Groom Wedding Speeches

Let me make a bold assumption. You are a groom who is about to be married in just a few short days and you have waited until the last minute to sit down and write your speech. And like most of us, you have sat down at your computer, brought up Google and typed in those magic words: "groom wedding speeches".

I will sympathize with you because I know how hard these speeches are to write. You won't believe what I did to try to prepare a speech. I actually rented movies that had wedding scenes and watched any TV show where the main focus of the show was a wedding. If the groom happened to make a speech, it wasn't very good. So that leads me to my first tip on writing your own wedding speech: Do not try to write your speech based on something you saw in a movie! Trying to copy groom wedding speeches in movies should be avoided at all costs.

To help assist you, I have a list of tips below that will help you write several groom wedding speeches before you decide on which one to use. Simply follow the directions below (which will involve a lot of thinking and writing) and then put all the entire speech together in the end. That being said, you need to understand that you will have to put some effort into following these guidelines. By doing so, you are guaranteed to present a successful speech.

Tips on Putting Your Speech Together

1. Get yourself a journal and write down all of the funny events that happen leading up to your wedding day. Although you want to write an emotional speech, you want it to be humorous at the same time. By sharing wedding preparation secrets based on what happened behind the scenes, these secrets can really make a speech interesting.

2. You should write down everything you want to say. By writing down your thoughts, your goal at this moment is not to write the speech itself. You are just giving yourself ideas. The point is you will have a chance to organize these points later.

3. Now is the time for the most crucial part of the speech writing process: brainstorming. While brainstorming for ideas, the ensuing list of questions will help lead you to other questions. How many minutes should the speech be? Will religion be part of the speech? What subjects or topics should you avoid? What is the typical age of those who will be attending? What subjects would you like to talk about? Should the speech have a particular premise? What will you try to emphasize during the speech? What will you say to end the speech?

4. After you have written and organized the majority of the speech, you now need to add a toast at the end. Since toasts are basically meant to be short, you do not have the time to thank everyone at this point. Your toast will be to the bride and the parents. If you are clever enough, you can manage to keep the toast as short as one sentence.

5. Practice, practice, practice!. Many grooms use note cards to deliver their speech but you don't want to sound like a robot reading it word-for-word. If you have practiced your speech often, your words will come out more fluidly.

Delivering the Speech Itself 1. You should start by thanking your friends, co-workers, acquaintances and other non-immediate family members.

2. After thanking everyone else, now it is time to thank the parents (both yours and the bride's). While thanking them, you may want to throw in a couple of jokes to help make the speech funny was well as inspirational. But afterwards, you want to become serious again and give the parents one final thank you.

3. At this point you will thank everyone who participated in the ceremony including the best man and maid of honor. This will also include the person who performed the ceremony, the bridesmaids, groomsmen, staff, etc. If you have any funny stories about any of the rehearsals then now would be the perfect time to tell everyone.

4. Now you will turn to the bride and speak to her from the heart. Here is where your speech gets really emotional. Some ideas of things to say include telling everyone how you first met or tell her that you love it when she twirls her finger in her hair when she's nervous, etc. You get the point. What you are trying to do is show your warm and gentle side while letting the world know that you are the happiest man in the world.

5. After finishing with the bride you will thank your maid of honor and then your best man (during most wedding receptions, the best man makes his speech right after the groom). Thank them both for standing up for you and your new wife.

We hope that you have found that the above information regarding groom wedding speeches as both helpful and informative.

If you would like to make your speech writing job MUCH easier by downloading 20 professionally written wedding speeches and a step-by-step guide to creating your own inspirational speech, please visit our site at Groom Wedding Speeches. Dirk_Aikman

6 Essential Wedding Flowers Tips

Wedding flowers carry a wonderful energy with them and the choice of flowers for bouquets and buttonholes can be fun to linger over at length. Before making any final decisions, talk it over with your chosen wedding florist and bear in mind the following essential tips.

