Michael Jackson – This Is It
By Robbin Montero
Salute! Sante! Cheers! Toasting dates back to Roman times when a glass of wine with a toasted piece of bread at the bottom was passed around the table. The last person to sip from the goblet, claimed the bread and would be the one totoast.
Often people fear they will be expected to give a brilliant spontaneous toast, but those responsible for wedding toasts know in advance and can prepare. They can write down their thoughts and rehearse ahead of time. Still others prefer toasts that spring from the heart as they rise from their seat.
Roasts vs. toasts
The rehearsal dinner is the appropriate time to have aroast, a completely different form of salute. A roast is never appropriate at a wedding reception. The rehearsal dinner guests are generally limited to members of the bridal party, closest friends and family members participating in the wedding. Everyone can participate in a rehearsal dinner roast, with a joke, humorous anecdote or sharing of personal memories.
Most people attending the rehearsal dinner have a more intimate relationship with the couple so they can enjoy intimate humor. However, if the tendency is for the humor to be risqu, stop short of making the parents and older relatives uncomfortable.
At the reception
Toasts are traditional at wedding receptions where the guests are a broader cross-section of relatives and acquaintances of the bridal couple. Though interested in the couple, most of those outside the wedding party are a step removed from the bridal couple in terms of intimacy.
There are two good times during the reception to make brief toasts. A toast (or a couple brief ones) can take place prior to sitting down for dinner or prior to cutting the wedding cake.
The couple hears toasts from well wishers in a specific order. First, the party’s host begins the toasting. If the father of the bride is the host, he starts. The traditional order is: first, the father of the bride; second, the best man; then the maid of honor. While not as well known a tradition, the maid of honor does indeed toast the bride and groom. If the bride and groom host their own wedding, they would start the toasts by extending thanks and appreciation to families and guests first.
Elements of a toast
A toast is a meaningful acknowledgment of the wedding couple and an expression of good wishes for their happy future together. It is also a salutation of welcome, with one side of the bridal party welcoming the other. For example, the best man welcomes the bride into the groom’s side of the family and his circle of friends.
The presenter of the toast should keep in mind other wedding guests are not as close to the couple, so remarks should not be worded in such a way that only a select group will understand. This is also not a time to try to make the bridal couple blush. The toast should last around three and no more than five minutes. At the conclusion, guests are asked toraise their glasses or invited togive a toast to the new couple.
In addition to the more traditional wording, personal poems or lines borrowed from famous poets can create the mood and tone the presenter is seeking. Or, they can write a personalized speech. Sentimental toasts are common, particularly the father of the bride’s toast to his daughter and welcoming the groom into the family. Guests are then responsible to raise their glasses in a heart-felt, joint expression of good wishes.
Many books on toasting are available and can be found in bookstores or online. Cheers! Here’s to a wonderful future.
Stress Free, Leave the Details to Me, is the tried and true philosophy of Robbin Montero, California Wine Country wedding planning expert and owner of A Dream Wedding. Robbin is the premier wedding planner in the Northern California Wine Country, transforming any vision into the perfectly designed wedding creation. Robbin and her weddings have been featured in The Knot, Brides, Elite Magazine, Your Wedding Day and Vine Napa/Sonoma magazines, and ImportantOccasions.com. Travel & Leisure magazine calls Robbin,The expert wedding planner in the California Wine Country. For more information visit www.a-dreamwedding.com.
2009 Robbin Montero
Michael Jackson – This Is It19179Michael Jackson – This Is ItMichael Jackson’s new song release This Is It http://www.michaeljackson.com/us/music/it-0 contains the Passion’ that Michael Jackson (and his brothers) had which we all have come to know and love. You may be sick of hearing about thePop Icon, but just as Elvis, James Brown, John Lennon, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Patsy Cline, Sam Cook, Billie Ho liday, Marvin Gaye, Nat king Cole, Otis Redding & Mahalia Jackson (just to name a few) have come and gone, so too was the short lived life of M.J.
The death of Michael Jackson was sudden, unbelievable and thought provoking. When the news of his death came to this reporter, it was right before church (what were you doing on that day?) I texted back,Yeah, right; but it was true.
No one really knew all the pain (physical & emotional) that MJ had to endure most of the 50 years that he was here on this earth. Even though there are numerous books on the market about his life, who can say what went through his mind on a daily basis? We saw some of his life story from a made-for-TV movie’ (Man In the Mirror/ The Michael Jackson Story). Sure, he had some not so good judgment calls’, but who of us is without any sin in their lives.
Who knew that a trip to a grocery store would be so endearing for anyone? Or that the hurtful accusations about your appearance (from a family member) could cause so much pain? Sure we could point finger and bring up negative aspects of a person’s life, but what about the good things that Michael Jackson did, and how he was a positive influence on so many. I choose to be positive and, think on these things. Yet all-in-all, after all the scandals, after all the blame & allegations; let the truth be told; Michael is probably awaiting the final judgment and singingLeave Me Alone.
Below is a Blog sent to Gospel Today by Ms.V:
Boy, am I glad that I’m not God. As a COG (Child of God), I cut my teeth on positive music such as Michael Jackson’s, before I was saved (and I won’t be going to hell if I sing one of his songs today). You wonder why we have such a hard time getting people to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Who would want to come into the arms of a tyrant? God is not a dictator. He is a loving and forgiving Father.
As I state in one of my books,Who is to say who has been forgiven by God in their final hour here on this earth? As I prepare my Blog on all my sites, I contemplate the positive influence that MJ had on so many people and reflect on the scripturePhil. 4:8 let’s think on the positive things and stop looking for the worst.
Looking Over Some Song Titles from MJ:
I’ll Be There,ABC,Ben,You are Not alone,Black & White, Who’s Lov’in You?,We Are The World,The Love You Save,Smile,Leave Me Alone,Human Nature, Got To Be There,Man In The Mirror.
I don’t recall a time when there were so many celebrities that have died in one month. The memorial tribute during the Oscars, and other award shows, will be in an extended version next year. May they all R.I.P. and be left alone. Check out the MJ funeral video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKb7N-xc9g0 and let us know what you were doing on that day and how his death has affected you.
Ms.V
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