how to make a good toast speech

How to Give a Toast: A Guide for Memorable Speeches

• The Speaker Lab
• January 12, 2024

Table of Contents

Ever been at a party or event, glass in hand, when suddenly you’re asked to say a few words? The room goes silent. All eyes are on you. It’s your moment and…panic sets in. How exactly are you supposed to give a toast?

Fear not! Giving a memorable toast is an art that can be mastered by anyone. Think of it as sharing a piece of wisdom wrapped up with a little wit and warmth. To master this art, we’ve got the scoop for you—whether it’s understanding the essence of a good toast, learning common etiquette rules, or avoiding classic mistakes, we’ve got it all. And don’t worry—we’ll throw in some sparkling examples to inspire your own memorable moments.

Ready? Let’s delve into this guide and make sure next time those spotlight moments aren’t panic-stricken but applause-driven!

The Purpose of Toasts

Before actually delving into how to give a toast, it’s important to understand why you’re giving a toast in the first place.

Toasts can be used in multiple settings. They celebrate special occasions like weddings or anniversaries, they honor individuals on their birthdays or retirement parties, and they provide a platform to express gratitude during holiday gatherings.

In its simplest form, a toast can be seen as an act of storytelling with three main parts: introduction (setting up the context), body (the story itself), and conclusion (where we lift our glasses).

The story told through a toast should create emotional resonance while also sharing insights into the person or event being toasted. Essentially, the aim of a toast is to unite everyone present in celebrating shared values or accomplishments.

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Essential Elements of a Good Toast

To give a toast that leaves an impression, you need to master certain key elements. These include sincerity, brevity, humor, and timing.

A good toast comes from the heart. It’s not about using big words or complex sentences but conveying genuine emotions and sentiments. If you can share personal anecdotes or experiences related to the occasion or person being toasted, you’ll make your words that much more meaningful.

A memorable toast is concise. Aim for two minutes max—this isn’t your chance to tell every story about your friendship with the bride since kindergarten. When giving a toast, stay succinct for the most impact.

Injecting some well-placed humor into your speech can lighten up any occasion—but remember to keep it tasteful.

Pick the right moment for your tribute—it shouldn’t interrupt dinner or come too late in the evening when guests might be ready to leave.

Crafting Your Memorable Toast

Brainstorming is the first step in crafting your toast. To start, simply let your ideas flow without worrying about structure or editing. Don’t worry about editing or structure yet, just get all your ideas down on paper. If you need inspiration, consider personal stories, quotes you love, or keynotes speeches.

Once you have all your ideas down, it’s time to start sculpting them into a well-rounded toast. Start by picking out the most powerful points from your brainstorm session. Then create an outline with these points as your guideposts.

Next, rehearse. Rehearse your lines until they feel natural—this will help you give your toast confidently without stumbling over words. Don’t overdo it, though, that way you keep some spontaneity in your toast.

As you write your toast, make sure you adapt it both to the audience and the occasion. Wedding toasts, for example, should be written with the wedding party and other guests in mind. What kind of jokes or humor will they appreciate? Are you best friends with the bride and groom or more of a casual acquaintance? Make sure you think through these things as you craft your toast.

Delivering Your Toast

Your body speaks volumes even before you start your toast. Stand tall, shoulders back, and make sure to keep eye contact with the audience. This not only conveys confidence but also helps engage listeners.

Controlling Voice Modulation

Varying pitch and volume can bring life to your speech. But don’t overdo it. Use these tools wisely to emphasize key points or evoke emotion without becoming theatrical.

Harvard Business Review offers some great tips on voice control for speakers.

Maintaining Audience Engagement

Remember, delivering a toast is an interactive experience. You’re not just talking at people but connecting with them emotionally. To maintain an emotional connection, take pauses for dramatic effect or laughs. After all, pauses are part of the rhythm of public speaking.

If space allows, feel free to roam around since movement can add dynamism to your toast.

Lastly, enjoy yourself. A happy speaker often leads to a captivated audience.

Common Toasting Etiquette

Toasts can make or break a celebration. Knowing the etiquette rules will help you give an unforgettable toast.

First, remember to keep it brief. A long-winded speech might lose your audience’s interest.

Second, avoid embarrassing stories or inside jokes that not everyone gets. While they may seem hilarious to you, you’ll lose your audience if only half of the room understands (or appreciates) your references. Instead, aim for universal themes like love or friendship—something that will resonate with all attendees.

Third, keep things positive. After all, a toast is about honoring someone, so stick to compliments and kind words.

Last, be mindful of timing. Don’t start your toast too early or late in the event—and don’t forget to end by inviting others to raise their glasses and join in on your sentiment.

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An Example of a Successful Toast

Before actually delivering your toast, it may help to consider an example. Let’s check out one memorable toast that has resonated with crowds in the past.

This example is from an Oscar acceptance speech by Matthew McConaughey . At the beginning of his speech, McConaughey stayed positive, recognizing the talent of the other nominees for best actor and expressing gratitude for those who helped him along his journey. He wasn’t even afraid to use a little humor to get his audience laughing.

Then, he settled into the meat of his toast by talking about how he considered his future self to be his hero, the person he wanted to be. In this way, McConaughey connected with his audience over the universal theme of always striving to be better.

Remember: you don’t need fame or high stakes situations to give an impactful toast. What matters is authenticity and connection with your listeners.

Mistakes to Avoid When Giving a Toast

People presenting a toast should be aware of who they are addressing; failing to do so is one of the most common errors. It’s essential to tailor your words and tone for the crowd you’re speaking to.

In addition, avoid rambling on without structure or point. Keep it concise, focused, and relevant. Crafting a speech with purpose can help in this regard.

Another common mistake is forgetting about timing. Good speakers know that timing isn’t just about how long they speak but also when they pause for effect or humor.

Lack of Preparation

Neglecting preparation is another pitfall some fall into. Make sure you rehearse enough times so that nerves don’t get the better of you during your moment under the spotlight. Toastmasters offers great tips for dealing with stage fright.

Inappropriate Content

Last but not least, inappropriate content has no place in any toast. Jokes at someone else’s expense might get laughs from some, but they will more likely leave others feeling uncomfortable—let’s keep things classy.

How to Give a Toast FAQs

What do you say when you give a toast.

When giving a toast, share an uplifting message or story about the person or event being celebrated. Keep it heartfelt and brief.

How do you give someone a toast?

To deliver a toast, stand up, raise your glass, capture attention with engaging words, then finish by leading everyone in raising their glasses too.

What is the proper way to toast?

The right way to make a toast involves speaking clearly and sincerely. Always respect your audience’s time by keeping it short and sweet.

How do you start a toast speech example?

One simple way to start a toast: “Dear friends and family of [Name], let’s raise our glasses in tribute to this extraordinary moment…”

Mastering how to give a toast isn’t as hard as it seems, right? Not only have you learned the purpose of giving a toast, you’ve grasped essential elements like brainstorming and rehearsing. Of course, delivery matters too. The way you use body language and voice modulation can make or break your moment in the spotlight.

To ensure smooth sailing during your toast, we walked through common etiquette rules and even gave you a successful example to consider—plus a few mistakes you’ll want to avoid.

Last but not least, breathe easy—you have everything you need to give that perfect toast!

• Last Updated: February 29, 2024

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This acronym will help you give the perfect toast

Lauren Migaki

Clare Marie Schneider

It's the wild card of every big event — the toast.

It could be the drunk groomsman at a wedding or the rambling colleague at the retirement party or, perhaps, it's the friend who brings up politics or religion when they've been explicitly asked not to.

For stand-up comedian Atsuko Okatsuka , it was her father-in-law at her wedding. "And then he suddenly goes, I see there's a big Asian contingency here." The moment he brought up race, everyone went quiet.

"It's like a kid when they're playing I Spy, you know?" she says. "That's what he did. 'I spy Asians'."

"Then he tried to save himself. He went, 'and I love the Asians!'"

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This story comes from Life Kit , NPR's podcast to help make life better — covering everything from exercise to raising kids to making friends. For more, sign up for the newsletter and follow @NPRLifeKit on Twitter .

It's a memorable toast – but maybe not in the way Okatsuka had hoped.

If you've been asked, or volunteered yourself, to give a toast, we've got some handy tips to make sure people remember your speech with fondness – not horror.

Start with T-O-A-S-T, a helpful acronym from author and award-winning speaker Ramona J. Smith , plus a couple of helpful additions:

T — Tell a story

There's a simple formula to a good toast: Introduce yourself, tell a story, connect that story to the event and wrap it up (time to hit the dance floor!) The biggest challenge is choosing the right story for the occasion and audience.

Every family has stories to tell. Here's how to document yours

Journalist Clare Roth , who has been to 36 weddings, says recording memories on voice memos was particularly helpful. For the occasion, she landed on this sweet and short story:

"There's an anecdote in my mother's diary from when I was three months old, where she heard my sister shout, 'I can't carry you anymore, baby!' And she came out and she was holding me by my skull and I had twigs and leaves in my hair because apparently she had dropped me a few times already. ... It's just so demonstrative of how she will charge ahead, but she wants you to be right there with her. ... And that's why she's going to be such an amazing wife."

Roth says this anecdote worked for the occasion, because it was not only "demonstrative of the relationship that my sister and I had but also related to how she would be as a partner."

Once you share an intimate but relatable anecdote, you can close with a lighthearted joke or offer your best wishes.

O — Optimism is key

How to tell a captivating story — from a wedding toast to a job interview

"Don't give a sad story and leave everyone crying, especially if it's at a beautiful wedding or at a baby shower or somewhere where the mood is already festive," says Smith.

Smith is the 2018 winner of the Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking. The opening of her award-winning speech was bleak — it highlighted her personal and professional failures. But with humor and optimism, she continued discussing how those experiences have failed to knock her down – by the end of her speech, the audience was singing along with her to Elton John's I'm Still Standing.

Smith compares her craft of speech writing to spicy chicken wings – "Just dip [the audience] in the hot sauce for a little bit and then we gonna cool off with the ranch."

A — Authenticity and vulnerability are better than humor

Dan Perlman is a stand-up comedian, but when it comes to making toasts, " the more successful toasts I've given have been ones where I was vulnerable," he says.

When he spoke at his childhood friend's wedding this summer, he shared an anecdote about them playing basketball and growing up together. Perlman did manage to find an opportunity for some subtle teasing — but remember, it's a toast, not a roast!

S — Speeches require practice

Try reading your speech aloud before you give it live. Even consider sharing it with a trusted friend or family member to look it over.

If you have stage fright, standup comedian Okatsuka has a tip for that: tell yourself that you aren't nervous but rather, too excited. " So instead of shaking from the nerves or feeling a pit in your stomach from the nerves, it turns into butterflies from excitement," she says.

Want To Listen Better? Turn Down Your Thoughts And Tune In To Others

While you're delivering your speech, find an audience wingperson. "Focus on people in the audience who are paying attention and are giving good energy," says Perlman.

You could even ask a friend ahead of time to be this person for you!

And if you get thrown off track while speaking, don't forget: "You're allowed to stop and think. You're allowed to pause and breathe," says Ana Silva.

Silva, who teaches and performs improv, also points out that there are certain elements you cannot control when giving a toast. Just as stand-up comedy has hecklers, wedding toasts have drunk audiences.

"If it's something that is disrespectful in a rude way, I think shutting it down immediately is fantastic," she says. "If it's someone who's just really excited and wants to be part of it. I think a light touch is fine. ... 'I'm so glad cousin Susie is in on this. Let me keep going, Susie.'"

Silva also says that if you're in the audience, you have a role to play as well. " It's all about supporting the people around you." Remember to be generous with your attention, laughter, and applause.

T — Timing. Shorter is better

"I've never been annoyed that a toast is too short," says Perlman, who recommends keeping it between 90 seconds to two minutes.

Wedding enthusiast Roth suggests a range of two to three minutes. "No one is going to get angry about being able to drink their champagne sooner, " she says.

Point is, we all have short attention spans. When you practice reading your speech aloud, make sure that you time yourself.

Never drink before a toast

You don't have to drink to celebrate the holiday season

6 Ways To Take A Break From Drinking

If there is one guaranteed way to ensure that you do not bomb this toast, it's this piece of wisdom from Smith: "Never drink alcohol before you give a speech," she says. "You don't want to slur. You don't want to come off as sloppy."

Drinking can also make you prone to rambling on too long, or throwing in an inappropriate, unnecessary joke, so it's best to avoid it altogether.

Don't wait for the perfect occasion

Toasts are a way to tell people you love them. And Roth says, we don't do that enough. "More toasts please!" she says. "It is wonderful to say the quiet part out loud, when the quiet part is... the love you have for your friends and family. Let's bring toasts back in fashion."

The podcast portion of this story was produced by Clare Marie Schneider. We'd love to hear from you. Leave us a voicemail at 202-216-9823, or email us at [email protected].

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• New Year's Eve
• Life Kit: Life Skills

Rice Speechwriting

Mastering the art of how to give a toast, how to give a toast like a pro, what are the essential elements of a good toast.

The essential elements of a good toast include a clear and concise message, a personal touch or story, a positive and uplifting tone, eye contact with the audience, and a heartfelt toast to the honoree. Adding humor or a memorable quote can also enhance the impact of a toast.

The key elements of a good toast include a clear and concise message. A good toast should have a central theme or idea that is easy for the audience to understand and relate to. It should be heartfelt and genuine, expressing sincere emotions and appreciation towards the person or occasion being toasted.

Another important element is personalization. A good toast should be tailored to the individual or group being honored. Including personal anecdotes, inside jokes, or specific memories can make the toast more meaningful and memorable for both the honoree and the audience.

Timing and delivery are also crucial. A good toast should be well-timed, neither too short nor too long, in order to ensure that everyone is having a good time. It should be engaging and delivered with confidence and enthusiasm. Using appropriate gestures, maintaining eye contact, and varying the tone and pace of speech can help captivate the audience and keep their attention throughout the toast.

In addition, a good toast should be positive and uplifting. It should focus on celebrating the achievements, qualities, or milestones of the person or occasion being toasted. Avoiding negative or controversial topics ensures that the toast remains enjoyable and respectful to everyone present.

Lastly, a good toast should end on a high note. It should leave the audience feeling inspired, happy, or touched. A memorable closing line or a heartfelt toast to the future can leave a lasting impression and make the toast truly exceptional.

Toast: Short Speech Writing Guide: How to Give a Toast

“Can you just say a few words?”

That invitation can strike fear among people who are asked to give a toast at a wedding, to present an award, to congratulate someone on a promotion, to remember a colleague retiring after 25 years.

Yet it doesn’t have to.

Who is this speechwriting guide for?

This is for anyone giving a short speech whose purpose is to honor someone else.

It’s for all those speeches that mean something, that aren’t televised, that are there to honor the great works and deed others have done in their lives.

Awards Speeches

You’re part of an organization that gives out awards each year and this year you get to present one of them! Figure out what to say that’s short, sweet, and meaningful.

Wedding Speeches: Best Man Speeches, Maid of Honor Speeches, Father and Mother of the Bride Speeches

Your best friend is getting married and you get to give a toast. Guidance for best men, maids of honor, father and mother of the bride—anyone who needs to wish the happy couple well.

A colleague is getting promoted and you want to talk about their achievements and efforts with some good natured fun thrown in.

Retirement Speeches

How do you say goodbye to the key employee who has worked for you for the last 20 years?

What do you say at your own retirement?

Is your mentor or parent retiring and you want to toast them?

Birthday party toasts and anniversary speeches

What about the people who are a really big deal in our lives? What do you say to them on their important days? What would you say at your parents’ 50th wedding anniversary? What about your spouse’s 40th birthday?

Any occasion where you have to “say a few words”

I probably missed a few speech categories above, but any time that you need to give a speech that honors another person, this guide is your guide.

What will be included in this guide to short speeches:

• A brief overview of the various parts of any toast. I break down the typical toast or honor speech for any occasion.
• A step-by-step process to get your speech written. I use the same method when writing for others and you can complete a first draft in the span of a week or any set of seven days spread out over time.
• Real short speeches given by real people. I’ve scoured the internet and my resources to find examples of toasts and other short speeches that you can use as models. All are modern speeches that real people gave. Use them as inspiration for turns of phrases and overall organization to help you plan your words.
• Advice for specific types of short speeches. A wedding toast and an awards speech aren’t the same but share tons of similarities. You’ll learn what each type of speech requires given its occasion. Use this section to avoid faux pas.

Where to start with any short speech

Speakers tend to have two problems when it comes to giving short speeches:

They tell me two things:

First: I can’t think of anything to say

Second: I have too much to say, there’s no way I’ll fit it all in

What to do?

Let’s tackle each one, starting with the first.

But, before we do, let’s begin with Step 1–it’s helpful to have a doc open or a set of notes as you go through this guide.

Step 1: Know your time limits, word count, and any other pertinent details for your speech.

We speak around 135 to 150 words per minute. But when it comes to giving a speech, you want to give yourself extra time to take it slow, to allow for applause and laughter. I’d suggest 100-115 words per minute to gauge how much you need to prepare.

For a 3 minute toast: 300-345 words

For a 5 minute toast: 500 words to 575

For a 10 minute toast: 1000 words to 1150 words

I wouldn’t go beyond 10 minutes for any ceremonial speech–err on the side of brevity.

Find out also when you are expected to give your speech during the event. If you are going early, you can err on the side of being a bit longer than expected. If you are one of the last to speak, keep it as short as possible.

Step 2: Know the key sections you’ll want to think about for your toast:

Many toasts and short speeches have the same sections to them but not always in the order below. You can mix and match as needed.

Acknowledgments and Thank yous:

Depending on the formality of the event, you have to thank certain people who put the event together or who are so important that they deserve to be recognized. Word of caution: Do not go overboard in this portion and make the whole speech one long list of thank-yous.

Stories will make up the bulk of your toast—they are the perfect vehicle to demonstrate change throughout the speech. It’s where you can talk about the deeds of the person you’re honoring or the significance of the event.

You’ll find sections of advice in many toasts—the person giving the toast often has words of wisdom for the happy couple during a wedding toast or sage advice to those just starting on their careers during the speaker’s own retirement speech. This is where you can take the lessons of change you’ve experienced and give them to the audience or the people who are a part of your toast, with advance notice or in the spur of the moment. So, don’t forget to include your best wishes for the future in your toast, as it adds a heartfelt touch to your words of wisdom.

Significance of the event:

Sometimes the event itself is important enough that it should be mentioned and featured in your toast (other times, you may just need a few sentences).

