{"id":80964,"date":"2017-12-21T10:55:51","date_gmt":"2017-12-21T16:55:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artofmanliness.com\/?p=80964"},"modified":"2021-09-25T12:43:51","modified_gmt":"2021-09-25T17:43:51","slug":"how-to-give-a-toast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/featured\/how-to-give-a-toast\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Give a Toast"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Vintage<\/p>\n

For each of the last four years, my wife and I (Jeremy) have hosted a Friendsgiving dinner the Sunday before Thanksgiving. It\u2019s a chance to gather our social group together for a potluck turkey dinner and give thanks for all the good things in our lives (like friends!). Each year, I\u2019ve been called upon to say something before we all sit down and eat, and each year, I slightly dread that short block of time in which I\u2019m supposed to articulate something memorable. I don\u2019t remember previous years, but this year I didn\u2019t take any time to think about or prepare a good toast, and I fumbled through trying to recite that toast that Will Smith gives<\/a> in Hitch<\/em>. No joke. It was awkward. And although our friends have assuredly already forgotten (or at least forgiven) that moment, I obviously haven\u2019t. It didn\u2019t elevate the room or brighten people\u2019s hearts, which is exactly what a toast is supposed to do. Rather, my toast was sort of an off note in the \u201cmusic\u201d of an otherwise wonderful evening. Wouldn\u2019t it have been far better to have had just the right words that would have perfectly suited the occasion and enhanced everyone\u2019s mood?<\/p>\n

As we talked about previously, toasting has a long (and often manly history)<\/a>, and we really ought to revive it more in the present age. But the tradition is so rare these days, that most of us have had little instruction and practice in it. If you\u2019d like to help bring back toasting, how exactly do you do it?<\/p>\n

The instructions below will help you raise a glass with real confidence, style, and event-enlivening effect.<\/p>\n

How to Give a Toast <\/u><\/h3>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

Be Prepared<\/h3>\n

\u201cFlubbing the toast is like serving stale champagne: it flattens the mood.\u201d \u2013Paul Dickson, Toasts<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

First, you need to be prepared. While toasting is meant to be improvisational, that doesn\u2019t mean working entirely <\/em>off the cuff in the moment; as Mark Twain once said, \u201cIt usually takes three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.\u201d Even if you plan to give your toast extemporaneously, you ought to have a repository of some famous toasts\/quotes in mind, and\/or have been thinking about a theme for a few weeks and can pick just the right length and specific words once the occasion comes.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t trust yourself to do even that, go ahead and write something out. As you\u2019re doing that, ask yourself the following questions:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Who\/what is being toasted? <\/strong>If it\u2019s a best friend, it can be a little more informal. If it\u2019s a grandparent, something sweet and sentimental is obviously far better.<\/li>\n
  2. What is the reason for the toast? <\/strong>Is it an anniversary? A college graduation? A wedding? A promotion? Heck, even a breakup? The specific occasion will guide much of what you say.<\/li>\n
  3. What type of event is it?<\/strong> The event type guides the formality of the toast more than anything else. A work party? Better keep it pretty straight-laced. Cocktail hour with college friends? You\u2019re safer going off the cuff and\/or with an inside joke or two.<\/li>\n
  4. Who is in attendance? <\/strong>Related to the above point, but you really want to know your audience in order to craft your toast. You don\u2019t want to say things that only make sense to one group of people. At a family event, you\u2019ll say something quite different than you would at a work party. At a large, diverse gathering, you want to keep statements very broad and centered on the toastee so that everyone can get what you\u2019re saying.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Along with these specific tips, in general, brush up on your public speaking<\/a> and improvisation skills<\/a>. The art of toasting deftly combines both of those things, and provides a great opportunity to practice those skills which naturally transfer into numerous other areas of life. (Also, giving a toast is a requirement for the Orator Badge in The Strenuous Life<\/a>!)<\/p>\n

    Decide on Your Format<\/h3>\n

    \u201cA toast is a basic form of human expression that can be used to convey virtually any emotion, from love to rage (although raging toasts tend to cross the line into the realm of curses). They can be sentimental, cynical, lyrical, comical, defiant, long, short \u2014 even just a single word.\u201d \u2013Paul Dickson, Toasts<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    You can choose to make the whole toast an original composition, or to recite a classic set toast (see the ideas we\u2019ve gathered below).<\/p>\n

