Wondering how to write a maid of honor speech? As a professional wedding speech writer, I can help!
I’ve created a five-step guide that will provide you with clear direction and plenty of examples so you can start writing your MOH speech.
Step 1: Write Your Introduction
When it comes to writing a maid of honor speech, sometimes just starting is the hardest part. So make it easy on yourself. Simply state your name and your connection to the bride.
Examples:
Good evening, everyone. I’m Carla, the bride’s childhood best friend.
Welcome! My name is Sydney and I’ve known the bride since college.
Hello, I’m Cynthia, the bride’s youngest sister.
Starting your speech this way provides multiple benefits:
Guests who don’t know you will learn who you are.
Your nerves will begin to calm as you state something that’s non-emotional, factual, and second nature to you.
What if all the guests know who you are already? For more intimate weddings where guests already know you, feel free to dive right into the heart of the speech.
In these scenarios, it’s best to avoid those run-on, time-sucking lines like, “I’m really terrible at public speaking so bare with me!” Instead, just jump into the speech. It will be more emotionally impactful and entertaining.
Step 2: Talk About the Bride
The focus of your speech will be on the bride. Choose two to three stories to share about her. Focus on stories that will entertain guests. Your goals should be to make them laugh and make them cry.
The stories you choose should be short and with one similar goal in mind: illustrate the characteristics of the bride.
Ideally, each story will illustrate the same characteristics and these traits will speak to the larger theme of the entire speech. If you can capture this flow, you’ll entertain guests, impress the couple, and sound like a seasoned speaker.
Step 3: Mention her Partner
While your connection is to the bride, you do want to include her new spouse in your maid of honor speech.
Tell one or two short stories about them. Each story should support the theme.
What if you don’t know the bride’s new spouse very well? Instead of telling stories about them, mention how they’ve influenced the bride.
Here are some questions for you to consider that will likely provide you with some inspiration for this section of your speech:
How has the bride changed since being with them?
How does the bride talk about her partner and their relationship?
How do they make her happy?
How does the bride talk about their life together and their future?
From here, you should have enough information to include at least a few positive sentences about their new spouse.
Step 4: Describe Your Wishes for Their Future
Many women in the maid of honor role don’t feel comfortable or qualified to give marital advice. So instead, a nice way to close a maid of honor speech is by detailing some wishes for the couple and their future.
Consider these questions to brainstorm material for this section of your speech:
How do you envision their future?
What do you believe will bring them happiness?
What kind of marriage do you see them having?
Why are they a good match and how will this serve their marriage?
Why are you happy for the couple?
Step 5: Close with a Killer Last Line
The last line is key in making a strong impact with your maid of honor speech.
I’m a huge fan of call-backs. This is when you end the speech by “calling back” to a line that you mentioned earlier in the speech. These tend to be crowd-pleasers and often elicit heartwarming tears when done in a thoughtful way.
You can also choose to close your speech with something simple but loving.
Here are examples of last lines for your maid of honor speech:
Cheers to the happy couple! May you experience a lifetime of always being there to catch each other’s fallen tears and always making each other laugh over the years.
To my sister, my best friend, and to her husband, my new brother…I love you both!
Cheers to the new couple and their happy future!
Do you still need help with how to write your maid of honor speech?
If you’d like one-on-one help with your speech, get in touch. I work with the maid of honor to write a completely custom and emotionally impactful maid of honor speech.
Worried about public speaking?
Writing your maid of honor speech is really only half of the challenge. Once the speech is written, then it’s time to hone in on your public speaking skills so you can confidently deliver those wonderful words.
Here are my four tips for how to nail the delivery of your maid of honor speech:
Use a Microphone and Hold it Properly
One of the biggest mistakes I see wedding party members make is not using a microphone and worse, not holding it properly. It’s important to remember, when you move your head, move the microphone too.
For example, if you move your head to the right, the mic should travel to the right as well.
Otherwise, it won’t pick up your voice and the sound will go in and out as your head moves, only occasionally being picked up by the mic.
Also, be sure that the microphone is close enough to your mouth to pick up the sound but not so close that it blocks your face.
Speak Slowly
When we’re nervous, we tend to speak quickly. It’s almost as if we want to hurry out of an uncomfortable situation.
Slow down! You worked hard writing your maid of honor speech. Make sure everyone can understand you.
Make Fake Eye-Contact
It can be nerve-wracking to meet eyes with the couple and their guest.
Instead, look at the top of their heads. To them, it will look like you’re making eye contact but it will save you from feeling extra nervous.
Practice, Practice, Practice
This is the most important tip. Practice reciting your speech three to six times out loud and preferably, in front of someone, before the wedding day.
The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll feel when you take to the mic!