So your buddy asked you to be his groomsman, and now you need to give a speech. You might feel scared about talking in front of lots of people. Many guys worry about what to say or if they will mess up. But don’t worry! Your job is just to share some nice words about your friend on his big day.
I have helped many groomsmen make great speeches that made everyone smile, laugh, and sometimes even cry happy tears. The best part? You can do this too! In this post, I will share 25 easy ideas for your speech. These will help you sound good even if you hate public speaking.
Let’s make sure your speech is a hit and not the part of the wedding that makes people check their watches!
Groomsmen Speech Ideas
Your speech should share your feelings about your friend and wish the couple well. Here are 25 ideas that will help you make a speech that everyone will love.
1. Tell How You Met
Start by sharing the story of how you and the groom became friends. Was it in school? At work? Through a funny mix-up? People love hearing origin stories of friendships. This helps wedding guests understand your bond with the groom.
Think about the small details that made your first meeting special. Maybe he helped you on your first day of school, or you both got in trouble together. These little stories show your deep friendship and give guests a peek into the groom’s character before he met his new spouse.
2. Share a Funny Story
Make everyone laugh with a funny (but kind) story about the groom. This could be a silly mistake he made or a funny trip you took together. Laughter brings people together and makes your speech fun to listen to.
Keep the story clean and nice – this is still a family event! A good rule is to ask yourself: “Would his grandma laugh at this story?” If yes, it’s probably safe to tell. The best funny stories show the groom’s good side while still making people chuckle.
3. Talk About When He Met His Partner
Describe the first time the groom told you about meeting his now-spouse. How did he act? Was he super happy? Did he keep talking about this amazing person he just met? Guests love hearing about the early days of the couple’s relationship from someone else’s view.
You might say how you knew this was different from other times. Maybe he canceled plans with you to see them again, or he couldn’t stop smiling when he got a text from them. These small signs showed you that this love was special right from the start.
4. List His Good Qualities
Talk about what makes the groom a great friend and now a great husband. Is he loyal? Funny? Always there when you need him? This shows guests why you care about him and why his new spouse is lucky to have him.
Being specific helps make this more real. Instead of just saying “He’s a good guy,” say “He drove three hours to help me move on his birthday” or “He calls his mom every Sunday without fail.” These details paint a picture of the kind of person he truly is.
5. Use a Movie Quote Theme
Build your speech around quotes from the groom’s favorite movies. This shows you know him well and gives your speech a fun structure. You can use quotes that match different parts of his life or personality.
For a friend who loves Star Wars, you might say: “Like Yoda said, ‘Do or do not, there is no try.’ And John has always been a doer. From fixing his own car to asking Sarah to marry him, he jumps in with both feet.” The quotes give your speech a backbone while still being personal.
6. Share What He Taught You
Talk about important lessons you learned from the groom. This could be practical skills or life wisdom. It shows how he made you a better person and highlights his good traits.
Maybe he taught you how to change a tire, how to talk to girls, or how to stay calm when things get hard. Sharing these lessons honors him and shows guests that he makes the people around him better. This kind of praise feels honest because it comes from real life examples.
7. Compare Then and Now
Compare the groom when you first met him to the person he is today. What has changed? What has stayed the same? This shows his growth while honoring who he has always been at heart.
You might talk about how he used to spend all his money on video games but now saves for a house, or how his wild haircuts have changed but his kind heart never did. This before-and-after story helps guests see his journey to becoming the man getting married today.
8. Make a Top 10 List
Create a top ten list of memories, jokes, or reasons why the groom will be a great spouse. This format is easy to follow and lets you mix funny and sweet moments in one speech.
You can count down from 10 to 1, with the most important reason last. This builds up to a touching end point. Each item can be just a sentence or two, which makes this format perfect if you get nervous when speaking for too long at one time.
9. Read What He Said About His Partner
Share texts or things the groom said about his partner when they first started dating. Of course, ask him first if this is OK! This sweet look back shows how the love grew from the start.
You might say: “Three years ago, after their third date, Mark texted me: ‘I think she might be the one.’ I saved that text because I had never heard him talk about anyone that way before.” These real words from the past bring the love story to life for everyone at the wedding.
10. Tell a Story That Shows Their Love
Share a time when you saw how much the couple loves each other. Maybe you saw how they handled a hard time, or how they look at each other when they think no one is watching.
This could be how they took care of each other during an illness, how they make each other laugh, or how they always hold hands even after years together. These small moments of real love mean more than big romantic gestures and show guests why this marriage will last.
11. Use Song Lyrics
Pick lyrics from songs that fit the groom or the couple’s relationship. You can use these as parts of your speech or even sing a line or two if you’re brave! Music speaks to our hearts in a special way.
If they had “their song” when dating, using lines from it can be extra meaningful. Or pick lines that match their story, like “You’ve got a friend in me” for a couple who were friends first, or “At last my love has come along” for a couple who found each other later in life.
12. Talk About Family
Talk about how the groom treats his family and how he now joins a new family too. This shows his caring side and makes both families feel included in your speech.
You could say how he calls his mom every week, plays with his little cousins at family events, or how he already treats his new in-laws like his own family. This focus on family values means a lot at weddings, where two families are joining together as one.
13. Share What His Partner Brings Out in Him
Talk about good changes you’ve seen in the groom since meeting his partner. Has he become more kind? More sure of himself? More happy? This celebrates both the groom and his choice of partner.
