tips for writing a wedding speech groom

8 Tips for How to Write a Groom's Speech

Are you planning to recite a groom's speech during your wedding reception? 

Great! Now the real question is, how exactly do you write one? 

As a wedding vow and speech writer , I have worked with many grooms to ghostwrite their wedding speeches.

So here is my guide for you to follow so you can create a groom’s speech that you feel confident delivering on the big day. 

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

Pay tribute to your new spouse

Entertain guests

 Which of these ideas is a goal you want to achieve with your speech? Most likely, you’ll want to include more than one of these concepts. You may even want to touch on all of them throughout your speech.  

You don’t have to limit yourself. Just make sure the speech is thoughtful in its intention and focused on communicating your key points so that your delivery feels most impactful. 

Tip #2: Organize your Speech into Sections 

Now that you have your ideas, it’s time to organize those thoughts.

The best way to do this is by creating an outline for your wedding speech. 

Here’s the outline I’d recommend you follow for your groom’s speech:

Brief introduction 

Welcome and thank guests

Thank anyone who deserves a special mention (parents, grandparents, or anyone who has been influential in your life and making your wedding day happen)

Story about your journey to getting to this moment

A few words about your new spouse

Your wish for guests

Close with a toast 

Tip #3: Keep the Thank Yous Succicent

One of the main purposes of your groom’s speech is to thank guests . While this is vital, don’t let the thank you section become so verbose that you lose the guests’ attention.

For example, if you mention more than two to four specific people, your thank you list will be so long that you won’t achieve that level of impact that you’re striving for.

Instead, focus on the most important people.

For anyone else who you’d like to thank but doesn’t make the cut for the speech, consider writing them personal thank you notes and distribute these either at the rehearsal dinner or after your honeymoon. 

I recommend organizing the thank you section of your speech into two sections:

A general thank you to all guests

A specific thank you honoring key individuals 

Example of a General Thank You:

My new spouse and I would like to thank everyone for traveling from all over the country to celebrate with us today. Your presence makes this moment more special.  

Example of a Specific Thank You: 

We’d especially like to thank both of our parents.  

To my mom and dad, Sheila and Donny. You’ve always encouraged me to chase my dreams and if it weren’t for your constant encouragement, I wouldn’t be living out my greatest dream today.

And to my in-laws, Jenny and Dave. Thank you for welcoming me so warmly into your family and for raising the love of my life. I promise to show her as much admiration, support, and love that you two always have.  

Tip #4: Balance Humor with Sentiment

Everyone appreciates a funny wedding speech . But make sure you balance that humor with the sentiment of the moment too.

You can keep guests intrigued and your speech interesting by bouncing back and forth between playful energy and a more sentimental tone. 

To do this, have a few jokes interspersed within serious sections. 

For example, after you recite a light-hearted line or a self-deprecating joke, circle back to a serious tone where you share something more heartfelt. 

Tip #5: Share a Story About Your Relationship

The number one way to capture guests is through storytelling so consider including a story within your groom’s speech.

Choose an anecdote that will show some insight into your love story but can also be tied back to the present moment of your wedding day.

When I showed up at Bar Logan for our first date, I was prepared for good drinks, decent food, and terrible karaoke filling the air between us…but I could never have been prepared to meet such a gorgeous woman who was as funny as she was smart, as strong as she was vulnerable, and as sweet as she was sassy.

Now I’m proud to say that for the rest of my life, I get to call that wonderful woman my wife.  

Tip #6: Work with a Speech Writer

To ensure you include everything that’s important to you and your new spouse within your groom’s speech, consider help. 

As a speech writer , I work with grooms to gather all the necessary information needed to write a speech that will make your guests feel both entertained and honored to attend your wedding.

Plus, getting married is nerve-wracking enough. You don’t need to add anything else to your plate that will cause you to be anxious on your wedding day. 

Get in touch to see how I can help.

Tip #7: Understand the Logistics

Common questions I receive for a groom’s speech are things like, “How long should my groom’s speech be?” And, “When do I recite my groom’s speech?”

So here are your answers to these popular questions:

Keep your speech impactful and to the point. The best way to achieve this is to not speak for too long. Reciting a 1 - 3 minute speech is ideal.

The groom’s speech is often recited after the ceremony and before dinner. If you’re having other guests give speeches, your speech should be first. This is because you’re a host of the event and so it makes sense for you to officially welcome and thank guests before others give their toasts.

Tip #8: Practice Reciting Your Speech Out Loud

Writing your groom’s speech is a huge task but to really leave a positive impression, practice your delivery.

Here are my top public speaking tips to keep in mind:

Speak loudly and slowly

Use a microphone

Don’t try to memorize your speech and don’t read it from your phone. Instead, print a copy of your speech and read from the paper while making natural eye contact throughout your delivery. 

Keep hand gestures to a minimum 

If you mess up a line, don’t apologize. This will only call attention to a moment that, otherwise, most of your guests may not have even noticed. 

Smile at appropriate lines. This will add a natural inflection to your delivery. 

Your presence at the mic combined with the words you write is what will leave a lasting impression on guests.

Love my vows Katelyn!!!! It’s such a relief to have this out of the way so I can focus on all the rest of the stuff I need to do!  You were my very favorite part of the process!! Your experience and confidence in the process took all the stress out of writing my vows!

— Natalie, Florida

I thought the process was outstanding. You did a great job communicating, and I thought the turnaround time for editing was perfect. I also thought the video interview was great in that it was personal and meaningful!

I am a storyteller, not a speechwriter. I was incredibly intimidated about writing one.

So thankful to find Katelyn to get my thoughts all in order. Very proud of how the speech came out. Looking forward to giving it!

— Jennifer Whitley, Texas

I had such a wonderful experience working with Katelyn. She truly helped mold perfect vows that I can’t wait to tell my fiancé on our wedding day!  Katelyn was friendly, sweet, and super easy to work with. I will definitely be calling her up if I have to give another speech in the near future.

— Jordanne, California

Katelyn was professional, easy to talk to, and made the interviewing process fun. She came well prepared with unexpected and thought-provoking questions to get a better understanding of our love story and who we are as a couple.

She was a pleasure to work with and made the vow writing process enjoyable.

— Kimi Kinsey, South Carolina

Working with Katelyn on my maid of honor toast was an incredible experience. She really took the time to understand my relationship with my best friend and used my responses to craft a toast that put my thoughts and feelings into words in a way that I never would have been able to do on my own.

Before working with Katelyn, I was nervous and stressed about giving (and writing) such a big, important speech. But now I’m so relieved that it’s done, and I honestly can’t wait to stand up and tell everyone exactly what my best friend means to me.

— Allyssa, New Jersey

I didn’t actually know this service existed until I discovered Katelyn! It was such a fun experience to video chat with her about my best friend who is getting married this summer.

I don’t have to stress about writing this a few weeks before my best friend’s wedding. Thank you so much and I can’t wait to read it at my best friend’s wedding!

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

Are you nervous about giving your groom's speech? Our experts have 12 top tips to giving the ultimate speech and help calm your nerves

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Have you been worrying about giving your groom’s speech ever since you popped the question? You’re not alone! This is arguably one of the most daunting parts of your entire wedding planning journey. 

You’ll need to consider how long your speech should be, your groom speech structure, and who you should be thanking. If you’re following the traditional order of speeches, your speech will come after the father of the bride (or groom) speech , and he could have set the bar pretty high.

But, don’t fret! We spoke to wedding speech writing experts to help calm your nerves. Speechwriter Chris Dance , Adrian Simpson from All Speeches Great and Small  and Heidi Ellert-McDermott from Speechy gave their best advice on what it takes to deliver a great groom speech.

• Groom's Wedding Speech Tips
• Groom Speech Preparation
• Who Does the Groom Toast and Thank?
• 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! This video explains our best wedding speech tips for grooms, in under a minute. 

1. Acknowledge This Special Moment

“A great groom speech should be a really good dollop of entertainment and fun, whilst at the same time acknowledging what a very special moment this is. It’s your chance to stand up and acknowledge the people who have brought you to this point and, of course, to talk about the person you’ve been lucky enough to marry,” explained Adrian.

2. Think Carefully About How to Begin

Heidi advises that the best way to begin your groom speech is “quickly”.

She says: “Grooms often make the mistake of thinking they should sound formal and get overly stressed about following traditional etiquette. The aim is to get people laughing as soon as possible, certainly within the first three lines of your speech as it puts everyone listening at ease.”

As well as keeping it light and funny, Adrian points out that it’s important to address your partner's father and thank him for his speech: “Make it a warm and inclusive introduction, however, don’t be tempted to detail his financial contribution. A reference to his generosity should be sincere but very general.”

3. Know Your Audience

Knowing your audience applies to all speech writing and Chris emphasises this by explaining that you should: "Keep in mind who you're talking to and make the speech accessible to everyone in the room. Don't use in-jokes that only you and your workmates will get, don't risk anything offensive or controversial, and steer clear of politics."

4. Add in a Few (Appropriate) Jokes

“There’s a lot of emotion on the big day and making people laugh with some wedding jokes or amusing stories is the best way to balance that out,” explains Adrian.

Keep your stories short, funny, and appropriate! You don’t want to be embarrassing your new wife or husband on your first day as a married couple.

“Are you already concerned that your bride’s ‘pinot posse’ have started chatting up the bar staff? Or are you finding it hard to recognise your middle-aged cycling buddies in clothes that they usually wouldn’t be seen dead in? Make your humour personal and seemingly spontaneous – your guests will really appreciate it,” adds Heidi.

Adrian advises grooms to steer away from a speech that’s more of a ‘dry procession of thanks’ as you’ll struggle to keep your guests’ attention – so even if you’re not a naturally charismatic person, make sure your personality shines through above the mere thank-yous.

Take a look at these groom speech jokes for inspiration! 

5. Remember to Thank Everyone

Traditionally, the groom will need to thank the following:

• Everyone for coming
• His parents
• His partner’s parents
• His best man and ushers (if there are any)
• The maid of honour and bridesmaids (if there are any)

Heidi advises that although there are probably plenty of other people who you would love to thank for their contributions and help towards your special day, try to avoid thanking half of the guest list.

A simple way to thank everyone would be to say:

"This is the best day of my life and it's because of all of you, and especially you (referring to your partner). I cannot thank you all enough for being here."

When it comes to thanking parents, there’s one thing Adrian warns grooms to be careful of. “Don’t fall into the trap of waxing lyrical about your new parents-in-law for several paragraphs, dismissing your own parents in a sentence. They should both be given equal measure.”

An example to combine them both would be to say:

"Thank you for my parents for bring me up to be the person I am today and thank you to my in-laws for welcoming me into your family."

6. Focus on Your New Partner

Heidi suggests that your new partner should be the main focus of your speech. She says, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to drop a public love-bomb on your partner and considering they’ve just agreed to tolerate all of your habits and box sets for the rest of their life, it’s the least you can do!

“Remember, every groom thinks his partner is gorgeous, kind and generally amazing so avoid cliché terms and words and concentrate on what makes them unique. Nailing their individual and quirky characteristics shows that you really get your new husband or wife and your friends and family will love you for that.”

Chris recommends that you do this by giving examples: "Don't just say that your partner is kind and thoughtful; illustrate it with the story about the time that they dressed up as Boba Fett and threw you a surprise Star Wars party, or about how they still hold your hand at the dentists because you hate the sound of the drill."

7. Forget Giving Out Gifts

Heidi advises that if you’re planning on giving thank you gifts to bridesmaids , parents or anyone else, either do it earlier on in the day or announce that you’ll be personally thanking them later as to not disrupt the speech.

She says: “Gift-giving is basically an excuse for guests to start checking their WhatsApp!”

8. Don't Be Too Ambitious

The time you take to the mic to make your groom's speech will no doubt be a big moment, but Chris shares that it is important to be realistic about what your comfort zone is and stay in it.

"It's a speech to your friends, not an audition for Britain's Got Talent. If you're terrified of public speaking, keep it simple. Don't give yourself unnecessary stress by filling your speech with tongue-twisters or trying to be Billy Connolly." 

9. Think Carefully About the Structure

Adrian says, “There are lots of people to talk about and you should deal with them one at a time and avoid repetition.

“Resist the urge to launch straight into how amazing your new partner looks and then pepper the speech with references to them. They are the star of the show so save the latter half of the speech to be dedicated to them and what they mean to you.”

10. Eight Minutes is the Perfect Length of Time

Adrian says that the length of a groom’s speech can really make or break it: “Too short and people are going to be wondering why you bothered. Too long and nobody will be listening. Keep it to a ‘stand up-sit down’ time of 10 minutes – that’s a talking time of around eight minutes and the rest will be made up from laughter, applause and heckles.”

Heidi also stressed the importance of not boring people with a lengthy speech, but also not coming across like you’re enjoying the attention a little too much.

11. Avoid Too Much Detail

Adrian explained that it’s too much detail that really slows a speech down: “A great speech demands the very least from the guests in order for them to enjoy it, so now is not the time to recount exactly how you know each of the ushers individually. A good guide is to aim for a total of 1,350 words – if you’re edging well over that, then it’s time to strip out some of the content.”

12. Think About Your Ending

According to Adrian: “Tradition says that you should end on a toast to the bridesmaids and a little aside to the best man. I’ve never found this works – in my opinion, the focus of the speech should be exclusively on your partner, that’s why I suggest toasting to the bridesmaids earlier in the speech and making the final words all about your partner.

“You should have talked about the best man earlier in the speech but there’s no harm in having a quick one-liner referencing him at the end but make sure it’s after the final toast.”

Groom Speech Preparation To Calm Your Nerves

Never Ending Stories

Heidi has a lot of advice when it comes to calming nerves around your wedding speech, starting with just how important the planning and preparation is.

“The key to being confident on the day is writing a wedding speech that’s so good you can’t wait to deliver it. If you know you’re going to make your friends laugh, your mum cry and your bride/groom love you even more then you’ll ooze confidence whilst delivering your speech.”

1. Film Yourself – Use your phone to film yourself practising your speech. Watch it back and channel your inner Simon Cowell – work out how your delivery could be improved and what you would change.

2. Dutch Courage Isn’t Always the Answer – Although lots of grooms swear by a bit of Dutch courage, this is based on wishful thinking rather than solid science!

3. Smile and Breathe – It may sound obvious but taking a deep breath is surprisingly effective at reducing those stress nerves and smiling is scientifically proven to be infectious, making them a fool-proof combination.

Does the Groom Give a Speech?

Traditionally, the groom will give a speech at the wedding reception, following the ceremony. You can do whatever works for you, but the traditional order for speeches is for the father of the bride to speak, then the groom, best man and any other toasts.

How to Write a Groom's Speech

If you are writing your groom's speech yourself the key points to remember are to compliment your new spouse and thank any key guests. Any other additions are nice extras! 

Writing not your strength? Hiring a professional speechwriter is a brilliant option. "It’s not cheating - if it is then so is ordering a wedding cake when you’ve got perfectly good eggs and flour at home," shares Chris.

"Speech writing is a specialist skill: giving the task to someone who can mould your words and articulate your thoughts is as valid a use of your budget as any other wedding service you’re paying for – arguably more valid, given that it’s probably the bit of the day you’re most worried about."

"The groom should focus on thankyous," explains Chris. "He should thank everyone for coming to the wedding - especially Jim and Tania who’ve kayaked all the way from Gdansk; anyone who contributed to it significantly, his partner’s parents for spawning such a catch; his own parents for loving and/or tolerating him.

"When he’s done that he can get on with lavishing praise on the person he’s married and saying how deliriously happy he is. That’s what the guests really want to hear from him, so he needs to do that bit well and sincerely."

