what to include in groom speech uk

Groom Speech Examples

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(*Of course, if you’re looking for more than ‘advice’, check out all the different ways the Speechy team can help you write & deliver a great speech. Or check out our new AI-powered team member, SpeechyAI .)

Lessons to Learn from Our Speech Examples

• Length – no more than 1,300 words
• Structure – Don’t begin with the thank-yous, start with the stories and hook in your audience
• Don’t let your speech become a tedious thank-you list
• Tell good stories
• Resist Googled-gags, cliches, and platitudes
• Pepper the speech with humour throughout
• Have the romantic summary towards the end of your speech

Ultimately though,  every speech should be unique and tailored to the individual speaker’s style.

For obvious reasons, we cannot share the full range of speeches we write for our clients but these are generic (and made-up) speeches to give you an idea of a good structure.

Your speech may be more sentimental, shorter, or poetic. Crucially, it needs to be more YOU!

Groom Speech Example – Delivered by Ryan

Background: Ryan has married Misty. They live in Edinburgh, Scotland, and met through friends. Ryan’s mum has passed away.   

INTRODUCTION

Honoured guests, welcome to what can only be described as the greatest day of my life. Well, second greatest day of my life, if you include the day Misty managed to not leave a wet towel on the bed. (Pretend to wipe tear away) Sorry, it’s an emotional memory.

Firstly, on behalf of both Misty and I, let me thank you all for coming. I know many of you have travelled long distances to be here. And a special thanks to our English friends, many of whom see travelling north of the border as akin to entering the Squid Games. Your bravery is greatly appreciated.

THE SPEECH-MEAT

Now, another person I’d like to thank is our mutual friend Lou who actually set us up six years ago. I mean, I say ‘set up’, she described me to Misty as ‘average looking, but has nice shoes’.

But uncharitable review or not, it certainly seemed to do the trick. When we met for the first time at Lou’s birthday drinks, we immediately gravitated towards each other. We talked intensely all evening. It was one of those conversations where you lose all track of time and everything else just seems to drift into the background. We talked about life, hobbies, future plans and how when she was a kid, she was obsessed with Winnie the Pooh. Which makes it not at all surprising that she’d end up with me: a chubby character with one shirt and an aggressive appetite.

I remember coming away from that evening in a bit of a haze, not only had I found someone I liked, and liked me back, but I’d also found someone who could still rap all the words to Eminem’s ‘Stan’.

I thought life couldn’t get any better until, as we went to leave, she nervously turned to me and uttered those three magic words all guys want to hear: Fancy a kebab?

It was then I knew I was in love.

It’s a weird feeling meeting someone that you know you’d happily spend the rest of your life with. Before meeting Misty ‘love’ felt like just a word, and all of a sudden, she comes along and fills that word with meaning.

To this day, I’ve always maintained that it feels like we are two halves of the same whole. It felt like that then, and still does now, that we were just the right amount of similar, and just the right amount of different to be perfect together.

We complement each other’s good traits, and soften each other’s bad ones. By which I mean, I occasionally pick up her wet towels and she does literally everything else.

But I also mean that she has taught me a lot. She’s taught me that kindness always wins, she’s taught me that it’s not the words you say, but the way you make people feel that gets remembered, and she’s taught me that marmite and cheese on crumpets is the greatest snack known to man.

She is the other side to my coin, the cheerful Winnie the Pooh to my grumpy Eeyore. And now, incredibly, she’s my wife.

THE THANK YOUS

If you’ll all allow me, I’d like to take this opportunity to mention some incredibly important people who have helped us not just today, but throughout our lives.

Firstly, I’d like to thank my dad, who has taught me that being a man isn’t about machismo and bravado, it’s about being warm, welcoming and caring. I’ve often been called a ‘mini David’, and it’s something I’ll continue to wear as a badge of honour.

To Misty’s parents, June and Martin, your help with the wedding planning has been utterly invaluable, and I can’t thank you enough for how you’ve both welcomed me into your family. I’ll look forward to many more Sunday dinners that end with Martin saying ‘I’ll get the whiskey’.

To my groomsmen, for turning up both fully dressed and mostly sober, and also for years of support, advice and knowing exactly when I need a chat and a game of FIFA.

To Misty’s bridesmaids for being amazing friends and helping everyone keep a cool head with yesterday’s dress disaster. Your sage advice and support has always been a great comfort to Misty and I both.

THE DEARLY DEPARTED

And finally, I’d like to say thank you to a very special woman who is sadly no longer with us: my mum. There’s no other way to say it, other than it’s heartbreaking that she can’t be here today. She was a person who was born to be at big events. A person who filled the room with her smile and her presence. And while she can’t be with us, I know how much she approved of Misty, because in the latter weeks of her life, she tapped me on the hand and gently said ‘Misty is a keeper’.

So mum, I love you and I miss you, and I hope you’re looking down on us today with your characteristic big smile on your face, safe in the knowledge that I’ve taken your advice on board.

ROMANTIC TRIBUTE

Now, I’m not one for massive promises and grand gestures, but now seems like as good a moment as any to break from that tradition. So Misty, before I end this speech, I’d like to give you three promises for our future life together: I promise whenever you say ‘fancy a kebab?’ I’ll always say yes. I promise to always back you up by singing the Dido chorus in ‘Stan’, and I promise that no matter what, I’ll spend the rest of my days attempting to make you as happy as you’ve made me.

So, without further ado, if you’ll all kindly be upstanding, and join me in a toast to my best friend and love of my life: The new… Mrs Misty Ferguson! (Raise toast).

Written by Ed and Tom , Speechy Writers

Groom Speech Example – Delivered by Alejandro

Background: Alejandro has married Michelle. They live in Boston. Alejandro is in his fifties and is originally from Spain. There are lots of people at the wedding for whom English is their second language.

Ladies and gentlemen, friends and family, Spaniards and Americans – today is a historic day. As Michelle has done me the great honour of agreeing to be my wife, it is a day when our countries’ traditions and cultures come together.

Today, the Spanish Imperial Eagle takes to the skies with the American Bald Eagle. Today, we scatter hamburgers and fries across the paella and create the McPaella. Today, we play the Marcha Real alongside the Star-Spangled Banner.

( PLAY MUSIC MASH-UP OF THE TWO NATIONAL ANTHEMS PLAYED AT THE SAME TIME).

As you can perhaps tell, a mix of cultures is not always an easy thing, but I believe that, with work, my wife and I can make it so that our music is harmonious, our meals are delicious and our nation’s birds do not peck each other to death.

Today, I have the joy of standing here as part of a married couple. As you may know, I am more mature than the traditional groom and I must admit that as, one-by-one, my friends and family members all got married, I sat there at a succession of weddings, always on the single table. In case you were wondering, the single table is Table Five today. Please stop by and pity them, it’s what they deserve. 

At every wedding, I was pestered by my mother and aunts about when I will marry. I looked at the grooms and I thought, ‘Thank God I am single.’ I will admit I have enjoyed the bachelor life. I have enjoyed being free to pursue my work, to not worry about when I come home, and to live in a house where there are fewer than two cushions in the entire place.

But then Michelle happened.

We met through the intervention of our friend Katya – there she is on Table Five, and, yes, she is single. I met Michelle in the street as we were passing and she was rude to me and bossy. I couldn’t understand this American powerhouse. She told me to take her out for coffee and I don’t know what happened. I lost the power to resist. All of my bachelor strength was drained, and I found myself nodding and doing as I was told for once.

I don’t know how but Michelle flies under my radar, she unpicks my defences and I find it impossible to resist her. And I have tried!

So, my beautiful wife Michelle arrived and my bachelor life ended. I am able to stand here today and say I am so grateful that it has. No more Table Five. No more aunts and mothers asking me when I will get married. So many more cushions.

Michelle has allowed me to speak for both of us today, which she did so on the condition that I understood this was to be the last time in our married lives that this was the case. From now on, I shall be the perfect trophy husband that Michelle wants, I will nod and I will look pretty.

I would like to take this opportunity then to say some sincere and heartfelt thank yous. First of all, I would like to thank you, our guests, for coming today. I know that for some of you, especially the guests today from Malaga in southern Spain, the journey to join us here today has been significant.

THE BIG THANK YOU

When people will fly nearly 5,000 miles to a wedding, you realise how powerful the offer of free food and drink truly is. I hope today is a celebration for you too and please know that we are so grateful for you making this day so special.

Now for the rest of you, I want to issue a warning that many of our Malagan guests might not have the greatest command of the English language. For some of them this is the first time that they have been abroad. I won’t embarrass him by name, but one of the guests asked me where Mickey Mouse was and I had to explain that the mouse isn’t everywhere.

So, to make them feel more welcome I thought maybe I could teach you some useful Spanish phrases that could help you integrate. If you look on your table you will see a card for you each so you can read along with me. So listen to me and repeat please!

‘He bebido demasiado Sangria y no puedo sentir mis piernas.’

Come on, I know you can do it.

That is a very useful Spanish phrase which means:

‘I have drunk too much Sangria and can no longer feel my legs.’

Ok, another:

‘Me gustaria bailar Flamenco contigo hasta una hora desaconsejable.’

That means:

‘I would like to dance the flamenco with you until an inadvisable hour.’

Excellent! Now finally:

‘Hola, me puedes llamar un Uber. No recuerdo nada de anoche.’

That translastes as:

‘Please call me an Uber, I have no recollection of last night.’

Now, as you may know I have been in America for nearly ten years now and I am starting to think of myself as part-American. For Michelle, I know this makes her laugh, because she often says that I am the most Spanish man in the history of the world.

But I think coming to a foreign country can be an amazing learning experience because every day you do things as an outsider. Everything is different here. Everything. You want to go to the toilet in America then you have to pay to go into the toilet. In America, toilets are also a business! Amazing!

I am an outsider with your food. Thanks to my mother I was raised eating home-cooked food bursting with flavour, then I come to America and I eat McDonalds every day and slowly my tastebuds fade away and now they are on life support, kept going only by the jamon iberico my mother sends me at Christmas.

But as an outsider I have also been shocked to see the difference in some people in America – the friendliness and the warmth that I am offered. I think this is why Michelle has overcome my defences.

As you know, she works as the director of a charity and she lives her life for other people. She thinks and she cares for other people all the time and I am amazed that she has agreed to be my wife today. Perhaps I am her biggest charity project yet and one day after years of rehabilitation she will release me back into the wild. I hope not.

By contrast, I am the greedy property developer, making money from the ruins of other people’s lives and hopes. I will not lie, my day is not complete until I have pushed at least three widows out of their houses and turned their homes into flats. But maybe this too has been useful for my marriage. After all, my work has taught me to look at ruined and dilapidated things and see the beauty there. Anyone drawing any comparisons to Michelle should be ashamed of themselves.

THE ROMANTIC SUMMARY

Seriously, I couldn’t imagine a more beautiful woman on any continent in the world today.

I want to thank you for coming to our wedding. I want to thank Michelle for agreeing to be my wife and I want to end my speech by offering her these traditional arras . These are Spanish gold coins that a groom gives to his wife on their wedding day. The coins are a symbol of how the man promises to provide for his wife. Not just in terms of finance but also for their emotions – to be a provider that gives her everything she needs.

My love, I give these coins to you today and promise that I will do my best to ensure that for you for the rest of our lives you have everything you ever need and, always, more than enough love.

Now everybody: please raise your glasses and repeat after me:  ‘¡Arriba! ¡Abajo! ¡Al centro! …. y pa dentro!’ That means put your arm up, put your arm down, health for you all, drink it down!

Speech written by Andrew, Speechy writer

Groom Speech Example – Delivered by Kanav

Background: Kanav has married Priyanka. They live in Nottingham, England and are of South Asian descent. Kanav is an architect. The wedding is traditionally large, with over 350 people attending.

Ladies and gentlemen, uncles and aunties, bhaiyon aur behano – namaste and welcome. My wife and I…(pause for applause) thank you so much for coming to share this wonderful weekend with us.

Of course, as much as we’d love to take credit for it, this has been a mammoth group effort with so many to thank for their involvement. After this, our parents are going to take a well-earned rest and sort out the global warming issue.

Now, you already heard the disastrous way Priyanka and I met from the best man, so I won’t go over that again. But it’s true what he said – we were… well, we are like chalk and cheese. Or some would say coal and paneer. And you can tell which one of us is paneer, can’t you?

As a primary school teacher, Priyanka is warm, caring, communicative – a real people’s person who works amongst a number of impatient clients every day. As an architect, I’m concise, introverted, and analytical – I need my space to focus on just one project, sometimes for months at a time. Basically, I’m boring, slow and don’t like hanging out with people.

(Look around) Really, I’ve no idea how this all happened.

But, as the saying goes, opposites attract and you can see that for yourselves in our wedding. Priyanka’s creativity and vivid imagination has gone wild. Getting married in October, she actually wanted this weekend to have a Halloween-themed twist, asking guests to wear Indian costumes, but ripped and bloodied so we’d all look like zombies.

At one point, there was even a Thriller dance routine being planned.

I, of course, shot down idea after idea with my pragmatism, wanting us to keep things traditional, low-maintenance and on the right side of sane. But, if any of you want to rip up your lehangas and kurtas and cover yourselves in the madras, feel free. Though, looking at my mother, maybe not!

Of course, I couldn’t reject all of Priyanka’s inspired ideas and you’ll spot many of them here this evening: the Indian food twists on pizzas and sushi, and the dosa-crepe stand were all her idea. The games of Antakshari, the Carrum tournament, the masala cocktails and the band that does rock covers of Bollywood numbers? All her.

Whilst she came up with all the cool ideas, I kept in my lane; compiling an Excel spreadsheet and making sure we could actually pay for it all. And when I say ‘ we ’, what I actually mean is we pay a small percentage while our parents pay the rest. Thank you Maa, Papa, Saasuma, Sasurji. We owe you. Literally!

But honestly, watching Priyanka plan our wedding has been an absolute joy and seeing how beautiful she looks today is truly humbling.

Priyanka’s knowledge and creativity as a teacher, even as an individual, has never failed to astound me. I had no idea how much my life lacked colour until I met her. She introduced me to different foods, different countries and cultures, and even different films and TV.

I honestly thought she was ready to break up with me when I told her I’d never watched Kuch Kuch Hota Hain . And I was sure it was the end of us when she forced me to watch Maine Pyar Kiya and I walked out halfway through the film. Those of you who don’t know, she loves Maine Pyar Kiya the same way I love KFC.

As I say, opposites attract.

ROMANTIC SUMMARY

Priyanka brings the fun and the excitement to the relationship, and I hope, as an architect, I bring the structure. It may not sound as fun as colour, but when you build the foundations of a relationship you need both passion and pragmatism to keep it from crumbling when confronted with life’s challenges.  

We visit monuments like the Taj Mahal and the Pyramids of Giza because of their colour and the emotions they evoke, and thankfully they continue to stand due to their intelligent architecture. Both foundation and beauty play equally important roles in maintaining the immortality of these international treasures. And I think it’s the same principle that means Priyanka and I will stand the test of time.  

