Best Man Toast

Title: Best Man Toast

General Information about Item:

Informant Data:

Diane Knight is a 59 year old woman currently living in Bronxville, NY. She grew up in Cheshire, CT and has raised her family in New York. She is the second oldest of 6 children in a Roman Catholic family. She received her BA from Brown University and MBA from Wharton. She is currently a homemaker and has raised four children.

Contextual Data:

Cultural Context: The best man giving a toast to the newly married couple at the reception after the wedding is a rite of passage. It serves as an indicator of the best man passing off the groom to the bride. It is also an opportunity for the best man to give kind words and thoughts to the couple.
Social Context: This folklore tradition is practiced at many American weddings. While Diane cannot recall the first time she witnessed a best man toast, she believes one has been made at nearly every wedding she has gone to. She mentioned that it does not necessarily matter exactly what the best man says about the groom, but it serves as a unifier of all the guests in attendance. Often the best man shares funny or potentially embarrassing stories about the groom, and leaves off with some remark about good fortune coming to the newlywed couple.

Item (Direct Quote):

“I cannot remember going to a wedding where the best man did not make a toast to the groom and couple. I have heard some funny stories over the years, but usually the best man says something about how the couple will be great for each other and bring one another happiness, etc. It serves as a personal touch and sort of marks the best friend of the groom handing him off to the bride.”

Collector’s Name: Natalie Knight

Tags/Keywords:

Dartmouth Folklore Archive