Mastering the Toast

Even a simple toast to quickly acknowledge a deserving individual or special occasion is worthy of your full focus and commitment during the speech planning phase. It doesn’t take much to organize the toast effectively so that you will be able to deliver it like a pro! Here’s some ‘mastering the toast’ insight and suggestions to help you get started.

Just like any speech or presentation, toasts can come in a variety of styles and lengths. Once you know who or what will be the focus of your toast, the next steps are to determine the length of the presentation and the style of delivery most suitable for the person and the occasion.

Some toasts will be short and sweet, perhaps running only two or three minutes. Some toasts might run five or 10 minutes, sometimes more. It all depends on the occasion and on the program set out by the event planner. Timing can be especially important at some events, so always communicate well with the planner and do your best to respect their guidance.

The style of presentation you choose can make a big impact on the success of your toast and how well the recipient and the audience react. Again, the event planner can give you some insight into what might be the best style of delivery. A jovial, light-hearted toast that pokes a little fun at the recipient in a friendly sort of way might be well received at certain events, but may be totally inappropriate at other events, like a formal business meeting. Even with a toast that is intended to be light-hearted and fun, be careful not to push the humour so far that it becomes more of a roast than a toast. That can end up being awkward for everybody.

Toasts can be serious and formal, or light-hearted and witty. They can be complimentary towards the recipient, highlighting their positive qualities or recognizing a particular achievement. They can include personal stories about the recipient, and offer best wishes for the future. They might even offer advice. Be sincere in your comments, and avoid saying anything likely to embarrass anyone. Mastering the toast includes being thoughtful and respectful towards others.

Contrary to popular belief, toasts are not always made with wine or other spirits. Today, depending on the formality of the occasion, it can be appropriate to raise a water class, coffee cup, or any other handy drink container during a toast.

A toast is a speech and can be structured the same way as many speeches are, to include:

• A complementary opening statement that identifies or honours the person, occasion or event being acknowledged.

• A body that includes several key highlights, quips, anecdotes or stories that exemplify the reasons why the person, occasion or event is being acknowledged. The number will depend on the intended overall length of the toast (important to know before you start your speech planning!)

• A closing statement that wraps up the toast, once again acknowledging the recipient, or why the recipient is worthy of the accolades, and invites the audience to join in by standing (where appropriate) and raising their glasses. Typically, the presenter will say something like, “Please rise and join me in a toast to (name of recipient).” The presenter will wait a few moments for everyone to rise, and then will say something like, “To (name of recipient),” and then everyone will raise their glasses and repeat, “To (name of recipient),” and then all will sit down.

In some circumstances, typically determined ahead of time by the event planner and communicated in advance to both the presenter and the recipient, the recipient will rise following the toast and offer a brief thank you for being recognized or honoured in this way.

Mastering the toast takes just a little focused planning, preparation and practice. Do this effectively, and you will be a toast master in no time!