Groom speech examples

Good evening, everyone. On behalf of my wife and me (and yes, I have been waiting all day to say that), thank you for being here.

Some of you crossed the country for this and some of you crossed an ocean. It means more to us than we can say.

To our parents, [names], thank you for everything you have done for today and for every day before it.

To [best man], [bridesmaids or wedding party names] and everyone who stood with us today, thank you for keeping us calm and on time.

And [partner]. You look incredible. Marrying you is the best decision I have ever made, and I intend to remind you of that regularly.

Please raise your glasses with me. To family and friends, and to my wife, [partner].

Good evening, everyone. My wife and I would like to welcome you all and thank you for sharing today with us.

First, to [name of whoever spoke before you], thank you for those kind words, and for [something specific they said or did].

To [partner]'s parents, [names]: thank you for welcoming me into your family from the very first day, and for raising the person I get to spend my life with. I promise to look after [her or him].

To my own parents, [names]: everything good in me came from you. Thank you for [one specific thing], and for a lifetime of [what they gave you].

To [best man]: thank you for standing beside me today, as you have for [number] years. I would ask you to be gentle in a few minutes, but I know you too well.

To [bridesmaids, groomsmen and anyone else in the wedding party]: you have been wonderful, and you all look the part.

To everyone who helped make today happen, [venue staff, celebrant, musicians, anyone who made or lent something], thank you.

And lastly, to [partner]. [One or two sentences only for [partner]: when you knew, or what you love most.] I am the luckiest man in this room and I know it.

Would you all please stand and raise your glasses. To [the bridesmaids, or "absent friends", or "family"].

Good evening. For those who don't know me, I'm [your name], and I'm the one who got very lucky today.

I have been told this is the last time I will speak for five minutes without being interrupted, so I intend to enjoy it.

I'd like to start by thanking you all for coming. I know how much effort it takes: the travel, the outfits, the babysitters, pretending to like the starter. We appreciate every bit of it.

Thank you to our parents, [names], who have been generous, patient and only occasionally opinionated about the seating plan.

Thank you to my best man, [name]. I chose him because he is loyal, he is dependable, and he knows too much to be left out.

When I first met [partner], [where and how you met]. I played it very cool. [What you actually did, which was not cool.] Somehow it worked.

Since then, [partner] has taught me a great many things. That the cushions on the bed are not for sleeping on. That "I'm nearly ready" is a state of mind and not a measure of time. And that being loved by someone like [partner] makes everything else easy.

[partner], you are the funniest, kindest, most [your own word] person I know. Thank you for saying yes, and then for actually turning up.

Everyone, please raise a glass. To my wife, [partner].

Good evening, everyone, and thank you for being here. To our families, to the friends who stood up with us today, and to everyone who helped: thank you. You know who you are and we will be thanking you properly all night.

I want to use the rest of my time to talk about [partner].

I met [partner] [when and where]. I remember [one detail from that day that you still remember clearly].

What I didn't know then was [what you have learned about [partner] since]. [partner] is the person who [something [partner] does for other people]. The person who [something small and specific that only you would notice].

There have been hard days as well as easy ones. [If you wish, one sentence about a hard time you came through together.] On every one of them, you were the person I wanted beside me.

[partner], I don't have a grand promise that would sound good in a speech. I have a small one. I will keep choosing you, on the ordinary days most of all.

Would you all stand, if you are able, and raise a glass with me. To [partner].

Good evening, and a hundred thousand welcomes. Whether you came from down the road or from the far side of the world, you are very welcome, and my wife and I are delighted to have you.

Thank you to our parents, [names], who made today possible in more ways than one. Thank you to [best man] and to [the wedding party] for minding us so well. And thank you to [anyone else: the celebrant, the musicians, the venue].

[partner], I am not sure what I did to deserve you, and I have decided not to ask too many questions in case there has been a mistake.

I'd like to finish with an old Irish toast, for everyone in this room.

May the roof above us never fall in, and may we friends beneath it never fall out.

Please raise your glasses. To friends and family, and to my wife, [partner]. Sláinte.

Hello, everyone. I'm told I have to say a few words. I plan to take that literally.

Thank you all for coming. It means the world to both of us.

Thank you to our parents, [names], for everything.

Thank you to [best man] and [the wedding party] for getting us here in one piece.

And thank you, [partner], for marrying me. I am happier today than I have ever been.

That's all I've got. Please raise your glasses. To my wife, [partner].