Matron Of Honor Speech or Toast For Your Friend Or Sister

Are you looking forward to writing the best ever matron of the honor speech or toast for your friend or sister at her wedding?

 

It’s actually how time flies. It seems like only yesterday that you were tying the knot with the love of your life and your friend or sister was so happy.  It is her turn to exchange promises with the man she cannot live without.

 

You have been there before and you can imagibe the joy welling up in her as she envisions how her wedding day will be like as well as how her future life with her husband will play out in the long run.

Since you are already married, you have a lot to tell her about how weddings are planned and what to expect. Of all your responsibilities, one you shouldn’t look down on is how to write a matron of honor speech that will make your friend or sister proud.

Unfortunately, so many matrons don’t attach much seriousness to it as they wait until a few days or even hours to the wedding day to write something.

Whenever I mention wedding speeches, most people almost freak out because they feel they don’t have what it takes to write an amazing speech for their sister or friend.

Contrary to what most matrons of honors think, you don’t have to have good writing skills or good public speaking skills to come up with something sweet for your sister, friend, or cousin.

 

All you need is a heart to believe that you can make it in spite of your perfections. If you ever goofed big time when you were asked to give a few remarks, then you are probably going to feel some butterflies in your tummy or experience abnormal heartbeats when you imagine how your toast will go.

 

It gets even worse if you have a poor track record of speaking in public or you are absolutely terrified of speaking in public. But you don’t have to lose hope because you can channel your nervousness into productive energy by letting go of past failures and repeatedly picturing yourself speaking confidently in front of your friend or sister and the wedding crowd.

 

As long as you keep at it, you will experience this new surge of energy that will flow from within your heart. Thus, equipping you with the strength necessary to face the crowd and help you turn the tide around.  That, in essence, is the first preparatory step towards writing a great matron of honor speech toast for your friend or sister.

 

Having said that, let’s look at the second step to consider before you put down your thoughts and ideas coherently.

 

You might fail to impress if all you do is quickly put your thoughts together. That is not the way to go.

You should approach this task like a tourist about to travel to his or her next destination. What this means is that you have to first figure out how matron of honor speech toasts are given.

Matron of honor toast examples can give you a perfect idea of what to say and what not to say.

So, this is what I recommend you do now. Grab your pen or notepad and write down ideas you find extremely helpful as you watch a sample video on youtube.com or on your favorite video sharing platform. 

Here you go: watch, enjoy, and learn from both clips.

 

Matron of honor speech video#1

 

 

Matron of honor speech video#2

 

I hope you enjoyed listening to both clips. Did you?  Well, I found this written speech example for you. So, let’s study it carefully and see how we can make the most out of it.

 

Matron Of Honor Speech Example For Friend or Sister

 

Liz… I’m so happy to be here today as your maid of honour, and to be able to tell everyone here how perfect Liz and Mike are for each other.

 

For those of you who don’t know, I’m Michelle, best friend of Liz’s for nearly 20 years. We were in 6th grade when we first met, and bonded because we were both going through our cringy anime phase together (and are still going through). She was obsessed with the anime Gundam Wing and I was a weird, nerdy kid who happened to like it too.

 

You were by my side on my actual wedding day as my maid of honour, and now I am by yours, finally getting to see you walk down the aisle to the man of your dreams.

 

I never would have thought that this friendship that started from passing notes in class and doodling anime boys to one another would be my most treasured and long-lived friendship.

 

But it wasn’t hard, since, over time, I learned that Liz is one of the most dedicated and loving people you will ever meet.

 

When she decides to be loyal to someone, she will put her whole heart into it. I really could go on and on about how wonderful she is, and god knows I have many stories of our shenanigans, from anime and boy drama through middle school and high school, to drunken all-nighters and Anime Expos in college.

 

But when I think about our friendship, I like to recall us sneaking off to the apartment pool one night because summers in Riverside are hot as hell even after sunset. We dipped our feet in the water and gushed about being at each other’s weddings and even having kids around the same time so our kids could be best friends like us (OR MAYBE MORE…). And here we are now…

 

You were by my side on my actual wedding day as my maid of honour, and now I am by yours, finally getting to see you walk down the aisle to the man of your dreams.

And I know there’s no man more worthy of your love and intense loyalty than Mike.

 

I watched their relationship bloom, from cute virtual dates in World of Warcraft to sneaking off to Disneyland during the summer, and I saw that both of them were romantics who genuinely wanted to make it work.

Liz has always had a type – she loves the cool, mysterious, quiet types with good jawlines. In Mike’s case, his cool exterior as they got to know each other in high school was likely him just being socially awkward and shy.

But I watched their relationship bloom, from cute virtual dates in World of Warcraft, to sneaking off to Disneyland during the summer, and I saw that both of them were romantics who genuinely wanted to make it work. And I know you both worked your asses off to make it work.

 

Few people realize how many challenges you two overcame to be together and stay together. You were long-distance for half of your relationship – over high school AND college, across the country, from California to Ohio. That’s a huge accomplishment.

