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Sample
Wedding Speeches
•
Groom’s
Speech
•
Best
Man’s Speech
Most
weddings have speeches by the bride’s father,
the groom and the best man. Many guests see the speeches as
a highlight of the day, so the pressure is on to perform!
With the countless websites devoted to wedding speeches, there
tends to be a great deal of repetition and many guests will
know that your speech is internet-researched. Therefore, it
is important to be unique.
At Samantha Salisbury Weddings, our in-house speech writing
expert can help you create the ideal speech
for your occasion. We will ensure your speech is balanced,
witty, appropriate and above all a unique and true reflection
of your feelings.
Below are a couple of examples of good speeches. However,
avoid plagiarism and remember the importance of being unique!
Groom’s Speech
Thank you very much Sarath for your kind words and welcome
everyone to Orchadleigh House.
Today, August 23rd has been a significant day throughout history.
Since we decided upon the day,
I have often wondered what omens exist in history.
My initial research was not encouraging:
•
August
23rd in 1381 saw poor John Ball hung drawn and quartered by
Richard II after leading the failed Peasants Revolt
•
August
23rd in 1685 saw Duke James Scott executed at Tower Hill after
losing the Battle of Sedgemore
•
Things
improve slightly on August 23rd 1815 when Napolean finally
surrenders, although I appreciate my French relatives will
still categorise this as non-encouraging research.
However, a look into the births finally confirms August 23rd
as a great day in history. Vladamir the Bold of Russia born
on this day in 1353, Rembrant in 1606 and Ginger Rogers in
1911. Nevertheless, perhaps the best accolade for August 23rd
is happening right now in Brazil, where they are celebrating
International Mens’ Day – a festival of appreciation
for the hard work undertaken by men in society. Apparently,
the women shower their men with thanks, praise and compliments.
In recognition of this day, there will be a prize for the
first man in this room who demonstrates the courage to demand
thanks, praise and compliments from his wife. There is also
a St John’s ambulance on hand if necessary.
It’s a pleasure to have our closest friends and family
together today and thank you everyone for being here with
us. We’re conscious that our remote choice of venue means
everyone here has made a lengthy trip and we’re very
grateful to you all.
Indeed, I would make to make special mention of those people
who have travelled a particularly long way.
For example
Marian and Steve have come from Spain
Michael has come over from Germany
My usher Nick has made the trip from Ireland
We would also like to thank Leela and Nihal. Leela made the
Sri Lankan wedding cake that sits on everyone’s table,
as well as organising the packaging, which involved obtaining
special paper from Sri Lanka. We both sincerely appreciate
the effort you made and the results are perfect. Nihal, we
thank you for putting up with several large boxes of cake
sitting on your dining room table for the past few weeks and
applaud your restraint in ensuring none were consumed prior
to today.
One of the many advantages to having Irish family is the ability
to delegate with complete confidence anything to do with Guinness.
And I would like to thank Seamus and Moira for organising
the Guinness and importing it from Dublin.
I send my thanks to the bridesmaids for ensuring Shalini made
it to the wedding in one piece, as well as arranging an excellent
hen weekend, which the photos suggest was brilliantly organised
and great fun.
I am also fortunate enough to have several people to thank.
Firstly my usher Peter who organised the stag do. I’m
not particularly grateful for the humiliation I suffered,
however, I appreciate the effort you made organising the most
degrading night of my life and I officially apologise for
dislocating Rob’s shoulder and destroying at least 7
mobile telephones during the course of the day. However, I
remember little about the events and therefore cannot be held
responsible.
Seriously, Peter has been a great friend to me for many years
and few can match his skills of leadership and organisation.
My other usher Nick, both for coming over to England for the
wedding and also for your friendship and support during my
time in Vancouver. Its never easy starting a new job in a
new country and your help during this time was invaluable.
