The Best Man Toast - What You Need to Remember

Cheers!

As the best man, it is your responsibility to help the bride and groom out in their wedding preparations. To show his appreciation for your support, the groom traditionally thanks the best man with a special groomsmen gift. You are actually tagged as the groom's right-hand man, so you are expected to: • Show up in every pre-wedding event where the groom is included • Plan the stag party • Keep and give the wedding ring to the groom during the ceremony • Make the best man toast If there is one person in the wedding reception hall who is expected to provide the toast, it is the best man. Although the parents of the bride and groom are also expected to give out a short speech during the wedding reception, it is the best man's toast to the couple which serves as the highlight of the occasion.

If you are given the ever-important task of being the best man to your brother, cousin or best college buddy, then it is your responsibility to provide a 'short but sweet' speech before offering a toast to the newlyweds. Naturally, the speech is something that you need to prepare for. Here are some things that you need to remember when offering a best man toast.

First, do not stand unprepared. Although offering a few words to toast the good future and offer your congratulations to the newlywed couple may seem to be an easy task, this is not always the case. If you think of all the groomsmen, bridesmaids, relatives and guests who will listen to your speech, offering a toast may prove to be quite a daunting task. The key is to prepare in advance, make a draft of your speech, practice it in front of a friend so that you would know how it sounds like and take it from there. For expert tips on making toasts and public speaking, check out Toastmasters International.

Second, make sure that the timing is right before offering the toast. You may ask the parents of either the bride or the groom whether they would like to speak first prior to your toast as a courtesy to them. Then, once the timing is right, you need to tap your wine glass and courteously get everyone's attention. Once you have managed to do this, it is time to deliver your speech.

The speech itself should not be long and winded. Instead, make it short, simple and sweet but not overly schmaltzy. If you will insert humor into the speech, make sure that the joke is funny but not embarrassing to either the groom or the bride. It is a good idea to briefly introduce yourself and let the guests know how you are related to the groom and bride. Then, share a funny or touching anecdote which can be related to the wedding. Make sure that your speech will say a little something about both the bride and groom – not just one of them. If you want to, you can also share a story about how the couple's love for each other has shined through a particular moment in their life that you have witnessed. Finally, make your toast and give your congratulations to the newlywed couple.