Wishes
Wedding Toast Examples
You were asked to give a toast, said yes before you thought about it, and now there is a microphone in your future. Good news: the best wedding toasts are not the cleverest ones. They are short, warm, a little funny, and they end with everyone raising a glass at the right moment. This page gives you a structure that works for any speaker and ready examples you can adapt.
You will find opening lines, full short toasts for the best man, maid of honor, father and mother of the bride or groom, siblings and friends, plus classic "raise your glass" closers. Use them as written or as scaffolding for your own stories. For the card that goes with your gift, see wedding card messages.
Opening lines 7
Good evening, everyone. For those who don't know me, I'm Chris, the groom's best friend since fourth grade and the reason he still can't swim properly.
Hi, I'm Rachel. I've been Mia's best friend for fifteen years, and I've been waiting for tonight for about three of them.
I promised the bride I'd keep this short, and I promised the groom I'd keep it clean. Let's see how I do.
Before I start, I want to thank both families for this beautiful evening and for letting me say a few words about two people I love.
I've known Tom for twenty years, which means I have about nineteen years of stories I've been asked not to tell. So here's the one I'm allowed to.
When Sara asked me to give a toast, I said yes immediately. Then I spent three weeks trying to fit our whole friendship into four minutes. Here's my best attempt.
Ladies and gentlemen, if I could have your attention for just a few minutes, I'd like to say something about the couple we're all here to celebrate.
Raise-your-glass closing lines 9
So please raise your glasses. To a love that keeps getting better with practice. To Nick and Hannah.
To the two of you: may your adventures be big, your arguments be small, and your table always have room for us.
Everyone, please stand. To the bride and groom, and to all the ordinary days that will make this marriage extraordinary.
Raise a glass to the newlyweds, and to the dance floor, which they are about to open, ready or not.
To love, to laughter, and to happily ever after, starting tonight.
To two people who make each other braver, kinder and a lot more fun. Cheers!
Let's raise our glasses and ask God to bless this marriage with patience, joy and many years together. To the bride and groom.
Here's to the couple who proves that the best things are worth waiting for. To Leo and Grace.
To the newlyweds: may your Wi-Fi be strong, your coffee be hot and your love outlast every streaming subscription you share.
Best man toast examples 5
Hi everyone, I'm Josh, Danny's brother and his best man. Danny has always been the guy who shows up. He showed up when my car broke down at 2 a.m. in Ohio. He showed up for every one of our dad's physical therapy sessions after the surgery. He shows up. So when he called me two years ago and said, "I met someone and I want you to meet her," I knew it was serious, because Danny doesn't waste anybody's time. Kayla, you showed up for him too. You made him laugh during the worst month of his job, you learned to love the Bears out of pure solidarity, and you made him a happier, calmer version of himself. So please raise your glasses: to Danny and Kayla, two people who always show up.
Good evening. I'm Marcus, the best man, which is a title I'll be putting on my resume. I met Ryan freshman year when he knocked on my dorm room door and asked if I had a spare frying pan. He didn't cook. He needed it to fix a broken shelf. That's Ryan: creative, determined and slightly wrong about the right tool for the job. But he got one thing exactly right, and she's sitting next to him. Jen, you are smart, patient and the only person I've seen win an argument against him. Ryan, she's the best decision you've ever made, and you've made some questionable ones. To Ryan and Jen.
I've known this guy my whole life, and I've never seen him as sure about anything as he is about her. To the groom and his beautiful bride.
They say a best man should share one embarrassing story. I have forty. Lucky for him, I'm only going to tell you that he cried when he saw her walk down the aisle. And so did I.
The day Alex told me he was going to propose, he had a ring, a plan and a backup plan for the backup plan. Emily, he's been that careful with your heart since day one.
Maid of honor toast examples 5
Hi everyone, I'm Lauren, Megan's sister and maid of honor. Growing up, Megan was the one who checked under my bed for monsters and talked me through every middle school crisis. She's always taken care of everyone. So I was a little nervous about who would take care of her. Then she brought Josh home for Thanksgiving. He did the dishes without being asked, he listened to Grandpa's fishing stories twice, and when Megan got quiet after dinner, he was the first one to notice. That's when I knew. Josh, thank you for taking care of my sister. Everyone, please raise a glass to Megan and Josh.
