/car/backpack say about them? What do you have of theirs that means a lot to you? How is their favorite movie, favorite superhero, favorite song a reflection of them?

The Person What are the physical characteristics that become part of their persona (Tall, big feet, curly hair)? What are they known for emotionally (being kind, being passionate, being stubborn)? What are the phrases they say often? What are they famous for? (Cooking, getting lost)

Relationship How did you meet? What has kept your relationship with this person going? What has been the highlight of the relationship? What do their friends say about them?

Wedding Toast

When and how did they meet? What were your first impressions of them as a couple? What did your friend say about the first time they met? If you were given three wishes for them as a couple, what would they be?

Toast Speech Samples from College Students Toasting Other College Students

Today, I would like to raise my glass (raise your glass) to by the far the most gifted athlete in our class. She showed us what it takes to be a student athlete at the University of Arkansas. She opened up her heart and shared the stories about her mother with us. I know we were all touched. She taught us how to improve our puts and She taught us that golf can be fun. We even learned that even the best athletes get nervous sometimes. In the words of Roy, tin cup, McEvoy, “I hit it again because that shot was a defining moment, and when a defining moment comes along, you define the moment… or the moment defines you.” To Ana, may you always define the moment and not let it define you! I ask students to toast their classmates and to give reference to things that student has said or done in class, consider the following speech ending that references three of the student’s former speeches. Sean here this is to you for all you have given us. May your bike never fail you (reference to speech on changing a tire), May your sense of nature keep you wandering (reference to speech on camping) and may your lessons live on, in this lifetime and the next (reference to speech on missionary work).

To someone who Has opened her heart and mind to this class With hopes that they too will join in her efforts to serve God and humanity

To someone who Has made us all feel as if her papaw was our own Pitching and swinging the bat

To someone who Has made each person in this class believe As if we can make a difference in the world One Krispy Kreme doughnut at a time

Anne Frank said, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment Before starting to improve the world. “

To Haley, we toast to you (raise glass) For you have already begun improving the world.

Best Man Toasts the Couple by Joe Burlingame

Thank you all for gathering here tonight on the beautiful occasion to celebrate the love of Korey and Paola. My name is Joe Burlingame and I know many of you have traveled from long distances to be here and we are so grateful that y’all came. Since the lovely maid of honor spoke so highly of Paola I am going to try and make Korey seem like he is worthy.

When Korey told me that things were getting serious and that he was going to propose,

My initial reaction was “Woah, Korey I am flattered but I am perfectly content with being fraternity brothers,” but everybody knew he was talking about Paola. Korey and I’s relationship started about 5 years ago And to this day I remember my first impression–it was like any first impression when we first meet an accounting major/// Aw—wk–kward.

Our friendship though took off like a rocket ship, and before we knew it we were roommates up to the time he betrayed me and found a permanent roommate. I won’t say any names but she is in this room.

In the 4 years, I lived with Korey, I have found 3 things that make him the perfect roommate.

First, Korey loves spontaneous trips. Korey and I went to 6-7 concerts one semester. We only bought tickets in advance for one and that was because it was the one band I wanted to go see. The others were concerts that Korey had caught wind of last-minute and persuaded me to go. One concert, in particular, was the night of Korey and Paola’s first date. They had gone and got coffee and macaroons I think it was maybe an hour-long date. When he got back Korey talked about it as if they had spent a year with each other. Paola I knew then that you had to be special if you had him talking about you for that long.

Second, Korey is a humble servant. Korey if there is a characteristic that describes you it is being a humble servant. I would complain about how hot it was mowing our yard, but you would not only mow ours but our elderly neighbor’s yard as well. You thought you were invisible– I saw it all. Whether it be cleaning dishes, cooking, or constantly going to our neighbors to see if they needed anything done, you were a servant and  I was thankful for you.

Paola I am jealous, I am now going to have to clean and cook for myself now. Nik Birchfield said it best “Korey doesn’t just talk the talk but walks the walk”

Lastly, Korey is someone who is thoughtful. I remember when we first moved in Korey brought in this huge water jug of change and a little wooden chest, I asked what the heck is that for. He responded with “Man I plan on getting married and in order to get married you need a ring.” I was blown away– I never would have thought of that.

Paola I regret that we never really got to hang out. When I saw Korey take that jug of bills and come back with a ring and he started describing why he picked this specific ring out because it matched your characteristics I knew we would be friends.

Korey and I were roommates the night before he was going to pop the question. He practiced a lot with what he was going to say. I know because he practiced on me. I don’t know how many times we practiced the scenario but I could tell you that the words he was going to say to you were heartfelt and genuine

Paola I was able to have the perfect roommate for a few years, but now you will have the perfect roommate for life.

To Paola and Korey!

Hilarious Father of the Bride Toast

This toast is a good example of how to tell a funny story in a speech. This father’s story is brilliant, and his long pauses are perfect for this speech. He goes from having you crying from laughter to tearing up with sentiment.

Atlasobscura. Raise a glass to our readers’ favorite drinking toasts. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/best-drinking-toasts-and-cheers

Burlingame, J.  Best man toast. Advanced Public Speaking. University of Arkansas.

Chidi-Ogbonna, K. (2018). Nine wine etiquette habits to know. https://thefinestitallianwine.com

Real Simple (n.d.). From how to hold a wine glass  http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/content/0,21770,712709,00.html

Revelations Video. The most hilarious father of the bride toast.[Video] YouTube.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOKduRf7o4k Standard YouTube License.

Wineintro. (2008). Clinking of wine glasses and toasts.  http://www.wineintro.com/champagne/clinkglass.html

Media Attributions

• Toasting © Zan is licensed under a CC BY (Attribution) license
• matthieu-joannon-6ciLddToTgM-unsplash © Mattheiu Joannon is licensed under a CC BY (Attribution) license
• holding wine glass is licensed under a CC0 (Creative Commons Zero) license
• marcel-gross-marcelgross-ch-sHTwDYKti6Q-unsplash © Marcel Gross is licensed under a CC BY (Attribution) license

Advanced Public Speaking Copyright © 2021 by Lynn Meade is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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How to Write a Toast Speech: A Step-by-Step Guide

Are you tasked with delivering a toast speech, but don't know where to start? Fear not, we're here to help. Whether you're celebrating a milestone or achievement, expressing gratitude and appreciation, or simply entertaining and engaging your audience, crafting a memorable toast speech requires careful preparation and a bit of know-how. In this article, we'll take you through a step-by-step guide for writing an effective toast speech that will leave your audience feeling impressed and inspired.

Understanding the Purpose of a Toast Speech

Before you begin writing your toast speech, it's important to understand the purpose of the speech itself. Toasts are typically given to honor someone or celebrate a significant event, such as a wedding or milestone birthday. Within these broader categories, there are typically three main reasons for delivering a toast speech:

Celebrating a Milestone or Achievement

If you're giving a toast to celebrate a milestone or achievement, your speech should focus on the significance of the accomplishment and the hard work that went into achieving it. Consider including anecdotes or personal stories that highlight the honoree's dedication and perseverance.

Expressing Gratitude and Appreciation

If you're toasting someone as a form of thanks or appreciation, your speech should be centered around highlighting the person's qualities or actions that you are grateful for. This is an opportunity to express how much the honoree means to you, and how their actions have impacted the lives of others.

Entertaining and Engaging the Audience

Finally, if your toast speech is meant to be a lighthearted or entertaining moment during an event, your speech should be geared towards amusing and engaging the audience. Consider including jokes, anecdotes, or funny stories that will have your listeners laughing and enjoying the festivities.

Preparing to Write Your Toast Speech

Now that you have a clear understanding of why you're giving a toast, it's time to start preparing for the speech itself. Here are some tips for getting started:

Knowing Your Audience

When crafting a toast speech, it's important to consider who your audience will be. Are you speaking at a formal event, or is this a more casual affair? Understanding your audience will help you tailor your speech to their expectations and ensure that you strike the right tone.

Researching the Subject of the Toast

If you're toasting someone that you don't know very well, it's important to do a bit of research beforehand. Learn about the honoree's accomplishments and background, and consider talking to others who know them well to gain insight into their personality and character.

Gathering Personal Stories and Anecdotes

To make your toast speech truly memorable, it's important to incorporate personal stories and anecdotes that highlight the honoree's unique qualities and accomplishments. Consider reaching out to mutual friends or family members for inspiration, or reflecting on your own experiences with the honoree.

Crafting the Perfect Introduction

Once you've done some initial research and brainstorming, it's time to start writing your toast speech. Here are some tips for crafting a compelling introduction:

Grabbing the Audience's Attention

Starting your speech off with a bang is crucial for getting your listeners engaged and attentive. Consider opening with a personal anecdote, a surprising fact, or a humorous story to immediately grab their attention.

Setting the Tone for Your Speech

After you've captured your audience's interest, it's important to set the tone for the rest of your speech. Consider how you want your listeners to feel by the end of your speech, and make sure that your introduction fits with that overall tone.

Introducing Yourself and Your Connection to the Honoree

Finally, don't forget to introduce yourself and your connection to the honoree. This will help to establish your credibility as a speaker and give context to your speech.

Developing the Body of Your Speech

Now that you've set the stage for your speech, it's time to delve into the heart of the matter. Here are some tips for crafting a memorable body for your toast speech:

Sharing Personal Stories and Experiences

Personal anecdotes and stories are key to making your toast speech memorable and engaging. Choose stories that showcase the honoree's unique qualities and accomplishments, and be sure to tie them back to the overall theme or message of your speech.

Highlighting the Honoree's Accomplishments

If you're toasting someone to celebrate a milestone or achievement, it's important to reflect on their accomplishments and offer recognition for their hard work and dedication. Make sure to highlight specific achievements and give credit where credit is due.

Incorporating Humor and Emotion

To keep your audience engaged and invested in your speech, it's important to balance humor and emotion throughout. This will help to keep the mood light and entertaining, while also conveying the significance of the moment.

Wrapping Up Your Toast Speech

Now that you've laid out the body of your toast speech, it's time to bring it all together. Here are some tips for crafting a memorable conclusion:

Summarizing Your Main Points

As you wrap up your toast speech, take a moment to recap the main points that you've covered. This will help to reinforce the overall theme or message of your speech and ensure that your listeners come away with a clear understanding of your message.

Expressing Your Gratitude and Best Wishes

Finally, be sure to express your gratitude and well wishes for the honoree. This is a chance to offer your congratulations and convey how much the person means to you and those around them.

Closing on a High Note

As you conclude your speech, aim to end on a high note. Consider sharing a final personal anecdote or offering a heartfelt toast to the honoree. This will leave a lasting impression and ensure that your speech is remembered for years to come.

ChatGPT Prompt for Writing a Toast Speech

Chatgpt prompt.

Compose a speech that is intended to be delivered as a toast, with the goal of expressing congratulations, appreciation, or admiration for a person or group of people. The speech should be well-crafted and thoughtful, and should effectively convey the intended message to the audience. The speech may be delivered in a formal or informal setting, and should be appropriate for the occasion and the audience.

[ADD ADDITIONAL CONTEXT. CAN USE BULLET POINTS.]

Writing a memorable toast speech requires careful preparation, a bit of research, and a lot of heart. By following the step-by-step guide outlined in this article, you'll be well on your way to crafting a speech that will impress and inspire your audience. Remember to tailor your speech to the occasion and your audience, incorporate personal anecdotes and stories, and balance humor and emotion throughout. With these tips in mind, you're sure to deliver a toast speech that will be remembered for years to come. Cheers!

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Rice Speechwriting

Mastering the art of how to give a toast, how to give a toast like a pro, what are the essential elements of a good toast.

The essential elements of a good toast include a clear and concise message, a personal touch or story, a positive and uplifting tone, eye contact with the audience, and a heartfelt toast to the honoree. Adding humor or a memorable quote can also enhance the impact of a toast.

The key elements of a good toast include a clear and concise message. A good toast should have a central theme or idea that is easy for the audience to understand and relate to. It should be heartfelt and genuine, expressing sincere emotions and appreciation towards the person or occasion being toasted.

Another important element is personalization. A good toast should be tailored to the individual or group being honored. Including personal anecdotes, inside jokes, or specific memories can make the toast more meaningful and memorable for both the honoree and the audience.

Timing and delivery are also crucial. A good toast should be well-timed, neither too short nor too long, in order to ensure that everyone is having a good time. It should be engaging and delivered with confidence and enthusiasm. Using appropriate gestures, maintaining eye contact, and varying the tone and pace of speech can help captivate the audience and keep their attention throughout the toast.

In addition, a good toast should be positive and uplifting. It should focus on celebrating the achievements, qualities, or milestones of the person or occasion being toasted. Avoiding negative or controversial topics ensures that the toast remains enjoyable and respectful to everyone present.

Lastly, a good toast should end on a high note. It should leave the audience feeling inspired, happy, or touched. A memorable closing line or a heartfelt toast to the future can leave a lasting impression and make the toast truly exceptional.

Toast: Short Speech Writing Guide: How to Give a Toast

“Can you just say a few words?”

That invitation can strike fear among people who are asked to give a toast at a wedding, to present an award, to congratulate someone on a promotion, to remember a colleague retiring after 25 years.

Yet it doesn’t have to.

Who is this speechwriting guide for?

This is for anyone giving a short speech whose purpose is to honor someone else.

It’s for all those speeches that mean something, that aren’t televised, that are there to honor the great works and deed others have done in their lives.

Awards Speeches

You’re part of an organization that gives out awards each year and this year you get to present one of them! Figure out what to say that’s short, sweet, and meaningful.

Wedding Speeches: Best Man Speeches, Maid of Honor Speeches, Father and Mother of the Bride Speeches

Your best friend is getting married and you get to give a toast. Guidance for best men, maids of honor, father and mother of the bride—anyone who needs to wish the happy couple well.

A colleague is getting promoted and you want to talk about their achievements and efforts with some good natured fun thrown in.

Retirement Speeches

How do you say goodbye to the key employee who has worked for you for the last 20 years?

What do you say at your own retirement?

Is your mentor or parent retiring and you want to toast them?

Birthday party toasts and anniversary speeches

What about the people who are a really big deal in our lives? What do you say to them on their important days? What would you say at your parents’ 50th wedding anniversary? What about your spouse’s 40th birthday?

Any occasion where you have to “say a few words”

I probably missed a few speech categories above, but any time that you need to give a speech that honors another person, this guide is your guide.

What will be included in this guide to short speeches:

• A brief overview of the various parts of any toast. I break down the typical toast or honor speech for any occasion.
• A step-by-step process to get your speech written. I use the same method when writing for others and you can complete a first draft in the span of a week or any set of seven days spread out over time.
• Real short speeches given by real people. I’ve scoured the internet and my resources to find examples of toasts and other short speeches that you can use as models. All are modern speeches that real people gave. Use them as inspiration for turns of phrases and overall organization to help you plan your words.
• Advice for specific types of short speeches. A wedding toast and an awards speech aren’t the same but share tons of similarities. You’ll learn what each type of speech requires given its occasion. Use this section to avoid faux pas.

Where to start with any short speech

Speakers tend to have two problems when it comes to giving short speeches:

They tell me two things:

First: I can’t think of anything to say

Second: I have too much to say, there’s no way I’ll fit it all in

What to do?

Let’s tackle each one, starting with the first.

But, before we do, let’s begin with Step 1–it’s helpful to have a doc open or a set of notes as you go through this guide.

Step 1: Know your time limits, word count, and any other pertinent details for your speech.

We speak around 135 to 150 words per minute. But when it comes to giving a speech, you want to give yourself extra time to take it slow, to allow for applause and laughter. I’d suggest 100-115 words per minute to gauge how much you need to prepare.

For a 3 minute toast: 300-345 words

For a 5 minute toast: 500 words to 575

For a 10 minute toast: 1000 words to 1150 words

I wouldn’t go beyond 10 minutes for any ceremonial speech–err on the side of brevity.

Find out also when you are expected to give your speech during the event. If you are going early, you can err on the side of being a bit longer than expected. If you are one of the last to speak, keep it as short as possible.

Step 2: Know the key sections you’ll want to think about for your toast:

Many toasts and short speeches have the same sections to them but not always in the order below. You can mix and match as needed.

Acknowledgments and Thank yous:

Depending on the formality of the event, you have to thank certain people who put the event together or who are so important that they deserve to be recognized. Word of caution: Do not go overboard in this portion and make the whole speech one long list of thank-yous.

