write a groom speech

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In This Article

• Speech Examples
• Speech Template
• Speech Tips
• What to Avoid
• Toast Ideas
• Wedding Party & Reception

Groom at Wedding Speech Templates And Ideas

phuket_wedding_planner via Instagram

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

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Ironically, brides are always prepared, but grooms often leave the speech at the last minute, probably from panic. So whether you’re shy, confused about what to do, or don’t have the time to whip up something, we’ve got you covered. See our Post for the best groom wedding speeches tips and ideas ever.

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Groom Speech Examples

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

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

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

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

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

……….You are all aware of our problems over the last few years and one of my biggest worries, especially when I was “down South”, so to speak, was that my two children, Michelle and Nick would go off the rails. I’m pleased to say that they didn’t and they’ve both made us so proud of their achievements so I’d like to propose my toast to them….Michelle and Nick. Very few of you will know, but I am an erstwhile poet when the mood takes me. Anita has always complained that I have never written a poem for her, so I will today amend that omission. It’s called Wedding Day…………

………..On behalf of Julia and myself, or should I say on behalf of my wife and me, we would like to thank everyone for coming today. Everyone has traveled in some way to be here and share this special day with us and we’re delighted to see you all. A special thank-you goes out to those of you who have traveled a greater number of miles to be here today. It’s quite humbling to realize that you’re friends and family that care so much and are willing to travel all that way to share in your special day. Thank you for your cards, kind thoughts and of course all your wedding gifts. They’re all greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, there are two people who can’t be here today, my Dad and my granddad so, it would mean a lot to me if you would all stand for a toast in their memory – To Billy McCleery and James Harrison Snr…………

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

Groom Rehearsal Dinner Speech

Congratulations on your upcoming rehearsal dinner speech! Here are three tips to help you write a memorable and meaningful speech:

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

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

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

The Great Groom Speech Template

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

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

Groom Speech Tips

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

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

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

What Not to Say in the Groom Speech

kreativwedding via Instagram

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

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

Don’ts

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

Groom Wedding Toast Ideas

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

To the father of the bride

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

To the best man

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

Toast To the guests

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

To the bride

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What should the groom say in his speech.

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

What should the groom say at the rehearsal dinner?

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

How Long Should A Groom’s Speech Be?

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

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

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

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

Photo by Chi-Chi Ari

In This Article

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

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

Meet the Expert

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

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

Groom's Wedding Speech Tips

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

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

How to Prepare for a Wedding Speech as the Groom

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

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

Groom Speech Template

To begin, simply prepare these five steps.

Step 1: Give Thanks 

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

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

Step 2: Give One Compliment to Your Partner

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

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

Step 3: Recall One Memory 

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

Step 4: Share One Reception Comment 

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

Step 5: Give Thanks Again

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

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How to Write The Perfect Groom’s Speech: Top Tips and Examples

How to write a groom’s speech – the perfect groom’s speech is an essential part of any wedding celebration. It is an opportunity for the groom to express his gratitude, share heartfelt memories, and celebrate the love he shares with his new spouse. Crafting a thoughtful and meaningful speech can seem daunting, but with a little guidance, any groom can successfully navigate this essential task.

Understanding the purpose of the groom ‘s speech is the first step in its creation. The speech should be engaging and strike a balance between humour and sentimentality, all while properly acknowledging the important people involved in the couple’s journey. With a clear structure, careful planning, and a few helpful tips, your speech will become a cherished memory shared with your beloved on your special day.

• The groom’s speech expresses gratitude, memorable moments, and celebrates the new union
• Striking a balance between humour and sentimentality makes for a captivating speech
• A clear structure and planning are crucial for crafting a meaningful groom’s speech

Understanding the Purpose of a Groom’s Speech

The groom’s speech is an essential part of the wedding reception, serving as an opportunity for the groom to express his gratitude and share his thoughts with the attendees of this momentous occasion. It is important to bear in mind the overall purpose of the speech when crafting it.

Role of the Groom in the Reception

The groom’s primary responsibility at the wedding reception is to make the guests feel welcome and appreciated. He should extend his warmest greetings to everyone in the audience, acknowledging their presence and expressing his gratitude for their participation in the celebrations. This is particularly important in situations where the groom is meeting some guests for the first time.

A well-crafted speech should strike the right balance between entertaining the audience and conveying heartfelt emotions. Sharing funny anecdotes and light-hearted stories about the couple’s journey together can set a jovial tone, while heartfelt moments will make the speech memorable and touching.

As the groom, one should also take the opportunity to praise and express gratitude towards both families, and in particular, the bride. Complimenting her appearance and acknowledging her efforts in organising the wedding would be well-received by the audience.

In summary, the groom’s speech should be engaging, heartfelt and express gratitude to guests and family members alike during the wedding reception. This speech is a key element of the wedding celebrations that can create long-lasting memories for everyone present.

Planning Your Speech

Choosing a theme.

When planning the perfect groom’s speech, it is essential to select an appropriate theme. A suitable theme will give your speech structure and make it more engaging. Consider choosing a theme based on your relationship with your partner, shared experiences, or future aspirations. Remember that the theme should be personal and meaningful but also resonate with the audience.

Determining the Style and Tone

The style and tone of your speech play a significant role in delivering your message effectively. Consider whether you would like the speech to be humorous, sincere, or a combination of both. If you decide to use humour, be mindful not to offend anyone in the audience.

When planning your speech, make a list of key points you would like to address, keeping in mind the chosen style and tone. By outlining the structure of your speech, it will be easier to keep the audience engaged and maintain a coherent narrative.

Considering Public Speaking Techniques

To make your speech stand out, consider incorporating public speaking techniques. These can add polish to your delivery, ensuring that your speech is not only well-prepared but also engaging and memorable. Here are a few techniques to consider:

• Eye contact: Maintain eye contact with your audience to create a connection and build trust.
• Body language: Use appropriate gestures to emphasise your points and maintain an open posture to appear confident and approachable.
• Vocal variety: Vary your tone and pace to maintain interest and ensure your speech does not become monotonous.
• Pauses: Allow brief pauses for emphasis or to allow the audience time to react or reflect on what you have said.
• Anecdotal storytelling: Share brief, relevant stories to illustrate your points and make your speech more engaging.

By incorporating a well-chosen theme, a suitable style and tone, and effective public speaking techniques, you’ll be well on your way to delivering the perfect groom’s speech. Remember that planning is key, and practice will help you feel more confident when the time comes to deliver your heartwarming speech.

The Structure of the Perfect Groom’s Speech

Introduction.

The introduction sets the tone for the speech, welcoming the guests and expressing gratitude for their presence. Defining how the wedding day has been so far may be included here. It is crucial to begin with a brief, engaging, and memorable opening, setting the stage for the content to follow.

