Grooms Speech - HELP!!!!

[Millgate]

Hey guys & gals,

 

I need your help! As some of you know, I get married in less than two weeks and I've not even thought about my speech.

 

I'm not shy so the speaking in front of everyone doesnt bother me but I don't know what to say.

 

Do I just thank everyone for coming, say all the women look pretty and that's it? Or do I go for the more entertaining speech???

 

What did you do?

 

Luke

[Disaster]

"It's been an emotional day, even the cake is in tiers (tears)". That's all you need!

[bodminman]

Oh crikey!

 

Just don't do what I did. I hate talking in front of loads of people but I thought my speech went well. After I got going I put my notes back into my pocket and rattled on and in the end I said everything I needed to say apart from one very big thing. . . . . i didn't thank the bride!!!!

 

I will be making amends though this summer when we are renewing our vows!

[machin05]

Leave the jokes and entertainment to the best man - that's what he's there for

 

Start your speech with "On behalf of my wife and I....." - will undoubtedly get a ripple of applause and cheering. Thank everyone for coming, thank everyone who had official duties, thank the bridesmaids and say how lovely they look, give out any gifts and suck up a bit to your new father-in-law.

 

I am getting married next year, and that's basically what I'm planning on doing.

 

All the best \0/

[Jawloms]

Tell everyone you've had such a great day you're thinking of doing it again sometime.

[IrritableTech]

I got married last week. I've found groom speeches often come out as a list of thanking people, telling your new wife how beautiful she is, and thanking all your parents for everything they've done. Remember you are meant to be speaking on behalf of your wife as well as yourself.

 

I tried to be honest, humble and grateful. I threw in two or three gags which seemed to go down reasonably well.

 

Be yourself Luke and your new bride will love it.

[Dragon]

The above and do not get jokes off the internet!

[sparkeh]

Thank everyone, tell everyone how beautiful your new wife is and how much you love her etc.

Doesn't hurt to throw in a few gags, but yeah the best man should be doing the funny speech (or as my brother did, tell a very blue joke that made everyone gasp in disbelief).

[3s-gtech]

Big tip: don't use ANY tired old one liners. The groans you'll get won't be in humour, people are really sick of them.

 

Thank the bride, with lots of nice complements! Thank her family, your family, and the guests. Then thank the bank manager.

[Garacesh]

Leave the jokes and entertainment to the best man - that's what he's there for

Nuh-uh. The best man is there to humiliate the shiznit out of you. That's his job, and if he does it successfully you'll be hiding under the table with embarrassment before he finishes (which should always be heartfelt and kind, despite all of the gags)

 

Jokes are fine in your speech, just make them few and hilarious. Tell everyone how beautiful your wife is and how much you love her. If you can, briefly explain about how you met and how your relationship developed. Thank everybody for attending and special thanks to everybody who helped out (especially those who stopped your new wife freaking out about every last detail )

 

The rest, just let it come from the heart. Be honest and kind and people will appreciate it.

 

Most importantly, enjoy the day and congratulations!

[Rawns]

The groom speech is all about the thanks. Your speaking for you and on behalf of your new wife to show the your appreciation to everyone for coming and helping out where appropriate. Feel free to drop in a subtle joke or two for good measure, but like @3s-gtech says, no one liners, or any other blatant Googled jokes you've ripped. Keep any jokes relevant:

 

1. Thank the guests for coming

2. Thank your wife and comment on how awesome she looks

3. Thank the new in-laws (and give the mother in law some flowers)

4. Thank your rents (and give your mother some flowers)

5. Thank the bridesmaids (and give them a gift if you wish)

6. Thank the ushers (and give them a gift if you wish)

7. Thank any additional people (an aunt who made your wedding cake, a uncle who did a reading during the service etc)

8. Finally, thank the best man and hand over to him for the comical main event.

Edited June 4, 2013 by Rawns

[Millgate]

Thanks guys, all top notch advice! Keep it coming.

 

On another note, who did you buy presents for? Like @Rawns said, I was planning on flowers for my mum and the mum in law but that's it. What about the bridesmaids etc?

[rad]

The groom speech is all about the thanks. Your speaking for you and on behalf of your new wife to show the your appreciation to everyone for coming and helping out where appropriate. Feel free to drop in a subtle joke or two for good measure, but like @3s-gtech says, no one liners, or any other blatant Googled jokes you've ripped. Keep any jokes relevant:

 

1. Thank the guests for coming

2. Thank your wife and comment on how awesome she looks

3. Thank the new in-laws (and give the mother in law some flowers)

4. Thank your rents (and give your mother some flowers)

5. Thank the bridesmaids (and give them a gift if you wish)

6. Thank the ushers (and give them a gift if you wish)

7. Thank any additional people (an aunt who made your wedding cake, a uncle who did a reading during the service etc)

8. Finally, thank the best man and hand over to him for the comical main event.

 

This sums it up perfectly.