How Long Should a Groom's Speech be?

Ideally, you want your groom's speech to be no more than ten minutes. Make sure to rehearse it a few times before the big day and time yourself - you don't want your guests to start getting bored!

"Just remember, if there are two or three other speakers then you’re asking your guests to sit still and listen patiently for half an hour, which is a long time when you’re stuffed full of wine, sea bass and tiramisu and you want to stretch your legs.

"However long your speech lasts (I find seven to ten minutes is usually enough), try to keep it punchy, lively and relevant: there is such a thing as a five minute speech that’s so dull it feels like a lifetime, yet fifteen minutes can race by if your speech is bright, engaging and funny," says Chris.

Still feeling nervous? Fear not – here’s our guide on how to deliver an amazing wedding speech !

Related Hitched articles

Your Ultimate Guide to Writing a Meaningful Wedding Speech

• Lauren is a contributor for The Knot covering topics such as music, cakes, venues and speeches.
• She has been published in a wide array of lifetsyle-oriented publications including SELF and Allure.
• Lauren is a proud graduate of Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School of Public Communication.

Getting asked to speak at a wedding is exciting, but it can also be nerve-wracking, especially since you're not a professional speaker or speechwriter! So, if you're unsure how to write a wedding speech , know you're not alone. Whether you're a member of a wedding party or a parent or sibling of the soon-to-be-married couple, you may be wondering what to say in a wedding speech. However, that's where we come into the picture: Keep reading for a full rundown of wedding speech tips , insight and, last but not least, a fully written example that you can use as a guide. Happy speechwriting!

In this article:

How to Write a Wedding Speech

Wedding speech example, wedding speech tips.

Writing your wedding speech is no easy feat. To help ensure things go as smoothly as possible, we tapped into Renée Dalo, owner of Moxie Bright Events in Los Angeles, California. Below, she shares a step-by-step guide.

Brainstorm a great opening.

To captivate other guests' attention, Daloe recommends taking some time to brainstorm a great opening. For example, she says, "Try to resist saying, 'For those of you who don't know me, I'm Erica's sister, Michelle.'" Instead, skip this entirely in favor of something more fun and creative.

Start with a story.

…but be sure to make it a short one, says Dalo. "Make sure it's relevant to your friendship and/or the couple." When selecting what story to share, the wedding pro recommends sterling clear of any that involve ex-partners—and for that matter, anything negative about the newly married couple. "Even if you think it's funny , she says, "it's not." Instead, think of a special moment or fun memory you shared with the couple. What did it involve? What was so great about it? All of these things are worth considering as you jot down your wedding speech.

Share your well wishes.

After all, what would a wedding speech be if it didn't include some well wishes for the newlyweds? "Make sure to include both people in the couple in your remarks," advises Dalo.

End with a toast.

Cap off your speech on a fun and sentimental note by ending with an actual toast . Dalo recommends this foolproof example: "Please join me in raising a glass to the happy couple. Cheers to X and Y, and best wishes for a lifetime of laughter!" Afterward, go in for a hug with the couple, making for the perfect photo op !

Rehearse away.

After you write your speech down, spend a significant amount of time rehearsing it so that you feel confident and comfortable while giving the actual speech. "Don't try to wing it," says Dalo. "You're going to want to rehearse this [so that] you can be as calm and present as possible."

Still trying to figure out where to start? Don't fret: If you could use some additional assistance writing your wedding speech, consider Provenance , which helps users create personalized, meaningful wedding speeches using AI-powered tools along with real responses to personal questions.

Take the Provenance Toast Builder , for example. Couples can invite those who will be giving wedding speeches—including the father of the bride , mother of the bride , father of the groom , mother of the groom , maid of honor and best man —to use the Toast Builder. Upon being invited to use the platform, these individuals will "get alerted to how long their speech can be," as well as any other important information to mention—or steer clear of. "From there," says Provenance CEO Steven Greitzer, "you can see the status of the speech and the estimated length."

To help get those creative juices flowing, check out the below wedding speech example.

Hi! As Lisa's younger sister—and now maid of honor—I've had the unique privilege of growing up alongside her. Since we're just two years apart, we've been each other's built-in best friends from the start. Like most sisters, we bickered constantly throughout our childhood, hurling insults over clothing, makeup and missing pieces of jewelry: I'll finally admit it, Lisa, I was the one who lost your charm bracelet at summer camp! All kidding aside, I hope I've made it up to you with this epic speech.

When Lisa first met Jay on the train coming home from work (romantic, I know!), we lived together in a tiny one-bedroom apartment in the city, an experience that only brought us closer together. After their first date to their now-favorite pizza place, she came home all giddy—bubbly, smiling, and laughing. She told me that the two of them already planned their next date. I had never seen her so happy. The look in her eyes since that night has not faded, and if I know Jay—which I do!—he will make sure it never will.

Like Lisa, Jay is kind, patient, and compassionate, and this was evident from the first time we met, which was right before his and Lisa's second date. I ran to the door to catch a glimpse of the guy who was slowly but surely stealing my sister's heart. Upon meeting, Jay and I instantly hit it off. He greeted me by name, hugged me, and took the time to sit down and truly get to know me. Less than 10 minutes later, we were already cracking jokes. It was clear to me then that Jay was, without a doubt, my sister's perfect match.

Lisa and Jay, you've set the bar (very) high for all of your friends and family when it comes to relationship goals. The love and commitment you share with each other is inspiring and everlasting. I know Jay will spend the rest of his life making Lisa happy and supporting her through every endeavor—and I know she'll do the same, too.

So, Lisa and Jay, I wish you nothing but a lifetime of love and happiness together. And I'm so excited to have a front-row seat to all that's in store. Everyone, please join me in raising a glass to the newlyweds!

Keep it short and sweet.

According to Dalo, your wedding speech should be "no more than three minutes." She continues, telling The Knot, "Three minutes is a long time, and when you figure in getting up to the mic and then hugging afterward, it's about five minutes total which is ideal." If you go any longer, you run the risk of losing guests' attention and potentially boring them (a no-no in our book!).

Acknowledge both partners.

"A big speech taboo that we see way too often is when the person giving the speech only talks about the partner they're closest with, unintentionally making the other partner feel left out and unimportant," says Greitzer. If you need a helping hand, Greitzer recommends using the Provenance Toast Builder , which offers "thoughtful prompts to encourage you to share why they're both 1) good people and 2) a great match for each other."

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How to Write a Wedding Toast: Examples, Tips, and Advice

Make sure your moment in the spotlight is memorable—in a good way!

Jaimie Mackey was the real weddings editor at Brides from 2013 to 2015. She also worked as a luxury wedding planner and produced over 100 high-end weddings and events in Colorado

Photo by Olivia & Dan Photography

In This Article

Figuring out how to write a wedding toast can be an incredibly intimidating and nerve-inducing task. Wedding toasts can go one of two ways: They’re either hilarious, memorable, and totally sweet, or a train wreck waiting to happen. Every couple hopes the speeches at the reception fall into the first category, but there’s no guarantee—until now.

To combat those awful speeches, Marisa Polansky and Kristine Keller founded Speech Tank , offering completely custom, one-of-a-kind toasts for any occasion. And what better reason to turn to the experts than for your best friend’s wedding? We sat down with Polansky and Keller to get the inside scoop on writing a totally killer speech . With their help, your audience will be begging for an encore!

Meet the Expert

• Marisa Polansky is a book editor, author, and co-founder of Speech Tank, a collaborative speech-writing service for any occasion.
• Kristine Keller is a writer and the co-founder of Speech Tank.

Wedding Toast Template

Your wedding toast should be meaningful, but not drawn out. Make sure to have a beginning, middle, and end.

While everyone's speech will be unique to them and their relationship with the couple, we put together a general outline to help you get started.

• Congratulate the couple. Express how happy you are that the two of them are getting married and what it means to you to witness it.
• Introduce yourself. Not everyone will know you met the bride or groom at the fourth-grade space camp, so be sure to let guests know about your relationship with the couple before you dive into your speech.
• Tell a (curated) story. When you’re writing your speech, “Choose anecdotes that all fit a theme and support your argument,” Keller says. The theme will help tie it together, making your toast feel intentional instead of random.
• Address both partners. You may not know them both well, but you shouldn’t focus all of your attention on your friend and ignore their new spouse. “Even if you’ve only met your friend’s partner once or twice before, find a way to include him or her in your toast,” Polansky says. “Tell the story of their engagement or share something your friend told you about them that proves what a great partner he or she is.”
• Go for the crowd-pleasers. “Anything that’s an inside joke may have been funny at the time, but no one else will understand what you’re talking about,” Keller says. “Run your stories and jokes by a neutral audience to see if they are as funny as you think.” And remember, a little humor is fine, but this is a toast, not a roast!
• Raise your glass for a toast. To wrap up your speech, invite everyone to raise their glass to the couple, or to love, etc., then cheers glasses together and take a sip.

Don’t count on your phone, which may lock or turn off mid-speech. Instead, print out your toast or put it on note cards for reference. “It’s your moment to have the floor, so don’t risk forgetting your point!” Keller says.

Wedding Toast Tips

Here are Polansky and Keller's best tips for writing and delivering your wedding toast.

• Just get started. It’s your big moment, but figuring out where to start can be tough. “When we work with our clients, we always start with a stream of consciousness,” Keller says. “We ask them to just start telling us stories. You might not think every anecdote is important, but all of a sudden you’ll land on a real gem.”
• Start writing things down. When you’re doing this at home on your own, Polansky says to just start writing stuff down. “Put it all down on paper. Don’t worry about editing as you’re writing, just get it out and then go back and pick and choose details when you’re done.” This will help you identify a theme, which is what you’ll need to make your toast really memorable.
• Use examples. “If you’re trying to make a point about the bride or groom's personality—say, that she or he's particularly loyal—don’t just say that and move on. Pick a specific moment that proves your point. Have something to back it up!” Polansky says. Including some proof will make sure your listeners really buy what you’re saying about the couple.
• Make it quick. “The best length for a toast is about three minutes,” Polansky says. “It’s enough time to say what you need to say, but short enough that you’ll still have everyone’s attention when you ask them to raise their glasses to toast the happy couple.”
• Practice. Think you know what three minutes feels like? Think again. “Practice reading your speech out loud (not in your head!) and time yourself,” Polansky says. “Don’t wing it, especially if you’re nervous,” Polansky continues. “Give yourself time to prepare. Practice with an audience to check your timing, and give yourself time to make edits.”
• Don't overstuff your speech. “If you’re a fast talker, try to slow yourself down so everyone will understand you,” Polansky says. Better to cut a few lines than to try to fit a 10-minute toast into a three-minute time frame!
• Keep it clean-ish. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important to know your audience. “Cursing and stories about exes are totally off-limits,” Keller says.
• Don't embarrass the couple. “Ask yourself how each story will present the couple. If it sheds any negative light on either person, avoid it.” Continues Polansky, “Think about how close you are with the family as well as who you know will be there. Will it make the bride or groom's great aunt uncomfortable?”

Every time you feel nervous, tell yourself you're excited instead.

Get Brainstorming!

Now that you know the basics, here are a few questions to ask yourself to help you get started writing that killer wedding toast.

• What is your first memory of the bride/groom?
• What is your favorite memory of the bride/groom?
• What did they say when they first told you about their partner?
• How did you know they were meant to be?
• What has the bride/groom or the couple as a whole taught you?
• What qualities do you admire in them?
• When are times that they displayed these qualities?

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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…

Learn more about Hollie Bond

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How to Write a Wedding Speech

Last Updated: September 23, 2022 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Jenny Yi . Jenny Yi is the Founder of Chloe+Mint, an award-winning full service event planning company that specializes in wedding planning, design and floral design. Jenny has been in the industry for over 5 years, and also works closely with notable brands and celebrities on branding and events. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 595,138 times.

For most people, their wedding day will be among the most important days of their lives. As such, it is customary for a close friend or loved one to deliver a speech congratulating the newlyweds on their union. This can be a nerve-wracking prospect if you’re the one called upon to give a speech in front of a big, expectant crowd. As the speechwriter, it will pay off to make sure that you’re organized, keep it concise and practice extensively beforehand.

Sample Speeches

Writing a Meaningful Speech

• The best man and maid of honor are usually each asked to make a short speech on behalf of the wedding party. After that, the microphone is sometimes turned over to whoever would like to say a few words.
• Saying your name and briefly summarizing your history with the bride or groom will be enough. Don’t talk about yourself too much. Remember, the focus of your speech is the married couple.

• Use jokes judiciously to break the initial tension and keep the crowd relaxed. Try not to let your speech turn into a stand up comedy routine.
• Keep your humorous stories and remarks appropriate. There will be people of all ages in your audience, including children.
• Funny stories might include a funny story about the bride and groom's meeting, or an anecdote about one of them as a child.

• Sharing unique memories or stories is much more effective than simply complimenting the bride or groom because it is a more personal touch.

• If you decide to use a quote for this segment of the speech, make sure it is short, relevant and not a cliche.

• Acknowledging the people who helped make the wedding festivities possible will make you appear humble, as well as making them feel appreciated.
• Express your gratitude in a couple sentences. There’s no need to go on and on thanking every person individually by name.

Making Sure You're Prepared

• Treat your speech like you would a school assignment. Compose several drafts, check it for errors and have a friend proofread it to make sure it sounds good.

• Familiarize yourself with the order of presentation if multiple speeches are to be given.
• Don’t spend the entire ceremony fretting over your speech. If you’re sufficiently prepared, you won’t need to give it a second thought until it’s time for you to deliver it.

• Know your speech word for word, but try not to sound like you’re simply reciting it from memory. Pace yourself and give every passage emphasis, emotion and clarity.

• Put your entire speech on a couple note cards rather than a several large sheets of paper. Not only will this look better, it will help you keep your speech at the appropriate length.
• Only look at your notes if you draw a blank or forget the next part. This will allow you to keep your eyes up and engage your audience. Even the most riveting speech will be a bore if the person giving it is reading off a note card the whole time.

Giving the Speech

• Take a few slow, deep breaths. Think about what you’re saying and shut out all other distractions. Imagine that you’re giving your speech to one person instead of a room full of people.
• Have a drink or two if it helps your nerves. Just don’t have too many—you want to be focused and clear-headed when it’s time for you to take the floor.

• It’s perfectly okay to give a short speech. Simply say a few kind words, raise a toast and hand back the microphone.
• Speak slowly and deliberately. It’s easy to start chattering too fast when you’re nervous. By talking slower than you feel like you need to, you’ll probably be going at just the right speed.
• People who are underprepared or extremely anxious tend to talk aimlessly. Avoid this by sticking to what you’ve written and look to the crowd for cues about when their attention is evaporating.

• Take a moment to speak to the bride and/or groom directly.
• It’s normal to get a little choked up! As long as you can finish your speech, there’s no need to worry. It may even be flattering, as it will show the people you’re talking about how much you truly care.

• It’s customary for the best man or groomsmen to toast the bride, and the maid of honor to toast the groom.

Expert Q&A

Video . By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube.