Opening and Closing:

Any speech will have a captivating opening and closing, and toasts are no different. The best ones will have openings and closings that relate to one another; oftentimes, the closing can even contain a special 1-2 line mini-toast that sums up the speech itself. Additionally, it is important to propose a toast at the appropriate time during a dinner party, typically at the beginning of the meal or just before dessert. We’ll work on specific techniques later on in this guide to craft closings that will be remembered long after the main speech concludes.

Here are some questions to get you started, we’ll dive into the specifics momentarily:

• Are there any VIPs in the audience that you must acknowledge or thank? Keep this list very short and go with the ones who are most important or whose egos will be hurt if you don’t mention them. If it’s too many, can you generalize the group (“Honored guests,”)?
• If you are honoring a person, what makes them so incredible and great? Why are they being honored at this event? What have they done that has impressed you? What have you learned from them? What moments of greatness stick out in your mind? What stories can you tell around each answer?
• What is the significance of the event you’ll be speaking at? Is it an eternal one like marriage? What is the history of the event? Why did the group start? What are they doing today that is so impactful?
• Is it appropriate to give advice at an event like this? If a couple is getting married, what advice do you have for them? If someone is retiring or being promoted, what advice can you give to others in the room that want to live up to that person’s example?
• Are there particular quotes or sayings that you think could work at the beginning or end of the toast? Have people heard these before or will they be fresh? Are they unique to the occasion?
• What movie did you see recently (or book you read) that showed a dramatic change in its characters? Did you read or watch anything recently that seemed to fall flat? Can you pinpoint a lack of change in the characters as the reason?

Step 3: Brainstorm your speech ideas: What to do when you can’t think of anything to say in your speech

The best place to start are the dual goals of any ceremonial speech: You want to honor the person and honor the event.

From a wedding toast to a retirement speech to an anniversary celebration, the goals are the same.

You want to honor a person or a couple and the event itself.

Great toasts and short speeches revolve around telling great stories about the person you’re honoring. Ideally you want a mix of funny and touching stories to tell.

Brainstorming ideas for wedding toasts , birthday speeches, and anniversary speeches:

• Anything you want to say to the close family and friends who will be in attendance?
• Growing up together, I could tell that they would grow into a great person because…
• One moment that most impressed me was when…
• He/She was really there for me when…
• My favorite memory of them was when…
• One story that really demonstrates is when…
• When I first met him/her…
• I am grateful that they are in my life because one time…
• He/she got me out of a tough situation when…
• I can never forget the time when…
• Advice I can give the couple is…
• A time that he/she made me laugh was when…
• What are the person’s greatest character values? What makes them such an excellent match for the other?
• How did the two meet? Were you instrumental in making it happen? How did it happen?
• When did you know the couple found the right person in the other?
• What are the bride or groom’s favorite books, movies, or songs?
• How do the two or one person spend their time? What do their hobbies say about them?
• Do either have a particular set of quirks that are endearing yet not too embarrassing?

Brainstorming ideas for retirement speeches:

• What do you admire about the person retiring?
• What lessons have they taught you?
• How have you changed professionally and personally from watching this person work?
• If you’ve watched them for some time, how have they changed for the better?
• What are your most memorable stories?
• Do they have any odd quirks that aren’t too embarrassing?
• How is the organization better for having this person? How has the organization or department changed in this person’s stead? :

Brainstorming ideas for awards speeches:

Key questions:

• What obstacles did you encounter before the accomplishment that this award has recognized?
• Who helped you along the way? Who mentored you? What did your family give up or sacrifice to help you get here?
• What advice do you have for the next generation after you?
• Is there anything special about the award, the event, or the occasion, that you can remark upon?
• Did you lead a team that helped create the success behind the award? What do you want to say to them?
• When you are giving an award to someone else…
• Structure: Great deeds, how do they live/do their work?, lessons/advice/legacy
• What impressed you the most about this person? Why are they the right choice for the award?
• Have they undertaken any projects or ideas that have gone under the radar? Can you recognize those as well?
• How has this person changed from their beginning to now with the award?
• Is there a call to action for this organization or award’s greater purpose?

Step 4: Organize your short speech

Now that you’ve generated plenty of ideas, you’ll want to determine a structure for your toast.

Details the most common ways you’ll see someone give a toast. The first is advice-based, followed by story-based, and then third, the extended metaphor. See how each one fits the toast you want to give based on the occasion. You can also mix and match the forms as you see fit, including incorporating a good toast by telling a story that connects to the event and wraps up your speech about a particular person, group of people, or event.

Advice Based:

Speeches that are advice-based organize themselves around bits of wisdom or principles. The best example is from the Retirement Manifesto . Here, the speaker uses his retirement to give life advice to those in the audience.

Each piece of advice is followed up by a short story, quote, or something else.

How to adopt this form:

Come up with three to seven principles that you strive to live your life by. Avoid cliches when possible (“live life to its fullest,” “savor every moment,”); instead, think of what you would say if someone asked for life advice over a cup of coffee. What would you tell them?

Another great source for inspiration is Dr. Randy Pausch’s “Last Lecture,” where he gave all the lessons in his life knowing that he had a terminal illness. Do an internet search to find its recording and subsequent book. It’s worth watching multiple times.

Once you have the lessons figured out, find a way to creatively tell each lesson. Most people opt for anecdotes but if you have an interesting bit of research or a shocking number, use those sparingly to break it up.

You can also go the opposite way—think of memorable moments from your life, ones that made you who you are today—ones that changed you (back to the Hero’s Journey). What lessons can you draw from those moments? You can either lead with those moments as a story or headline the section and tell the story after.

Each piece of advice is the headline for the section with the content that follows illuminating the advice. You can also go the opposite way and tell a story and conclude the lesson from it.

Each lesson doesn’t need to be the same length—for some, you’ll have more to say than others and that’s OK.

Why 3-7? It’s a starting point and there’s no real rhyme or reason. Three because many speeches are organized around threes. Seven is an upper limit to help keep the speech on the shorter side. Go with what feels right to you.

When it’s appropriate:

You’ll find advice-based speeches most often at retirements, promotions, birthday parties, and occasionally weddings. Usually the person giving the advice is much wiser, experienced, or older, than the people listening.

For example, a father of the bride may be giving marriage advice to the new couple. Or a fire chief is giving advice to a room of candidates upon their graduation from training. Or someone is celebrating 50 years on this earth and wants to give advice to those a bit younger in the audience.

Story Based:

Story-based speeches lead with a story rather than a set of lessons. Sometimes they blend with the advice version but not all stories are told as moral warnings. Some are told to show someone’s great character or a touching moment.

How to do this form:

Story-based speeches can be a series of vignettes or they can be one long complete story. Think first about the values and character of the person you’re honoring and find the stories that demonstrate those. You might have a few stories or one really good one.

Steve Jobs’ Stanford commencement address is a great example of the form–he tells three stories and makes a connection between each one.

When they’re appropriate:

Almost always. This is the most popular way of giving a toast where you talk about the great stories of a person and use those to help make your point.

However, you’ll find them most often in wedding toasts where you get to hear great stories of the groom and bride. Other times, when honoring someone at their retirement or birthday party, you’ll want to tell stories that illuminate their best qualities.

How do you tell the difference between story-based and advice-based? Aren’t they two sides of the same coin?

Yes, they can be. As you’ll notice in the retirement speech, it’s advice and story driven. That’s fine. The goal in making the distinction is that you won’t always have advice to give after a story or the point of the story may be for laughter or sentimentality. You can end a story with lessons that you learned or what impressed you the most about it, but you just don’t have to. Plus, you probably won’t headline a story with its advice and values, “Now let me tell you about the time when John showed courage.” Let the story imply what was shown and draw the details after.

These structures aren’t rigid and can be mixed and matched.

Thank you based:

Someone out there wrote some speech advice that’s mostly correct: Don’t fill the opening of a speech with thank-yous nor the whole thing. That’s almost right.

A thank-you based speech, when done correctly, can work. Instead of headlining each section with advice as seen above, come up with whom you are thankful for and why. Use each person or group as a headline.

Within each one, give words of thanks, tell short stories, and use that as an opportunity to thank them.

When appropriate:

You’ll find this type of speech most appropriate when you are the center of attention for an award or other occasion where many people helped you get to the big day.

You’re receiving an award; you are graduating at the top of your class; you are celebrating a birthday surrounded by friends and family and they all had an impact on you.

Extended Metaphor:

This is the trickiest to pull off but it can be powerful when done correctly. Take a look at this award acceptance speech from Audra Lawlor at Girl Meets Dirt . It doesn’t fit neatly into any of the categories above, but look at how it’s giving lessons and telling a story all at once.

Can you mix and match?

Yes, and that’s what makes each toast unique. In the body of your toast, you can have a part where you tell great stories about the person you’re honoring and then offer a few words of advice to the crowd.

You can thank specific people who helped you achieve a certain goal but then provide advice to the rest of the crowd.

Key takeaways:

• The body of your speech is where you get to tell stories, give advice, and give specific thank-yous to meaningful people in your life.
• You can choose to headline the sections with advice, story themes, or thank-yous or go the more subtle route, lead with a story, and then conclude with the takeaways you want for your audience.
• Many find it much easier to write the body of a speech first and then later worry about the opening and closing that will act as bookends on the speech. If you’re stuck here, go onto the next section and try the opening and closing parts and come back to the body.

Step 5: Editing–What if my speech is too long?

As promised, here’s how to edit your speech down if you feel that you have too much to say or you are way over in your allotted time and word count.

First, determine the funniest story and the most sentimental story–just tell those two as part of the story section in your speech. You ideally want both to balance each out–plus, sometimes a funny story is taken seriously by the audience and it just becomes sentimental.

Second, cut down any acknowledgments or thank-yous or cut the section entirely. You can make one or two acknowledgments if there’s a VIP in the room (like your CEO or the bride’s father) but cut out the number of people you are thanking.

Third, leave only the essential details in the story you’re telling. If there are extraneous characters that don’t matter much to the plot, take them out. Think of each story like a movie trailer–only add in the absolutely necessary details and let the audience fill in the rest.

Understanding the Importance of Preparation

You’ve heard the saying, right? “By failing to prepare, you’re preparing to fail.” Well, there’s a good reason why it’s become such a well-known phrase. The concept holds true, particularly when you’re about to give a toast. Preparation is not merely a task to check off the list; it’s an essential step that frames the success of your toast. Let’s dive into why that is.

Firstly, thorough preparation can boost your confidence. By taking the time to write, review, and rehearse your speech, you become familiar with the ins and outs of your message. You understand the sequence of your thoughts, the balance of humor, and solemnity. You even prepare for possible reactions from your audience.

Especially when you are nervous, being prepared can act as an anchor, providing you with a sense of certainty and control. Wouldn’t it be comforting to know exactly where you’re taking your audience on this small journey of a toast?

Preparation also enables you to master the technical aspects of your toast. It gives you time to adjust the length of your speech fitting into the event’s schedule or structure the content for clarity and impact. It allows you to anticipate interruptions, manage contingencies, and execute impeccable timing. In simple words, preparation puts you in control of your toast.

Also, while spontaneity has its charm, a toast is not an ideal opportunity for winging it. Wit and eloquence are often born from well-crafted preparation, and, let’s face it, the risk failing in front of a crowd isn’t precisely appealing, is it?

Lastly, by investing time in preparation, you’re also showing respect to your audience. It demonstrates that you value their time and attention, that you wanted to offer them a well-thought-out message, rather than a hastily conjured jumble of words. In a sense, a perfectly prepared toast is a gift, wrapped up in your goodwill and best intentions.

Crafting the Perfect Opening Line

You’re standing in front of an expectant crowd, your heart is pounding, but it’s your moment to shine. How do you capture their attention from your very first word? That’s where the importance of the perfect opening line comes into play. But where do you start?

Getting it right isn’t rocket science, but it’s indeed an art—a mixture of wit, sensitivity, timing, and just the right measure of confidence. If crafted right, the opening line will set the tone, engage your audience, and smoothly transition them into the body of your toast.

Top tip: Start by building a connection. Ask yourself, how can you bring everyone into a shared moment? A good starting point is to introduce yourself, especially when not everyone knows who you are. Yet, be brief—you’re not the focus, remember?

Setting the Right Tone for Your Toast

Let’s talk about tone, shall we? The tone of your toast can make or break the whole event. It’s that instrumental part of your speech that sets the atmosphere, guides the audience’s emotions, and helps to deliver your message as intended.

Now you might wonder, how do you actually set a tone? Well, it all begins with understanding the event and its purpose. Is it a joyous wedding celebration? Or an in-depth tribute to an accomplished colleague’s career? Or perhaps a bittersweet farewell to a beloved friend moving afar? Once you’ve got the event’s rhythm, you’re halfway there to setting the appropriate tone.

Humor? Of course, it’s a wonderful ice-breaker! But humor must align with the event’s spirit and the audience’s expectations. Be sensitive to the cultural, age, and background diversities of the attendees. The best toasts are those that can connect universally, yet feel extraordinarily personal to everyone listening.

But what if the occasion is serious? No problem! A serious tone can be exceptionally powerful if handled well. Your speech doesn’t have to be a monotone eulogy. Try to break up the solemn atmosphere with moments of levity, anecdotes that light up faces, or sprinkle a little light-hearted wisdom now and then. The key is balance, reminding us all that even in moments of grief or solemnity, life remains full of love, hope, and unexpected joys.

Now, a bit of caution, please. While setting the tone, you must stay genuine. Remember? Emotions are contagious. If you’re not feeling it, neither will your audience. So, engage from a place of empathy and authenticity; let your feelings guide your words.

Confused about how to blend it all? Let’s resort to an old friend – practice . Practice your speech as much as you can until you find the ‘tone’ that feels right.

In the end, whether your toast is humorous, heartfelt, solemn, or celebratory, the tone should echo the event’s spirit, resonate with the audience’s emotions, and most importantly be authentic to you. Remember, there’s no ‘one size fits all’ strategy for giving good toasts. Your tone is unique to you, your relationship with the honoree, and the occasion itself. Master this, and you’re one step closer to giving a toast that’s hard to forget.

Telling a Compelling Story or Anecdote

Ever wondered why we remember stories better than mere facts or figures? It’s because stories engage our emotions and ignite our imaginations, allowing us to visualize and connect with what’s being said. So, what about making your toast a story worth remembering?

The first thing to do? Find the heartfelt or memorable moments that have left an imprint. Maybe it was a shared experience, a humorous incidence, or a turning point in the life of the person or persons being toasted. These moments don’t necessarily have to be monumental. Sometimes, it’s the little things that resonate most, the ones that capture a person’s character or the essence of a shared relationship. Telling a compelling story is a great way to express sincere affection and gratitude for the person being toasted.

Once you’ve chosen your story, craft it effectively. Remember, every good story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. The beginning should hook your listeners, setting up the story you’re about to tell with a simple formula. This could be based on the context of the toast, an interesting snippet about the person, or a quote that encapsulates the mood or theme of your story. The middle is where you detail the incident, capturing the meaningful aspects in vivid, engaging detail. Finally, bring it all home with a heartfelt end that connects the story back to the reason for the toast.

But what if you’re not a born storyteller? Don’t worry; we all have it in us to tell compelling tales. Here’s a simple structure to guide you:

• Set the scene: Start by describing the setting, time, place, and the people involved to draw your listeners in.
• Present the event: What happened? Include enough detail to make it real, but not too much to bore your audience.
• Show the impact: How did the event affect you or the person you’re toasting? This helps to make your story relatable and showcases the depth of your shared experiences.
• Wrap it up: Integrate the story into the context of the toast by adding a comment or moral at the end that encompasses why this story resonates.

One crucial aspect to remember is to keep your story authentic. Being true to the experiences and the personalities involved makes your toast genuine and impactful. In the end, you won’t just be telling a story; you’ll be creating a beautiful memory that people can carry with them. Now, who wouldn’t raise a toast to that? Remember, this is a toast, not a roast, so keep the humor light and appropriate.

Using Humor to Connect with Your Audience

When you’re trying to make a memorable toast, humor can be an incredibly powerful tool. A well-placed joke or a funny anecdote can lighten the mood, disarm your audience, and make you more relatable. Who doesn’t love a good laugh, right?

Let’s get this straight, though. When I talk about humor, I don’t mean you need to transform into a stand-up comedian. No, you just need to share a funny, amusing moment, maybe an inside joke that everyone in the room can relate to or a light-hearted story that puts a smile on their faces.

But how do you do this effectively?

• Understand Your Audience: The first step in using humor in your toast is understanding your audience. What makes them laugh? What kind of humor do they appreciate? Remember, what’s funny to one group may not necessarily be funny to another.
• Timing is Essential: Just like comedic performances, timing in humor is everything when giving a toast. A well-timed punchline can transform a simple narrative into an unforgettable piece of humor.
• Be Authentic: Authenticity breeds connection. Try to share personal humorous stories or jokes that you find funny. Your sincere laughter can be infectious and could lead to a shared moment of mirth with your audience.
• Less is More: A brief touch of humor in your toast can work wonders. You don’t have to overload your script with jokes. Instead, let the levity arise naturally from the story or the situation.

Importantly, always remember to stay respectful and understanding. Humor should be an instrument of unity, not division. Avoid controversial, offensive, or polarizing jokes. Keep it light, keep it fun, and most importantly—keep it ‘you’!

To conclude, humor can be a powerful tool when toastmastering. It can connect you with your audience, enlighten the atmosphere, and make your speech memorable. It may require a bit of practice, and you might not get it right the first time. But don’t worry. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Remember, each time you give a toast, it’s a learning experience, and with each stroke, you’re painting a masterpiece of your journey as a public speaker. So, shall we raise a glass to humor in toasts?

Adding Personal Touches to Your Toast

Being personal is the lifeblood of any good toast. It’s not just about sharing information or entertaining the audience; it’s about forming a connection, a bond that links your words to the hearts of those present. So, how do you achieve this touch of personalization, and with finesse at that?

First off, be authentic. There’s something incredibly powerful about being genuine – it’s appealing, relatable and simply hard to dislike. When you’re delivering your toast, speak from the heart. Share personal anecdotes, bring out genuine emotions and do so with sincerity. Remember, the audience can feel your authenticity, and it acts as a magnet, drawing them into your message.

Remember: “Speak genuinely, and your words will hold a charm only the truth can lend.”

