Wedding toasts are a common tradition where someone gives a speech in honor of the newlyweds, followed by a toast. Their origins are unclear, but they are now used at most wedding receptions and usually follow basic guidelines. The bride’s father makes the first toast, followed by the best man and bridesmaid. The speeches can be made by anyone present, depending on the couple’s wishes. The content of the speeches varies and can be conducted by the newlyweds themselves.
There are many different traditions that are used from one wedding to the next, and some of the most common are wedding toasts. During this popular tradition usually held during the wedding reception, a person present at the wedding, usually the best man or bridesmaid, will give a speech in honor of the newly weds. After the speech, all those present will raise a glass and toast the bride and groom.
It is difficult to pinpoint exactly where in history the origins of wedding toasts are. Some accounts attribute their history to ancient Greek culture, where during the wedding ceremony the guest first drank wine from a common jug to assure guests that he was not poisoned. In another supposed and conflicting origin of wedding toasts, the guest was the last to drink from a wine cup which was circulated with an actual piece of toast, and the host ate the toast in honor of the guests. Regardless of their origin, wedding toasts are now used at most wedding receptions and, for the most part, follow a few basic guidelines in how they are performed, although there are still many variations.
In most wedding toasts, there are three different speeches that are made during the reception. These speeches can be made by virtually anyone present, depending on the wishes of the bride and groom. The first toast is usually made by the bride’s father, which is presented by the host of the reception. After this and every toast, it is customary for the groom to respond, though this is often skipped.
The two of the most popular wedding toasts are made by the best man and the bridesmaid. These are usually done soon after dinner, the first of which is performed by the witness. The tone of the best man’s wedding toast is usually meant to be humorous, but it can contain a wide range of emotions and more often than not ends on a serious note with feelings about the newly weds. The same goes for the bridesmaid’s toast which usually, but not necessarily, follows the best man’s speech. As mentioned above, the wide range of different types of weddings and the preferences of the newlyweds largely determine who, if anyone, does the wedding toasts and what the content of the speeches includes. In some weddings, the wedding toasts can also be conducted by the newlyweds themselves.
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