The body of the speech is where the groom should demonstrate gratitude, particularly towards the parents and guests who have made the day possible. Key points to address in the body include:

• Expressing gratitude : Thank the parents of both the bride and groom for their support, guidance, and love throughout the journey. It is essential to acknowledge their role in making the event successful.
• Compliments and anecdotes : Compliment the bride, expressing one’s admiration and love. Share a light-hearted or meaningful anecdote to characterise the relationship and invoke genuine emotions from the attendees.
• Acknowledging the wedding party : Show appreciation for the best man, bridesmaids, groomsmen, and anyone else who played a crucial role in planning and organising the wedding.

In conclusion, the groom will wrap up his speech by toasting the bride. This gesture signifies the start of the couple’s life together and the bright future that lies ahead. The groom should express his happiness to have his bride by his side and emphasise how she completes him. End with a heartfelt toast to the bride, summarising the groom’s sentiments in a sentence or two.

Content Recommendations for the Speech

Showing appreciation.

It’s important to begin the groom’s speech by showing appreciation to those who have made the day special. Mention the parents, the wedding party, and any special guests or contributors who have helped make the event possible. Express gratitude to everyone for their support and involvement in the couple’s journey.

Expressing Love for Your Partner

The speech should express the groom’s deep love and admiration for the bride. Speak from the heart and be sincere in conveying the emotions that the wedding day has brought. Mention the qualities about the partner that make them unique and special, while also providing examples of how they bring happiness and support into the groom’s life.

Incorporating Humour and Inside Jokes

A good groom’s speech balances heartfelt sentiment with a dash of humour. Incorporate inside jokes and funny anecdotes that will make the partner smile, and engage the audience in shared laughter. Be mindful of the tone, making sure the humour is appropriate and never offensive or inappropriate.

Sharing Personal Anecdotes

Share personal anecdotes that illustrate the growth of the couple’s relationship or highlight memorable moments spent together. These stories can be both touching and entertaining, offering insights into the unique bond that the couple shares. By making the speech personal, the groom creates a lasting memory for the pair to cherish in the years to come.

Remember to be confident, clear, and stay in the third person perspective when sharing the anecdotes. This helps convey the story better and ensures that the audience remains engaged.

Tips on Delivering Your Groom’s Speech

When it comes to delivering the perfect groom’s speech, being confident and knowledgeable is key. Make sure you know your audience and tailor your speech accordingly. Here are a few tips to help you deliver an exceptional groom’s speech:

• Prepare beforehand : Take the time to write and revise your speech, addressing any weaknesses in content or organisation. Make sure you know your material well, as it will help you feel more confident and come across as knowledgeable during your presentation.
• Practice makes perfect : Rehearsing your speech multiple times will help you become more comfortable with it. This allows you to focus on speaking clearly and confidently when the big moment comes.
• Keep it natural : Speak conversationally and use your natural tone of voice. Your audience will appreciate a genuine and heartfelt speech, rather than one that feels overly rehearsed or too formal.
• Engage your audience : Make eye contact with your guests, smile, and be personable. This will help create a connection between you and your listeners.
• Don’t be afraid to use humour : A well-placed joke or funny anecdote can set the tone for your speech and keep your audience entertained.
• Remember to thank important people : Acknowledge those who have contributed to the wedding and your relationship. This could include your parents, in-laws, and the bridal party.
• Raise a toast : At the end of your speech, raise your glass and offer a toast to your spouse and any relevant parties. This is a classic way to conclude a groom’s speech and show gratitude to those involved.

Follow these tips to deliver a groom’s speech that is heartfelt, engaging, and leaves a lasting impression on your guests.

Acknowledgement and Gratitude

Showing gratitude to the parents.

In a groom’s speech, it is essential to show gratitude to both sets of parents. Begin by acknowledging the bride’s parents and expressing appreciation for their love, support, and the welcoming embrace to the new family. Next, show gratitude to one’s own parents, thanking them for their guidance and unconditional love throughout the years. Demonstrating sincere gratitude will make a lasting impression on the families involved.

Thanking the Bridal Party

The bridal party plays a crucial role in the wedding celebrations. It is important to extend heartfelt thanks to the bridesmaids, groomsmen, and ushers for their teamwork, dedication, and friendship. Recognising each individual’s contribution can be achieved by highlighting personal anecdotes or funny memories, making it a memorable and engaging part of the speech.

Example: “As I look around this room, I see the smiling faces of our wonderful bridal party. Each of you has played an irreplaceable role in our lives, and we’re truly honoured to share this special day with you. To our bridesmaids, your unwavering support and keen eye for detail have made today even more magical. And to our groomsmen and ushers, your camaraderie and light-hearted jokes have made the journey to this day an incredible experience. Thank you all so much.”

Recognising the Efforts of the Staff

Last but not least, it is essential to recognise and applaud the efforts of the hotel, catering, and event staff. Their tireless work behind the scenes ensures the wedding day runs smoothly, allowing the bride, groom, and guests to focus on enjoying the celebrations. A few kind words of acknowledgement can go a long way in showing appreciation for their hard work and dedication.

Example: “We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the staff here at [venue]. From the beginning of the planning process, their professionalism and attention to detail have been nothing short of exceptional. To the catering team, your culinary talents have resulted in a splendid meal that we will not soon forget. And to the event staff, your commitment to making today perfect has not gone unnoticed. Thank you for helping to turn our dreams into reality.”

Groom Speech Templates and Examples

Groom speech template.

How to write a groom’s speech template can certainly help simplify the process of crafting the perfect address. Here is a basic outline to follow:

• Introduction : Begin by thanking the guests for attending, acknowledging the wedding party, and expressing gratitude to both sets of parents.
• Bride’s Praise : Share personal anecdotes about your bride and describe what drew you to her. Compliment her appearance and express your love and commitment.
• Humorous Story : Recall a funny or memorable event from your relationship to lighten the mood and engage the audience.
• Appreciation for Others : Give special mention to those who helped make the wedding possible, e.g., planners, friends, and other individuals who lent a hand.
• Toast : Conclude the speech by raising a toast to your new spouse, your family, and everyone who has gathered to celebrate your special day.

Remember to personalise and tailor the template to suit your relationship and audience.

How To Write A Groom’s Speech

Best groom speech examples.

Here are some examples of memorable groom speeches:

Example 1 :

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for being here on this important day. I want to express my gratitude to my in-laws for raising such a wonderful daughter, and to my parents for their unwavering support.

When I first met [Bride’s Name], I was struck by her beauty, charm, and intelligence. We quickly became inseparable, and I knew that she was the woman I wanted to spend my life with. I consider myself immeasurably fortunate to be married to her and I vow to cherish her love, friendship, and support for a lifetime.

