Heartfelt Thanks To My Bridesmaids: A Groom's Guide

The groom's speech is a big part of the wedding experience and is an opportunity for the groom to share with all the guests, family, and friends just how much he loves and appreciates his new wife. It is also his chance to thank the bride's parents, welcome everybody, and show his personality and funny side. The groom has a lot of work to do during his wedding speech.

The groom's wedding toast must also thank the people involved in making their wedding a memorable occasion, including the bridal party, the parents of the bride for their daughter, and for welcoming him into their family. The groom should also thank guests for supporting the couple and for all their good wishes and gifts.

Thanking bridesmaids for their appearance

Thanking the bridesmaids for their appearance is a delicate task for the groom. It is important to strike a balance between paying a compliment and being creepy. Here are some tips and examples to help you craft your speech:

Keep it Classy and Complimentary

It is essential to maintain a respectful tone when commenting on the bridesmaids' appearance. Words like "beautiful," "elegant," and "stunning" are more appropriate than terms that could be perceived as objectifying. Refrain from making jokes or comments that might be considered lecherous or inappropriate. Remember, the focus should be on expressing gratitude and admiration, not on making suggestive remarks.

Make it Collective

Instead of singling out individual bridesmaids, consider thanking them as a group. This approach reduces the risk of causing self-consciousness or making anyone feel left out. It also helps you avoid taking too much time with your thank-you speech, ensuring that your message remains sincere and concise.

Inject Some Humor

While it's important to be respectful, you can also add a touch of humor to your speech. Self-deprecating jokes or lighthearted anecdotes can make your message more entertaining and engaging. Just be cautious not to veer into inappropriate territory or make jokes at the expense of the bridesmaids. Keep it classy and good-natured.

Express Gratitude Beyond Appearance

While acknowledging their beauty or elegance, also thank the bridesmaids for their support, friendship, and any specific contributions they made to the wedding preparations or the bride's special day. This shows that you appreciate them not just for their appearance but also for their presence and participation in the celebration.

Examples

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to express our sincere gratitude to the bridesmaids. You all look absolutely stunning, and your presence here today has added so much to this special occasion. We are deeply thankful for your support and the time and effort you put into making today memorable. Cheers to you all!"

"To the bridesmaids, you all look radiant, and your friendship and support for my wife have been invaluable. We are so grateful for your presence here today and the joy you've brought to this celebration. Thank you for being a tower of strength and looking so fantastic while doing it! Please raise your glasses with me to these wonderful ladies."

"I want to take a moment to thank the bridesmaids, who have gone above and beyond. Your dedication to making today perfect has been remarkable, and you all look absolutely breathtaking. We are so appreciative of your hard work and the love you've shown my wife. Thank you for being here and adding so much beauty and joy to this day."

"My wife and I are truly grateful for the bridesmaids, who have been incredible. Your unwavering support and friendship have meant the world to us, and you all look absolutely amazing. We can't thank you enough for your efforts in making today so special. Please join me in a toast to these wonderful women."

Thanking bridesmaids for their support

Thanking the bridesmaids is an important part of the groom's speech. Here are some tips and examples to help you craft your own unique and heartfelt message:

Keep it Classy and Complimentary

It is essential to strike a balance between sincerity and humour when thanking the bridesmaids. Avoid making your speech a long procession of thank-yous by grouping people together instead of listing them individually. For example, you can collectively thank the bridesmaids for their support and beautiful appearance without singling out any specific person. Here is an example:

> "Ladies, you all look absolutely amazing, and today wouldn't have been the same without your help. So, thank you."

Inject Some Humour

Adding a touch of humour to your speech can make it more entertaining and engaging for your guests. However, it is important to keep the humour appropriate and avoid making jokes at the expense of the bridesmaids or the bride. Self-deprecating jokes are always a good option. For instance, you can jokingly attribute the bridesmaids' beautiful appearance to their hard work and not your own. Here is an example:

> "I'd like to echo what Gary said and thank Mel, Violet, Cathy, and Leah, not only for helping my wife prepare for today but also for making such a huge effort to look so magnificent. Not that any effort was needed, mind you. Unlike me, who had to spend hours grooming, plucking, waxing, and scrubbing to bring myself up to the standard of your average dole queue."

Share a Sentimental Moment

If you want to express your gratitude to the bridesmaids sincerely, share a heartfelt anecdote or a personal story that highlights their support and friendship. For example, you can talk about how the bridesmaids have been a source of strength for your wife, especially during the wedding preparations. Here is an example:

> "My wife and I would like to say a special thank you to the bridesmaids, who have been a tower of strength throughout the wedding preparations and today. They've been wonderful. Please raise your glasses and join me in a toast to the bridesmaids."

Avoid Objectification

While it is customary to acknowledge the bridesmaids' beauty, be cautious not to objectify them in your speech. Avoid making comments that veer towards sexuality or focus solely on their physical appearance. Instead, use refined and elegant language to express their elegance and grace. Here is an example:

> "On behalf of myself and my wife, I'd like to thank the bridesmaids for everything they've done, not just today but throughout their years of friendship with my wife. They've been a drunken shoulder to lean on many times, and their support has been invaluable. So, thank you."

