How to give the perfect New Year's Eve toast!

With New Year's Eve parties counting down in mere hours (perhaps you started early with a daytime celebration - in that case "Cheers!") you know the time is coming. The time where you, as the host or hostess with the mostest, step up to plate in more ways than one. Of course, you've already done enough, providing the food/fun/merriment/atmosphere, but you will also probably be expected to to give a toast to start the year off right.

Never toasted before? Nervous? Don't know what to say? No worries. If you're afraid you're going to freak out and start singing a rusty rendition of Auld Lang Syne we're here to help! Here's how to give the the absolute perfect New Year's Eve toast!

Give yourself time to prepare

Take deep breaths it's a toast for goodness sake's, not a full speech. Having a wonderful quote (listed below) can be an amazing way to share your excitement and well wishes for the new year.

Feel confident

Look around and smile. Stand tall. Don't slump, don't fidget, don't freak out... these people are your friends! Truly they are glad to be with you and want to get on with the drinking of the bubbly.

Practice your delivery

Reduce your 'ums' and 'ahs' and 'likes' and 'you knows'.

Focus

Keep the focus on the subject while talking, don't go into a dissertation of all your successes and failures in the last year. This is the time to be brief and to the point. Thank your guests for joining you and add in a mention of how you're looking forward to a great year. Don't ramble or say too much... remember it's a party after all.

New Year's Eve Toasts

Here’s a toast to the future, a toast to the past, and a toast to our friends, far and near. May the future be pleasant, the past a bright dream. May our friends remain faithful and dear.

Anonymous

In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, but never in want.

Traditional Irish Toast

May we live to learn well, and learn to live well. May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.

Anonymous

Be at war with your voices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every New Year find you a better man.

Benjamin Franklin

Here’s to our friends, and the strength to put up with them.

Anonymous

For last year’s words belong to last year’s language, and next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.

T.S. Eliot

As you slide down the banisters of life, may the splinters never point the wrong way.

Anonymous

May you never lie, cheat, or drink.

But if you must lie, lie in each other’s arms.

If you must cheat, cheat death.

And if you must drink, drink with all of us because we love you

Anonymous

A toast is a wonderful part of almost any celebration, and New Year's Eve is a classic toasting occasion. Celebrating the new year means starting anew, looking forward to the changes life can bring, and making resolutions for a better you in the coming year. Giving a toast on New Year's sets the stage not just for your party, but for the coming year with your loved ones. Enjoy!