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A Toast to Fall Weddings

For your fall wedding toasts, enhance your tables with high-contrast colors accented with goblets in seasonal natural colors using hammered brass or faux gold goblets, wooden goblets, or vintage stemmed glasses.

Moody and high-contrast colors are on trend this fall. Consider wedding toasting goblets that are in keeping with the season and color scheme of your wedding.

For a more formal wedding, think black, navy, or dark green backgrounds with contrasts of blushes, burgundies, and creams, with toasting goblets of ornate golds.

Click below for more information about these beautiful goblets.

For a more rustic or bohemian wedding, picture backgrounds of creams and blushes with contrasts of burgundies, rust, deep orange, and hunter green, bringing in natural elements such as wood toasting goblets with tables adorned with dried pampas grass.

Click below for more information about these terrific fall wedding goblets.

Wedding Toasts Bring People Together

Your job in delivering a toast is to bring people together. The act of raising a glass is a collective one. To drink a toast is equivalent to the entire gathering expressing the collective hear-hear, Amen, or We Agree. In order to do this, while not specifically your job, ensure that everyone has something in their glass. It is considered rude to raise an empty glass. The drink does not need to contain alcohol, but sparkling beverages add to the celebration.

Delay your own indulgence until after your job is complete. It distances you from your audience and puts you at a disadvantage if your words slur, your judgment is off, and something compromises your composure. Maybe a small, well-paced drink will soften the nervous edge, but be careful. The effect of alcohol creeps up unexpectedly. Your job in creating this moment is your primary responsibility. Your toast is important and brings its own joy. Save your personal fun until after the toasts and tributes. It’s worth it.

15 Things to Know When Giving a Toast

1. Keep it Short: Limit your toast to about 3 minutes, and no longer than 4 minutes. After three minutes, attention spans will drift and your toast will be less impactful.

2. Prepare in Advance: Do NOT wing it. Write out your toast word for word. Read it over and over, and revise it as new thoughts come to mind. Do not assume that you can speak extemporaneously effectively. This seldom works. You MUST prepare. Know your toast so well that you do not need notes. You will have a glass in your hand or at least nearby, and you may be holding a mic. Notes will distract and lessen eye contact. Rehearsing what you will say repeatedly is key to delivering a meaningful and memorable toast.

3. Start with an Introduction: All guests may not know you. Share who you are and why you were chosen to give the toast. Give context by talking about how you came to know the couple and what the relationship has meant to you.

4. Make It Personal: Share a heartfelt story or memory, especially one that showcases the person or couple’s personality or kindness. Move toward talking about how they are perfect as a couple if the toast is about the bride and groom, or how they had a significant role in the couple’s relationship if the toast is about bridesmaids, parents, or other special family members or guests. Think of a story that illustrates your point. Stories make what you share come alive.

5. Include the Groom: If it is a toast to the bride, acknowledge the groom and their relationship. A great toast isn’t just about the bride, but about their union.

6. Be Positive and Celebratory: Keep the tone uplifting and joyful. Avoid negativity, inside jokes, or embarrassing moments. Share what you have learned from them. If the toast is to the couple, wish them well by commenting on something that the two of them have shared with you about their hopes, ideals, dreams, and priorities. This is a moment to comment on their future together.

7. Use Humor (Wisely): A lighthearted joke or anecdote can add charm, but avoid anything that could offend or embarrass. I always told my kids, if it isn't funny for everyone, it isn't funny. The context should be warm, meaningful, and sincere.

8. Stay Appropriate: Skip exes, wild party stories, or anything too personal. Keep it classy and family-friendly.

9. Practice Out Loud: Saying it aloud helps you smooth out any awkward phrasing and improves your delivery. It's natural to feel nervous when giving a wedding toast. Preparation is key to managing nerves. Practice the toast several times in front of a mirror, record yourself, or practice with a friend or family member. Take deep breaths before you start. This will help calm your nerves.

10. Make Eye Contact: Engage the audience and the couple or recipient of the toast rather than staring at your notes.

11. Project Your Voice: Speak clearly and loudly enough for everyone to hear, especially in a large venue. Don’t yell, but do speak more slowly and loudly especially if there is no microphone.

