The Wedding Toaster

It can be hard to know where to start when writing a speech.  

Here is a collection of different style of speech from around the world.  

If you are still stuck with giving a speech. Perhaps you need a professional public speaking coach. Come visit my me at Gravitas Training where we provide public speaking courses in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Traditional groom speech example

This groom speech example is more traditional in nature. It hits all the right points and is a safe play for a groom.

Ladies and Gentlemen: I would like to thank Steve for those sincere words and both Bobbie and Steve for the love that they have both shown me, not only in preparation for today, but from the first moment that we met some two and a half years ago.

I don’t know who was more surprised that first night when Marcella brought me home without warning, when they were sitting there all ready for bed in their satin bath robes and Steve in his Snoopy slippers.

Anyway, quickly moving on, I did have a speech all worked out for this occasion, but, of course, now that I’m a married man, Marcella has insisted that I read from the one that she has written for me.

So here goes:

On behalf of my wife and I…I suppose I’m going to have to get used to that, I would like to start by thanking everyone here today for sharing our very special day with us. Thank-you for all the wonderful gifts and cards that you have given us, we are very touched at your generosity. I’m certainly looking forward to seeing how Steve has managed to gift-wrap the Wheelbarrow! 
We have both been very nervous about today and it means a great deal to us that you are sharing our day with us, and we hope that you are enjoying the occasion every bit as much as we are.

Most people on their wedding day describe it as the happiest day of their lives. That worries me because it implies that as from tomorrow there’s a lifelong decline ahead, so I’m making the most of today. However, I’m so happy today that even days less happy would still be blissful.

I would like to say a special thank-you to those of you that have travelled some distance to be here today. It is quite a humbling experience to realise that you have friends and family that care so much for you. And I do genuinely mean that.

(source)

Groom Speech Sample

This groom also took the traditional route. This sample groom speech is a little longer in nature.

On behalf of my wife and I, we’d like to thank you all for coming here today and sharing our special day with us. There are times when it’s good to be surrounded by people who are important to you, and for us this is one of those occasions. We hope that you’re enjoying it every bit as much as we are and we’d like to thank you for your kind wishes cards, presents and support.

We must say we’ve been really impressed by the number of people that have rallied round to help us in preparation for today, if you’re not mentioned by name and that’s most of you, please be assured that Kate and I are very grateful.

David and Maggie, thank you not only for your hospitality this evening and your kindness, but for also giving me your very beautiful daughter. I promise I’ll take good care of her and of course do everything she tells me to, even if it involves golf! I must confess I did actually try it a while ago, and during one lesson with the local pro I asked him whether he had seen any improvement since my last lesson. And he said “er… yup, that’s a much better haircut”. 
So Maggie, we have a present here for you.

I also want to say thank you to my parents who put up with me for all these years, you have both been there for me when I’ve needed you and given me a wonderful start in life and I’m very fortunate and proud to have you as my mum and dad. I’ve a present for you here Mum, as a thank you.

I can imagine that Neil, my best man is getting impatient to make his speech soon. Now many people don’t know that Neil suffers from a rare medical condition which causes him to invent fanciful stories. He really does believe these stories to be true and I thank you for humouring him during his speech.

I am absolutely delighted to be able stand here today with Kate, I never knew what was missing in my life before I met her. Kate has been a t source of friendship, support and love. Of course I’ve no doubt that she is going to tell me afterwards that the only thing missing in my life at the moment is golf, although I am still waiting for her to explain the attraction to a game that consists of a lot of walking, broken up by disappointment and bad arithmetic.

And finally, the bridesmaids, thanks for calming Kate nerves and helping in her preparation today. I’d also like thank you for getting her to the church in one piece and on time, you’ve done a brilliant job. We have a small gift for each of you as a token of our appreciation.

Well, that’s it from me for now, but, before I pass you over to my best man, Ladies and Gentlemen, please stand and lift your glasses and join me in a toast to bridesmaids

(source)

Best Groom Speech – short

This is a short speech but gets to the point quickly. Love the simplicity.

