I need help writing a wedding toast to be given by the Matron of
Honor, to the bride, who has been married 3 times already, and is
marrying a guy 7 yrs younger.
The audience will be friends and no family. The Matron of Honor gets
very nervice when she has to speak in public. Please help, Saturday
the 9th of July is the party.

Hello cedodge~

There are many sites on the Internet that offer ideas on toasting, as
well as actual toasts. You should be able to find something suitable
among the following articles:


* "Toasting 101: Leave the Speechless," theknot.com:
http://www.theknot.com/ch_article.html?Object=A50218153327

* "Toasts," weddingbells.com: http://www.weddingbells.com/toast/

* "Tips from Irish Toasts," theknot.com:
http://www.theknot.com/ch_article.html?Object=AI91105100948

* "Wedding Toasts," about.com:
http://quotations.about.com/cs/weddingtoasts/a/bls_wed_toasts.htm

* "Traditional Wedding Toasts," tmclark.com: http://www.tmclark.com/JP/toasts.html

* "Wedding Toasts," hitched: http://www.hitched.co.uk/speeches/toasts/index.asp

* "Marriage Toasts," humorsphere.com:
http://www.humorsphere.com/wedding/marriage_toasts.htm

* "Sample Second Wedding Toasts & Speeches," gettingremarried.com:
http://www.gettingremarried.com/wedding_toasts_wedding_speeches.html



You might also check out:

* "Overcoming Wedding Toast Jitters" and "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad
Wedding Toast," theperfecttoast.com:
http://www.theperfecttoast.com/pt-wedding-toast-jitters.html


Have fun!

Kriswrite

RESEARCH STRATEGY:
wedding toasts
://www.google.com/search?q=wedding+toasts&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&start=10&sa=N

This comes from the recent movie "Hitch":

"Never lie, steal, cheat or drink. But if you must lie, lie in the
arms of the one you love. If you must steal, steal away from bad
company. If you must cheat, cheat death. And if you must drink, drink
in the moments that take your breath away."

Of course I don't know the couple or their sense of humor but what
comes to mind may be a mention of "maybe three times wasn't the charm"
or jokingly say the bride is "robbing the cradle".  Just some
thoughts.

With all respect to Bowler, I would stear clear of any references to
those two points.  Regardless of what is said, someone in the crowd
laugh or snicker the wrong way.

A quick glance at the links Kriswrite provided lets me think that you
will find enough good suggestions.  And if one of them doesn't say so,
don't worry about letting your nervousness show, even if the paper
shakes (just don't spill your glass, or set it down first).  There is
nothing more disarming  - and relaxing -  than admitting that you are
so moved by the occasion that you are nervous.

As a rather egotistical person, myself, I (see!) suggest trying to
leave the first person out of the text as much as possible.  "You/They
are ..." rather than "I think ..." or "For me, ...".
If yours is the only toast or will be the main formal toast, your
words can be appropriate for the group:  "We wish ..." instead of just
"I wish ...";  "Let us all join in ..." and so on.

If you use a written text, be sure that you can read it  - in bad
light, without your glasses, whatever.  :-)    12, 14 point bold-face,
1 1/2 spacing, not too long lines.

Good luck and best wishes to the couple.