Next, relate to your audience. You’re giving a toast, not a lecture. Therefore, the people in the room aren’t just passive receivers; they are part of your conversation. Mention mutual experiences, speak in terms familiar to the group, and use ‘we’ instead of ‘I.’ Relating in your toast ensures that your points resonate with the audience and holds their attention more effectively. And once you’ve connected with the audience, it’s time to hit the dance floor and celebrate together.

Lastly, incorporate elements of surprise. This might be an interesting fact about the person you’re toasting, a behind-the-scenes story, or a perspective that other people haven’t heard before. A touch of surprise not only keeps the audience engaged but adds that intrigue that makes your toast memorable.

Quick Recap:

• Be Authentic: Speak from the heart, lets your sincerity shine through.
• Relate to your Audience: Use mutual experiences and inclusive pronouns.
• Incorporate Elements of Surprise: An unexpected fact or story adds intrigue.

By sprinkling these personal touches throughout your toast, you’re not just speaking, you’re captivating, and you’re not just being heard, but truly felt. And isn’t that the essence of a good toast?

Including Meaningful Quotes or Poetry

There’s something profoundly powerful about a right quote or a nugget of poetry in a toast. They have a way of embedding deep wisdom in a few lines, aren’t they? But you might be wondering, how do you incorporate them into your toast? Do you worry if quotes might overshadow your original thoughts? No worries, we’re going to delve into that together.

First off, ensure that any quote or poem you want to use is spot-on and serves a purpose. Relevance is key . Is there a favorite quote of the person you’re toasting? Does a particular piece of poetry reflect the essence of the occasion? Use these questions as a guide.

Perhaps, you’re afraid that a borrowed wisdom might steal the show, leaving your original thoughts in the shade. Well, it’s not about stealing the limelight, but rather about illuminating the theme of your toast. It’s okay if a quote steals the show for a moment; after all, you’re the director, aren’t you?

“You don’t have to write everything from scratch, even light is borrowed.” – Anonymous

See what we did there? Quotes can provide a poignant pause, a moment of reflection in the bustling toast-party. And if you weave it seamlessly into your narrative, it actually lends more depth to your message.

Honestly, incorporating poetry can be a bit tricky, especially if it’s lengthy. But here’s a tip – use excerpts that are punchy and hit home. Avoid long poems unless you’re confident you can keep your audience enthralled. Always remember, you’re not reciting poetry for a literature class, but giving a toast.

Lastly, before including a quote or poem, make sure you attribute it to the rightful author. It’s a sign of respect and authenticity. Not to forget, it saves you from committing a social faux pas!

So, are you starting to see how meaningful quotes or poetry can add an extra layer of sophistication to your toast? As the cherry tops the cake, a well-placed quote or verse could be that special something to uplift your toast from good to extraordinary. But remember, the quote or poetry is not the star of the show – you are, and the people you’re toasting to!

Structuring Your Toast for Maximum Impact

Structuring the perfect toast isn’t as simple as throwing together a few words and hoping for the best. It requires careful planning and a clear understanding of the various elements that make a good toast. You see, the structure of your toast, or how it’s arranged, plays a crucial role in delivering your message effectively, leaving an impact and capturing the heart of your audience. Let’s dive into some actionable steps you can take to go about this.

Firstly, you have to start with a bang . Remember the old adage: first impressions matter. Your opening line should be engaging enough to grab your audience’s attention and interesting enough to keep it. A great quote, a short anecdote, or a surprising fact can do wonders by providing a readymade hook.

After your captivating opening, navigate to the body of the toast . Here is the place to insert the bulk of your message, whether it’s a heartfelt sentiment, a shared memory, or an inspiring quote. Just remember to keep it concise, relevant, and compelling. A good rule of thumb is to include only elements that contribute to the main theme of your toast.

Finally, nail your toast with a memorable conclusion. Your final sentence should be powerful and resonate long after you’ve returned to your seat. Endings which tie back to the beginning often have maximum impact and create a satisfying sense of closure. And of course, don’t forget to raise your glass, propose the toast, and take a sip at the end.

K.I.S.S. – Keep It Short and Simple – My personal mantra for a well-structured toast. Delivering a concise, well-organized toast can be more effective in getting your message across than a lengthy, disorganized one. Remember, you’re aiming for quality over quantity.

Now, the question might arise, how can you ensure that your toast follows this structure? One effective approach is to write an outline beforehand. Think of it as a blueprint for your toast. This will not only provide a visual representation of your toast’s structure but also helps you stay on track, preventing you from veering off-topic.

In conclusion, structuring your toast effectively is integral to delivering a successful toast. With a strong opening, a compelling body, and a memorable conclusion, you’ll be well on your way to crafting a toast that leaves a lasting impression.

Using Body Language to Enhance Your Toast

Have you ever watched a public speaker who just seemed to captivate the room with their presence? Chances are, that wasn’t just the subject matter of their speech – much of it likely had to do with their body language. Sure, words matter, but what can make them truly spellbinding is how they’re delivered. That’s right, the way you stand, move, and gesticulate during your toast can significantly enhance its overall effect. So, how do we go about this you might wonder?

Firstly, you’ve got to understand that body language is a means of communication. Subtle changes in your posture, gestures, or facial expressions can send a powerful message. And just like language itself, body language can be fluent and impactful if practiced and understood. So, let’s decode this language of the body, right?

Mastering your Posture

Consider this: you’re about to give a toast, and you slump into the microphone, feet shuffling, shoulders hunched. Do you think the audience would be convinced of your confidence or engaged in your speech? Probably not. A strong, upright, and relaxed posture not only enhances your voice projection but also conveys a sense of confidence. Remember, you’ve got to own the room!

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. This stance provides a stable base, makes you appear grounded, and prevents unnecessary swaying. Keep your spine straight, but don’t become a rigid statue. Casual movement, if natural and unforced, can make your toast feel more personal and engaging.

The Power of Gestures

We’re all prone to using hand gestures when we speak – it’s a natural byproduct of our desire to emphasize what we’re saying. Use this to your advantage! You can employ gestures to emphasize key points, express enthusiasm, or even prompt laughter. It’s a little like conducting an orchestra: your words come to life with the aid of your hands.

While large, dramatic gestures might be suitable for the stage, in a toast scenario, keep it focused and meaningful. Remember, the objective is not to draw attention to your gestures but to use them to reinforce what you’re saying.

Facial Expressions Speak Volumes

Your face is the most expressive part of your body. Whether it be a slight smirk or a furrowed brow, facial expressions can dramatically enhance the sentiments conveyed in your speech. A genuine smile, as simple as it may sound, can create engagement and impart warmth to your audience. Trust me; authenticity goes a long way!

The takeaway here is that thoughtful use of body language can elevate your toast from a mundane monologue to an engaging performance. Whether it’s a wedding toast or a farewell speech, remember, body language is a powerful tool – so why not hone it to your advantage?

Engaging Your Audience with Eye Contact

Let me reiterate a crucial point here: Eye contact is a powerful tool when engaging your audience. It doesn’t matter whether you’re speaking to a group of five or five hundred; eye contact can strengthen your connection with your listeners and command their attention.

Consider this – remember the last time someone held your gaze during a conversation? It made you feel interesting and heard, right? The same is true when you’re toasting.

By looking into people’s eyes, you’re saying without words: “I respect you. I value your presence. The words I’m saying are important to you too.” Let’s explore how to make the most of eye contact when delivering a toast.

Gauging Your Audience’s Reaction

If you want to really connect and engage with your audience, watch their reactions . As you make eye contact with different people during your toast, you can gather valuable feedback. If they seem engaged and responsive, you’re on the right track. However, if they seem unsettled or disinterested, it may be time to adjust your delivery, lighten the mood, or make a joke. Remember, your audience’s reactions are your guide.

Maintaining a Balance

Though eye contact is essential, there’s a fine balance to consider. Staring too intently might make your audience feel uncomfortable. On the other hand, fleeting or absent eye contact could give the impression that you’re insincere or nervous. The key is in finding the balance – aim for honest and steady eye contact that communicates your respect and appreciation.

Incorporating Eye Contact Naturally

Of course, the trick here is to incorporate eye contact naturally and not rigidly. Look at someone, smile, connect with your eyes, then naturally move on to someone else. Don’t worry too much about ensuring you make eye contact with everyone. It’s not about playing crowd bingo; it’s about making meaningful connections. Focus on making quality eye contact, not quantity.

So there you have it. Eye contact: easy to understand, a bit trickier to master, but oh-so effective once you do. It’s your subtle superpower in winning hearts and minds when giving a good toast. Master it, and you’re well on your way to achieving toasting greatness.

Managing Nerves and Overcoming Stage Fright

Do the bright lights and constant glances make you tremble whenever you take the stage? It’s completely understandable, even the most experienced speakers suffer from stage fright. But guess what, it’s nothing you can’t conquer.

The trick is to breathe and believe. Inhale deep, exhale slow. That little exercise right there can do wonders to your raging nerves. But that’s not all. Visualizing success, often termed ‘positive mental imagery’, can do wonders as well. Picture yourself on that stage, delivering that unforgettable toast. How does it feel? Pretty spectacular, isn’t it?

This isn’t your typical mumbo jumbo, in fact, many professional athletes and famous performers swear by these techniques. So, what’s stopping you? Try it out and see the magic unfold.

The Art of Overcoming Stage Fright

Stage fright can be a major obstacle that prevents you from delivering a memorable toast. Let’s delve into some strategies that can help you to overcome it effectively:

• Prepare: Nothing beats good preparation. Rehearse your speech, learn it inside and out until the words become second nature. Rehearsing ‘outloud’ and ‘in the open’ can escalate the comfort level you have with your speech.
• Accept and Reframe: It is important to understand and accept that nerves are natural, they come and go. Instead of considering nerves as a negative factor impacting your performance, reframe them as an indication of your enthusiasm and commitment.
• Focus on the Message: Your primary goal is to deliver your message effectively and engage with your audience. Shifting your attention to the significance of your speech, rather than on your fear, will help you ease down.
• Engage with Audience: Find friendly faces and make eye contact. Engage your audience early-on to establish a connection which often helps to settle any leftover nerves.

Remember, fear is just a mind game and luckily, you hold the winning cards. Embrace those nerves and redirect them to enhance your performance. Because let’s face it, there’s nothing like a little adrenaline to get the show going. It’s your stage, own it!

Next time anxiousness comes knocking before an important toast, refer back to these points. After all, remember the unforgettable words of Mark Twain, “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear.”

Toast Etiquette: Dos and Don’ts to Keep in Mind

Let’s dive right in, shall we? Toasting is an art, undeniably, but it also comes with its fair share of rules or, to put it more gently, etiquette. You’ll want to pay attention to these ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ to avoid stepping on toes or leaving your audience less appreciative of your toasting prowess.

First and foremost, let’s focus on the dos .

• Respect your time limit : To avoid rambling on and potentially boring your audience, remember that a toast is a short speech, not a marathon. Say what you need to say succinctly and with maximum effect.
• Rehearse beforehand : Preparation is key – rehearsal helps iron out creases and makes delivery smoother. Have a run-through, or even a few, refining your words and delivery each time.
• Show appreciation and honor : Remember to show gratitude and appreciate those you are toasting. This is, after all, the primary goal of a toast.
• Speak from the heart : Genuine sincerity is crucial. While you can draw inspiration from other sources, ensure your toast is authentic and comes from your heart.
• Engage the audience : Make eye contact, invoke humor where appropriate, and aim to connect with your audience. Make them feel part of the toast rather than just spectators.

Just as important as the dos are the don’ts . Here they are:

• Avoid inappropriate language or content : A toast is a public and formal address. Therefore, offensive language and inappropriate content are off bounds. If in doubt, err on the side of caution and cut it out.
• Don’t embarrass anyone : A toast is not the time for retelling embarrassing stories or making anyone feel uncomfortable. Keep it friendly and respectful.
• Don’t wing it : Preparation comes in again here – avoid making your toast look like an afterthought by being prepared and well-rehearsed.
• Don’t make it about you : While it’s your toast, remember it’s not about you. Center your speech on the person or event you are celebrating.
• Avoid being overly emotional or dramatic : Keep your emotions in check and avoid turning your toast into a teary spectacle or dramatic performance.

Finally, remember, the ultimate goal is to honor someone or celebrate something special. Remain focused on that, and you’ll stand a good chance of mastering the art of toasting.

The Aftermath: Following Up and Expressing Gratitude

So, you’ve delivered an exquisite toast, turning the atmosphere brimming with cheer and adulation. Yet, believe it or not, your job isn’t quite done. The aftermath of the toast offers a unique opportunity to further deepen relationships and consolidate the goodwill you’ve generated. Wondering how? Let’s dig in.

First off, look around – who seems particularly moved or joyful after your toast? Approach these people. Engage them in conversation. Hear what they have to say. You see, follow-up conversations can often reveal aspects of your toast that resonated with your audience, providing you with crucial insights into what worked and what didn’t.

Another important aspect is expressing gratitude — to those who helped you prepare, and to those who had the patience to listen. When it comes to saying thank you, don’t just stop at a blanket “thanks everyone.” Be specific. Call out people by name. Mingle, shake hands, give out compliments, honor those who influenced you, or inspired sections of your toast. Personal interactions like these go a long way in creating lasting bonds. Additionally, it is important to speak highly of the guest of honor and express gratitude for their presence and impact on the event.

Lastly, take time to evaluate your performance. Reflect on your delivery and the response you garnered. Although it may seem daunting at times, don’t shy away from considering criticisms, should they be presented. Remember that every toast you deliver is a stepping stone towards your growth as a speaker — and it’s up to you to extract the solid learning from each experience.

Now you might be thinking, “do I really need to do all this?” Well, you don’t need to do anything. But isn’t it worth taking just a few extra steps if they enhance your connection with your audience, refine your skills, and most importantly, make the entire experience even more meaningful? I’ll let you answer that one.

So, here’s to mastering the art of the toast aftermath. To conversations and connections. To gratitude and growth. Your journey towards becoming an exceptional toastmaster doesn’t end with the applause — it’s in what happens thereafter that counts, too.

Whether you’re raising a toast for a milestone birthday, an anniversary or professional achievement, the knack lies in understanding your subject and your audience. Refine your thoughts, conjure up compelling stories, pepper them with relevant humor, and add a dash of personal touch. Just remember, sincerity is key.

But remember, mastering the art of toastmaking isn’t solely about the words you speak. It’s about engaging your audience, managing your nerves, understanding the nuances of body language, and putting in the time to prepare meticulously.

It’s also about the aftermath of the toast. Yes, you were witty, captivating, appreciative, and engaging, but there’s something to be said about following up and expressing gratitude in the days that follow. Because it’s not just about one speech, but the legacy of good feelings that that speech leaves behind.

Remember, every great toastmaster had to start somewhere. So, take these lessons, tips, and advice to heart. Tackle your fears head on, and give that toast that will be remembered fondly for years to come. As you embark on this entertaining journey of mastering the art of the toast, commit to finding joy in the process and tapping into the power and potential of public speaking that you’ll discover within yourself. Here’s to your journey to becoming an exceptional toastmaster!

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22 Toast Speech

Here’s to those that love us! And for those that do not love us, may God turn their hearts. And if he cannot turn their hearts, may he turn their ankles; so that we may know them, by their limping. Irish Blessing/Curse

Cheers ,  slainte ,  skal ,  prost , and  salud ! A toast speech is a type of tribute speech meant to honor someone. Your goal as a speaker should be to make that person feel special and to allow others in the room to be included in the celebration.

Ceremonial Speaking Wheel

All ceremonial speeches should include the trio –narration, magnification, and identification.

Identification

When thinking about your toast, don’t just think about the person you are toasting but about everyone in the room and think about how to bring them into your speech.  Saying “we” are here to honor the recipient and reminding the audience of shared values helps the audience to be a part of the process.  Say things that invite the audience in several times throughout the speech.

Wedding Toast Instead of saying:  Amy and I played Barbie as children and always made sure that Barbie found her perfect soulmate. Say : As many of you know, Amy and I played Barbie for hours as children.  What you may not know is we always made sure that Barbie found her perfect soulmate.

———-

Graduation Toast Instead of saying: I wish you the best in your journey ahead as you graduate and start your new career. Say: We here, your family and friends, all wish you the best in your journey ahead as you graduate and start your new career

Retirement Toast Instead of saying: Dad, I was so happy you let me come and play in your office even if I ran your stapler out of staples by shooting them at the invisible villains that were hiding under your desk. Say: As many of you here now, dad would sometimes let me come to work with him.  And while most of you thought that I was the perfect little bosses’ kids, you may not have known that I was really a super hero executing the invisible villain that I found in dads desk. I killed it with all the staples from dad’s stapler.

The use of story helps the audience to be drawn in and want to listen. In short toasts, you can tell a series of one-sentence stories. In larger toasts, you can tell one long story or numerous little stories. Tell your story in a way that the audience relives the moment with you.

Magnification

Take a trait of the individual and magnify it. I’m not talking about superfluous embellishment; I’m talking about honest elaboration. For example, you might talk about

• Triumph over obstacles
• Unusual accomplishment
• Superior performance
• Unselfish motive
• Benefit to society
• The greatness of a simple thing

Now you know of the key elements that should be in your speech, let’s talk about the process of building a toast, writing a toast, and delivering a toast.

Gather the Details

What type of toast is it.

Always adapt your toast to the occasion: Wedding, graduation, retirement, business celebration, award celebration, birthday.

Who will attend?

You will give a different speech to your old college roommate on his birthday if it is just you and the gang versus if his conservative parents are in the room. It will be an even different speech if his new employer is present.  Remember, a toast is not just about the person being celebrated but it is about others in the room.  As you write your toast, keep imagining the key people present at the event.

Are there expectations about how long the toast will be?  It is always good to ask. It can be awkward if there are several people toasting and each gives a five-minute toast and you have prepared only a two-minute toast. Typically wedding-type toasts, retirement toasts, and graduation toasts are longer speeches and people speak from notes.  On the other hand, shorter toasts are usually memorized

Sit down and just start jotting ideas.  Think of your brain as a water faucet. You are not going to get any water until you turn the thing on. Many people complain they can’t think of ideas, but they never actually turn on the idea faucet. Think of brainstorming as turning those ideas on and getting your creative juices flowing.   Start brainstorming ideas and memories one day and then give it a day or two to think about more memories.

