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.
Hi Hannah. It won’t make it less nerve-wracking, but it sounds like you’re the ideal person to handle this MOH speech. It would be very cute to talk about some of her early “romances” while she was waiting for her true love to come along. You know, nothing serious or threatening, but some funny anecdotes involving the paste-eating years. And, if you can remember any slam books or any quizzes or lists you did together as teens dreaming up the ideal guy (and of course, be sure to point out how the groom IS the ideal guy), people would love to hear that.
Since you know and like her fiance, it should be relatively easy for you to come up with a few ways they’re perfectly suited to each other. Funny ways are good, as long as they’re lighthearted and kind.
You’ll do a great job, don’t sweat it! You know everything you need to make a wonderful speech.
My friend has asked me to be the MOH in her wedding. I have a lot of time to prepare but i have no idea what to say. i’m really bad at giving speeches and not good with words sometimes. i want it to be perfect. we’ve known each other since kindergarden and her fiance is my friend as well….
The cutest speech I ever heard was at my cousins wedding – her sister told a story about her from when they were little… something about her being a little dorky ( which had everytone laughing) and how they ignored her when she said she was going to marry prince charming…. ended it with , “i guess you weren’t so crazy back then after all because you did find your prince charming…….” i don’t remember the whole thing word for word- but I thought the concept was very cute. good luck!
so my sister is also getting married in about a week and a half. im the maid of honor and im totally siked but i have to give a spweech and i have no clue what to say and on top of that im not all that great at standing in front of alot of people and talking.
what should i do?
Hey Brittany, my room mate had the same problem. Her sister’s wedding is while we are away at school. They arranged a bachelorette party at a place 18+ where everyone could get in. They also did the shower the next afternoon to avoid extra travel for her.
i am the maid of honor of my sister’s wedding and her wedding is going to be when i’m in school. but i’m still going and i’m not exactly sure what to do at the bachelorette party or at the wedding shower because i am underage… what should i do?
My maid of honour is extremly nervous giving a speech I was wondering would it be bad if she wrote one and the MC read it for her?
actually im the maid of honor for my sisters wedding and i have no idea what to say its in 2 weeks and i just found out that i needed to make a speech:D
Thanks Natasha!
Jill, that’s an interesting one!
It seems like there are some opportunities for humor there. For example, you could bring up some of the romantic advice your mother gave you growing up and apply it her new relationship.
Or, you can go for nostalgia, and talk about some of your mother’s happiest moments you’ve seen (being sensitive about previous relationships of course), tying that to her happiness now.
If your mother and her partner’s lives are going well (promotions, accomplishments), you can congratulate them on all the wonderful events of the past few years, pointing out that this is the biggest thing of all to congratulate for …
Or, try to think of a poem or song your mother really loves that fits the occasion, and read some of the words. Maybe even a book she shared with you when you were little that has a connection to love and partnership. Just some ideas.
My mom is getting married for the third time in a couple weeks. I recently learned that she is making me give a speech. It’s his first wedding. What is a girl to do?:-?
Okay my sister is getting married the end of July and I am trying to prepare a toast and I have looked at a number of websites for ideas but keep having to fill out stupid surveys inoreder to look at the websites. If anyone has ideas or a website please let me know:-?
yikes! i am the MOH for my sisters wedding i dont know what to say i looked for samples but it got me to this which doesnt really tell me anything because its other people asking questions to you but anyways i want my speech i give to be special and i want my sister to always remember the speech i give on her wedding day same with her hubby, my sister and her husband mean alot to me and everytime i ask someone to give me advice they always say , say it from your heart which i would if i only knew what to say…:((:D:D8-|:(:-”:-”
Hello! My best friend just asked me to be her MOH. The olny problem is that I really don’t know her Fiancee what do I do to get to know him better, and what do I say about him on my speech.
PLEASE HELP!!!
I need HELP. Im the Maid of Honor for my best friend wedding. I get very nervous when i have to speak infron of people. Please help me. Its been 14 years since we know each other. We whet to high school together. Then she became my roomate whene we where in college. I need help!!!
I need help! I am the MOH in my mothers wedding Next week May 19th and I have researched what to say to her and my new stepfather. I know that she will expect something funny as well. I don’t know where to go! Please help if you have any suggestions or websites that I can research. Thanks so much!
