Tis the season! Engagement season I mean! And you know what comes next. That's why you're here. You've likely found this blog post because you have been asked to give a toast at a friend or family member's wedding. I understand that public speaking may not be your strong point and you have a lot of questions, but fear not. The tips below will teach you How To Write The Perfect Wedding Toast!

1. The Opener


"For those of you who don't know me". Those famous words have opened almost every wedding toast that I have heard. While it's genuine, it's very overused. Try something like

  • "Hi, I'm (Your Name) the bride's sister/brother"
  • "What a beautiful day for a wedding, am I right? My name is (Your Name), the groom/bride's best friend."

It doesn't have to be anything fancy, just something quick and simple!

2. Story Time


Whether it's the story of how you first met the bride/groom, or your favorite moment from the couple, a story goes a long way. And by story I don't mean that embarrassing one from high school, or the one that brings up their ex. I mean a genuinely happy or funny moment. You're there to celebrate their love! Hype them up! Flattery is always your friend when it comes to speeches.

  • "Doesn't the bride look STUNNING today?"
  • "I couldn't imagine a better looking couple!"


Toasting with glasses of champaigne

3. Make Them Laugh


Making the crowd laugh at a wedding is one of the best feelings. But if you're going to try comedy, you gotta do it right. Even just one joke is enough to get the ball rolling. The key with any joke is not necessarily WHAT is said, but HOW it's said. Timing is EVERYTHING. You can't just say the words and expect it to be funny. So make sure and practice, practice, practice.

4. Wrap It Up


This is it! You've made it to the end. Now it's time to wrap it all up and throw a bow on top. When ending a speech it's good to summarize what you've talked about and pull it all together to focus on one point. In this case it would be the bride and groom. Focus the attention back to them as you finally seal the deal with a toast. Ask everyone to raise their glasses in honor of the beautiful couple!

Hand holding glass of champaigne

5. Tips


We've covered the basics on how to write toast. You've got this! You can do it! Now here are some tips to help you deliver the best wedding toast ever.

  • Write Down Your Speech (You don't have to fully memorize your toast, this isn't your final in college. Write down some notes to help you stay on track!)
  • Keep It Concise (5 mins or less. In today's day and age people's attention span has gotten shorter and shorter. Avoid any long or drawn out stories so as not to lose the attention of the crowd)
  • Keep It Tasteful (Remember your audience. While a few risqué jokes here and there might be alright, keep in mind that a lot of the crowd may be older/younger.
  • Be Confident (I know public speaking can be a very scary thing, but there's no better speech than one served confidently. Stand up straight, project your voice, hold the microphone right in front of you, take a deep breath, you've got this!)

So there you have it! You now have all the tools you need to write the perfect wedding toast for your upcoming wedding debut. Just remember, take a deep breath, be confident, YOU'VE GOT THIS!