We bring out the best in each other and push one another to challenge the people we are. Sure, this can lead to a few ‘debates’ but we’re ready to hear each other out, and most importantly, we’re ready to compromise. This wedding is the perfect example of the beauty that compromise can lead to. I’ve no doubt we have a few more disagreements ahead of us, but I’m equally sure that our compromises will lead to ever more beautiful times shared together.

Priyanka, before I met you, I already had strong foundations. In fact, I was an unmovable object, working in the same place I’d joined since graduation, living in the same flat. You came in like an unstoppable rainbow grenade, and I don’t think my life was ever the same again. I don’t want my life to ever be the same again.

Whenever you’re about, Kuch Kuch Hota Hain (something happens) and it’s fair to say, Maine Pyar Kiya (I fell in love).

Now, if you can all join me in a toast to my beautiful wife, my very own rainbow grenade, my wonderful Priyanka.

To Priyanka.

Written by Shai, Speechy writer (He has also written some specific South Asian groom speech advice )

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The Speechy team  are TV-trained scriptwriters/comedians by trade & we’ve helped 1,000s of speakers around the world deliver their dream speech.

Our advice has been quoted everywhere from  The New York Times  to  Grazia  and from Forbes to The Observer . Our founder has also featured on the  BBC Sounds’ Best Men podcast with Jason Manford and written ‘ The Modern Couple’s Guide to Wedding Speeches’ , published by Little, Brown.

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How to write a groom speech in 2024

A guide by professional speech writers Speechy.

HOW TO WRITE A GROOM SPEECH IN 2024

By professional speech writers, speechy.

Writing a groom speech is challenging, among the dozens of other things you need to do on the day of your wedding. But, a great speech is still the ultimate accessory. We asked the wedding speechwriting team at Speechy for their advice on how to write a modern groom speech.

Words: H. Ellert

Prepare to adapt

The last few years have taught us that nothing is certain. Despite this uncertainty, it’s no excuse to leave your speech till the last minute, even if that’s your normal style. Sadly, it’s rare for grooms to be hit by divine inspiration in the fortnight before their wedding, so take the time to put the work into your speech early.

Write the core of it and adapt the opening and toast depending on whether you’re addressing a smaller audience than you expected or one that is overjoyed to be back in a room together celebrating together.

Tell your story

Don’t get bogged down with etiquette guides and feel you have to be overly formal. Yes, thank the important people but it’s fine to start your speech with a ‘Well hello everyone’ rather than addressing your guests as ‘ladies and gentleman’ (chances are they’re not!).

Begin with a few insights about you as a couple: perhaps an anecdote from when you started dating or an account of any bumps in the road you hit while planning your wedding. If you’ve both managed to choose your wedding outfits (including your wedding suit ) and accessories without a fuss, well done. These are the big decisions.

Don’t be shy in acknowledging the difficult times you might have faced; guests will naturally be able to relate. This needn’t be maudlin – humour lightens the hefty reality of all that’s happened since 2020 and helps you bond with your audience.

Cut the groom speech clichés

If there’s one thing every boring speech has in common, it’s being packed full of platitudes. Resist the urge to use catchwords like ‘best friend’ or ‘soulmate’ to describe your spouse. These are unoriginal and add nothing to the speech.

Every groom thinks his partner is gorgeous, kind and generally amazing, so make sure you prove, don’t tell. If yours has been checking in with all your elderly neighbours throughout the pandemic, give this some well-deserved acknowledgment.

Think about their unique character quirks – wedding planning may have accentuated some of these. Perhaps their super creative, DIY frenzy made you discover one of their hidden talents. Or maybe you were amazed at the way they made every effort to include people you love in your wedding ceremony.

Hunt the humour

Step away from the Googled jokes. Yes, it’s tempting but wedding one-liners are just not on these days. Ask yourself lots of questions. How does your partner make you laugh? What do you regularly ‘debate’? What do you do that annoys them? Remember the old adage ‘it’s funny because it’s true’.

Avoid starting your speech with the thank yous. Hook your audience with the entertaining stuff and get round to the formal stuff later. Don’t turn your speech into a roll call – there’s no obligation to namecheck half your guests. You certainly don’t need to thank anyone who’s been paid for their help.

There might be people whose support has been particularly significant in the past year. Give them a special mention, of course, but consider offering gifts and a more personal thank you at another time, to spare the guests who are there for the laughs.

Keep it punchy

There’s a skill in keeping your speech short. A groom’s speech should generally be between a thousand and 1,300 words. Any longer and you risk losing your audience.

Stories and jokes are stronger the punchier they are. ‘Command X’ is your friend – get rid of anything that needs too much explaining. If an anecdote is particularly long-winded, it’s unlikely to win any genuine laughs – drop it. We promise the more ruthless you are at the cutting stage, the funnier your speech will be.

No one even sat through a wedding speech and thought ‘If only it was longer’.

The minimony

That’s jargon for ‘small wedding’ if you’re wondering fellas, something that’s become super trendy since the pandemic. Delivering a speech to a very exclusive guestlist requires a change of tone. Having fewer expectant faces in the audience allows more of an ‘in-joke’ vibe to your anecdotes which, chances are, most of your guests have heard before in a less formal setting.

Less background noise might feel intimidatingly quiet, but embrace the intimacy of the occasion – a small group, giggling together is a real tonic. These are literally your nearest and dearest, so give your speech the affectionate tone that warrants.

Prepare to deliver

A confident delivery is key, and sadly, Dutch Courage is a myth. Limit yourself to no more one than one drink before the speech. Using notes is fine (on thick quality paper, or maybe off your phone at a push) but you need to know your speech beforehand. It’ll help it to flow more naturally.

In the run-up to the day, film yourself giving the speech, then watch it back and decide where you should put more emphasis or slow down. Don’t forget to delete it off your phone or risk your performance being outed before the big day!

As a general guide, slow down and talk at half the speed you would do in normal conversation. It feels odd at first, but it really does make you sound more confident.

On the day, maintain as much eye contact with the guests as possible, especially the people you’re thanking. Prepare for good-natured heckling and make sure you pause where you expect laughter (it will come, promise). And relax – smiling is contagious, and if you’re feeling comfortable then people will be able to see that and they’ll feel relaxed too.

Do what you need to feel confident

Whether it’s practicing in front of the mirror, roping your best mates or family in to be the practice audience (even though they might hear it in real time too) or getting the right fit for your  suit  so that you look your best, do what it takes to boost your confidence. You need to feel prepared and at free from nerves, sometimes that just takes a haircut, some practice and a bit of peace.

If you need to take yourself away from things beforehand just to have a little relaxation time and to mentally prepare, that’s cool. Just mention it beforehand so that no one thinks you’ve bailed.

Once your speech is over you take a little time out to reflect, relax or decompress if you need to. We’re sure you’ll have smashed it!

Speechy is a team of ex-BBC TV scriptwriters who now specialise in wedding speeches. Make a speech to be proud of with its quality speech templates, speech reviews and bespoke speeches.

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How To Write The Perfect Groom Speech

Trying to write the perfect groom speech for your upcoming wedding? You're not alone. Lots of grooms-to-be have said they worry about their speech, what to include, what NOT to include, and in what order. Wedding speeches, as well as the  order they go in , are a tradition with plenty of longevity. This can be a little daunting... That's why we thought we'd help out. We're going to go over the structure and some writing tips for your groom speech. So buckle up, and grab a pen!

An important thing to remember before we dive in is that what you decide to include is up to you. If there are elements of the more traditional wedding speech that you don't want to do - don't! We're giving you some inspiration in the form of an outline, but what you put in it is entirely up to you. Your guests will love and appreciate the fact you've put work in regardless. Also, whilst we have referred to mothers, fathers, and best men, we are sympathetic to everyone's family dynamics. To those that have strained relationships, have lost parents, or have elected a best woman. Everyone's situation is different and we fully embrace diversity. It's your day, your way. Always.

Got writer's block? Let's go over how to write a groom speech together.

What actually is a groom speech.

The answer to the above is fairly self-explanatory. But for those of you who are new to the wedding scene, a groom speech is a speech...given by the groom (who saw that coming?). Traditionally, a groom speech comes after the father of the bride. The speech usually consists of thanks, love, and jokes. A wonderful trifecta, if you ask me. In terms of duration, anywhere between 6-10 minutes is ideal. It's long enough to get the sentiment across without dragging on for too long. Guests tend to prefer speeches that take place after the wedding breakfast rather than before. This is because, after a meal, your guests won't be hungry, and they'll probably have had a couple of glasses/pints. They won't be starving, nor will they be willing you to rush through so they can finally eat. Whereas you, the speech giver, might prefer to share your speech before the meal, so once you've said a few words you can truly relax and enjoy the meal, and not worry about enjoying one to many glasses of Prosecco and stumbling your words.

Step 1: Welcome

As we said, the father of the bride will have likely just finished. So start your groom speech off by thanking him for his. You can then welcome your guests and thank them for coming. Feel free to make some jokes about your upcoming speech to ease both you and them into it. Don't go overboard, though. 

Step 2: Thanks(giving) 

Now is the time for some thanks. Thank the bridesmaids and the groomsmen for being there and helping out. Then go on to thank the mums, giving flowers if you have chosen to do so. Show appreciation for the people who have come to celebrate your love with you - it's a truly beautiful thing. 

Step 3: Family Time

This is where it might start to get a bit emotional. Traditionally, this is where we thank our parents. Whatever your family dynamics, and whoever your support system is, I'm sure you'll have people you want to thank. Now that you've thanked everyone and your speech is well on its way, it's time to bring family into the mix. If it wasn't for them, you probably wouldn't be where you are now. So thank them for what they've done, and if they have helped out with the wedding or wedding planning, make sure to thank them for that too. This is a monumental moment not just for you, but for them, as well. Honouring your family and/or parents in your groom speech is a beautiful way to say thanks for everything. 

Step 4: Best Man

If you do decide to go down the traditional route, bear in mind that the best man speech will follow yours. Normally, the best man tends to throw some comedy fireballs at you in the form of embarrassing stories from school. So you could always choose to pre-empt these and throw some jokes of your own. Thanking him is never a bad idea either, for being a good friend - a rock to lean on. Think about why he's your best man, and then make some jokes out of it. Simple! 

Step 5: Spouse Time

This is the part of your speech that the sentimentalists amongst the crowd have been waiting for. The reason you are all together: your partner. This is your chance to publicly tell them how much they mean to you, how happy you are, and how glad this wedding occurred. Feel free to throw in some inside jokes, or jokes that the whole room can appreciate. Just ensure your love and happiness are being well construed. That's what we're all after, anyways. 

Step 6: Round off your groom speech with some toasts 

Traditionally, the groom speech is finished off with toasts. Toast to everyone in the room - paying special attention to your partner and the bridesmaids/squad. Order is fairly flexible here - the main idea is that you thank those around you for making your day so special. 

Finally, you can relax. Your groom speech is done, and everyone is either laughing, crying, or both. A happy ending indeed. You now have the rest of the evening to do as you wish - so have a drink on us! 

Some tips for when you're writing 

As we've mentioned above, what goes into your speech is up to you. If you want to focus on comedy, go for it. If you prefer to shed light on the sentimental, please do. But here are a few general tips to take into account when writing. 

• You don't need to be too formal. Your guests want to hear you speak as you usually do. There is no need for formalities - relax, be friendly and open, and smile! This isn't a court hearing. 
• Don't forget what your groom speech is actually about It's easy to get swept up in your speech - but remember who this is for, at the end of the day. The main focus should really be on your partner - a few romantic sentiments dedicated to the person you've just had the pleasure of marrying. 
• Timing, timing, timing! Don't go under or overboard. As mentioned, the best groom speeches are typically 6-10 minutes long - so make sure you're sticking to that timeframe. Written down, that's roughly 1000-1400 words. 
• If you're going funny - make it the best man and the thank yous The thank yous can typically drag on a bit, and hearing the word "thank you" over and over can get a bit tiresome. So why not spruce up this section and try to inject some comedy into it? It'll make your thanks seem more thought out, rather than the bog-standard "thank you Dad for ...". 
• Test-run it! It's highly advised to test out your groom speech before you give it. Ensuring the jokes land the way you want them to and your sentimental moments don't come across the wrong way is vital. Choose someone you trust and ask them to give you constructive criticism. 
• Opening line Ever heard of the phrase "start as you mean to go on"? This applies here, too. If your opening line is golden, that gets everyone involved and listening keenly, chances are the rest of your speech will go pretty great, too. Focusing on the start gets guests smiling from the get go.

Hopefully, you now have a better idea of how to get cracking on your groom speech!

Whether you're angling for the comedic approach or opting for sentimentalism, your groom's speech will be great. One of the biggest factors when it comes to speech-giving is confidence - go into it knowing you've done a good job, and your guests will think so, too. It's your day, your speech. Be true to yourself! Following this guide is definitely a great place to start. We've got an article all about  brides' speeches , to ensure fantastic speeches on both ends. We've got a  podcast episode  on the same topic, as well - for when you're on the move. Finally, if you're sticking to the side of comedy, then we've got a great list of  funny readings  to ensure your guests are giggling away until the early hours of the morning. 

Written by Sasha Kirkham

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Everything to Know About Your Groom Speech: Tips, Advice, and Examples

Our expert says all you need is 15 minutes to prepare.

Photo by Chi-Chi Ari

In This Article

When it comes to wedding speeches , there's no rule that says the groom has to give one; generally speaking, the father of the bride, the best man, and the maid of honor are the only people required to grab the microphone, but there's even some flexibility here. As the groom, if you feel inclined to say a few words during the party, you absolutely should. This is a great chance for you to say thanks: You can thank your guests for being there, thank your family members for their financial and emotional support, thank your wedding vendors for bringing the day to life, and thank your partner for making you the happiest man in the room.

If you're feeling nervous about the idea of giving a speech, here's the good news: According to Pete Honsberger , the author of Wedding Toasts 101: The Guide to the Perfect Wedding Speech , preparing for your moment in the spotlight is surprisingly simple. What's more, he says, this is an opportunity you won't want to pass up.

Meet the Expert

Pete Honsberger is the author of Wedding Toasts 101: The Guide to the Perfect Wedding Speech , He has been a serial groomsman, speaker, and wedding toast advisor for most of his adult life. When it comes to wedding toasts, he's seen just about everything.

Here, Honsberger's top tips for writing and delivering an amazing wedding speech as the groom, including exactly what to say to get everyone clapping.

Groom's Wedding Speech Tips

If you're feeling like you can't possibly add another task to your pre-wedding to-do list, remember that writing your speech shouldn't take long at all. "You only need a few minutes to prepare and about two minutes to deliver your speech ," Honsberger says. "This is your chance to recognize the hard work that others (and you) have put into this amazing day, to thank everyone for giving you the gifts of their time (and money, haha!), and to add another twinkle in your love’s eyes. "

His best advice? Keep it brief, but make it count. "From my experience [giving a speech at my own wedding] and those that I’ve witnessed, it’s so worth it," says Honsberger.