When I turn off my faucet at home, there are usually a few drips that happen as the rest of the water gets out of the line. Think of your brain that way. Give it time to drip out the last ideas and be there to catch them. They just might be the best ideas of all. Some people find if they brainstorm before bed that they wake up with the best ideas. Always assume that you will forget your ideas, so write them down as soon as you think of them.

For more on brainstorming

  Sit Down and Write

At this point, just get your ideas down. Put down more ideas than you will use.  Allow yourself to write down some cheesy things—by cheesy, I mean those ideas that are silly, extreme, or not right for the occasion. Just go with it. Write those cheesy ideas down, maybe you will use this somehow but probably not. Most importantly, the creative ideas are hiding in your brain behind the cheesy ones and if you don’t get the cheesy ideas out of the way, you will never get to the next level.

Now. Let’s think about that faucet again. Imagine there is something clogging it. You have to put some pressure on it so you can get it working. I like to think of cheesy ideas as that clog in the line. I have to get the cheesy clog out of the way by giving my mind permission to go there and once that line is clear. I need to be ready for all the great ideas that will come out in force after the clog comes out.

Taking It to The Professional Level

If you want to give your toast the professional edge, try using a theme and then adding in some parallel construction. In this next section, I will show you how that works.

Use a Theme

Pick a theme for your toast and carry it throughout the whole toast. I like to think of the theme as the container that holds the speech together.

For example, Drew gave a best man speech and used the theme of a road trip. He told stories of him and his best friend and their adventures (at least the adventures you the ones that you can tell when mom is in the room). He talked about fighting over which music is played, he told stories about bathroom breaks, and he confessed that his friend was always getting lost. These were fun stories and by hearing them we could all imagine the friendship they shared. In his speech, he told us that whoever was in the passenger seat was called the “roundtrip captain.” He gave the new bride advice on how to navigate the relationship since he knew so much about his friend from all these road trips. The speech wrapped up with Drew telling the bride that she was the map reader now and he passed to her the title of “road trip captain.”

Erin gave a graduation toast to her family members who supported her through college. She used the theme of climbing hills. It was the perfect theme since the University of Arkansas campus that she graduated from seems to be arranged so everything is uphill–both ways.  She talked about walking the hills both physically and symbolically. In her speech, she talked about how beautiful the view is from the top. She wrapped up her speech by saying now that she is graduated how she has new hills to climb.

Keep in mind the theme is just the container.  If you have only a container, it will seem cliché and sound like a cheap greeting card. The theme is not the speech, it is the container that holds your many stories.  Make sure to develop those stories.

Use Parallel Construction

Parallel construction is where you take one sentence and you repeat it. It lets you tell a lot of little stories in a short period.  Always have at least 3 sentences, keep them together, and try to give them rhythm.

Consider this format and how it might be used for the different toast types.

At a Wedding Toast

I remember when ___ I remember when ___ I remember when ___ I knew you were the “one” because… I knew you were the “one” because… I knew you were the “one” because…

At a Retirement Toast

Many of you know dad for selling insurance, but I know dad for selling me on the idea to go to college Many of you know dad for working long hours at the office, but I know dad for working long hours on school projects that I only mentioned to him the night before they were due. Many of you know dad as a business profession, but I know dad as my super hero. Many of you know dad for …., but I know dad for …. Many of you know dad for …., but I know dad for …. Many of you know dad for …., but I know dad for ….

TOAST PATTERNS

When picking a speech pattern for the toast, consider the audience and occasion. Many toasts are just one to two minutes while others can be five to seven minutes.

Short Toasts Pattern

• Let us raise our glass to… Today, I would like to recognize…
• Make a list of attributes/accomplishments of the person. With each statement there is a building sensation –each statement you make is better than the next.
•  Build to a climax. Create a building sensation using parallel construction.
• Raise your glass near the end.
• End with a poem, quote, or wish them well. (I really think a well-chosen quote makes these speeches special…it is worth the time to look for one to make it really special)

Note: Typically short toasts are memorized and longer toasts are written as a manuscript.

  Wedding Toasts Possible Patterns

Give Their New Spouse the Manual of How to Get Along with Them

• Tell a story or two about your friendship with your friend
• Tell a story about when your friend met the person they are marrying. What did they say about this person? What were your first impressions? Tell anything about the two of them together? What are they like as a couple? How do you know they are right for each other? Tell something you observe about them when they are together?
• Give the person advice on how to navigate life with your friend since you know them so well. Think of this as passing on the manual.

Three Stories

• Tell three stories about the couple.
• Maybe, how they met, the engagement, and a story they tell on themselves.
• Maybe, three ways you know they are in love.
• Maybe, three things you noticed about how they care for each other.

I Knew It Was Love…

• Tell five ways that you knew it was love. Tell a story attached to each of the ways
• Tell what your friend was like before and how they are better now than they are with the one they love.

Note: Never mention old girlfriend/boyfriends, never give away secrets to clueless family members (they are living together, that you and your friend snuck out in high school), and always keep it positive. You likely have inside information about the person you are toasting–their wedding is not the time to reveal it. 

Retirement Toast Possible Patterns

If you are a work colleague of the person retiring:

• These are the three things that set this person apart.
• These are the three things that I learned from this person.

If you are the child or the spouse of the person retiring:

• Talk about what their career looked like from your position. How were they dedicated?
• How did it help you benefit from their job and friends? What did you learn from watching them work?

Note: It can be fun to use their job as the theme. For example, if the person is a coach make the whole speech in the theme of a game. If the person is in sales, use marketing terms to hold it together. If they collected something interesting that was displayed in the office, it lends itself to the theme.

Graduation Toast Possible Patterns

Looking back, looking ahead

• Tell a few stories about them before graduation and tell what you expect to see in the future.

We’ve come through a lot together, Here’s some advice for your next step.

• Tell stories of your relationship, how that relationship talks about character attributes that led them to graduate.
• Give advice on how to navigate the next step.

Top Ten List

• Ten things you need to know about (surviving college, having your first real job, etc.).
• This can be especially fun coming from the sibling that is in college to the one headed to college.
• Top ten things you learned in school that you can use in life.
• Top ten things about you that will make you successful.

Let Us Not Forget

• A series of memories that you and most of the group present share. Great for a group of friends
• Find some great meaning to it all. What did it all mean? what did you learn?

Note: It can be fun to use their major, their future job, or their hobbies as the theme. 

Anniversary Toast Patterns

• Maybe how they met, the engagement, and a story they tell on themselves.
• Tell five ways that you knew it was love and tell a story attached to each of the ways. Interview five of their friends and tell the five stories from their friends about love.

How They Taught You What Love Is

• What have you learned by watching them love each other well?

A Biography of Love

• Tell a story about their love when they met when they overcame when they did things together.
• Tell a timeline of love events and stories about every major milestone.

Ending a Toast Speech

Typically, a toast speech ends with a thoughtful saying, witty quote, or poem.  There are many toast websites with great one-liners or short poems you can use to end a toast. If it is a longer toast, consider using a theme and connecting the ending with the theme.

“May misfortunes chase you all of your life and never catch up.” “As you slide down the banister of life may the splinters never point the wrong way.”

Short, Short Toasts

There may be times you are called to give a quick, one to three-sentence toast. It is a good idea to have a few memorized quotes ready that can be woven into a short, short toast.

Here is to those who’ve seen us at our best and seen us at our worst and can’t tell the difference. May you live for as long as you want, and never want for as long as you live! May we get what we want, but never what we deserve. May you always lie, cheat, and steal. Lie beside the one you love, cheat the devil, and steal away from bad company. Here’s to friends and family who know us well but love us just the same. Let us drink to bread, for without bread, there would be no toast. “Here’s to that long straight piece in Tetris.”

Toast Etiquette

How Do You Hold the Glass?

Both wine and champagne glasses should be held by the stem, not by the bowl. “You should always hold the glass by the stem, no matter what the shape or size of the glass or the type of wine,” says Michael Greenlee, the sommelier and wine director of Gotham Bar and Grill, in New York City. “The most common mistake I see in restaurants and at dinner parties is people holding a wineglass by the bowl.”

Three reasons to hold the glass by the stem: 

• The glass is pretty;  you don’t want your fingerprints to mess it up.
• Putting your hand on the glass would block seeing the color of the wine or block your ability to watch the bubbles dance in the champagne.
• White wine and champagne are chilled, and red wine is served a room temperature. The temperature influences the taste and your hands on the glass will warm up the beverage and change it from its optimal temperature.

What Do You Do When Listening to a Toast?

Those who are listening to someone being toasted should hold their glass when the toast is being made.  At the end of the toast, listeners should raise their glasses, tilt the glass towards the person being toasted, and then take a sip.

What Do You Do If You Are the One Being Toasted?

When you are being toasted, you should sit and listen.  Smile and nod to let the person toasting know you are listening. You should not hold or lift your glass.  Once the toast is over and everyone has had a sip, then you may nod and/or say, “Thank You.”  One of the more common questions I get is, “Do I drink to myself?” and the answer is “no, you do not drink to yourself.”

Should We Clink our Glasses?

Check five different etiquette specialists and you will get five different answers. Some groups clink and some groups don’t clink. It is best to take your lead from those with the highest power of those in the center of the event. For example, if you have dinner with your co-workers and your boss is present, see what the boss does. If you are at a wedding, see what the head table does and copy.

The larger the group, the less likely there will be glass touching because it is difficult to touch everyone’s glasses. If you are in a clinking group, when you touch the bowl of the glasses together, you should always look them in the eye and smile.

“As with many of our food traditions, the clinking of glasses traces its root to the health and safety of the drinker. In this case, it goes back to the tendency of nobles to kill each other off by poisoning their food! Wine was very commonly drunk during medieval days because it was one of the only safe liquids available. Water was often polluted, and milk was both useful for other things and thought to be for children only. As the wine was often full of sediment, a poison was easily introduced into it. To prove that his wine was safe, the host would pour a bit of his guest’s wine into his own glass and drink it first, to prove it was safe. If the guest trusted his host, however, he would merely clink his flagon against that of his host’s when his host offered his cup for the sample. The ‘clink’ (or perhaps ‘clunk’ back then, since wood or metal was more common for drinking vessels) was a sign of trust and honesty.” Text from Wineintro.  Clinking of Wine Glasses and Toasts. Retrieved March 28, 2008, from  http://www.wineintro.com/champagne/clinkglass.html

Toasting Rules

Hold up your glass while giving a toast.

Never toast with an empty glass, it is considered bad luck.

Always hold the glass by the stem.

Avoid getting the beautiful glasses smudged. That means, not touching the bowl. It also means sipping from the same place on the glass.

Always drink to the person being toasted. If you don’t take a sip then it means that you disagree with the nice things that were said about the person. If you are full of liquid or prefer not to sip the alcohol, just put your lips to the glass and fake it.

If you oversee the filling of the glasses, hold the wine bottle near the bottom and only fill glasses halfway up to give the wine room to breathe. Always offer wine to others before pouring your own wine.

In some regions, people will gently use a knife to tap the glass to bring the group to attention.

At some weddings, the quests may tap their glasses to mean the bride and groom should kiss.

Brainstorm About Your Person

Read through these questions and try to answer them about your person. Not all the questions will relate, and that is OK. That question may trigger an unrelated memory that you can use.

Story What is the story of the two of you as children? What is the first memory you have of this person? How did you meet? What is the story of the two of you as teens? What is the story of the two of you as adults? What is an adventure you had together? When did you do something involving this person that didn’t work out as planned? What is a story that is often told about this person? What is a struggle this person has overcome or a story of where you overcame together? What story will history remember about this person? What story will you tell your kids one day? Why is this person special to you in a way that no one else knows? When did you and this person make a difficult situation fun? How have you seen this person grow?

Stuff What do they collect? What are their hobbies? What types of things are important to them? (Pets, cars, shoes) What are they known for having? (Name brand clothes, a great boat) What does their house/car/backpack say about them? What do you have of theirs that means a lot to you? How is their favorite movie, favorite superhero, favorite song a reflection of them?

The Person What are the physical characteristics that become part of their persona (Tall, big feet, curly hair)? What are they known for emotionally (being kind, being passionate, being stubborn)? What are the phrases they say often? What are they famous for? (Cooking, getting lost)

Relationship How did you meet? What has kept your relationship with this person going? What has been the highlight of the relationship? What do their friends say about them?

Wedding Toast

When and how did they meet? What were your first impressions of them as a couple? What did your friend say about the first time they met? If you were given three wishes for them as a couple, what would they be?

Toast Speech Samples from College Students Toasting Other College Students

Today, I would like to raise my glass (raise your glass) to by the far the most gifted athlete in our class. She showed us what it takes to be a student athlete at the University of Arkansas. She opened up her heart and shared the stories about her mother with us. I know we were all touched. She taught us how to improve our puts and She taught us that golf can be fun. We even learned that even the best athletes get nervous sometimes. In the words of Roy, tin cup, McEvoy, “I hit it again because that shot was a defining moment, and when a defining moment comes along, you define the moment… or the moment defines you.” To Ana, may you always define the moment and not let it define you! I ask students to toast their classmates and to give reference to things that student has said or done in class, consider the following speech ending that references three of the student’s former speeches. Sean here this is to you for all you have given us. May your bike never fail you (reference to speech on changing a tire), May your sense of nature keep you wandering (reference to speech on camping) and may your lessons live on, in this lifetime and the next (reference to speech on missionary work).

To someone who Has opened her heart and mind to this class With hopes that they too will join in her efforts to serve God and humanity

To someone who Has made us all feel as if her papaw was our own Pitching and swinging the bat

To someone who Has made each person in this class believe As if we can make a difference in the world One Krispy Kreme doughnut at a time

Anne Frank said, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment Before starting to improve the world. “

To Haley, we toast to you (raise glass) For you have already begun improving the world.

Best Man Toasts the Couple by Joe Burlingame

Thank you all for gathering here tonight on the beautiful occasion to celebrate the love of Korey and Paola. My name is Joe Burlingame and I know many of you have traveled from long distances to be here and we are so grateful that y’all came. Since the lovely maid of honor spoke so highly of Paola I am going to try and make Korey seem like he is worthy.

When Korey told me that things were getting serious and that he was going to propose,

My initial reaction was “Woah, Korey I am flattered but I am perfectly content with being fraternity brothers,” but everybody knew he was talking about Paola. Korey and I’s relationship started about 5 years ago And to this day I remember my first impression–it was like any first impression when we first meet an accounting major/// Aw—wk–kward.

Our friendship though took off like a rocket ship, and before we knew it we were roommates up to the time he betrayed me and found a permanent roommate. I won’t say any names but she is in this room.

In the 4 years, I lived with Korey, I have found 3 things that make him the perfect roommate.

First, Korey loves spontaneous trips. Korey and I went to 6-7 concerts one semester. We only bought tickets in advance for one and that was because it was the one band I wanted to go see. The others were concerts that Korey had caught wind of last-minute and persuaded me to go. One concert, in particular, was the night of Korey and Paola’s first date. They had gone and got coffee and macaroons I think it was maybe an hour-long date. When he got back Korey talked about it as if they had spent a year with each other. Paola I knew then that you had to be special if you had him talking about you for that long.

Second, Korey is a humble servant. Korey if there is a characteristic that describes you it is being a humble servant. I would complain about how hot it was mowing our yard, but you would not only mow ours but our elderly neighbor’s yard as well. You thought you were invisible– I saw it all. Whether it be cleaning dishes, cooking, or constantly going to our neighbors to see if they needed anything done, you were a servant and  I was thankful for you.

Paola I am jealous, I am now going to have to clean and cook for myself now. Nik Birchfield said it best “Korey doesn’t just talk the talk but walks the walk”

Lastly, Korey is someone who is thoughtful. I remember when we first moved in Korey brought in this huge water jug of change and a little wooden chest, I asked what the heck is that for. He responded with “Man I plan on getting married and in order to get married you need a ring.” I was blown away– I never would have thought of that.

Paola I regret that we never really got to hang out. When I saw Korey take that jug of bills and come back with a ring and he started describing why he picked this specific ring out because it matched your characteristics I knew we would be friends.

Korey and I were roommates the night before he was going to pop the question. He practiced a lot with what he was going to say. I know because he practiced on me. I don’t know how many times we practiced the scenario but I could tell you that the words he was going to say to you were heartfelt and genuine

Paola I was able to have the perfect roommate for a few years, but now you will have the perfect roommate for life.

To Paola and Korey!

Hilarious Father of the Bride Toast

This toast is a good example of how to tell a funny story in a speech. This father’s story is brilliant, and his long pauses are perfect for this speech. He goes from having you crying from laughter to tearing up with sentiment.

Atlasobscura. Raise a glass to our readers’ favorite drinking toasts. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/best-drinking-toasts-and-cheers

Burlingame, J.  Best man toast. Advanced Public Speaking. University of Arkansas.

Chidi-Ogbonna, K. (2018). Nine wine etiquette habits to know. https://thefinestitallianwine.com

Real Simple (n.d.). From how to hold a wine glass  http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/content/0,21770,712709,00.html

Revelations Video. The most hilarious father of the bride toast.[Video] YouTube.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOKduRf7o4k Standard YouTube License.

Wineintro. (2008). Clinking of wine glasses and toasts.  http://www.wineintro.com/champagne/clinkglass.html

Media Attributions

• Toasting © Zan is licensed under a CC BY (Attribution) license
• matthieu-joannon-6ciLddToTgM-unsplash © Mattheiu Joannon is licensed under a CC BY (Attribution) license
• holding wine glass is licensed under a CC0 (Creative Commons Zero) license
• marcel-gross-marcelgross-ch-sHTwDYKti6Q-unsplash © Marcel Gross is licensed under a CC BY (Attribution) license

Advanced Public Speaking Copyright © 2021 by Lynn Meade is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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How to Write a Toast Speech: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Are you tasked with delivering a toast speech, but don't know where to start? Fear not, we're here to help. Whether you're celebrating a milestone or achievement, expressing gratitude and appreciation, or simply entertaining and engaging your audience, crafting a memorable toast speech requires careful preparation and a bit of know-how. In this article, we'll take you through a step-by-step guide for writing an effective toast speech that will leave your audience feeling impressed and inspired.

Understanding the Purpose of a Toast Speech

Before you begin writing your toast speech, it's important to understand the purpose of the speech itself. Toasts are typically given to honor someone or celebrate a significant event, such as a wedding or milestone birthday. Within these broader categories, there are typically three main reasons for delivering a toast speech:

Celebrating a Milestone or Achievement

If you're giving a toast to celebrate a milestone or achievement, your speech should focus on the significance of the accomplishment and the hard work that went into achieving it. Consider including anecdotes or personal stories that highlight the honoree's dedication and perseverance.

