Wedding Toast Examples: 20 Samples for Every Speaker and Style

A great wedding toast is short, warm, and personal. It does not need to be funny or poetic. It needs one good story, a sincere wish, and a clear moment to raise a glass. The examples below give you a starting point you can adapt with your own memories.

Names in the examples are placeholders. Replace them with the couple's names and your own details.

A simple toast structure

1. Introduce yourself: who you are and how you know the couple.

2. Share a story: one memory that shows who they are.

3. Talk about them as a couple: what you have noticed since they met.

4. Offer a wish: a hope for their future.

5. Raise a glass: "Please join me in raising a glass to..."

Aim for two to four minutes, or roughly 300 to 500 words.

Best man toast examples

1. Heartfelt: "I'm Sam, and I've been Alex's best friend since the first day of school. I've watched him chase plenty of dreams, but I've never seen him happier than the day he met Jordan. Jordan, thank you for bringing out the best in him. Please raise your glasses to Alex and Jordan."

2. Light and funny: "Alex once told me he'd never find someone who tolerated his cooking. Jordan not only tolerates it, she eats seconds. That's love. To Alex and Jordan."

3. Short and sweet: "Alex, you've been my brother in everything but blood. Jordan, welcome to the family. Here's to a lifetime of adventures."

Maid of honor toast examples

4. Sisterly: "Taylor and I shared a room for fifteen years, so I know all of her secrets. The best one is that she's the kindest person I know. Morgan, you're lucky, and so is she. To Taylor and Morgan."

5. Best friend: "The night Taylor met Morgan, she called me at midnight to say she'd met 'the one.' She was right. Let's raise a glass to the couple who proves first instincts are sometimes perfect."

6. Sentimental: "Love isn't just the big moments. It's the coffee made without asking and the hand held in the waiting room. I've seen you two do all of that. Cheers to a life full of small, beautiful moments."

Parent toast examples

7. Father of the bride: "From her first steps to walking down that aisle, I've been proud of our daughter every day. Today I'm proud of the choice she made. Welcome to the family. To the happy couple."

8. Mother of the groom: "When our son was little, he asked how you know when you've found the right person. I told him, 'You'll just know.' Watching him today, I can see that he does."

9. Welcoming both families: "Tonight we don't just celebrate two people; we celebrate two families becoming one. Thank you all for being here."

10. Short parent toast: "We love you both. May your home be full of laughter and your hearts full of patience. Cheers."

Friend and sibling toast examples

11. "To the couple who taught us that the best relationships start with friendship."

12. "May you always argue about who loves whom more and never about who does the dishes."

13. "Here's to love, laughter, and happily ever after."

14. "May the best of your past be the worst of your future."

15. "To the two people who make 'us' look easy."

Quote-based closers

16. "Grow old along with me; the best is yet to be."

17. "Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction."

18. "Here's to the past that brought you together and the future that awaits."

19. "May your love be modern enough to survive the times and old-fashioned enough to last forever."

20. "To the newlyweds: may today be the worst day of the rest of your lives together."

Tips for delivering a toast

• Practice out loud several times, and time yourself.

• Bring notes on a card, not your phone.

• Skip inside jokes and stories about exes.

• Have one drink before, not three.

• Look at the couple when you give your final wish.

Toasts also happen at rehearsal dinners and welcome parties. If you are hosting, these examples of rehearsal dinner invitation wording help set the tone, and a wedding weekend itinerary website keeps speakers informed about timing. Brush up on wedding RSVP etiquette too, then create your wedding RSVP page with SnapRSVP.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a wedding toast be?

Two to four minutes is ideal. Anything longer than five minutes can lose the room.

Who gives toasts at a wedding?

Traditionally the best man, maid of honor, and a parent. Many couples also thank guests themselves.

Should a wedding toast be funny?

Humor is welcome but optional. Sincerity matters more, and jokes should be kind and suitable for every age.