Stories will make up the bulk of your toast—they are the perfect vehicle to demonstrate change throughout the speech. It’s where you can talk about the deeds of the person you’re honoring or the significance of the event.

You’ll find sections of advice in many toasts—the person giving the toast often has words of wisdom for the happy couple during a wedding toast or sage advice to those just starting on their careers during the speaker’s own retirement speech. This is where you can take the lessons of change you’ve experienced and give them to the audience or the people who are a part of your toast, with advance notice or in the spur of the moment. So, don’t forget to include your best wishes for the future in your toast, as it adds a heartfelt touch to your words of wisdom.

Significance of the event:

Sometimes the event itself is important enough that it should be mentioned and featured in your toast (other times, you may just need a few sentences).

Opening and Closing:

Any speech will have a captivating opening and closing, and toasts are no different. The best ones will have openings and closings that relate to one another; oftentimes, the closing can even contain a special 1-2 line mini-toast that sums up the speech itself. Additionally, it is important to propose a toast at the appropriate time during a dinner party, typically at the beginning of the meal or just before dessert. We’ll work on specific techniques later on in this guide to craft closings that will be remembered long after the main speech concludes.

Here are some questions to get you started, we’ll dive into the specifics momentarily:

• Are there any VIPs in the audience that you must acknowledge or thank? Keep this list very short and go with the ones who are most important or whose egos will be hurt if you don’t mention them. If it’s too many, can you generalize the group (“Honored guests,”)?
• If you are honoring a person, what makes them so incredible and great? Why are they being honored at this event? What have they done that has impressed you? What have you learned from them? What moments of greatness stick out in your mind? What stories can you tell around each answer?
• What is the significance of the event you’ll be speaking at? Is it an eternal one like marriage? What is the history of the event? Why did the group start? What are they doing today that is so impactful?
• Is it appropriate to give advice at an event like this? If a couple is getting married, what advice do you have for them? If someone is retiring or being promoted, what advice can you give to others in the room that want to live up to that person’s example?
• Are there particular quotes or sayings that you think could work at the beginning or end of the toast? Have people heard these before or will they be fresh? Are they unique to the occasion?
• What movie did you see recently (or book you read) that showed a dramatic change in its characters? Did you read or watch anything recently that seemed to fall flat? Can you pinpoint a lack of change in the characters as the reason?

Step 3: Brainstorm your speech ideas: What to do when you can’t think of anything to say in your speech

The best place to start are the dual goals of any ceremonial speech: You want to honor the person and honor the event.

From a wedding toast to a retirement speech to an anniversary celebration, the goals are the same.

You want to honor a person or a couple and the event itself.

Great toasts and short speeches revolve around telling great stories about the person you’re honoring. Ideally you want a mix of funny and touching stories to tell.

Brainstorming ideas for wedding toasts , birthday speeches, and anniversary speeches:

• Anything you want to say to the close family and friends who will be in attendance?
• Growing up together, I could tell that they would grow into a great person because…
• One moment that most impressed me was when…
• He/She was really there for me when…
• My favorite memory of them was when…
• One story that really demonstrates is when…
• When I first met him/her…
• I am grateful that they are in my life because one time…
• He/she got me out of a tough situation when…
• I can never forget the time when…
• Advice I can give the couple is…
• A time that he/she made me laugh was when…
• What are the person’s greatest character values? What makes them such an excellent match for the other?
• How did the two meet? Were you instrumental in making it happen? How did it happen?
• When did you know the couple found the right person in the other?
• What are the bride or groom’s favorite books, movies, or songs?
• How do the two or one person spend their time? What do their hobbies say about them?
• Do either have a particular set of quirks that are endearing yet not too embarrassing?

Brainstorming ideas for retirement speeches:

• What do you admire about the person retiring?
• What lessons have they taught you?
• How have you changed professionally and personally from watching this person work?
• If you’ve watched them for some time, how have they changed for the better?
• What are your most memorable stories?
• Do they have any odd quirks that aren’t too embarrassing?
• How is the organization better for having this person? How has the organization or department changed in this person’s stead? :

Brainstorming ideas for awards speeches:

Key questions:

• What obstacles did you encounter before the accomplishment that this award has recognized?
• Who helped you along the way? Who mentored you? What did your family give up or sacrifice to help you get here?
• What advice do you have for the next generation after you?
• Is there anything special about the award, the event, or the occasion, that you can remark upon?
• Did you lead a team that helped create the success behind the award? What do you want to say to them?
• When you are giving an award to someone else…
• Structure: Great deeds, how do they live/do their work?, lessons/advice/legacy
• What impressed you the most about this person? Why are they the right choice for the award?
• Have they undertaken any projects or ideas that have gone under the radar? Can you recognize those as well?
• How has this person changed from their beginning to now with the award?
• Is there a call to action for this organization or award’s greater purpose?

Step 4: Organize your short speech

Now that you’ve generated plenty of ideas, you’ll want to determine a structure for your toast.

Details the most common ways you’ll see someone give a toast. The first is advice-based, followed by story-based, and then third, the extended metaphor. See how each one fits the toast you want to give based on the occasion. You can also mix and match the forms as you see fit, including incorporating a good toast by telling a story that connects to the event and wraps up your speech about a particular person, group of people, or event.

Advice Based:

Speeches that are advice-based organize themselves around bits of wisdom or principles. The best example is from the Retirement Manifesto . Here, the speaker uses his retirement to give life advice to those in the audience.

Each piece of advice is followed up by a short story, quote, or something else.

How to adopt this form:

Come up with three to seven principles that you strive to live your life by. Avoid cliches when possible (“live life to its fullest,” “savor every moment,”); instead, think of what you would say if someone asked for life advice over a cup of coffee. What would you tell them?

Another great source for inspiration is Dr. Randy Pausch’s “Last Lecture,” where he gave all the lessons in his life knowing that he had a terminal illness. Do an internet search to find its recording and subsequent book. It’s worth watching multiple times.

Once you have the lessons figured out, find a way to creatively tell each lesson. Most people opt for anecdotes but if you have an interesting bit of research or a shocking number, use those sparingly to break it up.

You can also go the opposite way—think of memorable moments from your life, ones that made you who you are today—ones that changed you (back to the Hero’s Journey). What lessons can you draw from those moments? You can either lead with those moments as a story or headline the section and tell the story after.

Each piece of advice is the headline for the section with the content that follows illuminating the advice. You can also go the opposite way and tell a story and conclude the lesson from it.

Each lesson doesn’t need to be the same length—for some, you’ll have more to say than others and that’s OK.

Why 3-7? It’s a starting point and there’s no real rhyme or reason. Three because many speeches are organized around threes. Seven is an upper limit to help keep the speech on the shorter side. Go with what feels right to you.

When it’s appropriate:

You’ll find advice-based speeches most often at retirements, promotions, birthday parties, and occasionally weddings. Usually the person giving the advice is much wiser, experienced, or older, than the people listening.

For example, a father of the bride may be giving marriage advice to the new couple. Or a fire chief is giving advice to a room of candidates upon their graduation from training. Or someone is celebrating 50 years on this earth and wants to give advice to those a bit younger in the audience.

Story Based:

Story-based speeches lead with a story rather than a set of lessons. Sometimes they blend with the advice version but not all stories are told as moral warnings. Some are told to show someone’s great character or a touching moment.

How to do this form:

Story-based speeches can be a series of vignettes or they can be one long complete story. Think first about the values and character of the person you’re honoring and find the stories that demonstrate those. You might have a few stories or one really good one.

Steve Jobs’ Stanford commencement address is a great example of the form–he tells three stories and makes a connection between each one.

When they’re appropriate:

Almost always. This is the most popular way of giving a toast where you talk about the great stories of a person and use those to help make your point.

However, you’ll find them most often in wedding toasts where you get to hear great stories of the groom and bride. Other times, when honoring someone at their retirement or birthday party, you’ll want to tell stories that illuminate their best qualities.

How do you tell the difference between story-based and advice-based? Aren’t they two sides of the same coin?

Yes, they can be. As you’ll notice in the retirement speech, it’s advice and story driven. That’s fine. The goal in making the distinction is that you won’t always have advice to give after a story or the point of the story may be for laughter or sentimentality. You can end a story with lessons that you learned or what impressed you the most about it, but you just don’t have to. Plus, you probably won’t headline a story with its advice and values, “Now let me tell you about the time when John showed courage.” Let the story imply what was shown and draw the details after.

These structures aren’t rigid and can be mixed and matched.

Thank you based:

Someone out there wrote some speech advice that’s mostly correct: Don’t fill the opening of a speech with thank-yous nor the whole thing. That’s almost right.

A thank-you based speech, when done correctly, can work. Instead of headlining each section with advice as seen above, come up with whom you are thankful for and why. Use each person or group as a headline.

Within each one, give words of thanks, tell short stories, and use that as an opportunity to thank them.

When appropriate:

You’ll find this type of speech most appropriate when you are the center of attention for an award or other occasion where many people helped you get to the big day.

You’re receiving an award; you are graduating at the top of your class; you are celebrating a birthday surrounded by friends and family and they all had an impact on you.

Extended Metaphor:

This is the trickiest to pull off but it can be powerful when done correctly. Take a look at this award acceptance speech from Audra Lawlor at Girl Meets Dirt . It doesn’t fit neatly into any of the categories above, but look at how it’s giving lessons and telling a story all at once.

Can you mix and match?

Yes, and that’s what makes each toast unique. In the body of your toast, you can have a part where you tell great stories about the person you’re honoring and then offer a few words of advice to the crowd.

You can thank specific people who helped you achieve a certain goal but then provide advice to the rest of the crowd.

Key takeaways:

• The body of your speech is where you get to tell stories, give advice, and give specific thank-yous to meaningful people in your life.
• You can choose to headline the sections with advice, story themes, or thank-yous or go the more subtle route, lead with a story, and then conclude with the takeaways you want for your audience.
• Many find it much easier to write the body of a speech first and then later worry about the opening and closing that will act as bookends on the speech. If you’re stuck here, go onto the next section and try the opening and closing parts and come back to the body.

Step 5: Editing–What if my speech is too long?

As promised, here’s how to edit your speech down if you feel that you have too much to say or you are way over in your allotted time and word count.

First, determine the funniest story and the most sentimental story–just tell those two as part of the story section in your speech. You ideally want both to balance each out–plus, sometimes a funny story is taken seriously by the audience and it just becomes sentimental.

Second, cut down any acknowledgments or thank-yous or cut the section entirely. You can make one or two acknowledgments if there’s a VIP in the room (like your CEO or the bride’s father) but cut out the number of people you are thanking.

Third, leave only the essential details in the story you’re telling. If there are extraneous characters that don’t matter much to the plot, take them out. Think of each story like a movie trailer–only add in the absolutely necessary details and let the audience fill in the rest.

Understanding the Importance of Preparation

You’ve heard the saying, right? “By failing to prepare, you’re preparing to fail.” Well, there’s a good reason why it’s become such a well-known phrase. The concept holds true, particularly when you’re about to give a toast. Preparation is not merely a task to check off the list; it’s an essential step that frames the success of your toast. Let’s dive into why that is.

Firstly, thorough preparation can boost your confidence. By taking the time to write, review, and rehearse your speech, you become familiar with the ins and outs of your message. You understand the sequence of your thoughts, the balance of humor, and solemnity. You even prepare for possible reactions from your audience.

Especially when you are nervous, being prepared can act as an anchor, providing you with a sense of certainty and control. Wouldn’t it be comforting to know exactly where you’re taking your audience on this small journey of a toast?

Preparation also enables you to master the technical aspects of your toast. It gives you time to adjust the length of your speech fitting into the event’s schedule or structure the content for clarity and impact. It allows you to anticipate interruptions, manage contingencies, and execute impeccable timing. In simple words, preparation puts you in control of your toast.

Also, while spontaneity has its charm, a toast is not an ideal opportunity for winging it. Wit and eloquence are often born from well-crafted preparation, and, let’s face it, the risk failing in front of a crowd isn’t precisely appealing, is it?

Lastly, by investing time in preparation, you’re also showing respect to your audience. It demonstrates that you value their time and attention, that you wanted to offer them a well-thought-out message, rather than a hastily conjured jumble of words. In a sense, a perfectly prepared toast is a gift, wrapped up in your goodwill and best intentions.

Crafting the Perfect Opening Line

You’re standing in front of an expectant crowd, your heart is pounding, but it’s your moment to shine. How do you capture their attention from your very first word? That’s where the importance of the perfect opening line comes into play. But where do you start?

Getting it right isn’t rocket science, but it’s indeed an art—a mixture of wit, sensitivity, timing, and just the right measure of confidence. If crafted right, the opening line will set the tone, engage your audience, and smoothly transition them into the body of your toast.

Top tip: Start by building a connection. Ask yourself, how can you bring everyone into a shared moment? A good starting point is to introduce yourself, especially when not everyone knows who you are. Yet, be brief—you’re not the focus, remember?

Setting the Right Tone for Your Toast

Let’s talk about tone, shall we? The tone of your toast can make or break the whole event. It’s that instrumental part of your speech that sets the atmosphere, guides the audience’s emotions, and helps to deliver your message as intended.

Now you might wonder, how do you actually set a tone? Well, it all begins with understanding the event and its purpose. Is it a joyous wedding celebration? Or an in-depth tribute to an accomplished colleague’s career? Or perhaps a bittersweet farewell to a beloved friend moving afar? Once you’ve got the event’s rhythm, you’re halfway there to setting the appropriate tone.

Humor? Of course, it’s a wonderful ice-breaker! But humor must align with the event’s spirit and the audience’s expectations. Be sensitive to the cultural, age, and background diversities of the attendees. The best toasts are those that can connect universally, yet feel extraordinarily personal to everyone listening.

But what if the occasion is serious? No problem! A serious tone can be exceptionally powerful if handled well. Your speech doesn’t have to be a monotone eulogy. Try to break up the solemn atmosphere with moments of levity, anecdotes that light up faces, or sprinkle a little light-hearted wisdom now and then. The key is balance, reminding us all that even in moments of grief or solemnity, life remains full of love, hope, and unexpected joys.

Now, a bit of caution, please. While setting the tone, you must stay genuine. Remember? Emotions are contagious. If you’re not feeling it, neither will your audience. So, engage from a place of empathy and authenticity; let your feelings guide your words.

Confused about how to blend it all? Let’s resort to an old friend – practice . Practice your speech as much as you can until you find the ‘tone’ that feels right.

In the end, whether your toast is humorous, heartfelt, solemn, or celebratory, the tone should echo the event’s spirit, resonate with the audience’s emotions, and most importantly be authentic to you. Remember, there’s no ‘one size fits all’ strategy for giving good toasts. Your tone is unique to you, your relationship with the honoree, and the occasion itself. Master this, and you’re one step closer to giving a toast that’s hard to forget.

Telling a Compelling Story or Anecdote

Ever wondered why we remember stories better than mere facts or figures? It’s because stories engage our emotions and ignite our imaginations, allowing us to visualize and connect with what’s being said. So, what about making your toast a story worth remembering?

The first thing to do? Find the heartfelt or memorable moments that have left an imprint. Maybe it was a shared experience, a humorous incidence, or a turning point in the life of the person or persons being toasted. These moments don’t necessarily have to be monumental. Sometimes, it’s the little things that resonate most, the ones that capture a person’s character or the essence of a shared relationship. Telling a compelling story is a great way to express sincere affection and gratitude for the person being toasted.

Once you’ve chosen your story, craft it effectively. Remember, every good story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. The beginning should hook your listeners, setting up the story you’re about to tell with a simple formula. This could be based on the context of the toast, an interesting snippet about the person, or a quote that encapsulates the mood or theme of your story. The middle is where you detail the incident, capturing the meaningful aspects in vivid, engaging detail. Finally, bring it all home with a heartfelt end that connects the story back to the reason for the toast.

But what if you’re not a born storyteller? Don’t worry; we all have it in us to tell compelling tales. Here’s a simple structure to guide you:

• Set the scene: Start by describing the setting, time, place, and the people involved to draw your listeners in.
• Present the event: What happened? Include enough detail to make it real, but not too much to bore your audience.
• Show the impact: How did the event affect you or the person you’re toasting? This helps to make your story relatable and showcases the depth of your shared experiences.
• Wrap it up: Integrate the story into the context of the toast by adding a comment or moral at the end that encompasses why this story resonates.