Choose flowers in season
Choose your flowers according to what is in season if you want to keep costs down. In spring for example there are lots of gorgeous blooms available other than roses. You get more flowers for your money when they come from local flower farms rather than being flown in from warmer climes or hot-housed out of season.

Let your florist guide you

Keep an open mind on the types of flowers you want until you've talked to a professional florist. If your wedding is in winter and you've set your heart on a flower that is only available in full summer, then it will be harder to pick another flower without it feeling like a compromise. Either that or you might feel tempted to shell out a fortune to have out of season flowers flown in from the other side of the world, blowing your budget before you've even got started.

Check for allergies
Remember the possibility of allergies before you pick your bouquet and buttonholes. Check if any of the bridal retinue is allergic to strongly scented flowers, this is commoner than you might think, and if so avoid flowers like freesias, lilies, lilac and lily of the valley in your buttonholes and bouquets. Having the chief bridesmaid or best man sneezing throughout the ceremony is going to be distracting at the very least!

Personalise your bouquet
Add something personal to your wedding bouquet, to make it really special. This could mean adding a few flowers that have a special significance to you - perhaps the first bunch of flowers he ever bought you were tulips; or it could mean tying the bouquet with a special ribbon or lace from your mother's wedding dress.

Bring fabric swatches
You will probably have already chosen your dress and bridesmaid dress by the time you are discussing wedding flowers with the florist. Bring along swatches of the fabrics, so that flowers can be chosen to tone with the dresses. You may be going for subtle pastels in your flowers or strong contrasting shades, but having the swatches there will make sure that you get the final effect just right.

Check for weight
If you are tempted to order a gorgeous cascading floral extravaganza to carry down the aisle, bear in mind how much it is likely to weigh. Ask your florist to give you an idea of weight by trying a similar sized bouquet. You might find that it will be too much of a burden to carry for any period of time however spectacular it looks.

With all these things considered enjoy browsing through all the gorgeous flower options for your bouquet, whether you are going for traditional ethereal white blooms, or a hot and passionate mix of colours in your wedding flowers.

SAWeddings is a dedicated wedding directory with all the information you need to plan your wedding in South Africa. Search listings of wedding flowers in South Africa, for creative and beautiful flower decorations and professional florists. Jessica_Carillon

Planning an Outdoor Wedding Reception

 Planning a wedding reception carries with it a great deal of responsibilities; setting the reception outdoors adds even more considerations to the mix. There should always be a backup plan in case inclement weather arises and a location that's meaningful and private enough for a reception must be found. Special care must be given to food choices, because guests must be made aware of the nature of the reception and appropriate food must be chosen. Any couple currently considering an outdoor reception should pay special attention to these areas and handle them accordingly.

Planning for Weather

The biggest concern when planning an outdoor reception should be weather. If the reception will occur in cold weather, the bridal party should consider renting heaters and a generator or providing blankets. If the weather is warm or hot, guests should be given chilled water or the event should make use of fans to cool the area. Regardless of the temperature, renting a tent is a good way to minimize the negative aspects of the weather. A tent can keep in the heat in cold weather, block the sun when it's hot and prevent wind from blowing decorations and tablecloths away. Securing decorations, such as weighing down table centerpieces or tying decorations to surfaces can prevent unwanted accidents.

Choosing a Location

The location for the reception is another major concern and appropriate care must be taken when making the decision. The place chosen should be, preferably, have special meaning for the bride and groom. A park they went to on a special date or the beach where the proposal was made are romantic, though public, choices. Many people who own fields or large yards are willing to rent out their space for weddings or other large events, as are some churches. Private estates are also used for outdoor events, like weddings and receptions, often.

Taking Care of Guests

Guests should be told about the location of the reception so they can plan accordingly. Having an outdoor reception often means the dress code for guests will be more relaxed and, if the weather is very warm, guests might want to dress down significantly. Further, if the location does not have an easily-accessible parking lot or is far from a road, special instructions should be given to direct guests to the site and let them know where parking is available.

