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How to: Give a wedding toast

By Alexia Alejalde-Ruiz, Chicago Tribune, Source: MCT News Service

For the legions of best men and maids of honor stumped about what to say, Tom Haibeck _ author of "Wedding Toasts Made Easy" _ offers some tips for preparing and delivering a gorgeous toast:

DO

Make it personal. Identify three anecdotes that are humorous or illustrate something the audience might not know about the bride or groom.

Use gentle humor, but be mindful of your audience (don't offend grandma).

Rehearse, ideally in the venue.

Exercise the day of the wedding to work off any nervous energy.

End your toast with a positive comment about the couple, and raise your glass.

DO NOT

Exceed five minutes. Ideally, a toast should be two to three minutes.

Try to be funny if you're not.

Have a drink to calm your nerves. One drink often leads to another and before you know it you're sloshed.

Write out your speech and read it word for word. Instead, jot down some key points on index cards.

-Rely on canned wedding toasts you buy off the Internet.

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