One crucial aspect to remember is to keep your story authentic. Being true to the experiences and the personalities involved makes your toast genuine and impactful. In the end, you won’t just be telling a story; you’ll be creating a beautiful memory that people can carry with them. Now, who wouldn’t raise a toast to that? Remember, this is a toast, not a roast, so keep the humor light and appropriate.

Using Humor to Connect with Your Audience

When you’re trying to make a memorable toast, humor can be an incredibly powerful tool. A well-placed joke or a funny anecdote can lighten the mood, disarm your audience, and make you more relatable. Who doesn’t love a good laugh, right?

Let’s get this straight, though. When I talk about humor, I don’t mean you need to transform into a stand-up comedian. No, you just need to share a funny, amusing moment, maybe an inside joke that everyone in the room can relate to or a light-hearted story that puts a smile on their faces.

But how do you do this effectively?

• Understand Your Audience: The first step in using humor in your toast is understanding your audience. What makes them laugh? What kind of humor do they appreciate? Remember, what’s funny to one group may not necessarily be funny to another.
• Timing is Essential: Just like comedic performances, timing in humor is everything when giving a toast. A well-timed punchline can transform a simple narrative into an unforgettable piece of humor.
• Be Authentic: Authenticity breeds connection. Try to share personal humorous stories or jokes that you find funny. Your sincere laughter can be infectious and could lead to a shared moment of mirth with your audience.
• Less is More: A brief touch of humor in your toast can work wonders. You don’t have to overload your script with jokes. Instead, let the levity arise naturally from the story or the situation.

Importantly, always remember to stay respectful and understanding. Humor should be an instrument of unity, not division. Avoid controversial, offensive, or polarizing jokes. Keep it light, keep it fun, and most importantly—keep it ‘you’!

To conclude, humor can be a powerful tool when toastmastering. It can connect you with your audience, enlighten the atmosphere, and make your speech memorable. It may require a bit of practice, and you might not get it right the first time. But don’t worry. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Remember, each time you give a toast, it’s a learning experience, and with each stroke, you’re painting a masterpiece of your journey as a public speaker. So, shall we raise a glass to humor in toasts?

Adding Personal Touches to Your Toast

Being personal is the lifeblood of any good toast. It’s not just about sharing information or entertaining the audience; it’s about forming a connection, a bond that links your words to the hearts of those present. So, how do you achieve this touch of personalization, and with finesse at that?

First off, be authentic. There’s something incredibly powerful about being genuine – it’s appealing, relatable and simply hard to dislike. When you’re delivering your toast, speak from the heart. Share personal anecdotes, bring out genuine emotions and do so with sincerity. Remember, the audience can feel your authenticity, and it acts as a magnet, drawing them into your message.

Remember: “Speak genuinely, and your words will hold a charm only the truth can lend.”

Next, relate to your audience. You’re giving a toast, not a lecture. Therefore, the people in the room aren’t just passive receivers; they are part of your conversation. Mention mutual experiences, speak in terms familiar to the group, and use ‘we’ instead of ‘I.’ Relating in your toast ensures that your points resonate with the audience and holds their attention more effectively. And once you’ve connected with the audience, it’s time to hit the dance floor and celebrate together.

Lastly, incorporate elements of surprise. This might be an interesting fact about the person you’re toasting, a behind-the-scenes story, or a perspective that other people haven’t heard before. A touch of surprise not only keeps the audience engaged but adds that intrigue that makes your toast memorable.

Quick Recap:

• Be Authentic: Speak from the heart, lets your sincerity shine through.
• Relate to your Audience: Use mutual experiences and inclusive pronouns.
• Incorporate Elements of Surprise: An unexpected fact or story adds intrigue.

By sprinkling these personal touches throughout your toast, you’re not just speaking, you’re captivating, and you’re not just being heard, but truly felt. And isn’t that the essence of a good toast?

Including Meaningful Quotes or Poetry

There’s something profoundly powerful about a right quote or a nugget of poetry in a toast. They have a way of embedding deep wisdom in a few lines, aren’t they? But you might be wondering, how do you incorporate them into your toast? Do you worry if quotes might overshadow your original thoughts? No worries, we’re going to delve into that together.

First off, ensure that any quote or poem you want to use is spot-on and serves a purpose. Relevance is key . Is there a favorite quote of the person you’re toasting? Does a particular piece of poetry reflect the essence of the occasion? Use these questions as a guide.

Perhaps, you’re afraid that a borrowed wisdom might steal the show, leaving your original thoughts in the shade. Well, it’s not about stealing the limelight, but rather about illuminating the theme of your toast. It’s okay if a quote steals the show for a moment; after all, you’re the director, aren’t you?

“You don’t have to write everything from scratch, even light is borrowed.” – Anonymous

See what we did there? Quotes can provide a poignant pause, a moment of reflection in the bustling toast-party. And if you weave it seamlessly into your narrative, it actually lends more depth to your message.

Honestly, incorporating poetry can be a bit tricky, especially if it’s lengthy. But here’s a tip – use excerpts that are punchy and hit home. Avoid long poems unless you’re confident you can keep your audience enthralled. Always remember, you’re not reciting poetry for a literature class, but giving a toast.

Lastly, before including a quote or poem, make sure you attribute it to the rightful author. It’s a sign of respect and authenticity. Not to forget, it saves you from committing a social faux pas!

So, are you starting to see how meaningful quotes or poetry can add an extra layer of sophistication to your toast? As the cherry tops the cake, a well-placed quote or verse could be that special something to uplift your toast from good to extraordinary. But remember, the quote or poetry is not the star of the show – you are, and the people you’re toasting to!

Structuring Your Toast for Maximum Impact

Structuring the perfect toast isn’t as simple as throwing together a few words and hoping for the best. It requires careful planning and a clear understanding of the various elements that make a good toast. You see, the structure of your toast, or how it’s arranged, plays a crucial role in delivering your message effectively, leaving an impact and capturing the heart of your audience. Let’s dive into some actionable steps you can take to go about this.

Firstly, you have to start with a bang . Remember the old adage: first impressions matter. Your opening line should be engaging enough to grab your audience’s attention and interesting enough to keep it. A great quote, a short anecdote, or a surprising fact can do wonders by providing a readymade hook.

After your captivating opening, navigate to the body of the toast . Here is the place to insert the bulk of your message, whether it’s a heartfelt sentiment, a shared memory, or an inspiring quote. Just remember to keep it concise, relevant, and compelling. A good rule of thumb is to include only elements that contribute to the main theme of your toast.

Finally, nail your toast with a memorable conclusion. Your final sentence should be powerful and resonate long after you’ve returned to your seat. Endings which tie back to the beginning often have maximum impact and create a satisfying sense of closure. And of course, don’t forget to raise your glass, propose the toast, and take a sip at the end.

K.I.S.S. – Keep It Short and Simple – My personal mantra for a well-structured toast. Delivering a concise, well-organized toast can be more effective in getting your message across than a lengthy, disorganized one. Remember, you’re aiming for quality over quantity.

Now, the question might arise, how can you ensure that your toast follows this structure? One effective approach is to write an outline beforehand. Think of it as a blueprint for your toast. This will not only provide a visual representation of your toast’s structure but also helps you stay on track, preventing you from veering off-topic.

In conclusion, structuring your toast effectively is integral to delivering a successful toast. With a strong opening, a compelling body, and a memorable conclusion, you’ll be well on your way to crafting a toast that leaves a lasting impression.

Using Body Language to Enhance Your Toast

Have you ever watched a public speaker who just seemed to captivate the room with their presence? Chances are, that wasn’t just the subject matter of their speech – much of it likely had to do with their body language. Sure, words matter, but what can make them truly spellbinding is how they’re delivered. That’s right, the way you stand, move, and gesticulate during your toast can significantly enhance its overall effect. So, how do we go about this you might wonder?

Firstly, you’ve got to understand that body language is a means of communication. Subtle changes in your posture, gestures, or facial expressions can send a powerful message. And just like language itself, body language can be fluent and impactful if practiced and understood. So, let’s decode this language of the body, right?

Mastering your Posture

Consider this: you’re about to give a toast, and you slump into the microphone, feet shuffling, shoulders hunched. Do you think the audience would be convinced of your confidence or engaged in your speech? Probably not. A strong, upright, and relaxed posture not only enhances your voice projection but also conveys a sense of confidence. Remember, you’ve got to own the room!

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. This stance provides a stable base, makes you appear grounded, and prevents unnecessary swaying. Keep your spine straight, but don’t become a rigid statue. Casual movement, if natural and unforced, can make your toast feel more personal and engaging.

The Power of Gestures

We’re all prone to using hand gestures when we speak – it’s a natural byproduct of our desire to emphasize what we’re saying. Use this to your advantage! You can employ gestures to emphasize key points, express enthusiasm, or even prompt laughter. It’s a little like conducting an orchestra: your words come to life with the aid of your hands.

While large, dramatic gestures might be suitable for the stage, in a toast scenario, keep it focused and meaningful. Remember, the objective is not to draw attention to your gestures but to use them to reinforce what you’re saying.

Facial Expressions Speak Volumes

Your face is the most expressive part of your body. Whether it be a slight smirk or a furrowed brow, facial expressions can dramatically enhance the sentiments conveyed in your speech. A genuine smile, as simple as it may sound, can create engagement and impart warmth to your audience. Trust me; authenticity goes a long way!

The takeaway here is that thoughtful use of body language can elevate your toast from a mundane monologue to an engaging performance. Whether it’s a wedding toast or a farewell speech, remember, body language is a powerful tool – so why not hone it to your advantage?

Engaging Your Audience with Eye Contact

Let me reiterate a crucial point here: Eye contact is a powerful tool when engaging your audience. It doesn’t matter whether you’re speaking to a group of five or five hundred; eye contact can strengthen your connection with your listeners and command their attention.

Consider this – remember the last time someone held your gaze during a conversation? It made you feel interesting and heard, right? The same is true when you’re toasting.

By looking into people’s eyes, you’re saying without words: “I respect you. I value your presence. The words I’m saying are important to you too.” Let’s explore how to make the most of eye contact when delivering a toast.

Gauging Your Audience’s Reaction

If you want to really connect and engage with your audience, watch their reactions . As you make eye contact with different people during your toast, you can gather valuable feedback. If they seem engaged and responsive, you’re on the right track. However, if they seem unsettled or disinterested, it may be time to adjust your delivery, lighten the mood, or make a joke. Remember, your audience’s reactions are your guide.

Maintaining a Balance

Though eye contact is essential, there’s a fine balance to consider. Staring too intently might make your audience feel uncomfortable. On the other hand, fleeting or absent eye contact could give the impression that you’re insincere or nervous. The key is in finding the balance – aim for honest and steady eye contact that communicates your respect and appreciation.

Incorporating Eye Contact Naturally

Of course, the trick here is to incorporate eye contact naturally and not rigidly. Look at someone, smile, connect with your eyes, then naturally move on to someone else. Don’t worry too much about ensuring you make eye contact with everyone. It’s not about playing crowd bingo; it’s about making meaningful connections. Focus on making quality eye contact, not quantity.

So there you have it. Eye contact: easy to understand, a bit trickier to master, but oh-so effective once you do. It’s your subtle superpower in winning hearts and minds when giving a good toast. Master it, and you’re well on your way to achieving toasting greatness.

Managing Nerves and Overcoming Stage Fright

Do the bright lights and constant glances make you tremble whenever you take the stage? It’s completely understandable, even the most experienced speakers suffer from stage fright. But guess what, it’s nothing you can’t conquer.

The trick is to breathe and believe. Inhale deep, exhale slow. That little exercise right there can do wonders to your raging nerves. But that’s not all. Visualizing success, often termed ‘positive mental imagery’, can do wonders as well. Picture yourself on that stage, delivering that unforgettable toast. How does it feel? Pretty spectacular, isn’t it?

This isn’t your typical mumbo jumbo, in fact, many professional athletes and famous performers swear by these techniques. So, what’s stopping you? Try it out and see the magic unfold.

The Art of Overcoming Stage Fright

Stage fright can be a major obstacle that prevents you from delivering a memorable toast. Let’s delve into some strategies that can help you to overcome it effectively:

• Prepare: Nothing beats good preparation. Rehearse your speech, learn it inside and out until the words become second nature. Rehearsing ‘outloud’ and ‘in the open’ can escalate the comfort level you have with your speech.
• Accept and Reframe: It is important to understand and accept that nerves are natural, they come and go. Instead of considering nerves as a negative factor impacting your performance, reframe them as an indication of your enthusiasm and commitment.
• Focus on the Message: Your primary goal is to deliver your message effectively and engage with your audience. Shifting your attention to the significance of your speech, rather than on your fear, will help you ease down.
• Engage with Audience: Find friendly faces and make eye contact. Engage your audience early-on to establish a connection which often helps to settle any leftover nerves.

Remember, fear is just a mind game and luckily, you hold the winning cards. Embrace those nerves and redirect them to enhance your performance. Because let’s face it, there’s nothing like a little adrenaline to get the show going. It’s your stage, own it!

Next time anxiousness comes knocking before an important toast, refer back to these points. After all, remember the unforgettable words of Mark Twain, “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear.”

Toast Etiquette: Dos and Don’ts to Keep in Mind

Let’s dive right in, shall we? Toasting is an art, undeniably, but it also comes with its fair share of rules or, to put it more gently, etiquette. You’ll want to pay attention to these ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ to avoid stepping on toes or leaving your audience less appreciative of your toasting prowess.

First and foremost, let’s focus on the dos .

• Respect your time limit : To avoid rambling on and potentially boring your audience, remember that a toast is a short speech, not a marathon. Say what you need to say succinctly and with maximum effect.
• Rehearse beforehand : Preparation is key – rehearsal helps iron out creases and makes delivery smoother. Have a run-through, or even a few, refining your words and delivery each time.
• Show appreciation and honor : Remember to show gratitude and appreciate those you are toasting. This is, after all, the primary goal of a toast.
• Speak from the heart : Genuine sincerity is crucial. While you can draw inspiration from other sources, ensure your toast is authentic and comes from your heart.
• Engage the audience : Make eye contact, invoke humor where appropriate, and aim to connect with your audience. Make them feel part of the toast rather than just spectators.

Just as important as the dos are the don’ts . Here they are:

• Avoid inappropriate language or content : A toast is a public and formal address. Therefore, offensive language and inappropriate content are off bounds. If in doubt, err on the side of caution and cut it out.
• Don’t embarrass anyone : A toast is not the time for retelling embarrassing stories or making anyone feel uncomfortable. Keep it friendly and respectful.
• Don’t wing it : Preparation comes in again here – avoid making your toast look like an afterthought by being prepared and well-rehearsed.
• Don’t make it about you : While it’s your toast, remember it’s not about you. Center your speech on the person or event you are celebrating.
• Avoid being overly emotional or dramatic : Keep your emotions in check and avoid turning your toast into a teary spectacle or dramatic performance.

Finally, remember, the ultimate goal is to honor someone or celebrate something special. Remain focused on that, and you’ll stand a good chance of mastering the art of toasting.

The Aftermath: Following Up and Expressing Gratitude

So, you’ve delivered an exquisite toast, turning the atmosphere brimming with cheer and adulation. Yet, believe it or not, your job isn’t quite done. The aftermath of the toast offers a unique opportunity to further deepen relationships and consolidate the goodwill you’ve generated. Wondering how? Let’s dig in.

First off, look around – who seems particularly moved or joyful after your toast? Approach these people. Engage them in conversation. Hear what they have to say. You see, follow-up conversations can often reveal aspects of your toast that resonated with your audience, providing you with crucial insights into what worked and what didn’t.

Another important aspect is expressing gratitude — to those who helped you prepare, and to those who had the patience to listen. When it comes to saying thank you, don’t just stop at a blanket “thanks everyone.” Be specific. Call out people by name. Mingle, shake hands, give out compliments, honor those who influenced you, or inspired sections of your toast. Personal interactions like these go a long way in creating lasting bonds. Additionally, it is important to speak highly of the guest of honor and express gratitude for their presence and impact on the event.

Lastly, take time to evaluate your performance. Reflect on your delivery and the response you garnered. Although it may seem daunting at times, don’t shy away from considering criticisms, should they be presented. Remember that every toast you deliver is a stepping stone towards your growth as a speaker — and it’s up to you to extract the solid learning from each experience.