And of course my best man Patrick. Since we met flat hunting
3 in Vancouver some 3 years ago, we’ve enjoyed some fantastic
times. You depend on your friends a lot when you’re living
abroad and I couldn’t have asked for a more loyal and
supportive friend. Choosing a Best Man who comes from Liverpool
also has its advantages on days like these. For example, if
anyone has trouble finding a taxi later this evening, just
give Patrick enough notice and he’ll nick you any car
you like from Bath. And if you give him a fiver he’ll
get the driver’s mobile phone too.
I am very fortunate to have met a girl with parents like Rani
and Sarath. In the 8 years I have been with Shalini, their
kindness and generosity towards me has been overwhelming.
For Shalini and I, setting up our house and resettling back
into England has only really been possible because of your
help and support; and I will never forget the kindness you’ve
shown us.
I would like to thank my parents and sister. My mum for your
unconditional love and support, and for giving up work to
bring me up.
I know I wasn’t an easy child, but I was undoubtedly
one of the happiest. My dad for giving me something to aspire
to, both as a husband and hopefully one day as a father. And
my sister for your wonderful loyalty and never telling tales.
And of course my brother in law Paul, for making my sister
so happy. We also welcome another member of our family today,
in the form of my nephew Daniel.
(As Sarath has mentioned) I never had a great deal of time
for girls as a child. I’ve not suggesting for a moment
that I preferred boys, but girls were creatures I tended to
stay away from. I think it derived from a conversation I had
with my mother at the age of 8. I can’t remember the
context, but the exchange ended with my mother advising me
that falling in love was a high risk strategy. It wouldn’t
matter how hard I worked or how successful I became professionally.
If fell in love with the wrong girl, my life would be miserable.
This was enough to ensure I treated women with a healthy suspicion.
On the other hand, she also said that if I met the right girl,
other things in life wouldn’t seem too important. Of
course, she was absolutely right.
Shalini and I have always avoided PDA (otherwise known as
Public Displays of Affection) and I won’t embarrass Shalini
by changing into someone she doesn’t know by getting
all mushy. However, I will say that I remember the first time
I saw Shalini. It was from the back of a lecture theatre at
Warwick University. The first thing I noticed was that she
was constantly surrounded by friends and therefore rather
hard to get talking to. This kind of thing has never changed,
and now it’s a case of the phone ringing every 10 seconds
and then the mobile ringing while Shalini is on the phone.
However, I did finally manage to grab Shalini¹s attention
and after 12 months of hard work I finally bagged myself an
invitation to Shalini’s house in January 1998.
I turned up with an extortionately expensive bottle of wine
(which had cost £8) and plied Shalini with a sufficient amount
of alcohol to secure a verbal agreement that she would become
my girlfriend. Well, her exact words were “alright, I
suppose so, I guess you only live once”. We arranged
to meet the following evening for a night of art and culture,
commencing with two for one cocktails at the Frog & Frigate
and followed by 6 hours of clubbing in the sweaty, sordid
confines of the Junction Nightclub in Warwick.
This might not be everyone’s idea of a great night, but
I remember loving every minute of it. I wasn’t thinking
about marriage and settling down. I wasn’t even thinking
about the following week. I had simply met a girl who always
looked stunning, never stopped smiling and loved having fun.
And I think this has always formed the basis of things. Like
everyone, we’ve had challenging times, however Shalini
has never stopped having ideas for things to do, places to
go and different things to try. In the last 8 years, we’ve
been all over the world, seen wonderful sights and had countless
amazing experiences. All organised by Shalini.
I can also thank Shalini for thinking up the trips where I
have been comatose through sea-sickness and crippled with
altitude sickness. Shalini also suggested the delightful trip
where I ended up having 18 stitches applied to my head in
a Guatemalan field hospital. And it was also Shalini who suggested
I take my mind off said head injury by visiting a coral reef
and going for a swim. And it was also Shalini who gleefully
pointed out the approaching shark as my bandage slowly slipped
off revealing the gaping head wound. It was also Shalini who
got me tear gassed by South American riot police during another
ill considered jaunt.