How to Prepare for a Wedding Speech as the Groom

Honsberger says that preparing for your speech should take less than 15 minutes. That's right: In less than the time it takes to watch a rerun of your favorite television show, you'll be able to pen a thoughtful message for the big day. "Just be sure to have a tidbit for each and you’ll look like a pro. Most importantly, you’ll show the crowd, your family, and your partner that you genuinely appreciate them," he adds.

When should you give your speech? Honsberger says either right before or right after dinner is served. "You'll want to speak to your planner in advance about fitting your toast into the reception timeline , but once it's go-time, simply gesture for a microphone and ask for the guests’ attention," he explains.

Groom Speech Template

To begin, simply prepare these five steps.

Step 1: Give Thanks 

In today's modern world, most of your wedding guests are traveling to be part of the big day. "And regardless of wedding size, you’ve had people traveling distances and giving their time to be in attendance," says Honsberger. "Most (and hopefully all) have brought you gifts , many of the pieces of green paper that will serve you very well as you start your new life. And even more than that, they deemed you important enough to spend a day of their lives participating in your celebration." That's why it's so important to take a moment and thank your guests. After all, regardless of how big or small your wedding is, there's a good chance you won't be able to spend quality time with each guest, which means you likely won't be able to thank everyone for being there.

At a loss for what to say? Honsberger suggests: "The only thing I want to say is wow. People have told me this would be the best day of my life, and I can honestly say it’s true, because of all of you (pointing at the crowd), and especially you (pointing at your partner). I cannot thank you all enough for being here."

Step 2: Give One Compliment to Your Partner

Your wedding day is about the two of you coming together, so you'd be remiss not to say something sweet about the person who just married you. "Cue up a classy and perhaps playful compliment about their dress or tux, the work they did to make the day possible, their patience in dealing with you, their resilience in wedding planning while you were out of town on a business trip, or simply their unwavering love throughout a challenging process," says Honsberger. "Tell them this publicly. You only need one or two lines to share your appreciation and to make their eyes sparkle and their face blush with slightly embarrassed happiness. "

An option he likes? “[Name of your partner], I’ll never forget seeing you walk down the aisle today. You are beautiful in more ways than I can count.” As a funny alternative, he also suggests: “[Name of your partner], you must be a parking ticket because you have fine written all over you right now!” 

Step 3: Recall One Memory 

"You don’t have a lot of time for this, so pick out one noteworthy anecdote or short memory from your relationship, from the wedding planning process , or from your interactions with their family and friends," says Honsberger. "Share your most compelling and enthusiastic version of that story and you’ll delight the whole crowd." A good option, according to the pro, would be something like: “When [name of partner] and I first met, we talked for hours until our friends all wanted to leave. I started to panic since I didn’t want to stop getting to know them. So I suggested we keep the party going by getting some pizza while everyone else went home. We’re only here tonight because my [husband or wife] likes pizza!”

Step 4: Share One Reception Comment 

Whether it’s about the dinner being currently served, the signature cocktail available at the bar, the DJ/band, or the overall atmosphere in the reception space, pull out one comment to share aloud related to the evening’s experience. "The purpose of this is to connect the whole room with your vision for the night," says Honsberger. "If you want the dance floor absolutely packed, speak it into existence. If you have a specially requested song you want to tease, mention it here."

Step 5: Give Thanks Again

Before concluding your speech, give one more round of thanks for everyone involved. Anyone you missed on the first pass—your families, any special friends, and especially your wedding vendors—should be noted here. Then, ask everyone to raise a toast to your partner, your families, the friends in attendance, and the hardworking staff working to bring the day to life.  

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It's one of the most daunting jobs for the groom (apart from the proposal, of course!), but with a little advice and prep, the groom's speech doesn't need to be stressful! Here's how to write the perfect groom's speech...

Strike the right tone

Unlike the best man's speech, the groom's speech should be a balance of funny stories and jokes, and heartfelt moments and sincere thanks. This can be a hard balance to achieve, but the jokes keep everything a little more lighthearted, rather than a list of formal thank yous. It doesn't have to be laugh-a-minute, but some funny moments will keep people engaged and put everyone at ease. If you're struggling, think of some funny stories from your relationship; did the proposal go to plan? What quirky habits do you love about your other half? What's the funniest thing she's ever done? Try to keep things personal and avoid cut-and-paste lines from the internet. 

Thank the right people

A lot of the groom's speech involves thanking people, and this is a non-negotiable when it comes to proper wedding etiquette. The people you should thank include: the guests for attending, both sets of parents, your father-in-law for his speech, the best man for your stag do, and the bridesmaids for their support of the bride. Although some couples like to give out thank you gifts during the groom's speech, we recommend leaving this for another time, as it can slow down proceedings and cause your guests to get bored. 

Focus on your partner

After the thank yous, the main focus of the speech should be your new wife. If you're not a naturally romantic person, or aren't used to professing your love for them, then this can be a tricky subject to approach, but the key is to keep it heartfelt and sincere. Think about how your life has changed for the better since you met her, when you first realised you wanted to marry her, and what traits you hope any future children would inherit from her. You can make a couple of light-hearted jokes, but don't turn it into a roast - this should be a genuine moment of appreciation for your partner. Don't forget to tell her how beautiful she looks, either!

Stick to a structure

The worst speeches lack structure, and bounce around all over the place. A good starting point to to split your speech into two halves - in the first half, do the traditional thanks, finishing with thanking your new wife for agreeing to marry you and for helping to plan a fantastic wedding. You can then move on to the part of the speech where you talk about your relationship and compliment the bride, before finishing with your final toast to your new wife and throwing in a one-liner to reference the best man's speech. Traditionally the groom's speech finishes with a toast to the bridesmaids, but we think it works better to toast them earlier in the speech, during the thanks. 

Talk for too long

There's nothing worse than a speech that runs too long. You want it to be long enough to get in all the thanks, while not rambling for hours, so we recommend that you keep your speech to about 10 minutes long. Practice makes perfect - you should read your speech aloud a few times to check the flow and timings, remembering to leave gaps for laugher. 

Leave it until the last minute

Whatever you do, DON'T write your speech the night before the wedding. The earlier you work on it, the more prepared you'll feel on the day - plus, if you start thinking about it early, then you won't be struggling to come up with ideas for anecdotes or jokes when your mind has gone blank with pre-wedding nerves. It's always clear when a speech has been hurriedly written, so show your guests and your other half that you've put some thought into it. 

Try to outdo the best man

Remember that you're writing a speech, not a stand-up comedy routine. If you're a natural clown and have a reputation for being funny, then this can sometimes be a hard temptation to resist, but bear in mind that you still have to thank everyone and talk about your love for your new wife, so trying too hard to be funny can result in tonal whiplash. 

Be afraid to get a second opinion

Your speech doesn't have to be a secret. We recommend having another pair of eyes look over the speech for you, whether this is the maid of honour, your best man, your parents or even the bride herself if you need reassurance. They can help you practice and give you ideas or suggestions if you're stuck. 

Looking for more advice? Take a look at our Groom section !

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About the author

Alison Hargreaves

Guides for Brides founder and wedding venue expert, Alison has been advising brides and grooms for more than 30 years. She has an unrivalled knowledge of the British wedding industry and frequently appears on podcasts and expert panels. She regularly attends and speaks at international wedding conferences to keep the UK at the forefront of wedding planning trends.

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Easy, peasy: How to write a groom's wedding speech

Easy Weddings

For those grooms fretting about writing their wedding speeches, don’t. Believe it or not, there’s nothing to fear.

Your groom’s speech is actually quite an easy task, after all, the crowd will be on your side; your bride is definitely going to back you and, well, you’re the groom, so you can’t really put a foot wrong on your wedding day, can you?

To start with, there are really only two things you need to do in your groom’s speech: thank people and talk about your new bride (and your new life). Of course, peppering your speech with jokes is a bonus that always ties the whole thing together nicely.

Follow this basic formula and you really can’t go wrong. Add a dollop of creativity, a smattering of good humour and a little imagination – and expect a rousing ovation.

Thanking people Thanking people is easy – and the right thing to do. Weddings are never the result of just one or two people’s efforts. Tally up the names of the people who’ve contributed to your big day and thank them for their contributions.

Of course, your thanks should extend to the people in your life who’ve helped you and your new partner over the years too, people such as parents, siblings and dear friends etc.

Don’t just say ‘Thank You’ and list the people who’ve helped. You can make this portion of your speech a little more entertaining by giving a short one-line story about each individual or discussing their contribution and how much it helped the two of you in the run-up to your wedding day.

Thank as many people individually as you need to but try not to make this part go so long that it starts to become uncomfortable.

Regardless of who you thank, don’t forget to thank your new bride. Thanking the bride is, typically, the climax of a groom’s speech and the point you make your wedding toast, so build up to it.

When you thank your bride, obviously do more than just say ‘Thank You’. Weave in a lovely story or two and express your feelings for her at this pivotal moment in your life.

Talking about your bride Whether you join this portion of your speech with thanking your bride, the best way to figure out what you want to say is simply to jot down the first few thoughts that come to mind.

It sounds corny but speak from your heart. Don’t try to be overly romantic or to steal lines from songs or movies. Just write down your initial thoughts and it will start to take shape.

Once you have your basic thoughts down, start editing it.

Read it back to yourself out loud and you’ll start to remember things, moments, quotes etc. Avoid too many inside references as most of your guests won’t understand them, but unless you’re dead against public declarations of affection, just ensure your words express how much you love her. It really is that simple.

The groom’s wedding speech doesn’t need to comprise of Shakespearean prose or grandiose declaration of your affections. While this is nice if you can pull it off, your speech just needs to be simple and sincere.

If you’re still stuck, consider incorporating the following tid bids:

– Talk about how you first met. – Mention the little things that you think about when you think of her. – Bring up funny or sentimental stories about events that occurred early in your relationship, particularly if they are amusing.

Making jokes Don’t worry too much about this one if it doesn’t come naturally. Remember the audience is already on your side, so if you don’t consider yourself someone who can ‘do funny’, you don’t need to do it.

If you are someone who can ‘do funny,’ keep it simple and, particularly if parents or children are present, try to keep it clean. Of course, you know your audience best and how far you can push it, but while your mates might find the odd rude joke hilarious, the bride’s side, especially your new parents-in-law, may not.

The best way to write a successful groom’s wedding speech really is to just relax and let it flow naturally. Speak the truth and speak from your heart and you can’t go wrong.

Nobody is going to make fun of you and nobody is going to think badly of you.

You and your bride are the stars of your wedding day  – and everybody is there to celebrate it with you, not judge you on your public speaking skills!

Need some inspiration? Check out this fantastic groom’s wedding speech which was sung!

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The ultimate groom speech guide

The most important speech you’ll ever make.

The Groom Speech is a really busy speech. There are a lot of bases to hit – you’ve got all the acknowledgements, thanks and tributes, and if you’re not careful it can easily unravel into one long procession of thanking people, and several hours of your life you’ll never get back. So, things to remember;

It’s an amazing opportunity to say lovely things about people who are, or have been, important in your life, and you really need to make the most of it, because whilst it’s 10 minutes or so on the day, it’s something that will stick with you for the rest of your days, and so getting it right is very important.

You need to make all those thanks, acknowledgements and welcomes, in the most creative and entertaining way possible, and the magic ingredient is humour. If you can make people laugh in an original and personal way, they will love you for it and listen to everything you’ve got to say, and it acts as a perfect balance for some of the more profound things you might like to say.

On this page I’ve written out pretty much every idea, hints and tips that you’re ever going to need to write a really great groom speech.

Quick Links

Opening lines.

• Special Thanks

Absent Friends

Groom's parents.

• Bride's Parents
• Bridesmaids

Closing Lines

• Divorce Parents
• Marrying Across Nations

The devil is in the details

• Lead the Way
• Stag Weekend

Some really bad ideas

How to write a great groom speech.

Here’s a short video with all my hints and tips for writing a great groom speech. I’ve expanded on those thoughts and ideas on this page to give you the complete guide to writing your own.

This is very straightforward. I am not a fan of clichés in wedding speeches and avoid them as much as possible, with one notable exception, and that’s the opening lines of the groom speech. There really is no better way to kick off the speech and to get people cheering from the beginning, than to welcome everyone on behalf of ‘my wife and I’. It works every single time, and anyone looking to better it, really is trying too hard to be different, sometimes, and only very rarely, the dusty old wedding clichés get it spot on.

“Good afternoon everyone…on behalf of my wife and I…thanks you all so much for being here with us, and making to day today even more special….even the best man Dave”

“Good evening ladies and gentlemen, it is so wonderful to have you all here with us today, it really does mean a great deal to us both…I’m just glad that the best man Dave made it here in one piece…because the last thing I heard his full time carers weren’t going to release him”

The structure of a groom speech is really important, because without a clear framework, it can all too soon become a rambling mess. Where people usually go wrong is to keep flitting back and forwards with the same ideas – once you’ve mentioned someone, then you should really keep moving on to different areas. Don’t forget, you’ve only got limited time up there before you out stay your welcome.

  The structure can be very basic. The beginning of the speech should of course, be the welcome, and then you can include thanks to anyone that’s really helped out. Avoid going straight into talking about your bride, as in my opinion and experience, the speech should always build towards her part in the latter stages. Once you’ve got the ‘admin’ bits of the speech covered, you can then include a toast to those no longer with us.

That brings us to the next part of the structure which is all about the important people. This should include:

• both sets of parents.
• Bridesmaids.  

Things to remember:

• You need to keep this fairly punchy and resist going into too much detail, so make every sentence count. Yes, it would be great to talk about the ushers in detail, but you simply haven’t got the time.
• You need to come up with a way of summarising their impact on your life in a really creative, efficient, and preferably funny way.  
• This is also true of the best man. Many grooms write as much about their best man as they do their brand new wife, so check your world count and adjust accordingly.  
• There is usually an expectation from the bride to lay out in detail her various relationships with the bridesmaids. Just keep in mind that when it comes to a groom speech, less is always more.
• The final part of the structure is all about the bride, and what you simply have to focus on here, is avoiding the trap of saying the same thing in about 3 different ways. This should include how you met, first dates, and how your relationship developed, and what she means to you.

Special thanks

I like to include any thanking that needs to be done at the top of the speech and to get it out of the way as early as possible.  

• These thanks should only ever be reserved for friends and family that have really helped you out with the wedding plans and/or on the day.
• If possible group them together so you’re not reading out a list of individual thanks. If you do attempt to do this it’s going to be very tedious to listen to, lose all impact and really start to rack up the word count.  
• Whatever you do don’t be tempted to start thanking the venue, the caterers, photographer etc. They are all being paid handsomely, and really, they should be thanking you!

“I would like to thank Uncle Dave for coming all the way from Australia to the UK…which, let’s face it, is just like Australia but with slightly more swimming gold medals and slightly fewer blokes with non ironic mullets”

“I would really like to thank Mary for all her hard work making our cake, and for Cassie for making all the beautiful bridesmaids dresses, thanks to them you haven’t had to look at, or eat anything or look at anything that I’ve been responsible for which can only be a good thing. I have on the other hand been responsible for the free bar which I’m not saying is as good as a dress…but it’s a pretty close second.”