 

People change so much from those ages, become totally different people with different goals. Yet Liz and Mike made it work. They grew together and always, always made an effort to intertwine their lives together.

 

They never stopped communicating, never stopped dating each other, even when they finally closed the distance. This is a couple that still kiss and hug and look at each other like love-struck teenagers several years later...

 

As Liz’s roommate, I can tell you she was always on the phone or webcam with him. She’d lovingly craft comics and art of them two to send in care packages to him, and I remember Mike drawing something for her, even though he’s not the drawing type, and running it by me for the sake of reciprocating her love.

 

And they kept this up for years. They never stopped communicating, never stopped dating each other, even when they finally closed the distance. This is a couple that still kiss and hug and look at each other like love-struck teenagers several years later, yet have the confidence and intimacy of one that’s grown old and wise together.

 

Liz and Mike, as a couple, you two are exactly where you should be. To the happy couple and their happily ever after!

 

As someone who has watched their relationship from the very beginning, you two truly embody a piece of advice I once heard about marriage: “A wedding ceremony should only, ever and always, be an affirmation that the relationship is where the couple wants to be, and a promise to keep it like that.”

 

Liz and Mike, as a couple, you two are exactly where you should be. To the happy couple and their happily ever after!

 

I loved this speech for its shortness and I really love how it ended.

 

Without further ado,  let us look at..

 

How To Easily Write Your Matron of Honor Speech

As you can see from the example we just looked at, there are three parts of every wedding speech examples and they comprise the following elements: introduction, the body, and the conclusion.

 

The introduction is the first part of that sample and it consists of two parts: introduction (part a) and introduction (part b)

Introduction (a) is where you greet the guests, express appreciation to friends and family of the groom and bride for coming, and indicate your relationship with your sister or friend.

 

Below is an extracted example from what we saw above:

Liz… I’m so happy to be here today as your maid of honour, and to be able to tell everyone here how perfect Liz and Mike are for each other.

 

 

For those of you who don’t know, I’m Michelle, best friend of Liz’s for nearly 20 years. We were in 6th grade when we first met, and bonded because we were both going through our cringy anime phase together (and are still going through).

 

 

This part of the speech is fairly easy to write. So, let me ask you this simple question: Which persons do you want to say thank you for everything they have done for the bride?

 

Action Tip: You may mention people like her friends, siblings if you are close enough to them, her parents if you are her sister, and so on. You just have to do a little brainstorming to come up with their names and state why you are thanking them.

 

Now, let’s go on to the next section of our introduction (part b)

If you scroll up this page, you will notice that I intentionally underlined the following words: We were in 6th grade when we first met….

 

 

After you have said your words of gratitude, you should dive right in with words that will grab the attention of the wedding guests from the very beginning. Most matrons of honors simply begin by saying how and when they met the bride.

 

While there is nothing wrong with that tried and tested approach, you can make your introductory remarks a little bit different than those we often hear at most wedding receptions since this part of your toast is like a man who has seen the love of his life for the very first time.

 

First impressions count a lot and I am happy to share with you proven and creative ways you can start on a very memorable note.

 

 

First, if you are not someone who appreciates novelty, then you can simply go with the usual flow by sharing how and when you met the bride and you will have no regrets at all.

 

Second, you can start with a beautiful quote about friendship or sisterhood. Ok, here are a few of such quotes.

 

''A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life.” – Isadora James

''Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make  our souls blossom.''- Marcel Proust

 ''For there is no friend like a sister in calm or stormy weather'' – Christina Rossetti

 ''A good friend is like a four-leaf clover; hard to find and lucky to have.''- Irish Proverb

 ''Some people arrive and make such a beautiful impact on your life, you can barely remember what life was like without them.''- Anna Taylor

''True friends are like a diamond—bright, beautiful, valuable and always in style.''- Nicole Richie

 

I want to give you an idea of how to use quotes to write something captivating:   Below is a short example based on that Irish proverb:

 

Now, let’s get started

There is this Irish proverbs that says that a good friend is like a four-leaf clover; so hard to find and lucky to have.

Melissa and I have been best friends since childhood and I must say that she is so hard to find like a four leaf clover.

 

That’s exactly how to make good use of quotes if you decide to sprinkle a few throughout your presentation.

 

Third, you can burst out into a song if you are a musically gifted person. This always works all the time even if you have prepared a not-so great wedding speech. Who doesn’t appreciate listening to a good song? You do, right?

 

 

Fourth, you can make your matron of honor speech sound funny by starting with a good joke. (Please don't include inside jokes that only you and the bride will understand)

 

 

Now, let us see...

How To Write The Content Or Structure Of Your Matron of Honor Speech

The body of your wedding toast for your friend or sister comes after the introduction and it is usually a summary of your relationship with the bride. That’s not hard to write. But the problem here lies in distilling so many years of friendship into a short five-minute account or so.