I'm Tasha, and I've been Brianna's best friend since we were assigned lab partners in tenth-grade chemistry and nearly set the classroom on fire. Since then we've survived two road trips, one terrible apartment and more bad dates than I can list without legal advice. Brianna used to tell me she'd know the right guy when she met someone who could keep up with her. Kevin, you didn't just keep up. You brought snacks. You make her laugh until she snorts, you let her pick the music, and you look at her like she hung the moon. So raise your glasses: to Brianna and Kevin, the best lab partners I know.
She has been my person for twelve years. Tonight I'm happy to share her with the one person who loves her as much as I do. To the bride and groom.
I've watched her love people loudly and loyally her whole life. Watching someone love her back the same way is the best gift I could ask for.
I always knew she'd marry someone patient. I didn't know he'd be patient enough to sit through all six seasons of her favorite show twice. That's true love.
Father and mother of the bride or groom 6
Good evening. On behalf of my wife Linda and me, thank you all for coming, some of you from very far away. Thirty years ago I held a tiny girl who screamed through her first car ride home. She's been surprising us ever since: the stubborn kid who learned to ride a bike in one afternoon because her brother said she couldn't, the teenager who volunteered every summer, the woman who now runs a team of twelve people. Ben, you have seen all of that and loved her for it. We are proud to welcome you into our family. Please join me in raising a glass to Emma and Ben.
I'm Patricia, Daniel's mom. When Daniel was little, he used to tell me he would never get married because he would just live with me forever. I'm happy to report that plan fell through. Sophie, the first time Daniel brought you home, you spent half an hour helping me fix the dishwasher, and I knew you were family before he did. You two are kind to each other in the small, daily ways that matter most. My wish for you is simple: keep being kind, keep laughing, and call your mother. Everyone, to Daniel and Sophie.
Walking my daughter down the aisle today was the proudest moment of my life, and the shortest walk I've ever wanted to last longer. To my daughter and my new son-in-law.
Son, your mother and I have watched you grow into a man we admire. Today we gain a daughter. To the happy couple.
As parents, we hoped you'd find someone who makes you better. You found someone who makes you you. Welcome to the family. To the bride and groom!
On behalf of both of our families, thank you for being here to celebrate this marriage. We are honored by your presence and grateful for the love that surrounds this couple tonight.
Siblings and friends 7
I'm the little brother, so for most of my life my job was to annoy her. Today my job is to say she deserves this happiness more than anyone I know. To my sister and her husband.
As her older sister, I've been giving her advice for thirty years. She's ignored all of it, and she turned out great. To the newlyweds!
I'm Jordan, and I was lucky enough to introduce these two at my birthday party four years ago. I'd love to take credit for my matchmaking skills, but honestly, I just needed someone to help carry ice. What I remember is that they spent the entire night talking in the kitchen and missed the cake. They've been finding their own corner of every room ever since. You two are the kind of couple who makes everyone around you believe in love a little more. So please raise your glasses to the best accidental setup in history. To Sam and Riley.
I've shared a backseat, a bathroom and a birthday party with my brother for twenty-eight years. Today I'm happy to share him with someone who makes him this happy.
We were roommates for three years, and I can confirm he's housebroken. Mostly. Good luck, and congratulations!
To my friends who met on a rainy Tuesday and turned it into a lifetime. May every Tuesday from now on be this good.
We used to stay up talking about the kind of person we'd marry. You found someone better than either of us could imagine back then.
Short toasts for any guest 12
A toast to the couple: may you keep choosing each other long after the flowers fade and the playlist ends.
To love that is patient, funny and stubborn enough to last. Cheers to the newlyweds!
To the bride and groom: may your home be warm, your friends be near and your love grow deeper every year.
Thank you for letting us share this day. To a lifetime of happiness for the two of you.
To the two people in this room who said "I do" and meant every word. Cheers!
To the newlyweds: may you always share the remote, the blankets and the last slice of pizza.
Here's to the first day of a very long and very happy story.
To the couple who turned a first date into forever. We love you both.
May the love that brought you here today carry you through every season. God bless you both. Cheers!
To the bride, the groom and the love that brought all of us together tonight.
To marriage: the only partnership where you both think you're the funny one.
To friendship that grew into love and love that will grow into a lifetime.
