Every part marked up, so you can see how the speech is built.
Examples
Groom speech examples
Written to be said out loud, not read. Each one a different voice, so you can hear which sounds like you.
Funny2:30 min
I've been told there's one line every groom has to say, so let's get it out of the way. On behalf of my wife and I... Thank you. I've been practising that all week, and I still wasn't ready for it. Thank you all for coming, and for your generous presents. Some of you have come all the way from Aberdeen, and my uncle Pete has come from the pub next door, where I'm told he's been since two. Graham, thank you for your kind words, and Sue, thank you for today. You both made me feel like family long before you had to. Sue, thank you for every Sunday roast. Graham, thank you for never once
On our first date, Claire beat me at pool three games in a row, and then she bought the drinks. I went home and told my flatmate I'd met the woman I was going to marry. He said, "You lost three games of pool." I said, "Exactly." First, thank you all for being here. I know some of you flew in, and at least two of you drove through the night, and one of you, Marcus, drove through the night in the wrong direction first. Linda and Tom, thank you for raising the most competitive person I've ever met, and for today. Mum and Dad, thank you for teaching me to lose gracefully. I've needed it. Claire,
When I asked Jen's dad for his blessing, he didn't say anything. He just handed me the other end of a canoe. We carried it from the garage down to the lake, maybe a quarter of a mile, and neither of us said a word. When we set it down, he looked at the water for a while and said, "You'll do." Then he walked back to the house. I've spent two years trying to work out whether that was a yes. Rick and Diane, I've decided it was. Thank you for trusting me with Jen, and for letting me borrow the canoe ever since. Mom, Dad, thank you for driving eight hours to be here, and for every drive before
I'm wearing my dad's watch today. It runs about four minutes slow, which is how he liked it. He said it meant he was always early, even when he wasn't. He'd have loved today. He'd have been here at half one for a two o'clock wedding, telling everyone the watch said quarter past. Mum, thank you for keeping it wound all these years so I could wear it today. Thank you for everything, really, but mostly for being the person I ring first, about everything. Paul and Karen, thank you for this wonderful day and for making me so welcome from the start. Paul, the first time we met, you asked me what I
I had a plan to propose. It was a very good plan. I hid the ring in a bag of frozen peas, because Maya never touches peas. That night, she made soup. I've never moved so fast in my life. I got to the freezer, grabbed the bag, and got down on one knee on the kitchen floor holding a bag of frozen peas. She said yes before I got the ring out. I think she just wanted me to put the peas back. Thank you all for being here tonight. Anita and Raj, thank you for this incredible day and for teaching Maya to cook, which is how I knew she'd find the peas eventually. Mom and Dad, thank you for everything,
Hi everyone. I'm going to keep this short, because Sophie's the talker in this marriage, and I'd like to stay married. Thank you all for coming. Martin and Clare, thank you for today, and for Sophie. Mum and Dad, thank you for everything else. Tom, thanks for the rings, and for not losing them. Sophie, I said "I do" today and meant every word of it. Both words. To my wife.
Why it works: One line before anything else: “as of today, I'm officially under new management.” Then the British opener, “on behalf of my wife and I,” and a single thank-you to the whole room.
The result: the room laughs, and he waits almost ten seconds before he can go on.
Why it works: One story, told in order: the hailstorm, the driveway, and the door opening on a stranger with “biceps bigger than his legs.” The punchline is a question to the room, and the story ends on what it meant: “my last first date.”
The result: Louisa bursts out laughing at the “security guard.”
Why it works: The story leads straight into them: the family from that doorway gets thanked first. Each person gets a reason, not just a name, and there's one joke, about coming back for family dinners. His new brother-in-law is counted among his brothers.
Why it works: The British tradition, done in under a minute: thank the bridesmaids, pay them a compliment (“plum is a colour that suits you all”), then toast them. “Ladies and gentlemen, I need a drink” gets him there in one line.
Why it works: He starts with a fake-out, “the reason why we are here today… Trent,” waits, then turns it around with “there's a comma, just wait.” From there, every line is spoken to Louisa, not about her.
The two hardest sentences to write are the first and the last. Take one of these, or let it show you the shape.
Openers
None of them “for those who don’t know me”.
“On behalf of my wife and I. Sorry, I just wanted to hear how that sounds.”
“Emma planned every detail of today. I was in charge of the playlist, so if you hear the same song twice, that was me.”
“The first thing Emma ever said to me was, ‘You're in my seat.’ She was right.”
“I'd like to start by thanking the man who made today possible: Emma's dad, who paid for it.”
“Three years ago I asked Emma out by text. She replied, ‘Who is this?’”
“I've been told the groom's speech is mostly thank-yous, so I've made a list. It's color-coded.”
“My best man has promised to be nice to me. I'm going first, just in case.”
“I asked Emma for advice on this speech. She said, ‘Keep it short, and don't mention the dog.’”
“Before I say anything else: Mom, I'm wearing the tie.”
“Thank you all for coming. I know it's a long way, and I know the bar is open, so I'll be quick.”
Closers
How to land the toast.
“It still sounds good. Please raise your glasses to my wife, Emma.”
“Emma, you planned all of this, and I'd do it all again, same song twice. To my wife.”
“Emma, you can have every seat I've got. Please raise your glasses to my wife.”
“Thank you again, Richard. I'm told the bar's on you too. Please raise your glasses to Emma.”
“Emma, it's me. It was always going to be me. To my wife.”
“That's the end of the list, and the last thank-you is the biggest: Emma, thank you for saying yes. To my wife.”
“Over to you, Tom. Be gentle. But first, please raise your glasses to the bridesmaids.”
“I didn't mention the dog. Mostly. Please raise your glasses to my wife, Emma.”
“Mom, the tie stays on until the first dance. Please raise your glasses to my wife.”
“I said I'd be quick. The bar's still open. To Emma, my wife.”
Questions
Good questions, quick answers
How long should a groom's speech be?
Three to five minutes, which is around 400 to 550 words out loud. British speeches often run longer because of the thank-yous, but past ten minutes the room starts to drift. Give each person one line and save your time for the story and the words to your wife. Time yourself standing up, because everyone talks faster in front of a room.
What's the structure of a groom's speech?
Five parts, in this order: an opening line, the thank-yous, the story of the two of you, a few words to your wife, and the toast. The thank-yous come early so the rest of the speech can be about her. The words to your wife are the part people remember, so talk to her, not about her.
Who does the groom thank in his speech?
At a British wedding, start by thanking the father of the bride for his speech. Then thank the guests for coming and for their presents, her parents and anyone else who hosted, your own parents, your best man and ushers, and the bridesmaids. Give each one a specific line rather than a paragraph. You don't need to thank everyone in the room, only the people who helped make the day happen.
Who does the groom toast at the end of his speech?
Traditionally, in the UK, the bridesmaids: the groom thanks them, toasts them, and the best man speaks next. Many grooms now toast their wife instead, and in the US that's the usual choice. Either is fine. If you're not sure, toast your wife.
How do I start a groom's speech?
At a British wedding, "On behalf of my wife and I" gets a cheer every time, because it's the first time you say "my wife" out loud. Say it and wait for the cheer. Otherwise, start with something that happened: how you met, the proposal, or a line she'll recognize. Put the thank-yous second, where they won't slow down the start.
Does the groom have to give a speech?
In the UK it's expected: the father of the bride speaks first, then the groom, then the best man. In the US it's common but optional, and there's no fixed slot. If you'd rather keep it small, a one-minute thank-you and a toast covers it, and the short speech above is built for exactly that. Some couples speak together instead and take turns with the thank-yous.
