“Speak now, or forever hold your peace,” ministers have cautioned wedding guests, since forever. But, according to BRIDES Magazine, there was no peace for the one in five new husbands whose brides were mortified by the toasts their Best Men gave.
In her latest nonfiction, Off the Cuff/ What to Say at a Moment’s Notice, communication skills coach, Anne Ready admonishes,“when in doubt, leave it out.” And, be sure to:
- Personalize your toast, appropriately.
- Be humorous, yet respectful.
- Begin by outlining the key points you want to express, then expand but…
- Follow the KISS principle “Keep It Short, Sweetheart.”
- And finally, ask yourself what unique perspective you bring to the reception like these:
possible one-liners for toasting:
If it wasn’t for marriage, men would spend our whole lives thinking we had no faults at all.
-Married best man
I share Goethe’s wisdom with you, “We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.”
-Grandmother of the groom
If you steal, may you steal one another’s hearts. If you fight, may you fight for one another.
-Maid of Honor
All woman should know how to take care of children. Most of them will have a husband someday.
-Divorced aunt
The entire sum of existence is the magic of being needed by just one other person.
-Single best man
May you never forget what is worth remembering and never remember what is best forgotten.
-Mother of the bride
Now will you all drink a toast with me…that their love guides them through life and echoes in eternity.
-Father of the bride