Hi all. I'm writing my speech for our wedding next year. I've got a first draft done and have read it out loud and to me seems alright but I don't know if its too short. So was just wondering what is an average amount of time a grooms speech should be, because I only plan on doing 1 in my life time and I want it to be perfect.

Also, anyone got a check list of who to include in it? I have In Laws, My oldies, the bride, my best man, and then the guests

The groom’s speech is in many ways the easiest of the three main speeches. Many grooms get away with a list of thank yous and a few comments about how beautiful their wife looks and how happy they are. That’s not too bad, but aim higher if you can. Consider building your speech around the following structure:

Thank your new father-in-law for his speech.

Tell the story of how you first met your wife. What attracted you to her? How did the first date go? It’s normally pretty easy to get a laugh in here somewhere. If that’s not going to work, then how about the story of how you proposed?

Thank your in-laws for welcoming you into their family. Think of a couple of positive things to say about them. It only needs to be a sentence or two. Remember too that you are speaking on behalf of your wife. Thank them for bringing her up to be the fantastic woman you are marrying today.

If your wife has brothers or sisters, mention them too, and thank them.

Thank your own parents for bringing you up. If they were good parents, then think about why they were good parents, and try to explain it in a couple of sentences. You are not aiming to nauseate the audience with sentimental rubbish, but you are aiming to make your mother cry (in a nice way). Give it some thought.

Add in any other special thank-yous needed (for example, the ushers). It’s impossible to thank each and every person who helps with a wedding in the groom’s speech, so don’t try. Your audience will get bored. But do pick out the important ones.

Talk about your wife. You really need to think about this. Why are you marrying her? What do you love about her? Try to sum it up in three or four sentences. Avoid sentimental drivel that sounds like the inside of a Valentine’s Day card - anyone can write that. But talk from the heart. The aim here is to make your wife cry (in a nice way).

Thank the bridesmaids, comment on how great they’re looking, and then propose a toast to them. Toasting the bridesmaids is an expected part of the groom’s speech, so don’t forget.