Giving a maid of honor speech can be unnerving, especially for those who are shy or have difficulty standing in front of groups of people. Here are some pointers for writing and giving your maid of honor speech that will relieve some stress and have you well on your way to presenting a memorable maid of honor speech.
Length
Your speech should be about two or three minutes. You don't want it to be so short that it doesn't appear that you put much effort into it, but you also don't want it to be so long that you lose your listeners' attention.
It can be tricky to figure out the timing of your speech. A lot of it comes down to how slowly or fast you speak. Sometimes, nervous people talk faster, so you may slow down as you try to enunciate every word correctly. Try practicing to get a good idea of the range of time your speech will take.
What to Say
Starting the speech can often be the most challenging part. Introducing yourself is always an excellent way to start, sharing your name and how you know the bride.
Of course, the most essential aspect of a speech is what you will say. Think of some funny stories involving the bride. Did you two grow up together? Did you meet in college? Tell that story. Explain what drew you to each other and how you have grown close. Try to avoid sharing stories that might embarrass the bride. While they may be funny, it's meant to honor the bride, so leave the awkward moments and embarrassing stories out of your speech.
However, it's perfectly acceptable to tell a funny story or two. Don't feel the need to force the funny; use stories with a funny punchline or moment, and let that be the source of your humor. Of course, if you are comfortable with it, telling a joke or a relevant one-liner can be a great way to start the speech.
How to End
Another challenging thing can be finding the proper way to end your speech. Try to sum things up and share something about the couple or how happy you are they found each other. Perhaps mention a couple of things that make them a good match. You can even end with a toast to the bride and groom.
What Not to Do
You want to avoid a couple of things when giving your speech to ensure the process goes smoothly and without issue. First, don't give your speech without practicing it first. Even if it was just in front of the mirror a few times, practicing it will give you confidence and show you where you might want to change things.
Avoid drinking too much before you give your speech. Having a glass of wine to settle your nerves is fine, but try to save most of the drinking for after your speech. Staying sober will help prevent you from embarrassing yourself or anyone else.
In addition, you will want to avoid mentioning any exes, no matter how funny or relevant their history may be. It can make the bride and groom uncomfortable. Similarly, if this is not their first marriage, don't reference their first marriage or ex-spouse.
Finally, don't make it all about you. Sure, you will want to share stories involving the two of you, and that's perfectly fine, but you don't want to start rambling about irrelevant things to the bride and groom. Stay on topic and focus on the couple.
Hopefully, these tips have helped you with your maid of honor speech. Use these ideas to help create and present the perfect maid of honor speech.
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