Giving a maid of honor speech is a memorable experience that can leave a lasting impression on the couple and guests. Whether you’re a seasoned public speaker or feeling a bit nervous, we’ll explore tips, templates, and a step-by-step approach to help you write a genuine and engaging speech for the big day.
How to Write a Maid of Honor Speech
When preparing your maid of honor speech, consider your unique relationship with the bride, personal anecdotes about the couple, and your heartfelt wishes for their future. Begin by highlighting the bride, then extend compliments to their partner and wish them both well as a couple.
If you’re having trouble getting started, here are a few prompts to help you generate ideas:
- What was your first impression of their partner?
- What do they both bring to the relationship?
- How did they know they were the “one”?
- How have they impacted each other’s lives?
- How would you describe their relationship in five words?
- How did you get introduced to their partner?
- What’s the funniest story you know about them as a couple?
Your maid of honor speech should conclude on a sincere and joyful note. Celebrate the couple’s bond, express love for the bride, offer wisdom for their future, or share a meaningful quote.
Maid of Honor Speech Template
- Introduce yourself: As the bride’s good friend or family member, you may assume that everyone there knows who you are, but that might not be the case. Greet the room and briefly share who you are and your relationship with the bride.
- Highlight the bride: Share heartfelt sentiments about the bride, highlighting what makes her special.
- Personal anecdotes: Share a memorable anecdote—or two— about the couple or your experiences with the bride.
- Couple’s relationship: Discuss the couple’s relationship and how you’ve witnessed their love grow. Optionally, include a story that involves the groom or tell a story that highlights the couple’s love and compatibility.
- Compliments: Compliment the bride and groom individually, highlighting their strengths.
- Toast and well wishes: Raise your glass and propose a toast to the newlyweds, expressing your best wishes for their future together.
Optional Template Additions:
- Jokes: While adding funny lines can enhance your speech, remember that a maid of honor speech doesn’t require humor if it’s not your forte. A sincere and direct approach is often more impactful than forced jokes. Focus on sharing stories that highlight the couple’s history; look for naturally funny moments, like gently teasing the bride about her excitement after the first date.
- Advice: If you are married, offer words of wisdom or advice for a happy and successful marriage that draws from your experience.
How long should a maid of honor speech be?
A maid of honor speech should be 2-3 minutes long (five minutes, max). Often, there are speeches from the best man or family members, so the maid of honor isn’t responsible for speaking the entire time reserved for toasts.
Maid of Honor Speech Tips
1. Practice Your Speech Ahead of Time
You don’t need to memorize your speech word for word (in fact, doing so might make your delivery a bit unnatural), but practicing your talking points and cadence ahead of time will go a long way in making you feel more confident. Use a small, aesthetic notebook with bullet points or key phrases if you’re nervous about public speaking. Speak slowly and pause between transitions—practicing aloud will help identify and smooth out any awkward parts or tongue twisters.
2. Stay (Mostly) Sober Before Your Speech
You can let loose during the reception, but you’ll want to have a clear head when making your speech. While some alcohol may ease nerves, drinking too much might lead to a speech that’s less thoughtful than it should be.
3. Don’t Mention Any Exes
Avoid mentioning exes, as it can make the bride and groom uncomfortable. Likewise, refrain from jokes about past weddings or marriages if this isn’t the bride’s first wedding.
4. Don’t Make It About Yourself
Focus your speech on the couple rather than solely on your relationship with the bride and avoid inside jokes and anecdotes that might be sensitive or require too much backstory. Any advice given should be heartfelt but quick and focused on the couple.
5. Keep it Short and Sweet
For wedding speeches, less is often more effective. Focus on succinct, funny anecdotes rather than long, unabbreviated stories. Write down your ideas and edit out less resonant parts as you practice. Seek input from another friend or family member of the bride to refine your speech.
6. Don’t Put Too Much Pressure on Yourself
Guests at the reception are there to enjoy themselves and will appreciate your speech no matter what. Don’t dwell on minor mistakes—focus on celebrating the couple.
Maid of Honor Speech Examples
For Sister
- Start by greeting everyone and introducing yourself.
- Ex: “Hi everyone, our family wants to thank you all for being here today to celebrate (Bride) and (Partner). As most of you know, I’m (Bride’s) sister, (Name).”
- Move on to what you love about your sister, the bride.
- Ex: “I feel so privileged to have had (Bride) to look up to throughout my life. She has always been an example to me of what it means to show love through actions. Growing up, I remember she would (insert relevant anecdote). It’s memories like these that make me know that (Partner) is one of the luckiest people in the world to get (Bride) as someone to go through life with.”
- Transition to a compliment about your sister’s partner.
- Ex: “When (Bride) and (Partner) first met, our family already had an idea that (Partner) was (Bride’s) perfect match. When (Bride) first introduced him to us, I could tell that (Bride) had never felt this way about anyone before, and that this was her forever person. I couldn’t have chosen anyone better for my sister, and we are so excited to welcome you into our family. Thank you for your kindness, sense of humor, and patience—especially when (Bride) (insert funny anecdote).”
- Wrap up your speech by toasting the couple
- Ex: “Your love and commitment to each other is so inspiring, and it’s been so special to watch your relationship unfold. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness, understanding, and joy. I’d like to invite everyone to raise their glasses to the happy couple. Here’s to (Bride) and (Partner)!”
For Best Friend
- Begin your speech by introducing yourself and sharing a brief history of your relationship with the bride.
- Ex: “Hi everyone. For those of you who I don’t know, I’m (Name). (Bride) and I have been best friends since (college/high school/diapers), when we bonded over (insert funny shared interest). It’s (number) years later, and I couldn’t be happier or prouder to celebrate my friend today.”
- Talk about what you love about the bride.
- Ex: “There are so many reasons to love (Bride). She’s funny, silly, and sweet, but I think my favorite thing about her is her sense of humor. Something she definitely needed when she and (Partner) (insert funny anecdote). (Bride), you have always had the ability to light up the room, and you are so stunning tonight.”
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Transition to complimenting the bride’s partner.
- Ex: “My first impression after meeting (Partner) was that they were one of the only people I’ve ever met who could keep up with (Bride’s) wit. However, it wasn’t until (insert anecdote) that I knew he was (Bride’s) soul mate. It’s been a total pleasure getting to know you as an person and as the perfect partner for my best friend. Thank you for loving her the way she deserves.”
- Finish by wishing them both well.
- Ex: “It’s so easy to see that you two are crazy about each other, and I’m honored to call you both my friends. I can’t wait to see the kinds of adventures you will get up to in the years to come. I’ll leave you with a quote from (Bride’s) favorite poet to take with you after tonight: (insert relevant quote). Here’s to the happy couple!”
