Wedding Toasts

What is a wedding toast? A wedding toast is generally a short, and often impromptu, expression of gratitude and fondness, publically declared and punctuated by everyone raising their glasses in agreement. A perfect way to celebrate a bride a groom on their wedding day.

If you have been asked to give a wedding toast, or speak at a wedding, you will most likely be nervous, worried, and wondering what to talk about

No need to be nervous about giving a wedding toast!

A wedding toast is a special moment during the wedding reception that allows the guests to learn a little more about the bride and groom and to celebrate the couple's new life together.

This is far easier than being asked to give one of the speeches, you can be short, brief and to the point, with some beautiful poems or readings that you can use.

To alert everyone of an upcoming toast, people often clink their forks against their glasses.

Wedding Toast Traditions

Traditionally, toasts begin at the wedding reception, after the first course has been served, or when everyone has found their seat after going through a buffet line. However, there are really no hard and fast rules!

It is customary to honor the bride and groom with a toast before, during, or after the wedding meal. Enjoy!

It is truly a way to stop for a moment and appreciate what a wonderful memory you are creating!

So Who Makes a Wedding Toast?

The following members of a wedding party will traditionally make a toast at some point in the evening. There are varying opinions on what order the toasts will go in, so feel free to make an arrangement that suits you.

The Father (or Mother) of the Bride will toast to the newly wed couple.

The Groom will toast the ladies of the bridal party, including his wife. Although historically only the men spoke at such affairs, nowadays it is customary for the bride to then toast to her groom.

The bride and groom may choose to speak together. Lastly, the best man will, traditionally, make a toast to the bride and groom.

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Wedding Toast Etiquette

The speaker rises and offers a short line or two of thanks and/or well wishes to the recipient, often beginning with “I’d like to propose a toast to…”

While standing to give a toast, you should hold your glass at waist height, raising it to eye level as you finish, and sipping along with the guests. It is expected that guests will rise, raise their glasses, and take a sip, indicating their agreement.

Etiquette dictates that the recipient remains seated, either thanking the speaker verbally or simply raising their glasses and nodding. The recipient may also stand and make a “reply” toast, which can simply be “To you!”

Propose a Toast

Planning on proposing a toast? Be prepared!

Start by introducing yourself – not all the guests will know that you and the groom grew up next door to each other. You may choose to use a famous quotation, a traditional toast, or a little poem that eloquently summarizes your thoughts. Look at the couple and the guests and be careful to speak clearly.

Short funny stories are often used, but do not tell stories that will embarrass the couple on their special day, try to end on a serious note of well wishes. Be sincere and speak from the heart. You can then joyfully announce, “Cheers!”

Remember to sip your champagne, not down it in one gulp! There may be a number of people who want to toast the bride and groom. Your glass should last throughout the wedding toasts.

A thoughtful touch would be, if the bride or groom is of a particular heritage, to incorporate that into your toast, such as “Mazel tov!” to a Jewish couple or “Salud!” for a couple of Spanish descent.

There are traditional wedding reception toasts available to reflect many cultures – it just takes a little research.

Sample Wedding Toasts:-

May the future hold your happiness,
May the future hold your health.
May your heart hold your love,
And may your arms hold your babies, yet to come.
Here’s to your future happiness together!

May laughter and joy fill this merry room
As we offer a toast to the bride and groom
Take this tiny wedding bell
And ring it clear to wish them well!

May the joys you share today be the beginning of a lifetime of great happiness and fulfillment

May you live each day like your last, and live each night like your first.

Remember the love you feel today. Look back on it daily and measure how much it has grown.

To keep your marriage brimming, with love in the wedding cup, whenever you're wrong, admit it; whenever you're right, shut up.

May thy life be long and happy,
Thy cares and sorrows few;
And the many friends around thee
Prove faithful, fond and true.
May your voyage through life be as happy and as free
As the dancing waves on the deep blue sea

Religious Wedding Toast

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance.~ Corinthians 13:7

Wedding Toast From Father of the Bride

It is written, when children find true love, parents find true joy. Here's to your joy and ours from this day forward.

Irish Wedding Toasts

Always remember to forget
The troubles that passed away
But never forget to remember
The blessings that come each day

Here's to you both, a beautiful pair
On the birthday of your love affair
Here's to the husband and here's to the wife
May yourselves be lovers for the rest of your life

May there always be work for your hands to do,
May your purse always hold a coin or two,
May the sun always shine warm on your windowpane,
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you,
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

For each petal on the shamrock this brings a wish your way. Good health, good luck, and happiness for today and every day.

May you both live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.

Host the Toasts

Of course, you may find that many more of your guests wish to propose toasts! As the bride and groom, you may wish to set some parameters around the toasts in advance.

You may ask your Best Man, or your Maid of Honor, to “host the toasts,” which could mean saying a few words of announcement between toasts, or helping people step up to the microphone if your guests get really involved!

You may even find your guests volunteering one another to make toasts, which can be great fun! For a fun twist, ask potential toast-givers to stick with a common theme, such as when they knew the two of you were in love, or a funny memory you shared.

If you decide it is getting out of hand, feel free to have your “Toast Host,” thank everyone for sharing, offer a final word of well wishes, and enjoy the meal!

Want to think outside the “toast” box? There is always room for a little unexpected creativity. You may have several members of the guest list “in” on a certain theme, or, much to the couple’s delight, burst into a song in their honor!

Toasts are not only made at the reception. From the engagement party, to the rehearsal dinner, you will find there is plenty of time to give - and receive, toasts! Be sure the glasses are full and enjoy! Whether you are giving or receiving, a toast is a thoughtful way to honor another person. Speak generously and receive humbly!

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