• Keep quotes to a minimum, as other people's words can distract from what you're trying to say yourself. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1
• If you're stumped on how your speech should flow, approach it the way you would a story: give it a beginning, middle and end. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
• Ask an honest, objective friend to give you feedback on your speech after you've finished writing it. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• Never use a premade template you find on the internet to write a wedding speech. Your speech should be a product of your own unique thoughts, feelings and experiences. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 1
• Don't drink too much before delivering your speech. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 1
• Leave out especially embarrassing or offensive anecdotes. These are usually considered bad form. You're supposed to be honoring the married couple, not getting a laugh at their expense. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 3

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• ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2110745/Lost-words-Top-tips-write-winning-wedding-speech-deliver-like-pro.html
• ↑ https://www.theknot.com/content/wedding-toasting-tips-for-the-maid-of-honor
• ↑ https://www.presentationmagazine.com/the-structure-and-etiquette-of-wedding-speeches-1041.htm
• ↑ http://www.artofmanliness.com/2008/07/22/how-to-write-deliver-good-best-man-speech/
• ↑ https://www.theknot.com/content/wedding-toasting-tips-for-the-maid-of-honor/
• ↑ https://finley-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/content/dam/doe/sws/schools/f/finley-h/localcontent/how_to_write_a_speech.pdf
• ↑ https://mediacenter.toastmasters.org/2014-07-01-10-Tips-for-the-Perfect-Wedding-Toast

About This Article

To write a wedding speech, start by introducing yourself and explaining how you know the bride and groom. Then, share some fond memories, like stories from when you were kids or how you met. Next, offer well-wishes to the bride and groom, such as wishing them health, happiness, and prosperity. Alternatively, try opening with a joke or funny anecdote, but make sure that your remarks are appropriate for everyone in attendance. Finally, briefly thank everyone for coming and for making the celebration possible. For tips on how to memorize your speech so that it doesn’t sound rehearsed, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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October 18 2020 – Mike Yarbrough

Getting married is a joyous occasion, but there is a lot of work that goes into it! In all fairness, it tends to be more work for the bride than the groom, but there's one big job that, as a groom, you don't want to procrastinate. We're talking about giving a great groom speech. 

We know that giving speeches isn't for everybody. Some estimates suggest that as many as 75% of people have fear of public speaking to some degree. Writing a speech can be challenging too, which is why we hope these tips help you craft and deliver a speech that hits all the right notes.  

Tips for Writing Your Groom Wedding Speech

1. know who to thank.

Part of the groom’s wedding speech should include thanking the folks who need to be thanked. Highest up on the list are the father and mother of the bride (especially if they're taking on the traditional role of paying for a large portion of the wedding). Beyond that, don’t forget to thank everybody for coming, especially friends or family members who traveled a long way. You don't have to make it an exhaustive list -- the photographer and the cake baker probably won't be offended if you don't thank them in your speech -- but be sure to give a quick shout-out to anyone who helped out in a big way. 

2. Keep it Short

The Gettysburg Address is just 275 words long, and takes about three minutes to read. The Gettysburg Address! Take a page from the Lincoln playbook and keep your speech short and sweet. If your speech goes on too long your guests may become restless and start eyeing the wedding cake more than you and your bride.

3. Quote (or Don't)

Starting with a quote is a great way to warm up your audience and ease yourself into your speech. Even so, keep in mind that if you're going to use a quote in your speech, it should be one that actually means something to you. Don't quote a book you've never read or a philosopher you've never heard of, and don't—seriously, DO NOT—start your speech by telling the crowd what the dictionary definition of love is. 

4. Include Some Humor

The wedding reception is meant to be a fun time, so lighten it up! It's always a good idea to inject some humor into your speech. Try to avoid the corny jokes. Think of some funny anecdotes involving how you and your bride met, the moment you knew she was "the one," or another funny-yet-heartwarming moment from your relationship.

5. Know Your Audience

Remember who you're giving this speech to: your new bride, your families, your wedding party and all of your other friends. Have fun and enjoy the speech, but be careful not to insult or embarrass anyone. Avoid telling jokes at other people's expense, and try to keep the profanity to a minimum. 

Tips for Delivering Your Groom Wedding Speech

6. practice, practice, practice.

We can't emphasize this enough. Read your speech to yourself in the mirror. Read it while you're having breakfast. Read it while you're walking the dog. Read it over and over again until you barely need to look at the page to remember the words. Not only will this will this give you an opportunity to refine your speech and make it better, but it will allow you to deliver it calmly and confidently since you will practically know it by heart. It couldn’t hurt to try and find some good groom wedding speeches on YouTube, too. Watching other successful speeches might help you figure out how to improve your own.

7. Know When You Go On

You don't want to be caught off guard, and you don't want any confusion on your wedding day about who gives what speech at what time. Discuss it with the bride-to-be during the wedding planning stages. Traditionally, the groom’s speech takes place at the wedding reception, right after the father of the bride gives his.

8. Look Your Bride in the Eye

A lot of your speech will be addressed to the crowd as a whole, but parts of it will be aimed more at specific people—the bride in particular. Just before you get to the lovey-dovey part of your speech, take a moment to lock eyes with the bride and really make sure that part of the speech is directed at her alone. There won't be a dry eye in the house.

9. Take It Slow

The average person can read much faster than they can speak. The ideal speaking speed is about 150 to 160 words per minute , but most people read at about 230 words per minute. That can really trip you up if you're trying to read a speech while delivering it! Slow your eyes down and read at a leisurely pace to avoid getting tongue-tied. If you speak too quickly it may be hard for your guests (especially those hard of hearing) to understand you and enjoy your speech.

It's okay. Remember to breathe, and keep in mind that you're among friends and family. Everybody is on your side, and it's okay to relax. Have a drink if it helps calm your nerves... but don't get too sloshed before your speech. That's a recipe for disaster. Enjoy this opportunity to tell everyone how much your bride means to you.

There are many things the groom has to do before the big day : writing the groom's wedding speech, getting gifts for the groomsmen and, of course, picking out the wedding rings . Take our ring style quiz  to see which style of custom wedding rings might be best for you and your bride-to-be.

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How To Write A Wedding Speech: The Ultimate Guide For Do’s, Don’ts, and Delivery PART 1/3: Do’s

Holiday Wedding Pros And Cons

How To Write A Wedding Speech: The Ultimate Guide For Do’s, Don’ts, and Delivery PART 2/3: Don’ts

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how to write a wedding speech dos

Someone you love is getting married, and you’ve just been asked to give a speech at the wedding. What an honor! But also, if you’re not used to giving speeches, what a nightmare! Public speaking can be scary , which is why many people prefer to avoid it. But when your bestie asks you to make a speech at his or her wedding, it’s time to rally. But now you’re wondering if you even know how to write a wedding speech! What makes some wedding speeches fun and memorable, and what makes others cringy and fall flat? We’ve got you. We’ve put together the ultimate guide for how to write a wedding speech, focusing on things you definitely should do, things you definitely should NOT do, and then how to deliver your killer wedding speech like a pro.

If you’re wondering how to write a wedding speech, here are a few “Do’s” to keep in mind.

• Start planning early
• Introduce yourself and how you know the bride and groom
• Thanks to hosts, guests, and wedding party; congratulate the couple
• Make it personal
• Think of 3 traits with 3 stories
• Talk about the couple
• Have a beginning, middle, and end
• Consider your audience
• Keep it short and sweet
• It’s okay to be simple and meaningful

1. Start planning early

If you don’t know how to write a wedding speech but the bride just asked you to give one, this is not a time to procrastinate. Public speaking is one of the number one fears many people have, so it’s likely you’ve avoided giving too many public speeches before this. And unless you’re a performer or a veteran improv comedian, you might not do too well winging this one. If you get nervous in front of an audience (as most of us do), the best defense against freezing up when you take the mic is being prepared. 

As soon as you know you’ve been asked to give a speech at the wedding, begin jotting down notes immediately. Whenever you’re inspired by a thought of the couple or remember an anecdote that might be worth retelling, make note of it. This will help to give you a pool of ideas to draw from when you start writing down the speech.

Begin gathering ideas and writing the speech a couple of weeks to a month before the wedding. You’ll need time to edit, fine-tune it, and make it concise. And as wedding showers, bachelorette parties, and other wedding festivities begin, you might find there are entertaining stories from these events you want to add as well. If you want to write it all at once, you can do that too. However, make sure to sleep on it and come back with fresh eyes. You don’t want just “okay,” you want your speech to be heartfelt and meaningful.

You will also want to begin early to give yourself time to practice and rehearse your speech plenty of times.

2. Introduce yourself and how you know the bride and groom

No matter how large or small the wedding is, it’s likely you will not be familiar with many of the guests on one or both sides. And they won’t be familiar with you either. So don’t leave them guessing! 

Make sure when you start to write a wedding speech to introduce yourself and mention how you know the couple. This will help them understand the context of your speech, which will also help it to be more well-received. 

3. Thank hosts, guests, and wedding party; congratulate the couple

It’s also courteous to take this time to thank the hosts and other members of the wedding party for all the hard work that went into the event, and to thank guests for being there to support the newlyweds, especially those who had to travel far. 

It’s also a good time to officially congratulate the newlyweds and offer them your personal well-wishes for their future. It is imperative that you don’t forget this part, because they are the whole reason you’re there and giving a speech!

4. Make it personal

Whether you are the maid of honor, the best man, father of the bride, or just a friend, you were asked to give a speech because of your close connection and relationship with either the bride or groom (or both). 

And since you know your friend as well as you do, you probably have plenty of stories to share; so the next tip for how to write a wedding speech is don’t hesitate to make it personal and share those stories! This will also help guests get to know the other half of the couple they might not know as well or are just meeting for the first time. And those guests who do know them will love hearing some entertaining stories they might not have heard yet.

5. Think of 3 traits with 3 stories

If you’re finding it difficult to come up with anything, a useful approach for how to write a wedding speech is to think of 3 positive defining traits or qualities of the bride or groom and recount three stories or examples that illuminate a time they exhibited these traits. These stories could be comedic, heartwarming, or both. Just make sure they are relevant and entertaining!

6. Talk about the couple

If you’re the maid of honor and have been chatting up the bride for the whole speech, part of how to write a wedding speech is to make sure at some point it circles around to the groom, too, and to the two of them as a couple.  

Recount the time you met him, or how you remember talking about him with the bride in the beginning stages of their relationship. If you don’t know the groom all that well, talk about how good they are as a couple and about how happy he makes her. 

And If you’re not a fan of the groom, this is not the time to air your grievances. Always keep it positive. 

7. Have a beginning, middle, and end

All good speeches have a good flow and take the audience along with it. 

Don’t let your speech fall flat or jumble together in a haphazard confusion of disconnected anecdotes. Give it the structure of an overarching theme, with a beginning, a middle, and an end. 

We are not talking about a novel here, just make sure there is a direction to where the speech is going, and that the destination, end, or sentiment is achieved. It doesn’t need to be Charlie Chaplin in The Great Dictator, but a three-act structure does help keep you grounded. Most people also follow a story easier when there is a clear direction for a story or speech. 

8. Consider your audience

The next thing to keep in mind when considering how to write a wedding speech is to make sure you consider who your audience is. 

This is not the bachelor or bachelorette party. There will be a wide range of people present from children to the elderly, and from close friends of the bride and groom to casual acquaintances and coworkers. Make sure your speech is free of any crudeness that might not be fit for such a varied audience. Also, this isn’t the time to take a shot at any of the religious cermonies.

Be considerate and keep it positive and use language everyone can relate to. 

9. Keep it short and sweet

You want your speech to be meaningful and memorable; but the wedding is not about you, and yours is not the only speech. 

No one ever complains about a speech being too short, but they do begin to grumble if it runs on too long. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind when figuring out how to write a wedding speech is to keep your speech between 2-5 minutes long. Any longer than 5 minutes and you’ll lose everyone to thoughts of cake and whether or not to Cupid Shuffle later. 

10. Add humor

Don’t be afraid to be funny! Another tip for how to write a wedding speech is that if you’ve got a lighthearted, creative, joking side, use it and add humor to your speech! Everyone likes to be entertained. 

This doesn’t mean you should scour the internet for generic wedding-themed jokes, but if you’ve got some good original material to use that helps relate a story about the bride or groom in a comedic way, do it. As long as you’re not making fun of the couple but having fun with them, jokes are great. Or you can even poke fun at yourself to illuminate a higher quality in your bestie. It’s all about making the newlyweds shine. 

If you’re creative and have other talents, use them! If you are musical, bust out your instrument and/or vocal cords and make the speech in the form of a song! Use props, and get the other guests involved! The newlyweds will feel special because you created something for them, and the guests will love joining in the fun.

11. It’s okay to be simple and meaningful

If entertaining isn’t your thing, that’s okay! Don’t force it – just be yourself. It’s okay to be simple and meaningful with your speech. Always keep in mind when you go to write a wedding speech that what’s important is that you are genuine and speak from the heart.

Hopefully, you found these tips for how to write a wedding speech helpful, and can start writing today! And stay tuned to our blog for the next part in this ultimate guide for how to write a wedding speech where we highlight a few things you should definitely avoid.

Love this content and want more? Read more about weddings on our blog ! Involved in the wedding planning process and the bride is still looking for a venue ? Give us a call today and we’ll help you find the perfect place!

Jennings Trace

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Wedding Speeches: How to Write and Deliver a Memorable Toast

Wedding speeches are an important tradition that adds a personal touch to the wedding celebration. They allow loved ones to share their feelings and memories, express gratitude, and wish the newlyweds a lifetime of happiness. However, with the rising trend of online marriages due to the ongoing pandemic, wedding speeches have taken on a new form. Online marriages refer to weddings that take place virtually, with the couple and their guests participating from different locations through video conferencing platforms. 

In this post, we will discuss how to write and deliver a memorable toast, both for in-person and virtual weddings.

Who gives speeches at a wedding?

At a traditional wedding, certain people are expected to give speeches. These people include the father of the bride, the best man, and the maid of honor. 

Here is a breakdown of the traditional roles of speech givers at a wedding:

• Father of the Bride: This speech is typically the first one given, and it sets the tone for the rest of the speeches. The father of the bride welcomes the guests, thanks them for coming, and talks about his daughter and his relationship with her. He will usually end the speech by toasting the newlyweds.
• Groom: The groom will usually give a speech after the father of the bride. He thanks everyone for coming, talks about his bride and their relationship, and thanks her parents for their support. He will usually end the speech by toasting his bride.
• Best Man: The best man is responsible for giving the final speech of the night. He will typically start by thanking the groom for choosing him as his best man. He will then share stories about the groom, including some embarrassing ones, and end by toasting the newlyweds.
• Maid of Honor: The maid of honor will typically give a speech after the groom. She will thank the bride for choosing her as her maid of honor, share stories about the bride, and offer advice for a happy marriage. She will also usually end by toasting the newlyweds.

However, more modern variations have emerged over the years, and other people may give speeches at a wedding as well. These could include the mother of the bride, the bride herself, the groom's parents, or close friends of the couple. It's important to keep in mind the wishes of the couple and to ensure that all speeches are appropriate and in good taste.

Tips for Writing a great wedding speech

Here are some tips to help you write a great wedding speech:

• Prepare and Practice: Don't wait until the last minute to start writing your speech. Give yourself plenty of time to prepare and practice. Write down your thoughts and ideas, and then organize them into a logical structure. Practice delivering your speech several times, either by yourself or in front of a trusted friend or family member.
• Structure Your Speech: A great wedding speech typically follows a basic structure. Start with an attention-grabbing opening that will capture the audience's attention. Then, move on to the body of your speech, where you will share your thoughts, stories, and advice. Finally, end with a memorable conclusion and a toast to the newlyweds.
• Keep it Positive: A wedding is a joyous occasion, so keep your speech positive and uplifting. Share stories that celebrate the love and happiness of the couple, and offer words of encouragement and support.
• Use Humor Wisely: Humor can be a great way to connect with the audience and lighten the mood, but be careful not to go overboard. Avoid jokes that are inappropriate or offensive, and keep in mind that what may be funny to you may not be funny to everyone.
• Share Personal Anecdotes: Personal anecdotes are a great way to personalize your speech and connect with the couple and the audience. Share stories that highlight the couple's strengths and unique qualities, and that demonstrate the love and support they have for each other.
• Avoid Sensitive Topics: Avoid topics that may be sensitive or controversial, such as politics, religion, or past relationships. Stick to positive and uplifting messages that celebrate the love and happiness of the couple.

