What to Include in a Groom Speech: A Complete Guide (2026)

You have your slot in the running order and you know roughly when you will be standing up, but the blank page in front of you is not making it obvious what actually needs to go in a groom speech. Unlike the best man, who mostly just needs a few good stories, the groom speech carries a specific set of duties that guests are quietly expecting you to fulfil, even if they could not list them off themselves.

Getting the content right matters more than getting the jokes right. A groom speech that hits the right notes, in the right order, will land well even if you are not a natural performer. This guide walks through exactly what to include, why each part matters, and how to make sure nothing important slips through the cracks.

Start With Thanks

Your speech should open with gratitude, and there is a fairly established order for who you thank first. Start with your new parents in law, thanking them for welcoming you into their family and, where relevant, for their role in hosting or contributing to the day. Guests notice when this is skipped, and it costs you nothing to include it.

From there, thank your own parents. This is often the moment to acknowledge the sacrifices they made raising you, without turning it into its own separate speech. A sentence or two is usually enough, especially if you know the father of the bride or another speaker will also be thanking parents later.

Finally, thank your guests for travelling, for being there, and for being part of the day. If people have come from a distance, a quick mention goes a long way. This opening section should not eat up too much of your time. Two or three minutes covers it comfortably.

Thank the Wedding Party

After thanking your family, turn to the people who helped put the day together. This includes your best man and groomsmen, your new spouse's bridesmaids, and anyone who played a significant organisational role, such as a sibling who handled logistics or a friend who helped with the venue. You do not need a paragraph for each person. A warm, specific line is more effective than a generic list.

This is also the traditional point in a groom speech to present any gifts to the wedding party, if you are doing so. Keep this section moving. It is important but it is not the emotional centre of your speech.

Talk About How You Met and Fell in Love

This is where your speech starts to become personal rather than procedural. Guests want a glimpse into your relationship, told in your own voice. You do not need the full history. Pick one or two moments that say something true about how you and your partner work together, whether that is a slightly disastrous first date, an early trip that went wrong, or the moment you realised you wanted to marry them.

Humour works well here, provided it is affectionate rather than at your partner's expense. A story where you come off slightly worse than they do tends to land better with a room than one that makes fun of them. If you are struggling to find the right story, ask a few close friends what they remember about you two early on. Their perspective often surfaces a moment you had forgotten.

Speak Directly to Your New Spouse

Somewhere in the middle or towards the end of your speech, turn and speak directly to your partner. This is often the part guests remember most, so it is worth giving it proper attention rather than rushing through it because you are nervous. You do not need to be a poet. Simple, honest language about what they mean to you and what you are looking forward to will always outperform something that sounds written for effect.

If public displays of sincerity do not come naturally to you, it can help to write this section first, before the funnier material, so it does not feel like an afterthought bolted onto the end.

Include a Toast

A groom speech traditionally closes with a toast, most commonly to the bridesmaids, thanking them for supporting your new spouse throughout the wedding planning and on the day itself. Check with your best man or master of ceremonies beforehand so the toasts across the speeches do not overlap or clash.

What to Leave Out

A few things are worth avoiding. Steer clear of lengthy in-jokes that only a handful of people in the room will understand, since they leave everyone else waiting for the punchline to land. Avoid bringing up previous relationships, even in passing. And be cautious with anything that could embarrass your new in-laws, since this speech is as much about building goodwill with your new extended family as it is about entertaining your friends.

If you want a second opinion on what belongs in your specific speech, our guide to writing a groom speech at speechcraft.co/groom covers structure and delivery in more detail, and can turn your notes into a finished speech built around your own stories.

Bringing It All Together

A well built groom speech moves through a clear sequence: thanks to parents and in-laws, thanks to the wedding party, the story of your relationship, a direct and heartfelt word to your new spouse, and a toast to close. You do not need every section to be the same length. Some grooms spend most of their time on the love story, others keep things brisk and let the toast carry the emotional weight. What matters is that each element is there in some form, so the speech feels complete rather than lopsided.

If you would rather have a personalised groom speech written for you, built around your actual stories and delivered in minutes, Speechcraft can write it for you at speechcraft.co/groom.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to thank my in-laws before my own parents? This is the conventional order and it tends to land well, since it acknowledges the family you are joining before turning to the family you grew up in. It is not a strict rule, and you can adapt it if your own family situation calls for something different.

How long should the love story section be? Around one to two minutes is usually enough. One or two well chosen stories will always beat a full chronological account of your relationship.

Should I mention my new spouse's family too? A brief, warm mention is worthwhile, particularly if they have gone out of their way to make you feel welcome. It does not need to be extensive.

Is it wrong to keep the speech mostly humorous? Not at all, provided you still include a genuine moment addressed to your partner. A speech that is funny throughout but never sincere can leave guests feeling something was missing.

What if I am not close with my in-laws yet? You can still thank them warmly for welcoming you and for their role in the day, even if the relationship is still developing. A little effort here is always noticed and appreciated.

Can I read my speech from notes? Yes, and most grooms do. Cue cards or a printed copy are far more reliable than trying to memorise the whole thing, especially given the nerves of the day.