    Arguably the best kind of toast, though, is one that combines the two elements: a brief, original introduction directed at the specific occasion and attendees, followed by a classic set toast to end things on a strong note.<\/p>\n

    Keep It Short<\/h3>\n

    As Dickson notes above, toasts can involve just a single word; indeed, in ancient times, it was common to simply raise a glass \u201cTo health!\u201d<\/p>\n

    You don\u2019t have to keep your toasts quite that pithy, but they should always be short \u2014 about 30-60 seconds, erring on the shorter side versus the longer. Get to the point, and quickly. Only at particular gatherings should a toast exceed that, such as at a wedding, anniversary party, or other event where a longer tribute is more appropriate \u2014 and even then, you don\u2019t want to go past a couple minutes or so.<\/p>\n

    Lean Towards Sincerity Over Humor<\/h3>\n

    \"Vintage<\/p>\n

    A lot of guys try to be funny at social gatherings, believing themselves to be far more humorous than they really are. This is especially true when giving a toast. Think about how different best man speeches are from maid of honor speeches. The former almost always tries to insert some funny story or joke that inevitably falls flat. Why is this?<\/p>\n

    Humor is very hard to get right, especially with a large and diverse crowd. At weddings especially, you have folks of all ages, all different careers and life experiences, and different social circles. The best man trying to be funny is likely doing so for his own circle of friends, and that\u2019s all who will laugh. So with the vast majority of toasts, avoid seemingly humorous topics like exes, failures, and inside jokes; while covering such territory is common, it\u2019s overly dicey to do.<\/p>\n

    Humor can<\/em> work if you\u2019re with a smaller, perhaps all-male group of comrades. In those informal instances, inside jokes and even some \u201ccolorful\u201d remarks are acceptable, and even expected. In general, though, aim for sincerity. That\u2019s sometimes harder for guys to do (which is why we lean on humor in the first place), but if you\u2019re prepared \u2014 it all comes back to being prepared! \u2014 you\u2019ll be able pull off a sentimental salute without a hitch. Sincerity is far better remembered by a toast\u2019s recipients than an ill attempt at humor.<\/p>\n

    Be Sure That Everyone Is Involved & Has a Drink<\/h3>\n
    \"Vintage

    While it’s obviously most traditional to toast with alcohol, you can of course toast with anything, as these boxers who would soon be squaring off against each other in the ring demonstrate.<\/p><\/div>\n

    Toasts are all about inclusion. Nobody is to be left out \u2014 children, the elderly, non-drinkers, all should be able to be part of the toast. At a dinner party, be sure that everyone is seated with their food and drink. If food isn\u2019t part of the gathering, or if the toast is happening during cocktail hour versus the dinner hour, be sure everyone has a drink to toast with (ginger ale or something else that\u2019s bubbly makes it special for kiddos; and here\u2019s a list of fun mocktails for the teetotalers out there<\/a>). Also, as much as is possible, ensure everyone is present. As the host, keep an eye on things; if someone is off to the restroom, wait until they\u2019ve returned. You don\u2019t want someone to have to awkwardly walk into the middle of a toast.<\/p>\n

    Don\u2019t Toast Before the Host<\/h3>\n

    If you aren\u2019t the host of an event, don\u2019t give a toast before they’ve had the chance to do the honor. If it\u2019s been mutually decided that you\u2019ll toast first, then go for it. Otherwise, wait until the host has had their say.<\/p>\n

    Announce Your Intentions With Both Words and Behavior<\/h3>\n

    At a boisterous party or gathering, it can be hard to know the right time and way to make your toast. How do you get everyone\u2019s attention? At the start of a dinner party, it\u2019s a little easier: as host, you should be waiting to get your food until everyone else has already done so. So when you approach the table, theoretically everyone else is already seated or in the process of doing so, and you can simply stay standing and say something like, \u201cI\u2019d like to propose a toast.\u201d<\/p>\n

    If people are milling about, or you\u2019re giving a toast in the midst of a meal, you\u2019ll need to get the room\u2019s attention. Don\u2019t do so by clanging your glass with a utensil, which isn\u2019t very tasteful, and might break the glass to boot. Instead, signal your intention by standing up and raising your glass to shoulder level, with your arm pointed towards the center of the party. If people still don\u2019t notice your gesture and quiet down, just loudly say something to the effect of \u201cIf I can have everyone\u2019s attention.\u201d A loud throat clearing or \u201cAhem\u201d is a bit informal and just never comes across quite right; it almost reads as sheepish and shy.  <\/p>\n

