How to Offer a Toast -- Toast Ideas for the Best Man

The best man customarily offers the first toast at a wedding.

His toast can include a thoughtful look at married life, honor his friendship with the groom or divulge intimate and frequently embarrassing details of the couple's courtship. The normal toast is just a short speech given verbally, but best men can try other approaches like a slideshow or a video display. A verbal toast with some new twists can also be tried.

The conventional best man's toast is a speech that is given early in the reception. Even though it is unoriginal, this kind of toast is widely acknowledged and favored. He may wish to state why he admires the bride and the groom and offer his best wishes. Another way is to entertain the guests with stories from the groom’s wilder days. This is however not encouraged for guests who are more conservative.

A slideshow is a preferable way for the best man to toast the new couple. You might display diverse footage of the bride and groom separately and as a couple. One choice is to ask both parents, before the wedding, to contribute photographs of their kid from when they were a baby till now, and ask the family questions about the bride or groom’s childhood and adult life. The slideshow could include pictures and information from the past and present. This is well-liked among guests of the older generation, as they will enjoy thinking back to the old days.

If the best man has a way with words, he could also wish to pen a short poem or song about the couple. This poem or song could either be sweet and sentimental or funny and potentially embarrassing to the couple.

A video display is another unique way to make the best man's toast. You could videotape yourself giving a short toast and introducing the other members on the tape. This is a superb idea for the best man who fears that he might forget what he wants to say on the wedding day. The video lets him practice his speech and record it frequently until it is ideal.

Another original toast concept is that of memory boxes. The best man would get childhood memorabilia from the groom’s parents and put these items into one of the boxes, leaving the other empty. When it comes time for the toast, the best man could present the couple with the filled box. He would then open the box and explain the tale behind every one of the memory items.

When he is done with the first box, he could present the couple with the second box and explain that this box is for the couple to fill up with mementos of memories that they are going to share together.

There is a wide range of toasting options available to the best man. No matter which idea he chooses, the toast will definitely be cherished so long as it is sincere.