how to write a great grooms speech

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How to Write The Perfect Groom’s Speech (With Examples)

Author: Hollie Bond

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How to Write a Grooms Speech

Funny groom's speech ideas, emotional groom's speech ideas, unusual groom's speech ideas, famous groom's speech ideas.

No idea where to start when it comes to making a speech on your big day? We’ve compiled all the best tips and inspiration to help you write and deliver the best groom’s speech ever.

The groom’s speech is always a highlight at a wedding. It’s a chance for guests to hear all the romantic and heartfelt sentiments that you, as a newlywed, will be experiencing.

It’s also a feel-good part of the day where you get to acknowledge all your guests and thank individuals who have helped you bring this special day together. Everyone in the ‘audience’ will be friends and family, so put any public speaking nerves aside, as everyone will be willing you on to do your best and if you stumble over your words or well up when you’re talking about your new wife or husband – well, they’ll just love you even more!

We’ve rounded up 40 of the best groom’s speech ideas, with inspiration for funny, emotional, and unusual speeches, plus examples from famous grooms, to help you write your own Oscar-worthy speech.

What should the groom say in his speech?

Good news! The groom’s speech is one of the easiest speeches to write and deliver as it is essentially just one big thank you.

A groom’s speech should focus on thanking everyone who has helped make the wedding day special including the mother and father of the bride (or equivalent), the guests, his own parents, the best man, the bridesmaids, ushers, and anyone else who has contributed to the wedding.

The other main focus of the groom’s speech is to lavish praise and compliments on his new wife (or groom) and to tell them how happy he is to be married. Finally, the groom should raise a toast to his new wife or husband.

How long should a groom’s speech be?

Any speech at a wedding, including the groom’s speech, should be no longer than ten minutes. When written down this is approximately 1500 words, but make sure to time yourself before the big day in case you’re a particularly slow or fast speaker.

Ten minutes is the ideal length to get across everything you need to say, but not so long that your guests get bored and start to fidget. If you’re not a confident speaker you can always just say a few lines lasting a couple of minutes.

Less is definitely more when it comes to speeches. That said, if it’s too short you could sound flippant! Anywhere between five and ten minutes and you’re in safe territory.

1. Don’t be too formal

Unless you’re known for your love of a bit of pomp and circumstance then you don’t suddenly have to become the master of all things etiquette and stuffy speech-making just because it’s your wedding day. Your guests will want to hear you speak in your usual way, and as long as you cover the expected formalities like thanking everyone for coming, both sets of parents, the bridal party, and anyone who went above and beyond to help you with something like making a cake, then you don’t have to worry about anything else.

2. Focus on the start

If you can get guests smiling from the very beginning of the speech, then both you and your guests will feel relaxed and enjoy the rest of it. Have a think about something humorous that specifically relates to your guests or wedding situation rather than an obvious/ heard-100-times-before gag. Perhaps you’re known for your non-stop chatter, so you could open with “I know you’re all thinking you should take a loo break before I start talking, but I promise I’ll keep this as short (as I can!)…”

3. Don’t forget the main purpose of the speech

A romantic and heartfelt ode to the person you’ve just married should be the main focus of this speech. Try to avoid just saying empty words that anyone could say like “she/he is wonderful, beautiful, kind” etc. Think of specific things that your other half has done that makes you proud/ really love them/ that makes them unique. Anecdotes and stories that highlight a personal trait are the best way to do this.

4. Be romantic, not cheesy

Try not to fall into the trap of sounding like a compilation of all the lines you might find inside a cheesy Valentine’s Day card. Instead of “I’m so lucky to have found you” think about “My parents always told me nothing good would come of always being late, but I’m so glad to say I proved them wrong. I missed my train (as usual) that fateful day and the best thing ever came out of it… you.” Or a simple list of all the things that you particularly love about your partner, from the way they constantly fiddle with their hair to the way they talk to your dog like it’s a human.

5. Don’t give out gifts

This isn’t prize-giving at school and giving out weddinggifts to bridesmaids and ushers etc. will just take up valuable partying time. Give your bridal party their gifts in the morning when you’re all getting ready as it’ll be more personal in private.

6. Think about timing

A speech around the 7 – 10 minutes mark is considered the perfect amount of time for a groom’s speech (written down that’s about 1200 – 1400 words). Any less and you’ll sound a bit flippant. Any more and guests will start getting bored.

7. Don’t go into massive amounts of detail

We all know someone that tells a story as intricate and descriptive as a Tolstoy novel and how we automatically glaze over as soon as they start speaking. Don’t be that person. Your guests don’t want War and Peace – they want a nice easy to listen to a speech that doesn’t mentally challenge them, especially once they’re a few drinks down.

8. Find the perfect quote

If you’re not a wordsmith, let someone else more qualified sum up your feelings for you. There are plenty of amazing quotes from authors and famous orators out there and one or two of them may be exactly what you need to succinctly put all your feelings about the day and your partner into one neat sentence. Just make sure to acknowledge the original author!

9. Give your partner a promise

A lovely way to be funny and also heartfelt at the same time is to make a promise or two to your partner in front of your guests. Don’t just repeat your vows here, promise something that is unique to her/him. Perhaps she’s an avid rock climber and you’re more of a couch potato? Promise you’ll learn to love her crazy hobby. Maybe you’re not exactly Heston Blumenthal in the kitchen? Promise you’ll learn to cook your partner more than beans on burnt toast. Perhaps she/he is the world’s greatest Swiftie. Promise you’ll learn the lyrics to all their favourite Taylor Swift songs… you get the idea.

10. Prepare the delivery

The biggest mistake you can make is to write a great speech on paper and then not read it out loud before the big day. You need to practice talking slowly and confidently and leaving little pauses after funny bits (for any of the slower guests to get it!). Also, some written sentences don’t sound great when spoken, so reading out loud will help you to iron out any clunky syntax. Plus, you’ll want to know the speech almost by heart so that you don’t have your head in a piece of paper reading word-for-word on the day. Eye contact with your guests is one of the most important parts of delivering a successful speech.

You don’t have to be the next Michael McIntyre, but giving your guests a giggle and making them smile is the quickest way to make both them and you feel at ease with the speech.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have to pepper your speech with gags and silly one-liners to make it funny. Instead, just focus on things that are unique to you as a couple or for the audience (perhaps the region you’re from for example) and have a bit of fun at your/ their expense. Be careful not to reference something that only a few members of the audience will understand as that will very quickly alienate your other guests.

Here are ten funny speech ideas to take inspiration from:

Focus on your differences

Comparing your differences can be an easy way to make the guests smile. Are you obsessively tidy and your new partner a bit of a slob perhaps? Can you cook like a pro while they can’t even heat soup without burning the place down? Whatever your differences, exaggerate them and make a joke out of them to get guests giggling.

Tell the crowd something they don’t know

Do you know some funny things about your bride/groom’s past that others in the audience might not? Now’s a good time to reveal that she/he did some hilarious hobbies or geeky things as a child. Perhaps they have a funny secret crush or can do a really odd trick.

Exaggerate your weaknesses

Putting yourself down and acknowledging something everyone knows about you can be a good way to make guests smile. E.g. “Would you believe it? The bride/ groom has finally given up holding out for Ryan Gosling and decided a bald, beer-swilling Insurance Broker from Newcastle is a better option instead.”

Here’s a good example of a funny, self-deprecating groom’s speech:

Make a joke about the wedding itself

“Before I begin, please can we ensure that all the aisles and fire exits are kept clear throughout the reception. There’s a medical team waiting outside the building and I’d like them to have a clear run when my in-laws are presented with the final bill.”

“I’d like to thank Mastercard and Visa, without whom this would never have been possible. My wife and I will be forever in their debt.”

Mother-in-law jokes

These always go down well if you actually get on with her! Reference something unique to your mother in law like her shopping obsession or how long she takes to get ready perhaps. Or keep it classic with: “I’ve been told that this is usually one of the only times in a man’s life when he can be around his wife/husband and mother-in-law and not be interrupted – so hang in there, I’m going to take full advantage.”

“In [in-law’s names], I have found the perfect in-laws. I always cringe when I hear jokes about difficult mothers-in-law because my own experience has been far from that stereotype. [Turn to in-laws and whisper audibly] Did I read that right? Please don’t hurt me…”

Tell a story

If your first date, engagement or the time you asked the in-laws if you could marry their daughter/ son has a funny element to it, go ahead and tell the story. Just remember not to kill the humour with too many details.

Talk about your partner’s quirks

Does your wife/ husband have any weird habits? Divulge a few to the guests but make it romantic by saying how much you love her/him even though they… still get drunk after one glass of wine/ still go to bed with a teddy bear at the age of 33/ always get the words to songs wrong/ always have to be the last person on the dance floor even when the lights come up…

Make the thank yous funny

Instead of a boring list of thank yous, try and inject a bit of fun. For example: “I’d like to thank my mother in law for passing on such wonderful traits to her daughter; her kindness, her humour, though unfortunately, an unwavering support for Arsenal has also slipped down the genetic line.”

Trip the guests up

Everyone expects the first line of the groom’s speech to mention his new wife/ husband. Momentarily confuse them with a sentence like this: “My ex-girlfriend/ boyfriend and I would like to thank you all for coming today” – and then pause while they work it out and laugh.

Use props or videos

If there’s a funny prop or a video that you can show during the speech go for it, plus holding something or giving yourself a break in video form can help stop the nerves.

Leave guests guessing

It’s fine to reference the stag do , but don’t tell a long and boring story about something that happened while you were on it. That’ll only be funny to the stags. It’s best to mention something and leave the end of the story untold as a cliff-hanger so that guests can fill in the blanks with all manner of funny thoughts.

As a groom, you have free reign to get emotional and if you’re not normally an emotional person it will really surprise and delight guests as they will realise just how much the day and marrying your loved one means to you.

You don’t want to get too over the top though and make your guests feel uncomfortable. Keep the really mushy stuff for your bride or groom on your honeymoon and instead focus on the sort of emotional sentiments that will make guests smile.

Here are some ideas for how to make your groom’s speech just the right amount of emotional:

Look guests in the eye

The quickest way to get guests to buy into what you’re saying and to feel the raw emotion of your words is by looking them in the eyes as you deliver each sentence. If you’ve had a difficult time in the run-up to the wedding and are really grateful for the support they’ve all shown, say so while looking sincerely at the guests you really want to show your gratitude to.

Put your heart into the thank yous

If you don’t want to make the thank yous funny or witty, how about making them emotional by not just thanking the person for what they did, but by explaining how much it meant to you.

Mention absent friends

If a member of your family or a friend isn’t at your wedding and is greatly missed then make sure to raise a toast to their memory. You don’t want to be morbid, but a few words about how much the person/ people meant to you both and how much you miss them, followed by inviting all guests to raise a toast to them is a lovely emotional gesture.

Let yourself feel the emotion

If you feel yourself welling up don’t stop the emotion – guests won’t mind if your voice breaks a bit or if you have to take a deep breath. In fact, it just shows how much the words actually mean to you.

Be creative when it comes to describing your partner

If you want to inject emotion into your speech, don’t just say sentences that could describe any bride/ groom. Think specifically about your partner and be poetic when you talk about them and it will be much more sincere than just saying: “My new wide is beautiful” or “My husband is kind”. Here’s a lovely example from a groom’s speech about how to reference your new spouse:

Want to make sure your speech is unforgettable? Make it unusual and unique with some of these stand-out suggestions…

Rap the speech

Got a hidden talent for rapping (or if you don’t it can still be hilarious), then why not attempt to rap the speech instead. You could do part of it normally, before breaking out into a fun rap perhaps.

Sing the speech

Got a good set of pipes on you? How about singing your speech instead? Choose a famous song and then write personalised lyrics to fit. You can make it funny or heartfelt – whatever suits your personality best. Having the words on PowerPoint beside you can help in case some guests miss the words.

Write your speech on blackboards around the room

If the idea of public speaking really is too much for you and threatens to ruin your whole wedding day, why not write it up on blackboards that can be displayed around the venue for guests to read instead. You could even pre-record a video of you reading the speech too. Guests who know and love you will appreciate the effort and know how stressful making a speech in person would be for you.

