Giving a toast is a responsibility that puts anxiety into the hearts of most members of a wedding party. While it's not usually something that is particularly long or involved, it's still speaking in public and really puts people on the spot.

If you are organizing a wedding and know that most members of this wedding party are hams who won't mind the whole "public speaking" thing, then by all means keep the toasts traditional with dad, the best man and others taking their expected turns at the microphone.

However if you're looking for something different, either because you want to save putting people on the spot, or you simply want to do something different and fun, read on.

For starters, you can certainly take the whole toast thing off the agenda if you wish. There are no rules requiring a toast at any wedding.

But if you want to do something a little different, there are options. You can go the video route, where people essentially make a toast on camera and then the video is given to the bride and groom later. This isn't a particularly unique idea, but it does solve the issue of not wanting to put people on the spot and still gives everyone an opportunity to say something special to the bride and groom.

If your guest list includes many outgoing people then consider "pass the microphone". This can operate in several ways. You can either be silly with it, or deadly serious. Most guests like silly. Say dad takes the microphone first. His last name ends with T (so, let's say dad's last name is McNaught). He must pick someone whose first name begins with a T (Tim? Tony? ?) and pass the microphone to that person, who then gives a toast.

This method of delivering toasts does put guests on the spot (certainly before the fun begins you can warn them so if they are really uncomfortable, they can escape to the restroom or bar) but it can also be a lot of fun.

You could decide that one person at each is asked to give a toast. Number the tables and at various intervals, have the wedding MC call a number, which will require guests at that table to determine amongst themselves who will give the toast at that table.

Say you have plenty of public speakers in the party, and finding willing toast participants won't be a problem. But you think the subject matter might be. There's an easy solution to this problem. You can provide open-ended topics for the toast speakers. Say you are providing an "open mike" toast arrangement, where anyone can ask for the microphone and offer a toast. The wedding MCor someone else in the wedding party (perhaps the maid of honor or best man) can offer the speaker a surprise topic, which might be pulled from a champagne flute or drawn out of the floral arrangement on the head table. There might be slips of paper to choose, or just one sheet of paper with several suggestions.

The speaker might choose to finish this sentence, "I remember when (groom's name here) was a little boy, he always …" or answer this question, "When was (insert bride's name here) at her silliest? Tell us the story". You might have to give each speaker a minute or two to collect their thoughts, but you're sure to have some interesting stories, some unique anecdotes and some different perspectives on the bride and groom.

The role of wedding MC is a vital one at any reception. Make sure you choose wisely. Learn more
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