125 Wedding Toasts to End Your Speech on a High

Writing a wedding speech isn’t always easy, so finishing with a wedding toast can be a great way to round off your message to the newlyweds.

Finding the right words for a wedding toast can be tough, but thinking about what the happy couple would like to hear is a great place to start. Perhaps the pair like cracking jokes, and would prefer a funny wedding toast one-liner? Or maybe they’re more romantic, and would prefer a sentimental anecdote.

Try to remember if they share a favourite film or inspirational quote, as they can make for an awesome wedding toast.

We’ve rounded up all our top wedding toast examples so you’ll have lots of options. Whether you’re searching for the perfect father of the bride speech, or you’re a groom looking for the right words to say to his new partner, you’ll find plenty of ideas and inspiration.

For those that are a little nervous, you might like to go for something punchy, so consider a short wedding speech. If you’re a bit of a wordsmith, take a look at our longer rhyming toasts. Most of these wedding toast samples traditionally refer to a bride and groom, but it’s easy to mix them up for all LGBTQ+ couples.

The toast marks the end of your speech, so think of it as a safety net that is there to catch you if you lose your place or forget your words. It’s also the chance to take a much deserved drink, so enjoy it!

If you're looking for wedding toast tips in a hurry, here are five simple and snappy wedding toasts in under one minute - feel free to borrow one of these.

Types of Wedding Toast

Click below for the best wedding toast examples:

• Traditional Wedding Toasts
• Funny Wedding Toasts
• Wedding Toast to the Newlyweds
• Wedding Toast from Parents
• Wedding Toast to Bride
• Wedding Toast to Groom
• Best Man Toasts
• Wedding Toast for a Second Marriage
• Wedding Toast Quotes

125 of the Best Wedding Toast Examples

Ready to get stuck in? Scroll on to discover some of our favourite wedding toasts, to suit all styles of wedding speech, and all speech givers!

Traditional Wedding Toasts

Wedding toasts have been around for centuries. Many of these traditional toasts are either proverbs or blessings from the likes of Ireland or Armenia. Use one of these for a sentimental toast, wishing a bright future on the couple. There's a lot of use of husband and wife so adapt if you're toasting an LGBTQ+ couple to suit how they prefer to be identified.

“Here’s to the past, for all that you’ve learnt. Here’s to the present, for all that you share. Here’s to the future, for all that you’ve got to look forward to.”

“May these rich blessings be your due…
A wealth of friendships, old and new,
Quiet nights and busy days, time for prayer and time for praise,
Some service rendered, some solace given,
And gentle peace with God and heaven.”

“May thy life be long and happy,
Thy cares and sorrows few;
And the many friends around thee
Prove faithful, fond and true.”

“May your wedding days be few and your anniversaries many.”

“Please make sure your glasses are charged and join me in toasting the new Mr and Mrs [NAME]. Ladies and gentlemen, to the bride and groom!”

“May you live as long as you like, and have all you like for as long as you live.”

“May the hinges of friendship never rust
Or the wings of love lose a feather!
Ladies and gentlemen, the bride and the groom
May they live happily forever.”

“To the bride and groom, may the roof above you never fall in and may you both never fall out.”

“Let’s drink to love, which is nothing – unless it’s divided by two.”

“May you never steal, lie, or cheat, but if you must steal, then steal away my sorrows, and if you must lie, lie with me all the nights of my life, and if you must cheat, then please cheat death because I couldn’t live a day without you.”

“I wish thee health, I wish thee wealth
I wish thee gold in store
I wish thee heaven upon earth.
What could I wish thee more?”

“Here’s to the new husband and here’s to the new wife. May they remain lovers for all of life.”

“To long life and happiness – for your life will be my happiness.”

“To the lamp of love – may it burn brightest in the darkest hours and never flicker in the winds of trial.”

“Here’s to the bride,
May your hours of joy be as numerous as the petals of your bridal bouquet.
Here’s to the groom,
A man who keeps his head though he loses his heart.”

“Live life to the fullest – remember, this is the first day of the rest of your life.”