Speak in a different language

Are you marrying someone who is originally from another country and has another language that you don’t speak? Impress both your new wife or husband and especially their family members who make not speak your language by learning some lines in secret in their language. Starting the speech in English for example before changing seamlessly into French will wow your audience and be very emotional for your new partner.

Get other people to do it for you

Track down important guests who can’t make it to the wedding or some famous people if you can and ask them to say something special that you can record and play as part of the speech.

Borrow the words

If you don’t want to make a traditional groom’s speech, how about performing a poem or reading out the lyrics to a song that means a lot to you as a couple (just don’t make it as awkward as Pam and Mick’s rendition in Gavin & Stacey!)

Write a story

Why not make your groom’s speech sound like the start of a novel or children’s story in a ‘once upon a time’ format, but insert yourself and your new spouse as the main characters. After all, your wedding is part of your love story and you can end your speech with a toast to your happily ever after.

Get your guests involved

Don’t like the idea of all eyes being on you? Surprise your wife/ husband by prepping guests beforehand to each say a sentence. Or you can encourage audience participation by turning your speech into a quiz about you as a couple/ the wedding day.

Perform a musical mash-up

Make it themed.

If your bride or groom has a love for something specific, theme your entire speech around it. Take these maids of honour who did a Disney medley as an example:

Tom Fletcher from band McFly did one of the most famous and unusual groom’s speeches of all time. If you can hold a tune why not replicate his speech with your own song…

Nick Jonas went down the heartfelt route for his groom’s speech at his wedding to Priyanka Chopra in 2018 and nailed the thank you to his new mother in law.

Mark Wright from TOWIE gave way to the tears when talking about new wife Michelle Keegan at their wedding: “Not only are you beautiful, but you are one of the most incredible people I have ever met. You truly are sensational in every single way.” Take inspiration from his touching way to be emotional without making everyone feel awkward.

Not a groom’s speech, but you could definitely steal the idea from the best man speech of Danny McKenzie at footballer Jamie Milligan’s wedding – he pretended he had forgotten the speech and then played a video that “showed” him racing through fields and various places James Bond-style to retrieve it…

Hollie Bond

Hollie is a lifestyle journalist with over ten years’ experience working in the wedding industry as Lifestyle Editor for You & Your Wedding magazine Also a Regional Editor for Muddy Stilettos, Hollie has written for Square Meal magazine, Family History Monthly, BBC History magazine and Homes & Antiques. In her spare time you can find Hollie in a dance studio practising ballet…

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The Groom Speech: Here's What to Write, Say & Do

Groom giving speech during wedding reception.

  • Jessica contributes wedding planning, wedding etiquette and relationship content to The Knot.
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Traditionally, the father of the bride, the best man, and maid of honor are the ones who take the mic during the wedding reception to share a few words and toast the newlyweds as they embark on their new life together. These days, however, grooms are also opting to stand up and give a speech to welcome guests and thank them for being there to celebrate the special day. Writing and delivering a memorable wedding speech is no easy feat, though, especially if it's your first time. It requires preparation, creativity, and a hefty dose of confidence. To help ensure you give a great groom speech on your wedding day, we chatted with wedding vow and speech writer Alexis Dent of XO Juliet . Ahead, learn how to write a heartfelt, entertaining groom's speech and speech tips on how to deliver it with confidence on the big day.

How Long Should a Groom Speech Be?

Grooms speeches typically take place during the wedding reception. In general, it's best to keep wedding speeches relatively short, especially if there will be multiple speeches such as the father of the bride speech, the best man speech, and the maid of honor speech. You don't want the speeches to cut into the dinner and dancing portion of the wedding reception. According to Dent, about three minutes is the sweet spot for a groom's speech. That would equate to about 300-400 written words, depending on how quickly you speak.

How to Write a Groom Speech

A groom speech template.

Every groom's speech will be unique and different depending on their personality, what they'd like to share, and who they want to thank. But, in case you need some guidance, here's an outline of a structure Dent recommends following as you write your groom's speech. Whatever you do, Dent adds, ensure that you tap into your emotions and write your groom toast from the heart.

Thank your new spouse. First and foremost, start by thanking your new spouse and say a few words about how much this new phase of your relationship means to you.

Thank VIPs in your life. This could be your own parents, mother and father in-law, friends, family members, your wedding party (bridesmaids and groomsmen), or anyone else who made the wedding day possible.

Share a story. Next, follow the thank yous with a story. Dent suggests a positive anecdote that illustrates the road you and your new spouse had to travel to make it to this milestone.

End with a toast. And last but not least, Dent recommends concluding the groom speech with a toast to your forever partner and a lifetime of love together.

Who Does the Groom Thank in His Speech?

"Grooms should thank everyone that made an impact not only on their wedding day but on their relationship as a whole," Dent says. "Most grooms thank both families and members of the wedding party." Be sure to include a thank you to anyone else who is particularly special and those who traveled far as well, she adds. You can also throw in a quick thank you to your wedding vendors (wedding planner, photographers, staff, etc.) for making the wedding day possible.

That said, ensure you keep the focus of your speech on your significant other. "While it's important to thank the people in attendance and the people who made this day possible, at the end of the day, it comes down to you and your new spouse — and your speech should reflect that," Dent says.

How to Give a Groom Speech

Groom speech jokes.

For jokes in a groom speech, Dent's best piece of advice is to know your audience. For instance, a dirty joke may be funny at an adults-only wedding reception but not appropriate if kids are in attendance. Use your best judgment on whether a joke will be well received. Also, Dent recommends avoiding inside jokes as only a handful of guests would understand them and can make things feel awkward if the joke doesn't land. If you're unsure of what joke to include, Dent's fail-proof groom's speech joke is to mention how guests are here for dinner drinks and not to listen to long speeches like these.

Bride holding a clutch

Groom Speech Example

Got writer's block? No worries. Below Dent shares a fully written groom's speech you can use as inspiration.

"Good evening everyone!

I know everyone is probably dreading one of my infamous and long-winded stories right now, but I promise to keep it short so we can all hit the dance floor.

I wanted to take a few moments to express my appreciation for all the support we've received; it has made this day and evening one to remember. There are too many people that I am utterly indebted to for helping our wedding go off without a hitch, but I want to shout out our photographer, our wedding party, and our parents in particular. To all of our guests, who traveled from both near and far, I appreciate each and every one of you for taking the time out of your lives to celebrate Alex and me. This day would not be nearly as magical without you all here, and I'm incredibly grateful for your presence.

Quite a few of you are involved in our love story and have played an integral role in us making it to this amazing milestone in life. I want to give special thanks to Alex's family in particular. You have accepted me entirely, you treat me as if I was your own, and you have really helped Alex and me over the years when times were tough. I have felt such a level of acceptance from all of you in a way that I never could have expected. Marie and Dan, you have truly raised a wonderful human, and all she is is because of you.

Now for my own family! Mom and Dad, thank you for the unwavering emotional support you have shown me throughout the years. You have given me more grace than I deserve and have loved Sam like she's your own. I aspire to have a marriage half as strong and a love half as unrelenting as yours.

Once again, thank you Trina, Kari, Tom, and Rick for helping us make it down the aisle. You guys are the best friends and most epic entourage that a guy could ask for.

Last of all, thank you, Alex. I still cannot believe how lucky I am.

Let's raise a glass to each other, to love, and to happily ever after.

How to End the Groom Speech

The end of any speech tends to be the most memorable as it's the last thing your guests will hear so you really want to make it count. Don't let this stress you out though. Dent says keeping the groom speech close super simple is best. She recommends simply raising a glass to your new spouse and toasting to many happy years of marriage. Classic, short, and to the point—you can't go wrong.

Write the groom speech on paper.

Although it may be tempting to just read your speech off your phone, Dent advices writing it on paper or printing it out instead. "Reading from a piece of paper is much more visually appealing, and it'll look much more timeless when you look back at your photos," she says.

Practice, practice, practice.

Preparing for public speaking requires repetition. Even though you'll be reading it off the paper and don't need to memorize it, be sure to still practice reciting it a few times before the wedding day so you feel confident in your delivery and can maintain a nice rhythm and eye contact. Dent suggests practicing in front of close friends and family as well who can provide feedback on the content and the delivery. "You want to be sure that they are happy with the speech and that it is reflective of both partners," Dent says.

What NOT to Say in a Groom Speech

When it comes to what not to say in a groom's speech, negativity is definitely at the top of the list. "Focus on the amazing wedding day and the joy it has brought — even if everything about the wedding has not gone as planned," Dent says. Also, she adds, avoid sharing embarrassing stories about your new spouse in your speech, unless, of course, you've discussed it with them and it's an interesting or funny anecdote that would entertain your guests.

Groom and groom's parents walking down the aisle

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Groom at Wedding Speech Templates And Ideas

Natalia Bayeva

phuket_wedding_planner via Instagram

Everyone wants to hear the groom say something at the wedding because he’s the man of the hour. For this reason, you must make the opportunity count. While it’s easy to celebrate the good fortune of finding your beloved, giving a speech is a different matter.

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Ironically, brides are always prepared, but grooms often leave the speech at the last minute, probably from panic. So whether you’re shy, confused about what to do, or don’t have the time to whip up something, 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

As against the best man speech which focuses more on the groom, the speech of the groom is for everyone, his bride inclusive. As a result, a groom’s speech is either light-hearted, funny, or witty. It has no blueprint or strict rules but two elements are ever-present regardless of what kind of speech it is – emotion and sincerity!

It is a special day and a lot of people made the day possible. In his speech, he will thank everyone and even those absent. He will salute his new father-in-law, the bridesmaids, the maid of honor, and even the bride’s mother.

He will thank his groomsmen and especially his best man for holding him up all the way. The highlight of this speech is when he would make a wedding toast to his beloved, with so much love in his eyes thanking her for coming into his life. He’d tell his love story and show his optimism and willingness to be her husband.

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……….
……….You are all aware of our problems over the last few years and one of my biggest worries, especially when I was “down South”, so to speak, was that my two children, Michelle and Nick would go off the rails. I’m pleased to say that they didn’t and they’ve both made us so proud of their achievements so I’d like to propose my toast to them….Michelle and Nick. Very few of you will know, but I am an erstwhile poet when the mood takes me. Anita has always complained that I have never written a poem for her, so I will today amend that omission. It’s called Wedding Day…………
………..On behalf of Julia and myself, or should I say on behalf of my wife and me, we would like to thank everyone for coming today. Everyone has traveled in some way to be here and share this special day with us and we’re delighted to see you all. A special thank-you goes out to those of you who have traveled a greater number of miles to be here today. It’s quite humbling to realize that you’re friends and family that care so much and are willing to travel all that way to share in your special day. Thank you for your cards, kind thoughts and of course all your wedding gifts. They’re all greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, there are two people who can’t be here today, my Dad and my granddad so, it would mean a lot to me if you would all stand for a toast in their memory – To Billy McCleery and James Harrison Snr…………
………….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 rehearsal dinner speech! Here are three tips to help you write a memorable and meaningful speech:

  • Keep it concise: Your speech should be short and sweet. Aim for no more than five minutes. Remember, this is just a rehearsal dinner, not the main event. You want to keep your guests engaged and entertained, but you don’t want to bore them with a long-winded speech.
  • Personalize it: Share stories and anecdotes that are personal to you and your fiance. Talk about how you met, what you love about your fiancé, and what makes your relationship special. Don’t be afraid to show your emotions – this is a special occasion, after all.
  • Thank your guests: Your rehearsal dinner is a time to thank the people who have supported you throughout your wedding planning process. Take a moment to express your gratitude and 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.

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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

A lot of grooms always get confused when trying to write a speech for their wedding. Days before the wedding, they go into a fit of panic because they know absolutely nothing to write. While writing such speech, you are conscious about the introduction, body, and conclusion. You want to catch the guests at the beginning of your speech, keep them interested and close off to a magnetic finishing.

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

groom speech bride vintage dress veil

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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.

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Groom Wedding Toast Ideas

groom speech

The groom’s wedding toast is quite numerous, most of which he will give as he makes his speech. For every stage he concludes in his speech, there is a toast. A toast to the father-in-law, to his best man, to the bridesmaids, to the guests present, and many more. The most important toast is to his wife and both of them as a couple.

