Crafting A Wedding Toast: The Art Of Speechmaking

Wedding toasts can be nerve-wracking, but they are also an honour and a chance to celebrate the happy couple. The best wedding toasts are sincere, humorous, and concise. They should focus on the couple's journey and express admiration for them, with a few lighthearted jokes and a meaningful wish for their future.

When writing a wedding toast, it's important to introduce yourself and explain your relationship to the couple. You should also thank the couple and their parents or hosts, and share a meaningful, heartfelt story or anecdote about the couple. It's also a good idea to directly address both partners and wish them well. Keep your toast short and sweet, and don't forget to raise your glass at the end!

Keep it concise

Keeping your wedding toast concise is a great way to ensure that your speech is well-received. A concise wedding toast is usually around 3-5 minutes long. Here are some tips to help you keep your speech concise and engaging:

Structure your speech:

Begin with an attention-grabbing introduction, such as a quote about love or marriage. Share your main story or message in the body of your speech, and conclude with a heartfelt wish for the couple's future. Having a clear structure will help you stay focused and avoid rambling.

Keep it brief:

A concise wedding toast is typically 3-5 minutes long. This length is just enough to share your thoughts and wishes without losing the audience's attention. Respect the time of the guests and the couple by keeping your speech brief and impactful.

Focus on the couple:

Make the couple the star of your speech. Share a meaningful, heartfelt story or anecdote about them. Highlight their positive qualities and the strengths of their relationship. Directly address both partners and offer sincere wishes for their future together.

Be selective with your stories:

Choose one or two meaningful stories or anecdotes to include in your speech. Too many stories can make your toast feel long-winded. Select stories that are engaging, lighthearted, and showcase the couple's bond.

Practice and rehearse:

Even a well-written speech can fall flat if not delivered properly. Rehearse your toast multiple times before the wedding day. Practice making eye contact, projecting your voice, and speaking clearly and confidently. The more comfortable and familiar you are with your speech, the more engaging it will be for your audience.

Avoid inside jokes:

While it's tempting to include inside jokes or references that only a few guests will understand, it's important to keep your speech inclusive. Opt for stories and jokes that everyone can enjoy and understand. This will ensure that your speech is engaging for all the guests.

Keep it light and positive:

Your wedding toast should focus on the positive aspects of the couple's relationship. Avoid bringing up negative details, past relationships, or anything that might be considered offensive. Keep your speech light, delicate, and focused on the happiness of the occasion.

Remember, a concise wedding toast is one that is well-structured, brief, and focused on the couple. By following these tips, you can deliver a speech that is engaging, meaningful, and respectful of the couple and their guests.

Include a joke or two

Including a joke or two in your wedding toast is a great way to get a giggle at the end of your speech. Here are some tips and examples to help you craft a funny wedding toast:

Tips for Including Jokes in Your Wedding Toast:

• Keep your jokes short, snappy, and funny.
• Ensure your delivery is sharp and your comedic timing is on point.
• Adapt the jokes to suit the couple—personalise them to make them more relevant and memorable.
• Use humour to diffuse any public speaking nerves or tendency to become emotional. Be upfront and honest with the audience; they will appreciate your authenticity.
• If you are nervous, opt for a funny one-liner rather than a longer joke or story.

Examples of Jokes for a Wedding Toast:

• "Before you marry a person, you should first watch them use a computer with slow internet—that'll show you who they really are."
• "All you need is love... but a takeaway now and then doesn't hurt!"
• "My advice? Don't ever laugh at your partner's choices, because you were one of them!"
• "You were married by a judge—you should have asked for a jury."
• "Marry someone your own age because as your beauty fades, so will their eyesight."
• "Marry an archaeologist—the older you get, the more interested they'll become in you."
• "There's only one way to have a happy marriage... and as soon as I learn it, I'll get married again."
• "Saying 'I do' at your wedding is like clicking the 'Accept' button any time something pops up on your screen. You just do it despite having no clue what it actually means."
• "You know you're killing it at the whole marriage thing when you ask your partner to pass you 'the thingymajig' and they know exactly what you mean."
• "True love does not come from finding the perfect person, luckily for you guys."
• "I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life."
• "May all your ups and downs come only in the bedroom."
• "Congratulations on the termination of your isolation, and may I express an appreciation of your determination to end the desperation and frustration which has caused you so much consternation in giving you the inspiration to make a combination to bring an accumulation to the population."
• "Here's to you and here's to me, I hope we never disagree. But if, perchance, we ever do, then here's to me, to hell with you."
• "May our children be blessed with rich parents, and my looks!"
• "Marriage is like a walk in the park... Jurassic Park."
• "Hello everyone. For those of you who don't know me, I'm [Name of newlywed one]'s and [Name of newlywed two]'s mistress."
• "May the roof above you never fall in and may you both never fall out."
• "I married Miss Right. I just didn't know her first name was Always."
• "May we never forget what's worth remembering or remember what's best forgotten."
• "May you both live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live."
• "The secret to a happy marriage remains a secret."
• "Getting married is easy! Sundays in Ikea are when it starts getting really tough."
• "Marriage is a wonderful thing entered by two people. One who can't sleep with the window shut, and the other who can't sleep with it open."
• "Marriage is not just an emotional connection, it's also about remembering to take the bins out."
• "To keep a marriage brimming, with love in the loving cup, when you are wrong, admit it, and when you are right, shut up!"
• "Love is blind, but marriage, marriage is the eye opener."
• "Now for some advice from me. The secret to my happy marriage is dinner twice a week. My partner goes on Tuesdays and I go on Thursdays."
• "In the words of the great Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the secret to a good marriage is to be a little deaf."
• "And now for my final words of advice, if at first you don't succeed, try doing it the way [insert partner's name] told you to do it."
• "Love is like toothache—it doesn't show up on an X-Ray, but you know it's definitely there..."

Be sincere

Being sincere is a crucial aspect of delivering a memorable wedding toast. Here are some tips to ensure your speech is heartfelt and authentic:

Share Personal Stories and Anecdotes:

Incorporate specific stories and anecdotes that highlight your relationship with the couple. Share a funny story about how you met the groom in college or recount a touching moment when the bride was there for you during difficult times. These personal details will make your toast more heartfelt and genuine.

Express Admiration and Well-Wishes:

Focus on the couple's journey and express your admiration for their bond. Share why you think they are a perfect match and offer meaningful wishes for their future together. This will make your toast more impactful and show your support for their union.

Be Yourself:

Let your personality shine through in your toast. If you're comfortable with humor, include a few lighthearted jokes to put everyone at ease. However, make sure the humor is appropriate and doesn't overshadow the heartfelt sentiment. It's essential to balance humor with sincerity.

Keep it Concise:

A concise toast is usually around 3-5 minutes. Any longer, and you risk losing your audience's attention. Structure your speech with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Start with an attention-grabbing introduction, share your main story or message, and conclude with heartfelt wishes for the couple's future.

Practice and Rehearse:

Even the most beautifully written toast can fall flat without practice and good delivery. Rehearse your speech multiple times before the wedding day. Read it out loud to get a feel for the pacing and flow, and focus on projecting your voice so those in the back can hear you. Practice making eye contact while speaking, rather than staring at your notes.

Remember, the key to a sincere wedding toast is to speak from the heart and let your genuine emotions shine through. Your toast should reflect your unique relationship with the couple and be delivered with authenticity and warmth.

Share a personal story

Sharing a personal story is a great way to make your wedding toast authentic and memorable. Here are some tips and ideas to help you craft a meaningful and engaging narrative for your speech:

Choose a Meaningful Story:

Select a story that is not only entertaining but also showcases the couple's unique bond. It could be a funny anecdote, a heartfelt moment, or an adventure that reveals their strength as a couple.

Include Specific Details:

Instead of vague statements, bring your story to life with specific details. Describe the setting, the people involved, and the sequence of events. This will make your audience feel like they were there with you, creating a deeper connection to your narrative.

Highlight the Couple's Strengths:

Use your story to showcase the couple's strengths and resilience. For example, you could recount a challenging situation they faced together and how they supported each other through it. This will not only make for an engaging story but also be a testament to their commitment.

Add a Twist or an Unexpected Element:

Look for stories with an interesting twist or an unexpected outcome. Perhaps it's a tale of how the couple met under unusual circumstances or how they navigated a tricky situation with creativity and humour. These unexpected elements will keep your audience engaged and entertained.