“Here’s to love, laughter
and happily ever after.
As (Groom) and (Bride) start their new life,
Let’s toast the new husband and wife!”

“Let us raise our glasses to the happy couple. May you grow old on one pillow.”

“Here’s to the bride and the bridegroom,
We’ll ask their success in our prayers,
And through life’s dark shadows and sunshine
That good luck may always be theirs.”

“May your joys be as deep as the ocean,
and your troubles as light as its foam.”

(A toast to grandparents) “Let us raise our glasses
And then imbibe
To the splendid couple
Who founded this tribe.”

Funny Wedding Toasts

Wedding toast humour can be a little daunting, but finishing with a hilarious toast to the happy couple is a classic crowd-pleaser. Not every couple wants mushy wedding speeches or a soppy toast, so a funny wedding toast might be more fitting for their personalities. Just read the room first! 

Whether you go for a funny wedding toast one-liner or a witty poem, we’ve got lots more funny wedding toasts you can explore, but these ones below are our favourites. Perfect if you’re the best man, friend, or brother in need of the perfect wedding toast - and you can also switch them up if you're celebrating an LGBTQ+ couple.

“Raise your glasses to both [daughter’s partner] and me as we’ve each gained something this fine and blessed day. S/he gains a wife and a companion for life – while I gain a whole new stack of bills to pay.”

“To the two secrets to a long-lasting happy marriage:
Here’s to a good sense of humour –and a short memory!”

“Before we raise a glass to the newlyweds, I’d like to share a Pauline Thomason quote with you: ‘Love is blind – marriage is the eye-opener.’ To the happy couple!”

“May our children be blessed with rich parents!”

“Here’s to you and here’s to me,
I hope we never disagree,
But if, perchance, we ever do,
Then here’s to me, to hell with you.”

“[NAME] stole [NAME'S] heart, so she stole his last name. All in all, I would say that things worked out quite nicely. Let us toast to these lovebirds on their wedding day.”

“Congratulations on the termination of your isolation and may I express an appreciation of your determination to end the desperation and frustration which has caused you so much consternation in giving you the inspiration to make a combination to bring an accumulation to the population.”

“[NEARLYWED] and [NEARLYWED], before I finish, I’d like you to turn to face each other. You’re now looking into the eyes of the person who is statistically most likely to murder you. To the bride and groom!”

“To keep a marriage brimming
with love in the loving cup-
When you are wrong, admit it
and when you are right, shut up!”

“May all your ups and downs come only in the bedroom.”

“To the bride – may she share everything with her husband, including the housework!”

“Before we raise our glasses to the happy couple, I’d like to make a toast to wives and lovers everywhere – may they never, ever cross paths!”

“I have known many,
Liked not a few,
Loved only one –
I toast to you.”

“For one more time, I’m going to ask everyone to charge their glasses and – for those who still can – stand, and raise a glass to the newlyweds”

“To our best friends,
who know the most about us,
but refuse to believe it.”

“Marriages are made in heaven. But so again, are thunder and lightning.”

Wedding Toast to the Newlyweds

Many of the toasts on this page could be used for the newlyweds, but we’ve put together a selection of modern short wedding toasts that can be given quickly to round off a speech. Public speaking can be a little scary, so having a short and sweet one-liner is a great way to wish the happy couple a lifetime of happiness without giving a long speech.

If you want to write your own, focus on words like adventure, future, happiness, love; these are the hopes you want to pass on. Once again, these are bride and groom heavy so mix them up for LGBTQ+ couples.

“A toast: may all sweethearts become married couples, and may all married couples remain sweethearts.”

“May you live as long as you like, and have all you like for as long as you live.”

“The man or woman you really love will never grow old to you.
Through the wrinkles of time, through the bowed frame of years,
you will always see the dear face and feel
the warm heart union of your eternal love.”
Alfred A. Montapert

“To the bride and groom – may we all be invited to your golden wedding celebrations.”

“They say you don’t marry the person you can live with, you marry the person you can’t live without. That sums up [NAME] and [NAME] perfectly. To the happy couple!”

