Photo by Monstera

30 Toasts to Make you Stand Out.

Raising a glass to the classic party toast as a tradition of love and friendship.

With the holiday party season behind us, I wanted to pay homage to the classic party toast. There’s nothing quite like the moment of triumph when we raise our glasses and declare, “To friendship!” or “To love!”

Toasting at parties is a way to celebrate and show appreciation or goodwill towards someone or something. It is a social custom that dates back to ancient civilizations, where a drink was offered as a sign of respect or friendship.

There are a few different theories about the origins of the practice of toasting at parties. One theory is that the practice originated in ancient Rome, where people would drink from cups made of animal horns. The cups were believed to have magical properties that could ward off evil spirits and bring good luck. To show their goodwill and friendship, people would touch the cups together and drink from them.

Another theory is that the practice of toasting originated in medieval England, where it was common for people to add a piece of spiced toast to their drinks to improve the flavor. The word “toast” comes from the Latin word “tostum,” which means “roasted.” It was originally used to describe slices of bread that were roasted over fire; these were then dipped into wine or ale and eaten with gusto! This practice eventually evolved into the custom of raising a glass and making a toast to someone or something.

Today, toasting is still a common way to celebrate special occasions. It’s often done with a glass of wine or champagne, but any type of drink can be used. It is often done at parties, weddings, and other social gatherings to honor a particular person or mark a special occasion.

Here is a list of toasts you can practice for your next gathering. They can be used as is or built upon and incorporated into a larger speech. They range from straightforward to witty and even heartfelt.

1. “Here’s to beer, the cause of and solution to all of life’s problems.” — H.L. Mencken
2. “May your glass be ever full. May the roof over your head be always strong. And may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead.” — Irish toast
3. “Here’s to our friendship, which has already survived one hangover, countless embarrassing moments, and several questionable life choices.”
4. “May your joys be as deep as the oceans, your troubles as light as its foam.”
5. “To aging gracefully. I plan to drink and misbehave, then blame it on my age.”
6. “Here’s to a long life and a merry one. A quick death and an easy one. A pretty girl and an honest one. A cold beer- and another one!” — Irish toast
7. “To good friends, good times, and a warm fireplace. May the joys of the present become the golden memories of tomorrow.”
8. “Here’s to the nights we won’t remember with the friends we’ll never forget.
9. To our host/hostess, thank you for bringing us all together and for your generous hospitality.”
10. “To the host/hostess, thank you for proving that it’s not the size of the party that matters, it’s the size of the heart that throws it.”
11. “To the birthday person, may you get everything you want for your birthday, and may half of it be a surprise.”
12. “To the newlyweds, may your marriage be full of love, laughter, and just a dash of petty arguments to keep things spicy.”
13. “To our friends and family, thank you for putting up with our quirks and for loving us despite (or perhaps because of) them.”
14. “To good times and good friends, let’s drink to the fact that we’ve made it this far without killing each other…yet.”
15. “To the future, may it be filled with all the things we hope for and none of the things we fear.”
16. “To this special occasion, may it be the first of many more to come, and may we always have a reason to celebrate.”
17. “To our host/hostess, thank you for your kind heart and for creating such a warm and welcoming atmosphere for all of us to enjoy.”
18. “To the birthday person, may this year be even better than the last, and may you always be surrounded by love and support.”
19. “To the newlyweds, may your marriage be a beautiful journey filled with love, understanding, and happiness.”
20. “To our friends and family, thank you for being such an important part of our lives and for always being there for us.”
21. “To the future, may it bring us all the joy and success we deserve, and may we always have each other to celebrate with.”
22. “To this special occasion, may it be a reminder of how lucky we are to have each other and to be a part of this loving community.”
23. “Here’s to friendship. The only thing stronger than a good drink.”
24. “Here’s to good food, good drink, and good friends. May we always have the first two and never lose the third.”
25. “To good friends and good times, and to the fact that we all managed to find each other and end up in the same place at the same time!”
26. “To absent friends, may they be half as much fun as we are!”
27. “To good health, and the fact that it’s getting easier to drink each other under the table!” (My favorite)
28. “To the birthday boy/girl, may you have many more years of being young and foolish!”
29. “To the best party ever, and to the fact that we are all here to enjoy it together!”
30. “To my friends-older, obviously. Wiser, maybe. Drunker, probably. Closer, Definitely.”

Tips for making a lasting impression.

• Make sure that your toast is appropriate for the occasion and the people in attendance.
• Take some time to think about what you want to say and practice your toast beforehand.
• A toast is a great opportunity to share personal stories and memories, so try to make your toast heartfelt and sincere.
• Try to make eye contact with your audience and involve them in your toast by asking questions or telling a story that they can relate to.
• Keep in mind to take a less is more approach to your toasting. Shorter, more potent wording can impress any crowd.

[raising my glass] Here’s to you and yours. May you enjoy your next gathering as much as I enjoy writing for you.