Have you ever wondered how two lovers who’ve just had a tiff can find themselves in each other’s arms again within the hour? That’s us – somehow, despite our differences, we keep finding our way back to love and laughter, which serves as the glue in our relationship.

We are eternally grateful to everyone who travelled from near and far to celebrate with us today. Your presence has made the event even more special and will always be cherished.

Please, join me in raising a toast to our future, full of love, laughter and happiness. Cheers!

Example 2 :

Dear friends and family, thank you for joining us on this truly special occasion. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to our parents for their love and support, as well as to the wedding party for their help in organising this fabulous day.

From the very beginning, I was drawn to [Bride’s Name]’s infectious laugh, caring nature and ability to brighten any room simply by entering it. She has a unique gift of making everyone feel welcome and is truly the love of my life.

A funny story that comes to mind is our first holiday together; we got lost and ended up spending the night in a tiny village. It could have turned sour, but we made the best of it and forged memories that’ll last us a lifetime.

To our wonderful friends, families, and those who travelled far and wide to be with us, thank you for your love and encouragement throughout our journey.

Now, let’s raise our glasses and toast to a lifetime of love, laughter, and adventure. Cheers!

In the final stage of wedding planning, the groom’s speech is a key moment to express heartfelt emotions and gratitude. When crafting the perfect speech, it is important to consider the order of speeches, ensuring that the groom’s words create a lasting impact.

To make the speech truly memorable, it is essential to speak from the heart and share stories about the love of your life, highlighting the unique bond that the two of you share. While it’s vital to balance humour and sincerity, remembering the significance of the moment is crucial for the speech’s success.

Proper preparation is paramount, including making note cards to streamline the delivery process and practising beforehand to increase confidence on the big day. By investing time and effort into crafting a carefully structured speech, the groom can ensure that his words resonate with everyone in the room.

In conclusion, the perfect groom’s speech combines emotion, gratitude, and wit, leaving a lasting impression on the bride, friends, and family. By adopting a confident, knowledgeable, and clear tone, the groom can truly celebrate the special bond he shares with his partner, making it a moment to be cherished for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some tips for creating the perfect groom’s speech.

To create the perfect groom’s speech, start by writing an outline to organise your thoughts. Focus on expressing gratitude, sharing anecdotes, and speaking from the heart. Additionally, practice your speech often to perfect your delivery and feel more comfortable on your wedding day.

How can I incorporate humour into my groom’s speech?

Incorporating humour into the groom’s speech can lighten the atmosphere and engage the audience. Begin by sharing a funny story or a light-hearted joke about your relationship with your partner. Make sure the humour is appropriate for the audience and avoid inside jokes that only a few people would understand.

What are some examples of emotional moments to include in a groom’s speech?

Emotional moments in a groom’s speech can include expressing gratitude for the love and support from both families, acknowledging the journey that led to your wedding, or even sharing memorable moments from your relationship, like the proposal or recounting your first meeting.

How should a groom thank the important people in his speech?

To thank important people in your speech, mention them by name, briefly share the significance of their role and express your gratitude. Be sure to thank your partner, both sets of parents, the best man, groomsmen, bridesmaids, and anyone else who played a key role in your wedding planning.

What’s a good structure for a groom’s speech?

A good structure for a groom’s speech could consist of an introduction, a section to express gratitude, sharing stories or anecdotes, and a heartfelt conclusion. Start by introducing yourself and setting the tone, express gratitude to the families and wedding party, share humorous or emotional stories, and finish with a loving message to your partner.

How can I personalise my groom’s speech with unique anecdotes or stories?

To personalise your groom’s speech with unique anecdotes or stories, think about the meaningful experiences that you and your partner have shared together. This could be a memorable travel experience, the story of how you met, or even a simple moment that captures the essence of your relationship. Make sure the anecdotes are authentic and relatable to your audience.

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How to Write a Short and Simple Groom Speech

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

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

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

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

But there’s no need to panic! Take a deep breath, think calming thoughts and read my Stress-Free Guide to Writing a Short and Simple Groom Speech .

An Effective Groom Speech is as Simple as ABC

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

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

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

A is for… Acknowledgements

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

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

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

”Thank You” Checklist

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

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

”Thank You” Gifts

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

Absent Family and Friends

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

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

B is for… Bride

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

C is for… Cheers!

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

Job done, right? Time to sit down.

Well, not quite.

Wrap it up and end on a high

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

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

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

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

A simple template for the perfect ending

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read More Like This

Boring! 5 Groom Speech Clichés That Make You Seem Dull and Unoriginal

Groom Speech: Common Questions

Funny Groom Speech Example

Nailing Your Groom Speech

When it comes to writing a groom speech, most blokes panic and dive headfirst into googling speech etiquette and wedding gags.

This result is the usual fodder; a speech that’s clichéd, boring, and just a bit blah. 

You can do better. And, we’re here to help with our groom speech advice. 

The Speechy team are TV scriptwriters by trade and our advice has featured everywhere from The New York Times  to  The Times . And, as the authors of ‘ The Modern Couple’s Guide to Wedding Speeches’ and the only speech experts invited on to BBC Sounds ‘Best Men’ podcast with Jason Manford we have all the advice to deliver a great speech on the big day. 

* Of course, if you’re looking for more than ‘advice’, check out our  groom template ,  speech edit, or  bespoke service . Or, work with our new AI-powered team member – SpeechyAI!

Groom Speech Etiquette

The first rule of groom speech etiquette is – don’t get tied down with it. A lot of it’s outdated, blooming dull, and completely unnecessary. 

There’s no need to address your friends and family as ‘ladies and gentlemen’ (chances are they’re not), and you don’t need to toast the bridesmaids (though it is essential you say they’re gorgeous even if they’re already on their second bottle of Pinot).

Modern speech etiquette just comes down to common sense.

Don’t get so worried about thanking folk, that you forget what you’re actually meant to be doing. The bulk of your speech should not be thanking people but paying a once-in-a-lifetime tribute to your new wife! 

(And if you’re marrying a bloke, check out our gay groom etiquette guide ).

1. So, who does the groom thank?

The thank yous are, of course, important. Your marriage is frankly doomed if you forget to thank your mother-in-law.

The groom traditionally thanks;

• everyone for coming
• his in-laws
• his parents
• his best man & ushers
• the maid of honour & bridesmaids

As well the the obvious thank yous, there may be others you want to mention (children from previous relationships?) but resist the urge to read out half the guest list. Nothing kills off a groom speech quicker than a tedious thank you list.

