Live Life Team
Toasts have long been a part of many types of celebrations. At weddings they are a means of wishing the new couple health and happiness in their union. The actual idea for the wedding toast dates back to the 16th Century. A small piece of bread (the toast) would be placed in the bottom of a wine goblet. The goblet would then be filled from a common pitcher and then passed from guest to guest until it got to the person of honour, who was expected to finish the wine and eat the “toast”.
The best man usually has the honour of the first toast. In very traditional weddings, there is an accepted order in which the toasts are given starting with the best man, who toasts the bride, then the groom. The groom responds and then the father of the bride has his turn. In non-traditional settings, the best man still gives the first toast, but then anyone may get up and wish the happy couple best wishes, in any order. In either setting, the toast is a symbol that the formal part of the wedding day is over and that the party, if it hasn’t already, can begin in earnest.
The beverage of choice today is champagne and though no morsels of bread are likely to be found in the bottom of the glass, it is still called a toast. Glasses are still clinked, though nowadays it is more to emphasise what is being said, rather than to chase away evil spirits that may be hovering about. The clinking of glasses is also a welcome invitation for the happy couple to kiss.
