How To Craft A Wedding Toast: A Guide For The Happy Couple

Writing a wedding toast can be a nerve-wracking experience, but it's also an honour and a chance to share your happiness for the couple. Here's a step-by-step guide to writing a wedding toast that will have your audience laughing and crying.

Step 1: Grab everyone's attention with a joke or a story

A great way to start your wedding toast is with a quick joke, a brief story about the couple, or a few lines from a famous love quote or poem. This will help you capture your audience's attention and set the tone for the rest of your speech.

Step 2: Introduce yourself and explain your relationship to the couple

Briefly explain who you are and how you know the couple. This will give context to your speech and help the guests understand why you were chosen to speak. For example, Hi everyone, I'm Adam Johnson, the man of honour. I've been best friends with the lovely bride since high school.

Step 3: Express your gratitude

Thank the couple for including you in their special day and tell them how honoured you are to be a part of it. You can also thank the hosts if you're a member of the wedding party.

Step 4: Share a sweet or funny anecdote about the couple

Talk about your relationship with the couple and use one to three short anecdotes that illustrate who they are to you. Sing their praises and share why you think they're a good match. If you're one of the newlyweds, you can talk about how you met and what makes your relationship strong.

Step 5: Offer your well wishes

Detail your hopes and dreams for the couple's future and express your congratulations. You can also share any advice you have for them.

Step 6: Raise your glass and toast the couple

Finish your speech by raising your glass and inviting the guests to congratulate the couple along with you. You can simply say Cheers! or Here's to Mr and Mrs X!

Other tips for delivering a great wedding toast:

- Keep it short and sweet: Aim for a speech that's two to five minutes long, or about 400 to 750 words.

- Make it personal: Share your own stories and anecdotes, and avoid generic remarks.

- Be appropriate: Keep your speech PG and avoid anything that could be seen as offensive or controversial.

- Practice: Write your speech down and practice it out loud several times before the big day.

- Focus on the couple: Make sure your remarks are directed towards the couple and don't make it about yourself.

How to start a wedding toast

Giving a wedding toast can be nerve-wracking, but with the right preparation, you'll be able to deliver a speech that's memorable for all the right reasons. Here's how to start a wedding toast that's sure to impress:

Grab Everyone's Attention

Begin with an attention-getting opener. This could be a quick joke, a brief story about the couple, or a famous love quote or poem. You could also make an announcement and ask everyone to fill up their glasses.

Introduce Yourself

State your name and your relationship to the couple. This is especially important if you're not a close friend or family member of the bride or groom, as there may be guests who don't know you. Keep it brief, but give a little insight into how you know the couple. For example, "Hi everyone, I'm Adam Johnson, the man of honour. I've been best friends with the lovely bride since high school."

Express Gratitude

Thank the couple for including you in their special day, and tell them how honoured you are to be part of the celebration. You can also thank the hosts if you're part of the wedding party.

Share an Anecdote

Tell a sweet, heartfelt, or funny story about the couple. This is your chance to showcase their love, achievements, good qualities, and journey together. Make sure it's appropriate for all ages and won't cause embarrassment or hurt feelings.

Congratulate the Couple

Close your speech by offering your well wishes to the couple. Express your hopes and dreams for their future together, and invite the guests to raise their glasses and join you in a toast to the happy couple.

The importance of keeping it short and sweet

When writing a wedding toast, it's crucial to keep it concise and succinct. Here's why keeping it short and sweet is essential:

Maintain Guest Engagement

Weddings usually follow a tight schedule, and guests' attention spans can wane. Thus, an ideal wedding toast is about two to five minutes long, or 400 to 750 words. This length ensures the message is delivered effectively without losing the audience's interest.

Convey a Clear Message

A short and sweet wedding toast allows you to convey your message clearly and impactfully. By keeping it concise, you can ensure your words are well-received and memorable. A lengthy speech may cause guests to lose focus or become disengaged.

Respect the Couple's Time

The wedding couple has a busy schedule on their big day, with many activities and rituals to partake in. Respect their time by delivering a concise and meaningful toast. A lengthy speech can disrupt the wedding's flow and take up valuable time that could be spent on other activities or traditions.

Avoid Rambling

A short speech helps you avoid rambling or going off-topic. By keeping it concise, you can ensure your message is focused and coherent. This structure makes it easier for the audience to follow along and ensures your key points are effectively communicated.

Allow Time for Other Speakers

At weddings, there are often multiple speakers, including the best man, maid of honor, parents of the couple, and sometimes even the couple themselves. Keeping your toast short allows enough time for others to share their thoughts and well-wishes. It ensures that the program stays on schedule and that all speakers have an opportunity to speak without rushing.

Enhance Impact

A short and sweet wedding toast can be more impactful and memorable. By delivering a concise and well-crafted message, you can leave a lasting impression on the couple and the guests. A lengthy speech may cause the key points to get diluted, and the impact you wish to make may be lost.

How to make your wedding toast funny

Wedding toasts are reserved for the wedding party, and they can be a daunting task. The key to a good wedding toast is to strike a balance between humour and emotion, keeping it short, sweet, and memorable. Here are some tips and tricks to help you craft a funny wedding toast that will leave the guests in stitches!

Keep it Short and Snappy

The ideal length for a wedding toast is around three minutes. This gives you enough time to say what you need to say while keeping the guests' attention. Focus on including a few funny anecdotes or one-liners rather than a long, drawn-out speech.

Know Your Audience

It's important to consider who will be in attendance at the wedding. Avoid inside jokes that only a few people will understand. You want to ensure that the majority of your toast resonates with everyone. Also, be mindful of the couple's family members, especially if you're including any risqué jokes or stories. You don't want to cause any discomfort or embarrassment!

