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Toast
“Success in marriage does not come merely through finding the right mate, but through being the right mate.”
— Barnett R. Brickner (author)
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Be concise.
Plan to speak about 2-3 minutes.
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Speak from the heart.
Be authentic with your comments and feelings.
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Have a beginning, middle and end.
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Introduce yourself.
Making sure the audience knows you’re the bride’s father is very important.
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Thank everyone.
Let them know how special it is that they are there to celebrate the bride & groom’s love.
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Tell a story about the bride.
Share a positive part of her character, and what it means to you as a father.
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Talk about her as a wife.
Share a story or list of reasons why you feel she will make a great one.
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Talk about the groom.
Share a story or list of reasons why the groom is such a good fit for her.
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Talk about him as a husband.
Share a story or list of reasons why the groom would make a great one.
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Offer marriage advice.
Share something you’ve learned over the years.
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Ask for support.
Encourage everyone in the room to support the love they share.
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Close your toast.
Ask: “if everyone would please raise their glass to the bride and groom”, and then add your own personal congratulations statement like: “May their love grow stronger each and every day of their lives”. Then, take a big sip.
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Practice.
You will be nervous, so be familiar with what you’re going to say.
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Listen to yourself.
Critique your toast by listening to a recording of it.
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Let others help you make it better.
Get feedback from someone you know will give you honest criticism.
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Bring notes.
Use them only if you really need them.