Old school etiquette guides (like  Debretts ) suggest a groom’s first duty should be to thank the father of the bride (or equivalent) for his speech. Feel free to pay an ad hoc, ad-libbed thank you but make this a natural response as opposed to scripting a generic thanks. Ideally, pick up on something he’s said and have fun with it. 

Keep each individual thanks to less than 50 words and include a sense of fun throughout. Make the thank yous specific and personal – so rather than thanking your in-laws for bringing up such a wonderful daughter, thank them for sharing their wine collection with you. Getting personal not only makes the thank yous more meaningful, but entertaining too. 

Finally, don’t bother thanking anyone you’ve paid. No matter how lovely the venue staff or how much the wedding planner may have done, you shouldn’t waste your wordcount on people you’ve paid. 

2. How does a groom pay tribute to absent friends & the dearly departed? 

No need to mention any of your friends or family who haven’t been able to make it (unless they’re watching online). 

When it comes to the ‘dearly departed’ , this depends on how raw the emotions are. 

If it’s a parent or someone very close to you has recently died, we advise paying a meaningful tribute to them in the week leading up to the wedding. This is so the disappointment of them not being there on the big day, has already been acknowledged. Even if it’s just a casual dinner with family or a walk to one of their favourite spots with your partner, let the tears flow before you’re standing up, delivering your speech in front of everyone. 

On the day, be careful not to turn your speech into a eulogy. Instead, pay a tribute to your loved one by putting a smile on everyone’s face. 

Could the guests join you in a toast to your father by drinking his favourite malt whisky? Or could you point out the bride’s bouquet was made from her gran’s favourite flowers?

Our advice is keep it short, sweet and script it towards the end of your speech. So many grooms make the mistake of starting their speech when a toast to the ‘dearly departed’ but that’s often hard to recover from. 

3. Does the groom toast the bridesmaids? 

In the bad, old days, the groom was expected to conclude his speech with a toast to the bridesmaids. These days, that seems an odd idea. The groom certainly needs to thank the bride’s wedding-sidekicks (unless she’s giving a speech and thanking them herself), but that doesn’t need to be the climax of your speech.

At Speechy, we normally include a tribute to the bridesmaids just before the ushers’ & best man’s. Like all thank yous, try to say more than the usual wedding-platitudes and instead, give a sense of their individual or tribal character.  Once you’ve thanked the bride-squad, you don’t need to ask people to raise a glass or join you in an official ‘toast’.

Really, the only times you should ask people to raise a glass is at the end of your speech ( your final toast ) and in tribute to the dearly departed.  The stand-up, sit-down routine of including too many toasts can feel a bit ridiculous.

Your final toast should be directed towards your wife and your future life together. Read on to see how you can make that truly personal. 

4. Should the groom hand out gifts? 

Sure, the mums love a nice bouquet of flowers but let’s not make a big deal about it. And, certainly don’t deliver them during your speech!

We recommend giving any gifts earlier in the day (it’s more intimate and meaningful). Or, simply say in the speech that you’ll be ‘personally handing the gifts out later’ . This ensures the gift-giving doesn’t disrupt the flow of your speech and the guests don’t get distracted. 

5. How does the groom thank divorced parents? 

Tactfully. 

This will depend on, not just on your relationship with your parents (and, potentially, their other halves), but also their relationship with each other. 

Is there any chance your mum will start heckling if you wax too lyrical about your dad? 

Hopefully, any bad feeling can be put aside for the day but be sure to thank parents equally. If their new partners have been in your life for some time, don’t feel shy of mentioning them too. Divorced parents aren’t anything unusual. 

6. How does a groom address an international guestlist? 

Weddings with an international guestlist, where English isn’t everyone’s first language, are becoming more common. 

Some couples opt to recruit an interpreter to ensure no one misses out, but in our experience, this makes the speeches overly long and loses a speech’s natural charm and humour. 

What we suggest is having a few well-rehearsed lines where you attempt to address your international guests in their native tongue. It’s a chance to establish a connection, and also add a bit more humour to your speech. 

Make Your Groom Speech Funny

All speeches should be funny. No one’s expecting a stand-up routine but try to get everyone chuckling within the first 20 secs. It relaxes everyone, including you.

As you’ll see, being funny isn’t about finding jokes on the internet – it’s about making witty observations about your partner, yourself and your relationship.

Whatever you do – avoid Groom Speech ‘Jokes’ . You want to make your guests laugh, not groan. 

• ‘Without all of you here today, it wouldn’t have been the same… but it would have been cheaper.’
• ‘Let me tell you that is not the first time today I have risen from a warm seat with a bit of paper in my hand.’ And so on . . .

Basically, if the joke could be used in someone else’s wedding speech, it probably shouldn’t be in yours.

It might seem obvious that your wedding speech needs a good story in it but a lot of wedding speeches don’t .

They should.

Neuroscientists have discovered that our brains light up when we hear stories. It seems humans are programmed to be empathic; we’re literally designed to be curious about other people.

Finding cracking anecdotes (short stories) is a crucial part of creating a great speech. A story doesn’t need to be long. It doesn’t need to be extraordinary. It just has to reveal something about you as a couple and make folk laugh.

The cornerstones of any relationship are likely to be interesting and here’s a list of the classic ‘love stories’ to consider…  

• How you met
• The first date
• Meeting the parents
• Moving in together
• When you discovered they weren’t actually perfect
• Any embarrassing anecdotes
• Any challenges you’ve overcome together 
• Any classic stories that you’ve enjoyed telling friends and that still make you laugh

Sometimes you need a few prompts to get that brain working, like their online profile that claimed a passion for history but didn’t quite reveal this ‘interest’ would involve you having to visit military museums in every town and country you go to with them.

See if you can hunt down…

• Your online dating profiles (if you met there).
• If you met at work, do you still have your contract or job description? It could it be used for comedy purposes.
• If you’re childhood sweethearts, hunt out the school reports.
• And, obviously, look back at your photos through the years. This will inevitably trigger memories but don’t consider using them as part of your speech.

Speechy’s favourite brand of comedy is based on observation. It’s also the easiest to master.

Comedians have a skilled eye when it comes to noticing the strange things in life that we take for granted but it’s often just about taking the time to look.

Everyone in this world is weird in their very own way, so get a mirror and hold it up to your relationship. Question your behaviour, habits and unwritten rules. Look at the everyday frustrations and recurring issues.

We can all relate to other people’s relationships, and people appreciate it if you talk honestly about yours. Okay, not everyone’s partners put sweet chilli sauce on their toast for breakfast but everyone can appreciate having a partner with weird habits.

To make observational humour work, the trick is to be as specific as possible. Even positive qualities can be humorous if you dissect them.

