English at a Wedding at B1: Vocabulary, Cards and a Short Toast

Sooner or later, a partner who speaks English brings you to a wedding: an invitation with unfamiliar words, a card to write, and perhaps a moment when someone hands you a glass and looks at you. This is the vocabulary and the phrases for that day, with notes on what is normal, what is warm, and what to avoid.

A wedding in English is a good test of your language because it mixes three registers in one day: formal writing on the invitation, warm chat at the table, and a public speech that has its own conventions. The vocabulary is not large, but it is very specific, and some words look ordinary while meaning something particular.

If you are attending because of your partner, the day is also a chance to meet many relatives at once. Meeting the family in English covers the first greetings; this article covers the vocabulary that belongs to the wedding itself.

The words on the invitation

Invitations are the most formal English you will read all year. They are short, but they are full of shortcuts. The most important one is RSVP, which comes from French and means please reply. It is not optional: the couple needs numbers for food and seating, so answer by the date given, even if the answer is no.

Answering the invitation

You will often reply by email or on a small website. Keep it short and warm. If you cannot come, say so quickly and kindly; the couple would rather know early than wonder.

• Thank you so much for the invitation. We would love to come. Accepting; write it in the first line.
• We are delighted to accept. More formal, good for a formal invitation.
• I am afraid we will not be able to make it, but we will be thinking of you. A polite decline.
• I have a dietary requirement: I am vegetarian and I cannot eat nuts. Say this at the RSVP stage, not at the table.
• Is there anything we can bring or help with? Fine for a smaller, more relaxed wedding.

What to say on the day

Receiving lines and guests standing with drinks are the place for short, sincere phrases. English speakers say congratulations very often at weddings, and they add a specific detail if they can: what they liked about the ceremony, the dress, the venue. A specific compliment sounds more genuine than a general one.

• Congratulations! I am so happy for you both. The safe standard.
• You look beautiful. To the bride, or to anyone; very common and always welcome.
• It was a lovely ceremony. Especially after the vows.
• How do you know the bride and groom? The best starter question with strangers at the table.
• I am the partner of the cousin of the groom. A friendly way to explain who you are.
• Thank you for having us. Said to the couple or the parents when you leave.

What to write in a wedding card

Cards are short, usually three or four sentences. The pattern is always the same: congratulate, wish something for the future, and sign. If you are writing to a couple you know only through your partner, a simple message is better than an ambitious one. Never copy a poem you do not understand; a sincere plain sentence is warmer.

For the mix of formal and personal, writing to your in-laws in English has more examples of tone.

• Congratulations on your wedding day! Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together.
• Wishing you both all the love and joy in the world. With love from Anna and Peter.
• It was an honour to celebrate this day with you. Here is to many happy years!
• Thank you for including us in your special day. We wish you a wonderful future together.
• Warmest congratulations to you both. May every year be even happier than the last.

A short toast template

A toast is a very short speech, a minute or less, which ends with everyone raising their glass. If you are only a guest, you may never be asked. If you are, or if you want to be ready, this template works for a friend or family member. Adapt the words in brackets.

Start: "Good evening everyone. For those who do not know me, I am [name], and I am [relationship to the couple]." Then one specific story: "The first time I met [name], [one short, kind detail]." Then the couple: "Watching you two together, it is clear that [what you see, for example: you make each other laugh]." Finally, the toast itself: "So please raise your glasses. To [names], to a lifetime of love and laughter. Cheers!"

Notice the structure: who I am, one story, what I see, and the toast. Keep the story kind and short. Avoid jokes about past relationships, and avoid anything the couple would not want the grandparents to hear. Say it slowly and read it from a card if you need to; nobody minds.

British and American differences

Most of the wedding vocabulary is shared, but a few things differ. In the UK, speeches often come during or after the meal, and the best man speech is typically funny. In the US, a rehearsal dinner the evening before is common, and the toast can come from the maid of honor as well. In British English it is the bridesmaid, and hen do and stag do; in American English it is the bachelorette party and bachelor party. Cheers as a toast is understood in both, but in Britain it is also a casual thank you.

Keep the ones you need

Weddings do not come often, which is exactly why the vocabulary fades between them. Save the words and card lines that you think you will use as flashcards in MindDory, and review them in the app before the day. If a printed program or a card is in front of you, you can scan the page to cards instead of typing. The free B1 vocabulary list is a useful general layer under all of this.