Irish wedding toasts are well known for their wit and wry humor, their sense of history and tradition. For instance, the Irish don’t sign off the toast with cheers but with “Slainte”, the Irish for “to your health”. This makes the Irish toasts so more traditional and binding.

The great thing about Irish toasts is that they keep it simple. They stick to the basics, and speak naturally. There is no bravado and drama in their toasts but sincere, heartfelt greetings and wishes.

There are some who have a natural flair for speaking, and don’t need any prompting or preparation to propose a toast. But there are many others who have to work hard to prepare their speech. They have to weave some anecdotes, some stories to make the speech interesting. Finally, they have to make sure that they deliver the speech properly.

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The Maid of Honor wedding toast is a recent addition to wedding ceremonies. Earlier the wedding toasts were limited to the bride’s father, the groom and the Best Man. However, in more recent times the Maid of Honor has also been called upon to perform this duty. What’s more, it has been widely appreciated.

After all, if the Best Man can propose a wedding toast then why can’t a Maid of Honor? Both stand on the same pedestal, and both have equal rights to talk about the couple. The Maid of Honor can talk about some memorable moments she has shared with the bride. She can even share some witty anecdotes about the bride and the groom, their first meeting and their courting without being too personal or causing embarrassment to either of them.

Such a toast makes the ceremony so complete. The guests get glimpses of both the bride and the groom from their best friends. There is more warmth, and a greater feeling of sharing and participation for everyone.

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Weddings do not always have to be formal affairs. In fact, some of the most romantic weddings are casual ceremonies and receptions with an intimate and familiar feeling. If you are looking for informal wedding gowns to match the casual theme of your wedding, you should be able to find a large selection.

Casual weddings can take place in many locations. You might be having a small ceremony in your parents’ backyard or a friend’s garden. Or you might be having a larger wedding at an outdoor venue, such as a public park or garden. Other casual weddings take place in a home, a public hall, or at the justice of the peace.

Wherever you are having your wedding will play a part in what type of dress you wear, no matter how formal or informal it may be. An outdoor wedding lends itself to a more flowing dress and yet something that is amenable to walking on the grass or along outdoor paths. For this type of scenario, a short dress of cocktail length or mid calf length might be a good way to give yourself a break from carrying a train and to stick to your more casual theme.

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There are few occasions that spark so much emotion and passion as the renewal wedding vows ceremony. It has the entire family and close circle of friends in thrall, not to mention the couple for whom the moment is much more than symbolic. It is a reiteration of their love and belonging, a moment to remember and cherish.

No wonder that most couples go the extra mile to celebrate the vows renewal ceremony.
They are not deterred by the fact that the vows renewal ceremony has no religious value; they are also not concerned by the fact that the ceremony has no sanctity in the eyes of the law.

What they want is to savor the moment. It is an opportunity for them to recommit themselves before their family and friends. More than that, it is an occasion for them to reflect on what has gone wrong in the past, and vow to correct those mistakes in the years to come.

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The gay wedding vows reflect the couple’s love for each other and are an affirmation of the couple’s desire to live together and take care of each other. The vows may be delivered at a religious ceremony or a secular or commitment ceremony but they reflect the love and passion that the couple feels for each other.

There are several websites that offer samples of gay vows. The gays can use these as they are or modify them to make them more personal. However, a common feature of gay vows, like other vows, is the pledge to look after each other through good and bad times. This includes looking after each other through sickness and health and through richness and poverty.

Some gays don’t like the word marriage and prefer to use words like long lasting relationship or union. They also don’t prefer to use the words husband and wife and prefer the neutral spouse or partner.

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