The callback is where you plant a story or a piece of info at the start of the speech, possibly as a throwaway line, and then reference it later on. 

Watch professional comedians on stage and you’ll see nearly all of them deploy the technique. It’s not only funny, it’s a technique that makes you look smart. Win-win. 

For example, share that story where you accidentally stapled your shoe to the floor when you renovated your first house together. Later, conclude your speech by saying ‘…I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you, even if I do have to staple your shoes to the floor to make sure you’re by my side forever more.’

The callback is basically establishing an inside joke that everyone is part of.

To make it work

• Plant something funny, and crucially, memorable in the first third of your speech.
• Then simple refer to it towards the end of your speech.

Voila. You’ve become a comedy pro.

Check out some  groom speech videos  we’ve collated, or have a read of  Boris Johnson’s wedding speech  as imagined by the Speechy Team. It will give you an idea of how professional comedy writers craft humorous lines.

Read our example groom speeches and a groom speech written by SpeechyAI . 

Of course, if all this advice has done nothing but convince you, you need help – then jump straight to  all the different ways the Speechy team can help you , including  SpeechyAI ; a genius tool we’ve built that’s guaranteed to help you develop unique and hilarious lines. Honestly, it’s bloody good. 

How to Write & Deliver Your Groom Speech

Here are the basic rules.

If you’re reading this, probably now. 

Don’t wait for divine inspiration to strike. It rarely does. 

We advise sitting down at least two months before the big day and committing pen to paper (or at least, turn off your notifications and type a few hundreds words). 

Once you start, it gets easier. Even when you’re not sitting in front of the laptop, once you’ve genuinely engaged your brain in the process of speechwriting, it will work on a subconscious level for you. You’ll find when you get back to the screen, you’ll have plenty more ideas. 

And, of course, it’s always easier improving a speech than it is starting one. 

Speechy generally advise…

• Hello, welcome & a laugh
• The Speech-Meat – Where you tell a few great stories that give an insight into your relationship and why you love your new spouse as much as you do. 
• Acknowledgement of the dearly departed (if necessary)
• A final more romantic tribute to your wife
• A toast to your wife / your future life together 

This structure may be different to most speeches you’ve heard. Many speakers automatically start with the thank yous but, as important as they may be, they are not what really interests your guests.

Get to the thank yous once you’ve already hooked everyone in. 

Don’t script a thank you to the previous speaker as the opening to your speech. Make this thank you a spontaneous ad lib before you obviously start delivering your speech. This makes the thank you sound like a genuine, heartfelt reaction rather than a ‘tick-box’ courtesy.

We see lots of grooms fill the first 30 seconds of their speech with absolute nonsense. Talking about guests traveling far. What a special occasion it is. Pure cut-and-paste jobs.

Start by trying to get a laugh early 

“Greetings, party people! They told me marriage is all about compromise. Well, I’ve already compromised my ability to choose what I wear for the rest of my life.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the [your last name] Comedy Club! I’ll be your stand-up comedian for the evening, and [spouse’s name] is my favorite heckler.”

• “Hello, world-changers! Today, [spouse’s name] and I embark on a journey filled with love, laughter, and a joint bank account. Pray for us.”
• “Good evening, everybody! Today, I’ve officially joined the ‘Happily Ever After’ club. Membership fee: my independence. Benefits: endless love and an occasional ‘Yes, dear.'”

Every word should count, so you could consider forgetting the ‘hellos’ altogether. The trick is to make the opening personal. 

ALTERNATIVE OPENINGS

• Jump right in. ‘So we’ve finally done it. Sophie has agreed to put up with mefor the rest of her life and I’ve got that in writing.’
• Short and snappy.   ‘Well, let’s start with the elephant in the room. Why has the gorgeous bride just married a bright orange lad from Croydon who can’t spell?’
• Start with a story. ‘Let me tell you a story… when I first saw Lucy, sitting in the bar, reading a book in the middle of the Saturday night chaos, I knew I had to speak to her. Only she was too absorbed in his John Grisham to notice me.’

A speech theme is your narrative hook. 

Rather than just a list of anecdotes and thanks yous, your speech should tell a story.

Yes, it’s made up of lots of different elements but it needs to hook people in from the beginning, establish a theme and carry that through to an almighty climax.

One basic example might be a teacher who talks about the lessons his wife has taught – the good, the bad and the ability to now name the Kardashians.

Another theme might be the groom’s interpretation of his marriage vows (e.g. man flu does indeed count as ‘sickness’).

Turning your speech into a story makes it easy to follow and entertaining. Find out #whatsyourstory

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

The only way for this to sound genuine is – prove, don’t tell. Resist too many adjectives and recount the anecdotes that show your partner’s qualities in action.

Cut the clichés and concentrate on what makes your loved one unique. Avoid words like ‘soulmate’ or ‘beautiful’, anything that’s overused.

Are they a library-lover, a technology fiend, a devoted foodie? Nailing their individual and quirky characteristics shows you ‘get them’ and her friends and family will love you for it.

ROMANCE DON’Ts

• Be generic – If your romantic lines could be substituted into a stranger’s wedding speech, well, you’re doing something wrong. Romance demands that you get personal.
• Be smug – Being married for a few hours does not grant you the right to be a smug-married yet. Remember there’s likely to be single people out there so resist the urge to suggest finding a life-partner is the only reason for living. You don’t want the bridesmaids crying before 5pm!
• Use meaningless clichés and platitudes – Seriously, ‘soulmate’ is a waste of your word count. What about ‘partner-in-crime’ instead?
• Overuse adjectives – Avoid using too many adjectives and prove , don’t tell. Use evidence to back up your claims.

ROMANCE DOs

Make sure you…

• Remember romance doesn’t need to be serious – You can deliver the sweetest lines with a smile on your face.
• Concentrate on what makes your partner unique – The most powerful way to be romantic is finding the qualities and quirks that make your partner truly unique.
• If you’re struggling for a killer line, get inspired by our Groom Speech Quotes . While plagiarism is never cool, quoting people who are cleverer & wittier than you, is legit. 

A good toast summarises the point of your speech.  It provides great storytelling symmetry and is a call to action for everyone present.

The toast itself needs to be succinct enough to propose it and people to second it. It’s essentially a contract, so be concise.

Examples of great groom toasts…  

“To my incredible bride, my partner in crime, and the one who manages to tolerate my terrible dance moves. Here’s to a lifetime of love, laughter, and pretending not to notice when I sneak in extra snacks. Cheers!”

“As we dive into this marriage adventure, let’s raise our glasses to surviving my occasional snoring and her knack for finding the TV remote in the most mysterious places. May our love be as unbreakable as her ability to beat me at board games. Cheers!”

