Wedding Toast Tips
So you’ve asked your wedding party, family, or others to give toasts at your wedding reception - great idea! I love when we get to hear stories and make the wedding day about you and your loved ones. Now let’s talk about some tips for writing toasts that you can pass along to your speakers from a professional Charlotte wedding planner.
Tip #1: Keep it Personal, but Not Too Personal
Toasts shouldn’t feel like they were written by a stranger or ChatGPT (although AI can help you make it more polished). Make sure to include a personal story or two, express how much the person means to you, and share some sentiments about the couple together. Just don’t include anything too personal or inappropriate that would make Grandma blush.
Tip #2: Stand Next to the Couple
Ask the speaker to stand next to the couple when they’re giving their toast. The media team will be able to capture the couple’s live, raw reactions during the toast, making for some amazing, memorable photos and video.
Tip #3: Memorize or Write it Down
Don’t read your toast off your phone - in photos it looks like you’re scrolling social media instead of delivering a heartfelt speech. Instead, type and print, write it in a journal, or even memorize it (kudos to you if you can do that!).
Tip #4: Have a Microphone
Make sure the entertainment company supplies a microphone for toasts so that everyone can hear. Not having a DJ? You can rent AV equipment that includes a handheld microphone.
Tip #5: Grab a Drink
Make sure that everyone has something to toast with, especially the speaker and the couple. What’s a toast without a glass of your favorite beverage?!
Tip #6: Clear Tables
Have the waitstaff, coordinator, or someone else make sure the couple’s plates and everything are cleared from the table before the toasts start. No one wants half eaten chicken featured in their wedding photos!
Tip #7: Thank Your Speaker
After each toast, thank your loved one with a handshake or a hug. Not only will this make for a great photo, it’s a little something to thank the speaker for their sweet words and wishes for the future.
Tip #8: Limit to 3-4 Minutes
Ever been to a wedding where the person giving the toast drones on and on? No one wants to listen to someone they (probably) don’t know speak for a long time. On the other hand, anything super short sounds like you don’t really care about the couple. An estimate of about 3-4 minutes is usually the sweet spot to get your point across efficiently and beautifully.
As a Charlotte wedding planner, one of the questions I typically get is advice on writing toasts for the reception. Hopefully this blog post gave you helpful tips to share with your loved ones!
Vendor Credits
Planner/Coordinator – SC Signature Celebrations
Cover Photo and Photo 1 - Wildlight Co
Photos 2 and 3 - Captured by Leo
Photo 4 - Mary Mosley Photography
