Among the most cherished events of any wedding day are the toasts, which are traditionally offered by the best man and the maid of honor but sometimes also by additional wedding party members and other close friends or family. Toasts are especially meaningful to the couple, so it can be difficult for the bride and groom to recognize the importance of limiting the number of people speaking, as well as the time allotted for each.
An ideal time for toasting the couple is when everyone has been seated and dinner is in process. That way, most people are in their seats and contentedly munching away when the speaking begins. If you are having more than two people speaking, make sure to discuss time limitations with your speakers. Guests will start to get fidgety after about 10-15 minutes of toasting, so you should aim to have all toasts wrapped up within that time frame. The last thing you want is for your guests to be inwardly rolling their eyes as the next speaker grabs the microphone.
Try to remember that while you may enjoy hearing your friends describe inside jokes and old memories, it can become a little tedious for your guests. Ensuring that guests are having a good time will ultimately translate into more fun for everyone, including the bride and groom, throughout the evening, so take the time to consider their feelings and cater to their needs. Allowing ample time for guests to become comfortable with new acquaintances and their surroundings often leads to more people on the dance floor later.
*This article is part of a series describing the various steps to take in order to produce the kind of wedding that people will talk about for years. Below are links to other articles in the series.
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