Tips for delivering a great wedding speech

Here are some tips to help you deliver a memorable speech with confidence:

• Manage Your Nerves: It's normal to feel nervous before giving a speech, but there are techniques you can use to manage your nerves. Take some deep breaths, visualize a positive outcome, and remind yourself that the audience is there to support you.
• Project Your Voice: Make sure you speak clearly and project your voice so that everyone in the audience can hear you. Take your time, speak at a moderate pace, and avoid rushing through your speech.
• Maintain Eye Contact: Maintain eye contact with the audience to help build a connection with them. Look around the room and make eye contact with different people, but avoid staring at one person for too long.
• Use Pauses: Using pauses can help you emphasize key points and give the audience time to digest what you're saying. Don't be afraid to take a moment to gather your thoughts and take a breath before continuing.
• Vary Your Tone: Varying your tone can help you keep the audience engaged and prevent your speech from sounding monotonous. Use inflection to emphasize key points, and adjust your tone to match the mood of the moment.
• Practice, Practice, Practice: The more you practice your speech, the more confident you'll feel on the day of the wedding. Practice in front of a mirror, record yourself or give your speech to a trusted friend or family member for feedback.

Examples of great wedding speeches

Here are some examples of great wedding speeches to inspire you:

• Father of the Bride Speech: This father of the bride speech is both touching and humorous. He speaks from the heart and uses personal anecdotes to illustrate his love for his daughter and his joy at seeing her marry the man she loves.
• Best Man Speech: This best man speech is funny, charming, and heartfelt. He tells stories about the groom that show both his good qualities and his quirks, and he ends with a touching message of support for the newlyweds.
• Maid of Honor Speech: This maid of honor speech is both heartfelt and inspiring. She talks about the bride's strengths and qualities and offers a message of love and support to the happy couple.
• Bride's Speech: This bride's speech is touching and emotional. She speaks about her love for her new husband and her gratitude for the support of her family and friends.

What makes these speeches effective is that they all have a clear structure, with an opening that captures the audience's attention, a body that tells personal stories or expresses heartfelt sentiments, and a conclusion that offers words of wisdom or congratulations to the happy couple.

For more inspiration, there are many online resources that offer examples of great wedding speeches, including Hitched , Wedding Forward , and LoveToKnow Weddings . 

Additionally, In the spirit of embracing new experiences, you may want to craft a heartfelt and personalized wedding speech by using Provenance , which has a number of modern online tools, including a Ceremony Builder, Vow Builder, and Toast Builder, as well as more in-depth services like professional speechwriting and public speaking services.

Wedding speeches are an important part of any wedding ceremony, as they provide an opportunity for loved ones to express their feelings and support for the happy couple. Whether you are the father of the bride, the maid of honor, or any other speech giver, there are certain tips and techniques you can use to write and deliver a great wedding speech that will be remembered for years to come.

Remember, a great wedding speech can have a profound impact on the newlyweds and their guests, and can create cherished memories that last a lifetime. So, if you have a wedding coming up, start preparing your speech early, and use the tips and resources we've discussed to create a memorable and meaningful tribute to the happy couple.

Common questions

What is the best time during the wedding for speeches?

Traditionally, speeches are given after the meal and before the cutting of the cake. This allows everyone to enjoy their food and drinks before the speeches begin and also ensures that the speeches do not run too late into the night. However, some couples may choose to have speeches earlier in the evening or during the reception, depending on their personal preference.

How long should a wedding speech be?

The length of a wedding speech can vary, but generally, it should be no longer than 5-7 minutes. This allows enough time to deliver a heartfelt message or share a few humorous anecdotes without losing the attention of the audience.

Is it okay to use humor in a wedding speech?

Yes, it is perfectly fine to use humor in a wedding speech, as long as it is appropriate and not at the expense of anyone present. However, it's important to balance humor with sincere sentiments, so that the speech doesn't become too light-hearted or frivolous.

What should I do if I forget my speech during delivery?

If you forget your speech during delivery, take a deep breath and try to remain calm. You can take a moment to gather your thoughts, look down at your notes (if you have them), or ask someone to prompt you with a question. If all else fails, you can simply speak from the heart and express your feelings in your own words.

How can I involve the audience in my speech?

One way to involve the audience in your speech is to ask them a question or invite them to participate in a brief activity. For example, you could ask them to raise their glasses for a toast or have them shout out a particular phrase or response at certain points in your speech.

How do I end a wedding speech?

A good way to end a wedding speech is to offer a message of congratulations or well wishes to the happy couple. You can also thank them for the opportunity to speak and express your gratitude to those who helped make the wedding day special. Finally, you can invite everyone to join you in raising a glass for a final toast to the newlyweds.

Online Marriage with Courtly

In recent years, online marriage has emerged as a popular alternative to traditional in-person weddings. Online marriage allows couples to legally tie the knot without the need for physical presence in a courthouse or a place of worship. One platform that has garnered a lot of attention for its online marriage services is Courtly. We offer customizable ceremonies, licensed officiants, and a virtual marriage license, making the entire process streamlined and efficient. 

Couples can choose from a range of ceremony options, including secular, religious, and interfaith ceremonies. Furthermore, we offer additional services such as wedding planning, premarital counseling, and online resources to help couples prepare for their big day.

One of the key benefits of online marriage with Courtly is convenience. Couples can get married from the comfort of their own home, without the need for travel or extensive planning. This can be particularly appealing for those who have busy schedules, are unable to travel, or simply prefer a more intimate ceremony. Additionally, the online marriage option may be more affordable than a traditional wedding, as it eliminates many of the expenses associated with a physical ceremony.

However, it is important to note that online marriage is not without its drawbacks. Some may argue that an online ceremony lacks the personal touch and emotional impact of a physical wedding. Some countries may not recognize online marriage as a legally valid option, which can be a barrier for couples looking to obtain legal recognition of their union. It is important to do thorough research and ensure that online marriage is a legally valid option in your location before making any decisions.

Let us handle the paperwork.

Getting married is complicated. Courtly simplifies the process and provides everything necessary to get married online, including providing a licensed officiant who can perform a remote ceremony.

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Groom Wedding Speech Guide with Examples

The groom’s speech is a big part of the wedding experience for everybody and for good reasons. This is an opportunity for the groom to share with all guests, family, and friends just how much he loves, appreciates, and is excited to be the husband of his new wife.

It is also his chance to thank the bride’s parents, welcome everybody, perhaps while also showing his personality and funny side. Yep, the groom has a lot of work to do during his wedding speech.

To help you write an unforgettable groom speech we put together this helpful guide. It includes everything you need to write and deliver your groom speech.

THE BEST GROOM SPEECH COVERS A LOT OF GROUND

Like we mentioned, the groom’s speech has a lot to accomplish in a short amount of time. The most important part of the groom’s wedding speech by far is to acknowledge his new wife in front of all of the wedding guests. That is what makes a groom’s toast so meaningful. We like to see the groom focus on his wife. How they met, how much she means to him, why he loves her so much, and sharing just how excited he is about the future.

The groom’s wedding toast must also thank the people involved in making their wedding a memorable occasion, thank the parents of the bride for their daughter, and for welcoming him into their family. The best groom speech also thanks guests for supporting the bride and groom and for all their good wishes and gifts. Finally, the groom’s speech says thanks to specific people who helped organize the wedding and thanks to the bridal party.

Nice-to-have elements of the groom’s speech (if there is enough time) include mentioning family who couldn’t attend the wedding. The groom can also have a go at his best man in a lighthearted fashion, maybe saying some memories of the two terrorizing while single and young.

WHAT SHOULD YOU TALK ABOUT?

You could just get up and ramble for 10 mins, or you could plan ahead and write your groom’s speech ahead of time. You guessed it; we’re fans of planning ahead. Let’s start with the basic groom speech structure when you sit down to write. This is an easy starting place:

• Thank your new father-in-law; make a funny joke.
• Thank your bride’s family, for their warm welcome.
• Thank your family for their love and support; add a funny anecdote about your childhood.
• Thank the bridesmaids, praise their beautiful appearance, and give a toast.
• Thank your best man; add a funny (clean) story.
• Thank anybody else who helped during wedding planning.
• Thank your new wife for her love, support, and encouragement.
• Talk about how excited you are about the future.
• Give the microphone to your best man.

The tone of your speech needs to balance sincerity and humor. Spend some time thinking about how you want to deliver the speech. With the above vital points written, think about how you can add a touch of humor to them.

Humor helps make the speech entertaining for sitting guests and relieves some of the pressure felt standing in front of a crowd. Keep the humor appropriate and positive. Nobody wants to hear you giving off-color jokes. A joke or two and maybe a few one-liners is perfect.

Don’t be afraid to add some genuine comments about how you feel about your new wife and your family and friends. The easiest way to do this is to think about your new wife. Talk about your feelings for her, remember how you first met and why you wanted to marry her.

An easy technique is to directly address that part of the speech and tell her how happy she has made you, how you can’t believe your luck, and how you’re looking forward to building a future together.

Use specific anecdotes, such as when you realized you were in love and would be with your now wife forever. Also, don’t forget to tell her again how beautiful she looks.

Time is the other issue with the groom’s wedding speech.  Avoid a long toast at all costs. Remember that typically several speeches will take place, so you want to take up too much time, and you definitely want to avoid boring all the guests.

While your groom toast should have substance, keep it short and sweet for the best results. You have a lot to say and can’t spend 20 minutes doing so. When you sit down to write your groom speech, the most challenging part will be fitting in so much into such a short space of time.

Once you start writing, coming up with ideas and things to say won’t be the issue. It will be challenging to weave all these elements together in an original, memorable way while being very concise.

DO’S, DON’TS & MAYBE’S FOR GROOM’S WEDDING SPEECH

• Do: Thank their guests for attending, particularly those who have traveled from far and wide.
• Do: Mention any special guests (i.e., elderly relatives)
• Do: Thank their new in-laws (particularly if they are hosting the wedding)
• Do: Mention their own parents – this is an opportunity to thank them for all those years of help and support.
• Do: Talk about the bride in a way that balances warmth with a little bit of humor.
• Do: Introduce the best man.
• Do: Finish with a toast to the bridesmaids.
• Don’t: Spend more time building up the best man than the bride.
• Don’t: Waste too much time thanking people who’ve been paid to do a job (e.g., caterers or planners)
• Don’t: List so many ‘thank yous’ that the speech resembles a school register.
• Don’t: Talk for too long. Generally, we recommend 10 minutes as an optimum speaking time.
• Don’t: Forget this is a celebration of love, not an opportunity for a 10-minute comedy stand-up routine.
• Maybe: Mention any friends or family who has made considerable efforts in organizing the day
• Maybe: Say thanks to the flower girls, page boys, and ushers
• Maybe: Talk about those who are not able to be there on the day and relatives (grandparents) who has passed
• Maybe: Acknowledge a friend who has been a source of strength or inspiration over the years

GROOM SPEECH TIPS

• Focus on your wife: We know you love your best man. We know you want to talk crap about him in front of lots of people. Just remember what your wedding is about. It is about you and your wife: fewer jokes, more love.
• Yes, call her ‘my wife’: We recommend you do this early in the groom’s speech. Mention ‘my wife and me.’ Do it right, and you will. It will always receive a warm clap and will help set your nerves.
• Say thanks as a couple: Most grooms start their speech by thanking their guests for coming and thanking everybody involved. Remember to ask your wife if she wants to thank somebody and ensure you speak on behalf of both of you.
• Be nice to your in-laws: Thank your father-in-law for his words of wisdom after his speech. Mention that you are thankful to both parents for allowing you to marry their beautiful daughter. This is an excellent time to tell the bride or the first time how stunning she looks.
• Use humor, but not too much: Inject a little humor into the speech, but don’t feel the need to force it. It should be a balance of seriousness and heartfelt with some humor mixed in. It isn’t a chance to make jokes at the bride’s expense or include smutty jokes or do 10 minutes of stand-up comedy.
• Prepare for the speech: By this, we mean that you should stay somewhat sober for your toast. We also suggest that you should take this seriously and spend time writing the speech and practice.
• Dedicate part of the speech to your wife: The most important piece of a groom’s toast is the part where he talks about his feelings for his new wife. Address this part of the speech directly to her and tell her how happy she has makes you, how you can’t believe his luck, and how you are looking forward to building a future together. Use real anecdotes where you can.
• Compliment your wife: Make sure you tell your wife how beautiful she looks. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to tell her in front of a large collection of your friends and family, so make the most of it and make her feel amazing.
• Keep it clean: Make sure you don’t use foul language or distasteful content. Anything that could offend should be left out.
• Make eye contact: The more meaningful parts of your groom’s speech will be more powerful if you make eye contact with your wife.
• Avoid lists: Boring. Period. Lists suck, and they are dull. Your guests will walk out on you (maybe).
• Thank your parents: Thank them for everything, for making you the man you are today: the lessons, the homework help, the advice. Overall, the support in every aspect of your life.
• Cross-reference: This is an easy one to forget. Check with your best man that you aren’t repeating things.
• A simple toast: End the speech with a toast to your wife.

GROOM SPEECH EXAMPLES

If you are not a talented writer or a professional motivational speaker, finding the right words to say at your wedding can be challenging. It is much easier to get started when you can see (or hear) what other grooms have done before you. We get it!

That’s why we rounded up some great examples of groom speeches. You can see from the list that we tried to cover various groom speech examples. Everything from funny groom speeches, the best groom speeches we could find, short groom speech examples, groom speech jokes, groom speech quotes, and more.

HEARTFELT GROOM WEDDING SPEECH EXAMPLE

When it comes to wedding speeches, humor is not the only thing that can and should be the focus. We absolutely love how this groom shared many heartfelt thoughts about his new wife. This groom speech is an example of how you can truly share the love you feel by using words.

TRADITIONAL GROOM SPEECH EXAMPLE

This groom speech example is more traditional in nature. It hits all the right points and is a safe play for a groom.

“Ladies and Gentlemen: I would like to thank Steve for those sincere words and both Bobbie and Steve for the love that they have both shown me, not only in preparation for today but from the first moment that we met some two and a half years ago.

I don’t know who was more surprised that first night when Marcella brought me home without warning when they were sitting there all ready for bed in their satin bath robes and Steve in his Snoopy slippers.

Anyway, quickly moving on, I did have a speech all worked out for this occasion, but, of course, now that I’m a married man, Marcella has insisted that I read from the one that she has written for me.

So here goes:

On behalf of my wife and me…I suppose I’m going to have to get used to that; I would like to start by thanking everyone here today for sharing our very special day with us. Thank you for all the wonderful gifts and cards that you have given us; we are very touched by your generosity. I’m certainly looking forward to seeing how Steve has managed to gift-wrap the Wheelbarrow!

We have both been very nervous about today, and it means a great deal to us that you are sharing our day with us; and we hope that you are enjoying the occasion every bit as much as we are.

Most people on their wedding day describe it as the happiest day of their lives. That worries me because it implies that tomorrow there’s a lifelong decline ahead, so I’m making the most of today. However, I’m so happy today that even days less happy would still be blissful.