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’s Speech Examples

February 21, 2017 By Kate

Grooms speech examples

While it is not at all mandatory, some grooms will sometimes give a speech at their wedding. Traditionally, the groom’s speech comes right before the best man’s speech. Here are a few tips and talking points to think about when you are writing your groom’s speech.

First of all, you should thank all of the guests for coming to celebrate with you and your bride on your special wedding day. Acknowledge the effort that people have put in from traveling far and wide to helping out with the wedding. Do not forget to thank your parents and the bride’s parents as well.

Last but not least, do not forget to talk about your bride. She is the whole reason that you have this wedding. Throwing in a compliment is a good idea, whether you are talking about her dazzling personality or how gorgeous she looks in her wedding dress.

And since you will be married already, you can now refer to her as your wife. Your guests will love it when you refer to her as your wife and they will love to see it if your speech is a little bit romantic.

While it is very thoughtful to thank and acknowledge the important people in your wedding speech, you also want to avoid doing that for too long as it will bore the guests. Of course, there is a long list of people who have helped to make your wedding a success and you might still want to find a way to thank them for contributing to your wedding.

People like your vendors and the people in your bridal party might not all need a mention. If you would like to thank them, you can do so privately in person or by writing them a Thank You note. When it comes to making acknowledgements in your groom’s speech, you should definitely remember to include your parents, the bride’s parents, and the bride at the very least.

If somebody will have a speech after yours, then you will want to introduce them to the guests. In most cases the person following you will be your best man. You can just briefly say who he is and what he means to you before handing over the microphone to him.

As much as you might like your best man, he is not the star of the wedding, so you can keep his introduction nice and simple. If you go into a long story about the two of you, it might bore the guests.

When writing your speech, try to keep it to only a few minutes long. Anything too long will make it harder for your guests to stay interested and engaged in your speech. It is okay, in fact it is often welcomed to be romantic in your speech. It is your wedding day after all.

Below are a few examples of groom speeches that you can use as inspiration for your upcoming wedding. Let these groom speeches help you put together a unique and heartfelt speech for your special day.

1. You have all heard the story about the bride who dreams of her wedding day. But I have dreamt of my wedding day too. My wife and I worked hard and put our heads together to plan the perfect wedding. From the venue to the caterer and the suit and gown, a lot of work was put into this wedding. We prayed for beautiful weather, good health, and for our guests to all arrive safely.

But at the end of the day, the only thing that could make my wedding day perfect was getting to stand next to the woman I love so that I could exchange vows with her. At the end of the day, that was all that really mattered. And now we are here before all of you as husband and wife.

2. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank all of you for being here. To my parents, for guiding me, even now as an adult. To [bride’s] parents, for raising such a wonderful woman, and of course to all of our guests and vendors, for making this day even more complete. And lastly, thank you to [bride,] as we all know, this day would not have happened without you. Thank you for taking a chance on me and thank you for loving me the way that you do.

3. Now as many of you probably know, I am not an in-your-face romantic. I don’t go out to the movies first in line to see the latest romantic comedies and I’m not much of a mushy person. But I became a romantic the moment I met [bride,] who is now my wife.

In my experience, there are two kinds of people. The people who are romantic at heart and the people who don’t really believe in true love until they meet the one. I fit into the latter category. I was a skeptic, I was cynical and never thought love would come calling. Until one day, it did.

And it always happens in the most ordinary, unexpected way. I was not some knight looking for a princess. One day we just bumped into each other and sparks slowly started to fly. And now here we are, husband and wife.

When it comes to [bride,] I believe in romance with all of my heart. Now that I have you, I will kiss you every day and tell you that I love you because I never want you to forget that. I cannot believe how lucky I am to now be able to call you my wife.

4. Growing up, I had the best parents that a guy could ever ask for. And besides being such wonderful parents, my mom and dad were such a lovely couple to know. And I was even luckier to be able to call them mom and dad. Thank you guys for really showing me what love is. Love is the best gift that you can ever give anyone.

Seeing that kind of love between two people every day is such a gift and it has inspired me to be a loving person to everyone that I know, especially to my wife.

5. Doesn’t [bride] look stunning today? I do not really need to go on about how beautiful [bride] looks tonight, though to be honest, I think she looks beautiful any day of the week and at any time of day whether it be morning, noon, or night. But beauty is only skin deep anyway. What counts is what you find on the inside. And the more I got to know my wife, the more I feel in love with her.

6. As some of you here may know, [Bride] and I started off as friends. Naturally, I tried my best to not fall in love with her, I really did. She is a selfless person who is always thinking of others. But I have other selfless friends too. She is thoughtful, but so are my other friends.

While I love her for all of her many great qualities, what I love about my wife more than anything is how well she gets me. She knows me inside and out and never once ran away screaming. And I love her for who she is as well.

And that is why we are all here today in this room, because one day, we decided that it was not enough to just be friends. We knew that we could not live without each other and we wanted to spend the rest of our lives side by side.

[Bride,] I cannot believe how far we have come. Sometimes it still has me in shock, just thinking about how lucky I am to be able to wake up knowing that I have you in my life. Thank you for marrying me and for being my wife.

7. There are so many wonderful people in my life that have made this day special. My parents, who have raised me well and taught me the true meaning of love. My friends and family, who continue to be a remarkable support system to me and [bride,] [bride’s] parents, who raised a remarkable woman, and of course [bride] herself, who I am now lucky enough to call my wife. You all mean the world to me and I would not be up here without you.

8. I would like to take the opportunity to introduce the person who will be delivering the next speech. He is our Best Man and a good and loyal friend. He has always been my partner in crime and he is a really funny guy. Let us all welcome _____________.

9. There are many times in life when I have been uncertain. Uncertain about school, uncertain about what career I want to pursue. There are many times where I didn’t know where life should take me or where I should live. Figuring things out can be tough. But I never had to think twice about [bride.] With her, everything is so much clearer and makes so much more sense.

[Bride,] if there anything in this world that I am sure of, it is that I was meant to be with you. Today is only the beginning of the rest of our life together.

10. We spend a lot of our spare time worrying, wondering, and planning for the future. When I look at [bride,] I know that I have nothing to worry about. I know that we will build a great life together on top of the relationship that we already have.

11. When I think about now having a wife, I do not think about what she could do for me. But I ask myself, what I will do for her. As your husband, I cannot wait to fall asleep next to you, wake up by your side, share a table with you, and have many more adventures. I hope to bring you continuous laughter, joy, and comfort as we embark on our married life together.

12. Some of my friends have teased me about getting married. They joke about me being on a ball on chain and tied down. But I don’t see it that way. When you meet the right one, it does not feel like you are tied down. Instead, I have never felt more free and happier. And I have certainly never felt this kind of love before. So for me, trading the single life for the married life was a no-brainer. When you want to lock the one that you love down, then that’s when you know they are the one.

13. I have always been a bit of a shy, soft-spoken guy. I don’t like speaking in public and crowds make me nervous. But seeing [bride’s] face in the crowd helps and I just had to say this: I really hope today was not a dream. I will probably wake up tomorrow asking myself, did that all really happen? Did I really get to marry the woman I love?

How many people are that lucky to find such a special person who loves them back? Out of all the choices and paths we took in life, I truly believe that it all led us to each other, to this very moment.

14. To [bride,] my beautiful bride. There are no words, no poems that can fully describe you. I can only say that you make my heart feel full in the best way possible. Thank you for choosing me and thank you for letting me be your husband.

15. [Bride,] you look absolutely stunning today and every day. Whether you have on a dazzling dress and perfectly manicured nails and every strand of hair in place or you just have a messy ponytail and some t-shirt and sweatpants on, you look beautiful no matter what you wear.

Check out our other article on Wedding Vows for Him or Her.

16. Marriage, of course, is a big deal. It is a huge commitment. Planning a wedding is a lot of work and then of course, is the marriage itself. So why do it? For those who want to know why I asked [bride] to marry me, the simple, most obvious answer is love.

When I met [bride] and got to know her, I could hardly believe that she hadn’t already been scooped up by someone else.

17. [Bride,] you already know that as much as I love you, I am not perfect. But I will do my best to do my share in our marriage and around the house. I will try to remember to put my dirty dishes in the sink and I will do my best to separate the laundry correctly. But here is what I can promise you without a doubt. I will love you with all my heart and I will try to make you laugh and smile every day.

18. So I wrote a little something for [bride.] And you might be wondering why I am reading this in front of a room full of people then. Why not read this in a room with just the two of us? But since today is a celebration of our love, I thought what other way to celebrate this love than to talk about it in a room full of the people that we both love?

[Bride,] you look beautiful tonight. I cannot believe that I am yours and that you are mine, but I am so happy for it. Since we have been together, you have made me the happiest man on Earth, and today made me even happier. I cannot wait to embark on the rest of our life together. I love you so much.

19. When our eyes first met, I already knew

That you were my absolute dream come true.

Your very smile lights up the sky,

I am so happy to call you mine.

20. I had only ever read stories and heard tales of what true love was. It was not until you that I finally knew and understood what it all meant. To me, your name alone makes me light up. Your smile brightens my day and your eyes sparkle like the sun. But more than anything, I have met my twin soul.

21. [Bride,] I am so blessed to be able to call you my wife. You are an angel in my life. I cannot wait to share the rest of my life with you. I know that God will guide us on our path together.

22. [Bride,] you are my favorite person in the world. Today is our first day of being married and I know we will have so many other firsts. Our first house, our first child if we are lucky, and so on. I cannot wait to share all of these exciting memories with you, my lovely wife.

23. To [bride,] my beautiful bride, who I can now call my wife. While nobody in this world is 100% perfect, to me you are amazing just as you are. I love everything about you and look forward to spending my days with you as husband and wife.

24. [Bride,] I don’t know if you truly know how happy you make me. Words cannot fully or adequately express how your presence and love make me feel. I can only say that things are much better and much brighter with you by my side.

25. [Bride,] what we have is beautiful. Our relationship nourishes my soul and your company gives me so much excitement. You are fun and hilarious and beautiful and kind and smart too. There is no one out there like you and I am so lucky that you are my wife.

26. [Bride,] we have had so many blessings in our relationship together. Meeting you and becoming your friend was a blessing, and getting to marry you was an even bigger one. I know that God will guide us on the right path on our marriage and I cannot wait to see what our future has in store.

27. [Bride,] it is easy to love you. Not only on your best days, but on your worst days as well. When you are happy, I want to celebrate with you and when you are sad, I want to help comfort you and lift up your spirits. You make me so loved as well.

You may also enjoy our Father of the Bride Speech Examples.

28. [Bride,] you are many things to me. You are my best friend, my confidante, my rock, and my wife. You are my love, my partner, and my family. In short, you are everything to me. Let us toast to our future together as a married couple.

29. [Bride,] I am not the same person I was before I met you. When we first embarked on a relationship, something special started. A seed was planted and it continues to grow and flourish today. I am so excited to continue to grow with you and to see what memories our marriage will make.

30. [Bride,] thank you for marrying me today. Without a doubt, I know that we will be happy together. When we first met, I could never have predicted where we would end up today, but I am sure glad that this is where we are now. Now that I know you, I could not see myself with anyone else but you.

31. [Bride,] you are my other half, we complement each other so perfectly. You are the peanut butter to my jelly, the macaroni to my cheese, and the yin to my yang. With you, I know that anything is possible.

32. [Bride,] thank you for signing up to be my wife. I know that I am not the cleanest eater or the snappiest dresser, but I promise to make you as happy as I can. I will always try to put a smile on your face and I will always be there to hold your hand and whisper that I love you.

33. [Bride,] what we have together is love. We have no illusions of being with perfect people, but we love each other anyway. I will continue to love you, my wife, imperfections and all.

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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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how to write a great grooms speech

Best Groom Wedding Speech: Ideas on how to write The Perfect One

Being a groom can be daunting, especially when it comes to writing your wedding speech. Whether you’re hosting a large wedding or an intimate celebration, standing in front of an audience can be nerve-wracking.

