Being someone's maid of honor (MoH) is, well, it's an honor, of course, but it also comes with responsibility. Aside from keeping track of her iPhone and making sure the bride doesn't pass out at the altar, the MoH is usually expected to (gulp) give a toast. The pressure is on, ladies! We want to be funny, but not too funny. Romantic, but not nausea-inducing.
Here are five things to leave out of your wedding toast (even if they're true).
1. "My mother always said they won't buy the cow if they can get the milk for free. Guess she was wrong!"
Nowadays most people know that wearing white is more tradition than a part of the marriage vow of purity. And it may be tempting to get a cheap laugh, especially after a few glasses of bubbly. Still, for the sake of the older relatives in the crowd, try not to reference the couple's sex life. Instead, you might mention other advice your mother has given you, like "never go to bed angry" or "take time to cherish each other." Aww ...
2. "So what if the last two marriages didn't take? Maybe the third time's a charm."
Even if the bride has been married more times than Elizabeth Taylor, it's best to leave this out of your toast. For situations where you aren't sure what to say, you can always quote someone famous. Like this quote from Martin Luther: "There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage." It's vague yet upbeat.
3. "I had the chance to test drive the groom, and I have to say you are one lucky lady!"
Complimenting the groom? Good. Dishing about that one-night stand you had sophomore year of college? Not so much. Remove the first part of that statement and say something like, "We've always known that Josh was a great guy, and you're so lucky to be marrying each other!"
4. "Here's to the bride, who has everything a girl could want in her life -- except for good taste in men!"
Even if you absolutely hate the groom, let the best man take shots, while you take the high road. If you want to be funny and send a message to the groom without offending his entire family, use this quote from Dr. Joyce Brothers: "Marriage is not just spiritual communion -- it is also remembering to take out the trash."
5. "Wow, remember that time we made out in Key West? And now you're getting married! To a guy. Crazy!"
Often the MoH has dirt on the bride (that's how she became the MoH in the first place), but it's best to keep those juicy tidbits to yourself. Rather than outing her at her own wedding, you could say something vague, like: "We've been through so much together, and now I'm really honored to be part of your special day."
What would you include (or not include) in your own toast? Any bloopers we should add to this list?












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Tuesday 27 October
By tess
one time I was at a wedding of a very pregnant bride. and the best man toast was so bad. he said " my little bro is a stand up guy. he got her preg, and now he's doing the right thing." it was so awkward.
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Monday 09 November
By joe verna
what kind of a wedding was that, on the beach in wildwood n.j. what did bring for a gift,a bowling ball for her and that?
Wednesday 28 October
By CarissaSophia
I always think it's weird when they say "I hope this lasts forever" or "I hope you're happy together" Take "hope" out. Sounds like you are doubting the couple... "I know you will make each other happy forever" sounds a lot more confident! haha
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Friday 30 October
By leah.
at my cousin's wedding, the maid of honor said something along the lines of "they say you have to kiss a lot of frogs before finding your prince. [She's] kissed A LOT of frogs."
oh man, i was so shocked.
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Sunday 01 November
By victoria
MY SISTER IS GETTING MARRIED NEXT YEAR. SO MY SPEECH HAS TO BE RIGHT
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Sunday 01 November
By Zan
At my wedding, the best man toasted to "Paul & Yvonne," which was my husband's ex-wife's name.
Tuesday 03 November
By Fred Baumann
The purpose of an advice column is to give good advice. This one succeeds on all counts. Bravo!
One final bit of advice: brieg funny anecdotes are fine, but only IF they are genuinely funny and not merely embarrassing. An acid test is to imagine the bride telling the SAME anecdote about YOU at your wedding. If it wouldn't be funny then, it's probably not desirable now!
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Tuesday 03 November
By Bambi11
Even if she has taken every nasty shot at your friend (be it bride or groom) DONT TAKE SHOTS AT THE IN LAWS!
They won't bring their anger to you, they will take it they will take it to their son or daughter who may then possibly come after you. Don't piss of the in-laws too early, there will be time for them to do it come holiday season.
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Wednesday 04 November
By Christine
I had two maids of honor at my wedding, and their toasts were equally bad. They thought they were being funny by saying how much they hated me when we first met...which I never knew...i had thought we were great friends from the start, and that eventually after years of knowing me they finally realized how great I am. In the end their speeches made me sound like a complete bitch, hurt my feelings and were NOT funny to anyone but them. I would suggest leaving out those things even if you felt that way...the bride may not know you did...and that is not the time or place to tell her you once hated her, and make her look bad in front of all of her guests.
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Monday 09 November
By joe verna
dont feel bad my guess they still dislike you good choice on your end
Tuesday 10 November
By trix68jagr
too bad for you! your two "best" friends hated you? and that's all you had to stand up for you on your special day? friend pool sounds a little small...hmmm....maybe there is something wrong with you.
Thursday 12 November
By jenn
I hope you dropped THE old and found some new friends !!!
Saturday 28 November
By Audrey
that is so true. maybe they should have told you without all the guests about how they felt or maybe thay were trying to be funny when, in fact, it's not funny at all.
Thursday 05 November
By Steve
Wedding I was videotaping, the drunken best man said "May all your ups and downs be between the sheets." I guess it was funny to a drunken fool. I wish I'd gotten a shot of the mother of the bride's face at that moment.
Another wedding, in the Catholic ceremony, a friend was supposed to do one of the readings in the Mass. Before starting, he turns to the groom and asks "Do you love her.......do you love her more than Bud Light?"
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Sunday 08 November
By Carol Willett
Either make a KIND TOAST to the Bride & Groom OR SHUT UP! YOU NEED TO PRACTICE YOUR GRAMMER, WHATEVER THER PERSONAL LIVES OF THE NEWLYWEDS IS THEIR BUSNIESS, EITHER WISH THEM LUCK OR SHUT UP! WHERE DID YOU GET THESE SAYINGS? THEY ARE COLD!
Wednesday 11 November
By Emilee
Why is that bad? That was in a movie, actually, and I think it is an awesome quote for a wedding. I would hope that the only ups and downs are in the bedsheets. How sweet and not inappropriate. They are married. Weird.
Wednesday 11 November
By me
I cannot believe the comment that Emilee made about the "ups and downs under the sheets" being appropriate at the wedding reception. One should not make sexual innuendos, especially as a toast at the bride and groom's wedding reception.
Friday 13 November
By Candice
At my wedding my dad used the "may all your ups and downs be between the sheets" line. My dad and I are not close, it was extremely uncomfortable, you could have heard a pin drop! At his wedding to my step mother years before it WAS funny coming from her dad because everyone knew him, he was very jovial, and pretty much everyone in the room knew each other. It all depends on the person giving the toast, and the people in the room. Also my wedding was more formal, so there are things to factor in when writing a toast!
Saturday 28 November
By Audrey
that is a funny joke to me (i guess cuz i'm goofy) but that is SO NOT COOL to say that joke in a toast on that person's special day. I would have cursed him out when he got sober again!
and as for the other one, NO ONE should love beer more than their partner! That is definitely the wrong thing to say at a person wedding.
Thursday 05 November
By grouch
try the old Irish toast-----
"may your troubles be less--
and your blessings be more--
and may nothing but happiness
come through your door!"
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