Expressing Gratitude and Appreciation

If you're toasting someone as a form of thanks or appreciation, your speech should be centered around highlighting the person's qualities or actions that you are grateful for. This is an opportunity to express how much the honoree means to you, and how their actions have impacted the lives of others.

Entertaining and Engaging the Audience

Finally, if your toast speech is meant to be a lighthearted or entertaining moment during an event, your speech should be geared towards amusing and engaging the audience. Consider including jokes, anecdotes, or funny stories that will have your listeners laughing and enjoying the festivities.

Preparing to Write Your Toast Speech

Now that you have a clear understanding of why you're giving a toast, it's time to start preparing for the speech itself. Here are some tips for getting started:

Knowing Your Audience

When crafting a toast speech, it's important to consider who your audience will be. Are you speaking at a formal event, or is this a more casual affair? Understanding your audience will help you tailor your speech to their expectations and ensure that you strike the right tone.

Researching the Subject of the Toast

If you're toasting someone that you don't know very well, it's important to do a bit of research beforehand. Learn about the honoree's accomplishments and background, and consider talking to others who know them well to gain insight into their personality and character.

Gathering Personal Stories and Anecdotes

To make your toast speech truly memorable, it's important to incorporate personal stories and anecdotes that highlight the honoree's unique qualities and accomplishments. Consider reaching out to mutual friends or family members for inspiration, or reflecting on your own experiences with the honoree.

Crafting the Perfect Introduction

Once you've done some initial research and brainstorming, it's time to start writing your toast speech. Here are some tips for crafting a compelling introduction:

Grabbing the Audience's Attention

Starting your speech off with a bang is crucial for getting your listeners engaged and attentive. Consider opening with a personal anecdote, a surprising fact, or a humorous story to immediately grab their attention.

Setting the Tone for Your Speech

After you've captured your audience's interest, it's important to set the tone for the rest of your speech. Consider how you want your listeners to feel by the end of your speech, and make sure that your introduction fits with that overall tone.

Introducing Yourself and Your Connection to the Honoree

Finally, don't forget to introduce yourself and your connection to the honoree. This will help to establish your credibility as a speaker and give context to your speech.

Developing the Body of Your Speech

Now that you've set the stage for your speech, it's time to delve into the heart of the matter. Here are some tips for crafting a memorable body for your toast speech:

Sharing Personal Stories and Experiences

Personal anecdotes and stories are key to making your toast speech memorable and engaging. Choose stories that showcase the honoree's unique qualities and accomplishments, and be sure to tie them back to the overall theme or message of your speech.

Highlighting the Honoree's Accomplishments

If you're toasting someone to celebrate a milestone or achievement, it's important to reflect on their accomplishments and offer recognition for their hard work and dedication. Make sure to highlight specific achievements and give credit where credit is due.

Incorporating Humor and Emotion

To keep your audience engaged and invested in your speech, it's important to balance humor and emotion throughout. This will help to keep the mood light and entertaining, while also conveying the significance of the moment.

Wrapping Up Your Toast Speech

Now that you've laid out the body of your toast speech, it's time to bring it all together. Here are some tips for crafting a memorable conclusion:

Summarizing Your Main Points

As you wrap up your toast speech, take a moment to recap the main points that you've covered. This will help to reinforce the overall theme or message of your speech and ensure that your listeners come away with a clear understanding of your message.

Expressing Your Gratitude and Best Wishes

Finally, be sure to express your gratitude and well wishes for the honoree. This is a chance to offer your congratulations and convey how much the person means to you and those around them.

Closing on a High Note

As you conclude your speech, aim to end on a high note. Consider sharing a final personal anecdote or offering a heartfelt toast to the honoree. This will leave a lasting impression and ensure that your speech is remembered for years to come.

ChatGPT Prompt for Writing a Toast Speech

Use the following prompt in an AI chatbot . Below each prompt, be sure to provide additional details about your situation. These could be scratch notes, what you'd like to say or anything else that guides the AI model to write a certain way.

Compose a speech that is intended to be delivered as a toast, with the goal of expressing congratulations, appreciation, or admiration for a person or group of people. The speech should be well-crafted and thoughtful, and should effectively convey the intended message to the audience. The speech may be delivered in a formal or informal setting, and should be appropriate for the occasion and the audience.

[ADD ADDITIONAL CONTEXT. CAN USE BULLET POINTS.]

Writing a memorable toast speech requires careful preparation, a bit of research, and a lot of heart. By following the step-by-step guide outlined in this article, you'll be well on your way to crafting a speech that will impress and inspire your audience. Remember to tailor your speech to the occasion and your audience, incorporate personal anecdotes and stories, and balance humor and emotion throughout. With these tips in mind, you're sure to deliver a toast speech that will be remembered for years to come. Cheers!

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How to Give a Memorable Toast for Any Occasion

Karen is a freelance writer with more than 25 years of experience writing for an array of publications, including authoring several books.

Learn about our Editorial Policy .

When you offer a toast at a public occasion, it's important to speak from the heart in a manner that suits the occasion and engages the audience. Preparation - but not over practicing - is key to making the perfect, impressive toast.

Anatomy of an Impressive Toast

While your toast can be anything you want it to be, the following outline can help you organize your thoughts into a cohesive toast.

• Wedding Toast Examples for a Speech They'll Remember
• Free Wedding Speech Examples to Celebrate the Big Day
• Thanksgiving Toasts to Make Any Celebration More Meaningful

Stand Up and With Your Glass

Whether you've been asked ahead of time to make a toast or have decided to do it in the spur of the moment, the first step to making a toast is to stand up and hold your glass in front of you. You may wish to clink your knife gently on the side of a glass to get people's attention, or you can stand up, project (without shouting), and say, "I'd like to make a toast."

Pause for a Moment

Now, you need to wait for a moment to ensure you have everyone's attention. Give them time to stop their conversations and focus on you.

Make the Toast About the Person or Event

Lead by mentioning the reason for the toast or the focus of the toast. Avoid saying things about you - such as "I'm so happy for..." or "I'm the brother of the bride and I want to..." Some examples of powerful toast lead-ins for different occasions follow.

• Wedding: "Today we're here to share in Amy's and Malik's joy as they begin their life together as husband and wife,"
• Retirement: "Anup may be retiring, but before he goes, I'd like to share a story about his time at our company,"
• Holiday gathering: "Thanksgiving is such a joyous occasion, let's take a moment to reflect on the many blessings our family has received in the past year."

Engage Listeners With a Hook

After stating the purpose of your toast, include a "hook" engage listeners. This may be a joke or a promise of an anecdote about the person or event you are toasting. Make sure it's just a sentence or two. The hook may be the same as your introductory statement, or it may be a follow-up statement to your introductory statement. For example:

• Wedding: "When Amy and I were roommates in college, we would like awake at night discussing her perfect man."
• Retirement: "As everyone who has ever worked with Anup likely knows, he has a very problematic relationship with the copy machine."
• Holiday gathering: "One of the main things that blesses us this year is that dad didn't drop the cooked turkey the garage behind the car on the way to grandma's house."

Offer an Anecdote or Two Appropriate to the Situation

Then, follow your hook with the promised anecdote. Keep it relatively short, but also make it descriptive, sharing the highlights of the anecdote. Your anecdote can be any of the following:

• Sentimental
• Something that shows the character of the person you're toasting

Stick to just one or two anecdotes so your toast isn't too long. Between 1 and 5 minutes is ideal for a toast depending on the occasion.

Say Something Nice About the Person/People or Occasion

After your anecdote(s), wind up by saying something nice about the person, people, or occasion you're toasting, tying it into to the rest of the toast. For example:

• Wedding: "Amy's perfect man turned out to be Malik, and he makes her so happy! I wish you many years of love and joy as you enter your new life together as husband and wife."
• Retirement: "So while we will enjoy having a copy machine that doesn't break nearly as often now, we will miss hearing Anup's dad puns and getting caught up in his enthusiasm for his great ideas. Anup, your presence will be deeply missed, but we wish you well as you travel the world in your retirement."
• Holiday gathering: "We're excited to eat turkey this year without any gravel from the garage in it. And we're overjoyed to be blessed with the presence of our loved ones here at this table as we gather for a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner."

Then, raise your glass towards the person or people you're toasting and invite everyone else to raise theirs as well. Look at the person and say, "Cheers!" or something similar. For example:

• Wedding: "So raise your glass to Amy and Malik to wish them many years of health, happiness, love, and prosperity. Cheers!"
• Retirement: "Please everyone raise your glass to Anup. We wish you a long, beautiful, and happy retirement. Cheers!"
• Holiday gathering: "I invite you to raise your glass to our family and give thanks for our many blessings. Cheers!"

Tips for Giving Great Toasts

The following tips can help you make a great toast.

Avoid Risqué Jokes and Embarrassing Stories

Toasts are meant to celebrate people and occasions. And while you can tell humorous stories about your subject or event, avoid telling cringeworthy stories that will make listeners or the subject of your toast uncomfortable. Also avoid sharing any information that might be considered private or TMI (too much information), betraying a confidence, or telling risqué or dirty jokes.

Employ Sensory Language to Draw in Listeners

When sharing your anecdote, use sensory language to make the story more interesting. In other words, offer a few details about how things looked, smelled, tasted, sounded, or felt. These small details can make your story more compelling.

Use Family-Friendly Language

Consider your audience when you're giving a toast. It's best to use family-friendly language and avoid swearing or offering overly graphic descriptions or anecdotes.

Make Eye Contact

Making eye contact strengthens your connection with the audience while making you look comfortable and appear more engaging. Make eye contact with both the person or people you're toasting and the people listening to your toast. Try to make brief eye contact with each person or group of people in turn, but don't linger overly long or it can become uncomfortable.

If you're in a large crowd and don't have the benefit of a microphone, you're going to need to project. Stand up straight, take deep breaths, and speak clearly and not too quickly. Be sure you enunciate. It's also okay to ask as you begin to speak, "Can everyone hear me okay?" and then modulate your voice based on the feedback you receive.

Keep It Short

Few people wish to sit through a ten-minute toast, so keep your speech relatively brief. Typically, five minutes or fewer is ideal for a toast, which gives you time for your introduction and hook, one or two anecdotes, your closing statement, and the cheers.

If you have advance notice you'll be making a toast, plan it ahead of time and practice it a few times (without notes) so you know your opening and hook, the broad outline of the anecdote(s) you plan to share, and your final sentiments. Don't read your toast as you give it or over-rehearse so you sound stiff or overly formal. Having the broad strokes of what you are going to say in place will also help you appear more relaxed and confident as you give the toast while allowing you some flexibility to adapt when you're actually giving the toast.

Examples of Good Toasts

One of the best ways to get a feel for a great toast is to find examples of them. The following examples can help as you plan your toast.

• Toasts are common at weddings. These free wedding toasts should give you some ideas.
• You can also bring humor into your wedding toast .
• You may also wish to make a toast at a wedding rehearsal dinner .
• Engagement parties are also toasting occasions.
• Celebrate a pending birth with creative baby shower toasts .
• Give thanks for your blessings with Thanksgiving toasts .
• Celebrate milestone wedding anniversaries with a toast .
• Toast your co-worker upon their retirement.

Raise Your Glass!

Fear of public speaking (glossophobia) is a common phobia. One of the best ways to overcome it is with preparation and experience. Toasting is a great way to gain some practice in public speaking because it's usually for a friendly and familiar audience, and it's a relatively short talk. So the next time someone asks you to give a toast, plan, prepare, and raise your glass to make the perfect impressive toast.

Module 11: Speaking to Entertain and for Special Occasions

Learning objectives.

Define the characteristics of a toast.

If you’ve found this page after a panicked web search of “how to give a wedding toast when you just got asked to be the maid of honor and you’re terrified of public speaking,” welcome. You’ve landed in the middle of an entire textbook on public speaking. We’ll try to get you up to speed.

Wedding Toasts

Wedding toasts often loom large in our imagination as we think about public speaking situations. This perception might be because wedding toasts represent a distinctive (and potentially intimidating) combination of the elements of public speaking we’ve worked on throughout this course. The elements of public speaking for a wedding toast are:

• The father of the bride, who paid for the wedding, welcomes the guests, leads a toast to absent friends and family, and toasts the bride and groom.
• The groom thanks the hosts, thanks the guests for attending and for their gifts, says some loving words about his new wife, and offers a toast to the bridesmaids.
• The best man tells some funny stories about the groom, then says some heartfelt words before toasting the couple or the parents of the couple.
• Introduction : Introduce yourself. Then start your lead-in. You can start with a joke or a funny anecdote, though be sure to pay attention to the appropriateness of your humor for the crowd. Self-deprecatory humor might work well here, as does meta-humor (after all, the crowd expects you to say and do certain things; you can work with that). You can also say something sincere or heartfelt; a wedding toast doesn’t have to be funny, but it does have to be genuine.
• Body : Here’s where you need to think about the message you’re trying to get across. What do you want this audience to know about these people? When preparing your toast, brainstorm qualities or characteristics of the couple that you want to communicate. When you’ve chosen a few top qualities, think in terms of  evidence . If you say the groom is kind and thoughtful, what are examples of that? Is there a story you can tell? Make sure you talk about both of the people being married, even if you know one of them better than the other. Stories and anecdotes are often the body of a wedding toast, but remember: they’re there as supporting material to prove your claim: that these excellent people are great for each other and have the love and support of their family and friends.

• Delivery : Since wedding toasts take place amidst a lot of other moving parts, it’s key to get into it and out of it as seamlessly as possible. When it’s your turn to speak, be ready to go without hesitation or technical difficulties. You may be using a microphone, in which case you should try to test it out beforehand if possible to find the right volume and distance. Above all, practice before the event! It’s usually best to speak extemporaneously, memorizing only the key points of the speech and any lines that need to be delivered word for word (such as quotes).

To Watch: Christopher Conroy, Wedding toast

You can view the transcript for “The BEST (worst) Wedding Toast EVER!” here (opens in new window) .

What to watch for:

In this wedding toast, Conroy sticks to a winning formula:

• Some gentle jokes, largely self-deprecating, with some meta-humor about bad wedding-speech jokes: “I’ve been preparing this toast for a long time. I hope it’s not too burnt! . . . pause for laughter . . .”
• A story about how the couple met: “I was actually with Vinny the very first time we met Danielle.”
• Complimentary words about the characteristics of the couple (including supporting evidence): “Vinny and Danielle are the kindest, most compassionate, and most genuine friends I have. I know firsthand that when you are down and out, they’re the people that will pick you up and get you back on your feet.”
• A description of the couple as a couple: “I know how they interact. . . . I’m kind of an expert on it. . . . I know that they really do love each other.”
• Uplifting words: “I also know that love is the only thing in this life that is truly worth fighting for.”
• A wish: “I wish you guys nothing but the best in this new journey.”

Other kinds of toasts:

At many formal dinners or dinner gatherings, it may be expected to give toasts. The nature of these toasts will be different depending on the situation, but what they have in common is that you say them while holding up a glass (and usually while your audience does too), which means that a toast should be short (this isn’t an endurance test!). Don’t put down the glass or drink from it before the toast is over; when it is, drink from the glass. Different cultures and contexts may have various customs around toasts. For instance, in some cultures it’s important to look people in the eye while clinking glasses. In others, one should drink everything in one’s glass after the toast. Some avoid toasting with water. And so on. If you’re at a formal dinner, it’s a good idea to know what the toasting protocols might involve.

Usually, toasts end with some kind of wish for the future, such as “May you live for as long as you want, and never want for as long as you live!” If you find yourself at a lot of formal dinners, it can be wise to memorize a go-to toast or two, whether heartfelt (“May your house always be too small to hold all our friends”) or humorous (“May your children have wealthy parents”).

• Toast. Authored by : gail. Located at : https://flic.kr/p/2gk2kqr . License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
• Wedding reception. Authored by : rocksee. Located at : https://flic.kr/p/5dVuTV . License : CC BY: Attribution
• The BEST (worst) Wedding Toast EVER!. Authored by : Christopher Conroy. Located at : https://youtu.be/LiJ_-tByGkk . License : Other . License Terms : Standard YouTube License
• Toasts. Authored by : Patricia Atkinson with Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution

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How to give a toast from the heart.

At some point in your life, you’ll need to give a toast. You might get advance notice as a Maid of Honor or host of a retirement celebration. Or it might occur to you suddenly, in the middle of a gathering of your best friends, that “this calls for a toast!”

Here’s a secret about toasts: The best ones come from the heart. Try not to worry about being eloquent or memorable or perfect—focus on letting the person or people you toast know they matter.

Inspired? Create and share by tagging @hallmarkstores .

The basics of giving a toast  

We’ll start with a few FAQs:

Should you give a toast?

Sometimes it’s easy to know: You’ve been asked, you’re in a wedding party, you’re the host of a gathering. But sometimes, the gathering is less formal. A few simple etiquette guidelines:

• The host of a dinner might start the meal by toasting the guest of honor or the group.
• If they don’t, guests can suggest a toast to thank the host—or wait until after the main course is over to raise a glass.
• In a gathering, read the room. Is there a good reason to grab everyone’s attention? Can you do it without changing the mood of the event? Is this something everyone needs to hear? Then go for it.

Is this the time for a quick wish, a sincere compliment, or some good stories?

If you’ve been asked to deliver a toast, you can ask about expectations. If you’re raising a glass to start a meal, speaking on a whim, or are one of many speakers, shorter is sweeter.

How do you actually do it? Just simply stand up, raise a glass of whatever you’re drinking, and take focus. You don’t have to ding your glass with silverware—just confidently ask for a few moments of attention or say, “I’d like to propose a toast.”

What to say in a toast  

This is the part most likely to make people nervous. But remember: The most moving toasts are heartfelt and sincere. They use real-life language, true stories, and genuine emotion.

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make a few notes or practice. Absolutely do. If you’re offering a toast at a formal or special event, being comfortable with what you’re going to say will put everyone else at ease, too.

Here’s a simple formula to create a great toast:

• Start by announcing who or what you’re toasting—the person, group, organization, or occasion—and the reason for the gathering.
• Give the audience context by letting them know why you’re making the toast: your relationship, connection, or a little about yourself.
• Share stories, anecdotes, or compliments about the subject of the toast.
• Wrap things up with a thank-you to the hosts, if appropriate, and a wish for the honoree.

