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As the maid of honor at your sister’s or friend’s wedding, one of your most important maid of honor duties will be to deliver a speech at the wedding reception. 

Some MOHs prepare their speeches months in advance. But some procrastinate because they don’t know how to begin to write a speech, what to include, or how long it should be.  

We've got you covered if you’re getting ready to write your speech! And you don’t have to be an expert in speech writing to nail the delivery on your bestie’s special day!

Here’s how to write a maid of honor speech, plus tips on how to deliver your speech on the big day: 

Write an Introduction

Begin your speech by saying good evening (or good afternoon), introducing yourself, and describing yourself in relation to the bride and to the couple. 

Wedding guests that don’t know you will want to know if the bride is your:

Once you’ve explained who you are, wrap up your introduction. Thank the mother and father of the bride, her partner, and any other family members who had a role in hosting or paying for the wedding.  

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Talk About Your Personal Relationship with the Bride

After your introduction, give some details and personal anecdotes about your relationship with the bride. 

You can do so by:

In this portion of the speech, it’s okay to show your sense of humor, be sentimental, or both! Don’t pressure yourself into writing the funniest speech ever or writing a speech that will have every guest in tears. The key is to keep it lighthearted and heartfelt.

This is not the moment to spill lifelong secrets or attempt to embarrass the bride or her new spouse. So steer clear of certain topics, such as drunken girls’ nights out, bachelorette party antics, sex, and ex-relationships or previous marriages. 

It’s not the time to tell inside jokes, either. No one in the room will understand what you’re talking about, and you could lose the crowd's attention. 

Talk About Your Relationship With the Bride’s New Spouse

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You don’t have to go into lengthy detail about your relationship with the bride’s new spouse, but it’s nice to include a sentence or two about them. You could mention how you first met the bride’s partner or when you realized they were her perfect match!

Talk About the Couple as a Pair

Towards the end of your speech, show support for the newlyweds and their relationship by talking about them as a couple. 

You can talk about things like:

Finish Your Speech With a Wedding Toast

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Finally, wrap up your amazing speech with a toast to the happy couple! You should literally raise a glass and cheers, encouraging all the wedding guests to follow suit. 

More Speech Tips for Writing an Amazing Maid of Honor Speech

When writing a speech, timing is everything! 

Here are a few additional tips to keep in mind when putting together your MOH speech:

Keep It Short and Sweet 

The ideal length for a wedding speech is about 2-5 minutes. Anything longer than that, and you could start losing the crowd. Plus, the longer your speech, the less time you’ll have for partying and dancing!

No matter how long your history with the bride is, don’t overcomplicate things or tell endless stories in your speech. All you need is one good one.

Practice Ahead of Time 

Practice delivering your speech to a fellow member of the wedding party or your own partner and ask for feedback. 

If you want your speech to surprise everyone, practice it with anyone not invited to the wedding that you trust to give honest feedback. This could be your mom or even a coworker.

Even if you’re 100% confident in the words you’ve penned, it’s a good idea to at least practice it in front of a mirror. When practicing aloud, set a timer. If the speech is too long, make some edits to keep it under five minutes.

Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute 

Writing your speech at least a few weeks before the wedding is best. That’ll give you plenty of time to practice it and make changes as needed. 

It’s also important to know that there’s no such thing as a perfect maid of honor speech. Just be yourself, and write the best speech you can!

Related: Matron of Honor vs Maid of Honor: What's the Difference?

Tips for Delivering a Great Maid of Honor Speech

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Nervous about public speaking? 

Don’t worry — a lot of people are! Here’s a tip to get you through the moment. And no, it doesn’t require you to imagine everyone in the room in their underwear.

Instead of speaking to the crowd, speak directly to the couple. Focusing solely on the couple can help ease your nerves and make it easier to deliver your words.

One final tip for all you MOHs out there:

Don’t drink too much alcohol before your speech!

It’s best to wait until you finish your speech to start serious partying. Consuming too many drinks beforehand may make you slur your speech, speak too fast, or appear lethargic. 

You want to appear energized and happy… not under the influence. 

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Writing a maid of honor speech can be a fun experience, and delivering it on the wedding day should be an even greater one! The bride has already honored you by asking you to be her MOH. 

Your wedding speech is the time to honor her in return with kind, heartfelt words and well wishes for a long and happy marriage. It’ll be a moment the two of you will never forget.