Recently, I had to do one of the many things that scares me; and I am not talking about my bumpy flight back from Amelia Island.  I had to give a wedding toast.  What is it that makes toasts so terrifying? I think it is the fact you actually have to say something meaningful. Ideally, you want a memorable toast; something that is charming, sweet, and well-delivered. Unless you are an amazing public speaker with a team of speech writers, this is quite a daunting task. How do you sum up years of friendship, love, and hope for the future in just a few paragraphs? You have me stumped.

Being the procrastinator that I am, I worked on my toast until I had to report for my “maid of honor” duties, hoping some new inspiration would hit me.  In the end, I borrowed a line from my uncle and surrendered to grandfather time.

Having crossed this major hurdle, here is my advice:

1. Speak from the heart, but don’t get too sappy.
2. Don’t ramble.
3. Remember to compliment the groom;
4. and practice, practice, practice.

And to all of  you wedding-goers out there, if you find yourself in the position of giving very last minute unsolicited advice to the toaster–please don’t! You will only annoy the speaker.