Or, if some of those things are well known, you can keep your toast super simple:

“Raise your glasses to (person, people, or organization) because (reason or occasion). (Add a compliment here.) Cheers!”

Specific toasts for special occasions  

Looking for more help making a toast on a big day? We’ve got help for that, too.

The Challenge: What to say at your parents’ 50th wedding anniversary The Tip: Before the big bash, ask your parents (separately) about the secrets to their success, how they met, their fondest memory, their partner’s best trait. Then incorporate their stories into your toast. Be sure to mention what they’ve meant to you as parents and your admiration for their partnership. A good ending: “So here’s to my parents—my first, and best, example of how love can last a lifetime. Cheers to both of you.” Skip: Sibling rivalry! If your brother shows up with a 20-minute slide show, don’t alter your speech for the sake of competition.

The Challenge: What to say at your son’s high-school graduation party The Tip: Highlight what his graduation represents: the joy and pride he has brought to his family, his dedication to his education and the promise of his future life. Consider, “We know that he’ll take the university—and soccer field!—by storm and become the kind of adult who will benefit the people and the world around him.” Skip: Gushing—you don’t want to mortify the kid. And don’t go on and on about his good grades; it comes off as bragging.

The Challenge: What to say as matron of honor at your friend’s second wedding The Tip: Include the groom and mention how much he has brought into your friend’s life. Try starting with, “I’ve known Mary since childhood and always knew she needed someone to match her smarts, strength and loyalty. Fortunately, she found her equal when she met Jon.” Give examples you’ve seen, or your friend has shared with you. Keep it short—three to five minutes. Skip: Any references whatsoever to her previous spouse, boyfriends, or romantic dry spells.

The Challenge: What to say at your best friend’s milestone birthday party The Tip: Let the compliments flow. Want help putting it into words? Ask the party guests to write compliments—or memories, or short anecdotes—on 3×5 cards. (You can send them in invitations or make them available at the celebration.) You can read them aloud or ask others to help. Afterward, put all the cards in a jar or book as a gift to the guest of honor. Skip: Making fun of your friend for getting older. We know by now that we get better and better with every decade, right?

The Challenge: What to say when your team just landed a new project at work The Tip: Make it about the team—all of them. Try something like: “Every one of you was instrumental in closing this deal: The marketing team put together great materials, the sales team swayed the client, and the administrative staff kept us sane through it all!” Skip: Winging it—make notes and talk it through in your mirror. You don’t want to accidentally leave someone out.

Short and sweet toasts  

We understand that sometimes you might want to finish with a little bit of a flourish. For those occasions, we offer these toasts:

• Here’s to you and the chance today brings to look back, look ahead and, best of all, look around at the faces of all the people who care about you.
• Here’s to the memories we cherish, the joys we share, the dreams we dream. And most of all, here’s to us.
• Wishing you joy and laughter, beauty and happy memories, and all the joy you so deserve.
• Here’s to new journeys, new songs to be sung, new ways to be blessed when you’re [age] years young!
• Here’s to you— one year older, wiser, and more wonderfully you than ever. Here’s to you! You did good— I knew you would! A toast to you on this special occasion and best wishes for all the happiness the future can hold.

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How to Build a Speech

Structure, stories, and word choice are all key to crafting a compelling presentation..

By Ruth Nasrullah

There was a time when flowery, dense language was the standard for public speaking—18th-century North America, for instance. Here is the beginning of George Washington’s 1796 farewell speech:

The period for a new election of a citizen to administer the executive government of the United States being not far distant, and the time actually arrived when your thoughts must be employed in designating the person who is to be clothed with that important trust, it appears to me proper, especially as it may conduce to a more distinct expression ...

And that excerpt is far from the conclusion of just that first sentence. Imagine using language like that in a Toastmasters meeting!

Analyze why the opening of this august speech wouldn’t work today and two major problems quickly become apparent. First, it could have been cut down at least by half; and second, even after 20 seconds, the audience still doesn’t know much about the speaker’s purpose.

Fortunately for modern-day speakers, the Toastmasters educational program emphasizes the skill of speechwriting. Here are a few guidelines to mastering the art and technique of writing speeches.

My Kingdom for a Subject!

Need a speech topic? First identify your purpose. What do you want to do? Inform? Persuade? Inspire? Educate? Next, home in on a subject. You can select something most people can relate to—or most people in your audience can relate to—or something arcane that will require a little bit of research.

Step three: Start brainstorming.

What about your Ultimate Frisbee team? Your cat’s finicky ways? Your child’s piano recital? Your childhood dream of becoming president and what became of it? Holiday traditions in your country or region? Vanilla or chocolate? Cake or pie?

A word of caution: It may go without saying, but when it comes to controversial topics such as religion or politics, make sure you know the club policies governing such subjects—and the audience’s sensibilities.

Elena Paweta, DTM, is a member of Poland’s First Toastmasters club, based in Warsaw. She is also an organizer of TEDx events , programs in local communities that feature a diversity of speakers across several disciplines who address a variety of subjects. This gives her particular insight into crafting and refining speech topics.

“As we advance and become more experienced and confident, we can cover topics that may influence others,” Paweta says. “We can use this amazing tool [public speaking] to change people’s lives for the better.”

Deceptively Simple: The Structure

Ramona J. Smith is the 2018 World Champion of Public Speaking. Watch her winning speech and you’ll get a clue to what helps make it great: a solid, simple outline. She enters the stage and crouches down in a boxer’s stance, throwing punches in the air. She explains that we may get knocked down in life, but if we persevere we will be “still standing,” a phrase she repeats throughout, for emphasis. She then goes on to describe three events in her life that she had to fight through (extending the metaphor) and expands on each.

And how does she conclude the speech? With the phrase she offered in the beginning: “still standing.” It’s simple, yet so powerful.

To supplement that structure, Smith makes the speech come alive with vocal variety, exuberant body language (shadowboxing), and even a prop (a towel thrown to the ground).

Smith, President of the Cy-Fair Super Speakers Club in Cypress, Texas, says the key to writing a great speech is to keep it simple. “I start with the skeleton, then start to throw meat on the bones,” she says.

World Champion Ramona J. Smith says the key to writing a great speech is to keep it simple. "I start with the skeleton, then start to throw meat on the bones."

She writes speeches in three parts—introduction, body, and conclusion. In the body she identifies three points, just as in her championship speech. “Then I flesh out those three points, add transitions between each and then a call to action between the third point and the conclusion.”

Smith has another key piece of advice: Call on fellow Toastmasters for help. “Look in your club for writers,” she says. “There’s an English teacher or writer in every club—see if they can help you.”

Act Out—But in a Good Way

Toastmaster Wayne Lebowitz, a retired jeweler from Somerville, Massachusetts, always knew he wanted to be an actor. Although he ultimately found his career in the family business, he brings theatrical sensibilities to public speaking.

Writing a speech is like writing a script, he says. Start with an attention-grabbing device. For instance:

“How many of you have hunted a bear? Okay, I see by the lack of hands raised that none of you have. Let me tell you about bear hunting.” Using the bear motif, he demonstrates another approach: “I just found out that there are only three bears left in Somerville, Massachusetts. That’s three more than I thought we had.”

Lebowitz emphasizes that people remember stories. “I realize when I give a speech, I’ve got to entertain them. Otherwise, whatever my message is, it’s lost.”

He suggests the same format that Ramona J. Smith uses. “The body of your speech should consist of three bullet points,” he says. “And have a story to back up each point.” Lebowitz recommends closing the speech by reiterating those bullet points and tying together the closing and opening.

At a recent meeting of his club, Somerville Toastmasters, the first speaker gave a speech about a work situation by providing three points in the beginning, then elaborating on them, and returning to them again at the end. Because she used vocal variety and good details, the simple structure worked.

“Show, don’t tell” is advice often offered to writers whose work needs a little spark. The concept can also apply to speechwriting. Paint a picture for your audience with the language you use.

Jing Humphreys, DTM, a member of the Earlybirds Club in Butler, Pennsylvania, is a believer in the power of word choice.

“I like vivid word descriptions,” she says. “Like you can feel it happening in front of you because of the choice of words the speaker uses.”

Need a speech topic? First identify your purpose. What do you want to do? Inform? Persuade? Inspire? Educate?

Despite working in a highly technical field where there isn’t as much room for creativity with language, outside of work she is a proponent of conjuring up dramatic images to move the audience. (Example: “a big, vast ocean so clear you can almost see the bottom of it.”) This is also the message she imparts as a mentor and an evaluator: To tell a story, use powerful imagery, and don’t be afraid to provoke strong feelings in your audience.

“I just evaluated one of my club members,” she says. “I told him ‘Scare me and then save me.’ The audience needs to know why am I listening to you—why is this important to me?”

Don’t forget that you need to know your audience. If the venue is in a country with a nuanced culture and/or a culture that has significant differences from your own, make sure you’ve done your homework so you avoid potentially offensive gaffes. If you want to add jokes, try them out on others first to be sure your humor isn’t tone-deaf .

Include the Visual

Visual aids can be a powerful addition, and in some cases a necessary one, to a presentation. Technical presentations generally require the speaker to provide graphics, charts, schematics, etc., in order to fully explain the topic. Non-technical presentations, too, can gain a boost from props or visual aids.

Check that all your references are correct. Did Queen Elizabeth really give the Gettysburg Address or was your mind wandering when you wrote that?

A word about PowerPoint: Don’t read from the slides. The slides should supplement your words. In most cases, you can use words for the narrative, and the projector screen for ideas that are best conveyed graphically. The words you speak and the images you show should complement each other.

I am not a fan of PowerPoint, so when I did the “Get Comfortable With Visual Aids” project in Toastmasters’ old Competent Communication manual, I opted for a wig mannequin and demonstrated different ways Muslim women wear head scarves. It gave me the opportunity to personalize my speech and present something tangible, and it supported my discussion of why Muslim women wear head scarves.

Not So Fast!

Transitional statements help the audience easily follow you from one section of your speech to the next, or from one idea to another.

There is a wide range of transitions that serve different functions. Some keep the audience focused on the topic or time frame you are discussing; some provide examples of a particular subject area, reinforcing a point and introducing examples seamlessly. Here are just a few common transitions:

1. To tie your introduction to your first point in the body of the speech:

• Let me give you an example ...

• To get started, let’s examine ...

• First, I’m going to discuss ...

2. To move from one point within the body to the next:

• In the same way, this item tends to melt in the heat ...

• Let me show you something equally troubling ...

• This is similar to the kind of speech we’re studying ...

3. To begin the conclusion to your speech:

• All in all, this educational journey was …

• Looking back, I’m glad that I …

• To sum up, these three reasons are why …

If your speech feels or sounds awkward as you move through the main points, lead the listener with transitions, like those listed above. When in doubt, try reading that section aloud to someone else; if they are unclear about the connection between two ideas or two statements, look for a proper transition.

The Final Steps

Always do a final review of your writing before turning your attention to rehearsing. A few essential areas to look over:

• Double-check your grammar and pronunciation. This may seem like a no-brainer, but don’t assume you have it right. A great classic reference book to aid with this is The Elements of Grammar by Margaret Shertzer. Many other useful books—and grammar-related websites—exist as well, including The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, Write Right! by Jan Venolia, grammarbook.com , and www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl .
• Examine your writing for continuity of theme; make sure you aren’t wandering from your main point. Remove or revise anything that takes your speech off track.
• Make sure everything makes logical sense. Sometimes you get so deep into your subject that you mention ideas only you can understand.
• Check that all your references are correct . Did Queen Elizabeth really give the Gettysburg Address or was your mind wandering when you wrote that?
• Don’t go overboard with quotes. They can be used to enhance a speech, but make sure the quote you use is pithy, brief, and very relevant. Be sure you’re citing the correct author of the quote (pro tip: Look somewhere besides social media to verify the source).

When you’ve done all you can do to polish the writing of your speech, you will feel confident and ready. The Toastmasters guidelines for speechwriting will prepare you well.

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In this ToastCaster podcast , Greg Gazin speaks with Toastmaster Freddi Dogterom, DTM, AS, from Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. Dogterom, a professional speaker with more than 20 years of experience, offers up lessons on crafting your speech or presentation. Click the play button below to listen to this episode.

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How to write a speech that your audience remembers

Whether in a work meeting or at an investor panel, you might give a speech at some point. And no matter how excited you are about the opportunity, the experience can be nerve-wracking . 

But feeling butterflies doesn’t mean you can’t give a great speech. With the proper preparation and a clear outline, apprehensive public speakers and natural wordsmiths alike can write and present a compelling message. Here’s how to write a good speech you’ll be proud to deliver.

What is good speech writing?

Good speech writing is the art of crafting words and ideas into a compelling, coherent, and memorable message that resonates with the audience. Here are some key elements of great speech writing:

• It begins with clearly understanding the speech's purpose and the audience it seeks to engage. 
• A well-written speech clearly conveys its central message, ensuring that the audience understands and retains the key points. 
• It is structured thoughtfully, with a captivating opening, a well-organized body, and a conclusion that reinforces the main message. 
• Good speech writing embraces the power of engaging content, weaving in stories, examples, and relatable anecdotes to connect with the audience on both intellectual and emotional levels. 

Ultimately, it is the combination of these elements, along with the authenticity and delivery of the speaker , that transforms words on a page into a powerful and impactful spoken narrative.

What makes a good speech?

A great speech includes several key qualities, but three fundamental elements make a speech truly effective:

Clarity and purpose

Remembering the audience, cohesive structure.

While other important factors make a speech a home run, these three elements are essential for writing an effective speech.

The main elements of a good speech

The main elements of a speech typically include:

• Introduction: The introduction sets the stage for your speech and grabs the audience's attention. It should include a hook or attention-grabbing opening, introduce the topic, and provide an overview of what will be covered.
• Opening/captivating statement: This is a strong statement that immediately engages the audience and creates curiosity about the speech topics.
• Thesis statement/central idea: The thesis statement or central idea is a concise statement that summarizes the main point or argument of your speech. It serves as a roadmap for the audience to understand what your speech is about.
• Body: The body of the speech is where you elaborate on your main points or arguments. Each point is typically supported by evidence, examples, statistics, or anecdotes. The body should be organized logically and coherently, with smooth transitions between the main points.
• Supporting evidence: This includes facts, data, research findings, expert opinions, or personal stories that support and strengthen your main points. Well-chosen and credible evidence enhances the persuasive power of your speech.
• Transitions: Transitions are phrases or statements that connect different parts of your speech, guiding the audience from one idea to the next. Effective transitions signal the shifts in topics or ideas and help maintain a smooth flow throughout the speech.
• Counterarguments and rebuttals (if applicable): If your speech involves addressing opposing viewpoints or counterarguments, you should acknowledge and address them. Presenting counterarguments makes your speech more persuasive and demonstrates critical thinking.
• Conclusion: The conclusion is the final part of your speech and should bring your message to a satisfying close. Summarize your main points, restate your thesis statement, and leave the audience with a memorable closing thought or call to action.
• Closing statement: This is the final statement that leaves a lasting impression and reinforces the main message of your speech. It can be a call to action, a thought-provoking question, a powerful quote, or a memorable anecdote.
• Delivery and presentation: How you deliver your speech is also an essential element to consider. Pay attention to your tone, body language, eye contact , voice modulation, and timing. Practice and rehearse your speech, and try using the 7-38-55 rule to ensure confident and effective delivery.

While the order and emphasis of these elements may vary depending on the type of speech and audience, these elements provide a framework for organizing and delivering a successful speech.

How to structure a good speech

You know what message you want to transmit, who you’re delivering it to, and even how you want to say it. But you need to know how to start, develop, and close a speech before writing it. 

Think of a speech like an essay. It should have an introduction, conclusion, and body sections in between. This places ideas in a logical order that the audience can better understand and follow them. Learning how to make a speech with an outline gives your storytelling the scaffolding it needs to get its point across.

Here’s a general speech structure to guide your writing process:

• Explanation 1
• Explanation 2
• Explanation 3

How to write a compelling speech opener

Some research shows that engaged audiences pay attention for only 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Other estimates are even lower, citing that people stop listening intently in fewer than 10 minutes . If you make a good first impression at the beginning of your speech, you have a better chance of interesting your audience through the middle when attention spans fade. 

Implementing the INTRO model can help grab and keep your audience’s attention as soon as you start speaking. This acronym stands for interest, need, timing, roadmap, and objectives, and it represents the key points you should hit in an opening. 

Here’s what to include for each of these points: 

• Interest : Introduce yourself or your topic concisely and speak with confidence . Write a compelling opening statement using relevant data or an anecdote that the audience can relate to.
• Needs : The audience is listening to you because they have something to learn. If you’re pitching a new app idea to a panel of investors, those potential partners want to discover more about your product and what they can earn from it. Read the room and gently remind them of the purpose of your speech. 
• Timing : When appropriate, let your audience know how long you’ll speak. This lets listeners set expectations and keep tabs on their own attention span. If a weary audience member knows you’ll talk for 40 minutes, they can better manage their energy as that time goes on. 
• Routemap : Give a brief overview of the three main points you’ll cover in your speech. If an audience member’s attention starts to drop off and they miss a few sentences, they can more easily get their bearings if they know the general outline of the presentation.
• Objectives : Tell the audience what you hope to achieve, encouraging them to listen to the end for the payout. 

Writing the middle of a speech

The body of your speech is the most information-dense section. Facts, visual aids, PowerPoints — all this information meets an audience with a waning attention span. Sticking to the speech structure gives your message focus and keeps you from going off track, making everything you say as useful as possible.

Limit the middle of your speech to three points, and support them with no more than three explanations. Following this model organizes your thoughts and prevents you from offering more information than the audience can retain. 

Using this section of the speech to make your presentation interactive can add interest and engage your audience. Try including a video or demonstration to break the monotony. A quick poll or survey also keeps the audience on their toes. 

Wrapping the speech up

To you, restating your points at the end can feel repetitive and dull. You’ve practiced countless times and heard it all before. But repetition aids memory and learning , helping your audience retain what you’ve told them. Use your speech’s conclusion to summarize the main points with a few short sentences.

Try to end on a memorable note, like posing a motivational quote or a thoughtful question the audience can contemplate once they leave. In proposal or pitch-style speeches, consider landing on a call to action (CTA) that invites your audience to take the next step.

How to write a good speech

If public speaking gives you the jitters, you’re not alone. Roughly 80% of the population feels nervous before giving a speech, and another 10% percent experiences intense anxiety and sometimes even panic. 

