Image by Elisabetta Riccio. See more of this real wedding here.

Pop the champagne and raise your glasses! We’re toasting to the newly engaged couple. And if you’ve played an important role in their lives, you just might be asked to say a few words to help kick off their engagement party. We know you probably weren’t prepared for this, but don’t panic. We’re here to help.  

With toasts being such a special part of an engagement party, we want to make sure you nail yours. That’s why we’ve compiled all the tips and tricks you need to know to create a memorable engagement toast.

Who Makes a Toast at the Engagement Party?

There’s no right or wrong answer here. There are so many potential people that can lead the toast (or toasts) to the newly engaged couple. While you can have any guest get up and say a few words, traditionally, the hosts, the couple’s parents, siblings, or a close friend will take on the responsibility.  Pick one special person, or a few—the choice is all yours. 

Image by Berivans World. See more of this inspiration here.

When Do the Toasts Take Place? 

Typically toasts take place toward the beginning of an engagement party. We often see them fall soon after the guests have arrived, but before food is served. This makes for a great way to kick off the celebration. It’s also an incredible way to show love and support for the newly engaged couple, while also thanking everyone in attendance before the real festivities begin. 

Brainstorming Before Writing Your Speech

Brainstorming is the easy part. Grab a pen and a piece of paper, and start writing. Think about what you love about the couple, what you’re excited about in regard to their future together, and any funny or sweet memories you may have. Jot them all down.

Keep in mind, brainstorming should be messy. These seemingly scattered thoughts will later become the better part of your speech—only after reading these must-know tips, of course. 

Tips & Tricks For The Perfect Engagement Toast 

1. Keep Your Toast Short and Casual 

An engagement party is typically a shorter and more casual event, and your toast should reflect that. Unlike wedding day speeches, your engagement toast should be short, sweet, and to the point. Keep it casual and try to remain within the one to two-minute mark. 

2. Start with an Introduction

Start off your speech by introducing yourself. An engagement party will be a mix of family and friends from both sides. Depending on who’s giving the speech, there’s bound to be a few people in the crowd that you aren’t familiar with. Use the first two sentences of your toast to say who you are and your relationship with the couple. 

3. Toast to the Couple 

An engagement party is all about celebrating the couple’s future together. When writing out your toast, make sure to talk about the couple as a unit rather than focusing on them separately.

If you’re the parents of the groom, talk about how lucky you are to be gaining another family member. If you’re the soon-to-be bride’s best friend, talk about the way her life changed when she met her partner. Use your relationship with the couple to make your toast both unique and personalized. 

Image by Saje Photography. See more of this real wedding here.

4. Avoid Inside Jokes 

When you’re creating an engagement toast, you may be tempted to throw in some inside jokes. But it’s important to remember that you’re writing a few words that all guests can toast to. That means you’ll want to create a speech that’s personalized, but also relatable to all guests. 

5. Keep Your Toast Positive  

This may seem like a no-brainer, but you’ll want to keep your toast clean, positive, and full of love. We understand that no relationship is perfect, but it’s important not to mention any rough patches the couple may have overcome. With that being said, it’s also important to remember not to fear humor. Don’t be afraid to add a few jokes into your toast, but make sure you keep it lighthearted 

6. Rehearse, Don’t memorize 

When you’re delivering a sentimental toast like this, you want to make sure everything you’re saying feels natural. It’s difficult for authenticity to shine through when you’ve memorized your speech word for word. That’s why we say rehearse, but don’t memorize. While it is important to practice your speech, try and leave yourself wiggle room to speak from the heart. 

Public speaking isn’t everyone’s forte. If this is the case for you, have notes nearby as a safety net. 

7. Finish with a Call-to-Action 

End your toast with a call-to-action, or a call-to-toast, if you will. Ask all the guests to “raise a glass” and toast to the couple as they enter the next chapter. 

Image by Epic Love Story. See more of this real wedding here.

Engagement Toast Outline 

We’ve just thrown a bunch of tips your way. Now it’s time to put them to use. Here’s an example engagement toast outline that’ll help kickstart your brainstorming session. Use this as inspiration to create a personalized speech of your own. 

1. Introduction — start by explaining who you are and what your relationship is to the couple 
2. Welcome and thank guests for attending 
3. Express your excitement for their engagement 
4. Share a personal anecdote or story about the newly engaged couple 
5. Give well wishes for their future 
6. Call-to-toast — ask the guests to raise their glasses and toast to the couple 

Being the first of many pre-wedding parties, hosting an engagement party is the perfect way to kick off any wedding season. And now that you’ve got the toasts out of the way, you can move on to your next to-do list item. To make sure you don’t miss a thing, check out our guide to pulling off the ultimate engagement party.

Image by Eve Rox. See more of this real wedding here.