Now you might be thinking, “do I really need to do all this?” Well, you don’t need to do anything. But isn’t it worth taking just a few extra steps if they enhance your connection with your audience, refine your skills, and most importantly, make the entire experience even more meaningful? I’ll let you answer that one.

So, here’s to mastering the art of the toast aftermath. To conversations and connections. To gratitude and growth. Your journey towards becoming an exceptional toastmaster doesn’t end with the applause — it’s in what happens thereafter that counts, too.

Whether you’re raising a toast for a milestone birthday, an anniversary or professional achievement, the knack lies in understanding your subject and your audience. Refine your thoughts, conjure up compelling stories, pepper them with relevant humor, and add a dash of personal touch. Just remember, sincerity is key.

But remember, mastering the art of toastmaking isn’t solely about the words you speak. It’s about engaging your audience, managing your nerves, understanding the nuances of body language, and putting in the time to prepare meticulously.

It’s also about the aftermath of the toast. Yes, you were witty, captivating, appreciative, and engaging, but there’s something to be said about following up and expressing gratitude in the days that follow. Because it’s not just about one speech, but the legacy of good feelings that that speech leaves behind.

Remember, every great toastmaster had to start somewhere. So, take these lessons, tips, and advice to heart. Tackle your fears head on, and give that toast that will be remembered fondly for years to come. As you embark on this entertaining journey of mastering the art of the toast, commit to finding joy in the process and tapping into the power and potential of public speaking that you’ll discover within yourself. Here’s to your journey to becoming an exceptional toastmaster!

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How to Give a Memorable Toast for Any Occasion

Karen is a freelance writer with more than 25 years of experience writing for an array of publications, including authoring several books.

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When you offer a toast at a public occasion, it's important to speak from the heart in a manner that suits the occasion and engages the audience. Preparation - but not over practicing - is key to making the perfect, impressive toast.

Anatomy of an Impressive Toast

While your toast can be anything you want it to be, the following outline can help you organize your thoughts into a cohesive toast.

• Wedding Toast Examples for a Speech They'll Remember
• Free Wedding Speech Examples to Celebrate the Big Day
• Baby Shower Speech Examples to Make Hosting & Toasting a Breeze

Stand Up and With Your Glass

Whether you've been asked ahead of time to make a toast or have decided to do it in the spur of the moment, the first step to making a toast is to stand up and hold your glass in front of you. You may wish to clink your knife gently on the side of a glass to get people's attention, or you can stand up, project (without shouting), and say, "I'd like to make a toast."

Pause for a Moment

Now, you need to wait for a moment to ensure you have everyone's attention. Give them time to stop their conversations and focus on you.

Make the Toast About the Person or Event

Lead by mentioning the reason for the toast or the focus of the toast. Avoid saying things about you - such as "I'm so happy for..." or "I'm the brother of the bride and I want to..." Some examples of powerful toast lead-ins for different occasions follow.

• Wedding: "Today we're here to share in Amy's and Malik's joy as they begin their life together as husband and wife,"
• Retirement: "Anup may be retiring, but before he goes, I'd like to share a story about his time at our company,"
• Holiday gathering: "Thanksgiving is such a joyous occasion, let's take a moment to reflect on the many blessings our family has received in the past year."

Engage Listeners With a Hook

After stating the purpose of your toast, include a "hook" engage listeners. This may be a joke or a promise of an anecdote about the person or event you are toasting. Make sure it's just a sentence or two. The hook may be the same as your introductory statement, or it may be a follow-up statement to your introductory statement. For example:

• Wedding: "When Amy and I were roommates in college, we would like awake at night discussing her perfect man."
• Retirement: "As everyone who has ever worked with Anup likely knows, he has a very problematic relationship with the copy machine."
• Holiday gathering: "One of the main things that blesses us this year is that dad didn't drop the cooked turkey the garage behind the car on the way to grandma's house."

Offer an Anecdote or Two Appropriate to the Situation

Then, follow your hook with the promised anecdote. Keep it relatively short, but also make it descriptive, sharing the highlights of the anecdote. Your anecdote can be any of the following:

• Sentimental
• Something that shows the character of the person you're toasting

Stick to just one or two anecdotes so your toast isn't too long. Between 1 and 5 minutes is ideal for a toast depending on the occasion.

Say Something Nice About the Person/People or Occasion

After your anecdote(s), wind up by saying something nice about the person, people, or occasion you're toasting, tying it into to the rest of the toast. For example:

• Wedding: "Amy's perfect man turned out to be Malik, and he makes her so happy! I wish you many years of love and joy as you enter your new life together as husband and wife."
• Retirement: "So while we will enjoy having a copy machine that doesn't break nearly as often now, we will miss hearing Anup's dad puns and getting caught up in his enthusiasm for his great ideas. Anup, your presence will be deeply missed, but we wish you well as you travel the world in your retirement."
• Holiday gathering: "We're excited to eat turkey this year without any gravel from the garage in it. And we're overjoyed to be blessed with the presence of our loved ones here at this table as we gather for a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner."

Then, raise your glass towards the person or people you're toasting and invite everyone else to raise theirs as well. Look at the person and say, "Cheers!" or something similar. For example:

• Wedding: "So raise your glass to Amy and Malik to wish them many years of health, happiness, love, and prosperity. Cheers!"
• Retirement: "Please everyone raise your glass to Anup. We wish you a long, beautiful, and happy retirement. Cheers!"
• Holiday gathering: "I invite you to raise your glass to our family and give thanks for our many blessings. Cheers!"

Tips for Giving Great Toasts

The following tips can help you make a great toast.

Avoid Risqué Jokes and Embarrassing Stories

Toasts are meant to celebrate people and occasions. And while you can tell humorous stories about your subject or event, avoid telling cringeworthy stories that will make listeners or the subject of your toast uncomfortable. Also avoid sharing any information that might be considered private or TMI (too much information), betraying a confidence, or telling risqué or dirty jokes.

Employ Sensory Language to Draw in Listeners

When sharing your anecdote, use sensory language to make the story more interesting. In other words, offer a few details about how things looked, smelled, tasted, sounded, or felt. These small details can make your story more compelling.

Use Family-Friendly Language

Consider your audience when you're giving a toast. It's best to use family-friendly language and avoid swearing or offering overly graphic descriptions or anecdotes.

Make Eye Contact

Making eye contact strengthens your connection with the audience while making you look comfortable and appear more engaging. Make eye contact with both the person or people you're toasting and the people listening to your toast. Try to make brief eye contact with each person or group of people in turn, but don't linger overly long or it can become uncomfortable.

If you're in a large crowd and don't have the benefit of a microphone, you're going to need to project. Stand up straight, take deep breaths, and speak clearly and not too quickly. Be sure you enunciate. It's also okay to ask as you begin to speak, "Can everyone hear me okay?" and then modulate your voice based on the feedback you receive.

Keep It Short

Few people wish to sit through a ten-minute toast, so keep your speech relatively brief. Typically, five minutes or fewer is ideal for a toast, which gives you time for your introduction and hook, one or two anecdotes, your closing statement, and the cheers.

If you have advance notice you'll be making a toast, plan it ahead of time and practice it a few times (without notes) so you know your opening and hook, the broad outline of the anecdote(s) you plan to share, and your final sentiments. Don't read your toast as you give it or over-rehearse so you sound stiff or overly formal. Having the broad strokes of what you are going to say in place will also help you appear more relaxed and confident as you give the toast while allowing you some flexibility to adapt when you're actually giving the toast.

Examples of Good Toasts

One of the best ways to get a feel for a great toast is to find examples of them. The following examples can help as you plan your toast.

• Toasts are common at weddings. These free wedding toasts should give you some ideas.
• You can also bring humor into your wedding toast .
• You may also wish to make a toast at a wedding rehearsal dinner .
• Engagement parties are also toasting occasions.
• Celebrate a pending birth with creative baby shower toasts .
• Give thanks for your blessings with Thanksgiving toasts .
• Celebrate milestone wedding anniversaries with a toast .
• Toast your co-worker upon their retirement.

Raise Your Glass!

Fear of public speaking (glossophobia) is a common phobia. One of the best ways to overcome it is with preparation and experience. Toasting is a great way to gain some practice in public speaking because it's usually for a friendly and familiar audience, and it's a relatively short talk. So the next time someone asks you to give a toast, plan, prepare, and raise your glass to make the perfect impressive toast.

Find a store

How to give a toast from the heart.

At some point in your life, you’ll need to give a toast. You might get advance notice as a Maid of Honor or host of a retirement celebration. Or it might occur to you suddenly, in the middle of a gathering of your best friends, that “this calls for a toast!”

Here’s a secret about toasts: The best ones come from the heart. Try not to worry about being eloquent or memorable or perfect—focus on letting the person or people you toast know they matter.

Inspired? Create and share by tagging @hallmarkstores .

The basics of giving a toast  

We’ll start with a few FAQs:

Should you give a toast?

Sometimes it’s easy to know: You’ve been asked, you’re in a wedding party, you’re the host of a gathering. But sometimes, the gathering is less formal. A few simple etiquette guidelines:

• The host of a dinner might start the meal by toasting the guest of honor or the group.
• If they don’t, guests can suggest a toast to thank the host—or wait until after the main course is over to raise a glass.
• In a gathering, read the room. Is there a good reason to grab everyone’s attention? Can you do it without changing the mood of the event? Is this something everyone needs to hear? Then go for it.

Is this the time for a quick wish, a sincere compliment, or some good stories?

If you’ve been asked to deliver a toast, you can ask about expectations. If you’re raising a glass to start a meal, speaking on a whim, or are one of many speakers, shorter is sweeter.

How do you actually do it? Just simply stand up, raise a glass of whatever you’re drinking, and take focus. You don’t have to ding your glass with silverware—just confidently ask for a few moments of attention or say, “I’d like to propose a toast.”

What to say in a toast  

This is the part most likely to make people nervous. But remember: The most moving toasts are heartfelt and sincere. They use real-life language, true stories, and genuine emotion.

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make a few notes or practice. Absolutely do. If you’re offering a toast at a formal or special event, being comfortable with what you’re going to say will put everyone else at ease, too.

Here’s a simple formula to create a great toast:

• Start by announcing who or what you’re toasting—the person, group, organization, or occasion—and the reason for the gathering.
• Give the audience context by letting them know why you’re making the toast: your relationship, connection, or a little about yourself.
• Share stories, anecdotes, or compliments about the subject of the toast.
• Wrap things up with a thank-you to the hosts, if appropriate, and a wish for the honoree.

Or, if some of those things are well known, you can keep your toast super simple:

“Raise your glasses to (person, people, or organization) because (reason or occasion). (Add a compliment here.) Cheers!”

Specific toasts for special occasions  

Looking for more help making a toast on a big day? We’ve got help for that, too.

The Challenge: What to say at your parents’ 50th wedding anniversary The Tip: Before the big bash, ask your parents (separately) about the secrets to their success, how they met, their fondest memory, their partner’s best trait. Then incorporate their stories into your toast. Be sure to mention what they’ve meant to you as parents and your admiration for their partnership. A good ending: “So here’s to my parents—my first, and best, example of how love can last a lifetime. Cheers to both of you.” Skip: Sibling rivalry! If your brother shows up with a 20-minute slide show, don’t alter your speech for the sake of competition.

The Challenge: What to say at your son’s high-school graduation party The Tip: Highlight what his graduation represents: the joy and pride he has brought to his family, his dedication to his education and the promise of his future life. Consider, “We know that he’ll take the university—and soccer field!—by storm and become the kind of adult who will benefit the people and the world around him.” Skip: Gushing—you don’t want to mortify the kid. And don’t go on and on about his good grades; it comes off as bragging.

The Challenge: What to say as matron of honor at your friend’s second wedding The Tip: Include the groom and mention how much he has brought into your friend’s life. Try starting with, “I’ve known Mary since childhood and always knew she needed someone to match her smarts, strength and loyalty. Fortunately, she found her equal when she met Jon.” Give examples you’ve seen, or your friend has shared with you. Keep it short—three to five minutes. Skip: Any references whatsoever to her previous spouse, boyfriends, or romantic dry spells.

The Challenge: What to say at your best friend’s milestone birthday party The Tip: Let the compliments flow. Want help putting it into words? Ask the party guests to write compliments—or memories, or short anecdotes—on 3×5 cards. (You can send them in invitations or make them available at the celebration.) You can read them aloud or ask others to help. Afterward, put all the cards in a jar or book as a gift to the guest of honor. Skip: Making fun of your friend for getting older. We know by now that we get better and better with every decade, right?

The Challenge: What to say when your team just landed a new project at work The Tip: Make it about the team—all of them. Try something like: “Every one of you was instrumental in closing this deal: The marketing team put together great materials, the sales team swayed the client, and the administrative staff kept us sane through it all!” Skip: Winging it—make notes and talk it through in your mirror. You don’t want to accidentally leave someone out.

Short and sweet toasts  

We understand that sometimes you might want to finish with a little bit of a flourish. For those occasions, we offer these toasts:

• Here’s to you and the chance today brings to look back, look ahead and, best of all, look around at the faces of all the people who care about you.
• Here’s to the memories we cherish, the joys we share, the dreams we dream. And most of all, here’s to us.
• Wishing you joy and laughter, beauty and happy memories, and all the joy you so deserve.
• Here’s to new journeys, new songs to be sung, new ways to be blessed when you’re [age] years young!
• Here’s to you— one year older, wiser, and more wonderfully you than ever. Here’s to you! You did good— I knew you would! A toast to you on this special occasion and best wishes for all the happiness the future can hold.

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Public Speaking Tips

Whether you’re new to giving speeches or are a seasoned Toastmaster, these how-to articles will help you hone your public speaking skills. Get quick and easy tips for how to prepare and present an award , use visual aids and props , incorporate body language into your presentations, and more. With time and practice, your communication skills will greatly improve, along with your confidence.

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• Who Gives a Speech at a Wedding Reception? How to Write a Wedding Toast Tips for the Father of the Bride Speech How to Write a Best Man Toast Advice for the Maid of Honor Speech What to Know About a Newlywed Toast Public Speaking Experts' Wedding Speech Tips 60 Quotes to Use for Your Wedding Toast

Public Speaking Experts Share Their Top Tips for Giving an Amazing Wedding Speech

Check out their best examples and advice to learn how to knock it out of the park.

Photo by Kurt Boomer

In This Article

Most people would agree that public speaking isn't easy, and this is especially true when you're feeling the added pressure that comes along with giving a speech at a loved one's wedding. Not only do you have the attention of dozens (if not hundreds!) of guests you probably don't know, but you're also trying to appeal to a group of people in a wide range of ages from all different phases of the couple's lives. What's more, you want your speech to delight the couple of the hour and be as appealing to your group of friends as it to the newlyweds' grandparents. All in all, it's a tough task.

Before you panic, know that we're here to help. Ahead, we're sharing a comprehensive guide on what you should include in your speech , how to nail your delivery, and questions to consider to get the brainstorming process started—all from noteworthy speakers, well-established speechwriters, and wedding planners (who have seen it all).

Wedding Speech Template

Every great wedding speech has one thing in common: the right flow. Factor in these guidelines to help you find your own organic rhythm.

Open With a Statement or Question

Don't lead with a joke or a reference to how nervous you are. "The goal is to engage your audience, not make it a boring one-way message," says award-winning motivational speaker Jaime Pfeffer . "You'll lose them if you do this."

Introduce Yourself

After your opener, introduce yourself, says Fallon Carter , a wedding planner, even designer, and professional speaker. "A lot of times, people don't know who is speaking, and they don't know their relationship to the bride or the groom," she says. "It's really important to identify yourself, so make sure you've prepared something."

Address Your Audience

As speaker and life strategy coach Mark Black, CSP , points out, focusing on yourself only enhances nerves. "Instead, concentrate on your audience and how you want them to feel. This will help you to speak from the heart, allowing your speech to do what it's supposed to do: Make the couple feel special while also engaging the audience."

Focus on a Few Points

Seasoned speaker Susan Bender Phelps, CEO of Odyssey Mentoring & Leadership , says her top guideline is to select one to three aspects of the newlyweds that you love and appreciate, along with no more than three short stories to illustrate each of these points (or that one point). "The simple, succinct story or stories where the bride and groom are the hero will work best." This is an excellent way to structure your speech and keep your message focused.