Some people go to extraordinary efforts and expense to be make it to weddings on the other side of the world, and quite rightly that should be publicly recognised in the groom speech. You should try to group these together as much as possible, so if you’ve got several different guests coming all the way from New York, put them under one umbrella and avoid thanking them individually. It’s also an opportunity to have some fun with where they’ve come from and where the wedding is, so a comparison between Los Angeles and Stevenage is ripe for the picking. Maybe as a pay off you could offer some way in which all that effort is going to be worthwhile such as the free bar/meal/watching you dance.

‘Don’t worry uncle Dave your carbon footprint all becomes worthwhile when you see me dancing later on”

“I would like to thank Dave for coming all the way from New York, not saying that Dave’s usually late but to get him here on time we actually told him the wedding was last week.”

There should only be one absent friends toast in the series of wedding speeches, and that’s usually taken care of by the groom. I like to put the absent friend’s toast towards the start of the speech because you want to end on a positive, celebratory note and not to bring things down.

It all depends on how close your relationship was with friends and family that have passed away, but obviously the closer you were, the more detail you’re going to put into this section. Parents who have died, obviously deserve a really special mention, and as difficult as it may be, you’re still going to have to treat this as an overview, and don’t be tempted to go into too much detail. The day is about one person: the bride, and you need to keep the spotlight on her – in other words don’t write a mini eulogy.

“Unfortunately, my father cannot be with us today. He was a much loved family man, son, uncle and friend to many, and he is missed greatly every day.”

This is pretty much the only time in your life that you’re going to stand up and tell a room full of people what amazing parents you have, and what a great job they’ve done, so don’t blow it.  

• You need to say as succinctly as possible how much you love and respect them for the years of sacrifice, hard work and generally putting up with you. Hopefully, you’re only going to get one stab at this, so chose your words carefully.
• Again, recounting specific stories here really eats into the words, and I would only ever use one if it had a killer punchline, and keep the whole thing down to a couple of punchy sentences.
• Talking about your parents is always fertile ground for having some fun, and will balance out the more heartfelt things you might like to say, so what is it that you have, or haven’t, inherited from your parents, and how can you make that funny?

“Dad, I would like to thank you for passing on your brains…well, I say thank you but as they only led me to becoming an estate agent, the juries out as to exactly how useful they really have been.”

“Dad, thanks for the hair genetics, you really shouldn’t have. I mean you REALLY shouldn’t have.”

The Bride's Parents

What you’re looking to do here is achieve roughly the same world count for both sets of parents. Focussing on one set of parents is the kind of thing that really sticks out in a speech, and usually grooms are guilty of giving their new in laws the big up, and skimping on their own mum and dad, so make sure it’s even.  

• Here you talk about how they’ve welcomed you into their family, and what it is about them that you love so much.  
• Try to draw parallels between the people they are, the way they raised their daughter and the person she is today.
• If there are specific times you’ve shared together that really mean something, then here’s where to add them in.
• If there’s any conflict between you and either your parents and/or the bride’s, then just glide over it. Don’t use the speech as attempt to point score, as it will only backfire.

The Best Man

I much prefer to handle the best man in the middle of the speech and avoid any clumsy handover at the end, because I believe the conclusion of your speech should be all about the bride. You need to say what a great friend/brother he has been and how much better your life has been for having him in it. This isn’t to be taken lightly, best men are appointed because of their close connection, and it’s the only time you’re ever going to get to let everyone know what he means to you, so make the most of it. Then you need to find a way of having some fun with his character and exploiting some of his weaknesses etc. that might suggest why his judgment could be poor.

“Jake is an estate agent, he’s paid to tell lies, so prepare yourself for some of his most creative work yet!”

“It should be noted that Dave is a Sunderland fan and so has never been amongst a crowd of happy people before and will probably react by creating controversy just s he can feel comfortable again.”

It’s groomsmen in the US and Australia, and ushers in Europe, but they all do the same job: support the groom in the run up to the wedding and ion the big day itself. When you’re thanking ushers keep it general, light and funny, and please don’t find things to say about each and every one, otherwise we’re going to be here all day. This should be fun as well, so if there’s a way of collectively having a laugh with them, exploit it. If you are going to mention the stag weekend or bachelor party, and it’s not something I’d recommend, then do it here, and go light on detail.

The Bridesmaids

It’s your job to talk about and toast the bridesmaids, not the best man. You need to mention them by name, and say what a great group of friends/sisters they have been and how great it is that you’ve got them in your life as well. You could thank them for organising the hen weekend, and say what a culturally enriching experience that was for all concerned. If this involves sisters you should say how amazing it is to now be related…even if you don’t mean it! The toast at the end is the only toast that the groom has to make.

‘Sarah, you are an amazing sister to Jane, and I am so happy that we are now officially family…you don’t have to agree but at least I come with access to free plant machinery hire”

“ladies you all look absolutely amazing, the facts that there are seven of you, and one looks quite grumpy is in no way going to lead me make any Disney comparisons”

This is the conclusion of the speech and in reality, should make up about 30% of the total word count. In these words, you need to describe how you met, what an incredible positive impact she’s had on your life, what her character is like, what she means to you and how you proposed.  

There is a lot to fit in there, and these words will stay with you for life, so make what you say really count. On the other hand, you can’t be too gushy, because that can come across as a little clumsy too. Think about what makes her character unique in your eyes; what is it about your wife that makes her the person you want to share your life with? In these words you could include some short anecdotes of the times you’ve shared so far that highlight her character, passions and unique sense of humour.  

This cannot be one huge chunk of emotion, there needs to be light and shade, funny ideas and observations about your new wife always go down well, and you should sprinkle these throughout. A common mistake is to repeat what you’ve already said but in a slightly different way. So, if you’ve said how much you love her in one way, then that’s enough.

The Final Toast – You’re looking to finish the speech in the most succinct way possible so don’t drag it out too long. I always avoid toasting the bride in isolation, it’s never felt right and I think in the celebration of marriage only toasting one half is a little weird. Instead, just make it a general health/happiness toast and you’re done.

The closing lines in a groom speech are a contentious issue, and I’ve always diverted from tradition. The usual status quo when it comes to the closing lines in a groom speech, is to then hand over to your best man, and this for me, is getting it completely wrong.

The best man should have already been mentioned, the last sentiment and words you should say has to be all about your bride, so why make the best man the final part? Forget handing over to him, and leave at a toast to the future. Everyone knows he’s on next, and many weddings have an MC to remind them.

Other things to consider

Delivering the speech, divorced parents.

This is a really common tricky area, and on that needs to be handled very carefully especially if new partners are involved. Take them one at a time and make sure you give each parent an equal measure. If their new partners have been around for a long time and have had a big impact on your life, then this needs to be recognised.

I usually start with the father, but with Jewish weddings you should probably start with the mother. What you’re looking to do is not give any opportunity for inequality, so don’t wax lyrical about your dad’s new partner and go light on your mum – the ramifications of this speech will last for many years. If either parent has a very new partner on the scene, then it’s best to just omit them altogether.

This is a hugely important ingredient to any really great groom speech. If you make people laugh, they’ll love you for it and listen to everything you’ve got to say, and it acts as the perfect balance to some of the more profound things you might like to say. This should be an entertaining speech with some pretty big messages wrapped up in it – the entertainment factor keeps people interested because there’s only so much emotion people can take.  

However, when it comes to jokes and comedy, I’m not talking about the scripted gags you’ll find on the internet, this is about working out how to make situations and events in your life funny when you’re introducing people and thanking them. Work out what it is that’s funny about your new father in law and have some fun with it. What is it that your new wife doesn’t like about you? How can you exploit your best man’s character flaws? There’s comedy gold out there, you just have to look for it!

Many grooms see the speech as an opportunity to dish out a little treat to people that have helped and who also mean a lot to them, unfortunately it’s one of the most counterproductive things you can do in a speech. Making the whole room twiddle their thumbs whilst various people make their way up to the top table to collect tankards etc. not only makes the speech unbearably long, but also it stops it dead in its tracks.

Forward momentum is the key to a great speech and the last thing you want to do is have to get everyone back on board again. I always recommend handing out the gifts in a private moment on the morning of the wedding.

Marrying across nations

So many weddings involve the coming together of different nationalities and cultures, which adds extra fun and excitement to an already amazing day, but it can also provide a few challenges when it comes language barriers. I have written for countless grooms in this position, and here’s what I recommend:

• Don’t attempt a dual translation of the speech in real time. It will unravel into a 40 minute marathon, and be extremely tedious for everyone.
• Make the majority of the speech in your native language, but have two well crafted pieces you say in your wife’s language to top and tail the speech.
• Many cultures do not embrace wedding speeches and whilst they’re happily curious, keep things on the shorter side – listening to something they don’t understand, their patience isn’t limitless.
• Make sure the other speakers have thought about the cultural divide. Help them avoid lengthy/inappropriate speeches.

The groom’s speech is the one that can run away with you and take on epic proportions if you’re not careful. The main problem is that most grooms want to include far too many people in the speech, and talk about them in far too much detail, and there simply isn’t time to do that.

You should really aim for a total word count of 1400 words, which on the day, when read at a steady pace, will come in at around the 10 minute mark, maybe a touch longer with stoppages. Speeches always take longer on the day than they do when you’re practicing at home, but if you’re looking at anything over 1500 words then it really is time to snip a few words here and there.

You’ve also got to bear in mind that if the Father of the bride has spoken for a while and you’re up for half an hour, guests will have sat through an hour of speeches before they get to the best man, and that’s way too long.

It may sound counterintuitive, but detail really kills a speech. That doesn’t mean your speech should be a bland overview, but rather save the detail for where it really matters.

• We really don’t need a full run down on the history and provenance of the venue.
• When talking about your parents boil down the childhood memories to the most efficient minimum.
• A groom talking about his new in-laws can often be swamped with detail, in a bid to underline his love and respect for them. Less is more.
• When mentioning the best man, remember this is not a history of your days together in real time.
• You can talk about each usher in detail, but if you do, be prepared to be already single by the time you’ve finished.
• Be efficient with how you include the bridesmaids – a powerful summary is worth much more than a series of stories.
• War and Peace as to how you met, the dating days and the proposal should be avoided.

Lead the way

Most grooms don’t make the most of their position, and that’s a shame because as the guy in charge you can do your bit to ensure that the speeches are a huge hit, and not several hours of your life you’ll never get back.

• The first thing to do is make all the other speakers agree to a maximum word count, the more speakers there are, the less each individual word count should be. With 3 speakers it should be 1400 each, and then with 4 speakers 1200 each, and so on.
• You should also make sure that you’re not doubling up on any content, so ensure that each of the toasts are given only once, and then if you’ve mentioned a close relative who has passed away the best man isn’t also planning some kind of tribute. Avoiding repetition is the aim of the game.

The maximum number of toasts I would have is 4. You need a general toast at the end, a toast to the bridesmaids, a toast to the parents, and also a toast to those no longer with us.

Of course, this is completely optional but ending your speech without a toast would be odd and also tradition states that you should toast the bridesmaids, so if you’re going to drop any of them it should be the parents and those departed. I would resist the urge to make more than four toasts, so forget the best man, ushers, helpers etc.

One of the pitfalls of a groom speech is having no balance to it because you’re far too keen to talk about your bride. Diving straight in to the subject of the bride might seem like a great idea, but the latter end of the speech and conclusion should all be about her, and so there’s no point in beginning the speech talking about her and then ending it talking about her. I have seen many groom speeches which are only made up of talking about the bride and how amazing she is. You can try it, but it won’t work.

Stag weekend

Ok, it was a great few days away in Magaluf, Berlin or Ljubljana, but those things are best shared with all the survivors at the pub rather than in the groom speech.

Of course, you can thank the best man for organising a great stag weekend, but don’t isolate the rest of the room by recounting stories that make 6 people laugh and the rest of the room scratching their heads. All too often it comes across as boorish and a little conceited, and so far, has never made it into any groom speech that I’ve ever written.

One of the most entertaining areas of wedding speeches is reading what other so-called experts suggest adding to, or indeed making, your speech. You may not have the greatest speech in the world, but as long as you avoid these appalling pieces of advice, seen elsewhere, you’ll at least scrape through with your dignity intact. So, never ever …

• Rap your speech…unless you want to live with permanent PTSD.
• Start your groom speech with the words ‘Once upon a time’. Yuk.
• Perform a ‘musical mash up’…this is a groom speech, not the Edinburgh Fringe.
• ‘Get other people to do it for you’ i.e. a video montage of friends saying their bit. It’s a groom speech. If you can’t be bothered to say it, call it off.
• ‘Turn your speech into an audience quiz’. Toe curling, and about as meaningful as Blankety Blank.
• Sing the speech…even if you’re that guy from One Direction, listening to an 8 minute song about parents, absent friends, best man, bridesmaids and bride…would be a legal form of torture.

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Groom Speech Writing Tips

Check out my guide with all the groom speech writing tips you’ll ever need.

So, you’ve proposed, and the ring is safely on your fiancée’s finger. Congratulations! You are now looking forward to the big day itself and, of course, your groom’s speech. Ah, yes… the speech. Unlike the words you carefully delivered – or stumbled over – during the proposal, your speech will be in front of all your friends and family. The pressure is understandable.

This is why I’ve written these groom speech tips. I’m a wedding speech writer who’s written hundreds of wedding speeches and I’d like to help you deliver an exceptional groom speech.

These groom speech tips will cover elements such as icebreakers, thanks, structure and toasts. So, let’s remove some of that apprehension you might be feeling and look at how to write a great groom speech.

Let's make it all right on the night with these Groom speech tips

• Groom Speech Icebreakers
• Who To Thank In Your Groom Speech
• Giving A Toast
• Including Your Bride In Your Groom Speech
• Showcasing Your Proposal In Your Speech
• Nailing Your Groom Speech Structure
• Things To Avoid In Your Groom Speech
• Additional Blogs
• Groom Speech Writing Packages

Groom Speech Ice Breaker Ideas

“Groom speech icebreakers” is a very popular Google search. And it’s obvious why. They set the tone of the speech, and with an early laugh, the guests relax and your confidence soars. So here are some tips on funny groom speech opening lines.

“Without all of you here today, it wouldn’t be the same…but it would be cheaper.”

The old favourites will always have their day in the sun. But rather than use a groom speech opening line that’s more ancient than the Pyramids, why not aim for something original? Here are some angles that might inspire you…

People’s journeys are fresh in their minds so you might want to make a reference to dodgy budget airlines or SatNavs breaking down in tears in trying to find the venue.

Famous wedding

If a celebrity wedding has taken place or is due to, you could draw some fun comparisons. Yours is better obviously…

Calendar clash

Does it clash with a big sporting event? Perhaps people will be checking the latest on their phones…so, if you hear cheers, it’s not because your speech is ending…

Can you link your job to a line? For example, if you’re a hairdresser, you’re used to having an audience that can’t escape for 20 minutes…

Want some funny opening groom speech jokes and lines delivered to your inbox? Why not check out my Groom speech icebreaker packages ?