Maybe he now tries new foods, keeps his car cleaner, or smiles more than he used to. These small changes show how the right person helps us become our best selves. It’s a way to compliment both people in the couple at once.
14. Make a Joke About Marriage
Gently joke about married life, but keep it positive! You might say something like: “Marriage is just telling each other what you want for dinner for 50 years.” Keep these jokes light and kind.
Good marriage jokes poke fun at small things like arguing over the remote control or learning each other’s weird habits. Avoid jokes about “losing freedom” or other old ideas that make marriage seem bad. The goal is to make people laugh while still honoring marriage as something good.
15. Tell a Story About Helping Each Other
Share a time when the groom helped you or you helped him through something hard. This shows true friendship and the kind of support he will bring to his marriage.
Maybe he let you stay on his couch after a breakup, or you helped him study for a big test. These stories of being there for each other show his loyal nature. Guests will feel good knowing the groom has strong friendships and knows how to be there for people he cares about.
16. Use a Sports Theme
If the groom loves sports, use sports terms to talk about his life and relationship. You could compare dating to the “regular season” and marriage to the “championships,” or talk about how they make a great “team.”
For a baseball fan, you might say: “Like a perfect game, finding true love is rare and amazing. And Tom hit a home run when he met Lisa.” This theme works well if many guests know the groom’s love of sports and will get the references.
17. Share Advice From Your Own Marriage
If you’re married, share a simple piece of advice. If you’re single, share something wise you’ve learned about relationships. This adds a useful tip along with your good wishes.
Keep advice short and positive. “Always say thank you for the small things” or “Never go to bed angry” are classics for a reason. One good tip is better than a long list that sounds preachy. End with “That’s what worked for us, but you two will find your own way.”
18. Use a Childhood Friends Angle
If you’ve known the groom since you were kids, talk about growing up together and seeing him become the man he is today. These long friendships have special stories that newer friends can’t tell.
You might talk about building tree houses, learning to ride bikes, or getting through middle school together. These shared childhood moments show a deep bond. You can say how proud you are to see the little boy you knew become such a good man.
19. Tell About the First Time You Met His Partner
Describe meeting his partner for the first time. What did you think? Did you see right away that they were perfect for each other? This shows your support for their relationship from the start.
You could share how the groom seemed different – maybe more happy or less stressed – when his partner was around. Or how his partner fit right in with your friend group like they had always been there. This story shows you welcome his partner into his life just as he has.
20. Use a Before-and-After Theme
Talk about the groom “before and after” meeting his partner. Has he become more grown-up? More loving? More sure about his future? This shows how the right person helps us grow.
You might say: “Before he met Alex, Chris ate cereal for dinner four nights a week. After meeting Alex, he learned to cook real meals with vegetables and everything!” These light-hearted comparisons show positive growth while giving everyone a good laugh.
21. Thank His Parents
Take a moment to thank the groom’s parents for raising such a good person. This kind act honors the family and makes a sweet moment in your speech that isn’t just about jokes.
Something like: “Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, thank you for raising a son who knows how to be a true friend. The values you taught him – honesty, hard work, and kindness – are why we all love him so much.” This thanks the parents while complimenting the groom at the same time.
22. Use Props
Bring a small prop that means something to your friendship. Maybe an old photo, a ticket stub from a concert you went to, or an inside joke item. This adds fun and helps if you’re nervous about speaking.
Hold up the item and tell its story. “This is the lucky bottle cap Mike kept after our fishing trip where he caught nothing but an old boot. If his luck has changed enough to marry such an amazing person, he doesn’t need this anymore!” Then you could give it to the couple as a funny gift.
23. Make a Toast With a Twist
Create a toast that has a fun twist at the end. Start normal but finish with something that fits the groom perfectly. This makes the final cheers more personal and fun.
Instead of just “To the happy couple,” try something like: “To my friend who swore he’d never get married but found the one person worth breaking that promise for!” or “To love, laughter, and happily ever after – but mostly to never having to use dating apps again!” End with raising your glass.
24. Use a Theme From Their Job
Base your speech on the groom’s job. If he’s a teacher, talk about the “lessons” of love. If he’s a doctor, talk about how his partner “healed” his heart. This personal touch shows you know him well.
For a friend who is a firefighter: “Just like Dave rushes into burning buildings to save people, he jumped headfirst into love with Sarah. He’s always been brave in his job, but asking her to marry him was his bravest moment yet.” This connects his work life to his love life in a meaningful way.
25. End With a Promise to Both
Finish your speech by making a promise to both the bride and groom. This might be to always be there for them, to babysit their future kids, or to keep being the friend they can count on. This shows you support their marriage, not just your friendship with the groom.
You could say: “To both of you, I promise to be the friend you call for help moving furniture, the shoulder you can cry on during hard times, and the first one on the dance floor at your anniversary parties.” This ending looks forward to your ongoing place in their lives together.
Wrapping Up
Your groomsman speech doesn’t need to be perfect. The most important thing is that it comes from your heart. Pick one or two ideas from this list that feel right for you and your friendship with the groom.
Keep your speech short – about 3-5 minutes is best. Practice a few times so you feel ready, but don’t worry about saying every word exactly right. The couple will feel your good wishes no matter what.
Good luck with your speech! The fact that you care enough to plan it shows what a good friend you are.