“To the newlyweds, may I wish you health, may I wish you happiness, may I wish you wealth – and everything else you could wish for.”

“May your love always be added. May it never be subtracted. May your household multiply and may your hearts never be divided!”

“Watching [NAME] and [NAME] together has renewed my faith in true love. I am so honoured to be a part of this special day. Let us toast to the two people who have brought all of us together in this room today.”

“May ‘for better or worse’ be far better than worse.”

“Here’s to the bride and the bridegroom,
We’ll ask their success in our prayers,
And through life’s dark shadows and sunshine
That good luck may always be theirs.”

“Here’s to the bride that is to be, here’s to the groom she’ll wed,
May all their troubles be light as bubbles
Or the feathers that make up their bed! ”

“To the lovely newlyweds, here are my wishes for you. May you always have a place to call home and may you always be surrounded by those you love.”

“Here’s to marriage, that happy estate
that resembles a pair of scissors:
‘So joined that they cannot be separated,
often moving in opposite directions,
yet punishing anyone who comes between them.'”
Sydney Smith

“May you have love, health, and wealth, but most importantly, may you have the time to enjoy them all.”

“Love believes, endures, and hopes. And above all things, love never fails. Let us all raise a glass to [bride,] [groom,] and the unfaltering love that they share.”

“To be able to find your soul mate is a true blessing. Let us raise a glass to [NAME] & [NAME]. Thank you for sharing your blessing of happiness with all of us.”

“Rich or poor, quick or slow,
may you know nothing but happiness
from this day on.”

“May all your hopes and dreams come true, and may the memory of this day become dearer with each passing year.”

Wedding Toasts From Parents

Whether it’s the father of the bride or another family figure who wants to toast their child’s wedding, one of these wedding toast examples from parents will do the trick. They perfectly emphasise how happy, proud and touched you are to be part of this important day.

“It is written: when children find true love, parents find true joy.
Here’s to your joy and ours, from this day forward.”

“Happy marriages begin when we marry the one we love,
and they blossom when we love the one we married.”

“Before I take a seat I have one last task to perform, and it’s a task that is both my honour and my privilege. Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses and join with me in wishing the newlyweds a long, healthy and very happy future together. To [Bride and partner]!”

“To the man who has conquered the bride’s heart, and her mother’s.”

“To you both, it’s worth bearing in mind that neither of you will ever be perfect, but you can be perfect together.”

“Here’s to the groom, a man who keeps his head even as he loses his heart.”

“There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings. Here is to you soaring together.”

“May you be friends to each other as only lovers can, and may you love each other as only best friends can.”

“May ‘for better or worse’ be far better than worse.”

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

“May you never forget
what is worth remembering
or remember
what is best forgotten.”

“May the future hold your happiness. May the future hold your health. May your heart hold your love, and may your arms hold your babies, yet to come. Here’s to your future happiness together!”

“Here’s to health and prosperity, to you and all your posterity.”

“May the light of friendship guide your paths together. May the laughter of children grace the halls of your home. May the joy of living for one another trip a smile from your lips, a twinkle from your eye.”

Wedding Toast to the Bride

Traditionally the groom will end his speech by raising a glass to his new partner. The key is to tell them how beautiful they look and how much you look forward to your new life together. These still work perfectly for an LGBTQ+ couple.

“We have been through the better and worse
(not always the better prevailed)
We’ve seen the richer and poorer
(the latter is most often sailed)
The sickness has outrun the health
(which often has caused much ado)
So now I pledge to you my heart,
till death do us part,
And pray all our dreams will come true!”

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever.
Here’s to you, my beautiful bride."
John Keats

“Here’s to the woman that’s good and sweet,
Here’s to the woman that’s true,
Here’s to the woman that rules my heart,
In other words, here’s to you.”

“Every day you look lovelier and lovelier, and today you look like tomorrow.”

“To my wife, my bride and joy.”

“Here’s to the prettiest, here’s to the wittiest,
Here’s to the truest of all who are true,
Here’s to the neatest one, here’s to the sweetest one,
Here’s to them, all in one – here’s to you.”

