Have You Thought About The Wedding Toast?

Bride toasting, North Carolina, USA. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One of the wedding requirements you may totally overlook until the last minute is the toasting. In fact many people may not even think about giving a toast until the day of the event and then must come up with something nice or funny to say at the last minute. While some people just have a knack for saying the right things and never get tongue-tied or nervous in front of a crowd, that is not the case for most of us.

If you are one of the members of the wedding party, a parent of the Bride or Groom, or the Bride or Groom yourself, you may want to brush up on the etiquette of toasting.  And toasts are given at engagement parties and rehearsal dinners too!

Toasting the couple at the wedding is obvious, but that toast – depending on who it’s coming from – can be short and sweet, or longer and more personal.  Traditionally the Best Man gets the job of toasting the couple, but at a small wedding any of the attending relatives or friends could offer up a toast.

Try to be a little personal by mentioning something you particularly love about the couple or how well they are suited for each other.   You could mention how they met, or any other unique, but wonderful (or funny – only if everyone will think so!), events or personal memories pertaining to their relationship.

If you are worried about nerves getting the best of you, have the speech well-rehearsed before the wedding day and look directly at the Bride and Groom (trying to block out all the other eyes staring at you) and focus on them.

Begin your speech by saying who you are and your relationship to the couple – if the crowd is large and many people don’t know you personally, and then get into the body of the toast.  You can throw in a quote, some poetry, or a biblical verse as is fitting, and end with the raising of your glass and a wish for health and happiness for the couple.

Don’t wait until you’ve had too much to drink to make your toast!
Don’t mention anything except good things. A wedding is not the time to start a fight!
Don’t worry about it too much.  Just say what’s in your heart and remember that you are among friends!

Related articles

• Wedding Toast Etiquette and Advice (sosimplyspecial.com)
• 3 Questions to Ask Yourself When Considering Your Wedding Budget; Wedding Planner, Kiss the Planner, Releases Useful Tips to Avoid Costly Mistakes (prweb.com)
• Reception Invitation Wording, After a Private Wedding Ceremony (sandpiperwedding.wordpress.com)
• Father of the Bride Speeches – Top Tips For Writing a Memorable Wedding Speech and Toast (speakingskills2020.typepad.com)

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