***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries***
Sherry and I can’t stop talking about how good the toasts were at my cousin Casey’s wedding in Dallas (Wedding Crashing pics to come…). There were five in total (two groomsmen, two bridesmaids and my other cousin, the bride’s teenage brother) and each was remarkably funny, articulate and touching. Most weddings are lucky enough to have one of those, let alone a handful. So in that spirit, we think this week’s prize from Mikasa Crystal & Dinnerware is quite fitting.
Mikasa’s been dishing out classic and stylish servingware for over 60 years (perhaps they were even on your wedding registry?) so we were stoked when they contacted us to offer up some free goodies for you our lovey readers. This week we’re serving up prizes to three lucky winners from Mikasa’s new Cheers Too line of glassware. Each set of four crystal drinking glasses features simple, modern designs that just make you wanna throw a dinner party. With lots of “beverages” on hand, of course.
- PRIZE: Your choice of the Cheers Too White Wine, Double Old Fashioned, or Highball Set of Four by Mikasa
- TO ENTER: Comment on this post with the words “I’ll DRINK TO THAT” and…
- BONUS QUESTION: Tell us about a memorable toast you’ve heard (or given!) and what made it great. We could all use a few good toastmaster tips, right?
- CONTEST CLOSES: Wednesday, August 26th at 8pm EST
- NUMBER OF WINNERS: Three
- PRIZE SHIPS: United States only this time.
- THE USUAL: One entry per e-mail address is permitted. The winners will be selected using random.org and announced on Thursday. Good luck!
Get more info on our freebies at our Giveaway FAQs page. Images courtesy of Mikasa Crystal & Dinnerware.
Christy H. says
I’ll drink to that-I ADORE these glasses :)
Mandy says
I’LL DRINK TO THAT..! : )
One of the best toasts I’ve ever heard was a friend’s wedding and instead of a maid of honor she had a man of honor – her lifelong best friend. He gave a witty speech about they did everything together related it to how the bride was never afraid to be the first to dive in to their favorite swimming hole, and since she was the first of their friends to get married ended with something about thanks for being the first to dive in and test the water for us or something like that. It was much better in person! : )
Mandi says
I’ll Drink to that!
Arlee Leo says
I’LL DRINK TO THAT!
lindsay c. says
I’LL DRINK TO THAT!!
I’m getting married next November, so I’ll be interested to hear what toasts my family and friends come up with!
Lexi says
I really like the white wine glasses so “I’LL DRINK TO THAT!”
Megan N. says
I’LL DRINK TO THAT!
The most memorable speech I can remember was from one of my close friend’s weddings. Her entire wedding party gave very heartfelt speeches. When her groom’s brother got to the mic, he immediately got teary eyed and began to thank the bride for coming into his brother’s life. Very emotional!
Chelsea says
I’LL DRINK TO THAT!
My best tip for a great toast – keep it short and sweet!
Natalie G says
I’ll Drink To That!
I gave an impromptu drunken post at my brother’s wedding; it was good (so I’m told), just a little longer than necessary…
Alicia H. says
I’ll drink to that!
The best speeches I’ve heard were at my sisters rehearsal dinner. So many of the bridesmaids and groomsmen had such wonderful, touching, hilarious stories to share! They even played the shoe game, where the couple holds one of their shoes in one hand, and the others shoe in the other hand. You stand back to back and raise the shoe based on the answer most likely being him or her. Pretty funny!! :)
Natasya says
I’LL DRINK TO THAT!
Cara S says
I’ll Drink to That!
My BIL was the best man at our wedding. His toast included the line (to me): I would welcome you to the family, but you’re already such a big part of it. Very touching.
Lauren says
I’ll drink to that!!
I love a wedding with funny toasts!!
Reba says
I’LL DRINK TO THAT!
At my wedding my brother in law got up to give the toast and said he wrote it down but forgot it in the bathroom. It took him a minute to figure out what to say once he realized it was missing.
Beverly Lynn says
I have heard lots of great posts in my time, so this is not necessarily the most memorable, but it is the first that popped into my mind when reading your post. My husband and I both gave toasts at his brother’s wedding and I closed mine with a statement that I had modified from something my husband told me on our honeymoon. He said, “Beverly, I hope that in 20 years we look back and think, ‘Man, we weren’t even that much in love back then!'” In my toast I said, ‘Let today be the day that you love each other the least.’ I have both toasts in their entirety posted here: http://beverlylynn.jeremyweber.com/?p=93
Beverly Lynn says
I’ll Drink to that!
