Maid of Honor Speech

The maid of honor speech is a major part of the wedding, and will generally occur during the first half of the reception, when there are still a many people present. Maid of honor speeches focus upon, of course, the bride.

Are you nervous about giving the maid of honor speech? As long as you prepare in advance rather than just winging it, you should be fine.

First off, it is important that the content of your speech be either humorous or sentimental or both. When going the humorous route, you'll want to make people laugh without going too overboard, which is generally the role of the best man in his speech.

You'll want to use humor that is accessible to everyone in the audience. Avoid filling the maid of honor speech with innuendo and "inside jokes" that only you and the bride will get.

When going the sentimental route in the maid of honor speech, use simple language and speak from the heart so that others may relate to your sentiments. Showing some emotion and vulnerability when going the sentimental route is welcomed in this kind of speech.

A nice way of beginning a maid of honor speech is by telling an anecdote about you and the bride's relationship. This story may be one of growing up together, getting to know each other over the years or funny stories that have happened to the pair of you in the past.

Many maids of honor think it would be better to wing this part of the speech, so as not to sound too stiff and rehearsed. It is up to you, but it is always a good idea to at least write the rudimentary aspects of the speech down in advance so that you are well prepared when the moment arrives. Otherwise, nerves may kick in and you may forget the content of the speech altogether.

What should the maid of honor speech include? In a lighthearted way, talk about the silly things the two of you did as children, about how you met each other, and how you cemented your friendship. Starting the speech this way allows the audience to identify you as the maid of honor right off the bat. It also sets a good tone for the rest of the speech.

Next, you can move on to stories about what the bride told you when she and the groom first started dating. There is sure to be a wealth of humorous or sentimental anecdotes from which you can pull.

You can also say a few words about how great the bride and groom look together on this most special day. As the maid of honor you might want to recite a touching piece of writing, such as a poem, at this point in the speech.

Finally, if you are married yourself, you may wish to give the newlyweds a piece of marital advice or two. You can also give them some sort of spiritual affirmation, depending upon the audience. Finish the speech by wishing the pair a long happy and healthful journey.