So your best friend, sister, or another family member is getting married, and she asked you to be the maid of honor. Now, you need to give a killer maid of honor speech. Where do you start? Giving a great maid of honor speech is something that you might want to practice. After all, you want to get it right and perfect the first time. Here is a guide we put together to help you give a great maid of honor speech.
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How to Start
Although the flowers and the wedding cake will look nice and make everyone ooh and aww over them, the best part of the wedding reception is the maid of honor speech. The reason for this is because you will be telling the bride and the groom how you feel about them and how happy you are for them.
The Opening
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When starting with the opening of your speech, you want it to be perfect. Here are some things you should say and do and should not say and do.
The Do's For The Bride
The Don'ts For The Bride
Now that you are done talking about the bride in your speech don't leave the groom out. He is a friend too, or not, but you should speak highly about him. Here are some dos and don'ts when talking about the groom in your maid of honor speech.
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The Dos And Don'ts for the Groom
Keep it Classy
Make sure to keep your speech classy. You want to speak positively about both of them. Don't forget to wish them a happily ever after and a long marriage full of love, laughter, children, and fun. Don't end your speech with "cheers" and be done with it. Although you don't want your speech to be too long, you don't want to end it abruptly either. Tag the ending with a classic quote or song lyrics. Make it something unforgettable but not too corny. Prepare your speech ahead of time and even practice it before giving it to them. You want it to be perfect for both the bride and the groom.
Tips For Nailing a Great Maid of Honor Speech
Here are a few tips to make the maid of honor speech perfect for the bride and groom.
Write it Out in Phrases
Writing your speech out in phrases will help you deliver a great maid of honor speech. By preparing and writing it out in phrases, it will help you read it off smoothly instead of reading it in a stiff voice.
Keep it Short and Sweet
Don't drag it out. Keep it short and sweet and to the point. Don't go off into a story about yourself and drag it on and on. Keep it about the bride and groom and only them. You need to talk for about a minute and maybe a few seconds after that. Anything longer than a minute and a few seconds after, and everyone there will think that you like to hear yourself talk.
Read it Out loud to Yourself Beforehand
Before reading your perfect speech in front of everyone there, read it out loud to yourself, perhaps in the mirror. By doing this, you will make sure it sounds great. You can also read it to another friend to make sure they like it too. They can point anything out that needs changing before you give your speech in front of all of those people that are there for the bride and groom.
Speak Slower Than Normal
When giving your great speech, you want to speak slower than normal, so everyone understands what you are saying. Read it slow, loud, and clear. You never want to read it fast because not only will no one understand you, but they will think you are trying to get it over with and that you don't want to give the speech.
Don't Forget to Breathe!
Write in red letters, in between phrases, to remember to breathe in between them. Don't be shy or nervous and breathe in between the sentences you read and speak. You don't want to read it without taking breathes in between or this will also sound like you are trying to get it done and over with. Not only that, but it just won't seem right to anyone.
Relax!
Stay relaxed. Don't let your knees lock while you are standing to give the speech. You want to feel pleasant and comfortable as you are giving it. Not only will it help you as you are standing there reading your maid of honor speech, but it will let everyone know that you are not afraid to give a speech about your sister or friend.
Don't Get Drunk Before Reading it
Make sure to stay sober before giving the speech. If you get drunk before giving it, you will ramble on and on.
Make Eye Contact
Remember to make eye contact with the bride and groom while you are giving the speech. You want them to know that you mean everything you say.
Remember to Smile
Remember to smile, even if you are a little nervous. You want the bride and groom to realize you are happy and honored to be the one to give the maid of honor speech.
It's Okay to Get Emotional
It is perfectly reasonable and fine to get emotional while giving them the speech. After all, you are talking about your best friend, sister, or another family member you are close to and you will get a little teary eyed.
Conclusion
I hope that this article can help you to give the best maid of honor speech ever? Have some other tips you'd like to share with our readers, feel free to comment below!
