A toast is an important part of so many social occasions. From Christmas dinners to New Year’s Eve parties, baby showers to wedding receptions, speeches are made to welcome guests, give thanks and provide entertainment. Traditionally, at the end of a speech, the speaker makes a toast and everyone is invited to raise their drink in one united gesture. Toasting goblets are, therefore, a fundamental part of this process.
Goblets are available in styles to suit every occasion, style and budget. For a traditional wedding reception, fine crystal goblets are the champagne flutes of choice for many and they remain the most popular due to their elegance and transparency; the bubbling champagne can be admired through the clear vessel. Crystal can be given a more modern look for contemporary couples; different sizes and shapes instantly update the look. Crystal goblets can also be engraved for the bride and groom with their names and the date of the wedding, or patterned with silver for an interesting decorative effect. This can be done to match other tableware at the reception, such as serving plates and cake server sets. For a really extravagant wedding, crystal glasses can be embellished with rhinestones to add extra sparkle to the toast!
Crystal remains the preference of fine wine connoisseurs who want to enjoy the appearance of their deep, rich reds or light, pale whites just as much as the taste; wine lovers like to see and judge the quality of their wine through the clear crystal.
If crystal is not your thing, there are many other options for your toasting goblets. Silver and pewter goblets make attractive alternatives that are equally stylish and appropriate for a really special occasion. Silver is perfect for a formal occasion and popular for religious celebrations such as Christenings and First Communions. Silver always looks distinguished and expensive, but it need not break the bank as there are silver wine goblets available to suit all budgets, with the less expensive sets retailing at around $20 per goblet. A set of silver goblets makes a lovely gift, particularly for a twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, as silver is its symbol.
Pewter wine goblets have a rich sense of history (they have been popular since the twelfth century) and are durable and affordable. Depending on the design of the stemware, pewter can provide a traditional or a modern look to the table. Again, there is no need to worry that pewter is out of your reach if you are on a tight budget; less expensive designs are available. The Internet is the best place to start looking for wine goblets of any kind, as retailers compete for your business in a tough market. Shop around, compare prices and do not make a purchase until you find the set you are happy with.
Even if your occasion is an informal one, you may still want to make a toast and this is where plastic goblets are a good solution. You may not have considered buying plastic drinking vessels for a party, but they are perfect for themed parties where colored glasses may not be widely available in other materials. For instance, if you are having a large Halloween party using orange and black, plastic goblets would be perfect to serve your “special brews” in. Or if you are having a pink and themed party to promote breast cancer awareness you may want to buy a large quantity of pink goblets that you may not ever use again, so going for plastic–which is available in every color imaginable–means you won’t spend a lot of money. You can reuse your plastic goblets on camping trips and picnics, where durability is important.
Whatever you are toasting, make sure you have a set of goblets that you are happy with that suits your occasion and your own personal style. From crystal to silver, plastic to pewter wine goblets, there are many options for you to consider before you say “cheers!”.
