Bilingual (English/Spanish) wedding toast needed.

June 12, 2008 12:10 AM

What is good bilingual (English/Spanish), and relatively short toast for a wedding?

This is nearly a last minute idea. But as the best man, I need to beg, borrow or steal a wedding toast for a bilingual audience. The groom's side speaks English, while the bride's, including her parents, mainly speak Spanish, from Mexico.

I'd like to present a toast in English and Spanish, but the Spanish needs to be short (about 8 words) and simple enough for me to remember. My last Spanish class was 20 years ago in high school. But I plan to get last minute help from one of the bride's brothers in pronunciation.

Also, while we're on the subject, which language should I say first? Spanish first for the bride, then English? Or the reverse?

posted by Cog to writing & language (5 comments total)

What is good bilingual (English/Spanish), and relatively short toast for a wedding?

Make it longer than 8 words. Take a sheet in with you.

I saw this at a wedding in Montmorency last year. English man marrying a French woman. The groom's father, who did not speak a word of French, gets up to give his toast, pulls out a piece of paper, puts on his reading glasses, and gives his speech in French. Terrible, awful French, but good enough to understand and the impact on the French audience was magic. It was hugely, massively appreciated. 8 words would have been too short.

Spanish is easy to pronounce. Get someone to help you write something personal, practice reading it a few times, make sure to have a few drinks before you get started, and just do it.
posted by three blind mice at 2:24 AM on June 12, 2008 [1 favorite]

My friends had a 10 year renewal of their wedding in Puerto Vallarta this spring. Unlike the original wedding in the US, many of the bride's family in Mexico were able to attend. After saying their vows in English, the groom said some words in Spanish. Although his wife spoke Spanish fluently, he instead turned to his friend who spoke Spanish so his wife was surprised. She melted when he started. He had it written down and the Mexicans in the audience loved it. His wife loved it. The gringos that couldn't understand it loved it. During the reception others would give bilingual toasts. I was spared from making a toast (I was going to keep it short and sweet and improvised en español) but was spared from that duty when the Mariachis showed up.

So yes do it. But get help from a native speaker in writing it and pronunciation earlier. A friend or relative that knows the couple would probably be more helpful here than the "hive mind" that doesn't know the people involved. Even if you flub up the pronunciation, the guest will appreciate you've made the effort.
posted by birdherder at 3:48 AM on June 12, 2008

If you decide to go the short route, there's 'Salud, amor, y pesetas, y tiempo para disfrutarlos' ('health, love, and money, and time to enjoy them').
posted by magicbus at 4:59 AM on June 12, 2008 [1 favorite]

In Spain, a simple "¡Vivan los novios!" could go a long way, specially if pronounced 100% right. But then again Spain is not Mexico, so YMMV.
posted by magullo at 5:02 AM on June 12, 2008

I would just point out that magicbus' toast is based on the currency of Spain. To elaborate on it (and make it country-neutral) try: "Por los novios, les deseamos amor, salud, dinero y tiempo para disfrutarlos." You can a "¡Que vivan!" at the end for emphasis - that would be the part the audience could then repeat, kind of like "cheers" or "here, here."

Yahoo answers has some toasts in Spanish if you are looking for something more elaborate. I did a search for "brindis novios amor". Make sure you understand what is being said in those as some are jokey. "I'm beliver's" (in that link) is fine. You could cut it shorter by putting"Que los novios" right before "sean bendecidos...."
posted by HE Amb. T. S. L. DuVal at 6:34 AM on June 12, 2008