    End With a Clear Invitation<\/h3>\n

    You\u2019ve surely seen toasts that end amorphously; the audience isn\u2019t sure if you\u2019re finished or not. So when ending your toast, make that fact clear and demonstrate what everyone should do next. Say something like \u201cCheers!\u201d or \u201cLet\u2019s a raise a glass to ___,\u201d and then lead the way by finding someone near you to clink glasses with (if you\u2019re in a small gathering) or going ahead and taking a sip from your glass (if you\u2019re in a large gathering).<\/p>\n

    When to Give a Toast<\/u><\/h3>\n

    So now you know how<\/em> to give a toast, but when<\/em> should you do so?<\/p>\n

    In our modern, generally toast-free society, it\u2019s hard to know when it\u2019s appropriate to offer a toast. Luckily, there are numerous occasions where giving one would not only bring a smile to everyone\u2019s face, but elevate the general mood and environment \u2014 always the goal of a good toast!<\/p>\n

    Below you\u2019ll find a sampling of times where it\u2019s appropriate to offer a toast; the list is certainly not meant to be exhaustive, and there are many other fitting times to offer one as well.<\/p>\n

    Weddings<\/h3>\n

    \"Vintage<\/p>\n

    While weddings are generally a carefully orchestrated affair, there are a couple times during the celebratory events where a toast might be appropriate. At the reception, there is often the formal giving of toasts by the best man, maid of honor, bride and groom, and\/or parents. This is not a point where you want to add your own toast (if you haven\u2019t gotten permission from the couple first). You might instead give your own \u201cunauthorized\u201d toast at the rehearsal dinner before the wedding, or on the day of the wedding itself, you might do so at your individual table or with a group of friends during the cocktail hour. The happy couple should of course be the object of your toast.<\/p>\n

    Dinner Parties With Friends<\/h3>\n

    While dinner parties are a dying breed of their own, they\u2019re the perfect occasion for a toast. If hosting, it\u2019s easy and can really be given anytime, though during a cocktail hour when everyone has a drink or at the start of dinner is ideal. Toasts here can focus on your thankfulness for the group involved, and perhaps even an inside joke (if everyone would be privy to it, of course). You can also toast even if you aren\u2019t hosting, though, remember, you shouldn\u2019t be the first to do so.<\/p>\n

    Holiday Gatherings<\/h3>\n

    \"Vintage<\/p>\n

    Holiday parties, whether they be filled with coworkers, friends, or family, are perfect occasions for toasting. You can toast to the good year behind you, the upcoming year ahead, your thankfulness for the holiday, and\/or the reason it exists in the first place (Thanksgiving, 4th of July, Easter, etc. \u2014 those all have pretty clear meanings). A prayer is often part of religious holiday observances, but there\u2019s certainly room for both that and a sincere toast.  <\/p>\n

    Graduation, Retirement Parties, Post-Funeral Gatherings<\/h3>\n

    This really encompasses any occasion that\u2019s been put together for a specific life transition, and also includes promotions, engagements, and anything else you can think of too. Toasts at gatherings like these should of course focus on the life transition at hand, reflection on past memories, and well wishes for the future. Note that while toasts don\u2019t happen at funerals, or even typically at wakes, they are appropriate if you get together with a small group of friends at a bar or pub after these more formal events to pay more intimate respects to the dead.<\/p>\n

    Anniversaries and Date Nights<\/h3>\n

    \"Vintage<\/p>\n

    Toasts well suit the marking of romantic milestones, and that\u2019s true even if you don\u2019t throw a big anniversary party, and the only audience for the toast is your partner. You can offer a nice toast to your gal if you go out together to celebrate your anniversary, or even simply during the course of a normal date night. Either way, toasting to the woman you love is a great way to express sincere affection, wonder, and gratitude for her presence in your life.<\/p>\n

    Casual Social Events<\/h3>\n

    Getting together with old friends at a bar? Having a bonfire with the neighbors? Tailgating at the big game? This is where you can really harness the spirit of our ancient manly ancestors. (Whether or not you drain your vessel is of course up to you and your good \u2014 or not so good \u2014 judgment.) Offer up an informal toast; this is where your wit, humor, and inside jokes can be unleashed, which isn\u2019t the case with many of the events listed above.<\/p>\n

