Nephew of the Groom Speech Examples

When I was twelve, I called Uncle [Groom's name] at eleven at night because some older kids had taken my bike and I didn't want to tell my parents. He showed up twenty minutes later in sweatpants and an old hockey jersey. He didn't ask questions. He just drove me around the neighborhood until we found it behind the convenience store. He walked up, picked up the bike, and said, "This one's leaving with us." That was it. No big speech. No lecture. That's how he's always been. He shows up. When I moved into my first apartment, he was the one carrying the heaviest box up three flights of stairs. When I totaled my car, he sat with me on the curb until the tow truck came. [Bride's name], I used to worry that nobody would be good enough for him. Then I saw the way you two argue over crossword puzzles and I stopped worrying. You make him laugh before he even knows he's laughing. Uncle [Groom's name], you've been my backup my whole life. Today I'm happy to be yours. To both of you.

Uncle [Groom's name] is the reason I know how to tie a tie. Not because he sat me down with instructions, but because he had me practice on him before my eighth-grade dance while he ate cereal and gave me bad advice about girls. I messed it up three times and he didn't even flinch. He just said, "You'll get it. Or you'll wear clip-ons forever. Your call." He's like that. He makes things feel normal even when you're nervous. He taught me how to throw a spiral in the driveway. He showed me how to jump a car battery. He even taught me how to cheat at Monopoly without actually cheating. When he started talking about [Bride's name], he kept looking at his phone and smiling. I'd never seen him do that. Meeting her was easy. She asked about my dog by name. She laughed when Uncle [Groom's name] tried to show off. I'm glad you're marrying him, [Bride's name]. He's loud and he hogs the remote, but he's the best uncle I've got. To you guys.

I'm [Nephew's name], and I'm [Groom's name]'s nephew. I wanted to keep this short because my uncle has heard enough of my voice over the years. When I was little, Uncle [Groom's name] used to let me stay up late at my grandparents' house and watch old movies with him. He always gave me the good blanket. He pretended not to notice when I fell asleep halfway through. He still teases me about snoring. That small kindness, giving me the good blanket, is the kind of person he is. He doesn't make a big deal out of caring. He just does it. [Bride's name], from the first time I met you, I could tell you understood that about him. You noticed the little things. You made him quieter in the best way, like he didn't need to fill the room anymore. I'm really happy you're part of our family. Uncle [Groom's name], thanks for always giving me the good blanket. Now it's your turn to be taken care of. To both of you.

My uncle has a toolbox in the back of his car that he's had since before I was born. The handle is wrapped in electrical tape and half the screwdrivers don't match the set. He used to bring it to every family event because somebody always needed something fixed. One year it was a loose cabinet hinge. Another time it was my grandmother's porch light. There was always something. He never made a production out of it. He just fixed things and went back to eating potato salad. That's the man I grew up watching. He fixes things without asking for credit. [Bride's name], the first time you came to a family cookout, you brought him a cold drink while he was under my grandmother's sink. You didn't ask if he needed help. You just handed him the drink and sat on the floor next to him. I remember thinking, okay, she gets it. Uncle [Groom's name], you've spent my whole life showing up for other people. I'm grateful you found someone who shows up for you. To the two of you.

I should start by saying that Uncle [Groom's name] is the only adult I know who has set off the smoke alarm making toast. More than once. He's also the only person I know who will spend forty-five minutes researching the best route to a restaurant that is eight minutes away. He once argued with a GPS for twenty miles and lost. So when he told me he was serious about [Bride's name], my first thought was, wow, she must be incredibly patient. Then I met her and realized she's not patient. She's just as weird as he is. She laughed when he burned the toast. She has opinions about the fastest route too. They spent an entire dinner debating whether the kitchen clock was four minutes slow or if the oven clock was four minutes fast. It was the most romantic thing I've ever witnessed. [Bride's name], welcome to a lifetime of minor debates and slightly burnt breakfasts. Uncle [Groom's name], I love you, but please let her drive. To the happy couple.