Toasting: before or after food?

I've always seen it done after the food, so that's what I am doing

I say during personally. I like knowing everyone will be in their seats, and have something to drink. Are you doing a buffet or plated meals?

If you're doing a CHAMPAGNE toast, it is most often done AFTER the meal. Champagne was originally served as a way to cleanse the palate and cleanse the soul after a meal.

We're planning on during as well. People can eat and listen at the same time.

If you are doing a buffet the wedding party/head table eats first so they will be done about the time the last people sit down depending on how many guests you have. If you are having a plated dinner they can signal the dj when the last plates have been served.

We are doing toasts during dinner! I'm all about blowing through the quasi-obligatory wedding stuff as fast as possible and getting to the dancing.

The weddings I have been in have all done during...that way everyone is seated and pretty much not talking.

We did during -- we had a buffet and a fairly small wedding, but still it was the most effecient use of time.

I was a BM in a wedding this past weekend with ~150 people. We were done eating before the last table was even called to the buffet, so we just kinda sat there and chatted until everyone was done. Then the toasts started...kinda boring

We are planning on having toasts during the meal as well. We're having a plated meal, and that way everyone will be in their seats with their glass. I like that they'll have something to do while listening too.... so they're not bored :p

Thanks ladies for your input!! We are having a buffet dinner and I had planned on doing toasts toward the end of dinner/after.

So would it be ok that the wedding party eats while everyone else is up at the buffet, then once we're done the groomsmen start pouring sparkling cider for toasts while everyone else is eating?

I've had a few people tell me that it will be too chaotic and we should do it the very first thing of the reception, but that doesn't feel right to me.

I think I've only seen it done before the meal.. We are having appetizers, so we are doing the champagne toast before the meal..

When folks are seated and having their first course. This way, they are starting to get into the mood of the event. I don't want them drinking too much with the heavier food and scream things out while MOH & BM are speaking!

The toast were done before dinner..

Yep Ashley that would work just fine no one expects you to let your food get cold waiting for everyone else!

Ashley, that's basically our plan. We (the entire wedding party) will go to the buffet first, so that we can basically be done eating by the time the last person has food and sits down. At that point (theoretically) the BM/MoH/Parents should be done eating and able to give their toasts while everyone else enjoys dinner. We're not doing sparkling cider or champagne... just wine, beer, pop, & water. So whatever people are drinking for the night is what they will be toasting with.