I would like to say a special thank-you to those of you that have traveled some distance to be here today. It is quite a humbling experience to realize that you have friends and family that care so much for you. And I do genuinely mean that.”

STANDARD GROOM SPEECH EXAMPLE

This groom also took the traditional route. This sample groom speech is a little longer.

“On behalf of my wife and I, we’d like to thank you all for coming here today and sharing our special day with us. There are times when it’s good to be surrounded by people who are important to you, and for us, this is one of those occasions. We hope that you’re enjoying it every bit as much as we are, and we’d like to thank you for your kind wishes, cards, presents, and support.

We must say we’ve been impressed by the number of people that have rallied around to help us in preparation for today; if you’re not mentioned by name, and that’s most of you, please be assured that Kate and I are very grateful.

David and Maggie, thank you not only for your hospitality this evening and your kindness but also for giving me your very beautiful daughter. I promise I’ll take good care of her and, of course, do everything she tells me to, even if it involves golf! I must confess I did actually try it a while ago, and during one lesson with the local pro, I asked him whether he had seen any improvement since my last lesson. And he said, “er… yup, that’s a much better haircut”.

So, Maggie, we have a present here for you.

I also want to say thank you to my parents who put up with me for all these years; you have both been there for me when I’ve needed you and given me a wonderful start in life, and I’m very fortunate and proud to have you as my mum and dad. I have a present for you here, Mum, as a thank you.

I can imagine that Neil, my best man, is getting impatient to make his speech soon. Now many people don’t know that Neil suffers from a rare medical condition that causes him to invent fanciful stories. He really does believe these stories to be true, and I thank you for humoring him during his speech.

I am absolutely delighted to stand here today with Kate; I never knew what was missing in my life before I met her. Kate has been a source of friendship, support, and love. Of course, I do not doubt that she is going to tell me afterward that the only thing missing in my life at the moment is golf. However, I am still waiting for her to explain the attraction to a game that consists of a lot of walking, broken up by disappointment and bad arithmetic.

And finally, the bridesmaids, thanks for calming Kate nerves and helping in her preparation today. I’d also like to thank you for getting her to the church in one piece and on time; you’ve done a brilliant job. We have a small gift for each of you as a token of our appreciation.

Well, that’s it from me for now, but before I pass you over to my best man, Ladies and Gentlemen, please stand and lift your glasses and join me in a toast to bridesmaids.

SHORT GROOM WEDDING SPEECH

This is a short speech but gets to the point quickly. We love the simplicity, definitely one of the best short groom toasts.

“Firstly, I would like to say thank you to Bob and Karen. Thank you for your beautiful daughter, Amy. Your contribution to today has been amazing. Thank you for taking me into his family; it has meant a lot to me. Most importantly, thank you for raising such an amazing and beautiful woman. Doesn’t my wife look amazing today? Wow, called Amy, my wife. Feels weird.

Secondly, I’d like to thank all of you for coming today. It is amazing to feel all this love and friendship. Thank you for your good wishes and for joining us in our celebration. Thank you for your gifts; I am sure they will help us in our new life together, so thank you.

Also, thank you to the bridesmaids; you all look amazing. Today wouldn’t have been the same without you helping my beautiful bride through today. So thank you.

Finally, to my wife. I just want to say a massive thank-you for always being here for me, making me happy, and marrying me. I love you.

For those of you who don’t know, we men do have dreams of our wedding day when we are younger. They may not be about the same as you women, about dresses and big churches, but nevertheless, we do have the dreams. When I was younger, my dream was to marry a beautiful woman, be happy for the rest of our lives, have a family, and have a nice home. This is what I wanted from marriage. When I met Amy, I knew that she was different. She made me laugh in different ways, and the feeling of happiness I get when I am around her cannot be described. My wife is more than I could ever have hoped for. I love you, honey.

There are so many good times that Amy and I have enjoyed together, days out, holidays, and nights out with friends and family. But like all couples, we have had lows. Fallings out, family bereavements, and arguments between ourselves. But all these factors have made us who we are today—a strong couple who work brilliantly together.

Finally, I would like to thank you again to all of you for celebrating with us today.

And could you all please raise your glasses to my beautiful wife, the one I love, Amy?”

ANOTHER FUNNY GROOM TOAST FOR INSPIRATION

“Distinguished guests, guests of no particular distinction, relatives young and old, friends, freeloaders, hangers-on, gypsies, tramps, thieves, and anyone else who may have wandered in, you are all about to witness a unique event in history. The very first and very last time that my wife is going to let me speak on behalf of both of us. However, it is a privilege and an honor to do so. I just hope that, so soon into our married life, I don’t let Sue down.

My speech today will be like a mini-skirt. Long enough to cover the essentials but short enough to hold your attention! To be honest, I didn’t really know where to start, so I thought I’d trawl the internet. After a couple of hours, I‘d found some really, really good stuff. But then I remembered that I was supposed to be writing a speech. Before I start, there will be plenty of toasts over the next few minutes, so please make sure that your glasses are charged.

Firstly, we’d like to thank Philip for his kind words and good wishes. And to thank him for paying for this lovely reception …(pause and look at him) What? I thought you said…….No, I’m only joking – you don’t need to find the key for the padlock on your wallet!

It’s lovely to see so many of our family and friends here today to help us celebrate the happiest day of our lives. I know that some of you have traveled a long way to be here, and that means a lot to us. It really wouldn’t be the same without you all. It’d be a darned sight cheaper, but that’s not the point. Thank you all for your very generous gifts, and a special thanks to those of you who have given cheques. No, we are grateful for those, especially as we’ll be using the checks’ details to set up direct debits paying our bills for years to come. Who said that identity fraud is a bad idea?

Unfortunately, it’s not been possible to have everyone we love here with us today, but we know they’re here with us in spirit, and they’re not only in our thoughts today, but more importantly, they’re with us in our hearts. So, with them in mind, would you please all stand, raise your glasses, and join me in a toast to absent family & friends.

Wedding Planning Tips & Tricks for 2016

(To absent family and friends)

I’d also like to thank Sue’s mum sincerely and dad, Val and Peter, for making me feel like the son they never wanted – sorry, the son they never had, right from day two. Day one was a bit rough, but I *think* they’re over it now. Her brothers, too, have never made me feel anything other than welcome, and I thank them for that.

It can be very difficult when two families come together, but we have been extremely lucky. Sue’s children, Philip and Emma, have welcomed me into their family, and my children, Molly and Emily, have welcomed Sue into theirs. We all get on so well, and that is a rare thing indeed. And something that has been made possible by all of our children. So I’d like to propose a toast to Philip, Emma, Molly, and Emily.

 (To Philip, Emma, Molly, and Emily)

My Dad has helped me enormously over the years and has seen me through thick and thin. Mainly thick, if I’m honest, but he’s been there for me, and I hope that I have done him proud. I really couldn’t have asked for a better father, and I thank you for everything that you have done, not just for me but for my wife and me. Thank you.

There is an unwritten rule of wedding etiquette that states that nobody should look more handsome than the groom, and I’d like to thank our ushers, Steve and Peter, for sticking to that rule to the letter. They have both lent an air of ‘nightclub bouncer respectability’ to their roles, and I particularly admired the way they searched the ladies’ handbags and frisked the men as they came in with such discretion and subtlety. I’m not quite sure that saying “You’ll sit where you’re ruddy well put” was really in the spirit of the day, but we’ll let that pass. Thanks to both of you.

I have known Richard, my Best Man, for nearly seventeen years now, and throughout that time, he has been there for me when it matters and is always ready with an encouraging word and a welcome bottle of Rioja when things are going badly. And, if I’m honest, when things are going well. I’d like to thank him for all his help in organizing the stag do and for creating the table plan for us. But, most importantly, I’d like to thank him for being a true friend. However, there is something that I need to make you aware of. Rich suffers from a strange condition that occasionally causes him to drift in and out of weird, strange flights of fantasy. He has been known to make up fanciful stories, absolutely believing them to be true. Anyway, it’s only right that I advise you all of this ahead of his speech. As I say, he is a true friend, and I wouldn’t want you to go upsetting him, so if you could bear with him, even join with him on his journey of make-believe, I would appreciate it.

Apart from my wife, there are three other beautiful ladies here today: Sue’s daughter Emma and my daughters, Molly and Emily. We’d like to thank them very much for being such wonderful bridesmaids. So, please stand and join me in a toast to the bridesmaids.

(To the bridesmaids!)

Finally, I would like to thank my wife – I think I’m going to enjoy getting used to saying that – for agreeing to marry me and making me the happiest man in the world. I think you’ll agree that she looks absolutely gorgeous today, and when she walked up the aisle, she took my breath away.

They say you don’t marry someone you can live with-you marry the person who you can’t live without, and I think that sums us up perfectly. Now, if I had to single out one thing about why I love Sue so much, it would be the fact that she makes me happier than I ever dreamed I could be. And I intend to spend the rest of my life making sure that the reverse is also true. I know that Sue has put a huge amount of effort into making today perfect, and I think that she has done that and more. Having lived with Sue for a couple of years now, I have learned a valuable lesson – when I’m wrong, admit it. When I’m right, keep quiet! Seriously though, I never have a problem finding the words to express my love for Sue, but if I start then, I probably won’t be able to stop. Suffice to say that, Sue, I love you so much, and I can’t wait to grow old with you. Ladies and gentlemen, please stand and raise your glasses to my wife, Sue.

Now, I’m not going to stand here all afternoon and bore you all with a load of stale old jokes. That’s the Best Man’s job! So, without further ado, I’d like to hand it over to Richard.”

SHORT GROOM SPEECH EXAMPLE

“Ladies and Gentlemen, friends and family, on behalf of my beautiful wife and myself, thank you very much for being here today. I can safely say it wouldn’t have been the same without you all…although it would have been cheaper.

More specifically, I’d like to thank Jerry, my new father-in-law, for all the kind words and wishes.

In addition, I’d like to thank both Jerry and Jan for all their kindness in the last 2 years and for keeping a straight face when they heard I had proposed to their daughter. I’ve always chosen to assume those were tears of joy, Jan.

I would also like to thank mom and dad, Beth and Lee, for all their love and support growing up. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be standing here now. Thanks for the ride, guys.

Thanks to Ross, my best man who’s been a speech is, we might even stay friends.

I’d also like to thank Jen’s bridesmaids, Grace and Zoe, for keeping her calm over the last 24 hours or so and, of course, for being such good friends to her all this time.

Which love, support, friendship, trust, and a million other things. Basically, thank you for being you.

So with no further ado and despite my better judgment, I’ll hand you over to Ross.”

HUMOUROUS GROOM SPEECH EXAMPLE

Here is a great video example of a groom using humor to get past his fear of public speaking. Check it out now.

CROSS-CULTURAL GROOM SPEECH EXAMPLE

What an incredible speech! This is an example of a groom speech that touches on two cultures joining together. In this speech, the groom shares why he still believes in “weddings”. He has some great promises to his bride. You can really get some great groom speech inspiration from this awesome speech. Have some tissues handy, you may shed a few tears. WOW! Love is so magical.

GROOM SPEECH JOKES

Here are some fun quotes you can use in your wedding speech. These groom speech jokes should be used sparingly; remember that the idea is to add some humor but not go overboard.

• “My speech today will be like a mini skirt, long enough to cover the essentials and short enough to hold your attention.”
• “I planned to do a very short speech today, but someone reminded me that this would be the only opportunity that I would have with my wife and mother-in-law in the same room and not get interrupted, so I may be some time!!!”
• My ex-girlfriend and I would like to thank you all for coming today…..
• “Komrades, we gather here on the brink of our greatest attack.” Then say, “sorry- wrong speech.”
• ‘And so, without further ado, let me ask those of you who still can to stand up and join me in a toast…’
• ‘And so will everyone now please raise their glasses – and themselves…’
• ‘And so, in the words of my ex-girlfriend, “I’m going to leave you now…”’.
• A wise man once said to me… If you love her, let her go. No… Wait. Sorry. Got that wrong. A policeman once shouted out at me … If you love her, let her go and come out with your hands up! Yeah, that was it.
• “When I sat down with my wife-to-be to sort out the seating plan, we decided to place those who had given us the best presents closest to the top table. So <insert names here>, if you can hear me at the back, many thanks for the oven glove.”
• “When I proposed, I got down on one knee – then the other, and asked <brides father> ‘Please pay for the wedding’ He said yes, and the rest is history.”
• I’m a bit nervous… this is the first time I’ve had to make a Groom speech.
• Thanks to everyone that offered their advice when I told them I was getting married. The comments ranged from “Well done” to “about time” and “What are you doing, you stupid fool!”
• When thanking the best man… “Thanks for what you said… and more importantly for what you didn’t say”
• We’d like to thank our parents because… quite frankly we wouldn’t be here without them.
• Tradition says we should give flowers, but Andrea and I wanted to give you something more permanent. So we are getting you a tattoo each!
• Thanks, Dad, for the kind words. I hope $20 was enough.
• I have to thank you both (Father of the bride) & (mother of the bride) for bringing up such a beautiful and intelligent daughter. I’ll leave you to argue over which trait comes from who.
• (Father of the bride) has written out a receipt for me, it says:
• “Received one daughter in perfect condition, fully guaranteed, fully warranted. Comes complete with all extras. Keep topped up with expensive jewelry and fine wine.”
• But not to be outdone, (Father of the groom) has a receipt to give to (my wife), it says:
• “Received one son, sold as-is, no refunds under any circumstances. We’ve changed the locks, so you’re stuck with him.

GROOM SPEECH QUOTES

• May your love be like the misty rain, gentle coming in but flooding the river.
• In so much as love grows in you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul.
• We never live so intensely as when we love strongly. We never realize ourselves so vividly as when we are in the full glow of love for others.
• To love someone deeply gives you strength. Being loved by someone deeply gives you courage.
• Love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction.
• Night and day, you are the one—Only you beneath the moon and under the sun.
• Marriage is like a golden ring in a chain, whose beginning is a glance and whose ending is eternity.
• “My heart is ever at your service.” – William Shakespeare.
• “You don’t marry the person you can live with… you marry the person you can’t live without.” – Unknown.
•  “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” – -1 Corinthians 13:7
• “A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.” – Mignon McLaughlin.
•  “Grow old with me. The best is yet to be –the last of life which the first was made.”

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11 Tips for Writing an Engaging Groom Speech

by Chris Bajda February 28, 2023

Writing a groom speech is a great way to share your story and express gratitude to those closest to you.

Whether you are getting married for the first time or renewing your vows, it is important to have an engaging and heartfelt groom's speech.

In this blog post, we will share eleven tips for writing a memorable Groom Speech.

 Groom Speech Tips to Make Your Wedding Day Extra Special

1. Start with a Joke

Starting your groom's speech with a joke can be a great way to break the ice and get your guests laughing.

• A well-timed joke in wedding speeches can help set the tone for the rest of your speech and make it more enjoyable for everyone.
• Just ensure the joke is appropriate for the occasion and not too risqué or embarrassing! 
• When deciding which joke to tell, keeping your audience in mind is a good idea.
• For example, if you have an older crowd at the wedding party, you might want to avoid jokes about technology or trends that the older generations may not understand.
• Instead, joke about love, marriage, or other topics everyone can relate to in your wedding speeches.
• With a funny joke to start your groom's speech, you will be sure to keep your guests smiling!

  2. Thank the Guests

Expressing gratitude to your guests is a great way to kick off your groom speech.

• Give them a warm thank you for coming and let them know how much it means to you and your bride to have them share on your special day.
• Let them know in your groom speech that you feel blessed and fortunate that so many people you care about are there with you on such an important occasion.
• Let your guests know that their presence is truly appreciated.

