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An essential ingredient of any wedding, toasts have several functions. They give some of the principals at the wedding an opportunity to put their
feelings into words and to express the collective feelings of everyone there. The toasts are also the first chance to introduce another essential
ingredient: humor. And, most importantly, the speeches are a signal for the wedding to progress from the formal to the informal. At their
conclusion, the bride and the groom, and the friends and relatives who have contributed to the day's success, can relax and enjoy themselves.
For more information, please scroll down to one of the following topics:
Tips on toasting
Order of wedding toasts - Traditional
Order of wedding toasts - Nontraditional
Classic toasts (for those at a loss for words)
Tips on toasting
Make sure that not only your glass, but also all other glasses are filled before you propose a toast.
It's your choice whether you say a traditional wedding toast or compose an original. Either way, raise your glass with your right hand. In addition,
be sure that the glass is held straight from the shoulder. When toasting first began, it was not unusual to find a sword, dagger, or other weapon in
the right hand, or concealed in the clothing, and the traditional toasting position proved that you had come in friendship.
The clinking of glasses is a tradition rooted in earliest human history: people have always made a noise, like the ringing of a bell or the clinking of
a glass, to frighten away evil spirits. Toasts can be offered with a sip of champagne, wine, a mixed drink or non-alcoholic punch, but never with
tea, coffee or water. Whatever the beverage chosen, it should be served to the bride first, then the groom, then the maid of honor, then parents
and lastly the best man.
Note that a toast should always end with a formal indication to the guests to alert them and tell them what to say; for example, "Please join in a
toast to the happiness of Jack and Jill. Jack and Jill!" If you are the recipient of a toast, you do not stand, raise your glass, or take a sip of your
drink, but you do thank the toasters or at least smile and graciously nod. You are not obliged to propose a toast in return.
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Order of wedding toasts -- Traditional
All the possible traditional toasts and the order in which they are made, are listed below:
Toast to the bride:
Made by the best man, or a friend or relative.
Toast to the bride and groom:
In recent years, this has all but replaced the toast to the bride.
The groom's response:
This should include a few words to his bride, thanks to whoever made the first toast, thanks to both sets of parents and a toast to the bridesmaids.
The best man's response:
The best man thanks the groom on behalf of the bridesmaids. (Occasionally the bride will follow the groom's response with some words of her
own. It then falls to the best man to thank the bridesmaids.)
Others:
A few words from an usher or particularly close friend.
Toast by the father of the bride:
On behalf of his wife and himself, he can thank everyone for attending and indicate that the festivities may now begin.
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Order of wedding toasts -- Nontraditional
The following toasts break with strict tradition to encourage a more egalitarian celebration. Feel free to include other toasts or to change their
order to suit the occasion.
Toast #1:
The MC stands and proposes a toast to the newlywed couple.
Toast #2:
The groom stands, thanks the MC and guests, and then proposes a toast to his bride.
Toast #3:
The bride stands, thanks the groom and guests, then proposes a toast to her parents. She may wish to include her new in-laws in the toast or
save a special toast for them.
Toast #4:
The father of the bride may wish to stand at this point, thank the bride for the toast, thank everyone for attending and announce that the
festivities may now begin. Or the MC can return to the podium and propose a toast to the bridesmaids, to which the maid of honor may reply with
thanks or another toast. Then the MC may introduce any guests who wish to propose their own toasts (this works best if guests mention their
desire to participate to the MC prior to the round of speeches), and finally announce the start of the festivities.
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| Classic Wedding Toasts |
May there always be work for your hands to do.
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine warm on your windowpane.
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May you both live as long as you want,
And never want as long as you live.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May your glasses be ever full.
May the roof over your heads be always strong.
And may you be in heaven half an hour
before the devil knows you're dead.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
Slow to make enemies,
And quick to make friends.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
But rich or poor, quick or slow,
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As you slide down the bannister of life,
May the splinters never point the wrong way.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May the joys of today
Be those of tomorrow.
The goblets of life
Hold no dregs of sorrow.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May the saddest day of your future be no worse
Than the happiest day of your past.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Health and a long life to you.
Land without rent to you.
A child every year to you.
And if you can't go to heaven,
May you at least die in Ireland.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May you have:
No frost on your spuds,
No worms on your cabbage.
May your goat give plenty of milk.
And if you inherit a donkey,
May she be in foal.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May the luck of the Irish possess you.
May the devil fly off with your worries.
May God bless you forever and ever.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's to you and yours
And to mine and ours.
And if mine and ours
Ever come across to you and yours,
I hope you and yours will do
As much for mine and ours
As mine and ours have done
For you and yours!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May the most you wish for
Be the least you get.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May the luck of the Irish
Lead to happiest heights
And the highway you travel
Be lined with green lights.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May your troubles be less
And your blessings be more.
And nothing but happiness
Come through your door.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks.
May your hearts be as light as a song.
May each day bring you bright happy hours,
That stay with you all year long.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For each petal on the shamrock
This brings a wish your way
Good health, good luck, and happiness
For today and every day.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May your heart be warm and happy
With the lilt of Irish laughter
Every day in every way
And forever and ever after.