How Long Wedding Speeches Should Be

The ideal length for a speech is three to five minutes, with five minutes being the absolute maximum you should speak for. That's it. "I’ve never been to a wedding where anyone said, 'That was a great wedding, but the best man speech was just too short and that  ruined  it,'" says David Litt , the speechwriter for former President Barack Obama and author of Thanks, Obama .

Carter agrees: "I always say anywhere between two and five minutes—and no more than five minutes," she says. "You want to keep things short and sweet." It's just as important to keep in mind when the speech will take place when determining length, since toasts are often timed with meal courses: "Be mindful of how long a course generally takes or how long it takes people to eat," Carter adds, noting that most courses last between 15 and 20 minutes and that several speeches have to fit inside each window. "If there are other people speaking, you want to be mindful and give them space."

Wedding Speech Tips

Now that you've established the right framework for your words, take note of these essential tips for acing the delivery from a few speaking pros.

Rehearse Regularly

The better prepared you are, the more confident you'll be and the better your speech will be, says author and professional speaker Barry Maher . A good rule of thumb is to practice the speech enough that you can remember the points you want to make and the order in which you want to make them. That way, you can look out to the crowd and make eye contact every so often.

Record Yourself Practicing

Use your phone to take a video of yourself practicing, suggests Kate Kenfield , speaker and sex educator. "It can be a little uncomfortable to watch yourself, but you'll be able to identify distracting mannerisms, such as the verbal pauses 'um,' 'uh,' and 'like'." It's also a good idea to practice your speech in front of someone else. "A second opinion can help you craft your piece and make it that much stronger," she says.

Don't forget body language! Rehearse the speech in front of a mirror and notice things like your facial expression, eye contact, and hand position.

Avoid Alcohol

Although it may be tempting to look for some liquid courage, alcohol definitely won't do you any favors, warns keynote speaker Amy Morin , author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do . "It may cause you to slur your speech and forget your lines, so wait until after your toast to celebrate," she advises. If you need a drink to loosen up the nerves or can't refrain from participating in a toast without being rude, stick to one glass of Champagne before you address the crowd.

Use Nerves to Your Advantage

A little nervousness can actually liven up your speech. "I get worried if I'm not a little nervous," says Maher. "I'll actually try to make myself a little tense to get my energy level up." The key is to harness that energy and communicate it in a positive, genuine way; tensing up to the point that you forget your words or panic won't make for a great presentation.

Be Yourself

Keep in mind that you're not putting on a show, only sharing your personal perspective. Trying too hard to force the funny can yield the opposite of the desired effect, cautions Matt Dalley, co-founder of Simply Eloped . "I've noticed that keeping it short and sweet, heartfelt and warm, and coming across as authentic and focused on the couple is something we are all capable of and generates some very wonderful moments," he says.

Never Embarrass the Newlyweds

It's a wedding toast, not a roast. While this should go without saying, keep the bachelor or bachelorette party jokes out of it, and remember that grandma and possibly a few colleagues are in the audience, notes Laurie Battaglia , a keynote speaker and workplace strategist. "It's okay to look back at childhood and refer to something funny, but ask yourself if you'd like 200-plus of your closest friends knowing that story about you."

Use Your Notes

Reading your speech straight from a piece of paper is a big no-no. However, having a couple of note cards handy is encouraged. "You're likely to be nervous, excited, and exhausted, which can make you forget your lines," explains Morin. "The audience won't care if you glance at your notes. In fact, there's a good chance they won't even notice."

Wedding Speech Brainstorm Ideas

Need some inspiration? Ask yourself these questions to get the brainstorming process going.

• Who will speak before you? After you? How will this affect the content of your toast? (Perhaps you want to include a reference to their speech, thank them for an introduction, or introduce the next speaker).
• Is there someone you should thank for making the event possible and inviting you to speak?
• What would you want to hear in this speech if you were in the audience?
• Is there a favorite story or memory that the couple would want you to share with their friends and family?

Wedding Speech Examples to Make Your Own

So, what does it look like when all these elements come together? Wedding vow and speechwriter Katelyn Peterson , owner and creator of Wedding Words , offered us three examples of successful toasts to inspire your own.

Maid of Honor Wedding Speech Example

"Hi, I’m Maya, the bride’s older sister . With Lucy being three years younger, we fell right into our respective roles as sister-rivals growing up. We constantly fought over stolen clothes, monopolizing the phone back when landlines were a thing, and what boy band to blare from the car speakers. I’m still Team Backstreet Boys while Lucy is forever indebted to NSYNC.

Looking back on those memories, I should have stepped up and granted Lucy permission to wear my favorite sweater for picture day, to hand her the phone once in a while, and to let her play, 'Bye Bye Bye.' Even I can admit that’s a good one. But despite Lucy being the younger sister, she has always been more patient, more accommodating, and more thoughtful than me. And that’s because when it comes to the people she loves, she’s all in.

She’s the one to prioritize their desires. She’s the one to compromise first. And, she’s the one to support their dreams as if they were her own. 

This is why it makes me so happy to know that Lucy has found a home in David. He matches her in compassion, thoughtfulness, and warmth. And I know he’ll spend his life prioritizing her desires, being ready to compromise, and supporting her dreams as his own.

Cheers to Lucy and David! May you always feel loved because you always put each other first."

Best Man Wedding Speech Example

"Hello, everyone. My name is Luke and I’m the best man . I met Robert eight years ago when I became his neighbor. His reputation preceded him as I had heard about the 'Block Party King' before my closing papers were inked. 

Rob has never been the guy to wear fancy clothes. In fact, I’m still in shock seeing him in that tux tonight. And he’s never been the guy to show off even though the work he’s put into his vintage Mustang could make Henry Ford himself envious.

But when it comes to cooking, he should receive an award. His pulled pork is a staple at our summer block parties and his homemade barbeque sauce has remained our neighborhood’s best-kept secret. But the most satisfying part about his delicious dishes is that there’s always plenty to go around. And Rob makes sure your plate is never empty. I have no idea how he pulls it off, but Rob has a covert ability to scoop seconds onto your plate without you ever seeing him do it. I hope you all came hungry tonight, folks. You’ve been warned! 

The first time I met Jasmine I could immediately tell she was an amazing person. She laughed at his jokes which I never thought anyone would get. She supported his career and the nonstop travel involved. But most importantly, whenever we’re all hanging out, Jasmine is the one always topping off Rob’s plate with more pasta, more chicken, more of everything. When she’s around, it’s never empty. 

And that’s when I saw what a perfect match they were for each other. I know they will always put each other first, make sure their needs are met, and will never allow the other to go hungry.

So let’s raise our glasses to toast the newlyweds! As you begin this next chapter together, may your plates and your hearts always remain full."

Father of the Bride Wedding Speech Example

"Good evening, family, and friends. I’m Daniel Lee, the father of the bride. I’d like to welcome you to this special occasion where we get to celebrate the love between my daughter Allison and her new wife, Kristin. 

Standing up here today, I’m reminded of all the moments that led to this significant one. The dance recitals that ended with standing ovations and the soccer games that concluded with winning scoreboards. 

But, while those were fun and rewarding times, those aren’t the moments I cherish most with Allison. The memories that make me smile the brightest are those in-between the big stuff moments. It’s the makeshift magic shows in our living room using a bedsheet that Allison confiscated from our linen closet to convert into a curtain. It’s the countless tea parties she hosted with exclusive invitations just for me and her beloved stuffed bear, Buttons. And it’s the way she’d beg to stay up for just five more minutes but was asleep on the couch by minute number two.

Those everyday, blink-and-you’ll-miss-them moments with Allison are the ones that gave color to my life and filled my heart with a happiness I never knew could exist.

So, my beautiful daughter, as you begin your life with Kristin today, I have one wish for you: May your warmest memories come from the ordinary moments throughout your marriage, and may those moments give you a reason to smile brighter every day. Cheers! I love you both." —Daniel

What Not to Say in a Wedding Speech

Your job when delivering a wedding speech is to keep things light—tell an anecdote, make an emotional connection, then wish the couple well before you close out. Anything that doesn't feel definitively positive should be avoided. "I would advocate against bringing up negative details, specifically past relationships or past spouses," says Carter. "Skip anything that you wouldn't want to be physically recorded and played over and over again—this is a rule of thumb."

Keep it light, delicate, and present- and future-focused, Carter adds. "If you're going to go into the past, make those stories really intentional," she says. "Bring those stories back to who they are now. Your mission is to create a great environment and vibe and to potentially give some information about one of the newlyweds, so that it's enlightening for all guests."

A Guide to Wedding Reception Toasts

• Who Gives a Speech at a Wedding Reception?
• How to Write a Wedding Toast
• Tips for the Father of the Bride Speech
• How to Write a Best Man Toast
• Advice for the Maid of Honor Speech
• What to Know About a Newlywed Toast
• currently on Public Speaking Experts' Wedding Speech Tips
• 60 Quotes to Use for Your Wedding Toast

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50+ Wedding Toast Examples for Every Speech

Weddings are once-in-a-lifetime events for every couple. No matter which religion or culture you belong to, every couple wishes to host a memorable wedding. There are numerous important parts of wedding celebrations, including wedding toast.

Yes, wedding toasts play a crucial role in a successful and memorable wedding celebration. Saying wedding toast may seem like a task to some people.

When given the responsibility of saying wedding toasts, you can become nervous all of a sudden. However, giving a wedding toast can be easy, especially when you are prepared. Anyone can be called upon to give a wedding toast as a speech. It doesn’t matter if you’re related to the newlyweds or not. Whether you’re the Best Man, Maid of Honor, a parent, or a close friend, raise a glass to the newlyweds.

If you are not sure of what to say as a wedding toast speech, we’ve got you covered on this! All you need is to get prepared ahead of time. Do a lot of practice in front of your mirror, and you’re ready!

In this post, we’ll dive into the various unique, heartfelt wedding toast examples for every speech. Irrespective of your role in the wedding, our list of wedding toast examples will help you make an amazing wedding toast speech that will leave the couples feeling joyful!

So, let’s get started …

Table of Contents

What is a Wedding Toast? The Order of Toasts Guide To Give Memorable Wedding Toasts 50+ Wedding Toast Examples For Every Speech For Best Man/Maid Of Honor For Parents For Friends And Family For Sisters General Toast For The Couple

First, let’s take a look at what a wedding toast is and how you can write one. Here we go…

What is a Wedding Toast?

A wedding toast is a group of words that are said to express happiness and wish or bless the married couple at their wedding reception or rehearsal dinners. After a wedding toast all of the attendees of the wedding raise a toast and take a sip of their beverage to show their agreement. Wedding toasts are a great way to express your feelings towards the newlyweds. A well-crafted wedding toast strikes a perfect balance between humour and emotion while being concise and memorable, ensuring it serves as a wonderful conclusion to your speech.

Take a look at the order of wedding toast…

The Order of Toasts

Usually, wedding toasts are given both on the rehearsal dinner and the receptions. The ones given on rehearsal dinners are typically informal. However, the wedding toasts at the reception should be sweet, short, and crisp. Here is the order of toasts:

Traditionally, the best man should deliver the first toast. It is okay is only the best man is giving the toast. However, it is likely that others will also want to convey their joy to the newly married couple. In addition to the best man, the maid of honour may also have the opportunity to offer a toast.

Next, the groom, bride, or both of them together may raise a toast to each other. They can then raise their glasses to acknowledge and express gratitude to the wedding party and guests for being a part of their special day.

The parents follow the bride and groom. If the bride’s parents host the wedding, they have the honour of speaking first. They should begin by toasting the newlyweds and the groom’s parents while also extending a warm welcome to all the guests.

Here is our guide to writing an amazing wedding toast speech. Take a look…

Guide To Give Memorable Wedding Toasts

To give a memorable wedding toast, you need to be sincere and genuine in expressing your feelings towards the newlyweds. Your speech should reflect on how you are related to the couple, and it should create lasting memories for everyone.

Here’s how you should prepare a short, precise, and memorable wedding toast speech.

●  STEP 1: Introduce yourself

The first and foremost step to writing a memorable wedding toast is to introduce yourself. You should briefly explain to everyone present who you are and your relationship with the newlyweds. This way, the guests will know why you have been appointed to give a toast speech.

●  STEP 2: Know Your Audience

It’s also important for you to know your audience if you have been appointed to give a wedding toast speech. You should consider the speech that will go well with the couple and wedding guests.

●  STEP 3: Add a touch of humour to your toast speech

When writing your speech, make sure to include funny words or incidents that are related to the couple. This will help to lighten up everyone’s mood while giving your speech. Make sure to avoid using insulting or humiliating words, phrases, or stories in your wedding toast speech. You should avoid making any comment that could embarrass the couple or guests.

●  STEP 4: Structure and Length

The structure and length of your wedding toast should be short and concise. Don’t make a very lengthy speech; rather, aim to give a toast that will last for just 2-3 minutes.

●  STEP 5: Practice and Rehearse

Rehearse your toast continuously in order to familiarise yourself with the content you have written. Make sure you do this, especially if you’re a shy person who can’t stand before a crowd. This will help you build your confidence and leave a lasting impression on the couple and their guest on the wedding day.

●  STEP 6: Express Gratitude

Show gratitude to the couple for giving you the opportunity and for making you witness their special day. Also, remember to thank every guest who has graced the occasion with their presence.

●  STEP 7: Raise a Toast

Finally, give your best wishes to the couple as you invite everyone to raise their glasses of wine. Wish newlyweds a lifetime of happiness and love.

●  STEP 8: Enjoy!

That’s all! The whole process of giving a wedding speech takes only 2 – 3 minutes in all. Following these tips will help you give an excellent wedding toast at your friend’s, sister’s, or anybody else’s wedding.

50+ Wedding Toast Examples For Every Speech

Here’s a complete list of over 50 wedding toasts speeches that can serve as inspiration for you. The list below contains wedding toast speeches in different categories. Take a look…

➤  For Best Man/Maid Of Honor

1. To the [Groom/Bride], my bestie, indeed, the journey of your love story is one to mimic. All I wish is that your union will be adventurous and filled with endless memories as we make this toast.

2. Being the Best Man/Maid of Honour, I’ve seen the unwavering love between these two love birds. Myself and everyone present here today wish you both a lifetime of happiness together as newlyweds. Cheers!

3. To [Groom/Bride], you are both perfect for each other. May this union bring beautiful memories of love, joy, laughter, peace, and unwavering support! We all wish you the best in your marriage. Cheers to lasting memories!

4. [Groom], you’ll always admire the beautiful face of your bride. Waking up every morning with your wife beside will forever make you joyful. We make a toast to endless satisfaction in your union. Always keep her by your side, man.

5. As your best man, I pray for you both on this special day as everyone raise their glasses. May you always walk on the path of light together with your bride! May the playful sounds of laughter and joy fill your home. I wish you a happy beginning, cheers!

6. I call on everyone present here today as a witness to join me. Let’s make a toast to this fantastic couple. I’d like to wish both [Mr and Mrs Name] all the best things in life. May tears and regrets be far from your home. To the bride and groom! Cheers!

7. Finding a wife is a good thing; don’t you all agree with me? So, to my friend here [Groom], you’ve got a great wife! I pray that you always find favour both in the sight of God and man. Congratulations man! Cheers to beautiful moments.

8. As the maid of honour, the best kind of toast I can offer to the newlyweds is French toast. So, join me as we make a toast, saying, ‘Buvons à ce couple heureux!

9. It’s an honour to be the best man to my friend here. Everyone, I’d like you all to join me. Let’s make a toast to the happy couple. Cheers and congratulations to the newlyweds.

10. It’s a great privilege to serve as my friend’s best man today. Please, everyone, come with me. Let’s make a toast to the happy couple. Heartist congratulation to the newlyweds. May you two have a great life ahead! Cheers.

➤  For Parents

11. As a parent, it’s a joy to witness this beautiful day. It is overwhelming to watch [Bride/Groom] grow up and find their life partner. This toast is to more years of love and commitment for you both. Cheers!

12. My heart is filled with immense joy for being alive today to witness this beautiful moment between these two lovers. May this legacy of love that’s between you two continue to blossom and move on to your children. Cheers to a lifetime of happiness!

13. Marriage is a beautiful thing that can happen to anyone. Don’t you agree with me? My child [Groom/Bride], I pray that peace and harmony will be the order of each day in your home. We make a toast to perfect harmony in your union.

