
Cliché #2: “I apologize in advance-I’m a terrible speaker.” Good evening! I’m Sarah Marvin, the bride’s younger sister. Jump right in by starting your toast by simply stating your name and your relation to the bride.

To do this, you must remove any information that doesn’t serve that goal-like this line. After all, not everyone in the room actually knows you, right? But your goal is to write a speech that captivates guests. This feels like an innocent way to kick off your speech. Cliché #1: “For those of you who don't know me…” While these trite lines feel comfortable, they don’t create an impactful impression on the bride or her guests.Īvoid these overly-used phrases in your MOH speech to achieve a more emotionally powerful toast.
#Maid of honor speech professional
Queue the stress and anxiety as you struggle to write your maid of honor toast.Īs a professional wedding vow and toast writer, I’ve seen how maids of honor can be tempted to rely on clichés and cringe-worthy quotes in their speeches. Your friend will love what you have to say as long as it feels authentic - trust.Your BFF’s wedding is just around the corner. It should be (say it with me!) fun! Write your speech on your Notes App so you don't lose it, and speak from the heart. Your speech, while important, is ultimately just an opportunity to dote on your friend in front of their loved ones. Remember: Weddings should be fun, and you're not there to bear any bad news. "Maybe she's even funnier now thanks to her new partner's sense of humor, or perhaps their support has empowered her to take risks in new ways." "Your speech needs to be about the friend you knew long before she met her partner, and then pivot to what role they have played in her life," they wrote. Pennebaker and Glantz recommended focusing on your friend in the beginning of the speech and ending on a note about the couple. There are tons of different ways you can weave memories, positive stories about your friend, and well wishes for the couple into a coherent format.

"There's a big difference between simply saying, 'She is such a great friend!' versus telling the story about the time your BFF got a loan from the family she babysat for so she could visit you in your dorm after being dumped by your boyfriend." Focus On Your Friend & Their Relationship With Their Partner
#Maid of honor speech series
"Too often maid-of-honor speeches devolve into a series of generic compliments and while this kind of typical praise might be true, it doesn't have a whole lot of heart.," the two wrote on Brides. "This is plenty of time for you to make your introduction, share your theme and supporting anecdotes, and end with a call to have everyone join you in toasting the newlyweds." Make Sure You're Telling A StoryĪlthough your speech should definitely paint a positive, loving, and complimentary view of your friend, according to former speechwriter Teal Pennebaker and founder of Bridesmaid for Hire Jen Glantz, it's important to avoid speaking too generally. "The longer your speech, the more opportunities you'll have for people to start losing attention and missing your jokes," wrote Pennebaker and Glantz, who recommended keeping your speech between three and five minutes.

After all, several friends and family members may be giving speeches too. While a maid-of-honor speech should not feel rushed, avoid writing something too long. Do you want to be funny? Sentimental? A little bit of both? Either way, the brainstorming phase is your chance to play around with different ideas. It can also be helpful to experiment with different tones. Plus, being well prepared will help relax some of your nerves in the moment, ensuring your delivery is solid. This is definitely not something you want to leave until the last minute. One of the most important parts of writing a good speech is giving yourself plenty of time to put it together.

Coming up with the right words to express yourself isn't as tough as you might think.Īlthough condensing the growth and love that comes from several years of friendship into a few-minutes-long speech may seem impossible, here are some tips that will ensure your thoughts and emotions come across in an entertaining, genuine, and well-organized way. If you don't know what to say in a maid-of-honor toast, don't panic. But if you're chosen as the maid-of-honor, be prepared to participate in the wedding to an even greater extent than the rest of the bridal party, including, quite possibly, writing a speech and giving a toast. Being part of a close friend's wedding party is usually a truckload of laughs, cries, and meaningful moments you won't soon forget.
