Writing a Toast to the Bride and Groom

What goes into toasts are thoughts that are from the heart, and those that are bound to get people teary-eyed or laughing out loud. You can convey funny stories, touching moments or those that include both the bride and groom if you are acquainted to the two of them. Toasts that ramble on and on are either boring or a bunch of unnecessary details that no one needs to know about.

❤ It is important to keep toasts short and sweet, since others may want to speak for the newlyweds as well.

❤ It is wise to prepare your toast at least a week or two before the big day, and rehearse the final draft every couple of times.

❤ Have someone listen to it if you'd like so that they can put in their two cents about details to include / exclude.

❤ You could add a short prayer or poem at the end of your toast to send out your blessings / wishes to them.

Putting a toast together is really not the hard part - it's about being able to stand in front of everyone and confidently recite it without tripping all over yourself. Make sure you're well-rehearsed and if you can't say it without looking into your paper, then by all means look into it and let it guide you.

I raise my glass to my (?) ______ and ______, (use words like 'daughter', 'son', 'brother', 'sister', 'close friend' or other relation term before you say their names) on this very jubilant day where they now walk as one into the sacred bond of matrimony.

I remember a time when I was at this pivotal point in my life (if you're married, then this would make sense to include; if not you can say something like you hope to find such happiness) not really knowing how to tread on such ground, but learning and growing as the years moved on, with love and patience as two important guiding forces.

I pray and hope as I know everyone here is also doing, that you continue as you are, like it were the first day everyday since you said those two powerful words, 'I do'. We live in a world where commitment is taken for granted and where marriage is seen as the end of life.

This is not true when I see you two smiling at me, because deep down I know that you two can take on the most bloodiest of battles and the stormiest of weathers. I hope that others draw inspiration from you, and look up to your togetherness as examples of true love and friendship.

I will now recite a poem (you can choose a prayer if you'd like) that I think will speak for itself.

By James Dillet Freeman

"May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitements a marriage should bring, and may life grant you also patience, tolerance, and understanding.

May you always need one another - not so much to fill your emptiness as to help you know your fullness. A mountain needs a valley to be complete; the valley does not make the mountain less, but more; and the valley is more a valley because it has a mountain towering over it. So let it be with you and you.

May you need one another, but not out of weakness.
May you want one another, but not out of lack.
May you entice one another, but not compel one another.
May you succeed in all important ways with one another, and not fail in the little graces. May you look for things to praise, often say, "I love you!" and take no notice of small faults.

If you have quarrels that push you apart, may both of you hope to have good sense enough to take the first step back.

May you enter into the mystery which is the awareness of one another's presence - no more physical than spiritual, warm and near when you are side by side, and warm and near when you are in separate rooms or even distant cities.

May you have happiness, and may you find it making one another happy. May you have love, and may you find it loving one another."

To the happy couple! Cheers!

You can choose to word your toast in any way that you see comfortable and appropriate. Just be sure not to pass lewd comments or jokes that may cause guests and the couple to feel offended. Just have fun when putting your toast together, where you don't have to be all serious and robotic in how you present it. Be yourself and the rest will follow.