Tips For Who To Thank In Your Grooms Speech

The thanks are a bit like wedding invitations. As soon as you go beyond close friends and family, you suddenly don’t know where to stop. It’s best to resist this temptation to include everyone. A long list of thanks is a chore to read and a bore to hear. Try to keep the list short, the lines snappy and have a light-hearted remark for each.

The key thanks are to your parents, parents-in-law and those with an important role such as the Best Man, Bridesmaids and Maid of Honour. Here are some examples:

A long list of thanks is a chore to read and a bore to hear. Try to keep the list short, the lines snappy and have a light-hearted remark for each.

The usual suspects

• Parents-in-law
• Ushers & Best Man
• Bridesmaids & Maid of Honour

The less usual suspects

• The staff at the venue
• Page boy & those who’ve done a reading
• The wedding planner
• The celebrant (if it’s a friend)

“And for supporting me – and putting up with me over the years – a massive thanks to my mum and dad.”

“Thanks to [PARENTS-IN-LAW] for welcoming me into their family so warmly. They clearly didn’t know what they were letting themselves in for!”

“And now my Best Man – I find myself in the odd position of thanking him before I hear what he has to say about me….”

Add a little humour to each thanks and it will make the world of difference to your groom speech.

How Best To Give Toast During The Groom Speech

A wedding toast is a few words where you wish people well, thank them or remember them. You then raise your glass and the guests do so too, all taking a sip to express agreement.

Who should I toast?

In a groom’s speech, it’s traditional to toast the bridesmaids at the end, but this is becoming less common. You might wish instead to toast your bride, your family or everyone for coming. One toast at the very end is standard. If you wish to do one or two more, try to do them nearer the beginning to give maximum effect to the final toast.

How many times?

I’ve seen some grooms wishing to toast 4 people or more. I’d strongly advise against this as each extra toast dilutes the effect. Moreover, the guests don’t want to feel they’re participating in an interactive show.

So, other than the bride or bridesmaids, who might a groom toast? Well, it could be to absent friends but check whether the Father of the Bride plans to do this. It could also be parents with some grooms opting to toast parents and parents-in-law in one: “To family!”

My advice with toasts? Less is more.

Ideas For Your Groom Speech To Include Your Bride

Your bride will obviously be the main focus of the speech. Yet how do you encapsulate her and your relationship in just a few minutes? Here are some potential things to cover. Each element has the potential for that winning combination in a groom speech – humour and heartfelt emotions.

How you met

Not everyone will know how you met your wife. Even if it seems fairly normal, such as meeting at work, you’d be surprised how that can be turned into a nice story. Did you have to keep it a secret? Did either of you actually hire the other?

Was one of you late, and is that still mentioned? What was the spark? Perhaps it was your shared sense of humour or tastes. Maybe you both ordered the same drink or meal or were you the opposites that instantly attracted? Did nerves quickly become a conversation that wouldn’t stop, and the staff thought they’d never go home?

Another angle is to describe your feelings when you first saw or spoke to your fiancée. It doesn’t need to be poetry. It can even be: “Wow!”

What you’ve learned about each other

Your groom’s speech is a chance to tell the world all about your fiancée’s qualities and talents. Try not to make it a list though. Give a little detail for each one. For example, if she plays an instrument, what’s the piece she plays that always amazes or moves you. If she’s super-kind, how does she show this? Perhaps it’s patiently listening to you recite your woes after work. Is her smile so radiant and calming it’s a miracle cure? With each of her qualities and talents, try to paint a little picture.

Silly habits either of you might have

Mention these and you’ll get laughter and a free pass to be a bit more sentimental later. Here are some examples…

Poor timekeeping – do you have to tell her the show starts 30 minutes before it actually does? Or are you the one that has to be dragged out of the house?

Hoarding – d oes your wardrobe resemble an Amazon warehouse? Does she laugh at all the old cables you keep “just in case”?

Unable to pass a particular type of shop – does she agree with the statement that there’s no such thing as too many handbags? Or is that you with gadgets or sports equipment?

Superstitious – do either of you believe in horoscopes or fate?

Obsessed with a band/TV show – can she quote Friends word for word? Or is it, worryingly, a true crime show?

Spreadsheet – could your life be described as excellent mainly because your wife organises it on Excel?

If you plan to speak for 7-8 minutes, it’s a good idea to include a couple of stories about your bride or you as a couple. Keep them fairly brief – one that can be told in one paragraph is ideal – two paragraphs at a maximum.

You might wish to include one from early in your relationship, such as how you met. Other areas include nights out, holidays, meeting your future parents-in-law or asking for permission to marry your fiancée. And, of course, there’s the proposal…

Top Tips To Showcase Your Proposal In Your Groom Speech

The proposal isn’t always needed in your groom’s speech. However, mentioning how you felt when you said the words – or how your fiancée reacted – can be a nice touch. If you want to include it, a proposal story naturally has the following elements:

• Did you manage to keep your plan secret?
• Where did it take place?
• What was the reaction when the ring was produced? A peal of laughter, a tsunami of tears?

A good place to include the proposal is nearer the end of the speech, after all your main stories about the bride. Your natural lead-in is then: this is why you wanted to make her your wife.

Hacks For A Perfectly Structured Groom Speech

You want your groom’s speech to be memorable. You want it to be special. However, don’t fall into the trap of assuming you need an elaborate structure to do this. A simple groom speech structure allows the listeners to know where they are in the speech. They can relax and focus on your carefully crafted lines. Here’s a classic structure you can use:

You can usually cover all of the above in seven to eight minutes. If you wish to tell more stories – or have longer thanks to make – then a longer speech might be needed. That said, I’d advise not going much longer than ten minutes.

• Icebreakers
• Welcome and thanks
• A lighter-hearted section about the bride – how you met; first impressions; stories about her or the two of you as a couple
• The proposal (if you wish to include this)
• A more heartfelt section about the bride
• A toast to end

Avoid These Things When Writing Your Grooms Speech

One of my main groom speech tips is: if in doubt, leave it out. Here are some examples of what to leave on the cutting room floor.

“And I’d also like to thank…”

Avoid reciting a stream of “thank you”s. You don’t want your speech to be remembered as the acceptance speech that went on and on.

The gifts that keep on giving…

Handing out gifts is surprisingly time-consuming and can turn your speech into an adult version of Santa’s Grotto. Keep this to a minimum or, better still, don’t do it during the speech at all.

Too much about the Best Man

I recommend poking some gentle fun at the Best Man before thanking him for his support and friendship. Choosing one simple foible can suffice, e.g., his timekeeping, his obsession with sport, etc. Joking about your fear about what he will say is also a traditional angle. However, don’t use this as an excuse to do a mini-Best Man’s speech. You’re not marrying him, after all.

“I love my wife. I really really really love my wife.”

Don’t go overboard with expressions of love. The more you use them, the less impact each one will have. Think of it as your joker. When used, it will have maximum effect.

Wonderful, brilliant, amazing, delightful

A groom speech with ten “wonderfuls” won’t sound wonderful. Use a variety of positive adjectives throughout your speech. If you’re struggling, don’t be scared to use an online thesaurus .

Check Out These Blogs below For More Groom Wedding Speech Tips

Essential groom speech tips a-z, serving up a great groom’s speech, stand and deliver: how to deliver a good speech, my groom speech writing packages.

If you’re still scratching your head on how to write a great groom speech, and are feeling a bit overwhelmed, I have the perfect groom speech writing packages and services for you.

Bespoke wedding speech

• from the opening welcomes and icebreaker to the final toast, I write you a speech from scratch. Jokes and heart-string-tugging lines written just for you

Groom speech edit

• if you’ve written a draft (or most of one) and want it to go to the next level, I can help. I can take a look at the flow, balance, and write new original lines and jokes. Not sure if you need help? Send your speech over for free feedback.

Groom speech icebreakers and tearjerkers

• A PDF of 60 gags and tear-jerkers for your groom's speech. 100% original material. Takes you from the opening funny lines to final toast.

Want to chat with Marc about your speech? Just click below...

The above icons on my Groom speech tips page were made by Freepik https://www.flaticon.com/

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The Groom’s Speech – What to Include?

Home » Blog » The Groom’s Speech – What to Include?

Our Useful Groom’s Speech Guide

The groom’s speech is an important part of a traditional wedding ceremony and one of the most eagerly anticipated moments of the day. It typically comes at the end of the wedding breakfast and is the transition from wedding formalities into more of a party atmosphere. Writing and giving a speech of this importance can be daunting. So here’s a useful groom’s speech guide detailing how long it should last and what to include.

Groom Speech Length – How Long is Too Long?

The Groom’s wedding speech is all about balance. You want it to be long enough to cover all the essentials, but short enough to keep people interested. Ideally, the groom’s speech shouldn’t last more than ten minutes. Guests will start to get bored and fidgety if you ramble on, so try to keep things short, sweet, and meaningful. You can find out exactly how long your speech is by practicing it and timing how long it takes you to say everything as you would on the big day. Remember, you don’t want to rush your words. Pause where necessary and leave time for sentimental coos and laughter.

Top tip: If you’re nervous about giving a speech and hate the thought of being in the spotlight for too long, keep things brief. Lead a toast to your partner and thank the wedding team before sitting down and enjoying the rest of the day. Another option could be to stand up as a couple. Making a joint speech will ease your nerves and give your wedding a modern twist. This is a great option if you’re both terrified of talking in front of an audience.

Groom Speech Structure

In a traditional wedding ceremony, the groom is usually in charge of thanking people and leading toasts. It’s a very important role and while the structure isn’t set in stone, a groom’s speech could go something like this.

• Thank the previous speech giver

The father of the bride (or someone chosen to fulfill this role) traditionally gives a speech before the groom. Therefore, the first thing a groom should do is thank the previous speech giver on behalf of himself and his new bride or husband.

• Thank the guests

The next thing to do is to thank all of your guests for coming. Some may have travelled far and wide and you could make a mention of this. Show your appreciation by listing the countries people have travelled from to lighten the mood and create a sense of unity. This might also be a good place to pop in memories of your travels as a couple. Perhaps you met your best man while backpacking and have remained in touch ever since. Or maybe you went to visit friends who moved abroad and now they’ve come to see you on your special day. Mentioning such moments will help people feel appreciated and loved.

• Thank the partner’s parents

As the groom, it’s expected for you to say a few words of thanks to your partner’s parents. Something along the lines of how well they’ve raised your partner will be great. And, if they’ve paid for or are hosting your wedding, it’s important to thank them for making your dream day come true. If your wedding breakfast is being held at their home or in a marquee in their garden – lucky you! Make sure you compliment the setting.

• Thank the groom’s parents

The groom’s parents also deserve a mention. Again, mention how supportive they have been (if that applies) and that you’re grateful to have their love. It’s all a bit soppy but that’s what weddings are for, right?

• Thank the best man

The next shout-out goes to the best man. Thank them for their help with the wedding and arranging your stag do if you had one. If you want to add a touch of appropriate humour, this is probably the moment. But keep things clean and inoffensive. Remember, even if you were dancing on tables until the early hours of the morning, your grandma probably won’t want to hear about it.

• Say thank you to other helpers

Next is your time to say thank you to anyone else who has played an important role in your wedding including ushers, witnesses, and anyone who gave readings.

• Thank the mothers of the bride and groom

As well as thanking both sets of parents, it’s also important to focus specifically on the mothers of the bride and groom (or of both partners). It’s a nice touch to present these special people with a gift, perhaps a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

• Thank the bridesmaids

The groom should pay special thanks to the bridesmaids and maybe even present them with a small wedding favour. They too could receive flowers or perhaps luxury sweet cones. An item of jewellery marking the big day is also an option.

• Thank your bride/partner

The speech should end with an elaborate thank you to your bride/partner. This is the perfect time to shower them with compliments before leading a toast to them. Ideally, this should be the most sentimental part of your speech and an amazing finale. It should make your partner feel like the most special person in the whole world so take time to craft something meaningful and deliver your speech with passion.

Groom Speech Examples

When it comes to writing your speech, it can be easy to get tongue-tied and not know what to say. Overthinking can lead to writer’s block so take your time to put your speech in order and familiarise yourself with the various thank you messages you’ll make.

Of course, adding a touch of personalisation to your groom’s wedding speech is a nice idea. While thanking mum and dad can be straightforward, you may wish to write something fancier and more meaningful when talking about your bride. So, think about:

• Where you first met. Do you have a funny first date story that you don’t mind sharing?
• What made you feel in love with them? How did you know they were ‘the one’? Perhaps your partner has a particular character trait you adore?
• What qualities do you admire about them the most?
• How have they made your life better? Can you share one of your funnies or happiest moments as a couple?
• If you’ve got kids, this is the perfect time to thank your partner for making you a dad and for being an amazing mum/parent.
• Your hopes and dreams for the future. Maybe you want to travel or maybe you want to become a parent for the first time or add to your family.

The best way to write a meaningful groom’s speech is to let your thoughts flow and write them down as you think. Let your mind wander and from there you can fine tune your favourite moments into a speech that’ll make your audience laugh and cry for all the right reasons. To help you out, you could also talk about your best memories with your other half before writing your speech. This will jog your memory and help you focus on the most important moments shared as a couple.

How to Present Your Groom’s Speech

If you’ve invited lots of guests and are having your wedding breakfast in a huge room, it might be a good idea to organise a microphone for the speeches as this will prevent you from straining your voice. If your wedding is a smaller affair, you’ll be fine just talking to your audience in your regular voice. Be sure to:

• Speak slowly and clearly – don’t rush your words out of nerves as if people can’t hear the punch lines to your jokes or your sentimental words, you won’t get the reactions you hope for. And this can be a little bit embarrassing.
• Stand with confidence. You’ve just married the love of your life and are in a room of people who love you (hopefully). So, you’ve every reason to stand tall and proud.
• Avoid drinking too much before your speech. Sometimes, grooms get so nervous that they have one too many alcoholic drinks before their moment. This can lead to embarrassing slurs or forgetting parts of the speech. Save the drinks for the disco.
• Learn your words. But if you need a piece of paper with speech prompts written down, don’t give yourself a hard time. Just make sure you keep your speech on you or locate it before everyone sits down to eat. After all, you don’t want to be fumbling around for it during the father of the bride’s moment.

The Dos and Don’ts of a Groom’s Speech

As with all formalities there are things you should do and things you shouldn’t. We’ve focussed on the overall structure of a groom’s speech but what are the dos and don’ts of this particular event? Here are some things to consider.

• Be positive, polite and upbeat. Even if you’ve had pre-wedding scuffles or don’t have the best relationship with in-laws, this isn’t the time to feel angry or upset. Push your differences to one side and focus on what should be the happiest time of your life.
• Personalise your speech with happy stories. Avoid anything that might cause offense to family or friends and don’t bring up exes or past marriages. This is about the two of you as a newly married couple.
• Don’t talk about anything intimate or overly personal. Some guests might feel embarrassed by certain topics, so avoid crude subject matters.

Should I Add Humour to my Speech?

