Bride/Groom Toasts at Wedding

Yes. It is common courtesy for the bride and groom to respond to the toasts.

Traditional Wedding Toast Order

The best man toasts the bride.

The maid/matron of honor toasts the groom.

The wedding host/financier (traditionally the father of the bride) toasts the couple.

Other parental figures of the couple toast the couple.

The couple toasts their family and guests.

Read more at https://www.weddingpaperdivas.com/wedding-toasts.htm#B5PIzqjcRCjlC8hT.99

If you are unable to speak, the two of you can stand together and he can speak on behalf of both of you.

So, I'm not sure it's expected/required, but I did a "toast to guests" at my wedding.

I thanked my parents and H's parents, and I thanked the guests for coming. I didn't talk for more than 5 minutes.

H didn't say a word, but he would do things like smile and nod to show that he was a part of it.

So, if you want to do it, feel free to do it. You probably don't have to say much yourself, if you think you can just manage to stand there and smile next to your man.

Every wedding I have attended the Bride and Groom have stated their thank-yous publicly at the reception, via a microphone. I'm not sure this would be classified as a toast, but just a way for you all to communicate how full of gratitude your hearts are, etc. to your guests.

We did a thank you toast after the Best man and maid of honor, but it was impromptu not planned.

Ahhhh, thank you ladies! Just a bit full of anxiety already over it, haha.

I've only been two weddings as an adult (I'm the first in my immediate friends group to get married), and I'm positive the bride didn't say anything in one and the other, I can't remember (too much champagne) but that's good news for me!

ETA - FH and I will definitely be giving a thank you to everyone - he loves to talk - was just wondering.

Can I piggyback on this question to ask one of my own?

My sis (MOH) has agreed to give a speech - she may or may not do a joint speech with the other two bridesmaids (my other sisters, I gave her the choice if she was too nervous to do it alone). If we don't want/have parents to give a speech, and the bestman is being very hesitant to give a speech - is it ok for just my ladies to give a speech, or should me and the groom consider a quick thank you as well? All of the weddings I've been to have had multiple speeches by BM, MOH, and a parent of the bride/groom.

@kimbo- no one wants to listen to a bunch of speeches at a wedding. Toasts, however, are traditional. They are shorter- a maximum of 2-3 minutes long.

If your MOH is going to give a toast, it should be to the two of you, not just you.

You and your husband should definitely respond to her toast. When someone sasys something nice about you, it is normal practice to say thank-you. In a wedding toast situation, you would thank her for her comments, then thank the wedding party and your guests for attending. Raise your glass "To the wedding party and all our friends and family".

@ kimbo I think it doesn't really matter WHO exactly gives a toast if you're ok with him not giving a toast.

@Op -I have only been to one where the groom spoke for a minute to thank everyone. As long as you make an effort to speak to everyone individually at the reception and thank them for coming (and obviously follow up with thank you cards after) you aren't doing anything wrong by not doing a mass thank you speech. Or if he is comfortable doing so himself he can.

@Muriel, thanks for the input. I guess I was using speech/toast interchangeably.

I'm not giving a toast. FH will give a thank you toast on our behalf. I'm not gonna add more stress to my life and force myself to do more public speaking. F no.

We didn't do a speech at our wedding. My dad did a toast, MOH, BM, and then my brother's wanted to do one. That was it. I've never been to a wedding when the bride and groom gave a toast

We have BM and MOH giving a toast and then we will respond with a thank you and toast!

I've never seen a bride or groom or whoever pays for the wedding give any kind of toast or speech.

We are going to give a short thank you to everyone and especially our parents. It doesn't have to be long and drawn out. Maybe just let your FH speak. I consider see a speech and toast the same thing.

Wow I'm surprised at all the different answers. I've been to a million weddings and the bride/groom have never toasted or given a speech at the reception. Usually they say a short thank you at the rehearsal dinner

We did and kept it short and sweet. We each thanked our parents and thanked everyone for coming. I haven't been to too many weddings but I've usually seen either both the bride and groom give a quick thank you or just the groom on behalf of them both.

My first wedding the toasts we had were best man/maid of honor. It wasn't until AFTER my wedding that I found out my parents feelings were hurt because they thought I'd at least publicly thank them. I had never even seen something like that at a wedding at that point.

Since then I totally have seen that and completely understand why my mom's feelings were hurt. This time around I fully plan on speaking.

We are also planning to do this. I think it adds a personal touch to the wedding. It doesn't have to be long. Keeping it short and sweet!

It's perfectly fine for just your FH to give the thank you speech on behalf of the two of you if you're too anxious. Both of you don't have to do it.

I think something quick to say thank you to everyone would be best