Make it Emotional:

Don't be afraid to tap into your emotions. Choose a story that evokes happiness, laughter, or even tears. Weddings are all about love and celebration, so sharing a heartfelt story will resonate with the couple and the guests.

Keep it Relevant:

Ensure your story has a clear connection to the couple. It could be about their first meeting, a shared adventure, or a challenge they overcame together. Avoid tangents or stories that focus too much on yourself. Remember, the wedding toast is about celebrating the couple.

Practice and Time Your Story:

Once you've crafted your story, practice delivering it aloud. Time yourself to ensure it fits within the recommended 2-5 minute speech window. Practising will also help you refine your delivery, making it more engaging and natural.

Here's an example of a personal story you could share, following the outline above:

"For those of you who don't know me, I'm Jessica, the maid of honour, and I've known the beautiful bride since we met at summer camp in middle school. Today, I want to share a story that showcases the strength of the couple's bond and their ability to overcome challenges together.

A few years ago, [Bride] and [Groom] planned a hiking trip to the Rocky Mountains. They were so excited to explore the breathtaking scenery and create unforgettable memories. However, things didn't go exactly as planned. On the second day of their trip, a sudden storm rolled in, and they found themselves stranded in a remote area. Most people would panic in such a situation, but not this couple.

With their combined resourcefulness, they managed to find shelter, build a fire, and wait out the storm. They even made the most of it by playing card games and sharing stories, creating a unique and romantic experience. This story is a testament to their resilience and their ability to find joy in the midst of adversity.

It's this strength of character and unwavering support for each other that makes them such an incredible pair. So, let's raise our glasses to [Bride] and [Groom]—may their love continue to conquer all challenges and may their adventures together always be filled with laughter and joy."

Offer meaningful wishes for the couple's future

Offering meaningful wishes for the couple's future is a crucial aspect of a wedding toast. Here are some tips and examples to help you craft this section of your speech:

Structure and Content:

Begin by congratulating the newlyweds and expressing your admiration for them as a couple. Share your hopes and wishes for their future, focusing on themes such as love, happiness, adventure, and companionship. You can also offer advice or words of wisdom for a long and fulfilling marriage. Here are some examples:

• "As I look at both of you today, I see a future filled with joy, adventure, and love. Here's to a lifetime of happiness, to creating memories that will last a lifetime, and to always finding strength in each other."
• "May your life together be filled with love, joy, and endless happiness. May you always find solace, joy, and strength in each other. And may your love story be one for the ages."
• "May your marriage be filled with the same laughter, love, and inside jokes that have always defined your relationship. May your love continue to grow stronger as you face life's challenges and celebrate its joys."
• "May your love be like a fine wine – complex, intoxicating, and only getting better with age. And may you always have a well-stocked cellar to keep the romance flowing."
• "May your marriage be as wild and wonderful as your first date. May it be filled with inside jokes, never-ending adventures, and a deep, enduring love."

Tone and Delivery:

When offering wishes for the couple's future, it's important to strike a balance between humour and sincerity. You can inject humour by referring to inside jokes or lighthearted moments, but ensure that the heartfelt sentiment shines through. Here's an example:

> "So, here's to a lifetime of magical moments, inside jokes, and never having to share the remote control. May your marriage be as wild and wonderful as your first date, and may your love continue to grow and flourish with each passing year."

Additionally, consider the tone and content in relation to your audience. While a few lighthearted jokes can ease tension and put everyone at ease, avoid off-colour humour or inside jokes that may exclude or confuse some guests.

Personalisation:

Make your wishes meaningful by tailoring them specifically to the couple. Reference their unique qualities, shared interests, or inside jokes. For instance:

> "You two are the ultimate #RelationshipGoals. May your love be as evergreen as an episode of 'The Office'. May your marriage be filled with as much laughter and love as the many inside jokes and pranks you share."

You can also incorporate cultural traditions, blessings, or quotes that hold special significance for the couple, adding a layer of personalisation and depth to your wishes.

Practice:

Finally, don't underestimate the power of practice. Rehearse your speech, including the wishes for the couple's future, several times before the wedding day. This will help you refine your delivery, ensure a smooth flow, and enable you to better connect with the couple and the audience during your toast.

Frequently asked questions