Crafting A Heartfelt Wedding Toast For Your Best Friend: A Guide

Writing a wedding toast for your best friend can be a daunting task, but it's also an honour and a chance to celebrate your friend's special day. Here's an introduction to get you started on writing a meaningful and memorable wedding toast:

As the best friend of the bride or groom, you'll want your speech to be a mix of funny and heartfelt moments that capture the essence of your friendship. Begin by introducing yourself and explaining your relationship with the couple, especially if not everyone present knows you well. Share stories and anecdotes about your best friend, conveying their unique personality and the importance of your friendship. Include their new spouse in your speech as well, with a story or two about how they brought even more joy into your friend's life. Keep your speech reflective of your voice and your connection with the couple. If you need help, don't hesitate to reach out to another friend or a professional speechwriter. Remember to keep it clean, tasteful, and free of inside jokes that only a few guests will understand.

Good luck with your speech!

Introduce yourself and explain your relationship with the couple

As the best friend of the couple, you'll likely be expected to give a speech at the wedding. Here are some tips to help you introduce yourself and explain your relationship with the couple:

Briefly Explain Who You Are and How You Know the Couple

Start by stating your name and your relationship with the couple. For example: "Hi everyone! I'm Jessica Davis, the maid of honour, and I've known the beautiful bride since we met at summer camp in middle school."

Share Stories About Your Best Friend

Share one to three short anecdotes that illustrate who your best friend is to you. Here are some questions to help you come up with stories:

• Describe a time that something didn't go as planned. How did your best friend react?
• What memories do you two frequently revisit together?
• When did they make you laugh the hardest?
• How have they been there to support you?
• Describe how you two first met.
• How do they make you feel loved or special?
• When have you travelled together?

Include Your Best Friend's Spouse in the Speech

Share one to two short stories about your best friend's spouse. These stories can be about memories shared between you and them, situations you observed between them and your friend, or experiences with all three of you. If you don't know your friend's spouse very well, you can focus on why you're happy your friend chose to marry this person. For example:

> Bea has always had the best and biggest laugh in the room. Her giggles are infectious, and it's one of the many reasons why we all have so much fun whenever she's around. But I noticed a shift in her when she started dating Dave. Somehow, and I didn't even know this was possible, her laugh got even brighter. Anyone who can bring even more joy to my best friend's life is someone who I'm happy to see become her husband. I know with Dave, she'll experience a lifetime of endless laughter.

Keep the Tone of Your Speech Reflective of Your Voice

Write your speech to mirror the tone of your friendship and your personality. For example, if your friendship is full of witty banter, include quick one-liners in your funny wedding speech. If your relationship is about motivating each other to achieve your goals, create a supportive tone throughout the speech.

Share a funny story or anecdote about the couple

Sharing a funny story or anecdote about the couple is a great way to make your wedding toast memorable. Here are some ideas to get you started:

The One That Got Away

Share a story about how the couple first met. Did they meet through a funny or unusual circumstance? Maybe they had a funny first date or had to overcome some obstacles before they could be together. You could talk about how they first introduced you to their partner and your initial impressions of them.

The One With the Inside Joke

While you want to avoid too many inside jokes, including one or two personal references can make your toast more engaging and intimate. Just make sure to provide enough context so that everyone can understand and follow along. Perhaps there's a funny story about a shared experience or a private joke that represents their relationship.

The One With the Lesson Learned

Share a story about a lesson you learned from the couple or something you admire about them. It could be a lighthearted story about a time they did or said something funny, or a more serious story about how they handled a difficult situation with humour or resilience.

The One With the Perfect Match

Talk about why the couple is so well-suited for each other. Are there any funny stories or anecdotes that highlight their unique dynamics or shared interests? Maybe they bonded over a shared love of something unusual, or they have a funny tradition that only they understand.

The One With the Twist

If you're looking for a more creative approach, you could structure your story as a twist on a familiar theme. For example, you could pretend to give a typical, sentimental toast before revealing a funny twist at the end. Or, you could tell a story that seems like it's going in one direction but has an unexpected humorous ending.

Remember to keep your stories lighthearted and appropriate. The goal is to celebrate the couple and make the audience laugh, so avoid anything that might embarrass or offend them or their guests.

Congratulate the couple and express your happiness for them

Congratulating the couple and expressing your happiness for them is a crucial part of a wedding toast. Here are some ideas to help you craft this section of your speech:

Express Your Joy and Felicitate the Couple

Begin by offering your sincere congratulations and sharing how thrilled you are for the newlyweds. You can say something like:

• "My heartfelt congratulations to you both! I wish you a lifetime filled with love, joy, and laughter."
• "I am so happy for you both! May your love continue to grow and flourish."
• "Congratulations to the beautiful bride and the handsome groom. May your love for each other deepen with each passing year."
• "I am so glad to see you two together, starting this wonderful new chapter of your lives. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness and joy!"

Share What Their Marriage Means to You

Talk about what it means to you to witness their union and what a privilege it is to be a part of their special day. For instance:

• "It is with great pleasure and honour that I congratulate you both. May your marriage be filled with endless love and happiness."
• "I am so grateful to be here today, celebrating the union of two incredible people. Your marriage holds so much significance for me, and I couldn't be happier for you both."
• "Witnessing your love story unfold and seeing you both so happy brings me immense joy. Congratulations, and cheers to a lifetime of love!"