How can you share your love for your bride, and thank your guests, in an entertaining yet sincere manner?

Thankfully, our handy guide to writing the perfect grooms speech is here to help. Discover when to give your groom wedding speech, who to include, and how to write a sentimental speech that your guests (and bride) will love.

Giving a Groom's Speech

Who Does The Groom Toast?

When preparing to write your groom wedding speech it’s important to know who to address. When planning your speech, you’ll want to thank your guests for attending your nuptials, say thank you to the father of the bride (who will give his speech before yours) and your best man. Naturally, you will want to say thanks to your beautiful bride and her family as well as the bridesmaids and your own wedding party. Remember, giving a shout out to specific people will enhance the sincerity of your speech.

If you’re hosting a rehearsal dinner, you may wish to give a short wedding speech at this event as well. Don’t worry too much about this. A speech at your rehearsal dinner needs to be very short and essentially thank the people who have already given toasts as well as thanking other attendees at your wedding rehearsal dinner.

When Should The Groom Give His Speech?

Tradition states that the groom gives his speech at the wedding reception, following the ceremony. The father of the bride generally delivers his speech first, but if there is no father of the bride, you may wish to ask another family member, or the bride, to give a speech first.

Sit down with your bride and decide the order of speeches – you may want to avoid tradition and choose your own order of toasts – whatever you decide is perfectly fine.

Writing A Groom Speech

Writing a groom’s speech doesn’t need to be overwhelming. The key to giving a great wedding speech is preparation. It’s a good idea to begin writing your wedding speech at least several weeks before your actual wedding day. This gives you plenty of time to write the perfect groom wedding speech and rehearse in front of friends or relatives.

The ideal wedding speech for a groom should be a blend of romance, entertainment, and authenticity. Writing doesn’t come naturally to everyone, so to start, write down the main points of your speech first. These tips will help when it comes to writing your first draft.

  • Create a warm introduction by thanking your guests for their attendance, thank the father of the bride, best man, groomsmen, bridesmaids, wedding parties, and of course, your stunning bride.
  • Use “we” to speak on behalf of you and your wife. For example, “we would like to thank…

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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.

how to write a great grooms speech

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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Writing the Groom’s Speech: The Ultimate Guide to Your Wedding Toast

  • Wedding Planning

Unless you’re a fan of public speaking, you’ve probably found your way here wondering how on earth you’re meant to begin writing the speech for your wedding day…

Well, as a groom, you’re in luck, the Groom’s Wedding Speech is actually a very simple, straightforward one to write, and with a couple of read-throughs, you’ll nail it (even if you are reading this the night before.

In what order should the Groom’s speech be?

A Groom’s Wedding Speech is one of the four traditional wedding speeches. Typically, the Groom’s wedding speech follows the speeches of the Father of the Bride and the Best Man, and is followed by the Maid of Honour (historically, a Bride would not make a speech). Of course, it will be completely up to you as a couple to decide who will be speaking, and what order that should be in (though someone may just surprise you and wish to speak on the day!), and of course, if this is a same-sex wedding, there may be two Grooms making speeches.  See all the different ways  same-sex couples can reinvent the speech section of their wedding.

Why the Groom’s Speech is the Easiest Wedding Speech to Write

It’s often said that the groom’s speech is the easiest speech to write because it has a simple structure and purpose. Here are some reasons why:

  • Shorter length: The groom’s speech is usually shorter than other speeches, such as the Father of the Bride or Best Man’s toast. This means that there is less pressure to come up with a lot of content, be particularly funny or entertaining, or even share personal stories – leave that up to the others if you wish.
  • Simple structure: The Groom’s speech typically follows a very simple structure, starting with an opening thank you and acknowledgment of the Bride, followed by a brief anecdote or two, possibly about wedding planning (and how much or little you’ve had to do with it), and ending with a toast to the future. This structure makes it easy to plan and write the speech.
  • Personal experience: The Groom’s speech is often based on personal experience, making it easier to write from the heart. The Groom can share stories about how he met his Bride, how he fell in love, or when he knew he wanted to marry her, which can easily make for a heartfelt and meaningful speech. Trust us, all anybody really wants to hear is how stunning you think your new wife is, and what a phenomenal job she has done planning the day (even if you think you took on a fair share of it!)

How to Write the Groom’s Wedding Speech

  • Start with a plan

Before you begin writing your speech, it’s important to have a plan in place. Think about the key points you want to make and how you can weave them together into a cohesive message, possibly incorporating a point into both the introduction and conclusion.

  • Begin with a strong opening

To captivate your audience from the start, consider beginning with a strong opening. This could be a heartfelt quote or a humorous story that sets the tone for the rest of your speech. The goal is to grab the attention of your audience and set the tone for the rest of your speech.

  • Speak from the heart

The best wedding speeches are those that come from the heart. While it can be tempting to focus on jokes or generic sentiments, take the time to speak honestly about your feelings. Share what you love about your new spouse and what makes your relationship special. Speak from the heart, and your words will be sure to resonate with your audience.

  • Keep it concise

While you may have a lot to say, it’s important to keep your speech concise. Aim for a speech that lasts around five minutes, as anything longer can cause your audience to lose interest. Stick to the key points you want to make and be mindful of your audience’s attention span.

  • Include humor

Wedding speeches don’t have to be serious all the time. In fact, including humor can be a great way to engage your audience and lighten the mood. Consider adding a funny story or anecdote to your speech to break up the more serious moments., practice, practice.

  • Practice Reading Your Speech

Once you’ve written your speech, it’s time to practice. Read it out loud several times to get a feel for how it sounds and to make sure it flows well. Consider practicing in front of a mirror or in front of a friend to get feedback. The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll feel delivering your speech on the big day.

Making the Groom’s Speech Funny

If humour comes naturally to you, your speech is likely to be funny too, and your guests are the ones who know and love you best (so they’ll definitely laugh along with you). If you struggle to tell personal anecdotes, consider including some funny quotes or sweet sayings:

  • “The secret to a good marriage is to be a little deaf.”  —  Ruth Bader Ginsburg 
  • “If at first you don’t succeed…try doing it the way your wife told you.”  —  Unknown
  • “The secret to a happy marriage remains a secret.”  —  Henny Youngman
  • “A successful marriage requires falling in love many times—always with the same person.”  —  Mignon McLaughlin (this one’s in our ‘ I still do ‘ anniversary journal)
  • “To keep your marriage brimming with love in the loving cup, whenever you’re wrong, admit it; whenever you’re right, shut up.”  —  Ogden Nash

What should the Groom actually say in his wedding speech?

Of course, the groom’s wedding speech is also an opportunity to express his love and appreciation for his partner in front of friends and family. It’s a chance to share heartfelt words that capture the essence of their relationship and the depth of his feelings. While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to writing a groom’s speech, the following tips can help create a personal and loving tribute:

  • Start with gratitude: Begin by thanking everyone for being there to celebrate this special day. Express your gratitude for their love and support, and how much it means to have them all there with you.
  • Acknowledge your partner: Take a moment to acknowledge your partner and how much they mean to you. Share a personal story about how you met or something that has strengthened your relationship over time. Speak from the heart and let your emotions guide you. Thank them, if they have worked really hard to plan the wedding , as it has probably been a huge emotional undertaking for them too.
  • Speak to their qualities: Talk about the qualities you admire in your partner, such as their kindness, compassion, sense of humor, or intelligence. Share specific examples that demonstrate these traits and how they have impacted your life.
  • Express your love: This is the perfect opportunity to express your love and affection for your partner. Use language that is personal and meaningful to you, whether it’s through poetry, song lyrics, or your own heartfelt words.
  • Make promises: A wedding is a celebration of a lifelong commitment, so take this opportunity to make promises to your partner about the future you will build together. Reinforce the vows you wrote to each other . You might promise to support them through thick and thin, to always be their partner in life, or to continue growing and learning together.
  • Thank the families: Thank both families for their love and support, and for coming together to celebrate this special day. Acknowledge any special people in your partner’s life, such as parents or grandparents, and express your gratitude for their presence.
  • End with a toast: Raise a glass to your partner, your families, and your future together. Invite everyone to join you in celebrating this joyous occasion and toast to the happiness and love that lies ahead.

Is there anything the Groom shouldn’t say in his speech?

Ah, yes, we’re so glad you asked, there are a few things never to include in a wedding speech .

  • No matter how funny the anecdote sounds to you on paper, ex-girlfriends or past relationships for either party are off the table . It’s best to avoid this topic entirely.
  • Controversial or sensitive topics: Weddings are a time to celebrate love and happiness, so it’s best to avoid controversial or sensitive topics that could potentially upset or offend guests. This could include politics, religion, or other divisive issues.
  • Inside jokes or stories that are inappropriate: While inside jokes and stories can be entertaining, it’s important to consider whether they are appropriate for a wider audience. If a story or joke could potentially embarrass or offend someone, it’s best to avoid it.
  • Negative comments about anyone (ANYONE): A wedding is a time to celebrate and show love, so it’s important to avoid negative comments or criticism of anyone. This includes family members, friends, vendors, or even the bride or groom themselves. Don’t resort to self-deprecating humour, this just isn’t the time. See etiquette guide to wedding speeches .

Remember, the most important thing is to speak from the heart and be true to yourself. While it can be tempting to focus on jokes or generic sentiments, take the time to speak honestly about your feelings. Share what you love about your new spouse and what makes your relationship special. Speak from the heart, and your words will be sure to resonate with your audience. Don’t worry too much about getting the words perfect – the emotion behind them is what really counts. With these tips in mind, you can create a personal and loving tribute to yo.ur partner that will be remembered for years to come.

Finally, the best, most entertaining and engaging speeches are ones which are to the point and concise. Aim for a speech that lasts around five minutes, as anything longer can cause your audience to lose interest. Stick to the key points you want to make and be mindful of your audience’s attention span.

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The Stress-Free Guide to Writing a Short and Simple Groom Speech

how to write a great grooms speech

The Groom Speech is one of the most important pieces of the wedding ‘jigsaw’.

Get it right and you’ll be a hero in the eyes of your new bride and leave your guests with big smiles on their faces.

Get it wrong and there could be a big, embarrassing hole in the middle of an otherwise perfect day.

So the pressure’s on and while the groom speech is not a hard one to pull off, it’s also an easy one to screw up.

But there’s no need to panic! Take a deep breath, think calming thoughts and read my Minimalist Guide to a Zen-Like Groom Speech That Simply Works .

An Effective Groom Speech is as Simple as ABC

Some groom speeches are masterpieces of speechwriting - full of touching stories, memorable details and clever jokes.

But the truth is that as long as you include just three essential elements you can deliver a rock-solid groom speech that ticks all the right boxes.

So here’s my ABC for an effective groom speech, which tells you exactly what to say, and when to say it…

A is for… Acknowledgements

This is non-negotiable - acknowledging the important people in your life, particularly those who’ve helped with the arrangements for the big day.

Forget to say “thank you” and you’ll not only look ungrateful but your speech could leave a bad taste in the mouth of anyone who felt they deserved a quick mention.

And remember, even if you’ve thanked someone in person - or plan to - nothing can quite replace giving them public recognition in front of the other guests.

“Thank You” Checklist

Here’s a checklist of people you might want to thank:

  • The father-of-the-bride for his toast to you and the bride
  • Your parents for their support over the years
  • The bride’s parents for:a) bringing up your wonderful wife, andb) for welcoming you into their family
  • Your groomsmen for their help on and before the big day
  • The bridesmaids for the help they’ve given the bride

“Thank You” Gifts

If you intend to hand out any gifts you can do this as part of the acknowledgements.

Absent Family and Friends

It’s also customary to acknowledge absent family and friends.

This can be a poignant moment so make sure there’s a brief pause to remember important people, before diving into…

B is for… Bride

Once you’ve shown your gratitude by acknowledging all the key wedding players, it’s time to get to the main topic of your speech, which is of course - the bride!

Yes, the thank you’s are absolutely essential, but they’re really just a polite preamble. It’s the bit where you start to talk fondly about your new wife that your guests are really looking forward to hearing.

Even if you’re the strong, silent type, your wedding day is the one occasion where you get to show your softer side and let a few honest feelings show through.

