Toasting

Miss Red

Hey all,

I have Googled like crazy, and cannot come up with a straight answer (maybe there isn't one) on the traditional order of toasts/speeches at the wedding reception. Help!

JessAndTrav

We only had two toasts, the BM followed by the MOH. I'd probably start with them and then continue. Who would you like to toast?

bbyckes

What did you Google?  I entered, "order of wedding toasts" and got a bunch of hits.

Traditional Order of Wedding Toasts

In the traditional order of wedding toasts, the toast to the bride comes first. Many people believe, after all, that this is the bride's special day. So it only makes sense that the bride is toasted first. This toast is typically made by the best man, but can also be made by a relative or friend. In recent years, the toast to the bride as been replaced by a toast to both the bride and groom.

Once the toast to the bride is complete, the groom rises to respond. The groom's response will include words to the bride, which are often an affirmation of the first toast. The groom then thanks the best man (or whoever proposed the first toast) and also thanks the parents attending the wedding, both his and his bride's. The groom's response closes with a toast to the bridesmaids.

After the groom finishes speaking, the best man responds. The traditional response of the best man is to thank the groom on the bridesmaids' behalf. The best man's response can be followed by the toasts of others, including ushers or close friends.

The traditional order of wedding toasts is closed out by the father of the bride. His job is to thank all of the wedding guests on behalf of him and his wife. He then announces the commencement of wedding festivities.

pooh8402

I always thought it was whoever wanted to toast--no traditional order. as a bride, you can't ask people to toast you. "oh please say good things about me, thanks! make sure you're between my dad and my BFF."

bbyckes

The traditional order of wedding toasts

• father of the bride
• groom
• best man

I say do whatever works for you and your peeps.

Miss Red

Thanks for the answers. The problem I was having was each website seemed to say something different. I guess I will just go with the flow and whoever wants to toast can

sucrets4

We just had the MOH and then BM toast.  I can't remember how else I have seen it done.

cukimerrydoll

I have mostly seen it done with the MOH and BM - in no particular order.

I have also seen what I like to call "mic-stealing," where random people get up and take the mic from the DJ to say stuff.  This, I am not a fan of.  It gets really awkward, especially when it's wedding crashers.

Worst.  Wedding.  Ever. 

danieliza1127

We just had the MOH give a toast, and then the Best Man. 

CCBelle

I prefer a wedding with just a few toasts - otherwise they can drag on and on and the champagne gets warm.

At my wedding, my father (as the "host") toasted first, followed by the co-best men.  We didn't have a priest in attendance to say a blessing so DH did it instead.

My MOH toasted at the RD as she didn't feel comfortable speaking in front of the larger crowd at the reception.

Miss Red

Yikes, I would never do an "open mic!" I think I will ask my dad and then the best man, and if MOH wants to, then great. Then we can thank everyone (toward the end of the wedding). I don't want to sit through tons of speeches any more than my guests do!

goheels05

Whenever I think of wedding toasts, I think of the time some crazy uncle took the mic and told a variation of this joke but instead of it being about the elderly couple, he told it as if it were the bride and groom:

An elderly couple had been dating for some time and decided it was finally time to marry.

Before the wedding they embarked on a long conversation regarding how their marriage might work.

Finally, the old man decided it was time to broach the subject of their connubial relationship, "How do you feel about sex?" he asked, rather hopefully.

"Oh, I like to have it infrequently," she responded.

The old guy thought for a moment, then asked, "Was that one word or two?"

Or the time that Bec's brother-in-law took the mic and talked about himself for 15 minutes. 

beatlesgirl25

Heels, please tell me this was not your wedding where this happened. EW. And poor Bec!

goheels05

No, the bad joke was told at the wedding of the first of my HS friends to get married.  Bless her heart.  She was a good sport.