Food Considerations

When considering the food that should be served at an outdoor wedding, the weather should be taken into account. If it will be hot, foods that require refrigeration or need to be served cold, such as dishes feature mayonnaise or ice cream, would not be a good choice. Having a barbecue can provide a more laid-back, family atmosphere and would definitely be appropriate if the event is taking place in a field or someone's backyard. You should also consider the menu when picking out decorations for your outdoor reception (include table arrangements, tablecloths, and place settings). The caterer for the reception should be notified of the location well beforehand, so they can select appropriate options and time the delivery of the food closely if it requires special care.

Throwing a wedding reception outdoors adds many unique problems, but, if appropriate steps are taken, it can result in a unique, memorable event without severe risk of complications. By alerting guests of the nature of the event and planning decorations, food and amenities around the location and weather, everyone involved can be prepared for nearly everything that can be affected by having the event outdoors. Holly_E_Watson

Romantic Wedding Locations in Italy

Romance languages' refer to languages that have their roots based in Latin, a commonly spoken language in ancient Rome. What could be more romantic than to have a wedding in the birthplace of all the Romance languages? When you book a wedding in a romantic location in Italy, you can expect rich cultural lessons, beautiful landscapes of all sorts, and incredible food. If you are considering booking one of many romantic wedding locations, consider some of the following options.

Sorrento and Positano, both on the Amalfi coast, are considered to be two of the most romantic wedding locations in the world. In Sorrento, you can experience your special day at the Saint Frances covenant courtyard, or enjoy an outdoor wedding without a sea view. Positano has many options for wedding locations. The Positano outdoor terrace has seen many couples get married. Moonlight weddings have become a Positano favorite, and for good reason. Just imagine how romantic the setting will be when you exchange vows with your beloved, with the entire ceremony done by candle light. Both Positano and Sorrento have wedding options for every budget, so you can have a dreamy wedding in Italy without breaking the bank.

Only an hour away from Milan, Lake Como offers romantic wedding locations in Italy with a summery kick. With plenty of sunshine, beautiful lake views, and plenty of wedding villas to choose from, Lake Como has rightfully earned its place as a favorite location for a wedding in Italy. If exchanging your vows at the Italian lakeside, while a warm summery breeze touches your face, and soft cantzones play in the background sounds like a perfect wedding ceremony, book Lake Como.

In Florence, a couple can exchange vows in a variety of beautiful places, including an old bedroom of the Medici family. Decadence and opulence reign supreme in a Florence wedding - even civil weddings can take place in a room with plush carpets, chandeliers, and old world decorations. With all the picturesque sights of Tuscany, Florence often is the location that happily married couples remember as a birthplace of a beautiful marriage. Even better, Florence weddings can cater to just about any religion. Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish weddings are all regularly arranged in Florence.

Of course, there are more locations than these four wonderful cities to choose from when you decide on booking a romantic wedding location in Italy. However, few wedding locations have the same amount of incredibly romantic settings that Positano, Sorrento, Florence, or Lake Como have.

To find the best wedding location for your needs, it's best to ask a travel agent who is well-versed in Italian weddings. No matter where your travels will lead you, your Italian wedding location will surely make your special day one to remember.

Visit my web site http://www.romantic-travel-destinations-getaway.com/ and find out more information about Italy and Croatia the top honeymoon and wedding destinations in the world. Pero_Milos

Wedding Favor Sayings: Ideas for Personalizing Your Favors

Many couples are choosing to make their own wedding favors as a way to cut back on the cost. Homemade wedding favors can be personalized and made to match any theme with a little patience and creativity. To make your guest gifts personalized and meaningful, the addition of a tag with sweet or cute wedding favor sayings attached is a great way to make the gift personal. The following are some ideas for items that are easy to add messages to and some popular sayings that you can use if you are at a loss for words

Attaching the Message

The way you attach the saying to the gift can be either with a label, the kind with a peel away backing (similar to address labels), or you could use tags that are attached with a string, ribbon or twine. Labels that stick on the favor work great when you are giving gifts such as personalized candy bars, plantable seed favors, glass jars, tin boxes, wine bottles, and laminated items. The attachable tags are perfect on items such as jars, tulle or cellophane bags, candles, and soaps.

