A grooms wedding speech...
Discussion
Thank the guests, parents, in-laws, bridesmaids, best man and ushers etc. Main focus of the speech should be on your new Mrs, be gushy. If you're naturally gifted in the fine art of not putting one's foot it it then go with some humour...if not steer clear. No gifts needed, but flowers for the ladies is a nice touch.
sc0tt said:
Today I started the arduous task writing my speech for my impending wedding.
Any tips for the speech, leave humour to the best man?
Gifts after the speech?
Speech before the food?
Any tips, tricks and advice from your past experiences would be appreciated.
I've been a best man a couple of times and given a speech as a groom....Any tips for the speech, leave humour to the best man?
Gifts after the speech?
Speech before the food?
Any tips, tricks and advice from your past experiences would be appreciated.
First thing to know is that everyone wants you to succeed - they're all your friends, so it's an easy audience!
Gift to mothers - of flowers, well, I did. I said to my mother in law "don't eat it all at once" which got a lot of laughs.
There's a structure to a groom's speech.... "my wife and I" is an almost obligatory opening.... the story of how you met etc... but liaise with the best man so that you're not repeating the same stories.
I think speeches are best done at the end of the meal - but everyone has their own view on this. Talk to the venue and ensure they do not clear plates and whatnot during the speeches.
The tradition is that the groom does all the thanking, culminating in a toast to the bridesmaids. The best man then thanks the groom on behalf of the bridesmaids and continues his speech with all the funny stuff.
But that's just tradition. At the end of the day it's down to the couple to decide how they want it to work.
But that's just tradition. At the end of the day it's down to the couple to decide how they want it to work.
crofty1984 said:
At a wedding I was at we had the speeches between the starter and main course. Was good because people weren't sat there starving waiting for it to end.
What a bloody good idea. How many times are you standing around as a guest, starving and all there is to do is drink? No wonder there’s so many fallouts at weddings.D1ckie said:
You could use this for your opening line.......
Now to put my nerves about speaking here today into perspective, this is the 5th time this afternoon that I have risen from a warm seat with a piece of paper in my hand. (Pause and allow for rapturous applause)
You're welcome
Please don't use that. Not only did i use it years ago, I'm a wedding photographer and have heard that elentymillion times.Now to put my nerves about speaking here today into perspective, this is the 5th time this afternoon that I have risen from a warm seat with a piece of paper in my hand. (Pause and allow for rapturous applause)
You're welcome
OP; do not copy crap jokes from anywhere - you'll get a charitable laugh but that's it. Every guest there and your partner will hang on your every word, your nerves will soon disappear. Compliment/thank everyone then get a bit gushy about your partner, don't be shy about being a bit soppy. Tell a funny story about how you met or something a bit silly that you/your partner did together, add a bit of humour and you're laughing.
ETA: get an usher to run a sweepstake with the guests for the total length of all speeches, from father of bride standing up of bestman sitting down. A quid a go, closest time takes the pot. Good bit of fun :-)
Edited by bramley on Monday 6th August 20:05
ellroy said:
crofty1984 said:
At a wedding I was at we had the speeches between the starter and main course. Was good because people weren't sat there starving waiting for it to end.
What a bloody good idea. How many times are you standing around as a guest, starving and all there is to do is drink? No wonder there’s so many fallouts at weddings.
sc0tt said:
Thanks guys very helpful, I won’t be doing the arsewipe joke that is for sure.
Scott, I used to train public speaking to solicitors. The hardest speech I ever gave was a Best Man’s speech to about 200 people in Liverpool (the Groom’s mother insisted it was clean) 
Your job as Groom is to thank everyone on behalf of yourself and your new wife, tell the Bride you are so lucky to have married her, thank her Mum, Dad and other family for being so kind as to welcome you in (your nose may/may not twitch a bit at this point) thank the Bridesmaids/Ushers whatever and introduce the Best Man. Then get the hell off, if he does brilliantly everyone will remember; if he f
ks it up horribly everyone will remember.No one ever, can get over f
king up a Groom’s speech; plenty of Best Men do 
The Groom’s speech in Liverpool? I can’t remember a word Edited by TheChampers on Monday 6th August 20:42
TheChampers said:
sc0tt said:
Thanks guys very helpful, I won’t be doing the arsewipe joke that is for sure.
Scott, I used to train public speaking to solicitors. The hardest speech I ever gave was a Best Man’s speech to about 200 people in Liverpool (the Groom’s mother insisted it was clean) Your job as Groom is to thank everyone on behalf of yourself and your new wife, tell the Bride you are so lucky to have married her, thank her Mum, Dad and other family for being so kind as to welcome you in (your nose may/may not twitch a bit at this point) thank the Bridesmaids/Ushers whatever and introduce the Best Man. Then get the hell off, if he does brilliantly everyone will remember; if he f
ks it up horribly everyone will remember.No one ever, can get over f
king up a Groom’s speech; plenty of Best Men do The Groom’s speech in Liverpool? I can’t remember a word Edited by TheChampers on Monday 6th August 20:42
Appreciate your views
Might sound silly, but do make sure that you check with your wife who might need to be thanked that you've perhaps forgotten to mention. I thought I caught everyone, but had forgotten to thank her uncle, who had supplied a load of ice cream for us, as with everything going on you are bound to miss something.
Other than that, as soon as you say "My wife and i..." you'll be on to a winner.
Other than that, as soon as you say "My wife and i..." you'll be on to a winner.
As others have said, start with "My wife and I..." and remember they're an onside audience.
Assuming some of the guests will be people that know one of you better than they know both, do a bit on how you met, and maybe how you proposed. Say nice things about your inlaws, and your own parents too. Don't do any stories that might embarrass your wife, even if she's hard to embarrass her family/friends won't be too impressed.
Assuming some of the guests will be people that know one of you better than they know both, do a bit on how you met, and maybe how you proposed. Say nice things about your inlaws, and your own parents too. Don't do any stories that might embarrass your wife, even if she's hard to embarrass her family/friends won't be too impressed.
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