“To the love of my life, thank you for saying ‘I do’ despite witnessing my questionable fashion choices and the fact that I can never find matching socks. May our marriage be as enduring as my video game sessions and as exciting as finding pizza in the fridge when we thought it was all gone. Here’s to us!”

“In the spirit of wedded bliss, let’s toast to a lifetime of love, compromise, and navigating the dangerous territory of choosing the right side of the bed. May our marriage be as smooth as my hair never is and as full of surprises as her unexpected dance parties in the living room. Cheers to us!”

“To my beautiful bride, thank you for being the ‘better’ half, the one who always knows where we parked, and the expert in finding lost items, including my car keys. May our marriage be as rock-solid as your morning coffee routine and as fun as our impromptu karaoke nights. Here’s to love, laughter, and a lifetime of hilarious memories!”

A maximum of ten mins allowing for laughter and ad-libs. You might feel you have plenty to say but be strict with yourself.

Once you write your first draft, edit it down to half the length. We promise it will make it twice as good. No one ever watched a wedding speech and thought ‘if only it were longer’. It’s the same with jokes; they’re better if they’re punchy.

Ernest Hemingway said ‘The first draft of anything is shit’. This is both true and reassuring.

The edit-process might mean cutting some of your favourite bits but you need to wipe out the waffle and cut out the cliches. Lots of sites offer quick estimates of your speech duration based on your wordcount.

And, if you’re still struggling to make the brutal cuts necessary, remember to check out our Edit Service. We’re not shy about getting tucked in! 

A confident delivery is half the battle. Check the acoustics of the venue & get a mic if necessary (so many speeches are ruined simply because the guests can’t hear them).

Try to memorise the speech but don’t be afraid to use notes on the day (your brain will be scrambled).

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

Keep your posture relaxed and remember everyone wants you to do well so make sure you smile. It’s scientifically proven to be infectious and scientists know stuff.

Read our Delivery Guide for more tips.

PRE-DELIVERY CHECKLIST

• Have a snack – An empty stomach isn’t good for nerves. It may be the last thing you fancy but stuff a handful of canapes down or have a Mars bar on hand.
• Don’t drink alcohol – Studies have shown even one glass of alcohol can reduce your public speaking skills. 
• Drink water – A glass of water a few minutes prior to speaking will ensure you don’t dry up.
• Look for friendly faces in the audience – And at different points of the room.

ON THE MIC CHECKLIST

• Stand up, breathe deep and smile.
• Remember your presenting principles.
• Laugh along – Sometimes people need the visual cue that what you’ve said is funny. (I know, people are idiots). And, as we know, laughter is infectious so make sure you exploit it!
• If you’re being filmed – see the camera as an extra friend. It works really well when you come to watch it back.
• Be prepared for audience interaction. It’s unlikely you’ll get hecklers but some people like to ‘get involved’. It’s good to have a few witty responses in your back pocket. For example…
• (If it’s a free bar) ‘And that’s why the free bar ends after the first drink…’
• (If it’s not a free bar) ‘And that’s why you don’t get a free bar…’
• ‘There are some RSVPs you read with tears in your eyes.’

Speech Do's

Check with your partner.

If they aren’t giving a speech then you’re speaking on behalf of them too. If nothing else, make sure they’re happy with your thank you list.

Make the thanks yous meaningful

Don’t just talk about what people have contributed to the wedding, thank them for what they’ve contributed to your life (even if it is just an appreciation on malt whiskeys).

Make your toast unique

Drink to ‘a lifetime of dancing on tables’ or consider a #Tequilatoast

Practise your speech and film it on your phone

Watch it back, promise yourself you’ll do something about your gut and spot where your speech can be improved.

Feel free to use clever quotes

But make sure you credit the author or someone else will! Check out our Groom Quote Inspiration guide.

Speech Don'ts

Don't thank the caterers, the venue, people who have travelled far etc..

It’s unnecessary.

Don't ignore the feedback of friends

It’s always worth testing your speech on a mate, but this means you have to listen to them. If someone doesn’t get a joke, don’t waste your time explaining it as you won’t be able to do that on the day.

Don't talk over laughter

You’ve worked hard for those laughs – don’t rush them. Always wait until your guests have settled down before continuing with your speech.

Don't get overly soppy

Get the balance right between sweet and just showing off. Leave the pet names at home and keep anything overly gushing for the bedroom. Remember, sometimes a couple of lines expressing your love, can be just as powerful as 20. 

Groom - Let us help you!

If you want to deliver a legendary speech, work with us.

We’re rated  ‘excellent’ on Trustpilot and that’s why we offer a DELIGHT GUARANTEE  on all our bespoke services.

And, of course, in the world of Zoom, Whatsapp and Death Wish Coffee, we work with grooms around the world.

Groom Speech Template

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Groom’s Speech Examples

February 21, 2017 By Kate

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

19. When our eyes first met, I already knew

That you were my absolute dream come true.

Your very smile lights up the sky,

I am so happy to call you mine.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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The ultimate groom speech guide

The most important speech you’ll ever make.

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

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

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

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

Quick Links

Opening lines.

• Special Thanks

Absent Friends

Groom's parents.

• Bride's Parents
• Bridesmaids

Closing Lines

• Divorce Parents
• Marrying Across Nations

The devil is in the details

• Lead the Way
• Stag Weekend

Some really bad ideas

How to write a great groom speech.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• both sets of parents.
• Bridesmaids.  

Things to remember:

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

Special thanks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Bride's Parents

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

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

The Best Man

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

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

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

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

The Bridesmaids

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other things to consider

Delivering the speech, divorced parents.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Marrying across nations

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lead the way

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

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

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

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

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

Stag weekend

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

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

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

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

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

Easy Weddings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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How to Craft a Heartfelt Mother of the Groom 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.

Your son's wedding is sure to be a happy (albeit emotional!) day. After all, watching your son exchange vows with his new spouse is sure to bring a tear to your eye. In fact, it's fair to say your son's big day is just as significant for you as his mother as it is for him. On top of all this, you'll also be tasked with presenting a mother of the groom speech. In honor of your son's special day, you'll have the honor of toasting to your son and new son-in-law or daughter-in-law as they embark on this new chapter together as newlyweds. While this speech has traditionally been given at rehearsal dinners , it's not unusual for the mother of the groom to speak at the wedding reception , either.

If you're struggling to put words on paper to express the joy, happiness, and love you have for your son, you're not alone. To help combat writer's block—and get your creative juices flowing—we reached out to wedding planners and professionals for expert insight. Below, you'll find everything you need to know about crafting the best mother of the groom speech.

How Long Should a Mother of the Groom Speech Be?