But don’t worry, it’s dead easy to write a crowd-pleasing groom speech. Because although the best man’s speech, for example, is expected to be funny, all that the groom’s speech really needs to be is sincere - and a little romantic.

In the spirit of minimalism, here’s a simple template to use if you’re lost for words when it comes to talking about your beautiful bride:

  • Tell the story of how you first met
  • Say what you love about her - illustrated with a quick anecdote
  • Tell us something about your hopes and plans for your future together

Do this right and you’ll score some serious points with your new wife and have all the guests (well the women at least!) thinking you’re the ultimate romantic hero!

C is for… Cheers!

So you’ve thanked everyone who needs thanking and you’ve made your new bride swoon with some well-chosen words straight from the heart.

Job done, right? Time to sit down.

Well, not quite.

Wrap it up and end on a high

All good speeches have a clear beginning, middle and an end, and the groom speech is no exception. You’ve just nailed the beginning and the middle, so let’s wrap things up neatly and end on a high.

Nothing gets a more enthusiastic response than an invitation to drink, and it’s traditional for the groom’s speech to end with a toast to the bridesmaids.

In an ultra-minimal groom speech you could simply thank everyone for listening and immediately propose the toast.

However, it’s nice to acknowledge the next speaker - usually the best man - before you sit back down (and hopefully receive a big kiss from your wife).

A simple template for the perfect ending

So, with that in mind, here’s a quick guide to the perfect ending:

  • Thank everyone for listening and say it’ll soon be time for the best man to speak
  • Say a few short words about the best man and how much you’re looking forward to his speech
  • Raise a toast to the bridesmaids and hand straight over to the best man (or the MC)

So that’s it! You’ve reached the end of my Minimalist Guide.

Hopefully the prospect of writing your groom speech is now about as stressful as gently raking the sand in your Zen garden whilst listening to an iPod full of whale song.

Now take a deep breath in, hold it for a few seconds, then slowly exhale any remaining worries and fears about your speech.

Just pick up a notepad and your favourite pen, and get writing.

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How To Write The Ultimate Groom’s Speech

  • 28th Apr, 2020

Jump to the good bits

Congrats on making it this close to your big day! Now all you have to do is write the perfect groom’s speech. Simple, right? When it comes to wedding speeches, we’re pretty sure the biggest thing giving you sleepless nights is what the best man is going to say! Definitely have a word with him but don’t forget to work on your own speech well before the day. With a few choice words and the right planning, you might just finally win the mother-in-law over!

We’ve compiled the comprehensive guide with a list of do’s and don’ts to deliver the ultimate groom’s speech.

Do Keep It Short

Wedding Days can be long and let’s be honest, as important as your words are, the groom’s speech tends not to be the speech that people are looking forward to most. 10 minutes maximum should be enough of a speech duration. Anything longer than that and you’re just going to start losing people’s attention. By keeping all of the ultimate groom’s speech do’s and don’ts in mind, you’ll easily be able to keep your speech duration short and hopefully, memorable.

Do Include A Bit Of Humour

Odds on, a good chunk of the wedding party are going to be a bit tipsy at this stage so getting a few laughs won’t be a problem. Nobody wants to hear a long drawn out serious speech. You have their attention and if you can put a smile on their face, it will set them up nicely to enjoy the remainder of the day.

Harmless jokes about how your best man and groomsmen are looking are good but just remember you’re the groom and not a stand-up comedian so don’t go overboard!

Do Thank Everybody

This is possibly the most important point of the groom’s speech. This is your time to (in no particular order) thank the venue, thank the celebrant, thank the bridal party, thank your groomsmen and best man, thank the in-laws, thank your family and thank everybody for coming. Now is the opportunity to thank your parents / family for bringing you into this world and to express your gratitude for all they have done for you.

For extra brownie points a bouquet of flowers for your mother and mother-in-law will go down a treat 🙂

Do Remember Your New Wife

Obviously, the whole point of the big day is to sign your life away to celebrate your marriage to your beautiful wife. If you forget to mention this, it might be a very short married life! Include a bit of cheese, tell everyone how you met, how much she means to you and how happy she has made you. People love hearing a good love story and no doubt there’ll be people at the wedding itching to get the kleenex out, so keep this in mind when you go to write the ultimate groom’s speech.

Do Practice

We all know the saying, practice makes perfect. It’s no harm to run through your speech the night before or even in the morning if you have time. Try it in front of the mirror or try it in front of your best man or one of the groomsmen. This will make you feel much more comfortable when delivering the speech and as you practice, you also might decide to add/remove parts. This will go a long way when delivering the ultimate groom’s speech on the big day!

Don’t Hurry

Relax. This is not an Oscar acceptance speech. You’re talking to friends and family who know you so take your time. If you start rushing through the speech, you’ll probably forget something and nobody will have a clue what you’re talking about.

This is the bride and groom’s day and remember that you are the main man. People want to hear the groom’s speech and see how happy you are. If you are feeling a bit nervous beforehand, just a try a few deep breaths in and out – it’ll work a treat.

Don’t Picture Everybody Naked

You’re guaranteed the best man or groomsmen will throw this “helpful” nugget of information out when it comes to making your speech. Don’t go there. This will just make you feel uncomfortable especially when you turn to acknowledge your new mother-in-law!

Imagine looking at the bridal party and how beautiful they are then all of a sudden they’re stark naked… this might just prompt you to say/do something completely ridiculous or worse still, lose your concentration and make a complete tit of yourself!!

Don’t Drink Too Much

This will not help the groom’s speech and on a related note, it will also not help things in the bridal suite later on. It should be a given, especially considering it’s probably the most important day of your life. You might think it’s a good idea to get a bit of dutch courage but before you know it, you’ll be forgetting people’s names. If you are having a drink, leave it until after your speech is done and you’ll appreciate it more.

Don’t Outshine The Best Man

While it’s your day and you want to write the ultimate groom’s speech, a lot of people will also be looking forward to what the best man has to say. He might be a pain at times and has probably gotten you into a whole world of trouble with the Mrs but let’s allow him to have the spotlight for a moment. He’s probably worked really hard on his speech.

If you found writing the grooms speech tough, just think about how the best man has probably struggled with his speech. This will put you much more at ease. Best man speeches are a whole different minefield. While you should include some humour, leave the comedy and stories to him. Don’t be too worried, wifey probably has him under strict instructions to keep everything PC.

Don’t Go Overboard On The Bridal Party

It’s important to remember the bridal party and to comment on how beautiful they look. But just do that only. Don’t try and be funny by saying ‘if I wasn’t a married man…’ or ‘one time I got the sisters mixed up…’. A good idea is to look at everyone else while mentioning this topic and asking your audience to agree with you. Then move on. You do NOT want to upset your new wife. She takes priority when it comes to who’s looking beautiful.

We hope that will help you write the ultimate groom’s speech!

If you need a hand getting the stag organised, get in touch and we can help you organise the ultimate stag party too!

For advice for the bride-to-be, check out our sister site, The Foxy Hen .

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How To Write a Great Groom’s Speech

Welcome back to Groom's Week on Bridal Musings.

This week we're giving brides a few days off and letting the guys take over!

We've been talking Groom's Attire 101 , how to be the best, best man ever , and schooling you in traditions of the Groom's Cake .

And now it's time to discuss perhaps the most daunting prospect of your wedding day, The Groom's Speech.

How To Make a Great Groom's Speech | Bridal Musings Wedding Blog 2

Photo by  Lucida Photography  via Style Me Pretty

Making a speech or a toast on your wedding day is a bit of a juggling act.

The Best Man gets to bring the joke book and the father of the bride (hopefully) welcomes you to the family, and gushes about his little girl. But for your speech, you need to do all of the above, as well as thanking your guests and sharing your love story.

No big deal.

How To Make a Great Groom's Speech | Bridal Musings Wedding Blog 16

Photo by  McKinley Rodgers Photography  via Bridal Musings

Remembering all you've got to say, and delivering it with panache is a tough job, but luckily, we've enlisted one of the most debonair gents in the wedding industry to help.

Bruce Russell is a luxury wedding planner (who has shared his insightful tips before, on the blog ). Along with creating beautiful and sensational events , he has also launched The Bridal Room , a go-to inspiration site for discerning brides and grooms.

As part of The Bridal Room experience, Bruce often takes grooms out for the day, coaching them in the ways of fine tailoring, wine tasting, and speech making.

So, who better to help you (or your other half) prepare the perfect speech? Take it away Mr Russell…

10 Expert Tips For Writing a Great Groom's Speech

How To Make a Great Groom's Speech | Bridal Musings Wedding Blog 1

Photo by  Brandon Kidd Photography  via Style Me Pretty

It’s no secret that the key to a successful speech is in the preparation.

While the bride may have planned her part of the big day down to the very last detail, I am afraid, ladies, the groom’s speech is one thing that has to be left to the chaps.

For most grooms, this may well be their first experience of public speaking and being faced with a sea of familiar faces can actually make the task all-the-more daunting.

Try to be as supportive as you can – they’ll doubtless be fretting so if in doubt and if you’re keen to offer some counsel, why not wave these top tips under their nose…

How To Make a Great Groom's Speech | Bridal Musings Wedding Blog 7

Photo by  Anne-Marie Bouchard  via Style Me Pretty

1. Manners Maketh The Man

Always begin by thanking those who have spoken before you.

Your Father-in-Law is a must (forget him and there may well be dire consequences!) and your Best Man, too. Don’t forget to also thank your beautiful bride and her family and yours too for that matter – all of these people will have offered invaluable and well-meaning support in the run-up to the day.

And where possible, look to mention specific names as it makes for a far more personal and heart-felt speech.

How To Make a Great Groom's Speech | Bridal Musings Wedding Blog 5

Photo by  DeFiore Photography  via Style Me Pretty

2. Mum’s the Word

Please don’t forget the mothers – they are a cornerstone to the planning process and it’s important to show your gratitude.

On this point, in particular, remember that in your capacity as groom, you are actually speaking for both your new wife and you, so make sure you refer to ‘we’ not ‘I’.

How To Make a Great Groom's Speech | Bridal Musings Wedding Blog 14

Photo by  Peachey Photography  via Bridal Musings

3. Short and Sweet

The best speeches are simple, short and pithy – ideally under 10 minutes.

Your guests have a fair few speeches to sit through and no one wants to be nursing a glass of warm, flat champagne late into the night!

4. Lighten Up

While a groom’s speech most certainly shouldn’t be treated as a stand- up comedy routine, weddings are jovial affairs and adding some gentle humor and the odd witty comment will certainly make for a good speech.

Plus, once you’ve roused a ripple of laughter or two, you’ll relax a little.

That said, do try to remember this is not the time for ‘inside jokes’, ritual humiliation or laddish humor – it’s a family affair, after all!

How To Make a Great Groom's Speech | Bridal Musings Wedding Blog 4

Photo by  Connie Miller Of Studio Atticus  via Style Me Pretty

5. Be Sincere

It may not come naturally in front of a room of assembled friends and family, but try to speak from the heart.

This is probably the most important speech you will ever give so please do justice to the gravitas of this big day and remember to tell your bride how much you love her.

How To Make a Great Groom's Speech | Bridal Musings Wedding Blog 13

Photos by  Ellie Gillard Photography   via Bridal Musings

6. Put the We in Wedding

Don’t forget where you are – this is your wedding day and you are sat alongside your new wife.

Your life together should be the essence of your speech, not sordid tales from your Stag Do or a list of your own life achievements.

Use your speech to recall some of the really special moments of your relationship – the milestones – how you met, as well as some of the little endearing details that spring to mind.

Avoid any content that might embarrass your already blushing bride, though!

7. Presenting the Wedding Party

Don’t forget the gift-giving – flowers for the mothers and, if you haven’t already given gifts, then you’ll need something to thank your Bridesmaids, Ushers and Best Man.

How To Make a Great Groom's Speech | Bridal Musings Wedding Blog 9

Photo by Rebecca Hoyt Photography via Style Me Pretty

8. Gracious Gracias

When wrapping up your speech revert back to the thank yous – this time to all the family and friends who have assisted throughout the planning process, and your best man for his suppor t.

