Irish Wedding Toasts: Cheers, Speeches, and Customs

Who speaks, and when

• The order follows the British tradition: father of the bride, groom, best man, and often the maid of honor and the bride too.
• A parent or the best man may close with the Irish blessing, read in full.
• Expect a song from somebody before the night is over, planned or not.

How long

Three to five minutes each. Irish speeches are warm and the humor is expected, and the best man who is not funny has let the side down. But the room is generous.

What you’ll see

• The Irish blessing, 'May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back,' is read at many weddings as the toast or in the ceremony.
• Sláinte is the toast, with 'sláinte mhaith' (good health) in fuller form.
• The 'bride's cake' is sometimes a rich fruit cake, with the top tier kept for the first child's christening.
• Weddings run late and the day after is often a second gathering, the 'day two,' at a pub or the family home.
• A Claddagh ring, two hands holding a crowned heart, is worn by many brides, turned inward once married.

If you’re the guest from somewhere else

• Learn 'sláinte' and say it with confidence. Nobody minds an imperfect accent.
• If there is a sing-song, have a verse of something ready. You will be asked.
• Do not book a flight home for the morning after. The day two is real.

A toast you could give

Short, warm, specific to the couple, and ending on the phrase. Swap in your own names and your own detail; the shape is what matters.

Aoife has been the first person I call for twenty years, and Ciarán, I am told you have moved to the top of that list, which is fair. May the road rise to meet you both. Sláinte!