The fear of failure can cause procrastination and can cause you to put off your speechwriting process until the last minute. Finding the right words takes time and preparation, and if you’re already feeling nervous, starting from a blank page might seem even harder.

But putting in the effort despite your stress is worth it. Presenting a speech you worked hard on fosters authenticity and connects you to the subject matter, which can help your audience understand your points better. Human connection is all about honesty and vulnerability, and if you want to connect to the people you’re speaking to, they should see that in you.

1. Identify your objectives and target audience

Before diving into the writing process, find healthy coping strategies to help you stop worrying . Then you can define your speech’s purpose, think about your target audience, and start identifying your objectives. Here are some questions to ask yourself and ground your thinking : 

• What purpose do I want my speech to achieve? 
• What would it mean to me if I achieved the speech’s purpose?
• What audience am I writing for? 
• What do I know about my audience? 
• What values do I want to transmit? 
• If the audience remembers one take-home message, what should it be? 
• What do I want my audience to feel, think, or do after I finish speaking? 
• What parts of my message could be confusing and require further explanation?

2. Know your audience

Understanding your audience is crucial for tailoring your speech effectively. Consider the demographics of your audience, their interests, and their expectations. For instance, if you're addressing a group of healthcare professionals, you'll want to use medical terminology and data that resonate with them. Conversely, if your audience is a group of young students, you'd adjust your content to be more relatable to their experiences and interests. 

3. Choose a clear message

Your message should be the central idea that you want your audience to take away from your speech. Let's say you're giving a speech on climate change. Your clear message might be something like, "Individual actions can make a significant impact on mitigating climate change." Throughout your speech, all your points and examples should support this central message, reinforcing it for your audience.

4. Structure your speech

Organizing your speech properly keeps your audience engaged and helps them follow your ideas. The introduction should grab your audience's attention and introduce the topic. For example, if you're discussing space exploration, you could start with a fascinating fact about a recent space mission. In the body, you'd present your main points logically, such as the history of space exploration, its scientific significance, and future prospects. Finally, in the conclusion, you'd summarize your key points and reiterate the importance of space exploration in advancing human knowledge.

5. Use engaging content for clarity

Engaging content includes stories, anecdotes, statistics, and examples that illustrate your main points. For instance, if you're giving a speech about the importance of reading, you might share a personal story about how a particular book changed your perspective. You could also include statistics on the benefits of reading, such as improved cognitive abilities and empathy.

6. Maintain clarity and simplicity

It's essential to communicate your ideas clearly. Avoid using overly technical jargon or complex language that might confuse your audience. For example, if you're discussing a medical breakthrough with a non-medical audience, explain complex terms in simple, understandable language.

7. Practice and rehearse

Practice is key to delivering a great speech. Rehearse multiple times to refine your delivery, timing, and tone. Consider using a mirror or recording yourself to observe your body language and gestures. For instance, if you're giving a motivational speech, practice your gestures and expressions to convey enthusiasm and confidence.

8. Consider nonverbal communication

Your body language, tone of voice, and gestures should align with your message . If you're delivering a speech on leadership, maintain strong eye contact to convey authority and connection with your audience. A steady pace and varied tone can also enhance your speech's impact.

9. Engage your audience

Engaging your audience keeps them interested and attentive. Encourage interaction by asking thought-provoking questions or sharing relatable anecdotes. If you're giving a speech on teamwork, ask the audience to recall a time when teamwork led to a successful outcome, fostering engagement and connection.

10. Prepare for Q&A

Anticipate potential questions or objections your audience might have and prepare concise, well-informed responses. If you're delivering a speech on a controversial topic, such as healthcare reform, be ready to address common concerns, like the impact on healthcare costs or access to services, during the Q&A session.

By following these steps and incorporating examples that align with your specific speech topic and purpose, you can craft and deliver a compelling and impactful speech that resonates with your audience.

Tools for writing a great speech

There are several helpful tools available for speechwriting, both technological and communication-related. Here are a few examples:

• Word processing software: Tools like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or other word processors provide a user-friendly environment for writing and editing speeches. They offer features like spell-checking, grammar correction, formatting options, and easy revision tracking.
• Presentation software: Software such as Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides is useful when creating visual aids to accompany your speech. These tools allow you to create engaging slideshows with text, images, charts, and videos to enhance your presentation.
• Speechwriting Templates: Online platforms or software offer pre-designed templates specifically for speechwriting. These templates provide guidance on structuring your speech and may include prompts for different sections like introductions, main points, and conclusions.
• Rhetorical devices and figures of speech: Rhetorical tools such as metaphors, similes, alliteration, and parallelism can add impact and persuasion to your speech. Resources like books, websites, or academic papers detailing various rhetorical devices can help you incorporate them effectively.
• Speechwriting apps: Mobile apps designed specifically for speechwriting can be helpful in organizing your thoughts, creating outlines, and composing a speech. These apps often provide features like voice recording, note-taking, and virtual prompts to keep you on track.
• Grammar and style checkers: Online tools or plugins like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor help improve the clarity and readability of your speech by checking for grammar, spelling, and style errors. They provide suggestions for sentence structure, word choice, and overall tone.
• Thesaurus and dictionary: Online or offline resources such as thesauruses and dictionaries help expand your vocabulary and find alternative words or phrases to express your ideas more effectively. They can also clarify meanings or provide context for unfamiliar terms.
• Online speechwriting communities: Joining online forums or communities focused on speechwriting can be beneficial for getting feedback, sharing ideas, and learning from experienced speechwriters. It's an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and improve your public speaking skills through collaboration.

Remember, while these tools can assist in the speechwriting process, it's essential to use them thoughtfully and adapt them to your specific needs and style. The most important aspect of speechwriting remains the creativity, authenticity, and connection with your audience that you bring to your speech.

5 tips for writing a speech

Behind every great speech is an excellent idea and a speaker who refined it. But a successful speech is about more than the initial words on the page, and there are a few more things you can do to help it land.

Here are five more tips for writing and practicing your speech:

1. Structure first, write second

If you start the writing process before organizing your thoughts, you may have to re-order, cut, and scrap the sentences you worked hard on. Save yourself some time by using a speech structure, like the one above, to order your talking points first. This can also help you identify unclear points or moments that disrupt your flow.

2. Do your homework

Data strengthens your argument with a scientific edge. Research your topic with an eye for attention-grabbing statistics, or look for findings you can use to support each point. If you’re pitching a product or service, pull information from company metrics that demonstrate past or potential successes. 

Audience members will likely have questions, so learn all talking points inside and out. If you tell investors that your product will provide 12% returns, for example, come prepared with projections that support that statement.

3. Sound like yourself

Memorable speakers have distinct voices. Think of Martin Luther King Jr’s urgent, inspiring timbre or Oprah’s empathetic, personal tone . Establish your voice — one that aligns with your personality and values — and stick with it. If you’re a motivational speaker, keep your tone upbeat to inspire your audience . If you’re the CEO of a startup, try sounding assured but approachable. 

4. Practice

As you practice a speech, you become more confident , gain a better handle on the material, and learn the outline so well that unexpected questions are less likely to trip you up. Practice in front of a colleague or friend for honest feedback about what you could change, and speak in front of the mirror to tweak your nonverbal communication and body language .

5. Remember to breathe

When you’re stressed, you breathe more rapidly . It can be challenging to talk normally when you can’t regulate your breath. Before your presentation, try some mindful breathing exercises so that when the day comes, you already have strategies that will calm you down and remain present . This can also help you control your voice and avoid speaking too quickly.

How to ghostwrite a great speech for someone else

Ghostwriting a speech requires a unique set of skills, as you're essentially writing a piece that will be delivered by someone else. Here are some tips on how to effectively ghostwrite a speech:

• Understand the speaker's voice and style : Begin by thoroughly understanding the speaker's personality, speaking style, and preferences. This includes their tone, humor, and any personal anecdotes they may want to include.
• Interview the speaker : Have a detailed conversation with the speaker to gather information about their speech's purpose, target audience, key messages, and any specific points they want to emphasize. Ask for personal stories or examples they may want to include.
• Research thoroughly : Research the topic to ensure you have a strong foundation of knowledge. This helps you craft a well-informed and credible speech.
• Create an outline : Develop a clear outline that includes the introduction, main points, supporting evidence, and a conclusion. Share this outline with the speaker for their input and approval.
• Write in the speaker's voice : While crafting the speech, maintain the speaker's voice and style. Use language and phrasing that feel natural to them. If they have a particular way of expressing ideas, incorporate that into the speech.
• Craft a captivating opening : Begin the speech with a compelling opening that grabs the audience's attention. This could be a relevant quote, an interesting fact, a personal anecdote, or a thought-provoking question.
• Organize content logically : Ensure the speech flows logically, with each point building on the previous one. Use transitions to guide the audience from one idea to the next smoothly.
• Incorporate engaging stories and examples : Include anecdotes, stories, and real-life examples that illustrate key points and make the speech relatable and memorable.
• Edit and revise : Edit the speech carefully for clarity, grammar, and coherence. Ensure the speech is the right length and aligns with the speaker's time constraints.
• Seek feedback : Share drafts of the speech with the speaker for their feedback and revisions. They may have specific changes or additions they'd like to make.
• Practice delivery : If possible, work with the speaker on their delivery. Practice the speech together, allowing the speaker to become familiar with the content and your writing style.
• Maintain confidentiality : As a ghostwriter, it's essential to respect the confidentiality and anonymity of the work. Do not disclose that you wrote the speech unless you have the speaker's permission to do so.
• Be flexible : Be open to making changes and revisions as per the speaker's preferences. Your goal is to make them look good and effectively convey their message.
• Meet deadlines : Stick to agreed-upon deadlines for drafts and revisions. Punctuality and reliability are essential in ghostwriting.
• Provide support : Support the speaker during their preparation and rehearsal process. This can include helping with cue cards, speech notes, or any other materials they need.

Remember that successful ghostwriting is about capturing the essence of the speaker while delivering a well-structured and engaging speech. Collaboration, communication, and adaptability are key to achieving this.

Give your best speech yet

Learn how to make a speech that’ll hold an audience’s attention by structuring your thoughts and practicing frequently. Put the effort into writing and preparing your content, and aim to improve your breathing, eye contact , and body language as you practice. The more you work on your speech, the more confident you’ll become.

The energy you invest in writing an effective speech will help your audience remember and connect to every concept. Remember: some life-changing philosophies have come from good speeches, so give your words a chance to resonate with others. You might even change their thinking.

Boost your speech skills

Enhance your public speaking with personalized coaching tailored to your needs

Elizabeth Perry, ACC

Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

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How to Write a Wedding Toast: Examples, Tips, and Advice

Make sure your moment in the spotlight is memorable—in a good way!

Jaimie Mackey was the real weddings editor at Brides from 2013 to 2015. She also worked as a luxury wedding planner and produced over 100 high-end weddings and events in Colorado

Photo by Olivia & Dan Photography

In This Article

Figuring out how to write a wedding toast can be an incredibly intimidating and nerve-inducing task. Wedding toasts can go one of two ways: They’re either hilarious, memorable, and totally sweet, or a train wreck waiting to happen. Every couple hopes the speeches at the reception fall into the first category, but there’s no guarantee—until now.

To combat those awful speeches, Marisa Polansky and Kristine Keller founded Speech Tank , offering completely custom, one-of-a-kind toasts for any occasion. And what better reason to turn to the experts than for your best friend’s wedding? We sat down with Polansky and Keller to get the inside scoop on writing a totally killer speech . With their help, your audience will be begging for an encore!

Meet the Expert

• Marisa Polansky is a book editor, author, and co-founder of Speech Tank, a collaborative speech-writing service for any occasion.
• Kristine Keller is a writer and the co-founder of Speech Tank.

Wedding Toast Template

Your wedding toast should be meaningful, but not drawn out. Make sure to have a beginning, middle, and end.

While everyone's speech will be unique to them and their relationship with the couple, we put together a general outline to help you get started.

• Congratulate the couple. Express how happy you are that the two of them are getting married and what it means to you to witness it.
• Introduce yourself. Not everyone will know you met the bride or groom at the fourth-grade space camp, so be sure to let guests know about your relationship with the couple before you dive into your speech.
• Tell a (curated) story. When you’re writing your speech, “Choose anecdotes that all fit a theme and support your argument,” Keller says. The theme will help tie it together, making your toast feel intentional instead of random.
• Address both partners. You may not know them both well, but you shouldn’t focus all of your attention on your friend and ignore their new spouse. “Even if you’ve only met your friend’s partner once or twice before, find a way to include him or her in your toast,” Polansky says. “Tell the story of their engagement or share something your friend told you about them that proves what a great partner he or she is.”
• Go for the crowd-pleasers. “Anything that’s an inside joke may have been funny at the time, but no one else will understand what you’re talking about,” Keller says. “Run your stories and jokes by a neutral audience to see if they are as funny as you think.” And remember, a little humor is fine, but this is a toast, not a roast!
• Raise your glass for a toast. To wrap up your speech, invite everyone to raise their glass to the couple, or to love, etc., then cheers glasses together and take a sip.

Don’t count on your phone, which may lock or turn off mid-speech. Instead, print out your toast or put it on note cards for reference. “It’s your moment to have the floor, so don’t risk forgetting your point!” Keller says.

Wedding Toast Tips

Here are Polansky and Keller's best tips for writing and delivering your wedding toast.

• Just get started. It’s your big moment, but figuring out where to start can be tough. “When we work with our clients, we always start with a stream of consciousness,” Keller says. “We ask them to just start telling us stories. You might not think every anecdote is important, but all of a sudden you’ll land on a real gem.”
• Start writing things down. When you’re doing this at home on your own, Polansky says to just start writing stuff down. “Put it all down on paper. Don’t worry about editing as you’re writing, just get it out and then go back and pick and choose details when you’re done.” This will help you identify a theme, which is what you’ll need to make your toast really memorable.
• Use examples. “If you’re trying to make a point about the bride or groom's personality—say, that she or he's particularly loyal—don’t just say that and move on. Pick a specific moment that proves your point. Have something to back it up!” Polansky says. Including some proof will make sure your listeners really buy what you’re saying about the couple.
• Make it quick. “The best length for a toast is about three minutes,” Polansky says. “It’s enough time to say what you need to say, but short enough that you’ll still have everyone’s attention when you ask them to raise their glasses to toast the happy couple.”
• Practice. Think you know what three minutes feels like? Think again. “Practice reading your speech out loud (not in your head!) and time yourself,” Polansky says. “Don’t wing it, especially if you’re nervous,” Polansky continues. “Give yourself time to prepare. Practice with an audience to check your timing, and give yourself time to make edits.”
• Don't overstuff your speech. “If you’re a fast talker, try to slow yourself down so everyone will understand you,” Polansky says. Better to cut a few lines than to try to fit a 10-minute toast into a three-minute time frame!
• Keep it clean-ish. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important to know your audience. “Cursing and stories about exes are totally off-limits,” Keller says.
• Don't embarrass the couple. “Ask yourself how each story will present the couple. If it sheds any negative light on either person, avoid it.” Continues Polansky, “Think about how close you are with the family as well as who you know will be there. Will it make the bride or groom's great aunt uncomfortable?”

Every time you feel nervous, tell yourself you're excited instead.

Get Brainstorming!

Now that you know the basics, here are a few questions to ask yourself to help you get started writing that killer wedding toast.

• What is your first memory of the bride/groom?
• What is your favorite memory of the bride/groom?
• What did they say when they first told you about their partner?
• How did you know they were meant to be?
• What has the bride/groom or the couple as a whole taught you?
• What qualities do you admire in them?
• When are times that they displayed these qualities?

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The Write Greeting

Birthday Wishes, Sayings, and Inspirational Messages

150+ Toasts to Friends (Cheers to Unforgettable Moments)

• November 14, 2023
• by thewritegreeting

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Fun Toasts to Friends

Fun toasts to friends is a perfect way to celebrate a special moment or a memorable occasion . It’s also a fun way to show appreciation and celebrate the special bond of friendship. Whether you are amongst a group of friends or just hanging out with your best friends, a good toast can elevate the moment and make it that much more special.

In this post, we’ll share some fun and quirky drinking toasts, and some irish toasts that you can raise to your friends and loved ones. So, grab a glass and let’s get toasting!

Here are some fun Drinking Toasts:

• May your home always be too small to hold all your friends.
• May your heart be light and your step be quick, may you find love and never be sick.
• Here’s to those who’ve seen us at our worst and still love us.
• May we never get too old to play drinking games!
• May the hinges of our friendship never grow rusty!
• May your glass be full and your heart be happy.

What Are Some Good Toasts?

Let’s face it, there’s nothing more fun than hanging out with your friends and enjoying some drinks together. And what better way to enjoy your company than by toasting to each other with some fun drinking toasts!

A traditional toast is an expression of goodwill and appreciation. It’s a way of making someone feel special and valued.

So, grab your drinks, put on your party hats, and let’s dive into the art of toasting to your friends!

☘️ Here’s to the friends who always have our backs and stick by us no matter what. May our bond never fade and may we continue to create beautiful memories together!

☘️ May we always be happy and never sober.

☘️ Here’s to the nights we’ll never remember with the friends we’ll never forget,

☘️ May our livers stay strong and our drinks stay strong.

☘️ Here’s to being single, seeing double, and sleeping triple.

Here's to alcohol, the cause and solution to all of life's problems. Homer Simpson Tweet

☘️ May we never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas Eve.

☘️ Here’s to the nights we won’t remember and the friends we won’t forget.

☘️ May our liver be strong and our drinks be stronger.

☘️ Here’s to the ones who love us, the losers who lost us, and the lucky ones who get to meet us.

☘️ Here’s to the nights we’ll never forget with the friends we’ll never remember.

☘️ Here’s to the people who drink, may they always have good company and a full glass. May they never drink alone, and may their hearts be filled with joy and laughter!

☘️ May your glass be full of beer, and your troubles be few. And if you find yourself in a bind, may the beer give you the courage to face it, and the company of good friends to support you.

☘️ Here’s to the people who know how to have a good time, no matter what. May we always have the courage to dance, the humor to laugh, and the liver to handle another pint.

Funny Drinking Toasts for Friends

Here are some funny Irish drinking toasts you can use to have fun with your best friends. 

If there’s one thing the Irish are known for, it’s their love of a good drink and a good laugh. And what better way to combine the two than with some funny drinking toasts.

Pick a favorite toast and share it on a night out.

☘️ May our drinks be strong and our hangovers be weak.