 

I got married last year and went for the simplified option. We bought a present for the best man and usher (both my brothers) and a present for bridesmaid (her sister) and gave the rents flowers. My sister who did the cake (as a gift) and did a reading we gave the church flowers too.

 

I did the google for speeches, the youtube for speeches but be yourself. After a few youtube videos you can see what does and what doesnt work.

[Rawns]

Thanks guys, all top notch advice! Keep it coming.

 

On another note, who did you buy presents for? Like @Rawns said, I was planning on flowers for my mum and the mum in law but that's it. What about the bridesmaids etc?

 

Mother and mother-in-law got a big bouquet of flowers.

Farther-in-law got a bottle of single malt scotch.

Farther got a leather wallet.

Bridesmaids all got matching necklaces to go with their bridesmaids outfits (the wife sorted them out)

Usher 1 (bro-in-law) got a pressed Jägermeister bottle wall clock

Usher 2 (mate) got a smirnoff vodka set

Best man got a watch.

 

My best man surprised me and got me a small hipflask set with a message engraved. Just what I needed to steady the nerves while waiting at the alter! Typical woman, 30 minutes late!!!

Edited June 4, 2013 by Rawns

[Rawns]

I also bought a book for writing the groom speech that really helped, and has some example speeches too. It's of no use to me now, so would be happy to send it on if a) you'd like it, and b) if I can find it!

[Andrew_C]

I did this last summer. Not a formal do, and as my daughter was doing the best man bit, and would HATE to do a speech, it all fell to me.

 

For a while (a week or two) I carried a little note book around, so when I thought of a phrase, I could jot it down. This helped a lot when I settled down to write. This was about two days ahead of the day. Over the next couple of days I tweaked, but it was mostly there as I'd given myself plenty of thinking time in advance.

 

I’ve been told that when public speaking, that to be heard you should stand up, and speak out; to make yourself popular, you should sit down and shut up.

[Hefferzzzz]

Your job is as follows;

 

Make your wife cry

Make your parents cry

Make her parents cry

Make the bridesmaids cry

Make everyone think your bestman is a liar.

Get gifts for everyone at the top table

 

When I say make them cry I mean by being all soppy and in touch with your emotional feminine. DO NOT punch any of them or be mean to them.

[Rawns]

Another thing, unless your one of these people who can naturally give a speech to a large group people without a single shake, practice practice practice practice practice! I'm awful at giving speeches, and this is a rare occasion where I really did practice when ever I could. I was so glad I did too.

[elsiegee40]

The groom speech is all about the thanks. Your speaking for you and on behalf of your new wife to show the your appreciation to everyone for coming and helping out where appropriate. Feel free to drop in a subtle joke or two for good measure, but like @3s-gtech says, no one liners, or any other blatant Googled jokes you've ripped. Keep any jokes relevant:

 

1. Thank the guests for coming

2. Thank your wife and comment on how awesome she looks

3. Thank the new in-laws (and give the mother in law some flowers)

4. Thank your rents (and give your mother some flowers)

5. Thank the bridesmaids (and give them a gift if you wish)

6. Thank the ushers (and give them a gift if you wish)

7. Thank any additional people (an aunt who made your wedding cake, a uncle who did a reading during the service etc)

8. Finally, thank the best man and hand over to him for the comical main event.

 

That about sums it up

 

Mr gee40 dried up completely when doing his groom's speech at our wedding. His tip is to have a prompt card, so you remember what you intended to say!

[Rawns]

Mr gee40 dried up completely when doing his groom's speech at our wedding. His tip is to have a prompt card, so you remember what you intended to say!

 

^^

 

This too! Queue cards = life savers!

[Andrew_C]

Prompt card? I took the whole thing in Big Letters! No way was I trusting my magnum opus* to memory.

 

 

*600 words. No one had time to get bored.

[witch]

Just do the thanks as mentioned, and don't forget to say how happy you and your wife are that all your friends and family could be there to share the special day with you. Mention anyone who couldn't be there as well.

And then get your bride to stand up and say something! It's quite common now

[Andrew_C]

And then get your bride to stand up and say something!

Try stopping her! Mine did, also blissfully brief.

[jmak]

Leave the jokes and entertainment to the best man - that's what he's there for

 

Start your speech with "On behalf of my wife and I....." - will undoubtedly get a ripple of applause and cheering. Thank everyone for coming, thank everyone who had official duties, thank the bridesmaids and say how lovely they look, give out any gifts and suck up a bit to your new father-in-law.

 

I am getting married next year, and that's basically what I'm planning on doing.

 

All the best \0/

 

Good advice in this thread. Wrt above post, go steady on how much you emphasise the loveliness of the bridesmaids might be worth being nice to the best man as well - he might still be undecided about the most embarrassing stories.

 

Enjoy!

[michael2k6]

Protect the speech onto the wall opposite you. No one will see it. You're a geek after all.

Also, I think I will probably say one thanks to everyone in joint, mention that the wife is quite passionate about speaking for herself then sit down and turn to her as if she should stand up. Lets hope she brings her sense of humor.