1. Do
Not, I Repeat, Do Not Procrastinate
I know
as the Maid-of-Honor you are busy with all of your fun and not-so-fun
duties. The Bride is counting on you to
help her in every way possible, but she is also counting on you to write a
meaningful and memorable speech. With
this being said… although you are busy, do not put off writing the speech until
the week, or even the day before. Trust
me, when you have more time on your hands, the words will come together
beautifully!
2. Know
Your Audience
Knowing
your Audience can be difficult, yet it is important to know the demographics of
who you are speaking to. Asking the
Bride & Groom can be a great resource to review you on who will be
attending the wedding, and what the best style of speech they would
recommend. Say your audience is mostly
above the age of 50 and they are more of a serious group. I would not recommend telling a lot of jokes,
and I definitely wouldn’t recommend talking about those “good old college
days”. Knowing your audience will not
only bring you a sense of comfort, but it will also help create a speech that
the guests will appreciate.
3. Keep
It Short & Sweet
Unfortunately,
we see this mistake all of the time. The
Maid-of-Honor’s Speech is way too long, and you can tell she has lost the
audience. There is not a need to tell
every moment you two had together... You
are standing there as the Maid-of-Honor, they all know how close you are. So make it short and sweet and try to keep it
at the most 2 to 3 minutes!
4. Take
This Seriously
Your
Best Friend/Sister/Cousin/etc. has put you in this position because they trust
you to take this speech seriously. Be
completely mature about the whole thing, and remember who is counting on
you. Although it may seem like a quick
little speech, it is something the Bride is really looking forward to!
5. Start
with a Story
Starting
with a quick story will set the mood for the rest of your speech. If you would like your speech to be upbeat
and funny, start with a silly (and appropriate) story of you and the
Bride. If you want the speech to be
emotional, start with one that maybe brought you both together or a moment
where you truly bonded. Whatever this
story may be, remember your audience, and make sure that it is one the couple
will truly enjoy.
6. Go
Down Memory Lane
Included with
your initial story, also tell another story of a funny and/or touching moment
you had with the Bride or with the couple.
This could be childhood memories, how you first met, when they first
met, or a time you spent with both of them together. Make it one that will touch their hearts and
possibly make them laugh. Whatever it
is, make it a memory that they will appreciate reminiscing with you and their
guests.
7. Why
They’re Meant To Be
This is
critical to any Maid-of-Honor Speech.
Letting them know what you see in both of them and how it makes them
perfect together, can truly be a tear jerker.
This could be a story on how they met, a story on how they act
together, or maybe even the time that
she came to you and told you he was the one.
Validating that they belong together is a beautiful moment for the
couple and for your audience.
8. Stay
Calm, Cool & Collected
Although
you may feel a lot of pressure to deliver the perfect speech, just remember…
there is no such thing as a perfect speech!
All you need to remember is to express your emotions, let them know how
much they mean to you, and hey, if you’re confident in your humor, throw in a
good joke or two. Whatever your style
may be, just stay calm, cool & collected, and know that the Bride has given
you this position, which means she completely believes in you!
9. Practice,
Practice, Practice!
You may
feel confident in your speaking abilities… or you may not… either way, practice
is key! Standing in front of a mirror,
or speaking to your family/friends beforehand, will help tremendously, and can
only boost your confidence! If you have
gone over it many times and still don’t seem to have grasped it completely, it
doesn’t hurt to make notecards.
Notecards can be there for you as an outline and help guide you
throughout your speech! Whatever your
style may be, practicing will go a long way, and you’ll be glad you did
10. Most
Importantly… Be Yourself!
The
Bride loves you for who you are; so remember when writing and presenting your
speech to be your complete self! This is
the most important advice I can give you when writing and giving your
Maid-of-Honor speech… Give it your all and have it come from your big
heart! If you at least follow this step,
I promise, it will come together perfectly!
BBFN (Bridal Bliss For Now),
Olivia
No comments:
Post a Comment