9. Raise a Glass

And lastly, the toasts – to your bridesmaids and, of course, your new bride.

How To Make a Great Groom's Speech | Bridal Musings Wedding Blog 11

Photo by  Jez Dickson Photography  via Bridal Musings

10. A Final Note

And if you forget absolutely everything on the day itself – including your notes – just remember to be genuine, honest and cheery.

You are not pitching to the Dragon’s Den, you’re giving thanks to your bride, family and friends for all their help and for sharing such a momentous and happy occasion with you. If you get a laugh, a cry and a cheer then all the better but don’t get too worried about it, gents.

It’s only 10 minutes and then you can let your hair down!

How To Make a Great Groom's Speech | Bridal Musings Wedding Blog 3

Photo by  Elle&R  via Style Me Pretty

Such wonderful tips, my favourite is “Put the WE in Wedding” – so many grooms turn their toast into another best man speech, so this is a key one to remember.

Thanks so much to Bruce Russell for sharing his insights, visit The Bridal Room for more information on his Groom's Speech Experience .

Have you any more advice for speech giving? Don't forget to leave it in the comments below!

See the rest of our Grooms’ Week Musings here. 

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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 .)

1 – CUT THE CRAP

Hmm, not very romantic but let’s face it, there’s a lot of waffle in your average groom speech. Old fashioned etiquette is partly to blame for making so many speeches generic and boring – so save yourself a job; ignore all the etiquette guides you may feel compelled to look at.

The only people you need to thank is

  • everyone for coming
  • both sets of parents
  • the entourage (best men, ushers, bridesmaids etc)
  • any special people like children or grandfolk

Don’t get sucked into thanking specific people who’ve travelled far or anyone you’ve paid (like the caterers or the venue). A long thank you list turns a good speech bad.

Don’t give out gifts during the speech. It will interrupt your flow and it’s dull for guests to sit through if they’re not one of the lucky few getting a gift. Deliver any gifts personally earlier in the day.

The only other big ‘to do’ is consider a toast to the dearly departed. Read our guide to raising a toast to absent loved ones if this is something you want to do.

wedding speechy speeches

2 – START BY MAKING PEOPLE SMILE

Don’t go overly formal or feel you need to address your friends and family as ‘ladies and gentlemen’ just because you’re wearing a fancy suit.

Prioritise humour at the top of your speech and get people smiling ASAP. You’ll relax as soon as they do.

Having said that, don’t resort to generic wedding gags. Remember the adage ‘it’s funny because it’s true’. Have fun with the reality of the day and the people there… for example

‘Can you believe it? (Bride) has finally given up her dream of marrying Ryan Gosling and realised a short, follicly-challenged Project Manager from Aberdeen is the man for her!’

‘We’re so pleased you could join us on this rather special day. It took a lot of planning, negotiation, and a few tears… but we finally found someone who was willing to sit beside (best man).’

Your opening lines don’t need to illicit a belly-laugh but they do need to make people smile.

Check out our Funny Guide for more tips on how to nail the humour in your speech.

how to write a great grooms speech

3 – PROVE, DON’T TELL 

Make sure your groom speech stands out from the usual fodder and your marriage will get off to a great start.

A heart-warming tribute to your partner should be the focus of your speech but remember every groom thinks his new spouse is gorgeous, kind and generally amaaaazing.

The only way for your compliments to sound genuine is – prove, don’t tell .

Stories say more than words. Recount the anecdotes that show your partner’s qualities in action.

  • Don’t just say they’re ditsy. Tell everyone about the time they reported their car stolen only to discover they parked it somewhere else.
  • Prove they’re kind, by naming all the stray cats you now house.
  • And show how talented they are by retrieving her ‘Butlins-Beatboxing’ medal from the attic.

4 – NAIL THE ROMANCE WITHOUT BEING CHEESY 

It’s hard to express how much you love someone without resorting to cheesiness and meaningless Insta sentiments. ‘The love of your life’ and ‘the one’ are phrases that have been overused and should be avoided at all costs.

What your loved one will want to hear from your speech is that you’ve noticed, and appreciate, all the unique things that make them special to you. A great groom speech hack is simply to list them a la Harry Met Sally i.e.

“I love that you get cold when it’s 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you’re looking at me like I’m nuts. I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it’s not because I’m lonely, and it’s not because it’s New Year’s Eve..’  I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”

Harry’s epic declaration of love is simple but incredibly effective.

The only thing we recommend is substituting ‘love’ for ‘like’. It’s counter-intuitive but somehow it makes what you’re saying sound more genuine and romantic as a result.

5 – FIND A KILLER QUOTE 

The ultimate hack. Totally a cheat’s game but a legitimate one.

As long as you acknowledge the author of a quote then it’s not plagiarism and you still get to benefit from their wit, insight, and poetic words. Whether it’s Homer or Homer Simpson, a clever quote can nail the sentiment you’re after.

Of course, try to think of people or lyrics who naturally mean something to you as a couple – Beyonce to Maya Angelou, Winne the Pooh to Jerry Seinfeld, Noel Gallagher to Voltaire – take your pick.

We’ve compiled the Best Quotes for Grooms for you to check out.

6 – MAKE A PROMISE 

Yes, you’ve said your vows but what does getting hitched mean on a practical level? What promise can you make your partner that will show they’ve married the right bloke?

Can you promise to turn up the heating? Listen to Justin Bieber? Make their favourite eton mess once a week? Learn to put up a tent?

Whatever it is, make it something that only they would appreciate. Guaranteed, it will provide a memorable finale to your speech.

The only tricky bit? You’ve got to stick to the promise.

how to write a great grooms speech

7 – GET YOUR OTHER HALF INVOLVED

Ok – this is the ultimate cheat. But it makes sense too!

There’s a big trend this year for Joint Couple Speeches – where the newlyweds deliver a speech together.

Of course, your partner doesn’t have to do anything that they don’t fancy on their wedding day but suggest it as an option. A joint speech is fun to write and deliver.

For advice on how to write a joint speech, check out the joint speech guide.

8 – KEEP IT SHORT 

Write your first draft, then cut it in half.

As Ernest Hemingway said ‘The first draft of everything is shit’ .

The maximum wordcount for a groom speech is 1300 words but there’s nothing wrong with a speech that’s 800 words.

Stories and jokes are better if they’re punchy.

No one ever listened to a speech and said ‘if only it was longer’ .

Here’s a great little app to Estimate your Duration .

9 – PREPARE TO DELIVER 

A great speech can be ruined by poor delivery so make sure you nail it like a pro.

Check the acoustics of the venue & hire a mic if necessary (so many speeches are ruined simply because the guests can’t hear them).

Try to memorise the speech but don’t be afraid to use notes on the day.

Talk slower than feel natural (makes you immediately sound more confident) & leave pauses for laughter (sometimes people need a moment to ‘get it’).

The simplest hack is to smile (scientifically proven to be infectious) and laugh at your own jokes (again, laughter breeds laughter).

Avoid alcohol before the speech. As much as we love the stuff, the idea of Dutch courage is a complete myth. Booze has been proven to increase the stress hormone.

Finally, try to enjoy delivering your speech on the day. Remember you survived the stag do. You’ve got this.

10 – CONSIDER THE ‘SILVER BULLET’ 

Supposedly there’s no silver bullet when it comes to writing your groom speech. Well, this used to be the case.

Probably the best hack for those grooms with a looming deadline…take inspiration from our American counterparts who increasingly view wedding speech services as a savvy investment.

Sure, all blokes want to deliver an original, honest, and heart-warming speech but not all of us are natural writers and Speechy is here to help bring out the eloquent genius lurking inside every groom.

The Speechwriting Experts

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.

how to write a great grooms speech

How can we help you?

Speech edit service, £ 245, bespoke speech writing service, £ 495, delivery coaching, £ 150, or check out our range of speech templates from just £ 29 :, we’re rated ‘excellent' on trustpilot for a reason....

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Groom Speech Examples

The groom often gets a good roasting from the best man, so the groom’s speech is a chance to get in a few jokes of his own! As well as thanking the wedding party and both sets of parents, what all the guests are waiting for are some romantic and heartfelt words about his new spouse. You’ll find plenty of example groom speeches to help inspire you when the time comes to write yours, plus jokes and delivery tips.

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How to Write—And Deliver—The Perfect Wedding Speech

By Shelby Wax

How to Write a Perfect Wedding Speech

All products featured on Vogue are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

If one of your nearest and dearest is tying the knot, it’s possible you may be asked to give a speech during the wedding festivities. And while having an opportunity to share your love and memories at a major milestone event is an honor, there’s no denying that it’s a big ask—especially if public speaking isn’t your forté. A wedding speech presents a unique challenge: There’s no set formula for how the speech should play out, but it often requires sentimentality, a touch of humor, and the good sense to know when to wrap it up.

Are you a member of the wedding party that wants to (or has been asked to) give a toast at an upcoming celebration? Read ahead to learn how to write and prepare for your big moment.

Who Gives a Wedding Speech?

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First off, it’s important to make sure that the couple definitely wants you to give a toast at their celebrations. Traditionally, the maid of honor, best man, and parents of the couple will give a speech at the wedding. However, the couple should explicitly ask these guests well in advance to give a speech so they have plenty of time to prepare. They may also choose additional wedding party members to give toasts at the reception or pre-wedding parties; but if the couple has not asked you to give a speech, do not prepare one. Speeches are carefully placed into a wedding timeline so the day will stay on schedule, and an additional five minutes could cut into strategically timed moments of the celebration.

The to-be-weds also have the right to curate the day as they wish, and occasionally at a rehearsal dinner or welcome party, the couple may open the floor to additional toasts. But if this doesn’t happen, grabbing the mic unexpectedly for an off-the-cuff speech (especially after a few glasses of wine) will not be appreciated.

How to Write a Wedding Speech

How to Write a Perfect Wedding Speech

If you are asked to give a toast, it’s important that you don’t just wing it. “First, recognize that speechwriting is a creative process,” shares Allison Shapira, founder and CEO of Global Public Speaking . “Give yourself plenty of time to be creative (i.e. not the night before, when you already have so much to stress about). Wait for your most creative time of the day, and turn off any distractions. Spend some unrushed time thinking about your relationship to the couple, and what you’d like to say.”

While there’s no exact template to follow, there is a good basic formula to adhere to. “The framework I recommend for a wedding speech is: story, message, blessing,” she shares. “Tell a heartwarming story, share the message or value behind that story, and then offer a blessing or wish for the couple based on that message.”

“Typically, we advise our speakers to try to bring the audience on a journey where you initially try to make them laugh, then get to the real depth of the speech and earn some tears, then bring the whole speech full circle with a deep insight or story about the couple that ends with a funny final punch,” shares Steven Greitzer, CEO and founder of Provenance , an AI company that specializes in helping write personalized wedding vows, ceremonies, and toasts. “It’s important to have a good balance of humor and sentimentality because, if it’s a full roast, it can feel like you’re just doing a standup comedy show for your own benefit and it could lack substance. Or, if it’s too overly emotional, it can get heavy and perhaps a bit too somber for a wedding celebration.”

When choosing a story, Shapira recommends reading the room. “It should obviously be good-natured, without making anyone look bad. And, it all depends on the family dynamics,” she says. “What one family considers good-natured, another family could consider scathing. Choose someone in the audience whom you think could give you some helpful feedback, and practice the speech with them in advance.”

How to Write a Perfect Wedding Speech

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Greitzer adds that it's important that both members of the couple are highlighted in the speech. “Great anecdotes showcase who each person was before meeting, their synergy together, and their individual and collective growth,” he shares. If you don’t know one member of the couple very well, don’t be afraid to get creative. “One of the best speeches I’ve seen was from a bridesmaid who hadn’t really been able to spend too much time with her best friend’s fiance because of the pandemic,” Greitzer shares. “She creatively read texts she found in her phone that gave her a hilarious timeline of her friend falling in love.”