Include Funny One-Liners

A well-placed one-liner can be a great way to add humour to your toast. Here are some examples:

• "Marriage is like a walk in the park... Jurassic Park."
• "May our children be blessed with rich parents!"
• "May you both live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live."
• "Marriage is not just spiritual communion; it is also remembering to take out the trash."
• "Love is blind. Marriage is the eye-opener."

Share a Funny Story

Sharing a funny story or anecdote about the couple is a great way to personalise your toast. It can be something light-hearted and playful, but avoid anything that might be considered mean-spirited or cruel. You want the guests to laugh with you, not at the couple.

Get Inspiration from Movies, Songs, and Famous People

Using a quote or line from a movie, song, or famous person can add a touch of humour to your toast. Here are some examples:

• "I'm not a smart man, but I know what love is." – Forrest Gump
• "I love you. That's why I make you miserable." – Real Women Have Curves
• "Marriage is like a tense, unfunny version of Everybody Loves Raymond, only it doesn't last 22 minutes. It lasts forever." – Knocked Up
• "The secret of a happy marriage remains a secret." – Henny Youngman
• "All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt." – Charles Schulz

Practice, Practice, Practice

Don't underestimate the power of practice! Rehearse your speech out loud, time yourself, and make any necessary edits. This will help you feel more confident and ensure your delivery is on point.

Remember, the key to a funny wedding toast is to keep it light-hearted, tasteful, and personalised. By including a mix of humour, sentiment, and well-wishes, you'll be sure to deliver a toast that the couple and guests will remember and cherish.

How to make your wedding toast sentimental

Introduction

Begin by introducing yourself and explaining your relationship to the couple. This is especially important if you are not a close relative of the couple, as there may be guests who are unfamiliar with you. A simple "Hi, I'm [name], [relation to couple]" will suffice. You could also add a one-liner to break the ice.

Congratulate the Couple

Congratulate the couple and wish them a happy future together. You may also want to mention that you knew they were made for each other if you witnessed their relationship from the beginning. Be sure to comment on how happy and beautiful they look.

Tell a Story

Share a sweet, funny, or heartfelt story about the couple. This could be about a specific incident or a theme that runs through their relationship. Make it personal and unique to them. If you are closer to one half of the couple, be sure to address both partners in your story.

Keep it Short and Sweet

A wedding toast should ideally be no longer than 3 minutes. Any longer and you risk losing the attention of your audience. Keep your speech concise and to the point, but ensure it has depth.

Make a Joke

Add a few jokes or quips throughout your speech to keep the mood light and happy. However, avoid inside jokes that only a few guests will understand, and steer clear of any stories that might cause embarrassment or hurt feelings.

End with a Toast

Close your speech by raising your glass and inviting the guests to do the same. You may also want to say a final wish for the couple's future.

Bonus Tips:

• Memorise your speech and practice delivering it out loud. This will help you feel more confident and ensure your speech doesn't run too long.
• Keep your speech focused on the couple. Avoid making it about yourself, sharing inside jokes, or thanking the guests on their behalf.
• Be positive and avoid any controversial topics, stories about exes, or planning glitches.

Tips for overcoming anxiety when giving a wedding toast

It's completely normal to feel anxious about giving a wedding toast. Here are some tips to help you overcome your nerves and deliver a confident and memorable speech:

• Prepare and Practice: Write your speech ahead of time and practice it out loud, both by yourself and in front of others. Memorize it if you can, but it's also okay to bring note cards with your main points on the day. Practising will help you feel more comfortable and confident when it's time to deliver your toast.
• Keep it Brief: A wedding toast should ideally be kept short and sweet, around two to five minutes. This will help you hold your audience's attention, and it's better to leave them wanting more!
• Know Your Audience: Remember that your audience is made up of people who care about the couple and want to celebrate their special day. They are not there to judge you, so try to focus on sharing your love and well-wishes for the newlyweds.
• Address Any Anxiety: If you're feeling particularly anxious, it can help to acknowledge your nerves at the beginning of your speech. A simple "I'm a bit nervous, so bear with me" can break the ice and make you feel more at ease. Your honesty will likely be met with warmth and encouragement from the audience.
• Focus on the Couple: Remember that the wedding toast is about the newlyweds, not about showcasing your public speaking skills. Make sure your speech is focused on the couple, and avoid trying to be too funny or clever.
• Be Yourself: Speak from the heart and let your genuine emotions shine through. Share personal anecdotes, wishes, and blessings for the couple. Your authenticity will resonate with the audience and make your toast memorable.
• Avoid Inside Jokes: While it's okay to include a few jokes, avoid inside jokes that only a small group of people will understand. Opt for inclusive stories and humour that everyone can enjoy and relate to.
• Stay Positive: Stick to positive topics and avoid bringing up any planning glitches, exes, or embarrassing stories about the couple. Keep your speech light-hearted and focus on celebrating the love and happiness of the newlyweds.
• Breathe and Smile: Before you begin your toast, take a few deep breaths to centre yourself. During your speech, remember to smile, as it will help you relax and connect with your audience.
• Visualize Success: Instead of worrying about what could go wrong, visualize yourself delivering a confident and engaging toast. Imagine the audience laughing at your jokes and applauding your words. This positive visualization can help calm your nerves and boost your confidence.
• Seek Support: If you're feeling extremely anxious, consider seeking support from a friend or family member who can help you craft and practise your speech. They can offer encouragement and feedback to help you feel more prepared and comfortable.

Frequently asked questions