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine warm on your windowpane.
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May you both live as long as you want,
And never want as long as you live.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May your glasses be ever full.
May the roof over your heads be always strong.
And may you be in heaven half an hour
before the devil knows you're dead.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
Slow to make enemies,
And quick to make friends.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
But rich or poor, quick or slow,
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As you slide down the bannister of life,
May the splinters never point the wrong way.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May the joys of today
Be those of tomorrow.
The goblets of life
Hold no dregs of sorrow.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May the saddest day of your future be no worse
Than the happiest day of your past.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Health and a long life to you.
Land without rent to you.
A child every year to you.
And if you can't go to heaven,
May you at least die in Ireland.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May you have:
No frost on your spuds,
No worms on your cabbage.
May your goat give plenty of milk.
And if you inherit a donkey,
May she be in foal.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May the luck of the Irish possess you.
May the devil fly off with your worries.
May God bless you forever and ever.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's to you and yours
And to mine and ours.
And if mine and ours
Ever come across to you and yours,
I hope you and yours will do
As much for mine and ours
As mine and ours have done
For you and yours!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May the most you wish for
Be the least you get.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May the luck of the Irish
Lead to happiest heights
And the highway you travel
Be lined with green lights.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May your troubles be less
And your blessings be more.
And nothing but happiness
Come through your door.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks.
May your hearts be as light as a song.
May each day bring you bright happy hours,
That stay with you all year long.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For each petal on the shamrock
This brings a wish your way
Good health, good luck, and happiness
For today and every day.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May your heart be warm and happy
With the lilt of Irish laughter
Every day in every way
And forever and ever after.
Wherever you do and whatever you do,
May the luck of the Irish be there with you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Like the goodness of the five loaves and two fishes,
Which God divided among the five thousand men,
May the blessing of the King who so divided
Be upon our share of this common meal.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May you have food and raiment,
A soft pillow for your head,
May you be forty years in heaven
Before the devil knows you're dead.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May the strength of three be in your journey.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May your right hand always
Be stretched out in friendship
And never in want.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May the roof above us never fall in.
And may the friends gathered below it never fall out.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's to a sweetheart, a bottle, and a friend.
The first beautiful, the second full, the last ever faithful.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May the grass grow long on the road to hell for want of use.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May you have warm words on a cold evening,
A full moon on a dark night,
And the road downhill all the way to your door.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May there be a generation of children
On the children of your children.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's to health and prosperity,
To you and all your posterity.
And them that doesn't drink with sincerity,
That they may be damned for all eternity!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May I see you grey
And combing your grandchildren's hair.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May your neighbors respect you,
Trouble neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And heaven accept you.
May the Irish hills caress you.
May her lakes and rivers bless you.
May the luck of the Irish enfold you.
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May you see each other through many dark days,
and make all the rest a little brighter.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's to living single and drinking double.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May all your ups and downs
come only in the bedroom.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's a health to all those that we love,
Here's a health to all those that love us,
Here's a health to all those that love them
that love those
that love them
that love those
that love us.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Merry met, and merry part,
I drink to thee with all my heart.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May the blessings of light be upon you,
Light without and light within.
And in all your comings and goings,
May you ever have a kindly greeting
From them you meet along the road.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May brooks and trees and singing hills
Join in the chorus, too.
And every gentle wind that blows
Send happiness to you.
May the luck of the Irish be there with you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Like the goodness of the five loaves and two fishes,
Which God divided among the five thousand men,
May the blessing of the King who so divided
Be upon our share of this common meal.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May you have food and raiment,
A soft pillow for your head,
May you be forty years in heaven
Before the devil knows you're dead.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May the strength of three be in your journey.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May your right hand always
Be stretched out in friendship
And never in want.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May the roof above us never fall in.
And may the friends gathered below it never fall out.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's to a sweetheart, a bottle, and a friend.
The first beautiful, the second full, the last ever faithful.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May the grass grow long on the road to hell for want of use.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May you have warm words on a cold evening,
A full moon on a dark night,
And the road downhill all the way to your door.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May there be a generation of children
On the children of your children.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's to health and prosperity,
To you and all your posterity.
And them that doesn't drink with sincerity,
That they may be damned for all eternity!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May I see you grey
And combing your grandchildren's hair.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May your neighbors respect you,
Trouble neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And heaven accept you.
May the Irish hills caress you.
May her lakes and rivers bless you.
May the luck of the Irish enfold you.
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May you see each other through many dark days,
and make all the rest a little brighter.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's to living single and drinking double.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May all your ups and downs
come only in the bedroom.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's a health to all those that we love,
Here's a health to all those that love us,
Here's a health to all those that love them
that love those
that love them
that love those
that love us.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Merry met, and merry part,
I drink to thee with all my heart.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May the blessings of light be upon you,
Light without and light within.
And in all your comings and goings,
May you ever have a kindly greeting
From them you meet along the road.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May brooks and trees and singing hills
Join in the chorus, too.
And every gentle wind that blows
Send happiness to you.
| Music Inc |
Wedding Toast