12. Pace Yourself: Speak at a natural, steady pace. Nerves can make people rush, so breathe and take your time. Pause . . .

13. Avoid Overindulging Beforehand: Stay in control. Too much alcohol before your toast can lead to rambling or slurred speech.

14. Speak from the Heart: Even if it's imperfect, people will always appreciate an authentic and sincere toast.

15. End by Raising Your Glass: Conclude by raising your glass with a warm wish for the couple’s happiness and love. Raising your glass signified to all guests that they should do the same.

Who Traditionally Gives Wedding Toasts

The best man and maid of honor are typically responsible for toasting the bride and groom, respectively. They share stories, anecdotes, and words of wisdom, making their toasts personal and meaningful.

Parents of the bride and groom also often give toasts, welcoming their new son or daughter into their family and sharing their hopes and dreams for the couple's future. Other family members and close friends may also take part in giving toasts, making it a collective celebration of the couple's love.

Proper Glass Holding Techniques

Holding your glass correctly is essential for both aesthetic and practical reasons. If using stemware, hold your glass by the stem, not the bowl, to avoid warming the champagne with your hand. This technique also prevents fingerprints on the bowl of the glass, keeping it looking pristine. You will look much more in control and professional if you hold the glass properly.

The Traditional Order in Giving Wedding Toasts?

The traditional order typically begins with the father of the bride, followed by the groom, best man, maid of honor, and other guests.

Fall Wedding Toasts: A Few Examples

For the Father of the Bride

Warmth and nostalgia often fill a father of the bride's toast. For example, "To my dear daughter and her new husband, I raise a glass to the love that has brought you together today and to the many adventures that lie ahead. May your bond be as strong as the love you've shown me over the years."

For the Best Man and Maid of Honor

The best man and maid of honor bring their own unique perspectives to their toasts.

The best man might say, "To the groom, my friend and brother, I've seen you at your best (pause for effect) and worst, but today you shine brighter than ever. May your marriage be filled with laughter, love, and the knowledge that you're you are in this together!"

The maid of honor could toast, "To the beautiful bride, I'm honored to stand by your side today. May your love be the foundation on which you build your life together, and may you always find joy in each other's company."

For Parents, Siblings, and Close Friends

Parents, siblings, and close friends also have the opportunity to raise a glass. A parent might say, "As we welcome [son's/daughter's name] into their new family, we also celebrate the love that has grown between our families. May this union be blessed with happiness and harmony." A sibling or close friend could toast, "To the happy couple, may your adventures together be filled with joy, your challenges be met with strength, and your love for each other continue to grow with each passing day."

These examples illustrate the diversity and warmth that can be captured in wedding toasts. By tailoring the message to the speaker's relationship with the couple, the toast becomes a personal and meaningful tribute to the newlyweds.

Romantic and Sentimental Examples

For a romantic and sentimental toast, consider the warmth and beauty of the fall season. Here's an example:

"Just as the leaves change colors and the trees stand tall, your love has grown stronger with each passing day. May your journey together be filled with the warmth of autumn and the promise of new beginnings."

Humorous Yet Tasteful Samples

For a lighter tone, a humorous toast can be a great way to celebrate the couple. Here's a sample:

"Marriage is like a fall foliage tour – it's beautiful, it's a little unpredictable, and sometimes you get a little messy. But with love like yours, the journey is always worth it."

Short and Sweet Toast

Sometimes, less is more. A short and sweet toast can be just as impactful. Consider this template:

"To [Bride's Name] and [Groom's Name], may your love continue to grow as beautifully as the autumn leaves. Cheers to a harvest of happiness together!"

Key Takeaways in Making a Wedding Toast

Choose glassware that complements your wedding theme.
Practice your toast to ensure a smooth delivery.
Personalize your toast with a special message.
Use elegant glassware to enhance the experience.
Keep your toast heartfelt and sincere.

Wedding Toast Products to Check Out

I'm Getting Married: Now what do I do?

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