Giving a Maid of Honor Speech? Simple Tips You Can Use Right Now!

One of the maid of honor's most important duties — if not the most important — is to offer a speech at the reception.

This speech is a big part of the wedding, and usually takes place within the reception' s first half, before people leave. You'll no doubt be addressing a full crowd ... so you'll want to be prepared!

While the best man's speech is equally important, he'll focus more on the groom. So it's your job to delight the bride, and give her something to remember. Sound like a tall order? There are a few tips to keep in mind when giving your maid of honor speech that practically guarantee it'll be a success — and I'm going to share them with you.

Leave Them Laughing

The best speeches are usually the funny ones ... the kind where everyone in the crowd is laughing, not just the bride. A great way to start out your speech is to tell a story or two about growing up together, and the amusing things that happened to you.

When it comes to this speech, a lot of maids like to wing it — not write anything down, and hope for the best. I think they often hope this will create a natural, spontaneous effect, but I'm not always sure that's the result. At any rate, on such a big day, it makes sense to put in the extra effort and write down a few prepared remarks.

We all know that most of us don't like to speak in front of other people. We tend to get nervous when we know we have to make a speech, and we procrastinate a little. Having a few prepared notes makes life a lot easier on that front as well.

What to Cover

Here are a few more more popular topics to talk about.

Once Upon a Time ...

Did you and the bride grew up together? Then talk about all the silly things you did as kids. Also, bring up how you and the bride met each other, and how you became friends.This is a common way to start a speech — it lets the audience know who you are and how you know the bride. And in my opinion, it sets the right tone for the rest of it.

Dish on the Dates

After that, start talking about what the bride used to tell you about the groom when they first started dating — it's easy to make a funny story out of that.

Look Forward to the Future

Then, if you want to get into something more substantial, start talking about how terrific the bride and groom look together. Add a spiritual comment or a meaningful piece of writing that you dedicate to the bride and groom. And of course, don't forget to give them a dash of marital advice and wish them well on their journey.