Wedding season is in full swing! In fact, October is tied with June as the most popular month for weddings, with September not far behind.

Toasting the happy couple has long been an important wedding tradition. If you will be making a toast this wedding season, consider the following tips:

• Write down the toast. This will allow you to organize your thoughts and avoid rambling.
• Practice making the toast. Whether it’s in front of a mirror or a small group of friends, rehearsing will help you to become familiar with the toast and be more comfortable when the big moment arrives.
• Stay in the present. There’s no reason to dredge up old stories that may embarrass the bride and groom. Focus on the happiness of the moment, and the bright future the couple has ahead of them.
• Avoid inside jokes. Sure, you can use humor in your speech, but you want to make sure you aren’t making other guests feel left out of the joke.
• Keep the toast short and sweet. If you speak longer than three minutes, you may find guests squirming in their seats.
• When the time comes, stand, raise your glass of KORBEL California Champagne and announce “I’d like to propose a toast to …” Give guests a moment to turn their attention to you, and then toast away!