14. As a parent, I want you to bear in mind that neither of you is perfect. However, perfection is possible only if you work together as newlyweds. Let’s make a toast to a perfect union.

15. To our beloved children [Bride/Groom], you have journeyed through life with so much love and dedication. May your new home be filled with so much love and joy, just as you’ve shared with us. Cheers to a new phase of life!

➤  For Friends And Family

16. The power of love is something we can’t explain. May the bond between you two continue to grow stronger through thick and thin. We make a toast to beautiful moments between you both and longevity!

17. As we make a toast to this newlywed couple, may this love that has brought us together here continue to radiate. Cheers to the newlyweds!

18. We are glad to see that [Groom/Bride] have found each other to be deserving of their love. We hope that their passion for each other deepens with each passing day. Let us all raise our glasses to the newlyweds as they’re about to build a new life together! Cheers!

19. Ladies and gentlemen, I kindly request your participation in raising your glasses to celebrate the newlywed couple. We wish you all the best as you embark on this new journey together. May you reach even greater heights as a united couple and always find happiness in everything you do together. Cheers!

20. Everyone, may I request you all to kindly join me raising your glasses to celebrate the wonderful couples. I wish you two a wonderful life ahead! May you always find happiness. Cheers!

21. As we raise our glasses to celebrate this newlywed couple, let us wish that the love between [ Mrs. and Mr. _____] become stronger with each passing day. May the two continue to shine brightly. Congratulations to the newly married couple! Cheers!

22. To the [Bride/Groom], your love story has really inspired every one of us present here. We are excited to be a part of this celebration today. May you have every reason to stay happy together. We all wish you both an unending journey of peace and joy. Cheers!

➤  For Sisters

23. Watching these two and reflecting on how their love story began, I’m reminded of the power of true love. I feel honoured to be a part of this significant day. Let’s raise a toast to the people who are the main reason we are all gathered here! Cheers!

24. To the newlyweds, we pray that you both have a successful and happy married life together. And you scale through life’s dark moments and shine forth. Good luck, and the favour will be yours. Let’s toast to beautiful moments!

25. As we gather here today on this special day, let’s make a toast to the beginning of a beautiful journey of my lovely sister. May celebration never cease from your home. Cheers to a happily ever after life with your love!

26. Since we have come here to be a part of this celebration today, it simply means we’re your well-wishers. In all that life has to offer, we wish you the very best. Let’s raise our glasses in a toast to [Bride/Groom]. May your happiness be forever.

27. To the extraordinary [Bride/Groom], may your new home be filled with joy and magic. The love that has brought you both together will never fade away. Cheers to a new start in your life! 28. Let’s make a toast to a love that knows no bounds. Your marriage will stand the test of time. Cheers to love and happiness!

29. Yeah! This toast is to the laughter you both will share together and the hurdles you’ll overcome. In everything you’ll face in this journey of marriage, your love will sustain you through it all. Happy married life. Cheers!

30. As we all raise our glasses to make a toast, may your new home be filled with happiness and love. May your union glitter with beautiful colours of understanding, laughter, and joy. Cheers to a new beginning!

➤  General Toast For The Couple

31. To [Bride] and [Groom], may the moments you both will share together be breathtaking. May your love for each other never wax cold. Welcome to a new phase of your life. Let’s raise our glasses, cheers!

32. We make a toast on this beautiful day to beautiful memories and years of togetherness till you both grow old. [Bride] and [Groom] will always stay joyful forever!

33. [Groom], you have made a perfect choice by choosing [Bride]; for this reason, we have gathered here to celebrate your union. We raise our glasses to make a toast to a lifetime of endless joy.

34. Here’s to a new beginning after exchanging marital vows. We’re excited to be a part of this lovely moment in your lives. Cheers to a great beginning!

35. As we raise our glasses to make a toast, may your marriage be a symphony of trust, respect, and unwavering commitment! Cheers!

36. As we witness this day, cheers to a love that will age like fine wine. The love will grow richer, deeper, and bigger with each passing year. Cheers to the best couple I know!

37. Every step you take in life together with your partner is guided with understanding. May your new home be filled with endless love and celebration always. Cheers to a new life!

38. As we raise our glasses to make a toast, we put a seal that your differences will only serve as strength to the bond you share. Cheers!

39. As we raise our glasses, I decree that your new home will be a testament to the power of love and unity. Amidst every challenge, there will be understanding to sail through. Cheers!

40. Here’s a toast to the couple who makes every moment feel like comedy and adventurous. May your life together as newlyweds be never-ending.

41. Here’s to a stress-free marriage filled with love and understanding. May your new home be filled with love, unity, and happiness. Cheers!

42. To forever and always, may your love story continue to inspire us all and your commitment to each other remain unwavering. Cheers to a new life!

43. As we make this toast, may your love story be the epitome of what true, enduring love is all about. Cheers to a lifetime of happiness and bliss.

44. We’re making a toast on this special day to seal your union. We pray you both a lifetime of happiness filled with unforgettable memories. Cheers to a blissful home!

45. As we prepare to raise our glasses for a toast, we pray for a future filled with abundant happiness for both of you. May you both enjoy good health and when the time comes, may you lovingly cradle your babies in your arms. Here’s to a lifetime of happiness together! Cheers!

46. We’re all here to celebrate this lovely couple. As we raise our glasses, may laughter never be far from your lips. May the two of you always cherish the joy of being together. Wishing you a blissful marriage.

47. Here’s a toast to a marriage filled with wealth, health, and happiness. Your steps will always be guided, and illness will be far from your home. To the latest bride and groom. (smiles) Cheers!

48. [Groom/Bride], we all love you so much. That’s why we’re here to honour this special day. We make a toast to happiness in your new home.

49. To the new couple, Mr and Mrs [Name], we raise our glasses, and we wish you both a Happy married life. May the love in your marriage be an anchor that’ll keep you both in stormy seasons. Thank you for inviting us here to share in your joy.

50. Everyone, please join me in raising your glasses to the newest bride and groom. We wish you greater heights as you embark on this new journey together as one. May you always stay happy.

51. Finding a beautiful and respectful bride is a good thing. We pray you both build a life of your dreams together. Let’s raise our glasses for a toast and say WISDOM! Yes, wisdom is what will keep you moving hand in hand through every thin and thick. Cheers!

52. To the groom, as you have found your soul mate, may you remain blessed always. Your bride will always compliment you. Let’s raise a glass to the bride and groom. Thanks for making us a part of your happiness!

53. I am so excited to be here today. Being a witness to beautiful moments like this is truly special. Life unfolds in various phases, indeed. Please join me in raising a glass to this stunning couple. May your joy and love know no bounds.

54. To the couple who make each day a memorable experience for all, may your life together be filled with endless, exciting memories. Cheers to a new and blissful life!

55. Everyone, please join me in raising a toast to the joy and success of the newlywed couple. Here is to the happily ever after! Wishing you a joyous and fulfilling married life. Cheers!

Wrapping it up…

So, there you have it: the top 50 wedding toast examples. You can use these wedding toast examples to craft unique wedding toast for the upcoming wedding of your best friend or daughter or friend. Make sure to keep your toast short, sweet, and crisp to have a lasting impression on all present out there. Make the couple feel special on their big day by sharing your best wishes with them. Whether you are related to the couple or not, it doesn’t matter. Give your best shot!

Wishing you a happy beginning!

Happy Wedding… 😊 😊

Related Posts

How To Write A Killer Best Man Speech (With Templates)

A funny, heartfelt speech from the best man is one of the most memorable parts of a wedding. Here’s how to give a great toast (without embarrassing yourself).

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A best man speech is the perfect way to send your brother or friend the best wishes in their marriage, but standing up in front of the crowd can be super nerve-wracking. If you’ve been invited to be the best man at a wedding but have no idea what to say in your speech, you’re not alone! 

Over 75% of the population cites public speaking as one of their biggest fears. Thankfully, it’s a people skill that anyone can develop. A great event toast can be a game-changer and make you feel like a celebrity amongst the wedding guests. 

Watch our video to learn the best (and worst) speech openers:

Here’s how to overcome your public speaking anxiety and give a knockout best man speech that will incite laughter, smiles, or even sentimental tears. 

Quick Answer: How to Write a Best Man Speech Fast (with Template!)

A killer best man toast has a formula:

• Start with a funny or complimentary introduction
• Lead into a short story
• Add a dash of vulnerability
• End with genuine congratulations to the bride and groom. 

You won’t want to wing the speech after you’ve had a few drinks when you feel strapped for time before the wedding. Instead, take just 30 minutes of planning and note-making to save you (and the bride & groom) the embarrassment of an excessively long or inappropriate ramble. 

If you want to write a best man speech fast, follow this brief template for a great toast. Your toast should be roughly 3 to 5 minutes long. You can use numbered index cards to jot down the highlights of each section. Then, rehearse a few times in the mirror in the days leading up to the event. 

The most straightforward speech outline includes seven main components: 

• A great one-liner : This could be a funny joke, a compliment, or an inspirational quote about brotherhood or marriage. The first 15 seconds of the toast should capture the audience’s attention and leave them excited for more. Modify this:

“I’d like to begin by congratulating the groom for his superb taste in choosing the best man [chuckle].” 

• Compliment the wedding : Build your respect with the guests by highlighting things you like about the wedding. For example, you can compliment the beauty of the venue, the delicious food, or the great choice of music. Modify this:

“All jokes aside, this is a beautiful wedding. The bride and groom look like a movie star couple together. And if you didn’t taste the cake, you are missing out!” 

• Express gratitude : Say “thank you” to those who made the wedding possible and show appreciation to the groom for choosing you as his best man. Modify this:

“I am so grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Zimerman for hosting us here today, and thank you to the bride and groom for inviting me to be part of their special day.” 

• Tell a story : Did you and the groom meet as kids on the baseball field? Were you there when he first met his bride? Did you share a funny experience in college that is appropriate to share? The “meat” of the speech will be a short story about your relationship with the groom. A great story sounds like this:

 “When I first met Jeff, he was in a period of transition in life, like we all go through. He had just started a new job at my office in San Francisco, and we met because of our mutual addiction to double shot espressos (iced with a little cream) at 6 AM every morning from the corner coffee shop Bob’s Cup O’ Joe. When we both arrived at the office at the same time, 3 days in a row with eyes like this [widen eyes big], I knew we would be friends for life. A million espressos, meetings, and after-work beers later, I am so proud to call Jeff my best friend. When he told me about meeting a beautiful blonde named Anne at Bob’s Cup O’ Joe a few years later, I knew something would become of it. She even drank the same double shot espressos, iced with a little cream!”  

• Admire the couple : Strengthen your bond with the newlyweds by expressing your support for their marriage. If you know a bit about the bride and groom’s relationship, list a few things you admire about their bond. You may emphasize how the bride has positively impacted the groom’s life or how they make a great team. 

“Jeff and Anne are a perfect pair, and it seriously warms my heart to see a couple so amazingly in love. They compliment each other in every way and radiate joy when they are together.” 

• Summarize your thoughts : Before you wrap up your speech, go back and highlight your key ideas. You can pre-write 2-3 crisp sentences summarizing your support of the couple’s marriage. Modify this:

“I wish I could say I predicted this day would come, but Jeff’s incredible character and charm won Anne over. I am so grateful to be friends with both of them and to join you all in this celebration.” 

• Toast to the future : At the end of your speech, raise your glass for a toast to the couple’s love. Modify this: 

“Please join me in raising our glasses to a lifetime of happiness and espressos for Jeff and Anne Allison!” 

Here is an awesome example of a short and sweet 4-minute toast that left the crowd cracking up:

It’s best to memorize your speech, but there is no shame in bringing a few index cards in your pocket to reference if you get nervous. Don’t forget to prepare and rehearse in advance. 

For a more in-depth speech, see our step-by-step guide below. 

What to Say in a Best Man Speech (Do’s and Don’ts)

A best man’s speech traditionally takes place at the wedding reception after the maid of honor gives her speech. The best man’s speech should be positive, respectful, and congratulatory. It can last 3 to 5 minutes and should focus on a central theme or story about the groom. 

Remember, a best man speech is not the time to “wing it.” If you do that, there may come the point when everything suddenly goes silent, and a crowd of 50-100+ people is staring at you, waiting for what you’re going to say about the groom. You probably don’t want to end up with a cringing audience while telling a story about the groom’s previous relationships:

Instead, remember these key best man speech tips for a successful toast: 

Here are a few examples of what you should say in a best man speech:

• How did you meet the groom?
• What is one of your favorite memories with him?
• How did the groom meet the bride? Were you there?
• What is special about the groom?
• What do you like most about him? 
• What are his positive traits? 
• Playful banter : You don’t want to be too corny and cheesy with your bro. Depending on your relationship with the groom and the culture of the wedding, you may want to throw in a little banter with your dude. For example, you might make a funny joke about how much the groom loves going out to eat:

You should also avoid some key topics in a best man speech. 

Do not mention:

• The groom’s past relationships
• Sexual jokes
• Drugs, alcohol, or past mistakes
• Insecurities of the groom
• Financial or personal information 
• Insults to the bride or the wedding guests 
• Overly embarrassing stories
• Teasing the bride
• Anything that could potentially harm your friendship

Keep things positive and lighthearted. While a little witty banter or playful teasing can be fun (depending on your relationship with the groom), you should avoid insulting him or highlighting any major insecurities. The “playful” part of the speech is an excellent fun icebreaker, but it shouldn’t hurt anyone’s feelings or make them feel publicly embarrassed in front of their wedding guests.

How to Write a Best Man Speech for Best Friend or Brother: Easy Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re ready to prepare something more in-depth than the quick ideas above, this step-by-step guide can help you write a thoughtful speech that the groom may remember forever. After all, being named the best man at your friend or brother’s wedding is a tremendous honor. But like any honor, it comes with some responsibilities. After you finish all your bachelor party and wedding duties, an epic best man speech can be like the fireworks at the show’s end. 

Here are 5 simple steps to make it count:

#1 Start with a theme

Before you start writing and rehearsing your speech, it helps to decide on a theme for your talk. This will give a nice flow to the speech. A theme ensures that you stay on track to communicate your congratulations and appreciation to the groom. 

What is the main message you want to get across? A few theme ideas include:

• Anecdotes : Best man toasts center around storytelling. This theme is the easiest way to stay on track because you are telling a simple story from beginning to end. 
• Humor : Whether you’re naturally funny or working on your jokes ,  your speech is the perfect opportunity to get the audience laughing. Best man speeches are known for getting a little saucy, but you must be careful about offending the crowd or making crude jokes that might insult the bride and groom. If you want to tease the groom with some witty banter, it helps to make fun of yourself or reference an appropriate inside joke.
• Inspirational : Have you and the groom achieved an important business goal or accomplishment together? Do you have a shared role model or favorite motivational book you both read in college? This speech theme can leave the audience feeling inspired.
• Morality : Use your speech to highlight the great person the groom is. Perhaps you give examples of his integrity, trustworthiness, or generosity. You can emphasize how lucky you are to know the groom and how glad you are that he found a woman to spend his life with. 
• Sentimentality : When humor and storytelling aren’t your fortes, it doesn’t hurt to get a little corny. Sentimental speeches require a level of emotional vulnerability, but they can leave a huge impact on the newlyweds and their attendees.

#2 Create an outline

You wouldn’t go on a road trip without a navigation system, so don’t go into your speech without a plan. The best toasts and speeches follow the same structure. Pull out a piece of paper and brainstorm some ideas using this format, then use the following steps to fill in the details:

• Hook/Opening statement : The opening statement should be a 1 to 3-line description about the groom. The first 7 seconds of the speech should hook the audience immediately. It warms them up to you and makes them want to pay attention to the amusing stories. You’ll find an abundance of opening-line ideas in the next section. 
• Background context : Now comes the why of your speech. This is where the context of your relationship with the groom comes in. You can throw in some funny jokes and a few details about your experience with him. Use this intro to build up the anticipation for the story to come. Write down a few ideas of stories you can tell. 
• Tell the story : Choose 1-3 short stories about the groom that is funny, slightly embarrassing, or interesting. Jot down a few of the sensory elements you want to reference, like the smelly locker room or the squeaking of tire wheels. Most stories follow a bell-curve pattern—they start with an intro, lead to rising action, peak with a capstone moment, then tie back to the beginning. Keep this in mind as you brainstorm and follow the story-planning steps below. 
• Take-home message : After you get a good laugh or “awww” out of the audience, you’ll want to bring the story back to the beginning. What do you want them to remember about your speech and friendship with the groom? 
• Thank the wedding party : Use a quick sentence to thank the wedding party and hosts. Express your genuine gratitude for being invited. 
• Closing toast and congratulations : After wrapping up the story and thanking the wedding party, you should invite the audience to toast the bride and groom with you. For an extra cheery finale, act as if you are speaking on their behalf and include lots of well-wishes for the newlyweds. 