The four-part wedding toast structure
- Who you are (10 seconds). "Hi everyone, I'm Mike, Jake's older brother and the person who taught him to drive, which explains a lot." Half the room doesn't know you.
- One story about the person you know best (60 to 90 seconds). Pick one story that shows a quality: loyalty, kindness, stubbornness that turned out to be useful. One good story beats five quick ones.
- The turn to the couple (30 to 60 seconds). When did you realize their partner was the one? What changed in them? Say something warm to the new spouse directly, by name.
- The raise (10 seconds). Ask everyone to stand or raise their glasses, then give a clear final line: "To Jake and Ana."
How long should a wedding toast be?
Aim for two to four minutes, roughly 300 to 500 words spoken at a relaxed pace. Guests start checking the bar after five. If several people are speaking, the shorter side is kinder to everyone, including the couple, who are usually on a tight reception schedule.
Who speaks, and when, at an American reception
Toasts usually happen after the couple's entrance and before or during dinner, or right before the cake cutting. A common order:
| Speaker | Typical role |
|---|---|
| Host (often the father or parents of the bride) | Welcomes guests, thanks families, short toast |
| Maid or matron of honor | Stories about the bride, warm turn to the couple |
| Best man | Stories about the groom, the funniest speech of the night by tradition |
| The couple | Thanks everyone, often toasts their parents |
Many weddings mix this up: two maids of honor, siblings, a groom's parent at the rehearsal dinner instead. Ask the couple or the planner where you fall in the order and how long you have.
Writing tips that actually help
- Write it out, then cut a third. Every first draft is too long.
- Talk about both people. Spending four minutes on your college roommate and one sentence on his wife is the most common mistake.
- Use specific details. "She labels her spices alphabetically" is funnier and truer than "she's organized."
- Bring notes. Index cards or a phone are fine. Nobody expects you to memorize it.
- Practice out loud three times, once in front of someone who will tell you the truth.
- Drink after, not before. One drink for nerves is plenty.
Toasts at the rehearsal dinner and engagement party
The rehearsal dinner is traditionally hosted by the groom's parents, and the toasts there are looser and more personal: longer stories, more family members speaking, sometimes an open mic. It is a good place for the story that is too long or too inside for the reception. Engagement party toasts are the shortest of all, usually a host or parent welcoming guests and wishing the couple well in a minute or two.
If you get emotional
It happens to fathers, brothers and best friends alike. Pause, breathe, smile and keep going. Guests are on your side. Having your speech printed in a large font helps when your eyes blur.
What to leave out
- Exes, past breakups and how many people the groom dated before.
- Inside jokes that need explaining. If only four people will laugh, cut it.
- Embarrassing stories involving alcohol, legal trouble or the bachelor party.
- Divorce statistics and "ball and chain" lines.
- Long lists of thank-yous. That's the couple's job.
Ending a toast well
Signal the ending clearly: "So please raise your glasses." Wait a beat until people have them up. Say the couple's names, take a sip, and step away from the mic. If you're nervous, memorize only the opening line and the final line. The middle can be read.
More for the day: wedding wishes, wedding wishes for a friend, and for later years, anniversary wishes.
Wedding wishes: all parts
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Frequently asked questions
How do you start a wedding toast?
Introduce yourself and your connection to the couple in one or two sentences, for example: "Hi everyone, I'm Sarah, Emily's college roommate and the keeper of her worst secrets." Then move straight into a story.
How long should a wedding toast be?
Two to four minutes, about 300 to 500 words. Shorter is better if several people are speaking.
What is a good short wedding toast?
Thank the hosts, say one true thing about the couple and raise your glass: "To two people who make each other braver, kinder and a lot more fun. To Ben and Olivia."
What does the father of the bride say in a toast?
He usually welcomes guests, thanks both families, shares a short memory of his daughter, welcomes the new spouse into the family by name and closes with a toast to the couple.
What should you not say in a wedding toast?
Avoid exes, embarrassing drinking stories, inside jokes, divorce jokes and anything you wouldn't say in front of the couple's grandparents.
How do you end a wedding toast?
Ask everyone to raise their glasses, wait until they do, then finish with a short line and the couple's names, like "To love, laughter and happily ever after. To Matt and Jess."
Who gives toasts at a wedding?
Traditionally the host or father of the bride, the maid of honor and the best man. Siblings, parents of the groom and the couple themselves often speak too.