However, I wouldn’t change anything. The last 8 years
have been such fun. Shalini, you would have had adventures
anyway because you’re that kind of person – and
I’m just grateful that you chose to take me with you.
Of course I love Shalini more than anything –
I simply can’t imagine a world with Shalini, and it’s
a fantastic feeling to be married.
It’s therefore my pleasure to thank you all again for
sharing this day with us, and raise a toast to Family & Friends
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Best Man’s Speech
Thank you James, and good afternoon ladies, gentlemen, parents,
grandparents siblings, aunts, uncles and friends.
Firstly, I’m sure you will all join me in thanking Helen,
James and their parents for organising such a fantastic day.
Helen especially has worked unbelievably hard to organise
everything and I’m sure everyone agrees it has gone absolutely
perfectly. I feel very patronising saying this, but I’m
a stickler for tradition, so may I also thank the bridesmaids
for looking after Helen and putting on a fine show. And of
course, James for choosing me as his best man –
a brave decision – some might even say reckless. But
one for which I am very honoured.
When I began planning my speech today, I figured I’d
go seek the very best advice on how to write it and how to
deliver it. For writers, I looked no further than Mark Twain.
Surely, if I could get a few words of wisdom from Mark, it
would help me enormously.
However, Mark’s only comment on speeches goes something
along the lines of “it takes more than 3 weeks to write
a good impromptu speech”. It hardly filled me with confidence
since I was reading these words 2 nights ago. Not to be defeated,
I reasoned that the content actually mattered very little,
provided I could make a great delivery.
One man I know James loves as much as me is the great Winston
Churchill. However, Winston commented simply that “there
are only 2 things more difficult than making an after dinner
speech, climbing a wall that is leaning towards you, or kissing
a girl who is leaning away from you”. I’ve never
tried the wall, but I know how difficult the other is, so
I was hardly feeling confident. However, not one to let down
my friend, I have relied rely upon the safe approach. Abandon
any attempts a subtlety and wit, and simply convey the truth
about the man you see before you, and watch while his reputation
for reliability, suitability and self control slowly crumble
around him.
Before things begin though, let me set the scene for the events
that lead up to this special day. After all, the couple you
see before you are completely my creation. One of my finest
works in fact.
It was back in late 1999 that James first indicated to me
that he was interested in embarking on a pursuit of Helen.
I quite naturally didn’t assume for a moment that an
attractive, popular and bubbly girl like Helen would ever
entertain the idea of humouring James, so I didn’t mention
it to anyone. However, it appears I was wrong, and word did
eventually reach me that Helen was open to the idea of getting
to know James a little better.
Looking back, I suppose I should have protected Helen from
herself, however loyalties between males are difficult to
breach and I felt duty bound to pass on the good news, choosing
a summer ball in 1998 as my moment. James’s reaction
upon hearing the news is best described as predatory. His
chest puffed out, his eyes lowered and his proceeded onto
the dance floor propelled by a series of subtle pelvic thrusts.
His intended quarry was poor Helen who until now had been
happily bobbing away to the spice girls, and looked as terrified
as a turkey who’d just caught Bernard Matthews smiling
at it.
I think James was trying to look sexy, sultry, and mysterious.
However, the effect of 8 pints, no sleep and a huge testosterone
over-load made him resemble a zombie from Night of the Living
Dead. Despite this rather disturbing beginning, I’m delighted
to give the man his due. He succeeded in courting, capturing
and keeping Helen, and today his is lucky enough to be marrying
a beautiful girl –
one of the best and I think we will all agree that Helen looks
simply stunning today on her wedding day.
And Helen hasn’t done too badly with her husband, I’m
sure there are lots of things about James that we don’t
know about that make up for the things we do. Perhaps his
academic and professional prowess? Nobody can deny that James
is an exceptional in his chosen field. 1st Class degree, top
of his year at Exeter and straight into a role as the pride
and joy of KPMG. And he hasn’t rested on his laurels,
you can find papers written by James all over the internet.
