Planning

Reception

How to Toast at Weddings

Each toast has its moment: here's the traditional and non-traditional order in which to clink the glasses.

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Order of wedding toasts (formal)
Don't risk raising any glass before it's time! In a wedding that follows very formal protocol, here's the sequence of the toasts offered at the reception, plus the person typically called upon to offer each one:

1. Toast to the bride: Made by the best man, or a friend or relative.
   
   
2. Toast to the bride and groom: In recent years, this has all but replaced the toast to the bride.
   
   
3. The groom's response: This should usually include a few words to the bride, thanks to whoever made the first toast, thanks to both sets of parents, and a toast to the bridesmaids.
   
   
4. 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.)
   
   
5. Others: A few words from an usher or particularly close friend.
   
   
6. 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.

Order of wedding toasts (Non-formal)
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.

1. Toast #1:
   The MC stands and proposes a toast to the newlywed couple.
   
   
2. Toast #2:
   The groom stands, thanks the MC and guests, and then proposes a toast to his bride.
   
   
3. 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.
   
   
4. 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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