Guarantee applause: Groom Speech

While you read on, please feel to call us at any stage to discuss how we can help write or edit your speech for you!  

The wedding ‘season’ has arrived. If you’re a Groom, you may already be worrying about what to say in your speech – and how to minimise your chances of a ‘tumbleweed’ moment.  As ever, we’re quick to point out that every wedding and every Groom require a different approach, but there are some quick wins to guarantee positive feedback from your guests, whether it’s sighs, laughs or rapturous applause!

Early on, drop in the olden but golden “My wife and I…..”. Loathed as I am to ever suggest a re-cycled line, this one is part of the wedding tradition fabric. It doesn’t matter how many times guests have heard it before, it will always receive a warm cheer and set your nerves at rest.

Include a brief but heartfelt thanks to the hosts (assuming it isn’t you!). If it’s your in-laws you’ll earn brownie points from all sides.

Add a brief mention of those who couldn’t be with you on the day. It allows for a sentimental moment to reflect on and remember loved ones not there. But don’t dwell too long on this – it is a day of celebration after all.

Strike the right balance between talking about how wonderful your new wife is against the more self-deprecating effect she’s had on you and how you’ve changed for the better as a result. Too much slush can leave your audience wilting.

Don’t forget to mention your own parents.  And not just for their contribution to the wedding. Thank them for those things you always took for granted: lifts to school when you were ten, freezing afternoons on the side of a muddy sports field watching you make a fool of yourself, or for helping you learn to drive; anything that demonstrates the love and support they have provided for so long.  Unless they haven’t of course.

Don’t include too much about the Best Man. In-jokes on this front are strictly discouraged.

Include a heartfelt toast to the Bridesmaids. These are quite likely your Bride’s best friends so mention how beautiful they are and what supportive mates they’ve been to your new wife. The guests will love it as much as they will.

The balance between sincerity and humour in the speech is a difficult one for the Groom. It doesn’t provide as much opportunity for raucous laughter as the Best Man’s speech. And nor should it.

Ultimately it is a chance to celebrate your love for your new wife, whilst thanking her and others for helping you reach this point in your life. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of excuses for getting the guests to laugh, clap and generally feel good through your speech. Hopefully I’ve given you some tips for achieving this. But if you have any concerns about creating your own speech, I would be delighted to chat, edit your draft or even write it for you. Please just get in touch!
Good luck and best wishes
Lawrence