| Irish wedding toasts are becoming more | | | | heard Irish wedding toasts, "In your |
| and more the norm these days. Not | | | | life I hope you do four things: lie, |
| because it is only Irish couples getting | | | | steal, cheat and drink. When you lie, do |
| married, but because many people have | | | | it to save a friend, when you steal, |
| finally seen the timeless elegance and | | | | steal someone's heart. When you cheat, |
| beauty of traditional (and even non | | | | cheat death, and when you drink, drink |
| traditional) Irish wedding toasts. | | | | with me." |
| It is not unusual to hear a "Sláinte!" | | | | The traditional version of this toast |
| (meaning good health and pronounced | | | | goes along the lines of, "There are four |
| something like "Slawn-tche"), at a | | | | things in life that you must never do: |
| wedding these days. In fact it has | | | | lie, steal, cheat, or drink. But if you |
| become so popular that you will even | | | | must lie, lie in the arms of the one you |
| hear some of the guests replying kind - | | | | love, If you must steal, steal away from |
| even if they aren't Irish. | | | | bad company, If you must cheat, cheat |
| Some examples of good Irish wedding | | | | death, And if you must drink, drink in |
| toasts are, "May the light of friendship | | | | the moments that take your breath away." |
| guide your paths together, may the | | | | One of the best Irish wedding toasts |
| laughter of children grace the halls of | | | | though is this very traditional one |
| your home, and may the joy of living for | | | | where the bride and the groom give the |
| one another trip a smile from your lips, | | | | toast, and the guests reply to it. |
| a twinkle from your eye." | | | | "Friends and relatives so fond and dear, |
| You can also have something along the | | | | 'tis our greatest pleasure to have you |
| lines of, "May you be poor in | | | | here. When many years this day has |
| misfortune, rich in blessings, slow to | | | | passed, fondest memories will always |
| make enemies, quick to make friends. But | | | | last. So we drink a cup of this Irish |
| rich or poor, slow or quick, may you | | | | mead and ask God's blessing in your hour |
| know nothing but happiness from this day | | | | of need." |
| forward." | | | | The response to this very traditional of |
| There are other good Irish wedding | | | | Irish wedding toasts, goes along the |
| toasts to be found, such as, "May your | | | | lines of, "On this special day, our wish |
| troubles be less, and your blessings be | | | | to you, the goodness of the old, and the |
| more. And may nothing but happiness come | | | | best of the new. May God bless you both |
| through your door." | | | | who drink this mead, may it always fill |
| This is a twist on one of the more often | | | | your every need. |