1.  Keep it short and sweet - 30 seconds to 3 minutes.

2.  Keep it clean.  Stay away from stories involving partying, getting it on, or embarrassing moments.  No dirty or crude jokes.

3.  Speak from your heart.  Tell an endearing story of the couple’s courtship.  Avoid long winded stories about childhood.

4.  The couple’s personality, family, and ceremony set the tone.  Keep in mind how conservative and/or religious the couple and their families are.  If the ceremony and reception is very formal, leave the jokes at home.  When writing your toast, keep these three items in the back of your mind.

5.  Relax.  It can be nerve racking to be the center of attention and make a meaningful speech in a room of virtual strangers.  Stand up, speak in a clear, even tone, avoid "um(s)" and using the word "like" repeatedly, hold the microphone at your chin, annunciate your words, and make eye contact with different guests across the room and the happy couple.

Good luck!

Instead of something blue, be different, and try something GREEN.  Raise the eco-awareness of your guests by having a simple and elegantly GREEN wedding.

• For your favors, make a donation in your guests’ names to companies that invest in renewable energy.
• Choose a venue or location that practices green initiatives like recycling, water conservation, or solar panels.  www.greenhotels.com
• Use organically grown flowers
• Print your invitations on recycled paper with soy ink
• Ask your caterer to use local, organic foods and donate all leftovers to local shelters
• For decor, use natural, local elements that are free such as pinecones, seashells, and stones
• Replace regular candles with soy-based candles that are clean-burning
• In your engagement ring and wedding bands, use conflict free diamonds
• Register for energy efficient appliances and organic sheets