“Because I love you truly,
Because you love me, too,
My very greatest happiness
Is sharing life with you.”

“To my bride: she knows all about me and loves me just the same.”

“May I see you grey and combing your grandchildren’s hair.”

“I have known many,
Liked not a few,
Loved only one –
I toast to you.”

“Never above you. Never below you. Always beside you.”

“Drink to me only with thine eyes,
And I will pledge with mine;
Or leave a kiss within the cup,
And I’ll not look for wine.”
Ben Jonson

“Here’s to you and here’s to me,
I hope we never disagree,
But if, perchance. we ever do,
Then here’s to me, to hell with you.”

Wedding Toast to the Groom

As a twist on tradition, more brides are choosing to give a wedding toast to celebrate their partner, and to thank the guests for attending. Whether you’re after a cute wedding toast to make your other half blush, or a funny one-liner to make the wedding party chuckle, we’ve got some ideal wedding toast examples to mark the special day. Again, these are also ideal for a groom to say to his groom.

“We have been through the better and worse
(not always the better prevailed)
We’ve seen the richer and poorer
(the latter is most often sailed)
The sickness has outrun the health
(which often has caused much ado)
So now I pledge to you my heart,
till death do us part,
And pray all our dreams will come true!”

“To the two secrets to a long-lasting happy marriage:
Here’s to a good sense of humour – and a short memory!”

“May we never forget
what is worth remembering
or remember
what is best forgotten.”

“Because I love you truly,
Because you love me, too,
My very greatest happiness
Is sharing life with you.”

“I have known many,
Liked not a few,
Loved only one –
I toast to you.”

“Here’s to you and here’s to me,
I hope we never disagree,
But if, perchance. we ever do,
Then here’s to me, to hell with you.”

Best Man Toasts

Best man toasts deserve their own section as this toast will traditionally close out the speeches. Sometimes, the pressure to make the best man speech funny can feel overwhelming. Just remember, the guests are on your side, and they want to laugh, cry and smile with you at the right moments.

So, if you have any worries about public speaking, don’t put any pressure on yourself to deliver the funniest wedding speech (although our funny wedding toasts above will definitely help!). 

Keep it simple, crack a joke or two if you’re comfortable, and finish by asking the room to raise a glass to the happy couple. As always, you can give these an easy and quick switch-up for an LGBTQ+ couple.

“To my best friend and his beautiful bride: the new Mr and Mrs [NAME].”

“I’d like you all to join me in wishing the new Mr and Mr [NAME] all the wealth, health and happiness in the world. To the bride and groom.”

“They say you don’t marry the person you can live with, you marry the person you can’t live without. That sums up [NAME] and [NAME] perfectly. To the happy couple!”

“Raise your glass and join me in a toast, to [NAME] and [NAME] – may you always be friends as well as lovers.”

“To the two things that make a great marriage – having a good sense of humour and selective hearing. To [NAME] and [NAME]!”

“Part of the best man speech involves a toast and for me, the best kind of toast is French toast. So, buvons à ce couple heureux!”

“To [NAME] and [NAME] – we all knew [NAME] had found the one when he started spending more time with [NAME] than he did playing on his Xbox! It’s wonderful to see them both so happy together – let’s drink to that!”

“It’s been a privilege to be their best man – everyone please join me in raising their glasses to the happy couple.”

“May you always have walls for the winds, a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire, laughter to cheer you, those you love near you, and all your heart might desire.”

“Here’s to those who’ve seen us at our best and seen us at our worst and can’t tell the difference.”

Wedding Toast for a Second Marriage

It’s not always easy to know what to say when someone has been married before. The most important rule is to not mention their previous partner or badmouth that marriage. If you feel it’s appropriate, then a gentle joke poking fun at the situation can go down a treat. Just remember to focus on this new union and the prospects it brings, without any negativity.

“In the words of Samuel Johnson, ‘Here’s to a second marriage – the triumph of hope over experience.'”