☘️ Here’s to the nights that turn into mornings and the friends that turn into family.

☘️ May our glasses never be empty and our hearts always full.

☘️ May our drinks be cold and our hearts be warm.

☘️ Here’s to the nights that make us forget that we have work in the morning.

☘️ Here’s to the good times we’ve had, the good times we’re having, and the good times we’ll have. May our glasses never be empty, and may we always drink responsibly and with good company.

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• St Patricks day phrases to share the luck of the Irish
• Thank you for the warm welcome
• Thank you for your wonderful hospitality
• Thanks for coming to my party
• Thank you letter to friends
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• Geniune housewarming thank you message

☘️ May our drinks be strong and our regrets be few.

☘️ Here’s to a good life and a merry one, a quick death and an easy one, a pretty girl and an honest one, a cold pint and another one.

☘️ May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light, may good luck pursue you each morning and night, and may you always have the rare good luck to find a four-leaf clover!

☘️ Here’s to a clever toast, a quick wit, and a sharp tongue, may we always have something witty to say and someone witty to say it to!

☘️ May your troubles be few and your blessings be many, may you fall asleep with a smile on your face and wake up with a song in your heart! 

Fun Friendships Toast

Never forget to toast to the little moments in life. It’s easy to get caught up in the big milestones and forget about the everyday moments that make life special. So, the next time you’re out with your friends, take a moment to toast to the laughter, the inside jokes, and the little moments that make your friendship unique.

☘️ Here’s to the ones who love us, the ones who hate us, and the ones who couldn’t care less.

☘️ To the friends who have been with us through thick and thin, cheers!

☘️ Here’s to the friends who make every moment special.

☘️ May we always be surrounded by friends who bring out the best in us.

☘️ Here’s to the friends who know us better than we know ourselves.

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☘️ May we always have friends to share our laughter and wipe our tears

☘️ Here’s to the friends who make life worth living.

☘️ May we never lose touch with the friends who have become family

☘️ Here’s to the friends who make us feel at home wherever we are.

☘️ May we always have friends who love us for who we are.

Funny Drinking Toasts

Let’s face it, there’s nothing more fun than hanging out with your friends and enjoying some drinks together. And what better way to enjoy your company than by toasting to real friends!

A toast is an expression of goodwill and appreciation. It’s a way of making someone feel special and valued. So, grab your drinks, put on your party hats, and let’s dive into the art of toasting to your friends!

Here are some of the best Irish toasts you can use for your old friends.

☘️ Sláinte!” (pronounced “slawn-cha”) which means “health” in Irish.

☘️ May you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been, the foresight to know where you’re going, and the insight to know when you’re going too far.

☘️ May the road rise to meet you, and the wind be always at your back.

☘️ May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.

☘️ May your troubles be less, and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door.

Here's to the friends who make us feel like we can conquer the world - or at least the next round. Frank F. Tweet

☘️ May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light, may good luck pursue you each morning and night.

☘️ Here’s to a long life and a merry one, a quick death and an easy one, a pretty girl and an honest one, a cold beer and another one!

☘️ May our friendship be like a fine wine – only getting better with age and leaving us with a great aftertaste.

☘️ To the friends who are always down for a good old-fashioned drinking contest.

☘️ To the friends who make us feel young again – even if it’s just for one night.

☘️ Here’s to the Irish, a people who know how to appreciate the simple things in life, like a good pint of Guinness and a warm fire on a cold night. May we always have the ability to find joy in the little things, and the company of good friends to share them with.

Cute Toasts About Friends

Irish toasts are a great way to celebrate life’s special moments, and they are often accompanied by a pint of Guinness or a shot of whiskey.

In this blog post, we will share some of the funniest and most traditional drinking toasts that are perfect for any occasion.

So grab a drink, gather your friends, and get ready to raise a glass to laughter and good times!

☘️ Here’s to the friends who make every day an adventure.

☘️ May we always have friends who inspire us to be better people.

☘️ Here’s to the friends who make us feel alive.

☘️ May we never forget the friends who have helped us through tough times.

☘️ Here’s to the friends who make us feel like we belong.

☘️ May your glass be full of whiskey, and your troubles be few. And if you find yourself in a bind, may the Irish charm and wit get you out of it, and the whiskey keep you warm.

☘️ May we always have friends who bring us joy and happiness.

☘️ Here’s to the friends who make us feel like we can conquer the world.

☘️ May we never take for granted the friends who have stood by us through thick and thin.

☘️ Here’s to the friends who make us feel like anything is possible.

☘️ May we always have friends who believe in us.

☘️ May your glass be full of whiskey, and your heart be full of gratitude. And if you find yourself in trouble, may the luck of the Irish be with you, and may your friends be there to bail you out!

Friendship Drinking Toasts

Toasting to friendship is a beautiful and powerful thing. It’s a way to celebrate the people who have impacted our lives and journeyed with us through thick and thin.

So, next time you’re gathered with your friends, take a moment to raise a glass, and make a toast to the milestones you’ve already celebrated, and to the ones you have yet to reach. Here’s to many more memories and moments that will last a lifetime!

☘️ May we never forget the friends who have made a difference in our lives.

☘️ May we always have friends who lift us up when we’re feeling down.

☘️ Here’s to the friends who make us laugh until our stomachs hurt.

☘️ Here’s to the friends who make us feel like we’re not alone.

☘️ May we never underestimate the power of a good friend.

☘️ Here’s to the Irish, a people who know how to make the most of life’s simple pleasures. May we always have good friends, good drink, and good music to share.

☘️ Here’s to the friends who make every day a little brighter.

☘️ May we never forget the friends who have made us who we are today.

☘️ May you always have a clean shirt, a clear conscience, and enough coins in your pocket to buy a pint!

☘️ Here’s to a pint of good beer, a soft pillow for your head, and a woman who loves you in your bed.

☘️ Here’s to our wives and girlfriends: may they never meet!

An Irish Blessing For Your Friends

Drinking toasts are a time-honored tradition that have been passed down through generations of drinkers. These drinking toasts often reflect the Irish love of laughter and good company, and they are a great way to bring people together.

Here are some of our favorite drinking toasts of all time, that will add some humor to your next drinking occasion.

☘️ May the roof above us never fall in, and may we friends beneath it never fall out.

☘️ To the friends who have been with us through thick and thin – and who still haven’t figured out how to get rid of us.

☘️ Here’s to the friends who give us honest advice even when we don’t want to hear it.

☘️ To the friends who always have our backs, even when we’re making complete fools of ourselves.

☘️ To us, the people our parents warned us about!

☘️ Here’s to the friends who make every day feel like a party.

☘️ To the friends who never judge us for our questionable life choices.

☘️ Here’s to the friends who make us forget about our problems and just enjoy the moment.

☘️ To the friends who are always up for a good time – even if it means getting into a little trouble.

☘️ Here’s to me, and here’s to you, and here’s to love and laughter—I’ll be true as long as you, and not one moment after.

Fun Cheers When Drinking

When it comes to having a fun night out, toasts are a must-have. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or just enjoying a night out with friends, a good toast can bring a smile to everyone’s face.

We’re sharing some of the most humorous and traditional Idrinking toasts that are sure to get you and your friends hilariously laughing.

☘️ Here’s to a long life and a merry one. A quick death and an easy one. A pretty girl and an honest one. A cold beer—and another one!

☘️ May Irish laughter lighten every load, may your pockets be heavy, and your heart be light as a feather!

☘️ Here’s to absent friends, may they always be remembered and never be forgotten.

☘️ May your troubles be few and your blessings be many, may your friends understand the things you say, and may you never say the things they understand!

☘️ Good friends are like four-leaf clovers, hard to find but lucky to have.

☘️ May your good friends always outnumber your enemies, and may they always be there to lift you up when you fall.

☘️ May your friends remember the good times, forget the bad, and always be there to share a pint with you.

☘️ May all this world be yours to see, may your heart be warm and happy, and your glass never empty!

☘️ Here’s to the finest people we know, may we never forget them, and may we never go without them!

☘️ May all the favors you have done return to you tenfold, and may you always have a friend by your side to share a pint with!

Classic Toasts to Share With Friends

Irish toasts are an essential part of any drinking occasion, and they are often used to celebrate friendship, love, and life.

In this blog post, we will share some of the funniest traditional toasts that have been passed down through generations of Irish drinkers. Get ready to raise your glass and share a laugh with these hilarious drinking toasts!

☘️ Here’s to warm bodies, good food, and cold drinks, may we always have them in abundance and never take them for granted!

☘️ May we never forget what is worth remembering or remember what is best forgotten.

☘️ May the road rise up to meet you, and may the wind be always at your back, unless you’re walking home from the pub, then you’re on your own.

☘️Here’s to a long life and a merry one, a quick death and an easy one, a pretty girl and an honest one, a cold beer and another one!

☘️ May your glass be full of whiskey, and your heart be full of love. And if you find yourself alone, may the music of the Irish fill your soul, and the warmth of the pub keep you company.

☘️ May your glass be full and your heart be light, and may you always have a designated driver on hand

☘️ May your troubles be less and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door!

☘️ May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future

☘️ May the luck of the Irish be with you, and may your hangovers be few and far between.

☘️ May your glass be ever full, and may you never have to drink alone.

Best Toast to Share With Your Friends

Whether you’re celebrating St. Patrick’s Day or just enjoying a night out with friends, funny Irish drinking toasts are a must-have. In this blog post, we will share some of the most hilarious drinking toasts that are sure to get everyone laughing and drinking. So grab a pint of Guinness or a shot of whiskey, and get ready to raise your glass to the luck of the Irish!

Check out some of our favorite old Irish toasts below!

M☘️ ay your friends be many and your enemies be few, and may you never run out of beer or whiskey to share with them.

☘️ Here’s to good-hearted landlords, who never raise the rent and always keep the beer flowing. May their pockets be full and their hearts be light, and may they never run out of Guinness or whiskey to share with us!

☘️ Only fools drink alone, the rest of us make our mates come with us!

☘️ Here’s to friends gathered, both far and near, may they always bring us joy and laughter, and may we never shed a tear. May our glasses never be empty, and may the craic never end. Sláinte!

☘️ May neighbors respect you, trouble neglect you, the angels protect you, and heaven accept you. And may your glass be full of fine Irish whiskey, and your heart be full of love and laughter. Sláinte!

☘️ Here’s to the Irish, may we always be lucky enough to find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. And if we don’t, there’s always a pint of Guinness waiting for us at the pub.

☘️ May your glass be full of whiskey, and your heart be full of laughter. And if you can’t find your way home, may the road rise up to meet you, and the police be nowhere in sight!

☘️ Here’s to the Irish, a people who know how to celebrate life’s moments, big and small. May we always have a reason to raise a glass, and never forget the joy of good company and good drink!

☘️ May your troubles be less and your blessings be more, and may your glass never be empty. And if it is, may you have the courage to ask for another round, and the sense to know when to stop.

☘️ Here’s to the Irish, a people who know how to find the humor in life’s ups and downs. May we always have something to laugh about, and a pint of beer to wash away our troubles.

Cute & Fun Friendships Toast

Drinking toasts are a time-honored tradition that have been passed down through generations of drinkers. And when it comes to toasting, the Irish are known for their love of laughter and good company.

We have some of the funniest drinking toasts that are sure to add some humor to your next night out.

☘️ Here’s to staying positive, even when life gets tough. May the road rise up to meet you, and may the wind be always at your back. And when the going gets rough, may you have a pint of Guinness or a shot of whiskey to help you through. Sláinte!

☘️ Here’s to all the rest, may we never forget them, and may we never go without them. May our glasses be full, our hearts be light, and may we always have good company to share a drink with!

☘️ Here’s to Irish magic, may it bring us luck and joy. May our glasses be full of fine Irish whiskey, and our hearts be full of the warmth and hospitality of the Irish people!

☘️ Here’s to old friends, may they always be near, and may we never forget the good times we’ve shared. May our glasses be full, our hearts be light, and may we always have good company to share a drink with.

☘️ May we never run out of beer or whiskey!

☘️ May misfortune follow you every day—and never catch up

☘️ Here’s to a good woman and a bad drink, and may they never meet!

☘️ May your glass be full and your heart be light, and may your liver be strong enough to handle another pint.

☘️ May your glass be ever full, may the sun always shine on your face, and may your hangovers be few and far between.

☘️ Here’s to a long life and a merry one, a quick death and an easy one, a pretty girl and an honest one, and a cold beer to wash it all down!

Toasting to your friends is a fun and meaningful way of celebrating life’s special moments. Whether it’s a birthday, a wedding, or just a night out with your friends, there’s always a reason to toast to one another. So, the next time you’re with your pals, raise your glass and let the toasting begin!

☘️ Cheers to good friendships and making memories that last a lifetime!

Alcohol may be man's worst enemy, but the Bible says love your enemy Sinatra Tweet

Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough. Mark Twain Tweet

May your glass be ever full, may the roof over your head be always strong, and may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead. Here's to good cheer and good company Anon Tweet

Here's to them that wish us well, all the rest can go to hell! Anon Tweet

Best friends never let each other drink alone! Anon Tweet

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5 chatgpt prompts to improve your public speaking (wow your audience).

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5 ChatGPT prompts to be a better public speaker (wow your audience)

If you find yourself on a stage or in the spotlight, you had better take it seriously. People are watching, so don’t let them down. Open with confidence, deliver with passion, and close with a bang. There is no other way. But if you’re not sure how to begin preparing, this might seem like a mammoth task. Luckily, there’s time to learn.

These five public speaking experts have you covered, along with a little help from ChatGPT. Copy, paste and edit the square brackets in ChatGPT, and keep the same chat window open so the context carries through.

Wow your audience with your words: ChatGPT prompts for public speaking

Get ideas for keynotes.

Keynote speaker, leadership performance coach, and host of the Compete Every Day podcast Jake Thompson uses ChatGPT to get ideas for keynotes, “as a baseline to start and then adjust the copy and tune.” He said it’s helpful if you’re “stuck generating a strong starting point.” Don’t let the blank page intimidate you. Give ChatGPT information about your audience and their goals, to get brand new ideas you can roll with in minutes. Prompt like a winner from the very start, following Thompson’s lead.

“You are an expert marketing copywriter. Create a list of five ideas for keynote speech titles for my talk for [describe your audience, e.g. new managers and leaders], aspiring to be [describe their goal, e.g. high performance in their role].”

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Here’s what happens if trump is convicted—as trial goes to jury next week, ukrainian crews got tired of asking the americans for extra armor for their m 1 tanks they installed their own armor instead.

Once you have options for ideas, choose your favorite and request a framework with examples tailored to your field of expertise.

“The talk will discuss the importance of [outline the key learning objectives, e.g. self-leadership, building rapport with team members, investing in your professional network]. Create a structure for the talk. Include titles and subtitles that incorporate examples and metaphors from [your signature topic, e.g. sports, business] to [outcome you want to achieve, e.g. inspire, motivate] the audience.”

Resonate with your audience

Keynote speaker, corporate facilitator and founder of Breakthrough Play , Gary Ware, has worked with some household name brands, including HP HP , Intuit Intuit and GoFundMe, to improve the public speaking skills of their outward-facing team members. Ware is all about the audience. Use these prompts to make a speech you have already written super relevant to the people in the room. Don’t miss the mark by taking them in turn.

“The audience of my next talk consists of [describe your audience including their profession, typical age, and any other characteristics] and the theme of the [event, e.g. conference] is [describe the theme, e.g. marketing]. Based on this information, outline the key interests or concerns my speech should address to be most relevant to them.”

When you have your answer, incorporate the learning into your speech, then check it aligns.

“Based on your recommendations given, review my attached talk to ensure my message is aligned with this audience’s expectations and needs. [Paste speech]”

Balance warmth and competence

Vanessa Van Edwards is founder of The Science of People and bestselling author of books Captivate, unpacking the science behind succeeding with people, and Cues, mastering the secret language of charismatic communication . She delivers 50 keynote speeches every year and knows how to make a great impression that lasts long after her talk is over.

“The best presenters have the perfect blend of warmth and competence,” Van Edwards explained. “But most of us have an imbalance between the two.” To redress the balance, Van Edwards pastes her script into ChatGPT and asks for recommendations. Here’s a prompt you can try for yourself.

“Review the script for an upcoming keynote I’m delivering. Identify three sections that lack warmth, and suggest the most appropriate way to improve that (for example, with a story, joke, case study, example or warm words) being specific about what to add or remove. Then, identify three sections with the potential to signal more competence, and suggest what to add (for example data, facts, analytics or competent words), being specific. [Paste script]”

Breathe more often

Founder of Best Speech Mike Pacchione, a keynote coach who has worked with renowned speakers such as James Clear , Donald Miller, Amy Porterfield and Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton, wants you to focus on breathing. Sounds simple? There’s much more to it. “Speakers can speak with more power when they breathe frequently,” he explained. “But they write notes in paragraphs and long sentences. That leads to being out of breath by the time you hit a full stop.”

Pacchionne recommends that speakers write their scripts as if they're song lyrics. In other words, format your keynote wording in such a way where you are reminded to take a breath. An ideal task for ChatGPT.

"Rewrite the following text with the exact same words, but add a line break every 7-10 words. The end product should resemble song lyrics instead of written paragraphs. [Paste your script]"

When you have your reworked speech, Pacchionne recommends you “go back and make sure the breathing breaks are in natural spots,” adding that “a speaker would be far better served with that format versus paragraphs.”

Make a backup plan

Entrepreneur, bestselling author, podcast host and keynote speaker Liz Bohannon is hired to give keynotes of different lengths, usually between 30 and 60 minutes. But the story is sometimes different on the day. “Often the event is running late, so I have less time than I'd planned for.” Bohannon uses ChatGPT to make a robust backup plan, so she’s prepared for any eventuality before she arrives.

"This speech is [duration]. I need to shorten it by [number] minutes but maintain [topic of speech, lesson or takeaway] as the main point. Make suggestions as to which parts I can cut while maintaining the powerful message: [Paste script]"

Stand out on stage: ChatGPT prompts to show up and wow

Give your audience everything they want and more when you prepare well using ChatGPT. Get ideas for talks with suitable examples, resonate with your audience whatever the event, and balance warmth and competence for charismatic delivery. Don’t forget to breathe by seeing your paragraphs as lyrics, and make a backup plan to fit in with questionable organizer timings.

Show up, stand tall, and say your words with pride. Secure raving fans and repeat bookings. The mic is yours, don’t let us down.

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