  3. Thank the Parents and in-Laws

The parents and new in-laws of the bride and groom are some of the most important people in their lives.

It is important to take a moment to thank the bride's parents during the groom's speech. You can do it in a few words or a longer heartfelt statement.

• Be sure to thank your own parents and mother and father in law for raising such amazing children and their love and support throughout your relationship.
• Consider adding a funny story about how you and your spouse got together with their help. It is a great way to show appreciation for their part in your wedding planning.

  4. Talk about Your Bride

When giving great groom speech about your bride on your wedding day, focus on the qualities that drew you to her in the first place.

• Talk about how she makes you feel loved and appreciated, how she is the most understanding and patient person you know, and how you have been so lucky to find someone who loves you unconditionally in your wedding speech.
• Talk about the moments you knew she was the one for you and why you are so excited to start this journey with her.

The wedding celebrates your love, so express it when you give your groom speech!

5. Share a Story about Your Relationship

When doing groom speech preparation, one of the most important parts is to share a story about your relationship.

It can be a funny story, a sweet memory, or anything else that helps convey your relationship's uniqueness.

• Think of a moment you two shared that made you realize how much you loved each other and how happy you were together.
• Start your groom's wedding speech by setting the stage. When and where did this moment take place? Describe the setting and any details that may help your guests envision the moment.
• Then, go on to tell the story. Tell it in a way that will make everyone laugh, smile, or tear up. Make sure to include any funny details or memorable moments that stand out.
• And don't forget to explain why this moment was so special to you both and what it meant to your relationship.
• End the story by emphasizing how much you love each other and how excited you are to get married. Showing emotion in your groom speech is great and will add a special touch to your story.
• If it feels right, try to wrap up the story with a quote, joke, or anything that reflects your personality as a couple!

6. Share Your Excitement for the Future

Your wedding day is the start of your life together and the beginning of a long and happy journey.

• Show your excitement for the future by discussing everything you look forward to in the years ahead.
• Talk about the honeymoon you have planned or the trips you will take together. Mention how excited you are to buy a home or start a family.
• Talk about all the fun activities you will do together and all the memories you will make in your wedding speech.

It will express your joy on your wedding day and let your bride know she is the one you want to share the rest of your life with.

7. Offer Advice to Other Couples

Your groom speech is the perfect time to share your wisdom when advising other couples.

Whether you have been married for years or are just starting, everyone loves to hear words of encouragement and love.

Here are some things you could mention in your groom speech:

• Enjoy the little moments together – life passes by so quickly!
• Be open to learning new things about each other – it keeps your relationship fresh and exciting.
• Communicate openly and honestly – be sure to listen more than you speak.
• Have fun together – date nights, game nights, or simply walking around the park can help you bond and reconnect.
• Support each other in everything you do – share your successes and lift each other when needed.
• Appreciate one another – small gestures like a hug or a "thank you" can mean a lot.

Finally, above all else, don't forget that marriage is about love, patience, and commitment. Remember these tips and you will have a strong, lasting relationship!

8. Length of a Groom's Speech

Regarding the length of a groom's speech, it is important to keep it within the time frame allotted for your wedding day.

Here are some groom speech ideas:

• Generally speaking, the ideal length for a groom's speech is five to eight minutes.
• Any longer than eight minutes can be overwhelming for your guests, while anything less than five minutes may not give you enough time to express your thoughts and feelings properly.
• One way to ensure you stay within the right timeframe is to practice your groom's wedding speech before the wedding day.
• Make sure to time yourself so that you can make adjustments during wedding planning.
• Additionally, asking a friend or family member to listen to your speech before you deliver it on the wedding day might be a good idea. It will allow you to get feedback and make any changes that you need to to ensure that your speech is just right.

With these great groom speech tips in mind, you should be able to craft an amazing groom's speech that your bride and all of your guests will love.

Just remember to keep the groom's speech within the ideal five to eight-minute time and practice beforehand!

9. Avoid Details

When delivering your groom's speech, it is important to avoid going into too much detail about your relationship with your new wife or any other personal details in public speaking.

• While you may feel tempted to share all the amazing stories of your relationship, it is best to keep these for a more private setting.
• Your audience will likely appreciate it if you keep the details to a minimum and stick to your message.
• Avoid talking about private jokes between you and your bride or inside jokes among family members that some guests may not understand.
• Stick to topics everyone can relate to, such as how your bride has made you a better person or the adventures you plan on having together.

10. Promise Your Partner

A wedding is a great time to express your love and commitment to your new wife.

• Make sure you make a promise to them during your groom's speech. It could be anything from always being there for each other or always trying to find joy and fun in your marriage.
• It is important to make sure your promise is meaningful and something true to you.

Remember, this is when you can express your feelings about your partner, so use it!

11. End with a Bang!

When it comes time to end your great groom speech, you want to ensure it ends with a bang! One of the best ways to do this is with a groom toast.

• The groom toast should be short and sweet and express your gratitude for the day and your wishes for the future.
• For example, you could say, "Here's to the future. May it be filled with love, laughter, and happiness!" After the groom's wedding toast, you can raise your glass and ask your guests to join you in cheers. Cheers!

Try to get hold of a groom speech template. This can be really helpful for structure and for finding the right words for your groom speech.

There are lots of groom speech examples available online that you can use as a guide (Check out this one Groom Speech Examples )

With practice, you will have all the confidence you need to deliver the best groom speech that will be remembered long after the day has ended.

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How to Write A Killer Bride or Groom Wedding Speech

Writing a wedding speech can be a daunting task, especially if you’re nervous about speaking in front of a group. But it’s an awesome opportunity to let your nearest and dearest know how much they mean to you and how much you appreciate them celebrating the start of your marriage with you.

Traditionally, brides don’t give speeches. They sit quietly and listen while their dad, the best man and the groom give speeches. Brides were to be seen and not heard. But we’ve had enough of that. If you’re a bride who wants to speak at your own wedding – more power to you! We 100% support a bride being heard on her own wedding day.

Getting ready to write your bride or groom wedding speech? Awesome! We’ve got all the steps you need to write a killer wedding speech that will leave the room laughing, crying and applauding wildly by the time you drop the mic.

Decide on the logistics

Before you get to the nitty-gritty of speech writing, figure out some of the big picture issues. Who is going to be giving the speech? Are you speaking together or separately? If you’re giving two separate speeches, who is going first? When in the night are you giving the speech? How long will the speech be? What’s the tone going to be?

Start your wedding speech with some thank yous

This one is easy! You start your speech by giving a round of thank yous. Thank all of your guests for coming, thank your wedding party for supporting you, thank out-of-towners for making the trek, thank your parents for all their love, thank your new spouse’s parents for welcoming you into the family, thank special people who made the day possible, thank vendors, THANK THEM ALL! Or, y’know, thank who you want to thank.

Mention those who couldn’t be there

This step is optional, but if you’d like, it’s a great time to pay tribute to people who couldn’t be at your wedding. This could be important people who couldn’t physically make it, maybe they are unable to travel or sick. Or this could be people who have passed on that you want to honour on your special day.

Add a short & sweet anecdote to your wedding speech

Here’s the fun part: now you get to gush about your boo! Include a short story about how you met, when you knew you were in love or a funny tidbit from wedding planning. The idea here is that you want to share a cute story, nothing embarrassing. And you’ll want to keep it short, especially if you and your spouse are both sharing little stories. You’ll also want to double check with anyone else giving speeches that you’re not all re-telling the same story.

End with your partner

You made it! You’re at the end of your speech. Now all you have to do is address your partner and cue the waterworks. This is where you let your brand new husband or wife know how happy you are to be married to them, how much today has meant to you or anything you weren’t able to fit into your vows.

Practice makes perfect

Especially if you’re nervous, rehearse your speech. Stand in front of the mirror, ask someone in your wedding party to lend an ear or recite your speech to your dog. And if you’re planning on doing the speech together and splitting up the different sections, you’ll definitely want to practice with your partner. If there are parts of the speech you want to keep as a surprise for the big day, that’s totally fine. Just rehearse the rest together so you know who says what when.

You know what we say – your wedding, your way! So if you’re really nervous about giving your speech in front of so many people, maybe you can give a speech at your rehearsal dinner in front of a smaller audience instead. If you’re scared you’ll be all teary by the end of the speeches, forget the tradition of the couple speaking last and do your speech first. And if the idea of a speech totally terrifies you, skip it all together! You can give out cards to your loved ones or talk to them one on one and let them know how much you appreciate them making your wedding day magical.

Last minute dos & don’ts for writing the best wedding speech ever!

• DO: write it down and don’t try to wing it. Have a paper copy so you’re not frantically trying to find your phone only for it to die when you’re halfway done your speech.
• DON’T: wait until you’re too drunk to give your speech. If you think you’ll be sloshed by 8:00pm, give your speech by 7:00pm.
• DO: feel free to respond to other speeches. If you go last, you can totally improvise a bit and thank you dad for his sweet words or try to defend yourself in the story your best man just told.
• DON’T: hog the mic. If you and your partner are giving the speech together, divide it up so you can both speak equally.
• DO: be courteous of your guests’ time. Especially if you have a lot of speeches planned, try to keep yours short and to the point.
• DON’T: share anything too embarrassing, too intimate or too inside joke-y. Trust us, you’ll regret it when your nana comes up to you later and asks you to explain that story from the time you had a pregnancy scare in Vegas.

Are you planning to give a speech at your wedding?  For more wedding planning advice, visit our blog . And to learn more about our team of wedding officiants and book an officiant for your wedding, get in touch! 

written by Riana Ang-Canning

Riana Ang-Canning

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How to write a wedding speech: The ultimate expert tips & examples to impress

Discover top examples and templates to help you master the perfect wedding speech.

Public speaking can be a daunting prospect at any time, but especially at a wedding , when you want to ensure it sets the tone for the occasion and is remembered for all the right reasons.

Perhaps you want to nail the perfect best man's speech , share your love and pride as father of the bride, or you may even want to break tradition and give a speech as the bride or maid of honour, just as Meghan Markle did at her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry . Regardless of your role in the nuptials, there are a few key things to consider when writing your speech and rehearsing ahead of the big day – from what to include (and the stories that are better left omitted).

But fear not, with our expert tips and wedding speech templates and examples you can not only learn how to write a wedding speech, but also deliver it with confidence.

How to write a wedding speech

Start your wedding speech writing process with a brainstorming session, jotting down anything you think you should include, any particular anecdotes that spring to mind, and thinking about your relationship to the soon-to-be newlyweds.

MORE: How many people should I invite to my wedding?

It may also be helpful to consider other factors, such as who will be speaking before or after you, as you may want to reference their speech, or introduce the next speaker. Think about who will be in the audience too; weddings typically host guests of all ages and backgrounds, so inside jokes and embarrassing stories that may make close friends and younger guests laugh could fall flat with older members of the congregation.

There are some formalities you may need to cover too, including thanking certain people for planning and hosting the wedding, for attending the big day, or paying a heartfelt tribute to loved ones who are missing from the occasion.

Wedding speech template

While the style and content of your speech will be unique to you, there are a few key things you may want to include from the template below.

• Introduce yourself and explain your relationship to the couple. Of course, you won't need to do this if you are one of the newlyweds.
• Thank guests for attending the wedding and joining the celebrations.
• Share anecdotes about the couple – perhaps you may want to share a favourite memory of them, or tell a story about the bride or groom that guests would like to hear, before relating it back to the couple now.
• Wrap it up by sharing your wishes for the newlyweds and invite guests to join you in a toast.
• End by thanking the audience and introducing the next speaker if needed.

READ: Who should sit on the top table at your wedding? Dos and Don'ts

Wedding speech tips

Matthew Shaw , creative director and founder of sauveur. , shares his six top wedding speech tips to help you both when writing your speech and delivering it on the big day.

1. Stick to an angle

 "Speeches can sprawl quite easily when you're trying to cover so much and this makes them difficult to follow. When you first start planning your speech it's definitely helpful to throw lots of ideas around but then try to focus on an overall theme or approach. This could be a personality trait, great jokes, or a more heartfelt approach, but it will help you, and the guests, if there is a clear angle to follow. In turn, this will help your guests follow along and you will be gifted with a better response from the room," he recommends.

"When it comes to content, remember to keep it clean and universal. By all means poke fun at your subject with a glint in your eye, but consider who may be present and keep the shaming stories for another time. Similarly, you should consider what your audience can relate to too. No one wants to sit through a five minute private joke they don't understand!"

2. Use notes rather than a script

 "As much as possible, I suggest rehearsing enough so that you know the overall structure and points off by heart and then using notes as a guide on the day. Your speech will feel much more natural for this and it will also help you look up and out across the room.

 "For our weddings we often stick these into a spare order of service so they look smart and are also easier to hold and turn the page. This will also help you with your eye contact. It will help your speech feel more personal if you make eye contact around the room instead of with the floor in front of you. Whatever works for you but whatever you do, don't read off your phone!"

RELATED: Pre-wedding jitters? 12 top sleep tips to feel rested and refreshed before your nuptials

3. Keep it short and sweet!

 "A tale as old as time but I really cannot stress this enough! It is very difficult to distil a friendship or relationship into a couple of minutes but you will be thanked for this, I promise. I recommend three to five minutes and no more than eight," Matthew advises. "A clear, tight, structure will help you deliver a brilliant speech and leave everyone wanting more. This is equally important on the day itself; do not go off script and meander through your thoughts. If you lose your place you can pause and refer to your notes, but do not freestyle and make it up as you go along. I have never seen a long wedding speech that has been well received."

4. Best Speech Ever (B.S.E)

 "This is my acronym for putting the finishing touches on an excellent speech. Body language, speed, and energy. Once you've written your speech, the crucial next step is to rehearse it so you are comfortable with your material and delivery."

Body language:

"Make sure you rehearse in front of the mirror so you can see how you deliver the speech. Keep an eye out for any nervous ticks you may have and what your hands are doing. Ask the couple if you will be using a microphone and, if so, practice with a hairbrush. You should hold it steady, a few centimetres from your mouth. If you wave it around as you speak you'll land up sounding like a train station announcement!"

 "Remember to keep it slow. We have a habit of speaking fast when nervous, which will make it hard for your audience to follow. I suggest recording yourself so you can play it back and work out how much to slow down. It's also important to allow moments for you to pause for reaction, and to take your breath or a sip of water. If helpful, write these into your notes as a reminder. Don't try and rattle off the whole speech without any breaks."

Energy:​​​​

"To avoid monotone delivery, work out the energy of each section in your speech and practice moving between different registers. This will help keep it interesting as well ensuring your audience follows along. And PRACTICE! When ready, ask a couple of trusted friends/family members to have a run through too."

MORE: 60 ultimate first dance songs

How do you start a wedding speech?

Start your wedding speech by introducing yourself and explaining your relationship to the couple. There are many ways to do this, whether you want to keep it simple and to the point or make the audience laugh with a joke. 

How do you make a short and sweet wedding speech?

Wedding speeches are notorious for over-running and going on for hours, so it's understandable that some people would prefer to keep theirs short and sweet. As long as you include the key elements from the wedding speech templates above you should have the formula for a memorable speech that will be loved by the happy couple and their guests alike.

Wedding speech examples:

Use these wedding speech introduction examples to inspire your own, and get your speech off to a great start.

"Hello, I'm XXX and I'm so happy to welcome you all here on this beautiful day."

"Hi, my name is XXX and it's an honour to be here today as XXX's best man/ maid of honour."

