How to Write a Groomsman's Speech
Writing a groomsman's speech may seem simple enough, until you start to write and have no idea how to proceed once you remove certain private stories and jokes. Starting out with an introduction and ending with best wishes is simple enough, but the middle may prove more challenging to put together. Forming an outline can help you to fill in the blanks with thoughts and stories.
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Instructions
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Start with a brief sentence or two that lets guests know who you are. Although the guests assume you're a groomsman, many may not know you. Write the first line that includes a hello, followed by your name and a brief explain of your relation to the couple. If you aren't blood-related to either member of the couple, the next sentence should state how you met.
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Write a short paragraph explaining the difference in the groom before and after he met the bride. For example, he may have been partying all hours and refused to settle down, but after meeting the bride he loved her enough to change his ways. Write a story comprised of a few sentences about when and how the couple met.
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Include two funny stories. Many guests anticipate amusing stories about the couple, so take the opportunity to tell one funny story about yourself with either the bride or groom and another story about something that happened between the bride and groom. Before writing out the stories, run them by someone to make sure they are actually funny enough to put into the speech.
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Write a few thoughts directed to the bride. For example, if she is your sister, let her know how proud of her you are and how she's grown up into an amazing woman. If you know her through the groom, tell her how happy you are that she came into his life to make him happier than he's ever been. When you express your thoughts, speak directly to her.
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Write brief lines directed toward the bridegroom. Speak to him when you are telling him your thoughts. If you are more familiar with him than the bride, an option is to thank him for being good to you and joke with him about how it's now the bride's job to put up with him. If you know him through the bride, one option is telling him how you know he'll take care of her and be good to her because that's how good a guy he is.
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Write brief wishes for the couple. Speak to both the bride and groom, alternating eye contact with each of them as you express your thoughts. One option is to tell them how there's never been a doubt in your mind that they would get married and have a happy life together because each deserves a person as wonderful as the other.
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Tips & Warnings
When writing and giving the speech, leave out anything that can be considered problematic such as curses, stories about past relationships, vulgar stories and private secrets.
Keep your groomsman's speech short. The best man is typically the one of the groom's party that makes the longest speech, so try to limit each part of your speech to one or two lines.
References
- Photo Credit groomsmen image by cherie from Fotolia.com