Pro Tip : Before filling in your outline details, watch this video for an overview of how to give a memorable toast. Human behavior expert Vanessa Van Edwards explains the most common mistakes (don’t start with “I,” “me,” or “my”) and a few secrets to getting the audience to perk up in their seats. 

#3 Nail the opening line 

Once you have your outline, it’s time to dig into the details. People decide their first impression of you within 7 seconds, so it’s extra important to nail the opening line of your speech. Best men use this opportunity to crack a joke, compliment the wedding, or set a sentimental tone for the speech. 

Avoid making the first lines about you. No “me”, “I”, or “my”. Instead, start with a juicy or mysterious line about the groom, for example:

If you need a little inspiration, here are some hilarious and quirky best man speech opening lines: 

• “Caring, loyal, honest, good-looking, and an all-around-great guy… OK, enough about me, onto the groom…!” 
• “This is the perfect chance to tell you about [Groom] and how talented, special, smart, good-looking, and… sorry, man, I can’t read your handwriting here.” 
• “I’d like to give a toast to the bride and groom.” [pull a piece of toasted bread from your pocket and give it to them]
• “[Groom’s name] is the kind of person you call when you lock yourself out of the dorm bathroom without any clothes on.” 
• “The bride and groom asked me not to share embarrassing stories or crude jokes during my speech… so that’s it from me! Thanks for listening, everyone.”
• “I’d like to start by congratulating the groom for his excellent taste in choosing the best man.” 
• “[Groom] had a tough time choosing his best man. First, he called his most handsome friend, but he said no. Then, he called his smartest friend, and he said no. Then, he called his most successful friend, who also said no. Then he called me, and I said, ‘Bro, I can’t say no to you four times.'”
• “What can I say about [Groom]? I guess I’ll start at the very beginning. He was born on [groom’s birthday]. Our parents were hoping for a girl, but I’ve always said… close enough.”

Here is a genuinely funny opening line from a best brother wedding speech:

Pro Tip : Don’t forget to pause for laughter. If it doesn’t come, you can chuckle at yourself and cue the audience that they are supposed to laugh by saying, “This is where you are supposed to laugh,” or joking, “Sound guy, can you please cue the laugh track?” Then, keep going with your speech.

Don’t worry. You need not be a jokester to give a great opening line. If you want to go the nostalgic or tearjerker route, be sure it is highly personalized and thoughtful. Here are some sentimental opening line ideas:

• “There are friends, and there is family, but friends also become family. This is so true for [Groom] and me. We’ve been best friends since we were X years old, and I’ve always considered him my brother.” 
• “There’s an old Irish proverb that says a good friend is like a four-leaf clover—hard to find and lucky to have. I think that’s true. Good friends are hard to find, and I’m lucky to have called [Groom] my best friend for the last X years.” 
• “I’ve heard that the best relationships come from the foundation of a deep friendship. Experts say that laughter, mutual respect, and enjoying each other’s company are the ingredients for a long-lasting, joyful marriage. After knowing [Groom] and [Bride] for X years, there is no doubt in my mind that they will make a great pair.” 
• “In Good Will Hunting , Robin Williams said, ‘It doesn’t matter if the guy is perfect or the girl is perfect as long as they are perfect for each other.” Anyone who has seen [Groom] and [Bride] together can agree that this is true for them. I haven’t seen a perfect pair, and I’m happy to be part of this celebration of their love.” 

To learn more about the best speech openers, use this guide on How to Start a Speech: The Best (and Worst) Speech Openers . Some top tips include:

• Avoid starting with a lackluster nicety like “thanks for having me.” 
• Don’t mention your nervousness.
• Avoid mentioning technical difficulties like the microphone or saying, “Can you hear me?” 

Bonus Tip: Learn the Art of Stage Presence

Did you know that public speaking is actually a skill? Many people struggle with stage anxiety because they feel they ‘missed the memo’ on public speaking or they are lacking because they do not have a natural stage presence. Not true!

Stage presence and public speaking are skills you need to be taught—very few people have them naturally. 

Watch our video to learn 7 steps to overcome stage fright and beat performance anxiety:

Here are all the aspects of public speaking you can master.

• How to make a first impression with an audience
• How to have stage presence
• Powerful body language
• How to speak with a commanding voice
• What to do with your hands while speaking

For every speaking skill you add to your toolbox, the less speaking anxiety you will feel.

If you want help really diving into your presentation skills, be sure to sign up for our course…

Master Your People Skills

• Create a Memorable Presence
• Communicate with Confidence
• Achieve Your Goals

Have a question about the presentation or People School? Email Science of People support .

#4 Background context

Now that you’ve grabbed the audience’s attention, it’s time to give them a little background on why you are giving a speech in the first place. This is another sneak peek at some details you’ll cover in the speech. 

The whole point of this part is to tell them how you know the groom—but it isn’t about you. You’ll often hear wedding speeches that start with a drab, “I met the groom in college” or, “My name is ___, and I’m the best man.” You can do better than that! Try saying:

• “The groom was the first friend I made on the high school football team. I had no idea we would become roommates in a bachelor pad throughout college.” 
• “As little kids, the groom and I were known to be a dangerous duo in the neighborhood. He always carried the eggs and toilet paper, then instructed me where to throw them. But you can guess who always took the blame for his antics….” 
• “The groom and I have been friends and business partners for X years, and as you’ll hear shortly, he is the main reason I broke my arm during the last office basketball game. But first, I want to tell you a less embarrassing story….” 

Pro Tip : Focus on the groom, and don’t make it about you. One of the biggest mistakes people make during wedding speeches is talking too much about themselves. Your speech shouldn’t discuss where you’re from, what you think, or how you ended up at the party. The best man’s speech is a time to focus on the groom and his bride. 

#5 Tell the story  

After your punchy opening line and background info, it’s time to tell the perfect story about the groom. Depending on the length of your speech and the details of your story, some best man speeches cover 1 to 3 short stories. 

Reference back to the memories you wrote when brainstorming. Pick a story that includes the most of these captivating elements:

• A little bit of embarrassment : Whether it’s you, the groom, or a mutual friend, it helps to poke some fun at someone in the story. If you fear being offensive, the best person to joke about is yourself.  
• Audience member references : You can get major bonus points if you bring wedding guests into the storytelling moment. You might say, “Mom, you might want to close your ears on this one!” or, “Brian, we’re talking about you!” 
• Sensory details : What did the scenery look like? What were the prominent smells, sounds, and tastes at the moment? A great story should make the audience feel like they were with you. Don’t forget to mention the frigid cold lake you jumped into or the outrageously spicy food that left you both panting and crying for water. 
• A final punch line : Ideally, the best story ends with a shocking moment or funny line. It should leave the audience laughing, crying, surprised, or even gasping. For example, in an epic adventure story about you and the groom on a hunting trip, you may end with, “Just as the shark was about to bite the line, Joe reeled in the massive bluefin and yelled, ‘I think we’re gonna need a bigger boat!’”

Pro Tip : If you have to ask, “Is this appropriate?” it probably isn’t. Some stories are better for late-night beers than they are for weddings. Avoid telling stories related to sexual topics, drugs, alcohol, illegal activities, or anything you wouldn’t want grandma to hear. 

#6 Take-home message

When the story finishes, you’ve hopefully elicited some laughter or maybe some tears. All jokes aside, there is a reason you were the best man, and you are probably a significant person to the groom. This is a great time to emphasize the best qualities of the groom and why you’re so happy for his new love. 

Here is an excellent example of tying together the opening and closing lines with a heartfelt message about finding the perfect soul mate:

#7 End your speech with a heartfelt toast

We’ve all heard “let’s raise a glass to [Bride] and [Groom]” before. You can do better than that! The final toast is like the fireworks at the end of your best man speech. Instead of something mediocre, invite the audience to join you in a genuine, thoughtful congratulations. Examples include:

• “Please join me in raising our glasses to the beautiful bride and handsome groom. May your lives together be long, healthy, and happy. We love you so much and are excited for you. Cheers!” 
• “Lift your glasses to thank Mr. and Mrs. [Bride’s Parents] for hosting this beautiful wedding. Let us all toast to the perfect union of the bride and groom. We wish you a bright and beautiful future. Cheers!”
• “Here’s to the past, for all you’ve learned. Here’s to the present for this beautiful moment we all share. Here’s to the future for all you’ve got to look forward to. Cheers to the happy couple!” 

Pro Tip : Make your toast inclusive and communal, so the audience feels like they’re cheering for the couple with you. Use words like “we”, “lets”, and “us”. This congratulation invites them to join as if you are speaking on their behalf. 

#8 Use a best man speech template

A template makes things simple if you’re still feeling uneasy about writing your best man speech. You can take the structure of an example speech and incorporate your ideas and stories to make it your own. 

Best man speech example for a best friend :  

“Tonight, you’ll learn why the groom was destined to marry [Bride]. The year was 2002, and we were all in a bar with friends on New Year’s Eve in New York City. Snow was falling outside, and we were sipping champagne, waiting for the big ball to drop. Seemingly out of nowhere, a woman with a red dress entered the room, and everything seemed to stop. All the bachelors in our group were captivated, but only [Groom] had the guts to walk up to her. Rumor has it that his first opening line was ‘

Everyone talks about a woman’s glow when she’s falling in love, but I swear that [Groom] was smiling from ear to ear from the second they met. We could hardly get him to stop talking about her by the following week. We’d be watching football and drinking beers only to have [Bride’s] name brought up every 5 minutes. 

Fast forward 3 years, and we’ve all seen how much [Bride] has positively impacted his life. When he came to me to tell me he was proposing, my only response was, ‘ Finally, dude !’

There’s something extra special about these two. They go together like peanut butter and jelly. They love and respect each other so much. [Bride] was the one for [Groom] from the second they locked eyes in that hazy NYC bar. We are all so happy to be here for your big day. Let’s raise our glasses to the beautiful bride and groom! Cheers!” 

Another Best man speech example for a best friend :  

“The groom was the first friend I made on the high school basketball team. He wasn’t very good [pause for laughter]. I was the tallest player and obviously had the best free throw, but I was majorly lacking in the ladies department. Thankfully, [Groom] took me under his wing and showed me how to be a true gentleman. That includes opening doors for women and carrying their bags instead of just running in with my own. What would I have done without you, man?

Even though he was no good at basketball, [Groom] always had his head on his shoulders. He’s a respectful, intelligent, and relatively clean-cut guy. All joking aside, it’s no surprise that he ended up with a woman as intelligent and beautiful as [Bride]. You both deserve a lifetime of love, happiness, and success together. Please raise your glasses and join me in congratulating the bride and groom! We love you!” 

#9 Practice your body language

Public speaking isn’t only about what you say but how you carry yourself. Your body language can drastically affect your confidence, your delivery, and how the audience perceives you. Use these body language hacks to take your speech to the next level: 

• Signal “friend” : Smile and show your open palms to send the message that you are the audience’s friend. This makes people feel more comfortable with your presence and more likely to listen.
• Stand up straight : When you look confident, you also feel more confident. Check your posture if your voice is a little shaky before the speech. Roll back your shoulders and tuck your shoulder blades down towards your back. Slightly lift your chest and chin as you speak. 
• Make eye contact: Throughout the speech, you should change your eye contact with different audience members. As you mention specific compliments or thanks, make eye contact with the bride, groom, groomsmen, bridesmaids, and the bride’s father.
• Genuinely smile : Smiling may seem obvious, but it’s easy to forget when you feel so focused on a perfect delivery. At the same time, you don’t want to look like you’re fake smiling throughout the speech. Use these 9 Simple Tips to Smile Better (in any situation!)
• Use your hands : It’s easy to let your nerves get the best of you and feel like a “deer in the headlights.” Instead of tucking your hands in your pockets, widen your stance and take up space. Use your hands and gestures while you talk to show that you are comfortable and happy during the speech. 

Want more tips? Here are 17 Body Language Presentation Cues to Use in Your Next Speech . 

#10 Rehearse before the big day

Experts say you should rehearse a speech 10 times before performing it. Research also shows that people who mentally prepare themselves before a speech by imagining it going well are more likely to perform fluently and easily. So before you get in front of an audience, be sure you’ve gone over your speech at least 10 times, either in your head or out loud. Better yet, practice in the mirror, on camera, or in front of a trusted friend. 

It also helps to review the gist of the speech with the groom (without giving away any secret details) to make sure it’s alright with him. A few weeks before the wedding, you may pull him aside and ask, “Hey man, is it OK if I tell the story about ____ in my best man speech? I think it’ll get some good laughs.” 

Although this example is long, this best man very clearly rehearsed his speech for a near-perfect performance without any notes:

Key Takeaways: Express Gratitude and Sentimentality in 3-5 Minutes

Ultimately, a best man speech is an opportunity to make your best bro look good in front of all his friends and family. Your speech should demonstrate how much you value your brotherhood or friendship. At the same time, you can enjoy 5 minutes of wedding fame without making things all about you. A great toast can make you a memorable celebrity at the wedding and have people laughing at your

Before jumping up at the reception and speaking off the cuff, remember to:

• Outline and plan your speech ahead of time. Use notecards if needed.
• Focus on the groom and his bride. Don’t go on and on about yourself. 
• Nail the opening line with a funny joke, quote, or teaser that leads into a great story. 
• Avoid inappropriate or cringey topics that could embarrass the groom.
• Express gratitude to the groom and wedding hosts. 

Giving a toast or speech is an essential social skill that can make you one of the most likable people in a room. If you want to learn more about the art of giving showstopping toasts, read this guide on How to Give an Awesome Toast: Advanced Strategies for Speeches . 

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LPT: How to give a quick, impromptu speech or toast!

Edit: Thank you so much for all of your replies and comments, for helping to get this to the Front Page of the Internet, and big thank you to the two generous Gold donors!

Given the overwhelming response this thread has produced, I feel it is absolutely necessary to give credit to communication skills expert Dan O'Connor, a man whose work has empowered, inspired, and ultimately motivated me to try to help get his ideas out to all willing and deserving recipients. Please visit Dan's website and visit his YouTube channel to view his full library of fresh, well-produced content. Thank you!

Most people would agree that the idea of speaking in front of large groups of people can be terrifying, and so we tend to avoid it whenever possible. There are times, however, when we are faced with the task and there's no running away: we must say a few words. The following is a template for success which you can use when it's your turn to speak, in just about any type of gathering, formal or informal.

1. The Greeting

"Good..."

The greeting is the easy part. You begin by simply wishing your audience a good morning, afternoon, evening, or whatever time of day it is. Good evening everybody...

2. State the Event

"As we all know..."

The second part is also very easy: You simply state the obvious and remind everybody what the purpose of the event or celebration is, and what you're all doing there. As we all know, we're here to celebrate the marriage of John and Kate, and to show them our support as they begin their journey of love and life together... Now you've got the ball rolling, and the words are coming out easily. You look like you know what you're doing up there, and people are listening. So now, it's time to....

3. Establish Common Ground

"We've all..."

It's important to include your audience as part of the message you're delivering. Talk about something both yourself and your audience can relate to regarding the event or celebration. We've all had the wonderful opportunity to get to know John and Kate and enjoy watching their love develop...

4. State Why You're Speaking

"I..."

Include a personal account, or tell a brief story to let people know why you specifically are talking. What gives you the right to be speaking..? I've personally been very lucky to have John as a close friend of mine, and it's been quite amazing to watch how he's grown as a person, and couldn't be more pleased for him to have found someone like Kate to go about his life with...

5. Call for Action

"So let's all..."

Finally, close your speech with a call for action. This lets everybody know that you're finished without you having to awkwardly say "That's it!" or "I'm finished, thank you"...that is how every weak speech is concluded and makes the audience uncomfortable. You should say something like "So let's all raise a glass to John and Kate, and wish them well. Cheers!" or, So Let's all give a big round of applause to Mark for the outstanding job he's done while working with the company"

Obviously, there are many different ways these leading lines can be used, but if you can commit them to memory and be prepared to use them next time you might be asked to speak, you will let go of all fear and anxiety, and people will be SO impressed with your ability to get up and give a confident, fluent speech in front of a group of people, while looking like you didn't even have to prepare! Good luck, and happy public speaking!

