Tag, your it!  It’s your big wedding day and now you are contemplating the groom wedding speech that you must do.  Despite what you read on the Internet, I would not stress out too much about it.  If you plan properly, it’s no harder than having a “chat” with your buddies.  Neglect the proper planning and you will be guaranteed a disaster.  There are rules to be followed if you want to make a great talk that touches the lives of everyone involved on this special day.

I am not writing this blog to get sappy on you.  I am not chic and will not pretend to be all flowery.  This is your day and no one has to tell you the rules to the game.  But I can tell you this:  my very own sister is still pissed off at her matron of honor.  Seems like they got married decades ago.   Why is she mad?  Dunno.  Girls do the darn-est things!  Just be careful of your choice of words so you don’t get the bride and her entourage in a tizzy.   Think I understand women?  Not really.  I just know how to follow tips of others.  I can copy better than most.

The wedding speech is definitely not about you.  It’s more about thanking the people who helped influence you in your life and those who helped plan this beautiful wedding.  Let’s digress a little.  Only guys should be reading this advice.  If most guys had their way, they would skip the wedding and head on the party followed by the honey moon.  However, you are never going to get to the honey moon unless you get involved with the wedding and that includes delivering a killer speech.  So let’s get to work so you can get on with your honey moon!  So be sincere and honest when thanking and addressing people who really impacted you.

I would start out with the bride.  Let’s get real.  It’s her day.  It’s all about her.  Let her shine and be the princess.  If her mother is present, you better say something honest and nice about her.  Give her dad a few plugs too because you are marrying the entire family.

If the bride has siblings, say a few nice things about them.  If she has brothers, go ahead and share a few funny things about them.

Are you getting tired?  You don’t have to say something about every one.   Do that and you will make everyone fall asleep.  I would also make an attempt to involve all the guests.  You can do this by making sweeping eye contact with everyone.  Lock eye balls with just a few people.  Just keep those eyes moving so you can make connections.

Let’s get down to the nuts and bolts of making this speech.  I am going to shock you and tell you my secret weapon.  Write a bunch of notes on legal pad of paper and buy yourself a groom wedding speech guide.  There are tons of them on the Internet.  It’s not like you are ordering a canned speech.  Professionally prepared wedding speech can cost as much as $700.  Forget that. In my experience, you are going to sound a like a politician or a lawyer-no offense to lawyers or aspiring politicians here.  Get a $20-$30 groom speech template and plug in all your own words where appropriate.

Getting a guide is not going to solve any of your problems unless you spend an hour or two putting in your own words.  I would record your wedding speech on an inexpensive digital camera in video mode.  This will help you work the bugs out of the talk.

Bride & Groom Wedding Speech Iron Clad Rules of Etiquette

• Do not embarrass anyone
• Make your bride shine and mention how excited you are
• Say honest & sincere things about your in laws
• Don’t talk about how good of a husband you will be

So get busy and check out sites on the Internet for wedding speech examples.  There are so many sites.  Some are great and others offer horrible advice.