A wonderful toast makes gathered guests feel honored to be together and with you, whereas a bad toast just embarrasses everyone. Here are some tips to help you shine:
- Don’t ever toast yourself.
- If you’re the one being toasted, just listen quietly to the toast and then say a quick thank-you. Don’t even put your hand on your glass, much less drink.
- Don’t read your toast. If it’s too long to commit to memory, it’s too long. Come up with something pithier.
- Don’t clink glasses. It’s an old custom involving the driving away of spirits—not a happy thought at any occasion. Besides, it’s bad news for glassware.
- Do keep your toast short.
- Do toast the host in return if you are the guest of honor and are being toasted You can do this as soon as the host’s toast is finished or later, during dessert. Just keep it short.
- Do not tap the rim of your glass to get everybody’s attention—it’s tacky.
- Do make a toast even if you’re not drinking alcohol. Anything will do. It’s the thought that counts.
- Do toast more than one person. For example, you might toast an entire family that has come to visit, or a whole team.
- Do not preempt. The host should be the first one to toast.
No comments:
Post a Comment