Humour is fine so long as it’s not rude or offensive. Some one-liners to consider include:

• “It wouldn’t be the same without all you here… it would be much cheaper for a start.”
• “You deserve the best in life. I’m sorry you’ve ended up with me but it’s a done deal now.”
• “I know what you’re thinking, XXX deserves an amazingly funny and intelligent husband. Good job for me she never found one.”
• “My dad has always given me words of wisdom. He said to me, ‘Son, remember today for the rest of your life. It’s the happiest you’ll ever be.’ Such wise words to hear on the morning of my stag do.”

Of course. how funny or cheeky you are during your speech will very much depend on your character, personality and relationship with family members. If you’re renowned for always laughing and joking, then this kind of humour won’t come as a surprise. In fact, it’s likely to be expected. If you’re more of a serious guy, then too many jokes might seem a little odd. So go with your gut and do what you feel most comfortable doing. Don’t force anything and if you have any doubts about what you’ve written, don’t include it. As a rule, never be derogatory to any of the guests and especially not your bride. Even if you think it’s in good humour it may come across wrong or be interpreted in a different way by others. Stay clear of anything that’s overly controversial.

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By Adama Mhone-Steeple

12th February 2021

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The Ultimate Guide to Groom Wedding Speeches: 25+ Examples,Jokes and quotes for Inspiration

Of all the speeches given at a wedding, the groom's speech is arguably the most anticipated. It's a chance for the groom to express his love and gratitude to his new spouse, as well as thank those who made the day possible. But crafting a memorable groom wedding speech can be a daunting task. That's why we've created this complete guide to help you through the process. In this post, we'll provide you with expert tips, ideas, and real-life examples to inspire your own speech. Whether you're a seasoned public speaker or this is your first time addressing a crowd, this guide will help you deliver a heartfelt and memorable groom wedding speech. So, let's get started!

Preparing for the Groom Wedding Speech

Structure of a groom wedding speech, dos and don'ts of a groom wedding speech, best examples of groom wedding speech, groom speech jokes, groom speech quotes.

Preparing for a groom wedding speech involves three key steps: brainstorming, writing the speech, and practicing the speech.

• Brainstorming. The first step is to brainstorm some ideas. Think about what you want to say and how you want to say it. Consider your relationship with your bride, your family and friends, and the wedding day itself. Jot down some notes and ideas that come to mind.
• Writing the Speech. Once you have some ideas, it's time to write the speech. Begin by creating an outline that includes the key points you want to cover. Use the outline to structure your speech and ensure that you cover everything you want to say. Remember to keep it concise, heartfelt, and engaging.
• Practicing the Speech. The final step is to practice the speech. Practice in front of a mirror, or better yet, in front of a trusted friend or family member. This will help you become more comfortable and confident with the speech. Also, pay attention to your timing and delivery. Practice speaking slowly and clearly, and make sure your speech doesn't drag on too long.

Now let's take a closer look at the structure of a groom wedding speech. Here are the key elements that you should include in your speech:

• Opening Lines.  Start with a warm welcome to all the guests and thank them for joining you on this special day. This will set the tone for your speech and make the guests feel appreciated.
• Thanking the Guests.  Next, express your gratitude to the guests for being a part of your wedding day. This can be a simple but heartfelt thank you for their presence and support.
• Thanking the Family.  Thank your family members for their love and support. This is a good opportunity to acknowledge your parents and any siblings or other family members who played a significant role in your life.
• Acknowledging the Bride.  Acknowledge your new bride and express your love and appreciation for her. This is the most important part of your speech and should be the main focus. Share a personal story or a special memory that you have shared together. This will show the guests the depth of your love and affection for your bride.
• Sharing Personal Stories.  Share some personal stories about your relationship with your bride. This can be funny or touching, but make sure it is appropriate for the occasion. This will help to make your speech more memorable and engaging for the guests.
• Expressing Gratitude.  Express gratitude to anyone who played a role in making the wedding day special. This can include the wedding planner, caterer, florist, or anyone else who helped to make the day a success.
• Closing Lines.  Finally, close your speech by thanking the guests once again and expressing your excitement for the future. This is a good opportunity to toast to your new life together as a married couple.

There are some dos and don'ts that you should keep in mind when preparing for your groom wedding speech. Here are some key points to consider:

• Be sincere and speak from the heart.
• Make eye contact with the guests to help connect with them.
• Use appropriate humor to make your speech engaging and enjoyable.
• Keep your speech concise and to the point.
• Drink too much before your speech as it may lead to slurred words or inappropriate behavior.
• Use offensive language or jokes that may offend some guests.
• Share embarrassing stories that may embarrass your bride or anyone else.
• Make your speech too long as guests may lose interest.

1. "Dear friends and family, it is an honor to stand before you today as the luckiest man in the world. I want to take a moment to thank all of you for being here to celebrate with us. Your love, support, and presence mean the world to us, and we are so grateful to have you in our lives. And speaking of special, let me tell you a little bit about my bride. [Bride's name], you are the love of my life, my best friend, and my partner in all of life's adventures. From the moment I met you, I knew you were the one for me. You light up my world, and I am forever grateful for the day you walked into my life.I remember the first time I saw you, [Bride's name], it was like time stood still. Your beauty, grace, and kind heart left me speechless. And as we got to know each other, I fell more deeply in love with you with each passing day. From our first date to our first kiss, from our travels around the world to the quiet moments we share at home, every moment with you is a treasure.Today marks the beginning of our new journey together, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds. Thank you all for being here to celebrate with us. Cheers to love, happiness, and a lifetime of unforgettable memories." 2. "Ladies and gentlemen, today is the happiest day of my life. I am standing here as the luckiest man in the world, grateful for the opportunity to marry my soulmate, [Bride's name]. This is a day we will cherish forever, and I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has made it possible.To our family and friends, thank you for your love, support, and presence. Your kindness and generosity mean the world to us, and we are so grateful to have you in our lives. Today is not just about us, it's about all of us, coming together to celebrate love, happiness, and unity. And speaking of love, let me tell you a little bit about my bride. [Bride's name], you are my soulmate, my best friend, and my partner in all things. I cannot imagine my life without you, and I am grateful every day for the love you bring into my world. You inspire me to be a better person, and I am honored to stand here today as your husband.I remember the day we met like it was yesterday. I was drawn to your beauty and your infectious smile. As we got to know each other, I realized that there was so much more to you than just your looks. You are kind, smart, and funny, and I am grateful every day that I get to call you mine. From the first time we said 'I love you' to the moment I proposed, every moment with you has been a blessing.Today marks the beginning of our new journey together, and I vow to love, honor, and cherish her for all eternity. Thank you all for being here to celebrate with us. Let's raise a glass to love, happiness, and a lifetime of unforgettable memories." 3. "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I want to start by thanking you all for being here today to celebrate with us. And let me just say, [Bride's name], you look absolutely stunning. Seriously though, thank you all for coming today. We couldn't have done this without you. And to our parents, thank you for all the love, support, and guidance you've given us throughout our lives. You've helped shape us into the people we are today, and we're so grateful for everything you've done.Now, let's talk about the real star of the show - my amazing bride, [Bride's name]. You make me laugh, you make me smile, and you make me happier than I ever thought possible. I'm pretty sure you're the reason why they invented the word 'awesome'. You are my rock, my soulmate, and my everything.We've had some incredible adventures together, from hiking through the mountains to exploring new cities. But some of my favorite memories are the small moments we share at home, like cuddling up on the couch to watch our favorite shows or cooking dinner together. I'm grateful for every moment we spend together, and I'm excited to spend the rest of my life making more memories with you.I just want to say how grateful I am to be marrying [Bride's name]. She is the love of my life, my partner in crime, and my best friend. Together, we're going to conquer the world. So let's raise a glass to love, laughter, and happily ever after. Cheers!" 4. "Dear friends and family, I stand before you today with a heart full of love and gratitude. Today is a special day.I want to take a moment to thank our families for their unwavering support and love. Mom and Dad, thank you for raising me to be the man I am today, and for always being there for me. [Bride's parents], thank you for welcoming me into your family and for raising such an amazing daughter. And to our friends and loved ones, thank you for being here today to celebrate with us. Your love and support mean the world to us. And as I look at my beautiful bride, I know that I've found my forever. [Bride's name], you are the most amazing person I've ever met, and I feel so lucky to call you my wife. You make me a better person every single day, and I promise to love and cherish you for the rest of my life.As we start this new chapter of our lives together, I vow to always be there for you, to support you, and to love you with all my heart. You are my best friend, my soulmate, and my everything. I can't wait to see what the future holds for us. Thank you all for being here to celebrate with us. Let's raise a glass to love, happiness, and forever. Cheers." 5. "Dear family and friends, I feel incredibly lucky to be standing here today as a married man. It's a surreal feeling, knowing that I have found my soulmate and partner for life. Thank you all for joining us in this celebration.I would like to take a moment to thank our parents for their endless love and support. We would not be the people we are today without you. To our friends and family, thank you for traveling from near and far to be here with us. Your presence means the world to us.To my beautiful bride, I can't even put into words how much you mean to me. You are my best friend, my partner, my confidante, and my soulmate. I love you more than words can express, and I'm grateful every day to wake up next to you. You make me a better man, and I promise to spend the rest of my life making you happy.As we start this new chapter in our lives together, I promise to always love, cherish, and support you. I'm excited to see what the future holds for us, and I can't wait to grow old with you. Thank you again to everyone who came out to celebrate with us today. Let's raise a glass to love, laughter, and happily ever after."

• "I'm honored to be here today as the groom. And just between us, I'm pretty sure I won the 'best looking' contest between the bride and I. (pause for laughter)
• "I've heard that a good marriage is like a casserole. It takes both ingredients to make it work, and sometimes it's a little messy, but it's always worth it in the end."
• "As I was writing this speech, I asked my wife what she wanted me to say. She replied, 'just make sure you say I'm always right.' So, there you have it, folks. My wife is always right."
• "I've learned that the key to a successful marriage is to always be honest with your partner. For example, when my wife asks if she looks fat in a dress, I always say, 'of course not, honey, you look beautiful.' (pause for laughter)
• "I never believed in love at first sight, until I met my wife. Of course, she thought I was the waiter when we first met, but that's a story for another time."
• "I want to thank my in-laws for accepting me into their family. I promise to always treat your daughter with love and respect, and to never borrow money from you."
• "I used to think that marriage was like a box of chocolates - you never know what you're going to get. But now I realize that marriage is more like a pizza. Even when it's bad, it's still pretty good." (pause for laughter)
• "I've been told that marriage is a lot like a deck of cards. In the beginning, all you need is two hearts and a diamond. But by the end, you're hoping for a club and a spade." (pause for laughter)
• "I never thought I'd be standing here as a married man. I always assumed I'd be the one in the back of the room, catching the bouquet."
• "I want to thank my groomsmen for their support and friendship over the years. You guys are like the brothers I never wanted, but now can't live without."
• "I was a little nervous about giving this speech, but then I remembered that my wife promised not to correct my grammar in public anymore. So, I'm pretty much invincible up here."
• "In closing, I just want to say how grateful I am to have found my soulmate in [bride's name]. She's beautiful, intelligent, and always keeps me on my toes. And now that we're married, I look forward to spending the rest of my life with her, and annoying her in all the best ways possible."
• "Love doesn't make the world go 'round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile."
• "A happy marriage is a long conversation which always seems too short."
• "The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds."
• "Marriage is a journey that begins in forever and ends in never."
• "A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person."
• "I choose you. And I'll choose you over and over and over. Without pause, without a doubt, in a heartbeat. I'll keep choosing you."
• "Love is not just looking at each other, it's looking in the same direction."
• 8. "Marriage is not about finding a person you can live with, it's about finding the person you can't live without."
• "A happy marriage is a union of two good forgivers."
• "A marriage is not a noun; it's a verb. It isn't something you get. It's the way you love your partner every day."
• "Marriage is not a ritual or an end. It is a long, intricate, intimate dance together and nothing matters more than your own sense of balance and your choice of partner."
• "Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage."

Your groom wedding speech is an important part of your wedding day. It's a chance for you to express your love and appreciation for your partner, and to thank your family and friends for being a part of your special day. With the help of this complete guide to groom wedding speeches, you should now have all the information you need to prepare and deliver an amazing speech.

Remember to take your time when preparing your speech, and to practice it as much as possible. Try to incorporate personal stories and anecdotes to make your speech more meaningful and memorable. And don't forget to include some jokes and quotes to lighten the mood and show your personality.

Lastly, remember that your wedding day is a celebration of your love and commitment to each other. Don't stress too much about your speech – just speak from the heart and enjoy the moment. Congratulations on your wedding day, and good luck with your speech!

If you're in need of more examples of wedding speeches, the following content may be helpful to you.

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Crafting the Perfect Groom Speech: Tips, Examples, and Inspiration

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Everyone eagerly awaits the groom’s speech at the wedding, making it crucial. While celebrating love is easy, preparing a speech often isn’t, with grooms often procrastinating out of panic. Whether shy or pressed for time, we’ve got you covered. See our Post for the best groom wedding speeches tips and ideas ever.

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Groom Speech Examples

In the groom’s speech at a wedding, he blends humor and sincerity, thanking everyone, including those absent. Special mentions go to his new father-in-law, bridesmaids, maid of honor, bride’s mother, and his groomsmen, especially the best man. He concludes with a heartfelt toast to his beloved, expressing deep love, gratitude, and commitment.

My speech today will be like a mini-skirt. Long enough to cover the essentials and short enough to hold your attention. Apparently, it’s my job to do all the thank you’s, so on behalf of my lovely new wife and I, the biggest thank-you goes to all of you for coming. The day would not have been the same without you and neither would my bank balance! But on a serious note, it is lovely to see so many of you here. Particularly those of you who have had to travel many miles. Amy and I would like to thank our parents for all the love and support both emotional and financial they have given us. And a special thank-you to Vanessa who is responsible for making our fantastic wedding cake. Sharon, Sue, Vanessa, Ray, Steve We’d also like to thank Darren for his services as the best man today and of course our ushers. You’ve all done a grand job. Darren, Mark, Jon, Jim, Adam That brings me onto our bridesmaids. Thank you all for your help and for being there for Amy through the ups and downs of wedding planning! I’m sure everyone will agree that you all look stunning today. Nina, Laura, Charlotte, Kirsty, Fiona, Lillie, Jordan, and Emily. Finally, I would personally like to thank my lovely wife, Amy, for having me as her husband! I read somewhere that “You don’t marry the person you can live with, you marry the person you cannot live without”. Well, we’ve lived together for five years and I know I’ve married the right person. I’m so glad I can at last call you my wife. Now all that remains is for me to say please enjoy the rest of the day…… and mine’s a foster!