All you need to do is type into google “McAlister offshore
structures BVI jurisdictions project CP973 June 2004 Subsection
J” and it is literally the first thing that pops up.
Indeed, James conducts his entire life in the manner you would
expect of someone possessing such a unique mind. Things are
ordered, things are tidy, things are labelled and everything
is finished and put away in its place. However, 2 weeks from
now he will be living with Helen, and this Utopia will be
destroyed. 3 weeks from now, I think the only thing regularly
put back in its place will be James. Everything will spread
around in a level of disarray only girls are capable of. 4
weeks from now, don’t be surprised to find James slumped
against his living room wall, unshaven, unwashed and wondering
how on earth he is supposed to live without the knives and
forks correctly stored.
If you don’t believe me and think James is the kind of
guy who remains in control all the time, you clearly weren’t
on his stag do.
The term “what goes on tour stays on tour” is integral
to any pack of males. To divulge goes against every instinct
instilled from the age of 5. However, on this occasion, I
must break the code and reveal that James’s conduct on
his stag do was little short of abysmal. If the man has a
clear conscience, it can only be because he didn’t use
it all weekend. And I’m not talking about indiscretions;
I’m talking about allowing your “friends” to
degrade you to such an extent that I doubt you could look
in a mirror in the days following the stag do, without being
overcome with shame.
Perhaps it began during the day, when James stood in a £200
hunting jacket and allowed himself to lose a clay pigeon shooting
to a boy from the fens like me. Indeed, all the oh-so-confident
West Country boys turned out to be lots of mouth and no trousers
in that regard, but I guess that’s another story. The
real fun was the follow that evening in Newcastle.
I think anyone who has every watched those programs on Thai
ladyboys can sympathise that sometimes it’s difficult
to tell the difference. Indeed, I’ve seen some that look
downright attractive. OK, receding hairlines, large hands
and adams apples should act as beacons that all is not well,
but sometimes one’s judgement isn’t quite what it
should be. However, to allow yourself to be placed onto a
podium in a cheesy Newcastle nightclub with a short, muscular
Jackie Chan look-alike and proceed to gyrate like Patrick
Swavesey is simply unacceptable. And when said Jackie Chan
decides to bend over in front of you and wiggle his buttocks
on your direction, the reaction should be to politely make
your excuses, not simulate riding a bucking bronco whilst
gleefully searching out your friends on the dance floor for
applause. I sincerely hope nobody saw you, because I did and
the image will remain indelibly printed on mind forever.
And the rest of the evening followed a similar course, ending
back at the Newcastle Travelodge with James lying naked in
the hotel lift, curled up in the foetal position. Whatever
chain of events lead to James finding himself in such a vulnerable
state are simply too horrible to recollect, however they say
that a man shows his true colours when he is at rock bottom,
and James showed genuine steel that night.
Owing to the 79 units of alcohol he had consumed, he could
not remember what floor his room was on, but he did know he
couldn’t stay in the lift. So, when the doors eventually
opened, he dragged his naked carcass out of the lift and into
the stairwell. Then followed 30 minutes of crawling up the
stairs (a horrific sight for anyone rounding the corner behind
him) and methodically searching through the corridors on his
hands and knees. For this, he deserves our admiration.
In the age old tradition of best man speeches, I’ve done
my best to drag James through the gutter a little and add
some humiliation to his special day. However, this should
not be confused with the facts, which are that Helen can be
very proud of her husband. Those of us who have known James
for many years will have no doubt that he is perfectly suited
to the marriage he is entering into. It’s a huge thing
to commit the rest of your life to someone, but I know that
James possesses the qualities he will need to fulfil his vows.
If integrity, honesty and faithfulness count for anything,
then he has them in abundance.
A true friend and a genuinely great guy, I’m proud to
call him my friend and serve as his best man today. It’s
therefore my pleasure to propose a toast. Please be upstanding,
and raise your glass to the bride and groom.
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