No wedding is complete without toasts to the bridesmaids, the bride and, of course, the happy couple. A simple toast can also be the perfect way to express a beautiful sentiment. They can be funny, emotional, formal, informal or simply a genuine thank you. Here are some wedding toast ideas to ensure you receive an enthusiastic response from the bride, groom and all of the wedding guests.

Our favourite wedding toast ideas

Father of the Bride

‘[Groom], just before we raise our glasses, I’d like you to take [bride’s] hand and place it over your own. Now remember to cherish this special moment because, believe me, if I know my daughter, this is the last time you’ll have the upper hand… to [bride] and [groom]!’

‘Today is all about these two people and their decision to spend the rest of their lives together. We wish them good luck and great joy, today and always. So, please stand and raise your glasses to the happy couple!’

‘It’s been an absolute pleasure to give away my daughter today. My only regret is that I didn’t do it years ago! To the happy couple…’ 

Groom

‘To my bride, she knows all about me but loves me just the same.’

‘To my wife, my bride and joy’

‘To my wife, who’s intelligent, generous, hard working… and a brilliant judge of character!’ 

‘Well, there have been ups and downs, high and lows, it’s really been an emotional rollercoaster. And that’s just my speech!’

Best Man

‘Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses to the bride and groom. May all their joys be pure joys and all their pain Champagne.’ 

‘It gives me huge pleasure to propose a toast to the bride and groom. My best friend has found the girl of his dreams and I really couldn’t be happier for them both. Please be upstanding for the bride and groom.’

‘Raise your glasses and join me in a toast, to [bride] and [groom]. May you always be friends as well as lovers.’ 

‘May you both live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.’ 

‘And, finally, a toast… To keep your marriage brimming with love in the wedding cup, whenever you’re wrong, admit it, and whenever you’re right, shut up!’

‘Before I toast the happy couple, I’d like to leave you with one thought. You don’t marry someone you can live with, you marry someone you can’t live without. And these two really have married the right person. To the bride and groom.’

‘And so, without further ado, let me ask those of you who still can to stand up to join me in a toast…’

‘Well, that’s it from me. If you liked my speech, my name’s [your name]. If you didn’t, it’s [give the name of another speaker]!’

Bride

If you’re going to be like Meghan Markle, and give a bride speech, you may want to use one of these bridal wedding toast ideas.

‘The poet Robert Browning wrote, “Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be”. I want to thank [groom] for agreeing to grow old with me and also, after such brilliant day, if the best is yet to come I can’t wait. So, please refill your glasses for a toast to my new husband.’ 

‘To my groom, who knows the two secrets to a long-lasting, happy marriage: a good sense of humour and a short memory!’ 

‘I love being married. It’s so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life. To my new husband!’

To absent relatives

‘Grandma [name] and Grandpa [name], are gutted that they can’t be with us today but they’re both in their nineties and unfortunately couldn’t mange the trip. I suppose I can’t really be angry at them though. Neither of us went to their wedding back in 1951. We didn’t even get them a gift!’

We hope you’ve found these wedding toast ideas helpful. If you’re writing your own vows, check out our handy guide.