If you’re still not sure where to begin, consider giving an AI platform a try to help you form your toast. “The Provenance tools guide speakers to create unique, and personal ceremonies, vows, and toasts without the stress. It’s a partner in your brainstorming process; a way to help you verbalize what you were trying to say—but faster,” explains Greitzer. “Instead of being some outdated, mad-libs-style template, the expert-curated prompts inspire special stories and insights, ultimately weaving your responses together into a custom, editable first draft.”

A final writing tip from Shapira? “I definitely recommend creating an outline but do not recommend writing the speech out word for word. When we script the entire speech, it sounds too formal,” says the public speaking expert. “I recommend first brainstorming the content, rearranging it into a logical structure, then drafting a general outline which you can bring with you to the event. While it may look better to simply give the speech ‘from the heart,’ the stress involved in trying to memorize your speech is simply not worth it.”

How to Deliver a Wedding Speech

Writing a wedding speech is half the battle—next comes your performance. It’s important that your toast has a good flow, feels natural, and doesn’t drag on. Here’s where the idiom “practice makes perfect” rings true. Shapira advises giving yourself a few weeks of rehearsal to make your speech feel authentic and fluid. Her recommendations? “Read your speech out loud and make sure it stays within the time you have allotted. Read it to someone else and get their feedback. Record it and watch it back. We use a tool called AMPLIFY to get AI-based feedback.” She adds, “Don’t memorize the speech, but do read it out loud and make sure it sounds like your voice.”

The ideal length of a toast is between two to four minutes, which translates to around 500 to 1000 words on a page. Still, Greitzer notes, “The perfect length for the wedding toast complies with whatever length the couple wants it to be. Many guests don’t realize that long speeches can impact the whole evening’s timeline and affect the caterer, DJ, and so much more.”

This image may contain Human Person Electronics Phone Mobile Phone Cell Phone Dance Pose and Leisure Activities

While it’s now common to see toasts being read off a phone, both experts agree that it’s much better to print out your speech. “Reading off of a phone comes with the risk of distractions from notifications, a weird backlight that can affect the color of your face in photos, finicky technical difficulties, and having that annoying sound interference with the mic,” says Greitzer. (You also should make sure your speech is legible with a large font and wide spacing so you can easily find your place.)

The final hurdle of giving a wedding toast is getting over your nerves. “Find a quiet place right beforehand to center yourself (perhaps the bathroom or a corner of the room), pause and breathe, and remind yourself why you care about the couple,” recommends Shapira. She also adds—perhaps unsurprisingly—that it’s best to hold back on alcohol consumption ahead of the toast. “No one expects a perfect or professional speech; they want a unique, authentic message. The speech isn’t about you—it’s about the couple. Once you reframe the fact that the center of attention isn’t on you, you can relax.”

How to Write a Perfect Wedding Speech

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7 Steps How To Write A Best Man Speech And Deliver That Killer Toast

C ongratulations on being chosen as the best man. This means you’re the right-hand man of the groom. While it’s a great honor to be the best man to your brother, friend, or colleague, remember that it comes with many responsibilities. You might need to look for best man speeches samples soon.

Aside from always being next to the groom during the ceremony, you also lead the pack in organizing a bachelor party , helping the groom choose formal wear, and practically being the point person of the groomsmen about the pre-wedding and day-of-the-wedding details.

Beyond the seeming wedding coordinator duties, one of your most meaningful tasks is delivering a best man speech. Before digging the internet for perfect best man speeches samples, we’ve outlined some useful FAQs and handy tips on how to write a best man speech.

3 Important Questions About The Best Man Speech

Whether you’re reading this as a bride and groom preparing for your wedding or the best man planning on how to nail a speech in front of a crowd, below are some practical questions to keep in mind so you’ll be ready for the big day.

When Does The Best Man Give His Speech?

Knowing the traditional order of speeches during a wedding will help you plan, avoid mishaps, and adjust accordingly to the situation. During the wedding reception, the father of the bride or her parents gives the first toast. This is followed by the father or parents of the groom. After the speeches of the parents, the maid of honor speech follows.

Then, it’s your big moment. The best man speech traditionally comes after the maid of honor’s speech. 

How Long Should A Best Man Speech Be?

Aside from thinking about what makes a good best man speech, one of the most important things to remember is to keep it at an appropriate length. As a general rule, best man speeches should be short and sweet. Try to keep it between three to five minutes max. 

You can spend about 30 seconds for your intro to set the mood, a good three minutes or so for the main body of your speech, and the remaining time to wrap it up and offer a toast for the newlyweds. 

What To Do If Your Best Man Can’t Give The Speech?

If your best man is not up to delivering a speech during your wedding, don’t take it against him. While it’s a big tradition that sparks laughter and wins oohs and ahhs from wedding guests, not all individuals have the knack for public speaking. If this is the case, you can allow someone to step up, such as another groomsman, a sibling, a cousin, or a close friend. 

Some modern weddings are less traditional and nix the best man speech altogether.

What To Say In A Best Man Speech

The groom picked you to be the best man for a reason. You do not need to pretend to be another person. You just need to be yourself and tell a wonderful story that would make your audience laugh, cry, or learn a lesson about love or life.

A typical best man speech template includes three essential elements:

Key Takeaway

When you stand in front of a crowd to tell a story, you want the newlyweds and wedding guests to remember one thing after you’ve left the floor. It will help if you highlight that thing that binds all the jokes, anecdotes, and stories you share. 

Spotlight On The Newlyweds

The best man speech is not all about your friendship with the groom. You want to put the spotlight on the newlyweds and celebrate their overflowing love for each other. You will be standing there to inspire the crowd on how the couple accomplished things together or how fortunate you are to know that the bride and groom found each other to spend the rest of their lives together.

Personal Insight

Remember that the crowd consists of people from the groom’s and bride’s sides. Whether family, friends, or colleagues, people could not be totally familiar with the bride or groom. You will serve as the bridge, so they get a glimpse of how the relationship blossomed and why you are happy to see the couple together forever. 

What Not To Say In A Best Man Speech

It is best to keep things positive when you deliver a toast. Below are some things you should never include in your best man speech:

  • Details about the groom’s past relationships
  • Money matters
  • Past mistakes of the groom
  • Sexual jokes
  • Stories that may diss marriage
  • Anything negative about the bride
  • Foul language
  • Joke about other cultures
  • Joke about the couple’s parents
  • Long stories

7 Steps To Write And Give A Best Man Speech

If you are feeling a bit nervous about how you will write and how to give a best man speech, don’t worry. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. With some planning and practice, you can wow everyone at the wedding reception with your speech. Here are some handy tips on how to do a best man speech:

1. Go Beyond Reading Best Man Speeches Samples

While you’re the wingman of the groom, you should not wing the best man speech. Do not write it the night before the wedding (remember, bachelor party?). You need to do your homework, and plan and prepare weeks before the wedding day. 

The speech will focus on the couple but will help to know who the audience will be. You can ask the couple beforehand so you can prepare well. Knowing if the wedding will be an intimate affair or a big gathering can help you adjust what to include in a best man speech.

Aside from reading best man speeches samples and writing your own, part of your homework is to limit your drinks the night before or during the reception. This can save you (and the newlyweds) from a big disaster.

2. Create an Outline

You do not have to write the whole speech or memorize it. Often, writing an outline on a piece of paper or your mobile phone will do the trick. Your outline may include the following:

  • Introduction/Opening Statement
  • Congratulate the couple and say your thank yous
  • Compliment the bride, joke about the groom
  • Why you’re delivering the speech
  • Share stories to build a takeaway message
  • Close with a toast

3. Practice And Have A Plan B

Delivering a good best man speech will be a tribute to the newlyweds. Go beyond writing and reading best man speeches samples. One crucial step you need to make is to practice delivering it before the wedding. Practicing it aloud in front of a mirror or having someone listen to you and give feedback will be best. Please take note of your posture and body language, the time it takes you to deliver your speech, and other adjustments you need to make.

Make sure you have a backup copy of your talking points, just in case something untoward happens at the wedding. 

4. Nail The Opening

You have a few seconds to connect with your audience when you deliver your best man speech. You can introduce yourself to the crowd by sharing a story about how you met the groom, complimenting the bride and her wedding entourage, or reading a quote. This will help you magnet eyes and ears, so they pay attention to you the rest of the way.

5. A Dose Of Appropriate Humor 

Sprinkling some jokes can break the ice. It will help you and the crowd relax and set up the mood for the main points of your speech. Just remember to make it appropriate as you might have several generations, people from different cultures, or colleagues of the couple in the crowd. If you have to ask yourself twice if a joke or anecdote is appropriate, it’s a good hint that it’s not.

6. Drop Your Armor

When you speak before the people special to the bride and groom, you share a piece of yourself too. They need to know why you are there and sharing stories. Don’t forget the details that put the audience in the storyline with you. A dose of vulnerability when sharing your appreciation and admiration of the couple will help people understand why they are a good match. 

7. Offer A Beautiful Toast

Are you wondering how to end a best man speech? With heartfelt congratulations and a toast for the newlyweds’ happy future, of course. Deliver your closing line and ask the rest of the guests to celebrate with you and raise their glasses.

Bonus: Best Man Speeches Sample Prompts

If you’re stuck writing your speech, it is best to browse for best man speeches samples. Below are some prompts to help those creative juices flow:

  • What are your wishes for the future of the newlyweds?
  • How did you meet the groom? And why you clicked as friends?
  • Why do you think the bride is perfect for the groom?
  • What qualities does the groom have that you wish you have?
  • Why do you think the bride and groom are perfect for each other?
  • What was it like when the groom introduced the bride to you?
  • How the couple brings out the best in each other?
  • How the couple fits your favorite love quote or poem?
  • How did the groom tell you stories about his partner?
  • What was the most fun vacation you had as friends?

The post 7 Steps How To Write A Best Man Speech And Deliver That Killer Toast appeared first on honeymoons.com .

Congratulations on being chosen as the best man. This means you’re the right-hand man of the groom. While it’s a great honor to be the best man to your brother, friend, or colleague, remember that it comes with many responsibilities. You might need to look for best man speeches samples soon. Aside from always being next... View Article

As Biden’s memory issues draw attention, neurologists weigh in

Since a report released on Thursday by special counsel Robert Hur described President Joe Biden as an “elderly man with a poor memory,” there have been significant misperceptions about the cognitive changes associated with aging, neurologists say.

The report on Biden’s handling of classified documents noted that the president hadn’t remembered the exact time frame that he served as vice president and was struggling to recall the period when his late son, Beau Biden, had passed away. Biden defiantly rejected the changes in a press conference late Thursday , saying “my memory’s fine.”

There’s also been scrutiny of other recent events when the 81-year-old president mixed up names of foreign leaders .

However, neurologists say blanking on the names of acquaintances or having difficulty remembering dates from the past, especially when under stress, can simply be part of normal aging.

“If you asked me when my mother passed away, I couldn’t necessarily tell you the exact year because it was many years ago,” Dr. Paul Newhouse, clinical core leader for the Vanderbilt Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, said.

Almost every older patient has trouble remembering people’s names, Newhouse said. 

“I think it’s by far the most universal complaint of every person as they age,” Newhouse said.

In Newhouse's experience, this type of forgetfulness doesn’t actually predict who ends up having memory disorders. Only a person’s doctor or neurologist can make that diagnosis, not outside observers, brain experts say.

Dr. Dennis Selkoe, co-director of the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, agreed that forgetting names doesn’t actually provide much insight into potential memory problems. In fact, stress and a lack of sleep, can interfere with memory, no matter how old someone is.

“Naming proper nouns is not an adequate basis to make a conclusion about whether an individual has a more consistent and more concerning substantive progressive memory disorder,” Selkoe said.

What are normal memory changes?

It’s normal for older brains to have more difficulty retaining new information and then retrieving the information, but mental processes like decision-making and judgment can actually improve with age, said Dr. Thomas Wisniewski, director of NYU Langone Health’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and its Center for Cognitive Neurology.

“Although the raw power of memory has some degree of decline, perhaps wisdom can increase because the individual has a greater backlog of experiences and different situations as to what is the best thing to do,” Wisniewski said.

The problem isn’t having trouble remembering names or calling someone by the wrong name, but when someone’s memory is fuzzy about recent or past experiences, said Newhouse. Issues with episodic memory — memory for events in time or if a person doesn’t remember going shopping, for example — can be a sign of a progressive disorder, but not always.

