Ukrainian Wedding Toasts: Cheers, Speeches, and Customs

Who speaks, and when

• Parents bless the couple with bread and salt and an icon before the ceremony, and greet them with a korovai, a braided bread, at the reception.
• A toastmaster, the tamada or a chosen friend, calls the toasts: parents first, then godparents, witnesses, relatives, friends.
• Most guests say something. A toast is short and ends with 'Budmo!' and a kiss called with 'Hirko!'

How long

One to two minutes per toast, many toasts. The toastmaster paces them between courses and dances.

What you’ll see

• The rushnyk, an embroidered cloth, is placed on the floor during the ceremony; whoever steps on it first is said to lead the household.
• The korovai, a round braided bread decorated with doves and wheat, is the centerpiece and is shared among guests.
• 'Hirko!' from the room means the couple must kiss, and the guests count.
• The bride's veil is removed at midnight and replaced with a scarf, marking her as a married woman, and she dances with the unmarried guests.
• 'Budmo!' is called by the speaker and answered 'Hey!' by the room, sometimes three times.

If you’re the guest from somewhere else

• 'Budmo!' then 'Hey!' Learn the call and response. You will use it a dozen times.
• Have a sentence ready; the toastmaster may reach you.
• Taste the korovai when it is shared. Refusing is noticed.

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.

Oksana is the strongest person I know, and Andriy, you are the only one she lets see her tired. Take care of each other. To both of you. Budmo! Hey!