When it comes to length, "short and sweet it the way to go," says wedding planner Nora Sheils of Bridal Bliss in Lake Oswego, Oregon. She says that 3 to 5 minutes is the perfect amount to time to get your point across.

But when should a mother of the groom speech be delivered? While the father of the bride speech is most often given during the wedding reception, can the groom's mom give hers then, too? "I believe the mother of the groom can give a speech at both the wedding rehearsal and at the wedding celebration," says celebrity wedding and event planner David Tutera .

However, if you prefer to speak in a more intimate environment, you may opt to present your speech at the rehearsal dinner . According to Sheils, the rehearsal dinner is "the perfect opportunity for a more personal mother of the groom toast."

How to Write a Mother of the Groom Speech

"The wedding is about the couple, so keep that in mind when you're writing your speech, so it's not just one-sided," explains Lynne Kennedy of The Gilded Aisle Weddings in Chicago. She continues, "Guests always love to hear how the couple met or when you knew this love interest was 'the one' for your son."

With all this being said, "Don't talk solely about your son," says Sheils. Instead, she recommends talking about his new spouse, what you love about them, and how they fit into your family.

Mother of the Groom Speech Template

Feeling overwhelmed with emotion? Not sure where to begin? Don't fret. This template from Hester Parks of Park Avenue Events in Atlanta can easily be personalized—all you need to do is fill in the blanks.

Introduce yourself. Of course, everyone will know who you are, but you'll need to greet your guests by introducing yourself.

Thank the wedding guests for coming. Open up your speech by thanking your guests for attending this special occasion. Express your gratitude and share how grateful you are that they were able to celebrate your son's wedding with you.

Talk about your son. Katelyn Peterson of Wedding Words , a wedding vow and speech writing service, advises sharing two to three "short and concise" stories about your son that spotlights their personality.

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Talk about your son's partner. Be sure to highlight your son's new spouse, and express what you appreciate about them, Peterson says.

Share your heartfelt wishes for your son's marriage. Conclude your mother of the groom speech with a cheerful toast to the happy couple.

Who does the mother of the groom thank in her speech?

According to Kennedy, the mother of the groom should thank the bride's parents for raising a kind and beautiful person. Sheils agrees with this sentiment. She adds that this could be done at either the beginning or end of your wedding toast (depending on your preference).

The mother of the groom should also thank friends and family members for coming out to celebrate the joyous occasion.

How to Give a Mother of the Groom Speech

You'll want to avoid calling attention to your nerves or public speaking fears, says Peterson. This will only make people aware of the one thing you want to minimize."

Mother of the Groom Speech Jokes

Depending on who you speak to, you'll receive mixed opinions regarding jokes during wedding speeches. However, Sheils loves when wedding speeches are infused with humor. She tells The Knot: "Some of the most memorable toasts I've heard did the perfect job of mixing humor with sentimentality."

Lauren Smith of EventSmith Planning and Productions in Santa Fe, Texas, is another fan of jokes in wedding speeches. "Bringing in a joke or two keeps the crowd engaged and keeps some of the tears from falling during the entire speech," she says. What's more, she continues, "A good opener and a zinger here and there is just the right touch for a wedding."

All this being said, if you do choose to crack some jokes during your speech, make sure that they're respectful and appropriate—and don't overdo it. After all, Smith says it best: "This isn't Amateur Hour at the Improv."

Mother of the Groom Speech Example

Seek inspiration in this fully written mother of the groom wedding speech from The Knot:

Good evening, friends and family members! As Jordan's mother, I wanted to take this time to thank everyone for being here tonight. Your presence means so much to us. I also wanted to thank Blake's parents, [mother of the bride/groom name] and [father of the bride/groom name], for raising such a kind, wonderful, and compassionate daughter. I couldn't be more grateful.

When Jordan was a little boy, my husband and I were big worriers: Did Jordan have enough to eat at kindergarten today? What if he fell and injured himself on the playground? The worries continued as he grew older: What if he got homesick at overnight camp? Did he drink enough water to stay hydrated throughout the day? These anxieties, which I know are now trivial, once consumed me.

See, people always told me that my job as a mother—and a parent in general—was to worry. It's true, up to a certain degree, but I've since learned that kids, at any age, are strong and resilient on their own. Like when Jordan spent his 10th birthday sleeping out at his best friend's house. In the morning, Jordan returned with a large cut on his arm. Jordan came home laughing about the accident, which happened when he was trying to cut a bagel open at 1:30 a.m. because he was hungry. I guess some things just don't change. Instead of freaking out, he remained calm, grabbed his best buddy—who, by the way, is now his best man—and applied pressure to stop the bleeding.

This is just one of many funny stories that have (and continue to!) define Jordan's, shall I say, daring, adventures. In college, he slipped over a beer can in his fraternity house. With two thumbs up and a broken ankle, he was rolled out on a stretcher to the local hospital. He ended up being fine, but he became the butt of the joke for the remainder of the school year.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself not to spend so much time worrying. I know now that my son is in great hands with his beautiful spouse, Blake. From the first time they met, I knew he was smitten. He came back from dinner already planning a second and third date. When I asked when I could meet this special person, he promised me that he would invite them over for dinner if they were still seeing each other in three months. Fast-forward three months later, and guess who came over for dinner? Today, two years later, we are all here in celebration of their wedding! Jordan and Blake, watching you exchange vows at your wedding ceremony was nothing short of spectacular. Blake, you are truly everything I could have wished and hoped for and more for my son. And to have a new child is a dream come true. I am honored to be your mother-in-law.

Now, if you would, please join me in raising your glasses for a special wedding toast to the newlyweds. May you enjoy a lifetime of love, health, and happiness together!

How to End the Mother of the Groom Speech

To end the mother of the groom speech, Tutera recommends "making a warm reference to the bride and welcoming her into the family." He continues, "Share your excitement, joy, and love for her." He also recommends acknowledging your new in-laws by name.

Another option is to raise a glass and invite all of your wedding guests to join you in a toast at the wedding reception. Sheils says "My go-to is 'Here is to love, to laughter, and happily ever after. Cheers!'"

What NOT to Say in a Mother of the Groom Speech

While there are certain points you'll want to make in your mother of the groom speech, there are also several topics to avoid:

Don't embarrass your son. "Unless the groom can take it in good fun, I wouldn't put him up for any embarrassment," says Laura Maddox of Magnolia Celebrates in Roswell, Georgia.

...or his partner. "Stay away from embarrassing stories, especially of the bride." Maddox advises. "No one wants to be raked over the coals on their wedding day."

Skip the inside jokes. Otherwise, according to Sheils, you'll run the risk of leaving others feeling excluded.

Don't mention the exes. "Do not, for any reason, bring up a past relationship, good or bad," says Sheils, adding: "It never sits well."

