How to Write a Wedding Toast: 10 Tips & Examples

A wedding toast is an important tradition in many cultures, as it gives friends and family a chance to celebrate the love and commitment of the newlyweds publicly.

Learning how to write a wedding toast is important because it’s a way for friends and family to show their support and love for the newlyweds. It can also be a platform for friends and family to share special memories and moments about the couple and their relationship.

Who gives a toast at weddings?

Traditionally, the best man, the couple’s parents, give toasts at weddings. However, other members of the wedding party, close friends, and family members may also give toasts.

Parents often give wedding toasts to express their love and support for the newlyweds and to wish them a happy and fulfilling future together. They might share memories and stories about the couple, offer advice and well wishes, and raise a toast to their future happiness.

How to write a wedding toast?

Finding the right words to express your emotions and feelings about the couple and their relationship can be challenging. So, you may wonder how to write a wedding toast; start by thinking about the couple and what you admire about their relationship.

Write down some wedding toast ideas and brainstorm about the couple, their love story, and what you want to say in the toast. Draft a structure for your toast, including an opening, body, and conclusion.

The opening should grab the audience’s attention, while the body should provide more detail about the couple and their relationship. The conclusion should be a heartfelt well-wish for the newlyweds.

Practice your toast several times to get comfortable with the delivery, and make any final edits or adjustments. Remember, the toast is a celebration of love, and your goal is to add to the joy and happiness of the occasion.

Related Reading: 100+ Funny Wedding Wishes, Messages and Quotes

10 wedding toast examples

A toast in wedding is a way to commemorate the occasion and the start of the couple’s life together, and it will be remembered for years to come. Most importantly, a toast to the bride and groom is a celebration of love and a way to honor the love and commitment of the newlyweds.

Let’s give examples if you’re wondering how to write a wedding toast.

Traditional wedding toasts

Here are some wedding speech examples:

1. “Ladies and gentlemen, I am honored to be here today to toast the newlyweds. (bride’s name) and (groom’s name), I have known you both for many years, and I have never seen two people more perfect for each other. Your love for each other is truly inspiring, and I am so grateful to be a part of this special day.

To the bride and groom, I wish you a lifetime of love, laughter, and happiness. May your marriage be filled with joy and adventure, and you always support each other through life’s ups and downs.

Here’s to a lifetime of love, happiness, and memories. Congratulations, (bride’s name) and (groom’s name)!”

2. “Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to toast the beautiful couple we are here to celebrate today. Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in their lives, filled with love, laughter, and adventure. To the bride and groom, may your love for each other grow stronger with each passing day.

May your love be the foundation of your marriage, and may you never forget why you fell in love in the first place. Here’s to a lifetime of happiness and joy.”

3. “Ladies and Gentlemen, I am honored to stand before you today and offer a toast to the newlyweds. Today marks the beginning of a journey filled with challenges and triumphs, but their love for each other may be the anchor that keeps them strong.

May they be blessed with good health, wealth, and happiness and live a long and loving life together. Here’s to the bride and groom; may their love continue to blossom and flourish with each passing year.”

4. “Ladies and Gentlemen, it is a privilege to be here today to celebrate the union of two beautiful souls. To the couple, may your marriage be filled with love, laughter, and happiness. May you always find comfort in each other’s arms, and may your love for each other only grows stronger with each passing day.

Here’s to a lifetime of love, happiness, and adventure for the beautiful couple we are here to celebrate today.”

Related Reading: 25 Different Types of Marriages

Funny wedding toasts

Are you trying to create a funny wedding toast that will make everyone laugh? Here are three examples of a toast for wedding couple

1. Best Man: “I’ve known the groom for a long time, and let me tell you, he’s made many mistakes in his life. But choosing his partner was not one of them! To the newlyweds!”
2. Maid of Honor: “I have to say, [bride’s name] always did have great taste. I mean, just look at the dress she picked out for today! And [partner’s name], I must admit, you clean up pretty nicely too. To the newlyweds!”
3. Bridesmaid: “When [bride’s name] asked me to be a bridesmaid, I was thrilled. But when she told me the dress’s color, I was like, “Oh no, not that color again!” But you know what? It all worked out in the end, and here we are, toasting to the newlyweds!”

Parent wedding toasts

If you are looking for wedding speech ideas, you can look at certain wedding speeches for inspiration. Here are three examples of parent wedding toasts:

1. “My dear son/daughter, I am so proud of the person you have become and your chosen partner. May your love continue to grow and flourish, and may you be blessed with a lifetime of happiness together. Cheers to the newlyweds!”
2. “To my son and his beautiful partner, I couldn’t be happier for the two of you on this special day. May your love be a source of strength and comfort to each other, and may your lives be filled with laughter and joy. To the newlyweds!”
3. “My dear child, I am honored to stand here today and celebrate your love and commitment to each other. May your marriage be filled with love, laughter, and endless happiness. Cheers to the newlyweds!”

10 wedding toast tips

Wedding toasts can set the right tone for a wedding party. They can lift the mood, remind people about old memories or make them laugh. 

Here are some tips that can help you write the perfect wedding toast.

1. Be prepared

Plan your toast ahead of time and practice it before the wedding day. If you want to give awesome wedding toasts, avoid controversial topics, crude humor, or anything that may be inappropriate or offensive.

Related Reading: The Ultimate Wedding-Planning Checklist: Start to Finish

2. Speak clearly

Make sure you speak loud and clear so that everyone can hear you. Slow down and pause between sentences and thoughts to give your audience time to absorb your speech.

 3. Use humor

A lighthearted joke can help break the ice and get guests laughing. Make sure the humor you use is appropriate and will be well received by the couple and their guests.

4. Keep it short

Aim for a toast that lasts around 2-3 minutes. Stick to the main points and avoid getting sidetracked by tangents or unnecessary details.

