Etiquette Tuesday: "I Would Like to Propose a Toast"
“Cheers to your new life together”, “Kudos on your new endeavor”, “I would like to propose a toast”…sound familiar?? These are common closings on the Toast. This weeks Etiquette Tuesday focuses on the proper way to toast. The top three things to remember are: 1. Keep it short 2. Choose your words carefully and 3. Timing. The first one is self-explanatory. No one wants to hear you ramble on for 20 minutes about every single memory you have with that person or couple, tell one nostalgic story that really stands out and we will all get the picture. Not to say it should be two seconds long, but keep it to about 2-4 minutes depending on the occasion.
Choosing your words: At your best friends wedding rehearsal dinner is not the time to bring up that threesome you did in college. Keep some stories for the bachelor party or a more appropriate, private setting. Also, embarrassing or hurtful stories should be best left until the crowd has cleared out. Timing is knowing when it’s your turn to talk. If you are not apart of the immediate hosting party or bridal party, basically you should wait until one of these people initiates the toasting segment of the evening.
A toast is supposed to encourage and make the guest(s) of honor feel special. A toast is not supposed to embarrass, humiliate or tell every single detail about the persons life. Use discretion, keep it short, know your place and things should be fine. Cheers!
Choosing your words: At your best friends wedding rehearsal dinner is not the time to bring up that threesome you did in college. Keep some stories for the bachelor party or a more appropriate, private setting. Also, embarrassing or hurtful stories should be best left until the crowd has cleared out. Timing is knowing when it’s your turn to talk. If you are not apart of the immediate hosting party or bridal party, basically you should wait until one of these people initiates the toasting segment of the evening.
A toast is supposed to encourage and make the guest(s) of honor feel special. A toast is not supposed to embarrass, humiliate or tell every single detail about the persons life. Use discretion, keep it short, know your place and things should be fine. Cheers!
Category: Food.Fun.Stuff.
About the Author (Author Profile)
Johnna French is a Harlem NY native with deep roots in Panama, Washington, DC and North Carolina. All four places have heavily influenced her life and the foods she loves today. After graduating Howard University School of Law and beginning her life as a young professional in the city she was led to start Johnna Knows Good Food in November 2007 to keep family, friends and colleagues updated on where to go and what to eat while dining in the nation’s capitol. French, who still practices law, leads a team of three writers to cover the ever expanding Washington, DC food scene. French has been featured in print and television, appearing in Washingtonian Magazine and is a regular contributor to various local TV affiliates including WUSA 9, FOX 5 DC and WJLA (ABC Affiliate) News Channel 8. During the 2016-2017 football season, Johnna aired on Comcast Sports Mid-Atlantic (CSN) show, Redskins Life, as the weekly tailgate host. Johnna is currently a regular contributor to the FOX Baltimore Weekend morning show.Subscribe
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Great post! I was at the wedding of a former flame when her father got up and preceded to talk about how every other guys she'd ever known was a jerk, creep or a lame. I started to give my own toast about the time when I found her in the hall of the freshman guys dorm drunk and singing after visitation hours. Rather than give my own retaliatory recitation (clearly breaking each of the three rules above) of how I carried her like a wounded combat buddy back to her dorm on the other side of campus, I simply smiled and raised my glass.
I love etiquette Tuesdays, I can't wait til therapy Thursdays.. I got a lot I'm trying to work through. Keep up the good work.
LoL!! Thank you;-) I'm headed to a wedding and am interested to see if people will know how to be discreet in their well wishes…
LoL!! Thank you;-) I'm headed to a wedding and am interested to see if people will know how to be discreet in their well wishes…
LoL!! Thank you;-) I'm headed to a wedding and am interested to see if people will know how to be discreet in their well wishes…