"Family and friends of XXX and XXX, thank you for being here today to celebrate their marriage."

"Hi everyone, I'm (Groom's name). You probably all already know who I am, and if you don't, well done for sneaking in."

"Good afternoon everyone, my name is XXX, but you can call me 'XXX-would-you-like-a-drink'."

"Welcome to the celebration of XXX and XXX's wedding."

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In This Article

How To Write a Short Wedding Speech

• Short Speeches For Bride And Groom

Short Wedding Speeches For Parents

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Perfect Short Wedding Speech Examples To Guide You

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Wedding speeches are a long-time tradition of weddings. And, if you have an important role at a wedding, such as best man, father of the bride or maid of honor, you would be expected to give a speech. While the thought of giving a speech might be nerve-wracking, it might comfort you to know that the best speeches are short and sweet. So, don’t feel any stress or pressure, because short wedding speeches are not only the best, they are easy to deliver.

For your inspiration, we’ve put together a guide as well as some short wedding speeches examples to help you on your way to give the best wedding speech.

Brides Often Ask

Is it ok to read a wedding speech.

It is okay to read out your wedding speech. If your nerves get the best of you and reading would be the most comfortable, no one will care as long as you say the right words.

Do you clap at wedding speeches?

There are many reasons to clap at a celebration, and if guests feel the need to clap after a wedding speech it’s fine. These outbursts of joy are normal and always encouraged.

Can you toast in the middle of a speech?

You might be inspired to give a toast in the middle of your wedding speech. While this can disrupt the flow of your speech, it is possible to pull off. If it enhances your speech, however, by all means, toast away.

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With this guide, you can create short and sweet wedding speeches that will just flow organically. Write a killer speech that would be easy to read and will convey your love for the couple perfectly.

• Remember who is in the audience: Whether you are giving short wedding speeches as the best man or groom, it is important to keep your audience in mind. Introduce yourself and acknowledge them. Focusing on the audience and engaging them will help you speak from the heart.
• Avoid alcohol: While getting some liquid courage can be tempting, it is best to lay off the alcohol until after your speech. Alcohol could turn short funny wedding speeches into something long and nonsensical. This is because you might slur or forget your words under the influence, and this is something you absolutely do not want.
• Use note cards: Although you are not encouraged to read out your short wedding rehearsal dinner speech completely, note cards are encouraged. With these cues, you can glance at your notes from time to time to help you remember your lines and keep you on track. The audience might not even notice, and your speech would be better for it.
• Structure your story: Structure your speech in a way that focuses on the bride and groom. Fine one, two or three points about them that you can elaborate upon and stories in which they are the hero. This will keep your message in the right direction, and you can be sure to end on a positive note.

Short Wedding Speeches For Bride And Groom

Wedding speech by a bride to a groom

There is no need to be stumped when giving your sweet and short wedding speech. As long as you remember your audience, speak from the heart and rehearse beforehand, you should be super.

“Hi everyone, I would like to thank you all for being here and celebrating this all-important day with us. I would also like to give special thanks to my mom and dad for helping make my dream come true. This gift they have given me of allowing me to marry my partner and soul mate is one that I will always treasure. I am forever grateful to have the best parents in the whole wide world. So, thank you, mom and dad, you are the best. And to you (name), my groom. There are not enough words to express how I feel this day or explain the amount of joy you have brought into my life. Not one day goes by without me being grateful for the day that we met. I am beyond ecstatic to stand here as your wife, knowing that you have accepted me just as I am and accepted to go on this lifelong journey as my husband. You are the best thing to happen to me, and I know that this happy celebration is the beginning of many more to come.”

Wedding speech by a groom to a bride

There are many ways to give groom short wedding speeches. Use this example as a guide to inspire you when writing your own.

“Hello everyone, thank you for coming and for deciding to celebrate this wonderful day with us. We are so grateful. I would also like to thank our parents for helping to make this day a possibility. With them working together as a team, and with their blessing, I have been able to marry the love of my life and today has been truly special. We are thankful and happy and there are not enough words to express our gratitude and joy on such a day as this. We could not have asked for more. Last but not least, I will like to thank you, my love. You have accepted me as the man that I am, shortcomings and all. You see the best in me even when I do not. And you have been my best friend and my rock through all the good and the bad. Thank you for always being by my side; thank you for allowing me to be the man in your life and for accepting to be my bride. I have not been perfect, sometimes far from it, but your love has never wavered. I promise to be the man that is always there for you, just as you have been for me. And I promise to love you forever; and may every day together be a reflection of our love, always.”

Wedding speech by a couple to guests

Here we have one of our short simple wedding speeches examples for the couple to their guests. This can be given by the groom or bride but from both of them.

“Good evening, family, and friends. We would like to welcome you to this special occasion. We are so happy to be here with you all as we celebrate our love for each other. Today will not be the special day that it is without you present. We are immensely grateful. Being here today we are reminded of the importance of friends and of family. Our relationship has been possible, not just because of both of us, but also because of the support that you give to us. From advice, to love, to just being there to talk to, there is no way that we would have done this without the love that you have showered on us. We hope to be able to continue to celebrate like this, together. Not just celebrating ourselves, but each other. May the kind of love that we feel today, continue to live in you and your families. So, thank you. Thank you for being our rock, thank you for always being there, for supporting us. And, thank you for coming today to celebrate this special day with us. It’s a truly big day for us, and we wouldn’t have it without you all. Thanks for helping make our dream come true. We love you all.”

Wedding speech by the groom to the father of the bride

Here is a sample short wedding speech for the father of the bride from the groom. On such a special day it is important to be able to say a few words to such a special man.

“Welcome, everyone. I will, first of all, like to thank you all, my guests for being here to celebrate with us on the most special day of my life. I wouldn’t be standing here at all without the love and help of my parents. Also, I will not have my bride without the love and help of her parents. So, I stand here today in gratitude to them. One person I would like to thank especially is her father, my father-in-law, (name). Thank you for giving us your blessing and thank you so much for loving us. You have been a pillar, an example, and you have given me nothing less than the same love that you show to my wife. You have been an encouraging figure in our relationship, and you have treated me as your son from the very first time that you were introduced to me. I cannot thank you enough. I can only hope to make you as proud as you have made me feel, being married to your daughter. And I will always be grateful for the love that you have extended to me and how you have welcomed me into your family always with outstretched arms. Thank you for your unconditional support, and much love from your son.”

Wedding speech for the father of the bride

While there are many things you might like to say on such an important day as a parent, it is always best to keep the speeches short and sweet. These examples can be helpful.

“I welcome you all on this very special day of my daughter’s wedding. Thank you all so much for being here. I also welcome the family of my new in-laws, many congratulations to us all. As (bride’s name)’s father, I do not have enough words to express my joy and gratitude today. I have so much to say, but I’ll stick with as short a speech as possible. Today I have gotten a son and by extension a most supportive family that has teamed with us to make this glorious day possible. I am grateful for their time, and all their efforts in making all our dreams and the dreams of my daughter come true. And I am happy to be a part of this. I know that my daughter will be happy being a part of this wonderful family, and from the day she introduced me to (name of groom), I have had no doubt that he would make her happy as well. This is a day that I have looked forward to as a father and I am glad to be able to witness it. I could not have wished anything better for my daughter. She is surrounded by all the love and security that I have always wanted for her. Thank you all once again for being a part of today, as we celebrate the union of two people that I love very much. May this day be the beginning of many more joyous days and may we always have reason to celebrate.”

Wedding speech for the father of the groom

“Thank you all for being here to celebrate with us. I am the happiest man today welcoming a new daughter into my family. Also, I am grateful to her family as well for being the best in-laws ever and supporting us in putting all of this together. I could not have asked for a better day for them, and all I can say is that I wish them the best. To you both, may this day be the beginning of a long and fruitful journey together. My wife and I love you both. Once again, thank you all. Cheers.

Wedding speech for mother of the bride

Here we have a short sweet wedding speech example for the mother of the bride.

“Hello everyone. Thank you all for being here. My heart is full today, as you all must know. Watching my daughter take this important step in her life has made me very happy. We are all so happy to support them both in starting this new chapter in their lives. I have dreamed of this day so much; I am grateful to finally be able to see it. (Groom’s name) has been an excellent son-in-law and I am beyond happy to welcome him into our family. I am extremely proud of my daughter and happy to give her to someone who loves her just as much as we do. As we celebrate with you two today, may the sounds of celebration never leave you. All our love.”

Wedding speech for the mother of the groom

Another one of our short simple wedding speeches examples for the mother of the groom.

“Warm greetings to you all. I appreciate the time that you have taken to join us in celebrating (bride and groom). From the day my son introduced me to (name of bride), I have grown to love her as my own daughter, and it has been a joy to watch them grow in love with each other. I used to have a lot of anxiety about my son’s relationships in the past, but when I met (bride), I knew that he had met his match. I am happy to celebrate you both today in not just your union, but the union of our families too. Much love to you both. Cheers everyone!”

Not many people are trained public speakers, but it is hard to go wrong with short wedding speeches. Allow these tips and examples to guide you in making the best wedding speeches ever.

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Tips For Writing A Groom’S Speech At A Wedding

Table of Contents:

Even though it’s not a strict requirement, if you speak to the crowd for a few minutes before or after dinner, it adds a significant pre- or post-dinner touch to the wedding. When you’re done reading it, I have no doubt that you’ll actually WANT to speak up.

For the majority of his adult life, Pete Honsberger has served as a repeat groomsman, speaker, and toast consultant. He has witnessed just about everything there is to see in wedding toasts.

I can honestly say that it’s a lovely moment and one you won’t want to miss as a guy who took the mic at my own wedding and spent years honing wedding speech stories for my book Wedding Toasts 101: The Guide to the Perfect Wedding Speech.

How long does the groom’s speech last?

Ten minutes The ideal length for the groom’s speech is ten minutes. Keep your remarks succinct, poignant, and to the point to avoid boring and upsetting your audience.

One of the most eagerly anticipated parts of the day is the groom’s speech, which is a crucial component of a traditional wedding ceremony. It usually occurs after the wedding breakfast and marks the change from the formalities of the wedding to a more social setting. An important speech can be intimidating to write and deliver. Consequently, this helpful guide to the groom’s speech explains how long it should be and what to say.

The theme of the bridegroom’s wedding speech is balance. In order to maintain reader interest, you want it to be both comprehensive and concise. The groom’s speech should ideally not last longer than ten minutes. If you ramble on, your audience will become disinterested and restless, so try to keep your remarks brief, poignant, and meaningful. By timing how long it takes you to say each sentence as you would on the big day, you can determine the exact length of your speech after practicing it. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t speak quickly. When necessary, take a breather and give yourself some space for laughter and wistful coos.

Best advice: If you’re apprehensive about giving a speech and detest the idea of occupying the limelight for an extended period of time, keep it brief. Before you sit down and take in the rest of the day, lead a toast to your spouse and express gratitude to the wedding staff. Another choice is to stand up together as a couple. Having a joint speech will calm your nerves and add a contemporary touch to your wedding. If you and your partner are both terrified of speaking in front of people, this is a great option.

Who makes a speech at the groom’s dinner?

The rehearsal dinner is customarily paid for by the groom’s family, though this is becoming less and less common, so the groom’s father would be the first to speak, followed by the bride’s father.

Contrary to the wedding reception, there is a long list of people who can speak at the rehearsal dinner.

You’ve sent out your invitations to the rehearsal dinner and done some research on proper protocol. The short answer is, basically everyone, which brings us to our final and most crucial question: who gives the toasts at the rehearsal dinner?

You don’t want to take time away from the dance floor, so keep the list of speeches at your wedding brief. Additionally, toasts should not last longer than three minutes. However, since the environment is more informal, anyone who wishes to speak at the rehearsal dinner has the opportunity to do so.

When the wedding is over, does the groom speak?

Does the Groom Make a Speech? Traditionally, the groom will speak after the ceremony at the wedding reception. While you are free to arrange the speeches however you like, the custom calls for the groom, best man, and any additional toasts to come after the father of the bride.

You’re not alone if you’ve been anxious about giving your groom’s speech ever since you proposed; this is undoubtedly one of the most difficult aspects of the entire wedding planning process.

The length of your speech, the format of your groom’s speech, and the people you should thank must all be taken into account. Your speech will follow that of the father of the bride (or groom), who could have set the bar pretty high if you stick to the customary order of speeches.

But don’t worry—we talked to pros who specialize in writing wedding speeches to help you relax. Chris Dance, a speechwriter; Adrian Simpson from All Speeches Great and Small; and Heidi Ellert-McDermott from Speechy all offered their best insights on what makes a great groom’s speech.

On the occasion of our nuptials, what do I say to my wife?

Say how beautiful she is. dot. Tell her that you are the luckiest man alive. dot. Tell her that you have been anticipating this day your entire life. dot. My closest companion is you. dot. Tell her she’s your wife. dot. List your favorite memories of her. dot. Tell her that you are sure you want to wed her.

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When should a groom draft his speech?

It usually occurs after the wedding breakfast and marks the change from the formalities of the wedding to a more social setting. It can be intimidating to write and deliver such a significant speech. So, here is a helpful guide for writing a groom’s speech that outlines its length and content.

One of the most eagerly anticipated parts of a traditional wedding ceremony—and one that plays a significant role—is the groom’s speech. It usually happens after the wedding breakfast and marks the change from the formalities of the wedding into a more social setting. An important speech can be intimidating to write and deliver. Here is a helpful guide that outlines the length and content of the groom’s speech.

The theme of the bridegroom’s wedding speech is balance. You want it to be comprehensive but brief enough to maintain readers’ interest. The groom’s speech should ideally not go over ten minutes. If you ramble on, your audience will become disinterested and restless. To avoid this, try to keep your remarks brief, poignant, and meaningful. By timing how long it takes you to say each sentence as you would on the big day, you can determine the exact length of your speech after practicing it. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t speak too quickly. When necessary, take a break and give yourself some time for laughter and wistful coos.

Best advice: If you’re apprehensive about giving a speech and don’t like the idea of hogging the limelight for too long, keep it short. Before you sit down and take in the rest of the day, lead a toast to your spouse and express your gratitude to the wedding staff. Another choice is for a couple to stand up together. Your nerves will be calmed, and your wedding will have a contemporary feel thanks to your joint speech. If you and your partner are both terrified of speaking in front of people, this is a fantastic option.

What ought a groom to say in his speech?

A groom’s speech should be centered on thanking everyone who helped make the wedding day special, including the bride’s mother and father (or their equivalents), the guests, his own parents, the best man, the bridesmaids, ushers, and anyone else who helped out. Cached.

Published on April 2, 2021 Written by Hollie Bond.

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No idea where to begin when it comes to giving a speech on your special day? We’ve gathered all the best advice and ideas to help you craft and deliver the best groom’s speech ever.

What should the bride-to-be say?

You’ve been a wonderful, thoughtful friend to my wife. Each time she needed you, you were always there. I appreciate you being her friend and supporting her through the entire wedding planning process.

It’s not easy to deliver a groom’s speech. In fact, there’s a good chance you could fail if you don’t plan well for it. Either you’ll write the speech poorly, leaving out lovely anecdotes, thoughtful and endearing remarks about your bride, and praise and thanks for your parents, friends, and best man; or you’ll deliver it poorly, making it sound stilted or improvised.

Delivering an embarrassingly subpar groom’s speech is among the worst things you can do, in either case. You will literally look bad in front of all of your friends, family, and your new bride’s friends and family.

Make sure you have a strong speech ready as a result, and do yourself a favor. After that, repeat the process numerous times. Do it enough so that you can say it without directly reading it from the paper, but not enough that your delivery sounds wooden.

