The real deal with wedding toast: how to do it, what to say, who should propose

By Lord Vincent Van Mendoza Last updated Jun 15, 2022

You might have been attending wedlock parties, and may have been asked once or twice to initiate the the wedding toast. Most probably, you’re the best man of the celebration that’s why you’re reading this. Anyhow, just in case you want to know, a toast to the happy newlyweds isn’t just for the wedding reception. This can actually be included in the ceremony.

Having said these things, and if your might have been blown with what you just knew, this blog is certainly for you.

Contents hide

1 The significance of a wedding toast

2 Brief history of wedding toast

3 Who can propose a wedding toast?

4 How to propose a wedding toast

5 Wedding toast speech sample structure

6 Wedding Toast Examples:

The significance of a wedding toast

This symbolic drinking from the cup of life reflects a couple’s sharing of all BITTER and SWEET experiences together as they journey in this realm that we call “married life”. Just like the wine, love should also be brewed over the years, and that we do hope and pray that they go sweeter as the years go by. As a Filipino advert goes, “Habang tumatagal, lalong sumasarap.“

We give a toast as a means of celebrating the couple, and honoring to recount memories while wishing them well in their future together.

Read this article for more:

Brief history of wedding toast

The origins of toasting can be traced back to ancient societies in the form of raising their cup as a drink offering to their god(s), but there’s also an evidence that the ancient Greeks drank to each other’s health which can be seen in The Odyssey when Ulysses raises a glass to Achilles.

When there was a gathering, the Greeks would pour the wine from a communal pitcher, which dates back to the sixth century B.C. To show to his guests that the wine was not poisoned, the host (the bride’s father) would drink from his glass first. During these tense times, the Greeks would spike their adversaries’ beverages to ensure silence and even to avoid an undesirable divorce!

The warring neighbors often ended in a truce that brought the leaders’ children together in marriage—and a banquet celebration. This is where the tradition of the wedding toast began.

The actual term “toast” comes from the Roman practice of dropping a piece of burnt bread into the wine. This was done to temper some of the bad wines the Romans sometimes had to drink.

One of the first written occurrences of the phrase can be found in Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor, when the character Falstaff states, “Go fetch me a quart of sack; put a toast in’t.” They actually put a piece of toasted bread in the wine, and that is how we came to label this practice a “toast.” It was thought the toasted bread helped soak up some of the acidity, and it was also a way to make a piece of stale bread edible. So over the next centuries the term “toasting” gradually incorporated traditional libations and the honoring of people. The person being honored often received the saturated piece of toast.

Over the next few centuries, the term toasting came to mean honoring people. The toast was usually given to the individual being honored. This was not only an honor, but it was also utilized to make the bread edible and to absorb the wine’s acidity.

Who can propose a wedding toast?

A wedding toast may be proposed by the best man, the maid of honor, the parents of the bridal couple, the bride, or the groom (albeit often, it is done by the groom).

The traditional wedding toast order is the father of the bride, groom and the best man, followed by any other toasts.

Here’s who each person traditionally toasts:

The father of the bride toasts his daughter and the new couple
The groom toasts his new spouse
The best man toasts the bridesmaids and the new couple
Other toasts may include the maid of honor toasting the groom

It’s totally up to the couple how many toasts they would like to have.

How to propose a wedding toast

When giving a wedding toast, there are a few things to keep in mind. To begin, make sure everyone’s glass is filled so they may drink in the conclusion, and then get everyone’s attention. It’s really simple to do if you’re giving a speech. If not, the best method to do so is to approach the master of ceremonies and request the microphone rather than clinking your Champagne glass.

Wedding toast speech sample structure

Just like any speech, your toast should have the beginning, the middle, and the end.

Congratulate the couple.
Introduce yourself.
Tell a story.
Address both partners.
End by raising your glass for the toast.

Wedding Toast Examples:

Traditional Wedding Toast

Brief history of wedding toastThe origins of toasting can be traced back to ancient societies in the form of raising their cup as a drink offering to their god(s), but there’s also an evidence that the ancient Greeks drank to each other’s health which can be seen in The Odyssey when Ulysses raises a glass to Achilles.When there was a gathering, the Greeks would pour the wine from a communal pitcher, which dates back to the sixth century B.C. To show to his guests that the wine was not poisoned, the host (the bride’s father) would drink from his glass first. During these tense times, the Greeks would spike their adversaries’ beverages to ensure silence and even to avoid an undesirable divorce!The warring neighbors often ended in a truce that brought the leaders’ children together in marriage—and a banquet celebration. This is where the tradition of the wedding toast began.The actual term “toast” comes from the Roman practice of dropping a piece of burnt bread into the wine. This was done to temper some of the bad wines the Romans sometimes had to drink.One of the first written occurrences of the phrase can be found in Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor, when the character Falstaff states, “Go fetch me a quart of sack; put a toast in’t.” They actually put a piece of toasted bread in the wine, and that is how we came to label this practice a “toast.” It was thought the toasted bread helped soak up some of the acidity, and it was also a way to make a piece of stale bread edible. So over the next centuries the term “toasting” gradually incorporated traditional libations and the honoring of people. The person being honored often received the saturated piece of toast. Over the next few centuries, the term toasting came to mean honoring people. The toast was usually given to the individual being honored. This was not only an honor, but it was also utilized to make the bread edible and to absorb the wine’s acidity.Who can propose a wedding toast?A wedding toast may be proposed by the best man, the maid of honor, the parents of the bridal couple, the bride, or the groom (albeit often, it is done by the groom).The traditional wedding toast order is the father of the bride, groom and the best man, followed by any other toasts. Here’s who each person traditionally toasts:

The father of the bride toasts his daughter and the new couple

The groom toasts his new spouse

The best man toasts the bridesmaids and the new couple

Other toasts may include the maid of honor toasting the groom

It’s totally up to the couple how many toasts they would like to have.How to propose a wedding toastWhen giving a wedding toast, there are a few things to keep in mind. To begin, make sure everyone’s glass is filled so they may drink in the conclusion, and then get everyone’s attention. It’s really simple to do if you’re giving a speech. If not, the best method to do so is to approach the master of ceremonies and request the microphone rather than clinking your Champagne glass.Wedding toast speech sample structureJust like any speech, your toast should have the beginning, the middle, and the end.