Here are some popular favor items and sayings that go well with them.

For seed packets or plantable seed favors:


    Our love continues to grow
    Seeds of love
    Plant this seed paper and watch it blossom like our love
    Love grows among family and friends

Perfect sayings for edible favors:

    Laugh, drink and be married
    Thank you for joining us, please enjoy your treats
    So sweet of you to join us
    Sweet memories for the day shared with us

Sayings for scented items such as candles or soap favors:

    The sweet fragrance is love in the air
    Our love will forever burn
    Our love will light the way

One of the easiest, yet cutest ideas is to purchase several candy bars and print labels from the computer that fit over the candy bar. The saying could be a poem, the wedding date or something that is meaningful to the bride and groom. Laminated bookmarks are also very easy for attaching a peel-away-back label and the label can be large enough for a small verse if you choose.

When you are creating the wedding favor sayings, make several different ones if possible. This is a great ice breaker for your guests, who will be immediately asking their neighbor what their saying was. The favors can all be the same or you can mix them up For example, if you are giving seed packets, mix and match the flowers. A cheap, yet lovely personalized wedding favor is a votive candle. Votive candles are very affordable, and it is easy to attach a sticky label to them.

These are only a handful of ideas to get you started for sayings and favor ideas. It is really easy to come up with more sayings by simply thinking about what you would like to say to your guests and write it down. Think about what the day will be like and the special meaning it will have for you and your spouse. Then the words you want to say will just come to you.

Look for wedding labels and favor tags that match the theme of your wedding. Then customize them with your names and a short message. You can also find items such as personalized candy bar wrappers that give you a choice of different wedding favor sayings already printed on them.

Renee West writes for Just Weddings.org. Just Weddings makes it easy to find what you need for your wedding, including wedding favors, cake toppers, wedding decorations, and more. All our items are hand-picked with love from the best names in weddings. Renee_West

Standout Wedding Dresses for Picky Brides

If you are a picky bride, there are some tricks to getting exactly what you want in a bridal gown.

Start by reviewing designer gowns. Department store gowns are perfectly wonderful for some brides, but if you know you want something truly exquisite, or something you are not likely to see on other brides that season, look for a designer gown. If you want a better fit or a richer fabric, seek out a designer gown.

Before you make the final decision on that wedding gown of your dreams, consider the following first rate brands and some of their most gorgeous offerings. Whether you're getting ready for the big day in earnest or you're simply in the mood for perusing beautiful wedding gowns for fun, you're sure to discover something that piques your interest here.

Melissa Sweet

Melissa Sweet designs fashion-forward, almost whimsical wedding dresses. The Iris/Bardot design represents Melissa Sweet well. The top is an embroidered net bustier. It is gathered at the bustline. The feathery, voluminous skirt is made of horizontal bands and bands of organza, cut on the bias. The result is a skirt that ripples as you walk up or down the aisle. Imagine the movement on the dance floor. The gown, which has a slight train in the back, is created only in ivory.

Platinum Collection

Platinum collection features opulent couture gowns that embody luxury. The designer's pick is a stunning silk satin strapless A-line gown. The skirt is full, hiding side-seam pockets. At the waist is a contrasting obi belt, encrusted with crystals and rhinestones in a floral pattern. In the back, the belt becomes a full-length sash that ties with a small bow The gown is available in ivory with a Windsor blue belt, white with the Windsor blue belt, white with a white belt, and ivory with an ivory belt.