Wisniewski said he becomes concerned when people don’t even recognize that they are forgetting things.

“They forgot that they went shopping and they’re unaware that they’ve forgotten,” he said.

Overall, neurologists tend to worry less about a patient’s ability to remember remote memories from many years ago and more troubled by an inability to recall more recent events. That’s because dementia first affects the part of the brain that’s responsible for short-term memories, as opposed to long-term memories, said Newhouse.

“What I’m more concerned about is, can you remember what happened yesterday? Or an hour ago?” Newhouse said.

While the conversation surrounding aging is often framed around a person’s diminishing memory or executive functioning, there are cognitive benefits that come with growing older, Selkoe said.

“There is a type of emotional intelligence and ability to handle many different kinds of experiences in life that come with greater longevity,” he said. “People can make decisions more carefully and more rationally.”

how to write a great grooms speech

Akshay Syal, M.D., is a medical fellow with the NBC News Health and Medical Unit. 

how to write a great grooms speech

Ghael Fobes is an Associate White House Producer with the NBC News White House Unit in Washington, D.C.

MIT Office of the President

  • Writing & Speeches

Video transcript: Actions related to a student organization

View the video.

Good afternoon, everyone.

Before the start of this semester, in a letter to the whole community and one directly to students, we were very clear   about the rules of the road regarding campus demonstrations. These rules exist to ensure that we can make ample room for free expression – while also allowing everyone to pursue their work and lives here, safely and unimpeded.

Last night, members of the CAA – the Coalition Against Apartheid – once again conducted a demonstration on campus without going through the normal permission processes that apply to every student group at MIT.

Therefore, the CAA’s executive officers received a letter today from Vice Chancellor Suzy Nelson immediately suspending the CAA’s privileges as a recognized student organization. An official complaint has also been filed with the COD. 

This interim action means, among other things, that the group

  • is not allowed to reserve any space on campus for any purpose
  • is not allowed to use MIT facilities
  • will not receive standard funding of student groups
  • and will not be permitted to organize any further protests or demonstrations anywhere on our campus.

The suspension will remain in force until the Committee on Discipline makes a formal determination – our usual process in such cases. Individual cases referred to the COD will also come with interim restrictions.

I want to be clear that suspending the CAA is not related to the content of their speech. I fully support the right of everyone on our campus to express their views. 

However, we have clear, reasonable “time, place and manner” policies in place – for a good reason! The point of these policies is to make sure that members of the MIT community can work, learn and do their research on campus without disruption. We also need to keep the community safe – and we can’t do that without enough advance notice to organize staff and police resources. That’s why we have the rules.

We all know that universities have been the site of protest movements at many times in history.  But when students don’t respect the rules, we have to take steps to ensure the safety and smooth functioning of the campus community.

#          #          #

Now, just a closing word – returning to something I’ve raised repeatedly regarding how we treat each other.

I’m sure by now that almost everyone in our community has heard me emphasize that there is a difference between what we can say – that is, what we have a right to say – and what we should say.

I understand that many of you feel that what you should say in this moment is in fact a passionate expression of your political views about the causes you believe in. 

However, I hope that all of us can find a way to express our political views with a basic sense of respect and empathy for other members of our community.

It is, for example, legitimate to criticize the policies of any government, including the current government of Israel – as indeed many Israelis do. But as members of one community, we shouldn’t feel it’s OK to vilify and shun Israeli and Jewish members of our community. 

Equally, we shouldn’t feel it’s OK to vilify everyone who advocates for the Palestinian people as “supporting Hamas.” 

And we definitely shouldn’t feel it’s OK to single out other members of our community because of where they’re from or what they believe – and tell them that they’re “not welcome” on our campus. And of course, we do not tolerate threats to physical safety.

I have very high expectations for anyone privileged to be part of this community. In a time of exceptional turmoil and polarization, I don’t see how we can do the important work of MIT if we can’t find a way to speak to what’s important to us without damaging the fabric of our community.  We must find a way to live and work together.

IMAGES

  1. Groom Speech Examples And Writing Tips In 2021

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  2. 20 Best Father Of The Groom Speech/Toast Examples

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  3. Wedding Speech Ideas For Bride And Groom

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  5. Groom Wedding Speech Template Free

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  6. best man speech example Groom Speech Template, Best Man Speech Template

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VIDEO

  1. How to Write a Groom Speech

  2. Wedding Speech Writer Explains How to Write the Perfect Wedding Speech

  3. How to deliver a great wedding speech

  4. How To Write A Wedding Speech. How to Write your Best Man Speech or Maid of Honour Speech

  5. How To Write Groom Speeches

  6. The BEST Example of a Groom Wedding Speech

COMMENTS

  1. How to Write The Perfect Groom's Speech (With Examples)

    How to Write a Grooms Speech 1. Don't be too formal Unless you're known for your love of a bit of pomp and circumstance then you don't suddenly have to become the master of all things etiquette and stuffy speech-making just because it's your wedding day.

  2. The Groom Speech: What to Write, Say & Do

    How to Write a Groom Speech A Groom Speech Template Every groom's speech will be unique and different depending on their personality, what they'd like to share, and who they want to thank. But, in case you need some guidance, here's an outline of a structure Dent recommends following as you write your groom's speech.

  3. Groom Speech Examples And Writing Tips (+ Free Template)

    Here's a groom speech 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.

  4. 12 Groom Speech Tips: How to Make a Killer Groom's Speech

    How to Write a Groom's Speech? What Does the Groom Say in His Speech? How Long Should the Groom's Speech be? 12 Groom's Wedding Speech Tips So here are our top tips on giving a wedding speech, but we've also put together a handy video for wedding speech-givers in a hurry!

  5. 33 Groom's Speech Examples You Can Model After

    Groom's Speech Examples. 1. You have all heard the story about the bride who dreams of her wedding day. But I have dreamt of my wedding day too. My wife and I worked hard and put our heads together to plan the perfect wedding. From the venue to the caterer and the suit and gown, a lot of work was put into this wedding.

  6. Everything to Know About Your Groom Speech

    "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...

  7. Groom Speech Examples: 7 Keys To Writing The Perfect One

    Writing A Groom Speech Writing a groom's speech doesn't need to be overwhelming. The key to giving a great wedding speech is preparation. It's a good idea to begin writing your wedding speech at least several weeks before your actual wedding day.

  8. 8 Tips for How to Write a Groom's Speech

    Tip #1: Determine the Goal of Your Speech There are many different directions you can take with a groom's speech. Before you put pen to paper, decide what direction you want to take. Here are various goals you can achieve through a groom's toast: Thank and welcome guests Thank a few key and influential people Honor loved ones who have passed

  9. Groom Speech: Write A Modern, Witty & Truly Original Speech

    The first rule of groom speech etiquette is - don't get tied down with it. A lot of it's outdated, blooming dull, and completely unnecessary. There's no need to address your friends and family as 'ladies and gentlemen' (chances are they're not), and you don't need to toast the bridesmaids (though it is essential you say they ...

  10. The Groom's Speech: The Ultimate Guide to Making Your Speech

    The groom traditionally thanks and leads toasts to the following in his speeches: The father of the bride (or the equivalent person in that role). The groom should thank them for their speech on behalf of himself and his new wife or husband. The guests. The groom should thank the guests for coming to celebrate their day.

  11. Top 10 Groom Speech Examples

    Sophia Shafiee Last updated: 15th Aug 2023 Bookmark Share The great thing about the groom's speech is that it's generally one of the easiest to write. You don't need to stress about making everyone laugh like the best man or worry about whether your words are heartfelt enough, like the father of the bride.

  12. HOW TO WRITE A GROOM SPEECH IN 2023

    HOW TO WRITE A GROOM SPEECH IN 2023 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.

  13. The ultimate groom speech guide

    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. Check for speech writing service How to Write a Groom Speech

  14. Writing the Groom's Speech: The Ultimate Guide to Your Wedding Toast

    Simple structure: The Groom's speech typically follows a very simple structure, starting with an opening thank you and acknowledgment of the Bride, followed by a brief anecdote or two, possibly about wedding planning (and how much or little you've had to do with it), and ending with a toast to the future.

  15. The Stress-Free Guide to Writing a Short and Simple Groom Speech

    Hopefully the prospect of writing your groom speech is now about as stressful as gently raking the sand in your Zen garden whilst listening to an iPod full of whale song. Now take a deep breath in, hold it for a few seconds, then slowly exhale any remaining worries and fears about your speech. Just pick up a notepad and your favourite pen, and ...

  16. Groom Speech Structure

    1. Start Never mind 'how' you'll write your speech, worry about 'when'. Start soon, ideally two months before the wedding. Do not be tempted to put off writing until you're hit by divine inspiration (it rarely strikes) and do not get side-tracked by table plans or biscuits.

  17. How To Write The Ultimate Groom's Speech

    Do Thank Everybody. This is possibly the most important point of the groom's speech. This is your time to (in no particular order) thank the venue, thank the celebrant, thank the bridal party, thank your groomsmen and best man, thank the in-laws, thank your family and thank everybody for coming. Now is the opportunity to thank your parents ...

  18. How To Write a Great Groom's Speech

    On this point, in particular, remember that in your capacity as groom, you are actually speaking for both your new wife and you, so make sure you refer to 'we' not 'I'. Photo by Peachey Photography via Bridal Musings. The best speeches are simple, short and pithy - ideally under 10 minutes.

  19. The Groom's Speech

    Here's a suggested structure for the Groom's speech: Opening: Welcome the guests, thank the parents of the bride, acknowledge the bridal party, and thank the bride for making you the happiest man in the world. Body: Share your feelings and thoughts about the couple's relationship, express your love for the bride, and thank the guests for ...

  20. How To Write Your Wedding Speech (Grooms' Edition)

    How To Write Your Groom's Speech There's no right or wrong way to give a groom's speech - so do what you want! But if you need some help, here's a simple structure to use as a starting point: 1. Say thank you

  21. Great Groom Speech Ideas

    8 - KEEP IT SHORT. Write your first draft, then cut it in half. As Ernest Hemingway said 'The first draft of everything is shit'. The maximum wordcount for a groom speech is 1300 words but there's nothing wrong with a speech that's 800 words. Stories and jokes are better if they're punchy.

  22. Groom Speech Examples

    All 2746 Best Man Speech Examples 1737 Bride Speech Examples 42 Father of the Bride Speech Examples 427 Groom Speech Examples 459 Maid of Honour Speech Examples 81 Recently added to Hitched Groom Speech Examples "I Consider Myself the Luckiest Man" - Groom Speech by David "Additionally, sending his apologies today is Amy's cat, Marvin.

  23. How to Write a Groom's Speech

    When practicing your speech, aim for at least three minutes but less than ten. You don't want your guests to get bored, and you want to leave space throughout for laughter and the reactions of your partner and guests. On the flip side, if your speech is too short, people may wonder why you bothered giving a speech at all. End with a memorable ...

  24. How to Write a Perfect Wedding Speech

    "Typically, we advise our speakers to try to bring the audience on a journey where you initially try to make them laugh, then get to the real depth of the speech and earn some tears, then bring ...

  25. 7 Steps How To Write A Best Man Speech And Deliver That Killer Toast

    C ongratulations on being chosen as the best man. This means you're the right-hand man of the groom. While it's a great honor to be the best man to your brother, friend, or colleague, remember ...

  26. As Biden's memory issues draw attention, neurologists weigh in

    Forgetting the names of acquaintances or having difficulty remembering dates from the past doesn't affect decision-making or judgment, brain experts say.

  27. The Real Reason Why Putin Gave A History Lesson To Tucker Carlson

    Russia's survival through grand challenges across the epochs, great dramas and conquests. The continuous expansion. The idea of its greatness , a very anachronistic concept in our time, a very ...

  28. Video transcript: Actions related to a student organization

    View the video. Good afternoon, everyone. Before the start of this semester, in a letter to the whole community and one directly to students, we were very clear about the rules of the road regarding campus demonstrations.These rules exist to ensure that we can make ample room for free expression - while also allowing everyone to pursue their work and lives here, safely and unimpeded.