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Jim Chalmers delivers budget speech – as it happened

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• 18h ago Good morning
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Greens MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown asks Anthony Albanese :

Today David McBride was sentenced to five years and eight months in prison for the crime of telling the truth about war crimes. Why won’t your government admit that our whistleblower laws are broken and commit to urgent reform to keep whistleblowers like Mr McBride out of prison?

Anthony Albanese says there will be an appeal in this matter and he won’t say anything which could interfere with the court.

Dutton describes PM responses as ‘obfuscation’ and ‘complete refusal to answer’

Peter Dutton:

Mr Speaker … I appreciate your guidance. I would add, though, that the conduct of the house would be assisted if the prime minister was able to approach his answer to the questions in a genuine way. The question was, Mr Speaker, very simple. It was put succinctly. It’s without ambiguity. And the prime minister creates a dynamic in this parliament, which is against the spirit that you’re trying to enforce. Through his obfuscation and his complete refusal to answer the questions as you direct, Mr Speaker.

Milton Dick thanks Dutton “for his support of me”. He says he’ll be listening to make sure the prime minister stays relevant.

Albanese says pretty much the same thing he said previously.

Liberal MP Melissa Price asks:

Will the prime minister rule out any changes to or any limitations on live cattle exports from Australia?

That is because the government has given notice that the live sheep export trade will end in 2028.

The only people who’ve argued to stop and pause the live cattle trade in recent times are those opposite where when foot-and-mouth disease was an issue. That’s right. In Indonesia. Those opposite, including the leader of the opposition, called upon the trade to be stopped … And Murray Watt kept it open. So I suggest members, I suggest, just like on live sheep, they should have a discussion in their shadow cabinet on this.

Peter Dutton has a point of order which is not a point of order, but we now have to spend three minutes arguing whether or not it was a point of order.

PM asked to guarantee his government won't pork barrel with ‘decisions taken’ funds

Indi independent MP Helen Haines asks Anthony Albanese:

Prime minister, when the budget is handed down by the treasurer this evening, it will include a budget line labelled ‘decisions taken but not yet announced’. Billions of dollars to be spent, but we won’t know where or on what. As we approach the next election, can you guarantee that your government will not pork barrel these funds to win votes in marginal seats?

Which is actually a very good question.

What we will do is make sure that our investments, our investments are ones that build nation building. If you look at the work that the minister for infrastructure, for example, has done, [it] is to put integrity back in the system. That’s why she did the review. That’s why we’re out there making positive, constructive, nation-building announcements on things that actually matter. The member refers to decisions taken but not announced. Some of those are, of course, for national security reasons as the reason why that’s included. And there are often very good reasons why that is the case. And that should always remain the case. But my government has committed to transparency, and we’re committed to making sure that taxpayers dollars are spent wisely, which is why so many of the reforms that we’ve done as well are universal. They’re not for some people in some seats, they are absolutely universal.

Here is part of the condolence motion which was ahead of question time, where the parliament paid tribute to the victims and survivors of the Bondi Junction Westfield attack:

There are a group of people who helped build Parliament House in the gallery today, including a chap named Richard Nixon , who gets a personal shout out from Milton Dick , mostly so he can say “Richard Nixon contributed to the building of Parliament House”.

Hard to believe such gold is just given away for free.

Albanese attacks Morrison government’s economic record in response to opposition questions

Paul Fletcher asks Anthony Albanese another accidental dixer, meaning Albanese gets to talk about the previous government’s economic record, which is one of his favourite ever topics.

Families are feeling the impact of Labor’s homegrown inflation, with the cost of almost everything going up. Food is up 10%, housing is up 12%, insurance is up 26%, electricity and gas are up 18% and 25%, respectively. Why are Australians paying the price for the weak economic leadership of this prime minister?

Albanese takes it exactly where you would think he would – to the Morrison government record. Fletcher says that wasn’t the question. Tony Burke says it was. Milton Dick says the question was broad and the prime minister is being relevant.

If a tree screams in the forest, does anyone hear?

The LNP MP for Groom, Garth Hamilton , is booted out under 94A.

Milton Dick tells him to write down a little note next time he is warned – “I’m on a warning” – so he doesn’t forget.

Sussan Ley is up.

Australians are poorer than they were two years ago. The cash rate which this dismal prime minister couldn’t even name during the campaign has gone from 0.35% to 4.35%, real disposable incomes have fallen, soaring energy prices are hurting families and businesses are being crippled by huge cost increases. Why are Australians paying the price for the weak economic leadership of this prime minister?

Milton Dick gives a reminder about language. The language he means is “dismal”.

He can’t hear me describing question time as dire, dreary and depressing though, so the warnings only go so far.

Anthony Albanese is pretty happy to be handed a dixer from the deputy Liberal leader.

I thank the member for her question, and she gets a bonus point for asking a question about the economy on budget day, so I’ll give that. But the truth is that the member opposite raises a range of issues. One is inflation and interest rates. Now inflation was twice what it was, twice what it is now when they were in office. Inflation peaked at 5.1% in the March 2022 quarter in just a quarter, whereas now inflation is at 3.6% on an annual basis, which is lower than the 3.75% which is what was predicted in Myefo. You would think that when inflation was peaking, what there should be was a responsible budget, but instead we got dollars flowing out everywhere. That’s right … The big cash splash in the lead-up to the May 2022 election. That made things worse.

The answer goes on, but alas, I cannot.

Anthony Albanese answers:

Violence against women is indeed a national crisis. We know that when on average, once every four days a woman is murdered by someone they know by an intimate partner or former partner. That is a national crisis. It’s a scourge, and it’s a stain on our nation. And we need to do better. Our governments need to do better, but we as a community need to do better as well, because this is about more than just government action. This is about our whole society and how it functions and about respect for women. We can change it and we must change it.

He then moves on to the announced measures:

Our record investment in the national plan, I do disagree with her depiction of the national plan. The national plan from 2022 is a recognition that, tragically, you can’t solve this overnight. You need to change behaviour across a whole range of ways. We need to change the way the education system works. The royal commission in Victoria in 2016, one of the things that they found was that they needed to get that education about respectful relationships in school, and that has happened. And one of the things about the national cabinet meeting I convened was that people talked about replicating best practice, and that included the issue of sentencing. And I note that New South Wales has made a significant announcement, and I support it. Stronger action for people who have AVOs, stronger action to make sure that people aren’t just released into the community who are a threat to a woman. Very strong action indeed. And I know that other states’ premiers and chief ministers as well agreed at that meeting to look at all of their laws, including bail laws, and to return to the national cabinet. They are state laws. They’re not national laws, but we can encourage best practice when it comes to that.

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