Giving a groom’s speech is a big responsibility – after all, you want to make sure your words are memorable and perfectly capture the momentous occasion of your wedding day.
As you can imagine, it’s a pretty daunting task for some, but don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. Just follow these five simple tips and you’ll be well on your way to delivering an unforgettable speech that will have all your guests talking (in a good way)
The Basics
Before we jump into our 7 top tips for your wedding day speech, here are some of the basics around the groom’s speech.
Groom’s speech traditions
The groom’s speech typically takes place shortly after the wedding day breakfast and acts as a part of the transition from the wedding day formalities to the after party celebrations.
It’s common practice for a toastmaster to introduce the speeches, but many opt for a guest or choose to introduce themselves for a less formal feel.
When does the groom’s speech start?
Typically, the groom’s speech follows the father of the bride’s speech. After this, the best man will then give his speech, followed by a toast to the newlyweds.
As mentioned earlier, the groom’s speech usually takes place after the wedding day breakfast to commence the start of the party, however, it’s not uncommon for the speeches to take place before breakfast.
1. Start with a joke
It may seem like a risky move, but it doesn’t have to be the funniest joke ever written. Just having something to lighten the mood a little can help to break the ice and put everyone at ease.
However, as a word of warning, this may not be suitable for all weddings – so do be conscious of the atmosphere and only proceed with this step if you think it’s appropriate and the bride will appreciate the humour.
It’s also worth noting that a joke at the bride’s expense should be avoided in almost all cases!
2) Keep it short and sweet
Generally speaking, a groom’s speech should last between 3-7 minutes with 10 minutes being the maximum recommended duration.
After 10 minutes or so, many guests may start to get fidgety and lose interest – so try to keep it concise yet full of meaning.
However, while your guests will no doubt appreciate the brevity of your speech, try not to be too brief as you’ll still want to give a heartfelt and memorable speech that captures the essence of the occasion.
If you’re particularly nervous about giving a speech, you can keep it brief by leading a toast to your partner and saying thanks to those who helped you get married. We would recommend discussing this beforehand with your bride-to-be so that there’s no surprises on the big day!
3) Make it personal
Your speech isn’t just about you; it’s also about your bride. Share stories of how you first met, funny anecdotes and most importantly share your love for one another .
Your wedding day is a truly special occasion, so don’t be afraid to let your emotions show. Tears of joy are totally acceptable – after all, you are making a lifelong commitment to each other!
4) Say thanks
Your wedding day wouldn’t have been possible without the help of your family and friends, so take the time to thank everyone who’s helped you get this far.
Traditionally, the groom with say thanks and propose toasts to the following people in the speech:
- Father of the bride (or the person responsible for paying for the wedding)
- Both sets of parents
- The wedding guests
- The best man
- The bridesmaids
- His partner
- Any staff at the venue (i.e. the caterers)
5) Practise makes perfect
Finally, it’s important to practise your speech beforehand. Not only will this help you to remember your lines and speak more fluently, but it will also help you with your timings.
A common mistake made by many speakers is vastly over or under estimating the time it takes to read your written speech. It may only last 5 minutes in your head, but when it comes to reading it out loud it lasts 15 minutes!
Luckily, there’s an easy solution to this. Read the speech out loud during practice!
Many public speakers also find it easier to film themselves during practice. Not only does this give you the opportunity to watch it back, but it also creates a small sense of pressure / nerves that can help you to prepare for the big day.
6) Speak slowly
When nervous, many people have a tendency to speak faster or brush over points, which is their subconscious trying to make the speech end sooner and get out of the nerve-wracking situation. However, from the listeners point of view, this can cause an incoherent and sometimes confusing outcome.
To avoid this, make sure to remind yourself during practice that you can slow down your pace and give pauses in-between points if needed.
Many people also find that taking short pauses between sentences can act as a reset which helps to slow down the pace. If you just talk without pauses, you’re likely to find yourself speaking faster and faster until you gasp for air.
You don’t need to rush it, take your time so that everyone can understand what you’re saying clearly. Speaking slowly and taking pauses will also help you stay calmer throughout the speech – win.
A slower speech helps make points more memorable as people have time to digest the information before more is added.
If you’re especially nervous about your speech, it’s better to say less, but at a good pace than it is to say a lot but in a rushed manner.
7) End with the bride
While tradition suggests that you should finish the speech with thanks to the bridesmaids and best man, we think it adds a nice touch to finish with a comment about the star of the show – your bride!
Show your appreciation for her, thank her for being the most amazing partner and ending with a comment that highlights how you’re looking forward to spending the rest of your life together.
Ending on such an emotional note will add depth to your speech, it’ll make everyone feel warm inside and it’s sure to leave a lasting impression!
Conclusion
Giving the groom’s speech on your wedding day is an incredible honour and a great opportunity to share your love and appreciation for the bride and all your guests – remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect.
A sincere and heartfelt speech will come off better than a perfected but insincere speech. So don’t worry if your speech isn’t funny or doesn’t flow perfectly, as long as it’s from the heart, the speech will add to the occasion.
As long as you follow the tips above, you can rest assured that you’ll deliver an amazing speech that will make everyone smile! Good luck!
“Phill was just the best, and really made the whole experience so easy and fun from start to finish.”
– Hayely Scott, Manor By The Lake, Cheltenham.
Get in touch now to find out how we can help you make your day truly amazing.