………..Good evening ladies, gentlemen, family, and friends. First of all, I must say a big “thank you” to Colin for his kind words. His speech was so good, he’s going to do mine for me too. As many of you will know, I am of the shy retiring type that likes to keep quiet and keep my opinions to myself, therefore you can understand my nervousness at standing up here in front of all of you making a speech. And as many of you will also know, I’m also a compulsive liar, but I am still nervous, that bit is true. I have been fearful of this bit for weeks, and as you can imagine, this isn’t the first time today I have arisen from a warm seat with a piece of paper in my hand. I read while researching wedding speeches that a good speech has a good beginning and a good ending. But the best speech of all is one that keeps these close together. So I will try and keep this as short as possible and will try my best not to do a “Gwinny” with my list of thanks. Firstly I would like to thank any Rangers fans for still being here and not walking out at 4.30 as usual. Pause for cheers But then again, I don’t think we’re friends with any of them anyway. I would like to thank my parents, Ian and Margaret for all the help they have given me over the years, if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be here now. So, Helen, if it doesn’t work out you know who to blame. I would also like to thank Helen’s parents, Colin and Sandra, for making me feel like the son they never wanted, sorry the son they never had, right from day 2. Day 1 was a bit rough, but hey, they’re over it now……….

………….On a serious note, I’d firstly like to say a big thank you to my new Dad Dave. I’m proud to be his son-in-law and hope I can live up to his expectations, which should be easy, compared to his other son Mick! But let us not take this Father, Son thing too seriously, as I’m not into 10-mile runs before breakfast like you were in the Paras. Both Sharon and I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone for coming here today and sharing this special occasion with us. Especially those who brought expensive presents. Its much appreciated! Thank you to Edwin and Elsa, Margaret and Linda and many others who have traveled a long way to be here. It’s certainly a long way from Brighouse! We hope you all enjoy the day, have fun, relax and be merry…………….

Groom Rehearsal Dinner Speech

Congratulations on your upcoming groom speech at the wedding rehearsal dinner! Here are three tips to help you craft a memorable and meaningful speech:

• Keep it concise: Aim for a short and sweet groom speech. Keep it under five minutes to engage your guests without losing their attention.
• Personalize it: Share personal stories and anecdotes about how you met, what you love about your fiancé, and what makes your relationship special. Don’t be afraid to show your emotions.
• Thank your guests: Express your gratitude to those who supported you during the wedding planning. Thank your guests for being a part of your special day.

Here’s an example of a groom rehearsal dinner speech that incorporates these three tips:

Good evening everyone, and thank you for joining us on this special night. I want to start by thanking our parents, who have been there for us every step of the way. Your love and support mean the world to us. I also want to thank our friends and family who have traveled from near and far to be here with us. We feel incredibly blessed to have you in our lives. As we sit here tonight, I can’t help but reflect on how lucky I am to have found my soulmate in [bride’s name]. I knew from the moment I met her that she was the one for me. Her kindness, intelligence, and beauty continue to amaze me every day. [Optional: insert a personal anecdote here] [Optional: insert a joke or humorous story here] As we prepare to start this new chapter of our lives together, I am filled with gratitude and joy. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us.

The Great Groom Speech Template

Here’s a groom speech at wedding template that will help you create a winning speech with ease.

• Thank the guests Say a heartfelt thanks to the guests for leaving their busy schedules to honor you on your big day. Many of them sacrificed time, money, work, and even their safety to come all the way because they love you. Say thank you, mean it, and crack a joke. This is also the time to distribute little gifts or wedding favors to the guests.
• Say some words about the bride Gush about the woman of the moment. Let the guests feel your joy at getting married to the love of your life. Talk about what attracted you to her, what she means to you, and reiterate your vows. You may also seal this part of your speech with a kiss and watch her blush.
• Share a memorable story Getting to your wedding day was a long journey and there are stories that bind you. Let the guests know the beautiful way you met, and share sweet memories, funny ones, and romantic events. If both of you have a favorite song, pick a line from it and incorporate it into your speech. Avoid near break-up situations, forgiveness for some errors, or unpleasant situations that happened in your relationship.
• Share your impressions about the day Recount something beautiful about your wedding day. Maybe talk about how the sun shined bright because it knows an angel got married today. Talk about the beautiful reception, cake, or decor. Just incorporate something from the present.
• Say some words about the best man Your best man is arguably one of your strongest support systems throughout wedding planning. Give him some accolades in your speech. Talk about how you met and him being your main man through life. Appreciate him sincerely and even take a friendly jab at him.
• Thank your parents There is no better time to tell everyone how awesome your parents are. Talk about the bride’s parents too because you’re family now. Thank both families for being in your corner and promise to always behave. That will get in a few laughs.
• Close with a toast Finish your speech with a toast to your wife, parents, guests, love, and happiness.

Groom Speech Tips

Many grooms often find themselves confused when trying to write their groom speech at the wedding. In the days leading up to the big event, they might go into a fit of panic because they have no idea what to write. When crafting a groom speech, it’s important to focus on the introduction, body, and conclusion. You want to captivate the guests right from the beginning of your groom speech, keep them engaged throughout, and conclude with a memorable and impactful finish.

The speech tips below are simple, concise and will give answers to all your questions.

• Prepare your mind and calm your nerves for the speech.
• Run speech by your best man to sieve out off liners.
• Make eye contact with everyone.
• Address the audience as a couple. Include your wife.
• Do away with vulgar words or jokes.
• Include the decent but minimal amount of humor.
• Don’t forget to thank your parents and in-laws
• Always throw some compliments the way of your wife and make the core of your speech.
• Dedicate some part of your speech to your wife. She is the main focus.
• Make the last toast go to your wife.
• Make your speech heartfelt and let your personality shine through.

What Not to Say in the Groom Speech

kreativwedding via Instagram

A perfect speech will give you unending applause from everyone. But a bad speech? The disasters are too much to mention. You will have in-laws getting pissed at you, the bridesmaids coming for your head. Your best man gunning to have you quartered and your wife preparing to give you hell.

To avoid the later and all other unforeseen ills that could happen with a badly given speech, here are some don’ts to the rescue.

Don’ts

• Don’t build your speech around anyone else but your wife.
• Don’t include vulgar words or insensitive jokes.
• Don’t take too much time making your speech. 5-10 minutes is enough.
• Don’t forget to introduce your best man and compliments the bridesmaids.
• Don’t forget to make your last toast to the bride.

Groom Wedding Speech Jokes

Adding a touch of humor to your groom speech can lighten the mood and make your speech memorable. Well-placed jokes can bring smiles and laughter, creating a warm and joyful atmosphere. Here are five examples of jokes that are perfect for a groom speech at a wedding:

When I proposed, I got down on one knee and almost didn’t get back up. She said yes, probably out of pity for my lack of athleticism!

They say marriage is when a man and woman become one. The trouble starts when they try to decide which one!

On our first date, I was so nervous that I spilled coffee all over myself. I guess I wanted to make a hot impression!

I’d like to thank my new in-laws for raising such an amazing woman. And for not mentioning my tendency to leave the toilet seat up… yet!

Planning this wedding was a lot like cooking for the first time – a bit messy, a lot of trial and error, and in the end, totally worth it!

Groom Wedding Toast Ideas

To the father of the bride

“Let us toast to my father in law for raising and giving me this beautiful woman. For being a wonderful father to her, although I’m taking over. For accepting me as a son……. “

To the best man

“To my right-hand man for being there all the way. For taking time off work to make all things ready for my big day. For all the sacrifices you made from way back until now. For being my best friend in the real sense and too many more years as friends…..a toast to my best man (insert name)”

Toast To the guests

“A toast to you wonderful people. You are all amazing. Thanks for being here today and sharing in our joy. To many more years of celebration and happiness………. “

To the bride

“Whoever thought this angelic beauty seated here will be mine? Let’s all make a toast to my heartthrob, whose smile lightens my world. A toast to you baby, for all you are, for all you’ll be. To us, to life, to our love, to your happiness, too many blissful years with me, to our future, to forever…………”

Frequently Asked Questions

What should the groom say in his speech.

The groom’s speech typically includes gratitude, compliments to the bride, thanks to guests, and a toast.

What should the groom say at the rehearsal dinner?

The groom at the rehearsal dinner can express appreciation to those involved, share anecdotes, and convey excitement for the upcoming wedding.

How Long Should A Groom’s Speech Be?

A groom’s speech typically lasts around 5 to 10 minutes. It should be long enough to express gratitude, share anecdotes, and convey heartfelt sentiments, but short enough to maintain guests’ interest and keep the overall flow of the wedding reception.

Thank you all again for being here tonight. Let’s raise a glass to love, laughter, and happily ever after! The groom’s speech is one of the most anticipated speeches at a wedding. It doesn’t need such long preparation but could flop if you don’t get the hang of it. Give the best groom speech at wedding ever with the tips, ideas, and templates we’ve curated in this post. Speak from the heart, let your love shine, add some humor and you’re home free.

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GROOM SPEECH STRUCTURE

Wondering how to put together a speech for your wedding and what the groom speech structure should actually be? We’ve provided a simple guide to what you should include in your speech on your wedding day.

Let’s be clear for starters, there’s no right or wrong way groom speech template to use. You can include anything you want in your speech – it is your wedding day after all!

There’s also no requirement whatsoever on length. Make it as long or short as you are comfortable with and use these groom’s speech examples for some inspiration.

While you might well want to make things special to you, your new wife, your families and guests with some personal touches and stories, there are several things that you should definitely include in your speech.

• The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Speeches & Toasts . Our go-to guide.
• Groom’s Speech.  Deliver an amazing Groom wedding speech. Groom speech examples .
• Best Man Speech.  Create an awesome best man speech. Example best man speeches .
• Father of the Bride Speech .  A heartfelt father of bride speech. Example father speeches .
• Sample Toasts & Speech Quotes . One liners, funny quotes, love parables and much more.
• Recent Wedding Speech Posts . Latest blog posts about wedding speeches and toasts.

A great way to start your speech, for example, is to begin with the words “My wife and I…”. It will be the first time you have addressed anyone as husband and wife and it gets the speech off to a great start.

Don’t forget the thank yous either. Get off to the right start with your new father in law by thanking him for his kind words, if he has delivered his speech before you, and your mother in law if she has performed a speech too.

Thank you guests for coming and being part of your special day, thank your own family for all the help you have received, and also anyone who has gone the extra mile in the build up to the wedding. And finish by thanking your new wife, giving her some flattery in the process too.

FUNNY ANECDOTES / STORIES

This is now your stage and certainly the time to include some groom’s speech jokes . The formalities are out of the way. Start with a gag or a one-liner and you’ll be off and running. Use props to add to the stories you are telling.

Tell a story or two about how you met, how you fell in love and why you knew she was the one for you. Entertain guests with some of the funny moments of relationships, buying your new house or living together for the first time, a holiday moment or something that will make the guests laugh. Even talk about something poignant in your speech at this stage if there is something close to your hearts.

RAISE A TOAST TO THE BRIDE

End the speech with a return to the formalities. After a special message to your new wife make a brief comment to the guests – “Finally, I would like to say thank you again to all of you for celebrating with us today” or something similar – and get the wedding breakfast to raise a toast to your new wife:  “And could you all please raise your glasses to my beautiful wife, the one I love…”

HAND OVER TO THE BEST MAN

It is time for you to take a deep breath, sit back and relax and have a bit of fun poked your way by your best man. At the end of your speech, hand over to him and prepare to be the center of the ribbing.

Groom Speech Template

This four stage groom speech template is an outline for what your guests will want, and expect, to hear. By the way, this assumes that the bride is not making a speech. If she is, you will need to decide between you who is going to the thank you whom.

Photo credit: Alex Beckett

1. Connect to the audience

Before you get into the main body of your speech there is something essential you need to do: SMILE! You are the man of the hour, everyone is ecstatic for you, acknowledge their love and enthusiasm.

2. Say thank you

The people you need to thank will normally include some or all of the following: the bride’s family, your family, those who have made a significant effort to be there, and the bridesmaids, ushers and best man.

The bride’s family:

• What were your first impressions of them?
• What do you think their first impressions were of you?
• What have they done to welcome you in to the family?
• What have they done towards the organisation of the wedding?
• What have they done to support you and your bride since you got together?

Your family:

• What acts of selflessness and kindness have they shown you at any key point in your life?
• What good bits of advice did your parents, or any other members of the family give you?
• What daft pieces of advice have you been given?
• What efforts have they made to welcome your bride into the family?
• What have they done to help towards the wedding?

Those who have made a significant effort to attend the wedding:

• What obstacles did they overcome to be there?
• What football matches, water sports holidays or golfing trips will they miss?
• What lies did they tell their boss? What sacrifices did they make to travel to the wedding?

Bridesmaids

• What will the bridesmaids/maids of honour have done for the bride on the day?
• What have they done to support her in the lead-up to the wedding? (Ask her)

Groomsmen/ushers

• What have they done that deserves particular mention?
• How has he helped you to get to this moment, standing next to your bride at your wedding reception?

3. Talk about the bride

Photo credit: Kristin Port www.unioneleven.com

Obviously, this is the most important part of the speech. The guests want to hear the story of your relationship and how it has grown and led to this moment.

• What do you remember about the first time you met?
• In the early stages of your relationship did you ever say or do anything ridiculous because you were nervous?
• What was it about her that took your breath away? What did she say or do that made you think “wow… this is the girl for me”?
• How did you propose?
• Is there any (ideally trivial) issue on which you don’t see eye to eye?
• What do you love most about her?
• How has she changed you, or how you see the world?
• How does the fact that she has agreed to marry you make you feel?

4. Propose a toast

The etiquette books will usually advise that the groom should propose a toast to the bridesmaids. To us, this doesn’t make any sense. You have spent the most important part of your speech paying tribute to the wonderful woman who has agreed to marry you. Why would you then want to toast someone else? It’s important that the bridesmaids are recognised for their contributions to the day, but as you will have done so already, you don’t need to toast the bridesmaids as well.

You do, however, need to toast the most important person at the wedding: the bride. However you do it, keep it short and simple, so it easy for people to repeat. For example: “to the beautiful bride!” or: “to Mary!”

The speech out of the way, sit back and enjoy the rest of your wedding!

The next step

Read more groom speech tips

If you would like some help with the writing, editing or delivery of your groom’s speech, book your  free telephone consultation  on your speech via the contact form, get in touch via email or just give us a call. Together we will assess your needs and make a plan.

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“How do I structure my groom speech?”

It’s easy to understand why.

The groom has a huge number of boxes to tick. Thanking some, mentioning others, covering his and his bride’s nearest and dearest. And, on top of all that, he’s also expected to be debonair and amusing.

Not easy! But it is possible.

Firstly, I must drop-in my usual health warning. Every speech we write really IS different. And we NEVER work from a template, or use the ‘cut and paste’ function. So there is no short-cut.

However, there are rules that help us – and can help you – write really interesting and amusing groom speeches that cover all the key areas but don’t last until hours after the first dance should have finished.

The keys here are simple: Relevance, Seamlessness and Prioritisation

I suggest you start by scribbling down a long list of everyone you need to mention (or think you need to mention). If it looks extraordinarily long, here are a few tips:

1. Don’t thank anyone being paid to be there (caterers, wedding planners, flower arrangers). Although you must, of course, dedicate a section to your speech writer .

2. Try to group people together to avoid lines like ‘and I also need to mention’. So siblings, siblings-in-law, ushers, guests who have travelled from afar can be covered together rather than in sub-lists.

