Italian Wedding Toast

Nothing embodies the picture of the Italian wedding more than the wedding scenes from the acclaimed film series The Godfather. The non-Italian world gets their picture of Italian weddings from films such as these, from the food to the dancing to the Italian wedding toasts. Those of us that are anything but Italian have to wonder, what makes an Italian wedding any different from any other wedding, except for the inclusion of the mafia of course. Do all Italian weddings have a Godfather in an office in the background granting favors to washed up Las Vegas singers$1 Probably not. However, Italian weddings are steeped in tradition, with the Italian wedding toast being an integral part of those Italian traditions. What traditions surround the typical Italian wedding$2 The Italian wedding is signified by church ceremonies, usually Roman Catholic. Secondarily, they include lots of food. From the start, the guests are offered a sweet drink by the best man upon their entrance to the reception. The wedding toasts will take place sometime during the reception. With other types of weddings, the toasts consist of sorts of wedding speeches and blessings by the best man and the maid of honor. In an Italian wedding, traditional Italian wedding toasts are a few simple words. For example, one popular Italian wedding toast is “Per cent’anni,” which means “For a hundred years.” Longevity is coveted and expected in Italian marriages. Other traditions other than the Italian wedding toasts surround the Italian wedding. For example, the typical Italian wedding will take place in the morning, but the reception does not occur until later in the afternoon. Thus the bride and groom have quiet time alone after the wedding while their friends and family prepare for the reception. The reception, like many weddings is one big party—a huge celebration for the union that took place earlier in the day. After and amongst the Italian wedding toasts, the dancing takes place. The Tarantula is a popular wedding dance at Italian weddings, and everyone participates. Certainly wedding toasts can cause a great deal of anxiety for those giving them. However, at the Italian wedding, because Italian wedding toasts are traditional wedding toasts to the Italian community, the toast giver doesn’t have to think too hard to give his toast. He need only talk to his Italian parents and grandparents, and he’ll have his toast ready in a matter of minutes.