I have heard lots of great posts in my time, so this is not necessarily the most memorable, but it is the first that popped into my mind when reading your post. My husband and I both gave toasts at his brother’s wedding and I closed mine with a statement that I had modified from something my husband told me on our honeymoon. He said, “Beverly, I hope that in 20 years we look back and think, ‘Man, we weren’t even that much in love back then!’” In my toast I said, ‘Let today be the day that you love each other the least.’ I have both toasts in their entirety posted here: http://beverlylynn.jeremyweber.com/?p=93
Nora Thompson says
I’ll drink to that! I have to attach the most wonderful story about a wedding toast. This was from a brother to a brother but it includes a reference to their sister who had special needs and died an untimely death due to drowning. It was in our local newspaper – it is a little long but you must read it all.
“The best-man toast presentation. You’ve all heard it, in some form.
A little joshing; a little praise; some biographical data; a handful of madcap anecdotes. Part roast; part tribute. Once in a great while, a revelation.
The genre has evolved over recent decades from toast to speech. At my own wedding reception dinner in 1975, my best man, after getting everybody’s attention, raised his glass and struggled through something like, “Congratulations to the bride and groom and may they … uh … stay married for … uh … a long time.”
Hear, hear.
These days, the best-man toast is a full-blown oratorical exercise. I can’t say I’ve personally witnessed a PowerPoint accompaniment, but I once saw a slide show used to seal the toast deal.
Some best-man speeches are entertaining. Some go on too long. Some are too bawdy; others, too dry. Some rely too heavily on jokes and double-entendres that nobody but the groom and best man understand. In that case, the baffled guests smile politely and daydream.
The stand-up comedy approach is fine, as long as everybody present has a fair shot at appreciating the humor. Otherwise, it’s a self-indulgence best kept to a minimum.
A new direction
I recently watched my younger son, the best man, rise to his feet and take up the microphone on behalf of his brother, the groom. He covered the conventional ground – a few darts, a few laurels, a few stories about shared boyhood misadventures.
But then he pushed on, into brand-new territory.
He began talking about his older sister, Jessica, who was very much present the day of the wedding – her birthday, it so happened – but only in spirit. Having been born with disabilities, her chance of living an independent life were doubtful. Her drowning seven years ago, at age 25, made that a moot point.
The best man went on to say that even as teenagers, he, his older brother and his younger sister figured out that Jessica would need help for the rest of her life. They followed that fact to its logical conclusion; namely, that at some point my wife and I wouldn’t be around, and the task of looking out for Jessica would fall to them.
Taking the initiative
This, in itself – the thought of the three siblings talking about it, working it out, without adult supervision, astonished me.
The rest of the speech took my breath way.
The best man went on to say that at some point in the ongoing three-way discussion the older brother told the two younger siblings that they shouldn’t allow their sense of responsibility toward their sister to curtail their aspirations. They should follow their dreams to L.A., or D.C., or Antarctica.
Since he was the oldest, he said, he would make it a point to be available – emotionally and geographically – to take over when the time came.
Of course the other two had their own ideas about that. They saw it as a group effort, and would have insisted on doing their share.
But the debate over who would do what wasn’t the point of the best man’s speech. The point was his big brother, the groom, was ready and willing – eager, even – to put the interests of the team above his own.
Hear, hear.”
Donna says
I’LL DRINK TO THAT!
The best toast I’ve heard is the one my sister (also my Maid of Honour) gave at my wedding. She was terrified of public speaking, but managed a short yet heartfelt speech that had tears in everyone’s eyes. I’ll always remember it!
erin says
I’ll drink to that!
I don’t know if it qualifies as exceptional, but I gave a toast at my best friend’s wedding this past weekend that she said was awesome. Felt good to hear that.
Tiffany T says
I’ll Drink to That!
My memorable toast was at my sister’s rehearsal dinner. It was more appropriate to toast then at the reception but I made a sentimental speech, only to end with: “And the most important thing about a good wedding are just two words: joint checking.”
Katie says
I’ll drink to that!
Millie says
I’LL DRINK TO THAT!
My Maid of Honor managed to make everyone shed a few tears at our wedding, a speech which I will never forget. Gets me misty just thinking about it! =)
Kate Ediger says
I’ll DRINK TO THAT
Rebecca says
Heck yeah I’ll drink to that!
LINDZ says
I’LL DRINK TO THAT! Our best man’s speech was incredible! He typed 3 pages about my husband and I and basically ended the speech with ways he and my husband could get rid of me or rather confuse me with a cloned robot of my husband! Haah
Lisa A says
I’ll Drink To That!!
