How to Please Your Bride with Your Groom’s Speech

The date is set, the venue booked, invitations are out, the stag weekend in the diary; just the small matter of a groom’s speech still to write. You’re not worried, but why is your bride-to-be?

Here are a few tips on how to please your bride with your groom’s speech:

• Don’t spend more time building up the best man than the bride.  Although it’s nice to reference the best man and poke a bit of fun at him, remember that your wedding day is about your relationship with your bride, not your best mate!
• Thank your new in-laws (particularly if they are hosting the wedding). Your bride might not get the opportunity to thank them publically for all they’ve done for her, so it’s up to you to do it on her behalf – and she’ll love you for it.
• She’s your ‘wife’ so feel free to mention it! Nothing gets more heart-warming cheer than the line “my wife and I...”. Yes it’s predicable and a little bit cheesy, but the novelty of hearing it for the first time never fails to please your new bride, or your guests for that matter.
• Keep it original. It’s fine to include the odd predictable line, as above, but don’t go overboard or your speech will sound like an internet cut and paste. She wants you to talk about her.... so make it personal and original.
• Mention how she looks. Beautiful, gorgeous, stunning... however you chose to say it, make sure you remark on her appearance; those manicures, hair stylists and facials weren’t for nothing!
• Don’t forget this is a celebration of love. It isn’t an opportunity for a 10 minute comedy stand up routine, so try to balance your hilarious one-liners with a good dollop of sincerity. What is it about her you love? How has your life changed (for the better!) since she’s been in it? Which of your bad habits does she have to put up with?
• Leave out the ex-girlfriends. However ‘relaxed’ your wife is about your past, there’s a time and a place for referencing the exes, and the groom’s speech isn’t one of them.
• Talk to her. Although you’re giving a speech, you don’t always have to talk to the room. It will be far more powerful and personal if, when you’re talking about your wife, you actually look at and make eye contact with her.

Best of luck with it! Please feel free to call me at any time if you’d like more detailed advice or help putting it all together.

Lawrence

Article by Wedding Speech Writing Specialist Lawrence Bernstein

Image from Flickr by johnhope14

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