Bridesmaid and Maid of Honor Speeches
Being a bridesmaid or a maid of honor is a huge privilege. Unlike before, today this role is more than just being there for the bride as you may be required to give a toast in honor of the newly wedded couple. This can be tricky especially if it is your first time.
Bridesmaids and maid of honor speeches are a perfect opportunity to thank the couple for letting you be part of their special day.
Even then, you need to be careful so as not to become boring for the guests. Remember, the bride doesn’t want any dull moments.
Tips to Deliver Bridesmaid and Maid of Honor Speeches
So then, how do you go about your speech so that you capture the mood and throw in some humor while being precise? Here are some tips to help you give a short, attention grabbing speech without being nervous.
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Take up the role with seriousness
You need to realize that by agreeing to do a speech as a bridesmaid or maid of honor, you do not speak for yourself alone but other guests too. You are on a mission to tell a story that all guests can resonate with.
Therefore, take up the responsibility with the maturity and seriousness it deserves. Remember, you only have one chance to do it.
Prepare in advance
You will do well to have your pointers or speech prepared at least three weeks to the big day. Actually, take this role with as much seriousness as you would with your college paper by avoiding procrastination.
You can let a friend you trust help you in editing your drafts. The reason advance preparation is emphasized is because you will have ample time to think through what you will say as well as eliminate panic attacks.
Practice
If you do not have the flair of giving speeches, take time to practice reading it loud to your comfort level. You can even grab one bridesmaid on the morning of the wedding day read the speech to her and let her give feedback on the delivery, gestures and even jokes.
Do not forget to bring the complete speech with you because it is not mandatory to memorize. Remember, your emotions can catch you off guard.
Select appropriate quotes
Adding quotes to your speeches is not only inspirational but also a great way of communicating. However, you must ensure that the quotes you choose resonate well with the message you are communicating.
The best approach to using quotes is settling for quotes that carry wisdom and you can deliver with earnest emotion, understanding and confidence. Also, do not be under pressure to use quotes because they are not a must otherwise you will end up with a speech that is insincere and pretentious.
Let your content be all-round
Your speech should not only be innovative but also personalized. The best way to achieve this is by covering all bases. You can express how much you are thrilled to be at the wedding, throw in a personal touch like a secret or joke that is emotionally significant to all guests, offer some encouragement on the couple’s future and conclude with a toss.
Make it short and sweet
The wedding day is not a day to do long speeches. Therefore, bridesmaids and the maid of honor speeches must be short and sweet. Keep it simple by avoiding jargon and X-rated anecdotes. Focus on making your speech a class act.
Embrace your own style
Bridesmaids and the maid of honor may be under pressure to outdo the best man speech. This can be misleading. Remember, your speech does not have to be poetic and sentimental for it to be a contrast to that of the best man.
Do not be under pressure to be who you are not. Just be yourself and have fun while at it without having to worry about outdoing the others.
Be cool, calm and collected
Your demeanor is part of the speech because it affects the reception. That is, how you conduct yourself can either be a distraction or an attention grabber. On the other hand, you may be nervous.
So how then do you strike a balance?
You can do a number of things to stay calm like taking a deep breath, taking a glass of wine or simply speaking slowly.
Creativity, creativity, creativity
You do not have to stick to the conventional way of doing things. In fact, you can add a touch of creativity by simply reading out an original poem or giving a dance performance. In short, do it in a style you are most comfortable with.
However, if you think of something that is too eccentric then you can consult the bride to check if they will be comfortable with it.
Take Your Time and Give The Best Speech!
bridesmaid and maid of honor speeches require some effort in planning if you are to nail it and make the newlywed couple and their guests happy on their big day. So take your time and plan with the help of the ideas discussed above.