As the groom, all eyes will be on you as you stand up and attempt to verbalize everything you feel and what everyone expects you to say –and yes, there will be some expectations. The following tips will help you to avoid any major faux pas and manage to avoid disaster. Start your speech with the personal words you have and then you move to thanking attendees.
While it may seem obvious to thank your new bride first, don’t. Keep her until last. If your bride’s name comes before your new mother in law’s name there could be trouble brewing that will hang around for years. Traditionally you thank whoever made the last speech first. Judge whether this would be acceptable to your mother in law. Perhaps it’s best to thank her and whoever did the speech – if you try to arrange the order so you follow your new father in law directly this would make a smooth transition and you can thank them as a couple, and then directly thank him for the speech.
After the parents, thank your guests. They need to feel like you care that they turned up, probably bought new clothes and spent a fortune on a gift. Be grateful. If you see the gift table is buckling under the weight, be extremely generous in your speech about this. It’s also important to make a big deal about any guests who may have travelled a long way to be there. If that list is short, then name them individually, but don’t forget anyone. If you can’t remember then it’s best not to name them at all.
Next up are the helpers. If you had a co-ordinator, thank them now. It’s a good time to thank the venue and your celebrant if in attendance. From here you thank your party. The bridal party, that is. Thank your groomsmen for getting you there safely, but not before you thank bridesmaids. Compliment them but be wary that your new wife is right next to you.
Finally, you move on to your bride. Thank her, compliment her and then toast to her. And then, you’ll find, it’s all over and you can get on with enjoying the night and your new marriage.
