Toasting has been around for centuries. But it wasn't until the 1700s that it was actually called "toasting." The term stems from the French custom of placing a piece of bread in the bottom of a glass to soak up any sediment. A good toaster would drink "down to the toast." Eventually, this evolved into the current practice of drinking to a person's health, prosperity, happiness, or good luck. Today, wedding toasts offer "congratulations and good luck" to the bride and groom. Additionally, it is used as a way to say "thank you" to the wedding attendants and the couple's families. But just who should propose these toasts and when can be a bit confusing? Wedding toasts are usually proposed either at the rehearsal dinner or the wedding reception. In either case, the toasting is done after the meal is finished or just after the cake-cutting ceremony.

   Types of toasts might include (in this order): a toast TO THE BRIDE, which is made by a friend of the bride's family, a relative, or the best man and a toast TO THE BRIDE AND GROOM, which is usually made by the best man. After speaking about the bride and groom as individuals, the best man shares a few words about them as a couple. He concludes with a formal toast. The bride and groom remain seated together and should never toast themselves! THE GROOM'S RESPONSE is a toast during which the groom mentions everyone in the wedding party. He then makes complimentary remarks about the bride, then about the person who has just proposed the toast to the bride and groom. The groom thanks his parents and the bride's parents, the bridesmaids, and the best man. He might even propose another toast-to the bridesmaids. For THE BEST MAN'S RESPONSE, if the groom has not proposed a toast to the bridesmaids, the best man does so. If the bridesmaids have already been toasted, the best man should respond on their behalf. Traditionally, a toast BY THE FATHER OF THE BRIDE is the final toast. The bride's father thanks the guests in his and his wife's name. He raises a glass to the members of the wedding party and to the guests.

   Tips For the Perfect Toast: If you'll be proposing a wedding toast, be sure to:
1) stand to deliver your toast,
2) maintain eye contact with the bride and groom as you deliver the toast,
3) keep the toast between 3 to 5 minutes long so you won't lose your audience, and
4) use personal anecdotes to spice up the toast. Feel free to use humor, but end the toast on a serious note.

With references from other bridal sites on the net. 

	traditionally, toasting starts with the best man’s toast to the bride. It is customary to comment on some of her more outstanding qualities and how she will make an excellent wife for the groom. This is also the time to publicly offer his best wishes to the couple. The toast itself is offered to the bride for a specific reason. Example, a toast may be offered to her continued and growing love for the groom, or to some particular quality, which is important to the couples’ marriage relationship, i.e. her loyalty and unselfish commitment to her new husband.
	The actual wording of the toast itself may go something like this: Ladies and Gentlemen, would you join me in raising your glass in a toast to the bride’s (insert here the specific quality of the bride). The guests will rise and touch their glasses together and say; To the bride: and then take a drink from their glasses. The bride does not stand, but remains seated and does not raise or drink from her glass; this is the case with whoever is being toasted.
	It should also be considered that a series of toasts should not be scheduled back to back causing the guests to jump up and down. Plan to mix comments from the M.C. and the other speakers so the toasts don’t become aerobics for the guests.
	The groom should then thank the best man for his words about the bride and will thank the parents of the bride and especially the bride’s mother for all the help she has done to help in planning and preparation. He may also thank the guests for coming, and being part of "their" day as well as for the many and generous gifts. The groom can then thank any other people; for example, the clergyman or someone who has helped in some way, concluding with the maid of honor and the bridesmaids. Usually the groom will mention each one individually and their specific help to the bride, and then will comment on the beauty of the bridesmaids and propose a toast to them.
	The bride’s father usually speaks and thanks the guests for coming and for the gifts. He may also commend his wife on doing such a wonderful job of planning the wedding and tell several anecdotes about the bride, when she was growing up. In concluding, he may offer a toast to the bride and groom or he may leave that to the groom’s father and toast the mothers or grandparents.
	It is common for a friend of each the bride and groom’s parents to toast them and/or the grandparents. If you are videotaping the wedding, make sure you get all the action throughout the toasts and speeches.