How should the groom’s speech begin?

Opening Phrases Your speech should start with a brief thank you to the groom’s father for his speech, which has just finished, and for welcoming you into the family. It’s also a good idea to start laughing right away to unwind both you and your audience.

“. ., and so on, to describe how I met Lucy. Fifth chapter. “.

Nothing is worse than a monotonous groom speech, even though there are important points to be made and people to express gratitude to. blah, blah, and again However, it need not be uninteresting!

And keep in mind that your best man is about to launch a barrage of comedy man-grenades at you in front of all of your loved ones, so use humor to your advantage before he starts exploding.

What should the bride’s groom write?

“All the best as you begin this new chapter in your life. On the occasion of your marriage, I wish you happiness, love, and joy. ” While your wedding day may come and go, may your love continue to deepen. “May the affection and joy you experience today last for years to come.”.

How do you write a groom’s speech for a wedding?

Prepare to adapt when writing a groom’s speech in 2023. Nothing is certain, as the past few years have taught us. dot. Describe your experience. Avoid becoming overly formal by getting bogged down in etiquette rules. Dot. Cut the cliches in the groom’s speech. Dot. Find the humor. dot Thanks. dot. To the point, dot The minimoon. dot Construct your delivery.

In addition to the many other tasks you have on your wedding day, writing a groom’s speech is difficult. The best accessory, however, will always be a great speech. How to write a contemporary groom speech is a question we posed to the Speechy team of wedding speechwriters.

Nothing is certain, as we’ve learned over the past few years. Despite the uncertainty, there is no justification for waiting until the last minute to prepare your speech, even if that is how you normally operate. Take the time to work on your speech early because, regrettably, it’s uncommon for grooms to experience divine inspiration in the week leading up to their wedding.

Write the main body of it and change the introduction and toast based on whether you’re speaking to a smaller audience than you anticipated or one that is ecstatic to be back in the same room sharing a celebration.

The bridegroom’s speech begins by thanking who

The groom’s father At a wedding, there is etiquette regarding who should say what. In his speeches, the groom customarily extends his gratitude to and proposes a toast to the father of the bride (or an appropriate substitute). On behalf of himself and his soon-to-be wife or husband, the groom should thank them for their speech.

Who should the groom mention in his speech as his thanks?

Many people, including the groom’s best man, groomsmen, guests, both sets of parents, the bride’s father, and bridesmaids, deserve praise. He ought to give his bride and the bridesmaids praise and propose toasts for them both.

Whom should the bridegroom toast in his speech?

In his speeches, the groom customarily extends his gratitude to and proposes a toast to the following: the bride’s father (or a substitute for him or her). In the name of himself and his future spouse, the groom should thank them for their speech.

In his speech, the groom toasts the following people:

The groom has a lot to be grateful for, including the bride’s father, the attendees, both sets of parents, his best man, groomsmen, and bridesmaids. In addition to leading toasts in honor of his bride and bridesmaids, he should express his gratitude.

Related Articles:

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• Writing A Funny Best Man Speech For A Wedding
• Writing A Succinct Wedding Speech: How To Do It
• Speech Writing For A Sister’S Wedding
• Writing My Best Friend’S Wedding Speech
• Writing The Ideal Wedding Speech: A Guide

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Easy Tips on Nailing Your Maid of Honor Speech

No wedding is complete without toasts. It cannot be the other way! The newlyweds are beginning their journey together, and everyone wants to wish them many good things. Next, we’ll talk about how to write a good maid of honor speech and give some recommendations and examples.

What Is Maid of Honor Speech?

This is the toast the bride’s bestie gives during the wedding reception. The girls grew up together and have known each other since the cradle, or at least since high school. Accordingly, the maid of honor speech contains interesting facts about the bride, her life adventures, and character features. It may include a little humor, nostalgia, and many nice words about what a great person the bride is!

When Is the Absolute Best Time for a Maid of Honor Toast?

The wedding should follow the script, clearly stating who says the toast and when. Traditionally, speeches and toasts at a reception begin with the bride’s father after the main meal. Then it comes time for the best man and maid of honor speeches.

Source: zola.com

How Long Should Maid of Honor Speeches for Best Friend Be?

Start from 4 minutes. Of course, you can find different advice regarding how long the maid of honor speeches should last , but wedding etiquette does not recommend delaying it so as not to make the evening boring.

MOH Speech Outline

Even if you have never written a public speech before and are pessimistic about essays, you shouldn’t consider writing a toast tedious. You must spend very little time and effort reporting a touching address for your best friend. Follow our tips:

• How it all started. Don’t get too far into the past. It is enough to tell the story of your acquaintance with the bride . Mention why you are friends and how much you love her.
• Hearty congratulations. Your best friend is not alone — she has a husband, and they are perfect for each other. Congratulations to them, and I wish them many more happy years together. You can mention how they are similar, how they differ, and why, in your opinion, they ideally match each other.
• Some hearty tips. You can find a good quote about love and wish the couple to keep and cherish their love for many years.
• Toast time. Invite everyone to toast the newlyweds on their special day.

Crafting the Perfect Balance of Humor and Sentiment

When composing a maid of honor speech, striking the right balance between humor and sentiment is crucial. This balance ensures the speech resonates with the audience and honors the bride in a meaningful way.

Source: theknot.com

Incorporating Humor

Humor adds lightness and joy to your speech, making it memorable and enjoyable. However, it’s important to keep it tasteful and appropriate for the audience. Here are some tips:

– Reflect on Funny Memories: Share amusing stories or incidents involving you and the bride. Ensure these anecdotes are relatable and won’t embarrass the bride.

– Use Light-Hearted Jokes: Gentle teasing about the bride’s quirks or habits can add humor, but avoid anything that could be seen as offensive.

– Avoid Inside Jokes: While it’s tempting to include personal jokes, remember that not all guests will understand them. Aim for humor that everyone can appreciate.

Weaving in Sentiment

Amidst the laughter, your speech should also convey deep affection and sentiment for the bride. Here’s how:

– Express Genuine Emotions: Share what the bride means to you and how she has impacted your life. Authenticity in your words will touch the hearts of the audience.

– Highlight Her Qualities: Talk about the bride’s strengths, achievements, and the qualities that make her special.

– Wish for the Future: Conclude with heartfelt wishes for the bride and her new life, emphasizing your support and love for her.

Some great Samples

For those who find it challenging to get started, we offer several standard options for best maid-of-honor speeches. Choose the beginning that suits you best and write a continuation. As a result, you will have a masterpiece!

“Hi all! For those who don’t know me yet, my name is [Your Name], and I am the best friend of our charming bride. As far as I can remember, we have always supported each other. It’s great that our friendship didn’t end with graduation, and now I’m standing before you and holding this glass.”

“My name is [Your name], and I have known the bride since school. We met in Spanish classes and then helped each other with our studies. I was so lucky that such a clever girl became my best friend. I appreciate and respect that I have such a wonderful person in my life.”

Then, tell the world about newlyweds, how beautiful and incredible they are, and wish many happy years together . You can take samples of the maid of honor speech as a basis and add something of your own. It doesn’t matter how flawless your address is if it comes from the heart.

Source: weddingwire.com

The Art of Delivery: Tips for a Captivating Speech

Delivering the maid of honor speech is as important as its content. A well-delivered speech can significantly enhance its impact and leave a lasting impression.

Practice Makes Perfect

Rehearsing your speech is key to delivering it confidently. Here are some strategies:

• Familiarize with Your Speech: Know your speech well enough so you can speak naturally and maintain eye contact with the audience.
• Practice Out Loud: Rehearse your speech several times out loud, ideally in front of a mirror or a small audience.
• Work on Your Pace: Ensure your speech isn’t rushed. Practice speaking slowly and clearly, allowing your words to sink in.

Engaging the Audience

Engaging with your audience makes your speech more impactful. Consider these points:

• Eye Contact: Make eye contact with various guests, not just the bride and groom. This creates a connection with the audience.
• Use Gestures: Appropriate hand gestures can emphasize points and make your delivery more dynamic.
• Manage Nerves: It’s normal to feel nervous. Take deep breaths, pause at key moments, and remember that the audience is supportive and understanding.

Lana is a dedicated writer and Editor in Chief of TheFrisky, who has been with us from the beginning. Her diverse range of interests, from technology and business to health and wellness, allows her to bring a fresh perspective to each topic she covers.

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Field Notes

Overwhelmed With Writing Your Vows? A Professional Wordsmith Could Help.

In recent years, social media has helped increase demand in this new wedding vendor category. “Vows have gone viral,” one expert said, “and there’s greater attention to the moments that go wrong.”

By Alix Strauss

The 200 guests at Rachel Mumford’s backyard wedding in Malibu, Calif., were suddenly on their feet, clapping, giving her an unexpected ovation. Forty-eight hours earlier, she probably wouldn’t have felt as calm or confident.

The handwritten pages of vows she had in her relaxed grip were now a “structured, organized, funny, intimate and condensed version of our love story,” said Ms. Mumford, 53, who married Brandon Coxton at their home on July 3, 2022. “I wanted my vows to be real, personal and intimate.”

She managed to check off all three boxes after hiring Brian Franklin, a founder of Vows & Speeches , a writing service for wedding participants that he started with his wife, Nicole Franklin, in 2021.

It is a niche service, he said, that has long been lacking in the wedding industry. “This is part of the wedding that has not traditionally gotten professional guidance,” Mr. Franklin said. “Putting your whole relationship into one to two minutes to say how you feel is not an easy task.”

Ms. Mumford, who is a founder of Barry’s, a boutique fitness chain, would agree. She procrastinated in writing her vows, then panicked. “I have great ideas and passion, but I’m not a writer,” she said. “Brian has a comic ability. He knows where to find funny moments.”

After hiring the writing service, she said, “I felt prepared, not alone, and confident.”

It’s no secret that weddings are expensive. For those who are able to afford another component, a speechwriter could be an option. Below, three professionals share their writing process, unique styles and advice for those who hope to write their own. Each also offers delivery coaching via Zoom.

The Therapist

Tanya Pushkine calls herself the Vow Whisperer . Based in New York, she works one on one with couples to create a four-minute, 500-word bespoke speech.

“Couples have too much to say and don’t know how to write from their heart,” said Ms. Pushkine, who has shaped more than 300 vows over the last four years.

To start, she sends couples a questionnaire of 25 “deep, self-reflective questions” like: When did you know for sure that your partner was the one? How has this partner made you a better person?

The answers become the beginning and body of the speech. For the end, she focuses on the future: “I ask, What kind of life will you have together? How will the other person help shape your growth? And, What does each person promise the other? Those answers encapsulate why you’re standing there.”

Once Ms. Pushkine receives the answers, and after several edits, she creates the final 500- to 700-word speech.

Couples’ speeches are also tailored to complement each other — a needed step, as sometimes only one person opts for her service. “The goal is to establish a vibe, so there’s a balance,” she said. “If one is a comedian and the other is not, we might have to rework the speech. I have to work with both personalities.” Ms. Pushkine also officiates and does ceremony production; she is ordained by the Universal Life Church and American Marriage Ministries.

Advice: “Be vulnerable, emotional, and trust yourself. The more vulnerable you are, the more beautiful the speech will be.”

The Humorist

Mr. Franklin of Vows & Speeches asks at least 50 questions because he “loves to hear even the most minute details,” he said. During a 60-minute follow-up phone conversation that he arranges with clients, he might ask even more. Like Ms. Pushkine, he revises and shares drafts over email until everyone is pleased.

“Details tell the story — finding out one person collects sneakers, or another knew his fiancée loved Ariana Grande and took her to a show and learned all the lyrics beforehand are gems and define a person in a dimensional way,” he said. “People forget to tell those stories unless they’re asked. Those nongeneric stories draw the attention of the audience.”

A bad speech, he added, can lead to dangerous moments at a wedding. “If it’s off-color, inappropriate, boring or too long, it sucks the energy out of the wedding as food gets cold,” he said.

Social media, Mr. Franklin said, has helped increase demand in the vow-writing industry. “Vows have gone viral and there’s greater attention to the moments that go wrong,” he said. “There is more pressure to get it right to avoid disaster stories.”

Over the last two years, Mr. Franklin, who lives in Los Angeles with his wife and business partner, previously worked as a political consultant and communications strategist. During the pandemic, he shifted his focus to speech writing, mostly for weddings, working with couples, their parents, maids of honor and best men. Fees vary from $400 for one partner, $600 for both partners and $500 for other wedding party members.

“Most popular are the mothers — I’ve written a hundred of those,” he said, adding that 30 percent of his customers, like Ms. Mumford, are panic buyers who reach out on, say, Friday for a wedding on Sunday.

A parent’s speech is often the hardest, he said, because it typically runs twice as long as the couple’s vows. “They have to speak to and about the couple, sometimes highlighting each person individually, so there’s more to do,” he said.

Advice: “People have a reading voice that’s different than a speaking one. I tell everyone, ‘Push louder and more enthusiastically on humor, and drop your voice down and softer on the sweeter lines.’”

The A.I. Specialist

In 2014, Jen Glantz placed an ad on Craigslist offering to pose as a bridesmaid at strangers’ weddings. It went viral. Then she created Bridesmaid for Hire, a company that provides a bevy of bridesmaid services and support. Soon after, she started receiving requests to write their speeches.

“Maid of honor speeches have gotten more elaborate,” said Ms. Glantz, who lives in New York. “People go on TikTok and see these crazy speeches and think, ‘I want that, but I don’t know how to do it.”

She recommends keeping remarks about 800 words, depending on one’s speaking pace. “It’s an important element because it’s the most memorable,” she said of speeches. “It’s supposed to be a gift to the couple.”

Crafting a maid of honor speech, which runs $375, typically involves multiple calls and rounds of edits, said Ms. Glantz, who also transcribes her conversations with couples. The overall process can take four to five hours.

For those on a tighter budget, she uses a maid of honor speech generator , an artificial technology program she helped create that replicates her customized service in minutes and creates speeches that cost $35.

Before she started using the program in September, she could write only up to seven speeches per month. In October, her program wrote 50 for her clientele. Come December, Ms. Glantz plans to expand her business to include brides, grooms and best men.

According to Ms. Glantz, the tool, which she says mimics her writing style, was generated from 30 audio transcriptions and finalized speeches she was hired to write. It creates “a completely personalized and customized speech for you, while integrating unlimited edits and feedback until you think the speech is perfect,” she said.

If you say something inappropriate, Ms. Glantz said, the program asks you to reconsider. “If you say a joke and the tool thinks it isn’t funny, it will give you an alternative way to say it,” she said.

The program offers a variety of lengths and tones through a drop-down menu.

Advice: “Pull out the heartbeat behind the relationship you have with the person. Specific stories and details and nostalgic old memories that create a lingering effect work best.”

Weddings Trends and Ideas

Vows: Worried about writing your own vows? Consider hiring a professional .

Marrying at Home : From stoops and staircases to backyards and balconies, couples are choosing the comforts of home as wedding locations .

Vendors: For many couples, working with businesses that share their values and support people from diverse backgrounds is an important part of the planning process .

Swimwear: Beaded and bedazzled, fancy and frilly, lacy and Lycra-fitted — bridal bikinis are here .

Weather Forecasts: Want to avoid a rainy ceremony? This expert can help .

Dress Shopping: As more brides seek personalized shopping experiences and distinctive designs, the bridal industry is shifting to accommodate their needs .

Wedding Night Sex:  If you fell asleep on the big night, don’t worry: You are in good company .