Wedding Toasts

A friend just got married a couple of days ago and it was a really well organized wedding. They hadn’t had any time for rehearsals but everything went smoothly - thanks in no small part to the wedding planner and wedding coordinator, who very unobtrusively guided everybody throughout the event.

What were very memorable about this wedding were the toasts. First the father of the bride stood and thanked everyone for attending the wedding. He said that he was very glad to see his daughter happily married. He talked of the anxiety of being a father of girls, how a dad always prays that his child finds someone who will truly love her and make her happy; and how he feels that indeed she has found it in the groom. He then proceeded to welcome his new son-in-law to the family. He then offered a toast to the happy couple.

Next the father of the groom stood to give his speech. He said that from the first moment that the bride was introduced to them, he hoped that she would become part of their family. They, the groom’s parents, saw in her qualities that they truly hoped for in a daughter and that they felt would make their son truly happy. They were blessed to have their wish fulfilled this day. He proceeded to offer a toast to the bride and groom’s happiness.

Now it was the best man’s turn. A little less serious, he talked of how much his friend changed since meeting the bride. He talked of how they knew that this girl was the one for his friend because his favorite pastimes now took second place to being with her and how responsible he became. He talked of how they complemented each other and how much their love and friendship showed - truly best friends. He offered a toast to love and friendship.

Then it was the groom’s turn. He stood up and said, “Thank you to my bride without whom this wedding would not have taken place”. That cracked most of us up since yes, there would have been no wedding if she had not said yes. Then he went on to explain that he was very lazy and laid back about the whole wedding. She was the one who made most of the decisions. She made sure that he got involved and it was thanks to her wise choices that the wedding went off so smoothly and was so absolutely beautiful, truly one he would cherish.

These are by no means perfect toasts. For sure there have been better made ones. The beauty of them is that they come from the heart and they celebrate the happy couple’s togetherness and goodness. They may not be flowery or poetic but everyone gets exactly what the speakers mean and yes, they do get to know the bride and groom a little better; and yes, they do get to wish them well.

So, what’s the trick to making the best toast? Speak from your heart and speak of the joy and love you see in the happy couple. Raise your glass and smile.

Being The Best Man

Most people assume that the only task of the best man is just to hand the ring to the groom and then give a speech at the reception. This is just the tip of the iceberg! The best man is an important part of the wedding.

Just like his counterpart, the maid of honor, the best man is not just a sibling of the groom. He is the best friend of the groom. He is the one that the groom feels has been with him through thick and thin and is the person he can most rely on.

The best man is supposed to be closely involved in the groom’s efforts to get ready for his nuptials. This includes helping the groom as he runs around town looking for the best place to have their wedding night (if he and his bride didn’t make prior arrangements), helping with getting the license, helping the groom overcome the jitters (yes, they do get them!) and if necessary, driving around on the groom’s behalf to help complete errands including helping him get the ring made.

Let’s not forget the bachelor or stag party. Yes, the best man is responsible for gathering all the grooms male friends and relatives and giving him the chance to enjoy their company on his last event as a single male. His job is to make absolutely sure that the groom is really sure that getting married is what he truly wants to do and that he is ready for the commitment he is about to make.

No matter when he has the party and no matter what time it ends, he has to ensure to get the groom to the church on time. Heaven forbid that he stands up the bride at the altar because he was too drunk to wake up for the wedding. He is also responsible for ensuring that the groom’s suit is ready when he needs it and that all the accessories are in place, like the buttonierre and tie.

Let’s not forget the getaway car. He has to ensure that the just married sign is in place with the noisemakers at the rear of the car. Of course, it’s best if the car is in working order when the couple gets to it.

So, here’s to the best man. He’ll be just as busy as the groom but won’t be getting hitched on the day. It’s just a dress rehearsal for him.