How To Make a Memorable Toast
Have you been called upon to make a toast at an upcoming event? Honor your friends and family in memorable style using these tips we've compiled to help assure your Toasting Success:
- It's not as hard as it seems. Although public speaking is intimidating for many - telling someone "Thank You" in public is what most of us have been trained to do since we were three. Your toast is just a formalized extension of that - just stand, clink your glass for silence, and say some sort of extended version of a simple Thank-You... "I think we all owe our hosts a big thank you for such a wonderful time, such great food, and for having the wisdom to invite such an interesting group of friends!"
- Toast, Don't Roast. This is not the time for the risky or risqué! You may share a long history with the recipient(s) of the toast, but unless the intent of your event is to roast them, keep it fun. Keep it clean.
- 60 Seconds, Tops. One reason people can feel nervous before giving a toast is the false belief that every toast needs to be a speech. Quite the opposite - as long as your toast conveys your heart-felt gratitude, it's a success. Your best bet is to shoot for 30-60 seconds, from the first word to the invitation "... so please join me in raising your glass to..."
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Follow This Proven Outline. The world's truly great public speakers recommend the following outline for your toast:
- Thank the host and/or acknowledge the guest of honor
- (Totally optional, but recommended) Describe a shared experience from the past - light, and either humorous and/or touching.
- Invite all to join you in raising their glass to the honoree(s).
- Do It Early. Those who hate speaking in public find it preferable to procrastinate. But a toast is best when it sets the tone for an event early on - after everyone has been seated at the table and the first wine has been poured, for example. Just before dessert is also a great time, but comes with the downside of, well, see below...
- Don't Drink Too Much First! For obvious reasons. We are never as glib as we think we are after that second or third glass of wine!
- Eyeball-to-Eyeball. Whether toasting a loved one across an intimate table or standing in front of a large crowd, make eye contact! Look each other in the eyes as you raise your glass. This is a common tradition across the old world, but Americans have a tendency to look at our glass as we clink it. A toast is a sharing of our humanity, a celebration of it, and as we raise our glasses around the table, it will mean much more if each participant recognizes the others by looking them in the eye as they clink glasses.
- Standing Is Best. If delivering a toast to more than four people, standing makes it easier to get started. Heads will turn to see what is happening, and as you clink a water glass (no, not the crystal!) and conversations take a pause - dive right in! Or simply announce "I propose a toast!" as an easy way to get started.
- Sources of Inspiration. There is no substitute for speaking from the heart. But there is also a long history of wit and wisdom that may lend a humorous launch pad for your own creativity. I've collected some of my favorites over the years, and you are welcome to view them here.