Firstly, I would like to say thank you to Bob and Karen. Thank you for you beautiful daughter Amy. Your contribution to today has been amazing. I want to thank you for taking me into his family, it really has meant a lot to me. Most importantly, thank you for raising such an amazing and beautiful woman. Doesn’t my wife look amazing today. Wow, called Amy my wife. Feels weird.

Secondly, I’d like to thank all of you for coming today. It is amazing to feel all this love and friendship. Thank you for your good wishes and for joining us in our celebration. Also thank you for your gifts, I am sure all of these will help us in our new life together, so thank you.

Also thank you to the bridesmaids, you all look amazing. Today wouldn’t have been the same without you helping my beautiful bride through today. So thank you.

Finally, to my wife. I just want to say a massive thank-you for always being here for me, making me happy, and marrying me. I love you.

For those of you who don’t know, us men do have dreams of our wedding day when we are younger. They may not be about the same as you women, about dresses and big churches, but nevertheless we do have the dreams. When I was younger, my dream was to marry a beautiful woman, and be happy for the rest of our lives, have a family and to have a nice home. This is what I wanted from a marriage. When I met Amy I knew that she was different. She made me laugh in different ways, and the feeling of happiness I get when I am around her cannot be described. Wife is more than I could ever have hoped for. I love you honey.

There are so many good times that Amy and I have enjoyed together, days out, holidays and nights out with friends and family. But like all couples we have had lows. Fallings out, family bereavements and arguments between ourselves. But all these factors have made us who we are today. A strong couple, who work brilliantly together.

Finally, I would like to say thank you again to all of you for celebrating with us today.

And could you all please raise your glasses to my beautiful wife, the one I love, Amy.

Funny Groom Speech Examples

The most fun we had in researching this topic was reading through funny groom speech examples. A funny groom speech can really get the guests into the mood. Our of all the funny groom speeches we researched, this one stood out as our favorite.

Distinguished guests, guests of no particular distinction, relatives young and old, friends, freeloaders, hangers on, gypsies, tramps, thieves and anyone else who may have wandered in, you are all about to witness a unique event in history. The very first and very last time that my wife is going to let me speak on behalf of both of us. However, it is a privilege and an honour to do so. I just hope that, so soon into our married life, I don’t let Sue down.

My speech today will be like a mini-skirt. Long enough to cover the essentials but short enough to hold your attention! To be honest I didn’t really know where to start so I thought I’d trawl the internet. After a couple of hours I‘d found some really, really good stuff. But then I remembered that I was supposed to be writing a speech. Before I start, there will be plenty of toasts over the next few minutes so please make sure that your glasses are charged.

Firstly, we’d like to thank Philip for his kind words and good wishes. And to thank him for paying for this lovely reception …(pause and look at him) What? I thought you said…….No I’m only joking – you don’t need to find the key for the padlock on your wallet!

It’s lovely to see so many of our family and friends here today to help us celebrate the happiest day of our lives. I know that some of you have travelled a long way to be here and that means a lot to us. It really wouldn’t be the same without you all. It’d be a darned sight cheaper, but that’s not the point. Thank you all for your very generous gifts, and a special thanks to those of you who have given cheques. No, we really are grateful for those, especially as we’ll be using the details on the cheques to set up direct debits paying our bills for years to come. Who said that identity fraud is a bad idea?

Unfortunately, it’s not been possible to have everyone we love here with us today, but we know they’re here with us in spirit and they’re not only in our thoughts today, but more importantly they’re with us in our hearts. So, with them in mind, would you please all stand, raise your glasses, and join me in a toast to absent family & friends.

(To absent family and friends)

I’d also like to sincerely thank Sue’s mum and dad, Val and Peter, for making me feel like the son they never wanted – sorry, the son they never had, right from day two. Day one was a bit rough, but I *think* they’re over it now. Her brothers, too, have never made me feel anything other than welcome and I thank them for that.

It can be very difficult when two families come together but we have been extremely lucky. Sue’s children, Philip and Emma, have welcomed me into their family and my children, Molly and Emily, have welcomed Sue into theirs. We all get on so well, and that is a rare thing indeed. And something that has been made possible by all of our children. So I’d like to propose a toast to Philip, Emma, Molly and Emily.