    Toast Ideas for Various Occasions<\/u><\/h3>\n

    Having some classic toasts memorized is a great way to always be prepared to offer a fitting tribute when the opportunity presents itself; classic toasts are such for a reason \u2014 they encapsulate strong, pithy sentiments and enduring wit. But don\u2019t do a general online search for toast ideas to add to your brain library, as those you\u2019ll find are generally just about drinking or center on crass jokes. To solve this dearth, below we offer a nice treasury of classy and genuinely humorous toasts for a wide range of occasions.<\/p>\n

    Anniversary\/ Date Nights<\/h3>\n

    [For a 50th<\/sup> wedding anniversary] \u201cWith fifty years between you and your well-kept wedding vow. The Golden Age, old friends of mine, is not a fable now.\u201d \u2014John Greenleaf Whittier, \u201cThe Golden Wedding at Longwood\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n

    [For the 25th<\/sup> wedding anniversary] \u201cLove seems the swiftest, but it is the slowest of growths. No man or woman really knows what perfect love is until they have been married a quarter of a century.\u201d \u2013Mark Twain<\/p>\n

    \u201cWine comes in at the mouth
    \nAnd love comes in at the eye;
    \nThat\u2019s all we shall know for truth
    \nBefore we grow old and die.
    \nI lift the glass to my mouth,
    \nI look at you, and I sigh.\u201d
    \n–William Butler Yeats<\/p>\n

    \u201cHere\u2019s to you who halves my sorrows and doubles my joys.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cWere\u2019t the last drop in the well,
    \nAs I gasped upon the brink,
    \nEre my fainting spirit fell,
    \n\u2019Tis to thee I would drink.\u201d
    \n\u2014Lord Byron <\/strong><\/p>\n

    Baby<\/h3>\n

    \u201cA baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cA new life begun,
    \nLike father, like son.\u201d
    \n\u2014Irish<\/p>\n

    [Given by fathers with a son or sons] \u201cFather of fathers, make me one, A fit example for a son.\u201d \u2014Douglas Malloch<\/p>\n

    [Given by grandparents] \u201cGrandchildren are gifts of God. It is God\u2019s way of compensating us for growing old.\u201d \u2014Irish<\/p>\n

    \u201cTrust yourself. You know more than you think you do.” \u2014Dr. Benjamin Spock, Baby and Child Care<\/em> <\/strong><\/p>\n

    Birthdays<\/h3>\n

    \u201cDo not resist growing old \u2014 many are denied the privilege.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cAnother candle on your cake?
    \nWell, that\u2019s no cause to pout,
    \nBe glad that you have strength enough
    \nTo blow the damn thing out.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cHappy birthday to you
    \nAnd many to be,
    \nWith friends that are true
    \nAs you are to me!\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cMany happy returns of the day of your birth:
    \nMany blessings to brighten your pathway on earth;
    \nMany friendships to cheer and provoke you to mirth;
    \nMany feastings and frolics to add to your girth.\u201d
    \n–Robert H. Lord<\/p>\n

    \u201cMay you live to be a hundred years with one extra year to repent.\u201d \u2014Irish<\/p>\n

    \u201cTo wish you joy on your birthday
    \nAnd all the whole year through,
    \nFor all the best that life can hold
    \nIs none too good for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Christmas <\/strong><\/h3>\n

    \u201cAs fits the holy Christmas birth,
    \nBe this, good friends, our carol still\u2014
    \nBe peace on earth, be peace on earth,
    \nTo men of gentle will.\u201d
    \n\u2014William Makepeace Thackeray<\/p>\n

    \u201cThen let us be merry and taste the good cheer,
    \nAnd remember old Christmas comes but once a year.\u201d
    \n\u2014From an old Christmas carol<\/p>\n

    \u201cBlessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.\u201d \u2014Hamilton Wright Mabie<\/p>\n

    \u201cHeap on more wood!\u2014 the wind is chill
    \nBut let it whistle as it will,
    \nWe\u2019ll keep our Christmas merry still.\u201d
    \n\u2014Sir Walter Scott<\/p>\n

