Rhymeshop Blog

Recently I posted the poem by Auden used in “Four Weddings and a Funeral.” Parts of it absolutely tear the heart right out of you because it totally expresses how you feel when you lose someone you love.

But just imagine if you could have a tribute written that fits exactly the person you are giving it to.  It wouldn’t be generic in any way.  There is no greater  way to express how you feel that giving a custom-written tribute to someone important in your life. Sure  choosing from a list of famous poems would show you put some thought into it, but writing it just about the person is by far the best.

You have to be careful, though.  I presented a very personal, custom-written rhyming tribute to my friend, honoring her father at the time he died.  He had been Captain of the Intrepid and I’d heard many stories about him.  Well, by the time she finished reading it she was standing in a puddle of tears.

Had I known it would touch her that deeply I would have sifted through a list of Famous Poems and chosen something  appropriate.  It wouldn’t have had any of the essence of the man and the funny anecdotes and touching moments she so cherished, but at least she wouldn’t have been so moved.

Then again, a good cry can be very cathartic.  It can leave you feeling renewed, almost as if you’ve had a good night’s sleep.  So maybe I shouldn’t feel so sorry to have touched my friend’s heart so deeply with the tribute about her dad. Probably one of the famous poems I would have chosen wouldn’t have moved her nearly as much.

Surely if you spend hours sifting through famous poems you’ll come up with just the right one to use as a wedding toast but, in my humble opinion, having a toast written especially for the couple will be much more rewarding.

You ask how can a personal toast that comes from your heart be better than one from a list of famous poems?  You’ve got to be kidding me.  Here’s what you need to do. Choose the qualities of each person that you most admire.  They can even be funny or quirky traits that make them who they are.  Try to concentrate on flattering qualities,  of course.

If you write the toast yourself or have a custom-written toast written for you, how can it not beat something from a famous poems collection?  Of course your personalized toast would win hands down.  You’ll be rewarded with plenty of laughs, a tear or two and probably even cheers and applause.

Now here are a couple of tricks to pulling off giving a good toast.  You must practice.  Read it aloud in front of a mirror many times.  Even try to memorize it as much as possible.  You’re allowed to hold a piece of paper to refer to if you forget the words, of course, but try to look up at the couple as often as possible.

Try to have a pleasant look on your face, even if you are totally terrified of public speaking.  Even if you chose one of the famous poems to read this advice is invaluable.  Practice, smile, look at the couple.  It will be the perfect sendoff to their new life together.