My favorite of all time is the classic birthday toast for an aging friend or relative: “I’m sorry for your loss”…always cracks me up!
Jamie B says
I’ll drink to that!!!
My maid of honor was my cousin and we grew up really close as we are only two months apart. In her speech, she somehow worked in a story about how when i was younger she and my other two cousins use to sit on my stomach and make me pass gas when we were little. There were 150 people at my wedding. So, it was memorable, but not recommendable!!! :)
Michelle Rowe says
I’ll drink to that!
At our wedding, the best man gave a dunken toast about how much he loved his wife and how he and my husband did things she’ll never find out about. Talk about inappropriate!
Carrie says
I’ll drink to that!!
At our wedding, my BIL was the best man, too. During his toast, he told everyone that during our vows, he was watching my eyes (since he was standing where he could easily see me). He said that he’s never seen so much love in someone’s eyes as what he saw in mine at that moment. I’m glad my love for my husband was that obvious! :)
Clarissa says
I’ll drink to that!!
At a wedding I went to, the bride’s uncle wrote a song about the couple and sang it during the toasts. It was absolutely beautiful, and truly reflected the couple and their relationship. It was wonderful.
Selena says
I’LL DRINK TO THAT!
Kim says
I’ll drink to that!
Jessie B. says
I’LL DRINK TO THAT! :)
MC says
I”LL DRINK TO THAT!!
I recently gave a toast with the maid of honor and two other bridesmaids at one of my best friend’s weddings. We each covered a different time in her life and relationship with her new husband: the maid of honor talked about growing up with her, one bridesmaid talked about them admitting they liked each other, I talked about when they first started dating, and another bridesmaid talked about what we wished for them in the future. It was fun (and a lot less scary) to do a group toast, and we each got to share some of our favorite memories of our friend.
Emily says
ILL DRINK TO THAT
Marcie says
I’ll drink to that!
The only toast I’ve ever given ended with me running (or walking briskly) out of the venue with hives and teary eyes… so I don’t think you all want my advice.But, I love hearing toasts from all of the talented, witty speakers out there!
These glasses are super cute :)
Lisa says
I’LL DRINK TO THAT!
ElizabethM says
I’LL DRINK TO THAT!!! most of the best toasts i’ve heard are well thought out and written down. rehearsed, perhaps, but obviously planned and heartfelt. not planning in advance and giving yourself notes to read from can make for lots of nervous rambling! my little sister’s toast at our wedding last year was wonderful….so heartfelt and sweet.
Anne says
I’ll DRINK TO THAT
I hate to follow a trend but the speech my father gave at my wedding. He was funny, and welcoming to my husband.
Jill Young says
I’ll Drink To That!
My husband is an excellent toaster, and at a friends wedding, he definitely gave the best of all the toasts, giving the bride a top ten of what to expect when living with the groom. It was funny and all the rest of the night, people we didn’t know kept coming up to him and telling him how much they had enjoyed it.
Cathy says
I’LL DRINK TO THAT!
Mollie Douglas says
I’ll Drink to that!
My husband and I just celebrated our 1st wedding Anniversary and we just watched on wedding video last night! Both the best man and maid of honor gave remarkable toasts. One speech had a theme of “Past-Present-Future.” She talked about our relationship in all these areas. Very personal and cohesive.
Jamie says
I’ll DRINK TO THAT
Anthony says
I’ll drink to THAT!
Jamie says
I’ll DRINK TO THAT!!
Julia says
I’ll drink to that!
I am actually not a big fan of speeches believe it or not!
Keri Mason says
i’ll drink to that!
Lisamarie says
“I’ll drink to that!”
At the most recent wedding I attended, I was the maid of honor. My toast included a story about the groom asking the bride out for the very first time. I was there when it happened so I was able to recount the funny and sincere moments of the event.
FYI: I need the glasses! I just moved into my own condo and am starting from scratch with respect to all homegoods!
Jesse says
I’ll DRINK TO THAT :)
MissCaron says
Ohhhh … love the Double Old Fashioned!
I’ll DRINK TO THAT!!!
The most memorable toast I’ve heard was most recently at a good friends wedding. What made it great was that is was the brother of the groom and he’s a chemistry professor at a University in South Florida. Everyone knows he’s super nerdy (as is the whole family) and he as he’s giving his speech he’s actually referencing elements and the periodic table. It was so funny and he did a great job tying it in without anyone getting lost but it was very personal and thought out. :-)