“Wedlock’s like wine, not properly judged of till the second glass.”
Douglas William Jerrold

“Please can everyone join me in toasting two young – well, quite young anyway – people in love.”

"Being someone's first love may be great, but to be their last is beyond perfect".

"Like the measles, love is most dangerous when it comes late in life". 

Wedding Toast Quotes

Delivering a quote in a wedding toast is a wonderful way to give your speech a personal touch, and to help you say exactly what you mean. You could draw on a quote from the couple’s favourite author or musician, or even pick a romantic movie quote.

The format for delivering a quote as party of your toast should go something like this: “To [NAME] and [NAME] – here’s an Antoine de Saint-Exupery quote to finish on: ‘Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.’ To the happy couple!”

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.
Mignon McLaughlin

If there is such a thing as a good marriage it is because it resembles friendship rather than love.
Michel E. de Montaigne

The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved, loved for ourselves, or rather loved in spite of ourselves.
Victor Marie Hugo

A wife is essential for great longevity: she is the receptacle of half a man’s cares and two-thirds of his ill-humour.
Charles Reade

There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved.
George Sand

Happy is the man who finds a true friend, and far happier is he who finds that true friend in his wife.
Franz Schubert

True love stands by each other’s side on good days and stands closer on bad days.

You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.
Dr Seuss

The greatest marriages are built on teamwork. A mutual respect, a healthy dose of admiration, and a never-ending portion of love and grace.
Fawn Weaver

A great marriage is not when the ‘perfect couple’ comes together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences.
Dave Meurer

A perfect marriage is just two imperfect people who refuse to give up on each other.

To love is nothing. To be loved is something. But to be loved by the person you love is everything.

If you live to be a hundred, I wish to live a hundred minus one, so I never have to live without you.
Winnie the Pooh

Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Grow old with me. The best is yet to be
The last of life for which the first was made.
Robert Browning

Look down you gods,
And on this couple drop a blessed crown.
The Tempest – William Shakespeare

I drink to the general joy of the whole table.
Macbeth – William Shakespeare

When you realise you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.
When Harry Met Sally

His hello was the end of her endings, Her laugh was their first step down the aisle, His hand would be hers to hold forever, His forever was as simple as her smile, He said she was what was missing, She said instantly she knew, She was a question to be answered, And his answer was 'I do’.  
Sex and the City

When you love someone, it seeps out of everything you do, it bleeds into everything you say, it becomes so ever-present, that eventually it becomes ordinary to hear, no matter how extraordinary it is to feel.
One True Loves -Taylor Jenkins Reid 

It stops here. With me and you. It ends with us.
It Ends with Us - Colleen Hoover

If you’re looking for even more quotes for your toast, we have inspiring quotes about love; our favourite romantic quotes from movies; the best Disney wedding quotes and magical Harry Potter wedding quotes!

Now, let’s clear up a few questions about wedding toasts, with some expert input to help you nail ending your wedding speech with the perfect toast.

Who Toasts Who at a Wedding?

In the UK, most people raise a toast at the end of their wedding speech. In America, the wedding speeches are commonly known as toasts, but in the UK the term refers almost exclusively to a few lines at the end of the speech when the guests raise their glass and drink to the newlyweds.

But when it comes to a wedding speech, who toasts who? The traditional wedding toast order is the father of the bride, groom and the best man, followed by any other toasts. This is obviously for a heterosexual couple; but it's not set in stone. For all couples, including LGBTQ+ couples, you can mix speeches and toasts up however you like. 

Here’s who each person traditionally toasts:

• The father of the bride toasts his daughter and the new couple 
• The groom toasts his new spouse 
• The best man toasts the bridesmaids and the new couple
• Other toasts may include the maid of honour toasting the groom

It’s totally up to the couple though how many toasts they’d like to have and who they toast to (just make sure not to make it last too long as people want to eat cake and dance!). 

"We’re so pleased that the wedding speech line-up is becoming more diverse. Couples are feeling less constrained by traditional etiquette and the usual three blokes hogging the mic is becoming less prevalent (though it’s still a popular option and could still be the right choice for you)," shares Heidi Ellert-McDermott, founder of Speechy. 