Vineyard Collection

The Vineyard Collection designs sophisticated, contemporary wedding gowns, like the designer's pick, the Maeve model. This gown is similar in some ways to the gown designed by Platinum. It's a silk taffeta strapless ball gown. But where the Platinum model was more opulent with the obi belt, this one is fabulously full and flowing, with a draped bodice, full side bow and a very gathered skirt for a contemporary look. It is available in ivory or white.

Reverie by Melissa Sweet

Reverie by Melissa Sweet is best worn by someone who does not want a traditional gown - someone with a unique sense of style. The designer's pick is the Fiesole model, a strapless tea-length dress made of silk shantung. The dress has allover horizontal net embellishment and a simple bow in the front, at the waist. The skirt is circular and full, reminiscent of the way a poodle skirt fell from the waist. It is available in ivory.

Jewel Collection

Jewel collection offers romantic and youthfully elegant wedding gowns. The designer's pick is an allover Alencon lace A-line gown. It has a scalloped, sweetheart neckline and a satin band on the empire bodice. The band is adorned by hand with crystals, rhinestones and pearls. The skirt flows into a small train in the back. It too is available in ivory.

Vera Wang

Vera Wang designs the unexpected, like the Diana model. The strapless soft sweetheart neckline flows into a full A-line gown. The bodice, done in a draped, wrap look, flows to the hips, where it is joined with a frothy draped skirt created by vertical rows and rows and rows of frothy fabric. The gown is available in several color combinations: ivory and ivory, ivory and white, and white and ivory.

Custom Fit

One benefit of a designer gown is that you can have the dress created with a custom fit using your measurements. While all dresses can be altered fit to your measurements, a custom fit means the dress is actually created using your measurements. First a muslin dress is made that is fitted to you. After it is fitted, the muslin dress is used as the pattern for your wedding gown. The result is a perfect fit.

A custom fit also lets you modify some basic features of the gown - like raising or lowering a neckline, or changing the length of the train. It truly makes for a one-of-a-kind dress for your wedding.

Take these stand out designs into consideration while you search for the wedding dress of your dreams.

Steve Maurer is a freelance writer who writes about weddings, fashion, and products such as wedding dresses. Steve_Maurer

Advice on Choosing a Wedding Photographer

Your wedding day is one of the most important of your life, one that you will both remember forever, so capturing those images and memories on camera is crucial to get right but how do you choose the best wedding photographer?

Recommendations from friends and family are a great way to start, and with a world of photographers accessible on the internet you can do plenty of research. Once you have a shortlist of photographers make contact and ask for testimonials that you can actually follow up with previous clients so that you know just how good they are.


Arrange a meeting with the photographer and ask to see the complete set of photographs from several weddings. This is important because it is all too easy for them to show you a selection of their best photographs, so by viewing all of these sets you get a better idea about how good they actually are and an overall feel of their style of photography. Have a think about the style that you want, and how the photographers suit that style. You might prefer more formal traditional photos, reportage, black and white or a mix of styles so discuss your requirements in full.

Consider arranging a session with the photographer to have some engagement pictures taken, not only to mark the occasion but also so that you and the photographer can get more of an idea about what you want from them. Some photographers actually include a studio session in their packages.

Arrange a visit to view the venue together, so that the photographer can get an idea of the setting and to ensure that they know where it is! Also ask them what contingency plans they have for problems such as equipment malfunction (and check that the venue can offer a suitable indoor area for photographs in case of rain). If you have particular moments, pictures or group shots that you want to capture then provide the photographer with a list to avoid disappointment. Make sure that they sign a contract or an agreement that you are both happy with, which will provide protection for you (and them).

It's an important decision on who to select to record your special day with images that can last your lifetime and beyond so take all of these points on board to help find and choose a photographer to capture your magical moments, or consider booking a wedding planner who has access to tried and trusted suppliers of all kinds. Celeste_Thompson