Got married in September, oddly when it came to speech time I wasn't nervous - only thing I'd say is get it done BEFORE the meal if you can so you can relax rather than eating with it hanging over your head. Mine was simple, but remember to discredit the impending best mans speech, think I said "remember, Chris is well know as a pathalogical liar and now it's over the Chris for the best mans speech."
Thank people, tell them how happy you are to see them all, on behalf of my wife and I etc, thank new father in law, sit down, await impending humiliation, eat/drive/stuffs.
Mine went:
1. Thank new father in law for his kind words.
2 "on behalf of my wife and I" - thank guests for coming to share and make your day special.
3. Thank parents for love and support.
4. Explain about the venue.
5. Explain international talk like a pirate day (day we got married!)
6. Ensure everyone toasts with "arr" rather than the usual guff.
7. New wife is lovely etc..
8. Thank best man and ushers.
9. Thank bridesmaids (list names so you don't miss anyone.)
10 Charge your glasses to toast the bridesmaides
11. Ensure to discredit best man as pathalogical liar.
That's all I had on the sheet, with a few names added. I said a bit more at each point but I didn't practice much. Remember as the groom you could stand up there and say anything, this is the one day that nobody gives a damn what you say as long as it's nice, you will never be more loved than when you're doing your speech which makes it easy!
Just a sideline to keep me sharp and a few quid put into my fund to take my stuff to the fringe.