"We’ve worked with adult sons of the bride and teenage daughters of the groom! Kids and grandparents can provide some additional ‘cuteness’ and one trend we’re particularly enjoying is the rise of joint mum & dad speeches."

How Do You Propose a Wedding Toast?

There’s some simple things to remember when making a wedding toast. First, ensure everyone has their glass full so they can take a drink at the end, then get everyone’s attention. If you’re giving a speech that’s pretty easy to do. If not, the best way to do this isn’t clinking your Champagne glass, but instead go to the master of ceremonies and ask for the microphone.

Introduce yourself to the room and ask for their attention, for example, “Hello, I’m Mark, the bride’s brother. May I have your attention while I raise a brief toast to my lovely sister and her new wife?”

"If you’re one of the couple getting hitched, this is, of course, your opportunity to thank people. And it’s not just about the people who have helped you with the décor or organised the hen do, this is about the folk who have given you a lifetime of love or supported you through the single years.

As a newlywed, your toast is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to drop a love-bomb on the people you care about so take advantage and do it with a smile," says Heidi.

Keep your toast short. A few lines, a funny anecdote, a short poem or a quick quotation that’s either humorous or emotional is all you really need. "Don’t turn your speech into one long tedious thank you list. Make sure your thank yous are also unique, meaningful and sprinkled with humour," explains Heidi. 

At the end, either ask guests to rise if they’re seated, or to raise their glass if they’re standing, and take a sip.

If a toast is made just to one of the couple, their partner rises too (e.g. the groom will rise if a toast is made just to the bride). If it’s made to the couple, they both remain seated. 

When is the Champagne Toast at a Wedding? 

There are multiple opportunities for toasts throughout the big day, but the champagne toast usually kicks off the wedding reception. Once the speeches have been shared, but before the food is served, the person proposing the toast will stand and say a few words, before inviting all of the guests to raise a glass of bubbly to the happy couple. 

A champagne toast in the UK is often done at the end of the speeches, but it’s a nice way to include other people in your day by asking them to give a toast - it’s not as full on as a speech in terms of timing, but still makes them feel special. 

Traditionally, this is done by the father of the bride, but not every wedding has this role -  you can choose any close member of the family who you think would appreciate the responsibility. Just remember, if you’re the person being toasted, it’s not traditional for you to take a drink. Once everyone has had a sip and the toast is over, you can enjoy your bubbles too.  

As a twist on tradition, sometimes the Champagne toast occurs just before dessert is served. You might want to consider the flavour of your chosen bottle, and decide whether it would taste best before the meal, or with dessert.

How Do You Make a Good Wedding Toast?

A wedding toast is a few words of wishes or blessings for the newlywed couple, after which all the guests take a sip of drink in agreement. A good wedding toast is one that strikes the right balance between humour and emotion, is short and sweet, and will be remembered as a great closing to your speech. 

"We encourage everyone to include humour in their wedding toast. While no wedding speaker should be trying to deliver a stand-up routine, all speakers should aim to make their audience smile. And, not a polite smile, but a hearty involuntary one," explains Heidi. 

"When it comes to the sentimental sucker-punch, keep it real too. Think about specific things or moments that give an insight into your relationship and what it means to you."

The number one rule is: be clear-headed. This isn’t a chance to drunkenly slur into a microphone. Always practise what you’re going to say so it’s not an impromptu stream of words and wishes. If in any doubt, use a wedding toast quotation and just end with “To the happy couple!”

You can’t go wrong with a classic – these traditional wedding toasts and wedding toast quotes below will make sure you’re never lost for words.

Who Makes a Toast to Absent Friends at a Wedding?

Typically, the first speaker will make the toast to absent friends that could not attend the wedding, with a wedding toast such as: "Please join us in raising a glass to loved ones - those who are here and those who sadly can't be with us." However, regardless of where you come in the traditional wedding speech order, if you have someone important you want to toast, please don't feel like you can't.

Curious about the order of wedding speeches? We explain the traditional order of wedding speeches and how to mix it up!