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Donald Trump to visit York factory today to give economic speech

• Updated: Aug. 19, 2024, 5:02 a.m.
• | Published: Aug. 19, 2024, 5:00 a.m.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson) AP

• Megan Lavey-Heaton | [email protected]

Former President Donald Trump makes a return to Pennsylvania today, just two days after his rally in Wilkes-Barre .

Trump is stopping by Precision Custom Components in York City at 3 p.m. The company’s Linked In profile says it engineers “manufacturing to critical requirements for the defense, nuclear, and process industries.”

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Biden Won’t Give a Farewell Speech

August 19, 2024 at 6:32 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Playbook : “We’re told this is not a farewell speech. The man has five months and one day left in his presidency, and — following Barack Obama’s model — he is likely to deliver a true valedictory address in January. But this is almost certainly the biggest audience Biden will face for the rest of his term, if not his five-decade political career, so expect it to feel like a swan song nonetheless.”

“In true Biden form, the speech is still being hammered out, but you can expect Biden to hand the party’s reins to Harris by highlighting their accomplishments together.“

Wall Street Journal : Biden to pass the torch to Harris as convention begins.

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Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.

Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.

Goddard is the owner of Goddard Media LLC .

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Harris wants to give families a big tax break for a new baby

Asma Khalid

Vice President Harris holds the baby of Durham County Board of Commissioners chair Nida Allam upon arrival at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina on Aug. 16, 2024. Allison Joyce/AFP hide caption

Vice President Harris unveiled an economic plan on Friday that focused on the high cost of housing, groceries and raising kids — top-of-mind expenses for voters pinched by years of rising prices.

The plan includes a major expansion in the child tax credit. Low- and middle-income families would get up to $6,000 when they have a new baby. And Harris said she wants to restore the pandemic-era program that gave families up to $3,600 per child.

How Harris’ vision for the economy is a twist on Biden’s

A bigger child tax credit has also been proposed by Republicans. Vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance said on Sunday that he would like to see it expanded to $5,000 per child.

Polls have shown President Biden has struggled to get credit for his efforts to lower prices and many voters say they trust Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump more on the economy — but polls also show that voters are less critical of Harris on economic issues.

" Costs are still too high, and on a deeper level, for too many people, no matter how much they work, it feels so hard to just be able to get ahead," Harris said on Friday in Raleigh, N.C.

Harris' plans would cost a lot. Her campaign hasn't said how much

What you need to know about the child tax credit as both campaigns embrace it

The child tax credit is both popular with voters and effective at cutting child poverty rates. But, expanding the program also would be expensive.

"It would be very costly. The current child tax credit costs something like $100 billion a year. This [proposal] would probably double that cost," said Kevin Corinth, an economist with the American Enterprise Institute, who worked for the White House Council of Economic Advisers during the Trump era.

The Harris campaign so far has not put a price tag on its plans.

Felicia Wong, chief executive of Roosevelt Forward, a progressive advocacy group, said Harris' proposals would require new spending. "The good news is that we certainly have that money in our country," Wong said.

"It is a matter of increasing taxes on the wealthy and corporations and overall changing our tax code, in order to make sure that we can bring in these revenues and then pay for these investments," she said.

A homebuilder advertises in a Petaluma, Calif., development on May 2, 2024. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

Harris will focus on housing prices

Harris announced a proposal for tax breaks that her campaign said would lead to 3 million new housing units in four years, going beyond a Biden White House proposal to ease housing shortages with 2 million new and renovated homes.

As millions struggle with home prices, housing becomes a top issue for voters

Harris' plan would give unspecified tax incentives to homebuilders for houses geared to first-time buyers and for affordable rental housing. She proposed a $40 billion fund to help local governments finance developments, up from a $20 billion proposal from the Biden White House. Like all spending, these proposals would depend on Congress being willing to fund them.

Harris said she would ask Congress to give first-time homeowners up to $25,000 toward their down payments — a plan that her campaign said could help more than 4 million first-time buyers. That is more generous than a plan Biden announced in this year’s State of the Union address that would have given first-time homebuyers a $10,000 tax credit, and help about 400,000 first-generation homebuyers with down-payment assistance.

And she said she would back legislation to restrict tax breaks for corporate investors that buy up homes, as well as a bill that would ban rental property owners from buying algorithmic data that helps them hike rent prices.

Harris would crack down on corporations, her campaign says

Harris and Biden gave campaign-style remarks on Thursday about their efforts to lower prescription drug prices for people on Medicare. Like Biden, Harris is proposing that a $35 cap on the price of insulin be extended for everyone, not just seniors -- as well as a $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs.

Harris argued that corporations are making too much money from consumers — a theme she has foreshadowed on the campaign trail, noting her work on price-fixing when she was California's attorney general.

U.S. home prices have far outpaced paychecks. See what it looks like where you live

"A loaf of bread costs 50% more today than it did before the pandemic. Ground beef is up almost 50%. Many of the big food companies are seeing their highest profits in two decades. And while many grocery chains pass along these savings, others still aren't," Harris said.

Harris called for a federal ban on price gouging in the food sector, and said her administration would more aggressively investigate and prosecute price-fixing in the meat supply chain.

This proposal is similar to an approach taken by the Biden administration, which said in Sept. 2021 that it would crack down on price fixing and enforce antitrust laws in the meat sector, as well as provide funding to smaller players to try to boost competition.

High Meat Prices Are Helping Fuel Inflation, And A Few Big Companies Are Being Blamed

Harris’ plan would give the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general the authority to investigate corporations and impose penalties, her campaign said. Many large retailers have kept grocery prices high instead of passing savings along to consumers, Harris said.

Kevin Hassett, a top economic adviser in the Trump White House, said that some of Harris' proposals would amount to "price controls," and could lead to shortages of supply. He said Trump's approach of cutting taxes, deregulation, and boosting energy production would do more to address inflation.

"There's not a lot of price gouging going on here with Safeways and Giants and 7-Eleven stores — they just have very, very, low margins," Hassett told reporters on a conference call.

NPR's Alejandra Marquez Janse and Jeongyoon Han contributed to this report.

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Trump’s campaign called it an economic address. He made big promises but mostly veered off topic

His team billed the speech as a significant economic address, but Donald Trump made little effort to stay on message Wednesday in Asheville, North Carolina, choosing instead to stick to his familiar personal attacks against Democratic rival Kamala Harris.

Supporters of former President Donald Trump gathered in Asheville, North Carolina on Wednesday, where Trump spoke about economic concerns. (AP video by Eric Verduzco)

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Asheville, N.C., Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

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Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign rally in Asheville, N.C., Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Supporters arrive before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Asheville, N.C., Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Donald Trump made little effort to stay on message Wednesday at a rally in North Carolina that his campaign billed as a big economic address, mixing pledges to slash energy prices and “unleash economic abundance” with familiar off-script tangents on Democratic nominee Kamala Harris’ laugh, the mechanics of wind energy and President Joe Biden’s son.

The 75-minute speech featured a litany of broad policy ideas and even grander promises to end inflation , bolster already record-level U.S. energy production and raise Americans’ standard of living. But those pronouncements were often lost in the former president’s typically freewheeling, grievance-laden style that has made it difficult for him to answer the enthusiasm of Harris’ nascent campaign.

Trump aired his frustration over Democrats swapping the vice president in place of Biden at the top of their presidential ticket. He repeatedly denigrated San Francisco, where Harris was once the district attorney, as “unlivable” and went after his rival in deeply personal terms, questioning her intelligence, saying she has “the laugh of a crazy person” and musing that Democrats were being “politically correct” in trying to elevate the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent to serve as vice president.

“You know why she hasn’t done an interview? She’s not smart. She’s not intelligent. And we’ve gone through enough of that with this guy, Crooked Joe,” Trump said, using the nickname he often uses for Biden.

When he was focusing on policy, Trump pledged to end “job-killing regulations,” roll back Biden-era restrictions on fossil fuel production and investments in green energy, instruct Cabinet members to use “every tool” to “defeat inflation” within the first year of a second term and end all taxes on Social Security benefits and income classified as tips.

He promised economic growth so abundant that “we will pay off all our debt,” similar to a pledge he made in 2016 before the national debt ballooned during his presidency. He pledged to lower Americans’ energy costs by “50 to 70%” within 12 months, or a “maximum 18 months.” But he immediately hedged: “If it doesn’t work out, you’ll say, ‘oh well, I voted for him and he still got it down a lot.’”

At one point, Trump seemed even to question the purpose of giving a speech ostensibly devoted to the economy. “They wanted to do a speech on the economy,” he riffed, apparently referring to his campaign aides. “They say it’s the most important subject. I’m not sure it is.”

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Trump spoke at Harrah’s Cherokee Center, an auditorium in downtown Asheville, with his podium flanked by more than a dozen American flags and custom backdrops that read: “No tax on Social Security” and “No tax on tips” — a made-for-TV setup to project the policy heft his campaign wanted Trump to convey.

Republicans had been looking for him to focus more on the economy than the scattershot arguments and attacks he has made on Harris since Democrats shifted to her as their presidential nominee. Twice in the past week, Trump has virtually bypassed such opportunities, first in an hourlong news conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, then in a 2 1/2-hour conversation on the social media platform X with CEO Elon Musk.

When he stayed on script Wednesday, Trump contrasted the current economy with his own presidency, asking, “Is anything less expensive under Kamala Harris and Crooked Joe?”

“Kamala has declared that tackling inflation will be a ‘Day One priority’ for her,” Trump said. “But Day One for Kamala was 3 1/2 years ago. Why hasn’t she done it?”

Yet throughout his speech, Trump ping-ponged between his prepared remarks and familiar attacks — deviating from the teleprompter in the middle of explaining a new economic promise when something triggered another thought. He ticked through prepared remarks crisply and quickly. The rest was his more freewheeling style, punctuated with hand gestures and hyperbole.

More than once, he jumped from a policy contrast with Harris to taking another swipe at her hometown of San Francisco. He also noted several times that it was Biden, not Harris, who earned votes from Democratic primary voters. During a section of his speech on energy, he slipped in an apparent dig at Hunter Biden, the president’s son, and his “laptop from hell.”

Trump sought to connect his emphasis on the border and immigration policy to the economy. He repeated his dubious claim that the influx would strain Social Security and Medicare to the point of collapse. He bemoaned the taxpayer money being spent on housing migrants in some U.S. cities, including his native New York. But most of the time he spent on immigration was the same broadsides about immigrants and violent crime that have been a staple of Trump’s speeches since 2015.

The latest attempt to reset his campaign comes in the state that delivered Trump his closest statewide margin of victory four years ago and that is once again expected to be a battleground in 2024.

Trump aides have long thought that an inflationary economy was an albatross for Democrats this year. But the event in Asheville only amplifies questions about whether Trump can effectively make it a centerpiece of his matchup against Harris.

The speech came the same day that the Labor Department reported that year-over-year inflation reached its lowest level in more than three years in July, a potential reprieve for Harris in the face of Trump’s attacks over inflation. Harris plans to be in North Carolina on Friday to release more details of her promise to make “building up the middle class ... a defining goal of my presidency.”

A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that Americans are more likely to trust Trump over Harris when it comes to handling the economy, but the difference is slight — 45% for Trump and 38% for Harris.

Some voters who came to hear Trump said they were ready to hear him talk more specifically about his plans, not because they don’t already trust him but because they want him to expand his appeal ahead of Election Day.

“He needs to tell people what he’s going to do, talk about the issues,” said Timothy Vath, a 55-year-old who drove from Greenville, South Carolina. “He did what he said he was going to do” in his initial term. “Talk about how he’d do that again.”

Mona Shope, a 60-year-old from nearby Candler, said Trump, despite his own wealth, “understands working people and wants what’s best for us.” A recent retiree from a public community college, Shope said she has a state pension but has picked up part-time work to mitigate against inflation. “It’s so I can still have vacations and spending money after paying my bills,” she said. “Sometimes it feels like there’s nothing left to save.”

In some of his off-script moments, Trump ventured into familiar misrepresentations of fact, including when he mocked wind energy by suggesting people would face power outages when the wind wasn’t blowing.

Trump again insisted that inflation would not have spiked had he been reelected in 2020, a claim that ignores the global supply chain interruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 spending boosts that included a massive aid package Trump signed as president, and the global energy price effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

A Harris aide said Wednesday that the vice president welcomes any comparison Trump is able to make.

“No matter what he says, one thing is certain: Trump has no plan, no vision, and no meaningful interest in helping build up the middle class,” communications director Michael Tyler wrote in a campaign memo. Tyler pointed to the economic slowdown of the pandemic and 2017 tax cuts that were tilted to corporations and wealthy individual households, and predicted Trump’s proposals on trade, taxation and reversing Biden-era policies would “send inflation skyrocketing and cost our economy millions of jobs – all to benefit the ultra-wealthy and special interests.”

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Biden to make a forceful case for Harris and Walz in convention speech

President Joe Biden’s role at the Democratic National Convention next week may have been dramatically reshaped by his decision to end his bid for a second term , but his message about the stakes of this election will sound familiar, according to multiple Biden officials.

The outgoing president will make the case for Vice President Kamala Harris to succeed him when he delivers Monday’s keynote address, in part by touting their accomplishments during the last four years.

But Biden will also make clear that he still believes Republican nominee Donald Trump poses a grave threat to American democracy and urge delegates in Chicago and voters watching across the country to do their part to defeat him again in November, aides say.

“After saving democracy in 2020, President Biden is determined to defeat the threat to democracy posed by Donald Trump,” one official said.

The first day of the convention in Chicago will include a series of tributes to Biden as he prepares to end a half-century career of public service. Just weeks ago, of course, the entire convention was centered around helping make the case for extending that service by four more years. But now it will offer the president another opportunity to try and shape his legacy.

The president will spend the weekend at Camp David fine-tuning his remarks with the help of senior advisers, including lead speechwriters Mike Donilon and Vinay Reddy. The remarks will build on the message he delivered in the Oval Office shortly after dropping out of the race and make a forceful case for Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

The speech, officials say, will be a reminder of the importance of Biden immediately endorsing Harris after announcing he would end his candidacy, helping to quickly unite a party in crisis behind her historic candidacy. Although Biden fought hard to remain in the race after his poor debate performance, his addressing the convention on the first night allows him to pass the torch to her and Walz, Biden officials told NBC News.

“The president is pleased at the momentum behind the campaign and looks forward to making his case,” an official said.

Biden aides, though, believe the convention will continue to highlight the Biden-Harris record after he leaves in order to make a contrast with the Republican ticket.

“Four years ago, America was reeling from a once-in-a-century pandemic, isolated on the world stage, crime was up, the middle class sidelined,” an official said. “Today: We are the global engine of growth, our alliances are strong, violent crime rate is at a 50-year low, border crossings are lower than when the previous administration left office, and we are making progress on the issues Americans care about most.”

Members of the Biden family will join the president and first lady,  who will speak  ahead of her husband. Longtime friends and supporters of Biden will also be traveling together on a chartered plane from Delaware to attend the speech, and several aides have organized a celebration for them and other current and former staff in Chicago on Monday night.

Other elements of the convention that had been intended to boost Biden’s candidacy will remain as tributes, starting with a convention logo that borrows from his 2020 campaign design. All convention delegates will also receive “Cup of Joe”-branded coffee, and signage around the United Center on Monday will invoke words from Biden’s Oval Office address, such as “History is in your hands,” as well as a family mantra: “Spread the faith.”

Biden will leave Chicago after his address Monday to spend the rest of the week in Southern California. There, he will huddle with top advisers who have been working for the past month to firm up plans for his remaining months in office.

A Biden official said the president “will have an extensive domestic schedule — traveling across the country to keep reminding Americans that they are going to have to choose between his vision and the vice president’s vision to move the country forward, not backward.”

“And the president will fight to make every day of his term count to build on these historic achievements,” the official added. “Expect aggressive implementation of historic legislation, actions to lower costs, and a packed foreign policy agenda.”

Mike Memoli is an NBC News correspondent. 

Monica Alba is a White House correspondent for NBC News.