Many people say, after they are done with it, that it was not actually such a big deal. It is for this simple reason that they should not shy away from it and take the necessary steps to make it a big hit. After all, it is a golden moment in one’s life.

The groom’s speech is as per the norms the second in the queue after the speech by the parent’s of the bride. Traditionally he can begin with thanking the bride’s parents for attending the wedding and for their blessings. The bride’s parents in their speech often bless the newly wed couple, and the groom can take the cue and start off from there. Then, he should thank them for everything they have done to make the wedding possible.

The bride’s parents should be complimented during their speech and you should express gratitude and love for them in his speech. He should thank them for accepting him into their family and having faith in their daughter’s choice. It is a chance for him to publicly express his feeling of fondness for them. If they have financed the wedding then he should in front of all present, thank them for the same. This is just a simple thing, but means a lot for the bride and her parents too.

The groom then rolls off the credits and thanks all the other people for their help and support in the wedding. He should thank his parents for everything they have done for him all their lives. It is a touchy moment. The groom’s parents know that their son loves them and really cares for them. However, hearing it from him in front of so many people and being thanked for it makes it the most joyous moment of their life. He should speak it with utter faith and sincerity so that it just turns out to be a moment that they will cherish in their hearts forever.

The bride may or may not be willing to give a speech and if she is sharing it with her husband then the groom has to mention ‘we’ instead of ‘I’ while thanking both the sets of parents and friends.

From the moment the bride agrees to the groom’s proposal of getting married, until the day it actually takes place, there is ample time to prepare a speech. However, it is not as easy as it sounds for many people, but you should not panic over this.

However, to make an impression it is helpful to note all the happy times you have spent together. There are some moments that hold a special place or are just wonderful memories. Sharing one’s experience is a special way of showing how much you care for her. It might be a simple thing or just the right moment when both of you realized that you were made for each other. However, sharing it again gives you a chance to relive the magic of the moment, and share it with people who mean a lot to you. Beginning the speech with these happy moments is bound to grab the attention of the audience.

Showing gratitude and thanking everybody present is important. In his speech, the groom should thank the guests and the others who have helped to make the wedding a success. A wedding needs a lot of planning and there are many people involved in it to make it a memorable event. Friends, family and close acquaintances often go out of their way to help in it. Thanking them all here is the responsibility of the groom.

A ‘special thanks’ has to be mentioned for the best man, the bridesmaids, his parents and parents-in-laws, and all the close friends. These special thanks ought to be mentioned for the guests present too, and you should thank them for taking out their precious time and attending the wedding. The bride and the groom might have common friends, so while thanking them the groom can ask the bride to join him in it. This saves her from mentioning all these people again.

Also, keep in mind that one cannot mention each person present at the wedding; otherwise you will have to provide sleeping accommodation for all! It is important not to miss out the special people however. Going over the speech with the best man is important too so that the errors can be altered, and can make sure the speech does not get repetitive too.

While each speech is unique in itself, no speech is complete without mentioning a few emotions. It adds warmth to the speech and makes it more real. Feelings of love, respect, loyalty, compatibility, adjustment and understanding can be mentioned in a subtle manner. It might be a little difficult to bring oneself to speak in front of so many about such feelings, but it is essential. These things need not be mentioned in a serious manner all the time. A dash of humor helps in handling such heavy-duty stuff.

Ok, we all know this one- Practice makes perfect. Surely, it holds true here also. Once the speech is written, well in advance preferably, it is important to practice it. One should be familiar with the lines, but not in a manner, that it does not look like it has been condemned to memory. The flow should be natural. Practicing the speech is an easy way of confirming this. The groom can also visualize himself attending his wedding along with his bride and everybody else while running the speech in his head. It is like playing a movie clip repeatedly where things go as per your needs. This exercise builds confidence.

The end of the speech can be a beautiful quote or a love poem. Thanking the bride here again is also important; it is because of her that you are here remembered.

It is important to keep the speech short and lively and precise. Propose a toast and just let the words flow. It then does become simple.

Often, men find it embarrassing to discuss their feelings in front of many people, and at a wedding, there are many people whom the groom is going to have met for the first time. A large part of the bride’s family is often amongst them. Sometimes there are his relatives too, whom he has perhaps not seen for years. Letting out his deepest feelings in front of so many people, some of whom he will meet for the first time will certainly feel a little awkward. The groom wants to give it his best shot to have the perfect first impression. Therefore, the pressure is definitely high!

The first and the foremost thing is not the content of the grooms speech. What is more important is the style of delivery, which the groom obviously wants to be with ease and élan. A simple statement said with deepest feelings can have a more touching effect than using long, tongue twisting words. The content is surely important but the feelings give it a life. Heart felt words linger for a longer time. So, one can avoid using references and stories in the speech that will make you uncomfortable. Keeping it simple and meaningful is the trick.

While writing the speech the groom can use references and quotes of great authors. Referring to other people’s speeches is okay, as long as it is not parrot-like. Many writers have expressed themselves in beautiful words. Referring to them does give a speech an added poignance.

Once the speech is written, the delivery of the speech has to be effortless. It should be done in a manner that shows the true feelings of the groom towards his bride. It is his chance of strengthening his bond with her in a way that will hold a special place in her heart forever. One can use references or keep a note while speaking but should not read it out from a piece of paper. This looks very artificial. Another thing to keep a check on is not repeating oneself. Just because one has a good line and wants to draw attention does not allow repetitiveness. It is bound to make as much impact as it should if it is said in a befitting manner.