What Not To Say During A Wedding Toast

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Giving a great speech at a wedding is no mean feat, but what’s even more important is giving a wedding toast that is well-tailored to the particular occasion. Sometimes knowing what not to say is just as crucial as knowing what to say at a wedding. After all, when the guests stare at you in a speechless manner, it should be because your speech had them spell bound for all the right reasons and never for the wrong ones.

wedding toast

Image courtesy Bhaven Jani Photography

So, what are the little bits that are best left out of wedding toasts? We give you a peek into what you should leave out when writing your own speech:

  • Being humorous is important and the right jokes can often lighten the mood in the room. However, if you are aware that there will be many seniors and children in the room, write a speech that does not have any room for jokes laced with sexual references or which takes digs at any one person sitting in the audience. Most often such jokes will make everybody in the room feel very uncomfortable and can change the tone of the mood too.
  • Do not bring in references to your own marriage, irrespective of whether it is a successful one or not. When you bring in real tid-bits from your married life, it’s akin to washing dirty linen in public. Letting out such highly sensitive and personal information may appear funny to you but a wedding is not the time to be sharing such thoughts. You don’t want to be seen as an embarrassment after the wedding toast is done.

wedding toast

Image courtesy Levels N Curves Creative Studios

  • Never give a speech when you are drunk. If you are aware that you cannot hold down a drink properly, then its best to enjoy a glass or two after your wedding toast is done. Remember that as far as the wedding couple is concerned, they have given you the honour of toasting them at their wedding and when you give a speech in an inebriated state, it reflects badly on them too. Give them a touching memory of a wedding toast that was written and spoken with good wishes that came from the heart, not a memory of an awful toast that they don’t want to remember at all in the years to come.

wedding toast

Image courtesy Bhaven Jani Photography

  • Let’s be honest- sticking to the words written on paper is easier said than done and it’s so easy to get carried away while saying a speech. While everybody waits eagerly for the wedding toast, nobody wants to hear a toast that goes on for more than 5 minutes. One of the best ways to know if you need to trim your speech is by practicing it in front of your family at home. Nothing beats spontaneous feedback from loved ones.
  • Leave out any embarrassing incidents that involve either the groom or the bride from your wedding toast. Watching either of them cringe in horror as you say your wedding toast is not fun. It’s their day and their moment, so save any private jokes or stories about them for an informal evening later.

Main Image courtesy Levels N Curves Creative Studios

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