3. Imagine you are in the audience. At what point would you think that the thank yous are getting a bit unnecessary? Perhaps, for example, Great Aunty Carol, who you see once a decade, could be thanked personally on the dance floor, rather than publically?

In a nutshell, your structure requires you to cover those that really matter, and who are truly relevant to your life.  And if you want to give them a kiss and a bunch of flowers, then please don’t interrupt your speech to do so.

Seamlessness

You have hopefully narrowed down the thanks by now, creating a little more time to mention the few people who really matter. Health and family-circumstances permitting, they are: both sets of parents, any significant elderly relatives, siblings and, possibly, your very closest friends. But it’s not good enough simply to write a brief, touching section on each and then move on.

That’s the ‘school register’ approach. Touching on each individual, and then jumping onto the next, leaving the majority of your guests increasingly impatient and thirsty.

The alternative (and better) way is to link the these sections together so the thank yous happen without the majority of your audience realising. The best way to demonstrate this is in an example:

BEFORE: “ Now I’d like to thank my brother Robin who has always been there for me. He has known me since the very start and I forgive him for using me as a punch bag for the first decade of my life. Robin – thanks mate. I hope we’ll always be friends as well as brothers. And now I’d like to mention my new sister-in-law Jenny. Jenny, I know you and Kate have always been close, and it means so much to us both to have you with us on our special day. We want you to know that our door is always open to you and we hope to see as much of you after the wedding as we have recently!”

AFTER “ Kate and I are so lucky to be so close to our siblings – Robin and Jenny. Although Kate is luckier – because I’m not sure Jenny used her as a punch bag for the first decade of her life! Guys – you mean the world to us … … and I know that we will remain close in the years to come.”

So, that’s half the number of words, just by linking them together. Which is where you can develop the structure even further by then leading directly into your next section: “It is no coincidence that we both have such lovely siblings … … because we both have wonderful parents.” And suddenly, you are linking seamlessly from subject to subject without awkward pauses or changes in direction!

Prioritisation

When planning your groom speech it is also important to remember who really matters. And that’s your bride. As a rule of thumb I would suggest you spend at least 50% of your time on her. Which, means something in the region of 5-600 words.  The worst groom speeches often spend this long reminiscing about their greatest escapades with the best man.

Again, your speech will measurably improve if you don’t see this as a stand-alone ‘section’ of the speech. Compartmentalising your groom speech isn’t a great idea. It will come across as much more natural and heartfelt to mention your wife from the very start. Weaving brief anecdotes and joint-thanks into your speech will also help break-up the rigidity of the thank you ‘list’.

Possible structure

I appreciate that these tips are based more on a series of guidelines rather than ‘rules’.  It is so important not to suffocate your own emotions and personal input by trying to fit into a set structure.  However, it is likely that the ideal groom speech structure will appear something like this:

1. Thank the father of the bride for his words; re-iterate welcome to guests

2. Mention those who have travelled

3. Weave-in a reference to your wife

4. Link to some key mentions (possibly your parents at this stage)

5. Use anecdotes about the crucial stages in your relationship to link other thanks and mentions

6. Become a little more sincere about what being married to her means to you (without falling the wrong side of the ‘slushometer’)

7. Lighten the mood with a final set of thanks / mentions / possibly a brief introduction to your best man

8. End with a toast (traditionally to the bridesmaids, but weddings are ever-less traditional)

This is clearly only a high-level overview of the groom speech, and our blog includes many more articles offering tips and advice.  If this is the first time you have read our words 1) thank you, 2) please let us know what you would like to read about in future and 3) why not stop worrying, pick up the phone , and ask us to write it for you?  This is clearly the last time you’ll ever get married (at least it is for half of you!) and our job is to make you sound brilliant.

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Lawrence Bernstein

For all your other comms needs, Great Communication

The Ultimate Groom's Wedding Speech Checklist

Don't leave anyone or anything important off your list of thank yous.

The groom's wedding speech is often about covering all bases. It doesn't have the bravado and general LOLs of a best man speech , the gushing and poignant words of a bridesmaid speech, or all the nostalgia and tear-jerking words of a father of the bride or groom speech. Instead, a groom's speech is half admin, half emotion; kind of like an Oscar acceptance! A chance to shout out the wedding party, thank the ushers, and tell your new in-laws how chuffed you are to be part of the family. To help you write your speech - and to make sure you don't leave anyone out - we've put together a handy groom's wedding speech checklist . You'll thank us later!

A groom doing a speech solo is more common, but we've also seen lots of couples do their thank you speech together , as well as brides making speeches too ( more ladies on the mic please !). Our list covers all bases and standard family structures, but tweak it as is appropriate for you. Hopefully it comes in handy whatever kind of wedding thank you speech you're making.

Groom's Wedding Speech Checklist

(In no particular order, but this order makes for a nice crescendo!)

• Thank the guests for coming - give a special shout out to anyone who's come a long way
• Thank any staff or suppliers who worked on the day - only those present
• Thank the celebrant - if present
• Thank anyone who helped in the lead up to the day (outside of the wedding party and immediate family) - any one who gave lifts, stitched bunting, glued centrepieces, etc.
• Thank anyone who took part in the day itself - ceremony readings , music, wedding cake baker, etc
• Mention your new parents in law and siblings - this is a good time to tell them how happy you are to join the family, how welcome/terrified they made you feel, how you promise to be there for their son or daughter/brother or sister.
• Mention your siblings  - be specific about things they helped you with or special memories. This is also a good time to mention any other special family members, grandparents, step-parents, etc.
• Mention your parents - if both your parents are present, thank them both individually, usually an anecdote about the kind of person they've taught you to be goes down well.
• Thank your wedding party - make sure both sides get a mention, though it's fine to gush a bit harder about your best man!
• Thank your other half - for marrying you, for looking fabulous, for being wonderful, and all the other good things you can think of. Remember to tell them all about why you love them and why you can't wait to get started with married life!

Need more help with your wedding speeches - we've got you covered!

• 30 Funny Opening Lines for Wedding Speeches
• How to Begin a Wedding Speech: Great Opening Lines
• The Correct Order of Speeches at a Wedding?
• 9 Ways to Shake Up Your Wedding Speeches
• How to Give a Flawless Best Man Speech
• Everything You Need To Play Wedding Speech Bingo

Listen & Subscribe to The One Fab Day Wedding Podcast

Episode 22: wedding speeches 101.

You can listen to the One Fab Day Wedding Podcast wherever you get your podcasts , and search them on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

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Tomasz kornas photography, via one fab day, see more in:.

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The Groom Speech: 10 Rules

The manual: wedding speeches, should you memorize your vows, the father of the bride toast, the toast with the most: the best man’s big speech, how to write vows, 6 things to avoid in your best man speech, 6 things to include in your groom speech.

The success of your wedding toast is based on two criteria. As the groom, it’s critical that your toast convey two qualities: humor and heart. First,  see our guidelines  for the Best Man’s toast for plenty of overarching advice. As the groom, however, you face some additional expectations and pitfalls.

Humor and heart. To sufficiently employ them, you must stick to the following rules:

SEE ALSO:  The 5 Biggest Wedding Planning Mistakes Grooms Make

ONE:  REITERATE YOUR LOVE FOR YOUR BRIDE.

Look, this is  us.  The Plunge. We’re as unsentimental as it gets. But even  we  acknowledge the importance of dialing up the whole “earnest love” shtick. Toward the end of your speech, you must say how lucky you are to have met this woman, how much you love her, how she still makes you wobbly in the knees—and you’ll feel that way for the rest of your life. We know, we know: in normal circumstances this would make us barf.   But it has to be done. And happily, this moment of ahhhhwwww will be nicely counter-balanced if you…

TWO:  INJECT HUMOR.

There’s a difference between “humor” and “jokes.” This is not the time to tell a joke like, “How are women and tornadoes alike? They both moan like hell when they come, and take the house when they leave.” (Save this for the bachelor party. If you save it at all.)

Don’t tell that joke. Or any generic joke. Instead, stick to some humorous anecdotes about how you met, how she’s the only one who finds your cooking edible (self-deprecation—always a plus), how you knew it was over when she whopped your ass at pool, whatever. What’s important is to use true anecdotes.

THREE:  IGNORE DUMB QUOTES.

Plenty of wedding websites will provide helpful quotes you can use. Ignore most of them. The Knot, for example, suggests the Congolese proverb “Love is like a baby; it needs to be treated gently.” Or the Russian proverb, “Love and eggs are best when they are fresh.” Your own sincerity is better than a random, impersonal quote. While it’s okay if your earnestness sounds a little clichéd (hey, it is what it is), never stuff the speech with corny “filler” quotes that everyone else uses at their weddings.

FOUR:  THANK THE HOSTS.

The bride’s parents, especially if they just scribbled out a check for $30,000 bucks, deserve the most prolonged expression of gratitude. It’s okay, kiss a little ass. And thank them even if they haven’t paid a nickel—it’ll score you in-law goodwill. (In fact, it’s expected.  Not  thanking the in-laws will look about as appropriate as grabbing your bride’s sister and jamming your tongue down her throat.) And give a shout-out to the schleppers. Whoever traveled 3,000+ miles just to eat some cake deserves a quick tip of the hat.

SEE ALSO:  Groomsmen Gifts

FIVE:  BUT DON’T THANK THE ACADEMY.

Don’t be like one of those obnoxious Academy Award winners who drones on and on by thanking Patty Sue for this beautiful cake, thanking your buddy Gus for the photography, and thanking our lord Jesus Christ for making this all come together. You’ve just lost your audience.

SIX:  PRACTICE. WHEN YOU’RE DONE, PRACTICE MORE. REPEAT.

Yes, we harped on this when you proposed and we stressed it again for the Best Man’s toast, but it’s the single most effective way to improve your performance. Keep practicing in the mirror until you can deliver it with confidence. Don’t just give this a few minutes. Give it a few hours. If you spent 67 hours playing Madden just so you can have the league’s leading rusher, leading receiver, and leading passer all on the same team—we’ve all done this—then you can spend a few hours prepping for the most important speech of your life.

SEVEN:  LOOK YOUR BRIDE IN THE EYE.

Before you actually get to the lovey-dovey stuff (see Rule 1), turn from the crowd to your bride, pause, let the moment gather a hint of drama, and then look her dead in the eye. Address her by her name. This will make every woman in the reception reach for a tissue and dab their newly-forming tears.

EIGHT:  KEEP IT SHORT.

See? Isn’t this one easier to read?

SEE ALSO:  Groom Speech Videos

NINE:  KEEP THE STRUCTURE SIMPLE.

All you really need is an intro (welcoming the guests), a boatload of thank yous (see above), some humor-and-heart anecdotes about how you met your wife, and then a closing about how much you love her. Bang. That’s it. No need to reinvent the wheel.

TEN:  STEAL

Again, we don’t recommend using canned quotations like this one, courtesy of The Knot again: “St. Augustine once said, ‘Insomuch as love grows in you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul.’”

Or another, from About.com: “Here’s to the prettiest, here’s to the wittiest, Here’s to the truest of all who are true, Here’s to the neatest one, here’s to the sweetest one, Here’s to them, all in one – here’s to you.”

The trick is customizing and personalizing. The site  Speeches.com , for instance, sells six different versions of “Conventional Groom Toasts.” For about $16 bucks, you fill in the blanks (like Mad Libs) and they’ll spit out some stock speeches with the names already in there. The results can be choppy and disjointed. One such excerpt (the underlined parts are our fill-in-the-blank choices):

“Rachel – in case any of you hadn’t noticed, is the perfect wife, and I’m lucky she said yes.

I’m lucky to have someone who can  live with my toe fungus .

I’m lucky to have someone who can  live with my nose hair .

And I’m lucky to have someone who is  just so good hearted  and  so good to be with .

Someone once wrote [sic] that a good marriage is at least 80 percent good luck in finding the right person at the right time. The rest is trust. On that basis, I would say we are 100% ready for this.”

Not the smoothest. But if you have utterly no idea where to start, these templates can give you a rough—very rough—first draft that you can then personalize and polish.

A few other useful links:

20 Speech Topics (but mostly just a detailed list of who to thank—yawn)

http://www.speech-topics-help.com/groom-speech.html

Some quotes. Most are awful. Some are potentially useful.

http://quotations.about.com/od/weddingtoasts/a/wedding5.htm

More toast templates:

http://www.essortment.com/lifestyle/weddingtoastte_sfvl.htm Really want to geek-out and over-prepare? There are some books like the “Complete Guide to Groom Speeches.”

http://groom-speech.blogspot.com/ (Frankly, you’re better off just going to a bookstore and flicking through a few of the sample templates to see if they’re worth a damn.)

Your next groom duty:  Buying Gifts for Your Groomsmen .

40 Wedding Ceremony Readings That Will Wow Any Crowd

Spin Your Wedding Speech For Maximum Impact

Best Man Wedding Toast Ideas, Samples, and Guidance

Join the plunge (don’t worry: it’s free).

Everything You Need To Know About Making Speeches With Your Wife

The 50 Best Jokes For Your Best Man Speech

Go For Emotion In Your Wedding Speech

Using Subtext and Speeching Between The Lines

The Sounds of Silence: Using Pauses in Your Speech

The First Seven Seconds Of Your Wedding Speech-How To Crush It

Best Man Speech: Who Do You Mention?

The Easiest Speech You’ll Ever Give

Who Gives Toasts at the Rehearsal Dinner?

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A Timeline of Julian Assange’s Legal Saga

A plea deal brought an abrupt end to an extraordinary legal saga that has raised novel issues of national security, press freedoms, politics and diplomacy.

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By Charlie Savage

Charlie Savage writes about national security and legal policy. He has helped cover issues related to WikiLeaks since 2010.

Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder who has long fought extradition from Britain to the United States, agreed on Monday to plead guilty to one count of violating the Espionage Act in exchange for a five-year prison sentence.

Under the agreement he will be freed, having already served that time while in British custody. The deal brought an abrupt end to an extraordinary legal saga that has raised novel issues of national security, press freedoms, politics and diplomacy.

Here is a timeline of significant events:

WikiLeaks takes root.

Julian Assange, an Australian computer specialist, founds WikiLeaks with a mission of using the internet to help whistle-blowers bring hidden information to light. Operated by a transnational collective using servers in countries including Iceland and Sweden, it solicits classified, censored or otherwise restricted material for publication online.

An Army intelligence analyst becomes a key contributor.

A U.S. Army intelligence analyst now known as Chelsea Manning downloads large batches of documents from a classified computer network and begins uploading them to WikiLeaks.

They include a video of a U.S. helicopter strike in Baghdad in which a Reuters photographer was killed, incident logs from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars , more than 250,000 diplomatic cables from American embassies around the world and hundreds of dossiers compiling intelligence allegations against Guantánamo detainees .

WikiLeaks begins publishing the material.

The organization works with mainstream news outlets , including The New York Times. It initially appears that WikiLeaks may have numerous sources inside the U.S. government, and Mr. Assange is propelled to global notoriety . Eventually Ms. Manning is arrested and identified as the source of the wave of secret American documents.

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