Wish Them a Bright Future

Offer your best wishes for their future together, expressing your hopes for a long-lasting and fulfilling marriage. Here are some examples:

• May your love be like a shining star, brightening even the darkest of times. Best wishes on this wonderful journey!"
• Wishing you a lifetime of adventures, joy, and everlasting love. May your bond grow stronger with each passing day.
• May your marriage be filled with excitement, wonderful possibilities, and endless love. Congratulations, and here's to many years of happiness!
• "I wish you both a future filled with beautiful surprises, endless love, and lasting happiness. Congratulations on this momentous occasion!"

Highlight the Positive Changes and Growth

Talk about how their relationship has brought about positive changes and growth in their lives. For example:

• "I've seen you both flourish as individuals and blossom as a couple. Together, you complete each other and bring out the best in one another. Congratulations, and may your love continue to thrive!"
• Your love has been transformative, guiding you through life's ups and downs. Here's to a love that will always shine bright and bring you happiness.
• "I've noticed how much you've both grown and changed for the better since finding each other. Your love has been a beacon, and I know it will continue to light your way. Congratulations!"

Include a Quote or Poem

You can also include a meaningful quote or poem that captures your sentiments. Here are a few options:

• "May your love be modern enough to survive the times and old-fashioned enough to last forever."
• "May your wedding day be the first page of a wonderful chapter in your lives together. Congratulations on this beautiful beginning."
• "May your marriage be full of laughter, and may every day be paradise." - Rumi
• "May your love always be added to, never subtracted; may your household multiply, and your hearts never be divided."

Thank the couple for having you

Thanking the couple for having you is a great way to kickstart your wedding toast. Here are some ideas on how to go about it:

Express Gratitude for Their Presence

Firstly, thank your guests for coming and acknowledge the effort they made to be there. You can say something like: "We are so grateful and flattered that you all came to celebrate our love and be a part of our special day. We know it hasn't been easy, and we truly appreciate your support and presence here today."

Thank the Couple's Families and Wedding Party

Next, express gratitude towards the couple's parents, families, and wedding party for their support and contributions to the wedding. For example: "Thank you to our parents and families for your endless love and guidance. We are so grateful for your support, not just today, but throughout our entire lives and relationship. We couldn't have done this without you."

Thank Your New Spouse

Don't forget to thank your new spouse! You can say something heartfelt, such as: "To my wonderful new husband/wife, thank you for choosing me to be your partner in life. I am so happy to be standing here today as your spouse, and I can't wait to spend the rest of our lives together."

Highlight the Couple's Generosity

Talk about the couple's generosity and how they made everyone feel special. For instance: "Thank you both for your incredible hospitality and for making us all feel so welcomed and celebrated. Your kindness and thoughtfulness have shone through in every detail of this wedding, and we are so grateful to be here sharing this day with you."

Mention the Couple's Future Together

Wish the couple well and talk about their future together. You could say: "We are so happy to be here celebrating the love between [Couple's names]. May your future be filled with joy, laughter, and endless adventures. We are so excited to see what life has in store for you both."

Raise a Glass to the Couple

Finally, invite everyone to raise their glasses and propose a toast to the happy couple. For example: "Please join me in raising a glass to the newlyweds, [Couple's names]. May your love continue to grow and flourish. To [Couple's names]!"

Keep it short and sweet

Keeping your speech short and sweet is a great way to ensure your message is conveyed effectively and that your guests remain engaged. Here are some tips to help you write a concise and impactful wedding toast for your best friend:

Outline and Planning

Start by creating an outline to structure your speech. Begin with an attention-grabbing opening line, such as a humorous anecdote or a heartfelt statement about the couple. Then, introduce yourself and express your happiness for the couple. It is also important to include a few short and sweet anecdotes or memories involving your best friend and their partner. Address both partners equally and share what your friend has told you about their partner that proves they are a great match. Finally, conclude with a sincere thank you to the couple and invite everyone to raise a glass and join in the celebration.

Length

The ideal length for a wedding toast is around 3 to 5 minutes. This is enough time to convey your message and keep your guests' attention. If you are giving a toast at a small wedding, you may only need to speak for a few minutes. On the other hand, if you are speaking at a larger wedding, aim for a maximum of 10 minutes.

Delivery

Practising your speech is crucial. Read your speech out loud and time yourself to ensure it falls within the desired time frame. Don't try to memorise your speech, but rather use note cards or a printed copy as a guide. This will help you maintain eye contact with the couple and guests and make your delivery more engaging.

Content

When selecting anecdotes or memories to include in your speech, choose ones that fit a theme and support your argument. Avoid inside jokes that others may not understand. Instead, opt for inclusive stories that will have a broader impact on your audience. You can also include a quote or two, such as a relevant line from a song or a religious quote, if appropriate.

Examples

"I'd like to start by saying congratulations to [Bride/Groom] and [Bride/Groom]. It means so much to me to be here today, witnessing this special moment. For those who don't know me, I'm [Your Name], and I've had the honour of being [Best Friend's] best friend since [explain how you met].

One of the things I admire most about [Best Friend] is their [positive quality]. I remember this one time when we [share a brief, funny, or heartwarming story that showcases this quality]. It's moments like these that remind me of the kind of person [Best Friend] is and why [Bride/Groom] is so lucky to have them.

[Best Friend] and [Bride/Groom], your love has brought us all together today, and I wish you both all the best for the future. Cheers to the happy couple!"

Frequently asked questions