We’re revealing our best tips to help you deliver a fantastic wedding speech.
The groom’s speech may sound like a daunting task, but in reality, your toast should be the least stressful part of your day. Even when it comes to speeches, the bulk of the pressure is on the best man to make people laugh, and the bride’s father to make everyone go ‘awh’. Pressure or no pressure, not all grooms are used to public speaking, and it doesn’t come naturally to everyone. Which is why as a groom, its understandable you’d be looking for some tips.
For the most part, a traditional groom speech consists of thanking people. And in general, no guest will be expecting you to blow them away with some dazzling oration.
Still though, there are a few things to consider when putting your groom speech together…
BE THE BEST GROOM
At most weddings, the groom speech is the part of the celebration where the groom is the centre of attention. This can be really unnerving for some people. But with good practice and preparation, delivering your groom speech can be a moment you’ll remember forever. Follow these steps to make your toast a wonderful and enjoyable experience.
BE PREPARED
Heed our words: if you do not write things down in advance, you will forget to thank certain people, and those people might get a bit miffed. Not being prepared will also result in nervous ad libbing and who knows what you’ll say or who you’ll end up thanking!
While planning the wedding, start making a note of things as they come into your head, and write your groom speech around six weeks before the big day. This should allow you plenty of time to craft lines with good structure, while making sure the details are all sorted.
FORGET THE PRIVATE JOKES
The biggest mistake grooms and best men make when giving their speeches is cracking a load of jokes that only their friends or siblings will understand. Remember, half the people there were invited by your bride and in reality, many of the people on your side won’t even understand the in-jokes your mates are cracking up at. Make sure your speech can be enjoyed by everyone present.
Your job is to thank people and say a few nice things about your new wife; it’s the best man who has to worry about making people laugh. Feel free to share a couple of very short anecdotes about a few people you’re mentioning, but don’t launch into long rambling stories about that weekend the lads went to Manchester… etc
ASK FOR HELP
You don’t have to do this alone! Ask a trusted friend or family member for their opinion on what route you should go down. You could even ask someone who has given a groom speech themselves if they have any tips for you. Sharing the content with your future father-in-law and best man is also wise if you want to make sure you’re not duplicating content.
You should also confirm the running order with the other speech-givers, and give them a broad idea of the content of your speech. Usually, the order goes like this:
Father of the bride
Groom
Best man
But you can follow whatever order you like – remember, it’s your wedding!
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
You might think your speech looks good on paper or sounds good in your head. But its success will depend on your delivery. That’s why you need to practice. Find the time to say your speech aloud. In the couple of weeks before your wedding, try to go through it each day, and practice your volume and pace. This will allow you to become so relaxed with the words, and it’ll stop you from looking at your notes all the time. Plus your dictation should also improve.
BE NICE
Typically, the English find it hard to be nice without engaging in severe sarcasm. Which is fine in the real world, but the groom’s speech is about recognising all the people who have helped you and your wife celebrate your love for each other. No one will laugh at you for getting a little sentimental about your parents, your bride or your best friend. In fact, for most people, it’s one of the nicest things about a wedding.
YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE NERVOUS
Prepare to feel nervous. It’s completely normal, so don’t worry about it. And don’t try to suppress your feelings (especially with alcohol!). Instead, recognise the energy it gives you. And soak up the love from the people around you.
It’s your big day. Enjoy it.
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