Ask the Experts: How to Handle Overdrawn Toasts

Q: My brother, who will be the best man, is incredibly longwinded. What should we do if his toast turns into The Never-Ending Story?

A: Take your cue from the Oscars, says Catherine Walton, owner of Weddings by the Sea in Cape May. “Send a pre-arranged signal to the DJ or band leader to strike up the music if he goes on too long,” she says. The bride and groom should then lead the guests in a round of polite applause. — Eileen Smith