 (To Philip, Emma, Molly and Emily)

My Dad has helped me enormously over the years and has seen me through thick and thin. Mainly thick, if I’m being honest but he’s been there for me and I hope that I have done him proud. I really couldn’t have asked for a better father and I thank you for everything that you have done, not just for me but for me and my wife. Thank you.

There is an unwritten rule of wedding etiquette that states that nobody should look more handsome than the groom and I’d like to thank our ushers Steve and Peter for sticking to that rule to the letter. They have both lent an air of ‘nightclub bouncer respectability’ to their roles and I particularly admired the way they searched the ladies’ handbags and frisked the men as they came in with such discretion and subtlety. I’m not quite sure that saying “You’ll sit where you’re ruddy well put” was really in the spirit of the day, but we’ll let that pass. Thanks to both of you.

I have known Richard, my Best Man, for nearly seventeen years now and throughout that time he has been there for me when it matters and is always ready with an encouraging word, and a welcome bottle of Rioja when things are going badly. And, if I’m being honest, when things are going well. I’d like to thank him for all his help in organizing the stag do, and for creating the table plan for us. But, most importantly I’d like to thank him for being a true friend. However, there is something that I need to make you aware of. Rich suffers from a strange condition that occasionally causes him to drift in and out of weird, strange flights of fantasy. He has been known to make up fanciful stories, absolutely believing them to be true. Anyway, it’s only right that I advise you all of this ahead of his speech. As I say, he is a true friend and I wouldn’t want you to go upsetting him, so if you could bear with him, even join with him on his journey of make believe, I would appreciate it.

Apart from my wife, there are three other beautiful ladies here today. Sue’s daughter Emma and my daughters, Molly and Emily. We’d like to thank them very much for being such wonderful bridesmaids. So, please stand and join me in a toast to the bridesmaids.

(To the bridesmaids!)

Finally, I would like to thank my wife – I think I’m going to enjoy getting used to saying that – for agreeing to marry me and for making me the happiest man in the world. I think you’ll agree that she looks absolutely gorgeous today and when she walked up the aisle, she took my breath away.

They say you don’t marry someone you can live with – you marry the person who you can’t live without and I think that sums us up perfectly. Now if I had to single out one thing about why I love Sue so much, it would be the fact that she makes me happier than I ever dreamed I could be. And I intend to spend the rest of my life making sure that the reverse is also true. I know that Sue has put a huge amount of effort into making today perfect and I think that she has done that, and more. Having lived with Sue for a couple of years now, I have learned a valuable lesson – when I’m wrong, admit it. When I’m right, keep quiet! Seriously though, I never have a problem finding the words to express my love for Sue, but if I start then I probably won’t be able to stop. Suffice to say that, Sue, I love you so much and I can’t wait to grow old with you. Ladies and gentlemen, please stand and raise your glasses to my wife, Sue.

(To Sue!)

Now, I’m not going to stand here all afternoon and bore you all with a load of stale old jokes. That’s the Best Man’s job! So, without further ado, I’d like to hand over to Richard.

(source)

Short Groom Speech Examples

Ladies and Gentlemen, friends and family on behalf of my beautiful wife and myself, thank you very much for being here today. I can safely say it wouldn’t have been the same without you all…although it would have been cheaper.

More specifically, I’d like to thank Jerry, my new father-in-law for all the kind words and wishes.

In addition, I’d like to thank both Jerry and Jan for all their kindness in the last 2 years and for keeping a straight face when they heard I had proposed to their daughter. I’ve always chosen to assume those were tears of joy, Jan.

I would also like to thank mom and dad, Beth and Lee, for all their love and support growing up. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be standing here now. Thanks for the ride, guys.

Thanks to Ross my best man who’s been a speech is, we might even stay friends.

I’d also like to thank Jen’s bridesmaids, Grace and Zoe, for keeping her calm over the last 24 hours or so and of course for being such good friends to her all this time.

Which blove, support, friendship, trust and a million other things. Basically, thank you for being you.

So with no further ado and depsite my better judgement, I’ll hand you over to Ross.