Tips for Giving a Toast

Giving a toast is one of those basic skills everyone should possess. It is, however, a rarely-used skill for most of us; most people aren't often called on to give toasts, which makes it a nerve-racking experience, especially if you are being asked to do so for the first time. Luckily, if you follow some basic rules, chances are that everything will go just great.

To give a good toast, it is important to understand its purpose. A toast has many goals, of course, but at its heart, it should pay tribute to its subject - a student graduating, a couple marrying, a birth being celebrated - and offer good wishes. A toast should also strive to entertain and inform.

For special occasions, it is common for a toast to include a story about its subject. This, sadly, is where many toasts go astray. The story should be brief and easy to understand; while it's fine for the story to be humorous, it should not be embarrassing. In the case of weddings, for example, it is bad to tell a story involving any former girlfriends or boyfriends of the newlyweds. Similarly, it would be in bad taste to tell a story about academic failure at a graduation party. Success is a much wiser story theme.

When giving a toast, make sure it is both appropriate to the occasion and to the audience. The toast you would offer the bride at her wedding shower would, for example, be different than the toast you would offer the bride at her actual wedding. Do not use foul language, inappropriate innuendo or even slang.

Remember that when giving a toast, it's not about you. Yes, you have a moment in the spotlight, but your moment in the spotlight is there to shine the light on the subject of the occasion.

Giving a toast is, among other things, a performance, and like all performances, a toast requires preparation and practice. That means writing out the toast in advance and, depending on the type of public speaker you are, either memorizing it word for word or memorizing the shape of what you're planning to say.

Practice the toast aloud, both alone and before a friend or two, although preferably not the subject of the toast. This is an opportunity to make sure you are speaking loudly enough to be heard at the event, as well as a chance to make sure you are speaking slowly, enunciating clearly, and that you are having the impact you desire. Be willing to accept feedback from your test audience; it will only improve your toast.

When giving your toast, make sure to stand up straight. It will help the quality of your voice and also make you look better. Make sure you address the whole of your audience - that's both the people you're toasting and others at the event - as you give your toast. One of your tasks is to make sure that everyone in the room feels included in the celebration in that moment.

If your toast is being delivered as part of a celebration, make sure not to drink excessively before delivering it. You want to give your toast in conditions similar to how your practiced it. Wait to celebrate with alcohol until after your toast has been delivered.

A toast is ultimately a gift of your words and good wishes. Keep this in mind as you develop, practice and present your toast. Even if the task is difficult for you, remember that you've been asked to contribute to a special occasion in a deeply unique and personal way.

Finally, consider providing a printed version of your toast to the people or person your toast is dedicated to. Special events have a way of speeding by for the people at the center of them, and a keepsake of your kind and celebratory words will be treasured.

Occasionally, a person may be asked to give a toast in a spontaneous situation for which they are not prepared. If this happens to you, there are a few steps you can take to buy yourself time and handle the situation well. First, take a deep breath to calm yourself and get a moment to think. Then state how honored you are to be asked to give a toast as a way to grab just a few more moments to think. Finally, conclude with whatever wishes for joy and offers of congratulations are appropriate to the occasion.