How to Write a Great Groom’s Speech
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After the wedding ceremony is over and the bride and groom have shared their first kiss, it is time to party during the wedding reception. One of the traditional aspects of any reception is the Groom’s Speech. It hasn’t always been the groom’s place to give a speech. In many cultures, only the father-of-the-bride gave a toast or blessing to the newly married couple. However, traditions have evolved over time and with that evolution, so have speeches. The Groom’s Speech is given during the reception, usually before the dancing begins or the cake cutting. The father-of-the-bride gives his speech first, followed by the Groom’s Speech. The best man and the maid-of-honor will follow. If the mother-of-the-bride decides to give a speech, this will come prior to the Groom’s Speech. Discuss with the other members of the wedding party prior to the reception to be clear on who wants to give a speech and when during the reception is the proper time.
The best way to start a Groom’s Speech is to brainstorm ideas. Think about what you want to say. Explore your own feelings and emotions of the day to find a way to put those feelings into words. Think about how the people involved in making your wedding day special have impacted your life. One of the main purposes of the speech is to thank everyone who has brought meaning to the wedding day. By planning ahead, you can take time to think about what these people mean to you and your new bride. Find out how to write a groom’s speech.
A Groom’s Speech should begin by thanking everyone for attending the wedding. Place emphasis on both sets of parents, thanking them for what they have done to plan and prepare for the event. Avoid making the speech sound like a large thank you list. Add memories of friends and families to make the speech flow at a nice pace. Keep it conversational. Act like you are talking to a friend, rather than to a group of business partners. Jokes are always a great way to entertain the crowd and ease any nervous energy. Throw in a few jokes throughout the speech, and make those jokes personal. Comment on a father-in-law that has a large collection of firearms, or make a joke about your new wife’s cooking. Keep the jokes respectful, however, so that they do not offend anyone.
The speech should have a clear beginning, middle and end. It is usually best to start with “Ladies and Gentleman” or by tapping a water glass to gain the room’s full attention. After thanking individual family members, express your excitement of spending a new life with your bride. Share some special memories and emotions that you have for your bride to make her an integral part of the Groom’s Speech. Tell the story of how you met and of your engagement. Express what it is about your bride’s personality that attracted you on that first meeting. This speech is about you and your bride, so the more personal it is, the better.
The speech should end with a final thank you to both the best man and the maid-of-honor. Other than the bride and groom, these are two of the most important people of the bridal party, and the ones who have the closest relationship to the bride and groom. Start with the maid-of-honor since it will immediately follow your words about the bride, and finish with the best man. Because the best man is a close friend, brother, or other family member, share personal memories and stories during this portion of the speech. Jokes are also a good addition during this time. End the speech with a final toast to the bride, your parents, the wedding party or the guests. This is a lot of information, stories and thank yous to get into a speech, but be careful about making it too long. Guests will begin to get fidgety and start to lose interest if the speech portion of the reception goes on for a long time, so make the speech short, concise, and of course, heart-felt. Why give a Groom’s speech?
It is important to not be nervous during the speech. The only people in the room are friends and family, people that were invited to share the day. The best way to battle the nerves is to be prepared. Write the speech on a piece of paper or on note cards. If using note cards, number each one so in the event they fall or are misplaced, they can easily be put into the correct order. Practice in the mirror a few times to work out the timing and the speed. Speak clearly so that everyone in the room can hear. If you are nervous about the acoustics of the room or speaking loudly enough, visit the reception hall prior to the reception. Ask your fiancée to stand at the back of the room while you give the speech, and practice with different volumes. Some venues have microphones. While microphones can offer assistance in making the voice heard, they can create problems if not used properly. If unsure about using a microphone, it is best to forget it and speak on your own. Learn more about how to give a groom’s speech.
Focus on maintaining eye contact with the audience, but do not stay on one fixed point. Move around the entire room as if you were having a conversation. Avoid drinking any alcohol prior to making the speech. Being intoxicated will not ease the nerves, but will create a very embarrassing situation if the wrong things are said. It is important to have a glass of wine or champagne in hand because the Groom’s Speech includes several toasts. Only sip the alcohol at this point. Save the major alcohol consumption for after the speeches, so you have a clear mind while speaking. No matter how experienced you are at giving a groom’s speech, just remember to be relaxed, calm and most importantly, have fun.
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