    \u201cHere\u2019s to the day of good will, cold weather, and warm hearts!
    \nHere\u2019s to the holly with its bright red berry.
    \nHere\u2019s to Christmas, let\u2019s make it merry.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cHere\u2019s wishing you more happiness
    \nThan all my words can tell,
    \nNot just alone for Christmas
    \nBut for all the year as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cHolly and ivy hanging up
    \nAnd something wet in every cup.\u201d
    \n\u2014Irish<\/p>\n

    \u201cI have always thought of Christmas as a good time; a kind, forgiving, generous, pleasant time; a time when men and women seem by one consent to open their hearts freely; and so I say \u2018God bless Christmas.\u2019\u201d \u2014Charles Dickens<\/p>\n

    \u201cI know I\u2019ve wished you this before
    \nBut every year I wish it more,
    \nA Merry Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cI wish you a Merry Christmas
    \nAnd a Happy New Year
    \nA pocket full of money
    \nAnd a cellar full of beer!\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cMay you be as contented as Christmas finds you all the year round.\u201d \u2014Irish <\/strong><\/p>\n

    Death <\/strong><\/h3>\n

    \u201cOh, here\u2019s to other meetings, And merry greetings then;
    \nAnd here\u2019s to those we\u2019ve drunk with, But never can again.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Dinner Party<\/h3>\n

    \u201cHere\u2019s to eternity \u2014 may we spend it in as good company as this night finds us.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cIt is around the table that friends understand best the warmth of being together.\u201d \u2014Old Italian saying<\/p>\n

    \u201cTo friends: as long as we are able
    \nTo lift our glasses from the table.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cA toast to our host
    \nAnd a song from the short and tall of us,
    \nMay he live to be
    \nThe guest of all of us!\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cHere\u2019s to our hostess,
    \nconsiderate and sweet;
    \nHer wit is endless,
    \nbut when do we eat?\u201d<\/p>\n

    Friendship <\/h3>\n

    \u201cMay the warmth of our affections survive the frosts of age.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cFriendship: May differences of opinion cement it.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cHere\u2019s to a friend. He knows you well and likes you just the same.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cMay the friends of our youth be the companions of our old age.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cTo our best friends, who know the worst about us but refuse to believe it.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Going Away Party<\/h3>\n

    \u201cHappy are we met, happy have we been,
    \nHappy may we part, and happy meet again.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cHere\u2019s to good-byes\u2014that they never be spoken!
    \nHere\u2019s to friendships\u2014may they never be broken!\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cThe pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again.\u201d \u2014Charles Dickens<\/p>\n

    Graduation <\/strong><\/h3>\n

    \u201cMay you never forget what is worth remembering or remember what is best forgotten.\u201d \u2014Irish<\/p>\n

    \u201cIf you have an appetite for life, stay hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cMay you live to learn well, and learn to live well.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cMay you live all the days of your life.\u201d \u2014Jonathan Swift<\/p>\n

    \u201c\u2019Tis not so bad a world,
    \nAs some would like to make it;
    \nBut whether good or whether bad,
    \nDepends on how you take it.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cMay you have the hindsight to know where you\u2019ve been, the foresight to know where you\u2019re going, and the insight to know when you\u2019re going too far.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cAs you slide down the banister of life
    \nMay the splinters never face the wrong way.\u201d<\/p>\n

    New Year\u2019s<\/h3>\n

    \u201cAnother year is dawning! Let it be
    \nFor better or for worse, another year with thee.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cAs we start the New Year,
    \nLet\u2019s get down on our knees
    \nto thank God we\u2019re on our feet.\u201d
    \n\u2014Irish<\/p>\n

    \u201cBe at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.\u201d \u2014Benjamin Franklin<\/p>\n

    \u201cHere\u2019s to the bright New Year
    \nAnd a fond farewell to the old;
    \nHere\u2019s to the things that are yet to come
    \nAnd to the memories that we hold.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cIn the year ahead,
    \nMay we treat our friends with kindness and our enemies with generosity.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cMay all your troubles during the coming year be as short as your New Year\u2019s resolutions.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cMay it be the best year yet for you, and everything prosper you may do.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cMay the best of this year be the worst of next.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cMay the face of every good news and the back of every bad news be toward us in the New Year.\u201d \u2014Irish<\/p>\n

    \u201cRing out the old, ring in the new,
    \nRing happy bells across the snow;
    \nThe year is going, let him go.\u201d \u2014Alfred, Lord Tennyson<\/p>\n

