The Significance Of Wedding Toasts: Celebrating Love And Community

A wedding toast is a time-honoured tradition where friends and family publicly celebrate the love and union of the newlyweds. It is a way for those closest to the couple to express their support, share memories, and offer well-wishes for the future. Typically, the best man, the couple's parents, and the wedding party give toasts, but other close friends and family members may also speak.

The best wedding toasts are a perfect blend of thoughtfulness, humour, and sentimentality. They should be well-prepared, with a clear beginning, middle, and end. To craft the perfect wedding toast, it is important to introduce yourself and your relationship to the couple, share anecdotes, offer congratulations, and raise a glass to the happy couple.

The history of wedding toasts

The wedding toast is a tradition that dates back to ancient times, when communities were often at war with one another. It was common for conflicts to end in a truce, with the leaders of each group agreeing to marry their children to one another. At the banquet celebration, the father of the bride would drink first from a communal pitcher of wine to demonstrate to his guests that the drink was not poisoned.

The term "toast" itself has an interesting history. In ancient times, wine was not always palatable, so a burnt piece of toast was placed in the pitcher to absorb some of the acidity. The host would then eat the toast after everyone had drunk from the vessel, as a gracious gesture to his guests. This practice of toasting gradually evolved over the centuries to incorporate libations and the honouring of people.

By the 17th and 18th centuries, toasting had become so popular that toastmasters were employed to ensure that everyone got their turn to speak and that the drinking didn't become too excessive. Today, wedding toasts are an opportunity for loved ones to speak, offer congratulations, share stories about the couple, and wish them a happy future together.

How to give a wedding toast

A wedding toast is a joyful speech to congratulate the newlyweds. It can be nerve-wracking to get up in front of a lot of people, but with some simple tips, you can give a memorable wedding toast. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you:

Prepare Your Speech

• Keep it short and sweet: A wedding toast should be meaningful but not too long. The ideal length is around two to three minutes. This is enough time to say what you need to say without losing the attention of the guests.
• Have a clear structure: Your speech should have a beginning, middle, and end. Start by congratulating the couple and expressing your happiness for them. Then, introduce yourself and explain your relationship with the couple. This is especially important if most guests don't know you.
• Share anecdotes: Tell a story or two about the couple, especially how they met and what makes them a great pair. Make sure the stories are appropriate and not too embarrassing. You can also include a few jokes, but avoid inside jokes that only a few people will understand.
• Address both partners: Even if you are closer to one of the newlyweds, make sure to address both of them in your speech. Share a story or anecdote about each of them to show their unique qualities.
• Keep it clean: Avoid cursing, inside jokes, and stories about exes. Your speech should be tasteful and not cause any discomfort to the couple or the guests.
• Practice: Write down your speech and practice it out loud, both by yourself and in front of others. Memorize it if you can, but it's okay to use note cards on the big day.

Delivering the Toast

• Get everyone's attention: When you're ready to speak, stand up and calmly speak into the microphone. You can say something like, "Hello, everyone! Please give me a few seconds as we toast the newlyweds."
• Be confident: It's normal to feel nervous, but try to speak clearly and confidently. Look at the couple while you're speaking, and don't forget to smile!
• Raise your glass: At the end of your speech, invite everyone to raise their glasses to the couple. Cheers your glasses together and take a sip.

Remember, the key to a great wedding toast is to speak from the heart and celebrate the newlyweds. With a little preparation and practice, you'll be able to deliver a toast that the couple and guests will remember fondly.

Who should give a wedding toast

A wedding toast is a joyful speech to congratulate the newlyweds. It is an opportunity for friends and family to express their happiness for the couple and for the couple to thank their loved ones for their support. Traditionally, the newlyweds' parents, the best man, the maid of honour, and the couple themselves give wedding toasts. However, the couple can decide to include other loved ones as well.

The Hosts

The first toast is usually given by the hosts of the wedding, often the parents of the bride, to welcome the guests and congratulate the couple. For same-sex weddings, the couple can decide whose parents should kick off the evening. If the bride's parents are hosting, they speak first, followed by the parents of the groom.

The Best Man and Maid of Honour

The best man and maid of honour usually speak towards the end of the dinner, after the main course has been served. This ensures that there are no interruptions from waitstaff and that the guests are still attentive.

The Couple

The couple should also take the microphone to thank their parents and guests. They can speak right after the maid of honour and best man, or wait until they cut the cake.

