Best Man Speech Structure

What Are The Parts Of The Bridegroom Speeches

Through years of continuous tradition, bridegroom speeches have developed in such a way that the speech have developed its own parts. These are the following.

The opening lines – Although not the most important component of the speech, the opening line is considered to have a great effect on how the rest of the speech would go. After all, this is the area where you will either capture or lose the attention of your audience. If you fail to get the audience to listen to you with your first few lines, chances are it would be a little harder for you to hold their attention as you continue delivering your speech.

There are a couple of ways on how you can best maximize the effects of your opening lines to the audience. Humor is among them and its power to focus the attention on the speaker has been proven time and time again.

Responding to previous toasts – Chances are you’ll speak just right after your father in law. It would be best to commend the previous speaker and return the toasts offered. Doing this is the right thing to do, not to mention the best thing to do in order to make the succession of the wedding speeches fluid.

Share something about your observations of your wedding – While this is not exactly the part that can significantly alter your wedding speech if not mentioned, many grooms think it’s right to share their observations of the wedding. This is where you express your views about the result of the wedding preparations.

Say some admiring comments about your new wife – The bridegroom speech, on top of being a speech for thanking the people who helped in the wedding preparations, is also a speech where the groom expresses his appreciation for his wife. This is where he professes his love for his wife. The groom is free to customize this part of the speech according to the personality and character of his wife.

Express your gratitude – On behalf of your new wife, you will have to express your gratefulness to all the people who have helped in the wedding arrangements and preparations and the success of the wedding ceremonies. This is the very essence why you are delivering your speech. First on your list is thanking your wife’s parents for giving their daughter to you. Thank your own parents for whatever help they have contributed to your wedding. Thank the guests at the reception for their presence. Whenever possible, single out people who have contributed substantially to your wedding such as the aunts who helped in the preparation of the flowers and cakes, the siblings who helped in preparing the wedding invitations, and the friends who gave you your bachelor party and your wife her bridal shower. And thank your wedding party – your best man or best men, groomsmen, the bridesmaids – for their assistance.

No matter how long your list of people to thank, however, try to limit the number of people you will mention though, otherwise your speech will become very long. If your wife is giving her bridal speech, ask her to thank the other people on your behalf.

Ending toasts – Bridegroom speeches end with toasts. Present a toast to your wife, your parents and her parents, the bridesmaids, to life and to love. You may also conclude your speech with compliments to the bridesmaids or with an introduction for the best man.