    \u201cHere\u2019s to the present \u2014 and to hell with the past! A health to the future and joy to the last!\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n

    Thanksgiving<\/h3>\n

    \u201cHere\u2019s to the good old turkey
    \nThe bird that comes each fall
    \nAnd with his sweet persuasive meat
    \nMakes gobblers of us all.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cTo our national birds \u2014 The American eagle, The Thanksgiving turkey: May one give us peace in all our States \u2014 And the other a piece for all our plates.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cWhen turkey\u2019s on the table laid,
    \nAnd good things I may scan,
    \nI\u2019m thankful that I wasn\u2019t made
    \nA vegetarian.\u201d
    \n\u2014Edgar A. Guest<\/p>\n

    Weddings<\/h3>\n

    \u201cLove doesn\u2019t make the world go \u2019round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.\u201d \u2014Franklin P. Jones <\/strong><\/p>\n

    \u201cA toast to love and laughter and happily ever after.\u201d<\/p>\n

    [Given by a parent] “It is written: \u2018When children find true love, parents find true joy.\u2019 Here\u2019s to your joy and ours, from this day forward.” <\/p>\n

    \u201cMay their joys be as deep as the ocean
    \nAnd their misfortunes as light as the foam.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cMay we all live to be present at their golden wedding.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cMay you grow old on one pillow.\u201d \u2014Armenian<\/p>\n

    \u201cMay you have enough happiness to keep you sweet; enough trials to keep you strong; enough sorrow to keep you human; enough hope to keep you happy; enough failure to keep you humble; enough success to keep you eager; enough friends to give you comfort; enough faith and courage in yourself, your business, and your country to banish depression; enough wealth to meet your needs; enough determination to make each day a better day than yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cThere is nothing nobler or more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends.\u201d \u2014Homer, Odyssey<\/em><\/p>\n

    \u201cTo the newlyweds: May \u2018for better or worse\u2019 be far better than worse.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Miscellaneous\/Multi-Occasion<\/h3>\n

    \u201cCheerfulness, content, and competency. Cheerfulness in our cups, Content in our minds, Competency in our pockets.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cMay the works of our nights never fear the day-light.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cThe three H\u2019s: health, honor, and happiness. Health to all the world, Honor to those who seek for it, Happiness in our homes.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cLove, life, and liberty. Love pure, Life long, Liberty boundless.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cI wish thee health, I wish thee wealth, I wish thee gold in store, I wish thee heaven upon earth\u2014What could I wish thee more?\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cIt is best to rise from life as from the banquet, neither thirsty nor drunken.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cMake the most of life while you may,
    \nLife is short and wears away!\u201d
    \n\u2014William Oldys<\/p>\n

    \u201cMay our faults be written on the seashore, and every good action prove a wave to wash them out.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cMay we be happy and our enemies know it.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cMay we live respected and die regretted.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cSo live that when you come to die, even the undertaker will feel sorry for you.\u201d \u2013Mark Twain<\/p>\n

    \u201cTo the riotous enjoyment of a quiet conscience.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cWhile we live, let us live.\u201d<\/p>\n

    ________________________<\/p>\n

    Source of the information and the specific toasts above: <\/em>Toasts: Over 1,500 of the Best Toasts, Sentiments, Blessings, and Graces<\/a> by Paul Dickson. Consult the book for more insight on the history and art of toasting, as well as hundreds of more toast ideas. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    For each of the last four years, my wife and I (Jeremy) have hosted a Friendsgiving dinner the Sunday before Thanksgiving. It\u2019s a chance to gather our social group together for a potluck turkey dinner and give thanks for all the good things in our lives (like friends!). Each year, I\u2019ve been called upon to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":80967,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,42259],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[],"class_list":["post-80964","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-skills"],"featured_image_urls":{"large":"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2017\/12\/toast-538x280.jpg","reactor-320":"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2017\/12\/toast-320x219.jpg","aesop-tiny-cover":"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2017\/12\/toast-400x274.jpg","aesop-character":"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2017\/12\/toast-200x200.jpg","aesop-collection":"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2017\/12\/toast-300x300.jpg","aesop-grid-image":"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2017\/12\/toast-400x274.jpg"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80964","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80964"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80964\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":139483,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80964\/revisions\/139483"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/80967"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80964"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80964"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80964"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=80964"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}