Teressa-
I know the feeling! My BFF asked me to be her MOH, but I’m at college about 400 miles away. Keep in touch with her…e-mail, phone, snail mail, whatever you have. Also, remember that you might be able to find something that the bride doesn’t have in her town that you do! Keep in mind that the bride chose YOU to be her MOH-you hold a special place in her heart.
Best wishes to all involved!
-Kathleen
my best friend of almost 10 years is marrying her boyfriend that she’s been with for 4 years now… she knows that i am TERRIFIED of speaking in front of large audiences, but still requested me to make a speech. She knows that i am flattered to be chosen over her own sister to be her maid of honor, so i dont know what to do about this situation. i have always had a phobia of speaking in front of people, any advice please!!!!!!!
Christina- it would be okay to acknowledge that you haven’t known them for very long but you could let everyone know what your first impression was when you first saw them together. Are there any funny moments since then? If you don’t have much to say just wish them a lot of love and thank them for letting you be a part of their wedding.:P
I have a similar dilemma, about a year ago I moved out of the state. I am the M.O.H. for my life long best friend, but how can a help plan a wedding 1,000 miles away. So she has the next bridesmaid doing a lot of the planning. I want to help as much as possible, so the other bridesmaids don’t hate me for doing my work. What are some simple things I can do to help living so far away?
I’m the MOH for a girl i have only been friends with for maybe a year. I’ve known her for 5years but we never started hanging out until about a year ago. I do want to give a speech to make her feel special, i just don’t know what to say. She’s dated this guy for 7 years so they were together for a long time before i even knew them!! Any Advice???
In a time when tradition is out, and being a trendsetter is definitely the new “tradition”, why not ask someone else to give the speech. Have your mother or aunt give a speech or, heck, even your dad. Who says the MOH has to give a speech? Ask one of the other bridesmaids.
Chances are your MOH was probably a flake when you asked her to be part of your ceremony, so there must be some other reason why you asked her. Try to channel that rather than kicking her out of her position.
If all else fails, you could just forgo the speeches altogether (most of the time they’re a let down anyway). You and your new hubby could stand up and s thank the family and friends, who without your day would not be nearly as special, for being there.:D>-
JESSICA:
I ran into a similar problem with my maid of honor. How many girls are standing for you? Looking back on the days leading up to my wedding and how I should have kicked my M.O.H our of her position, I would definately recommend you talking to her and telling her that you have enough on your plate without worrying about her. Ask one of your other girls to be the M.O.H. This will be one of the most memorable days of your life, don’t let her ruin the days leading up to it. Trust me, my maid of honor showed her true colors to me during my wedding prep days….I totally regret having her. I guess some girls have jealousy issues to deal with. Get rid of her…she’s being selfish.
I am the bride and i don’t trust my Maid of honor to even have a speech. She is the only one who still doesn’t have her dress. What am I to do.
I have to give a speech for my best friend for a renewing of her vows. They have been together for 10 years and yes they have through a lot and i am so proud to know that she has made it. I pray that she makes it for many more years. I just don’t know what to say but I do want her know that i am happy for her.
I am my best friends maid of honor. I am trying to prepare a speach. I do not know what to write about. Even worse I hate talking infront of large crowds and there will be about 150 people there. Do you have any ideas.
I am so lost vis-a-vis the speech. I am the maid of honor in my MOTHER’S wedding (July 2007). I feel that because I am her daughter she will expect the speech to be moving and funny at the same time! I have no idea what to say. Help!
I am having the same dilemma!…which is why I am very nervous about the speech. I would appreciate advice as well if anyone can share???
Dear Kristi: I recommend that you talk about your best friend’s qualities, and what you admired about her growing up. You may have been apart for awhile, you could say, but that hasn’t dimmed your friendship. In your speech, you may want to tie those admirable traits and wonderful qualities to her new marriage, and explain how they’ll make for a wonderful union.
You might say that you may not know the groom very well yet, but that he makes your best friend happy and has won the heart of a very special woman, which says volumes about him. You may find more helpful tips at http://www.easyweddingtoasts.com.
Ok – So, I’m the Maid of Honor at my best friend’s wedding coming up in June of 2007. Here is my “speech dilemma”. I have lived in another province since we both graduated highschool and I don’t really know her and here fiancee as a couple. Any words of wisdom for me?