Tips for Wedding Toasts

• Keep it short and sweet: A wedding toast should be around 2-5 minutes long.
• Give speakers notice: Inform the speakers a few months in advance and provide a time limit.
• Order of speakers: The couple should decide on the order of the toasts and let each person know when they will be speaking.
• Practice: Write down your thoughts and practice your speech.
• Keep it clean: Avoid inside jokes, cursing, and stories about exes.
• Address both newlyweds: Make sure to give equal attention to both partners.
• Be sincere: Speak from the heart and express your admiration for the couple.
• Raise a glass: Don't forget to end with a toast to the happy couple!

What to say in a wedding toast

Wedding toasts are an honour, but they can be nerve-wracking. Here is some advice on what to say in your speech.

Who Should Give a Wedding Toast?

Traditionally, wedding toasts are given by the newlyweds' parents, honour attendants, and the couple themselves. However, other loved ones may also give a speech.

How to Write a Wedding Toast

A wedding toast should be meaningful but concise. It should have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Here are some tips on what to include:

• Congratulate the couple: Express your happiness for the newlyweds and what it means to you to witness their marriage.
• Introduce yourself: Briefly explain your relationship with the couple so that everyone understands why you are giving a speech.
• Share anecdotes: Include one to three short stories or anecdotes about your relationship with the couple. These stories should illustrate who the couple is to you and why they are a good match.
• Address both partners: Even if you only know one half of the couple well, make sure to include both partners in your toast. You can share the story of their engagement or something your friend told you about their partner.
• Keep it clean: Avoid cursing and stories about exes. Steer clear of anything that might embarrass the couple or make the guests uncomfortable.
• Be inclusive: Avoid inside jokes that only a few guests will understand. Opt for inclusive stories and jokes that all guests can enjoy.
• Keep it short: Aim for a length of two to five minutes. This will help you keep the attention of your audience.

How to Deliver a Wedding Toast

• Prepare in advance: Write down your toast, practice it out loud, and bring your notes with you.
• Make sure you're heard: Ensure you speak clearly and loudly so that everyone can hear you.
• Engage with the audience: Make eye contact, pause to laugh or applaud, and remember to look at the couple as you are toasting them.
• Stay calm: If you're nervous, take a few deep breaths and tell yourself you're excited. Your honesty will create humour and let the guests see the magnitude of your affection for the couple.

What to Say at the End of Your Toast

End your speech by inviting everyone to raise their glasses and toast to the couple. You can also include a short poem, quotation, or blessing. Here are some examples:

• "Here's to the bride and the bridegroom, we'll ask for their success in our prayers, and through life's dark shadows and sunshine, may good luck be theirs."
• "May your joys be as deep as the ocean, and your troubles as light as its foam."
• "May your love always be added. May it never be subtracted. May your household multiply, and may your hearts never be divided!"
• "May you live as long as you like, and have all you like for as long as you live."

Mistakes to avoid when giving a wedding toast

A wedding toast is a joyful speech to congratulate the newlyweds who have just celebrated their union. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when giving a wedding toast:

Don't Wing It

Giving a wedding toast is an honour, but it can be nerve-wracking. It is not something you should try off-the-cuff. Write your speech, practice it out loud several times, and bring it with you. Practising will help you feel more confident and ensure your emotions don't get the better of you.

Keep It Brief

A wedding toast should be meaningful but not drawn out. The ideal length is around two to five minutes. Any longer and you risk losing your audience's attention. Keep your speech concise and to the point, and choose only the best stories to highlight the couple.

Keep It Clean

Avoid swearing and inappropriate stories. There will likely be children and elderly people in the audience, so keep your speech PG-rated. You can tell funny stories about the couple without lapsing into vulgarity or crudeness. Leave out any references to exes or wild nights out.

Avoid Inside Jokes

While it can be tempting to include inside jokes that only you and the couple will understand, this can alienate the other guests. Stick to inclusive stories and jokes that everyone can enjoy and relate to. If you do include an inside joke, add a word or two of explanation so that everyone can follow along.

Don't Embarrass the Couple

Refrain from telling embarrassing stories or poking fun at the bride and groom. You don't want to make them feel uncomfortable on their special day. Ask yourself if the story you're planning to tell will present the couple in a positive light. If it sheds any negative light on either person, leave it out.

Don't Forget the Couple

It's common to be closer to one half of the couple than the other, but remember, you are celebrating them as a pair. Make sure to address both partners in your speech and share anecdotes that illustrate why they are fantastic and well-suited to each other.

Frequently asked questions