5. Personalize the toast

Include personal anecdotes or stories about the couple. Share a personal story or memory about the couple that highlights their relationship or mention specific qualities or traits you admire in each newlywed.

6. Be positive

Keep the tone light, warm, and positive. Avoid discussing sensitive or embarrassing topics. Focus on the love and happiness of the couple and their future together.

For this, you can include points that are included in Marriage.com’s pre-marriage course online.

7. Toast the couple

Make sure the toast is centered around the couple, not yourself. Highlight the couple’s strengths, accomplishments, and qualities that make them a great team.

8. Offer wishes

Express well wishes for the couple’s future together. You can wish the couple a lifetime of love, happiness, and joy and that their love continues to grow and flourish.

9. Raise a glass

End your toast by raising a glass to the happy couple.

10. End with a bang

Conclude your toast with a memorable line or phrase that will stay with the couple and guests.

Following these tips, you can deliver a memorable and meaningful wedding toast that the couple and guests will cherish.

5 wedding toast template

If you have access to certain wedding toast templates, these can guide you in giving your toast a rough structure. A wedding toast template could be:

1. Introduction

Start by introducing yourself and your relationship to the bride and groom. The introduction when toasting at weddings serves as an opening statement that sets the tone for the rest of the speech.

It’s important because it helps set the mood for the event, whether lighthearted or serious. The introduction is often the first impression that the speaker makes on the audience, so it is crucial to make it clear, concise, and memorable.

2. Congratulations

Offer your congratulations to the couple and acknowledge the significance of the day. Congratulations are essential to a wedding toast as they express well wishes and recognize the newlyweds’ commitment to each other.

They support and affirm the marriage and help set a celebratory tone for the event.

3. Memories

Share any memorable experiences you’ve had with the bride and groom.

This can include sharing fond memories of the couple, anecdotes about how they met, or moments demonstrating their love and commitment to each other. Sharing these memories helps to paint a picture of the couple’s relationship and gives a deeper insight into their love story.

However, it’s important to keep the tone light and positive and avoid sharing anything inappropriate or embarrassing for the couple.

4. Wishes

Offer well wishes for the couple’s future together. This can include wishes for happiness, love, success, and more. Wishes are a significant part of a wedding toast as they express hope for the couple’s future.

It’s essential to keep the wishes sincere and meaningful and to deliver them with warmth and generosity. Wishing the couple a long and joyful life together is a great way to end a wedding toast and leave a lasting impression on the guests.

Related Reading: Wedding Wishes for Friends and Family

5. Toast

The end of a toast is important, and if you’re wondering how to end a toast, then you’re in the right place. Raise your glass and say, “Here’s to the happy couple.” and invite others to join in the toast. An example includes:

“I wish the couple a lifetime of happiness, love, and adventure. May they always support each other, communicate openly, and make each other smile.

So, let us raise a glass to the happy couple. Here’s to [bride and groom’s names]. Cheers!”

Watch this video to learn more about how to overcome the fear of public speaking:

Some commonly asked questions

If you are trying to write a memorable wedding toast, here are some questions that might help you understand the task better:

• What do you say in a short wedding toast?

A short wedding toast could start with congratulations to the newlyweds and a wish for their happiness and love to endure. You could also include a memorable anecdote or a personal connection to the couple before raising a toast in their honor.

• How do you start a toast at a wedding?

Making a toast at a wedding can be done in several ways, but here are some tips to make your opening memorable and effective. These can teach you how to give a wedding toast.

– Greet the audience

Begin by welcoming the guests and acknowledging their presence.

– Recognize the occasion

Mention that you are honored to be giving a toast at such an important event.

– Express gratitude

Express your gratitude to the couple for allowing you to be a part of their special day.

– Acknowledge the couple

Pay tribute to the couple by talking about their love and commitment to each other.

– Set the tone

Establish a joyous and celebratory tone for the rest of the toast by making a warm and lighthearted comment.

• What is the traditional wedding toast?

The traditional wedding toast is a speech given at a wedding reception to honor the newlyweds and celebrate their marriage. It typically involves offering congratulations, expressing good wishes, and raising a glass to the couple.

The best man often gives the traditional wedding toast to the bride’s parents or the maid of honor. But it can also be given by anyone who wants to offer their love and support to the newlyweds.

Knowing how to write a wedding toast is straightforward if you are ready to put in the effort. The toast typically begins with a warm welcome to the guests and a recognition of the couple’s love and commitment to each other. The toast usually concludes with a raise of the glass and a cheerful “to the happy couple.”

• What is a wedding toast speech example?

Certain people look for some examples that can help guide them in writing one of their own. Here is a wedding toast speech example:

“Good day, everyone; I am honored to be here today to celebrate the union of (couple’s name). They say that love is a journey, not a destination, and today marks the beginning of that journey together.

I have known you for many years, and I can honestly say that you bring out the best in each other. Your love and devotion to each other are truly inspiring, and I am confident you will have a lifetime of happiness together.

So, let us raise a glass to the happy couple.”

• How long should a wedding toast be?

When learning how to write a wedding toast, you should know that it typically lasts 3-5 minutes. The length can vary, but it’s essential to strike a balance between being heartfelt and meaningful to avoid boring the audience.

Short wedding toasts are concise, focused, and to the point while delivering a heartfelt and memorable message.

Related Reading: Importance of Creating Your Personal Wedding Vows

Final takeaway

A well-delivered wedding toast can be a touching and memorable moment that brings people together and creates a sense of unity and happiness. This is why knowing how to write a wedding toast is necessary.

Whether a heartfelt tribute to the couple or a lighthearted joke, a wedding toast is an opportunity to celebrate love, friendship, and the start of a new journey together.