Keep it Brief

Remember that your speech should be concise and not too long. Aim for a total word count of around 1400 words, which should take about 10 minutes to deliver. If your speech becomes too lengthy, you risk losing your audience's attention. So, keep your message to the bridesmaids brief and heartfelt.

Thanking bridesmaids for their help with wedding preparations

As a groom, your wedding speech is a busy one, with lots of bases to cover. It's important to get it right, as it will stick with you for the rest of your days. You'll want to make all your thanks, acknowledgements, and welcomes in the most creative and entertaining way possible.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like you all to charge/raise your glasses. I give you... the bridesmaids. They have been a tower of strength throughout the preparations/day. They've been great/wonderful."

"Ladies and gentlemen, please charge/raise your glasses. I'd like to thank the bridesmaids, who have been a wonderful help to [Bride], and I know that if the brutally patriarchal wedding customs allowed it, she'd thank you herself. But they don't, so thank you from me instead."

"I'd like to echo what [Father of the Bride] said and thank [Bridesmaids] for not only helping my wife prepare for today but also making such a huge effort and looking so magnificent. Not that any effort was needed, mind. Unlike myself, who had to spend hours grooming, plucking, waxing, and scrubbing to bring myself up to the standard of your average dole queue."

"Ladies, you all look absolutely amazing. The fact that there are seven of you, and one looks quite grumpy, is in no way going to lead me to make any Disney comparisons."

"And finally, the bridesmaids. Thanks for calming [Bride]'s nerves and helping in her preparation today. I'd also like to thank you for getting her to the church on time; you've done a brilliant job."

Thanking bridesmaids for their friendship

Thanking the bridesmaids is an important part of the groom's speech. Here are some ideas and tips to help you craft a meaningful and memorable message:

Express Gratitude and Acknowledge Their Friendship:

• Begin by sincerely thanking the bridesmaids for their support, friendship, and presence on your special day. You can say something like, "I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the bridesmaids, who have been a source of strength and joy throughout this journey. Your friendship and love mean the world to me, and I am forever thankful to have you in my life."
• Recognize their efforts and dedication: "I am deeply grateful to the bridesmaids for their unwavering support and dedication. They have gone above and beyond to ensure that today is perfect, and their presence has brought me so much joy."
• If the bridesmaids have travelled to be there: "A special thank you to the bridesmaids, especially those who have travelled from near and far to be here today. Your effort and presence mean so much to us, and we are forever grateful."

Compliment Their Appearance:

• It is customary for the groom to acknowledge the bridesmaids' beauty and elegance. However, be mindful to keep the tone respectful and classy. You can say, "The bridesmaids look absolutely stunning today. Their elegance and radiance have added to the beauty of this occasion."
• If you want to avoid commenting on their appearance, you can say something like, "And as for the bridesmaids, you've been a wonderful support to my wife, and I know that if the brutally patriarchal wedding customs allowed it, she'd thank you herself. But they don't, so thank you from me instead."

Share a Lighthearted Moment or Joke:

• Adding a touch of humour can lighten the mood and make your speech more engaging. You could say, "I'd like to thank the bridesmaids for their hard work today. I know it can't have been easy herding my wife towards the aisle, but you did it with grace and style!"
• If you want to be a bit more daring, you could try something like, "I'd like to thank the bridesmaids, who look magnificent. Honestly, if I were ten years younger, I'd be too intimidated to talk to any of you. I'd spend the whole night hiding in the corner, nursing a drink and wishing I'd worn something nicer."

Raise a Toast:

Finally, raise a toast to the bridesmaids to conclude your message of gratitude. "Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in raising your glasses to the incredible bridesmaids. Thank you for your friendship, support, and for being a part of this special day. We are forever grateful."

Toasting the bridesmaids

Ladies and gentlemen, please stand and lift your glasses and join me in a toast to the bridesmaids.

[Name of bride], or as I should now say, [name of bride], wouldn't be here today without her amazing friends. I'd like to thank the bridesmaids for all their help and support, not just today, but over the years. They've been a tower of strength and I know that [name of bride] is incredibly grateful to have them in her life.

Ladies, you all look absolutely amazing, and today wouldn't have been the same without you helping my beautiful bride through the day. So thank you.

[Name of bride], you know that I love you and I hope that by marrying you today, in front of everyone we care about, you will see just how much you mean to me. I am so proud to be your husband, and I want us to grow old and grey together.

Alternative toasts to the bridesmaids

"I'd like to echo what [name] said there and thank [names of bridesmaids] for not only helping my wife prepare for today but also making such a huge effort and looking so magnificent. Not that any effort was needed, mind. Unlike myself, who had to spend hours grooming, plucking, waxing and scrubbing to bring myself up to the standard of your average dole queue."

"Ladies, you've been a wonderful help to [name of bride], and I know that if the brutally patriarchal wedding customs allowed it, she'd thank you herself. But they don't, so thank you from me instead."

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like you all to charge/raise your glasses. I give you... the bridesmaids."

Frequently asked questions