Ideas for a Great Maid of Honor Speech

As the maid of honor you serve a very important purpose. You are the right hand of the bride, so to speak, and you serve as her confidante and assistant. The maid of honor position is bestowed to a person to whom the bride is very close such as a best friend or sister. If you have been chosen for this position you will need to write a maid of honor speech. Speeches are given at the wedding reception and are customary for individuals who played a large role in the wedding which of course the maid of honor does.

Writing or even giving a maid of honor speech doesn't have to be a stressful experience. It can all run smoothly with a little creativity and planning. You will definitely want to write your speech out ahead of time rather than try to improvise. The last thing you want is to freeze when all eyes are on you expecting a great speech and you have nothing. When writing your speech keep things concise and brief as other people have to speak also and there are other things to do as well at the reception. Your speech can be touching, humorous or a combination of both. Just make sure any jokes you include are clean and appropriate to the occasion.

If you have known the bride for many years, be sure to mention that. You may want to tell a story about the old days or even tell a tasteful joke about an experience and the bride shared in your childhood. You will also want to talk about the relationship between bride and groom, and how happy you are that your best friend (or sister, or whoever) has found true love. If you are the kind of person who remembers everything you may not need to refer to a written copy of your speech. However if there is any chance you may forget then definitely print your speech on a notecard and keep it in your handbag.

Some people get nervous when they have to speak in public. If you are one of those people, then it is helpful to practice your speech until it is second nature. That way you will feel more at ease when you are speaking. Practice giving your speech in front of friends and family to help relieve your public speaking anxiety.

When you give your speech, speak clearly and don't rush. Some people talk too fast when they are nervous which makes it hard for people to understand what you are saying. Just take a deep breath and pause if you need to, then resume your speech. Even if you are nervous people can appreciate what you have to say. The good thing about a maid of honor speech is that although it is heartfelt it is also quite brief.