 

Well, there are a few things you have to consider before you create an outline for your remarks.

 

First and foremost, you have to pick a style.

Part of making a great matron of honor speech is picking a style that reflects who you are and not what you have seen others do.  Some people attend weddings and hear funny speeches and decide when they are getting married someday, they are going to make one.

 

But that shouldn’t be the case because we are not the same. Our personalities are different and each person is special in their own right.

 

What this means is that you do something you are comfortable with. Depending on who you are, you can choose to write in a witty style, intelligent, dramatic, tender, poetic, rhythmic, narrative, and even funny.If you go for a style that’s unique to you, the wedding guests will be able to relate better to what you have to say.

 

So, try as much as possible to find something in yourself that expresses who you are instead of just being a copycat.

 

After you have found your own voice, you can create a rough draft using answers to the following questions:

 

How did you meet your friend or sister?

When did you meet her? Hint: If you are her big sister, you can share how you felt when she was born

What were the early years like when you were much younger? 

What impact has your sister or friend had on your life? Hint: If you are her big sister, you can share how she’s been a blessing in your life

Any fond memories you wish to share?

Hint: You can do a little brainstorming and come up with stories or anecdotal highlights of the time you both spent during trips, vacations, school, and so on

What did you feel when she told you about the groom? Hint: If you were not so keen on her choice of spouse, please don’t mention it.

Do you know the groom very well?

Hint: If you do, then you can share so many wonderful stories about him.

If you are the bride’s sister, you can say how happy you are to have him in your family

 

You are advised to put down as many details as you can remember about how your years of friendship has been like over the years. Then, you can narrow it down by picking good stories you think can help you develop the theme of your wedding toast for your friend or sister.

 

After all, is said and done, you can start putting your scrambled thoughts together. You will notice as you finally put your speech togetherthat it will look messy on paper on your first try.

 

But don’t let that put a damper on how your words will flow because you can always go back to edit it until you are okay with it.

If for some reason, you are still not happy with your final output, you can let someone you trust give their honest opinions on your work.

 

Now, let us see…

How To End Your Matron of Honor Toast On A Happy Ending

 

Let us once again extract the concluding remarks of the example we are reviewing as it can guide us on how best to write an ending that will stay on the minds of the wedding attendees for a long time to come.

 

‘’ Liz and Mike, as a couple, you two are exactly where you should be. To the happy couple and their happily ever after!

As someone who has watched their relationship from the very beginning, you two truly embody a piece of advice I once heard about marriage: “A wedding ceremony should only, ever and always, be an affirmation that the relationship is where the couple wants to be, and a promise to keep it like that.”

 

Liz and Mike, as a couple, you two are exactly where you should be. To the happy couple and their happily ever after! ‘’

 

These are heartfelt closing remarks by all standards. Can you write something similar to that if not better? You better it a try because it’s an extremely easy task.

Having said that, below are simple ways of ending well.

 

First, if you or the couple are very devoted believers in God, you can pick a verse or two from the scriptures to write a faith-based ending.  Here are a few verses from the bible you can employ

 

Ecclesiastes 4:9: "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?"

 

Ephesians 5:25-33: "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, ..."

 

1 Corinthians 13: 4-13

New International Version

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

¹³ And now these three remain faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love

 

Second, you can wrap up with a touching or heartfelt poem by Ilona M Blake

Today will be perfect
In every single way.
A beautiful fairy tale
For your wedding day.
The theme of your day
Is to have love and laughter
And to live your days
Happily ever after.

Living happily is
What we need to survive,
So how does one keep
The magic alive?
How do you light a spark
That never goes out?
And how does one live a life
Without fear or doubt?

How do some people manage
To keep their love strong?
And how do some couples
Always feel like they belong?
What do you need to do
To stay in love forever
And make each day special
And grow fonder together?

Well, these very questions
You must address every day.
You must take the time
To go out of your way,
To always share love
And always share laughter,
To do whatever it takes
To live happily ever after.

Here is a recipe
I think is a must,
So let's begin with
Always having trust.
Don't forget it's important
To have total respect,
And to always stay loyal
To keep your love perfect.

You must communicate
Each and every day.
Three special little words
You must never forget to say,
"I love you." It's amazing
How these words make you feel
Happy, safe, and valued,
And they will keep your love real.

A simple act of kindness
Goes a long, long way.
Blend it with understanding
And you can't go astray.
Don't forget friendship.
It will help you to cope.
Add a sprinkle of faith
And an abundance of hope.

Remember your smile.
It is beautiful to see.
It can brighten one's day.
It can make you feel free.
So my wish for you both
Is you always have love and laughter,
And I pray that you will enjoy
Your happily ever after.

 

I just want to show you how we can use the underlined words to write a short piece of advice.

 

Dan and Melissa, just want to say that all you need as you embark on this journey are two things: patience and forgiveness

So, in good times and bad, always hold on to each other, love and laugh together, and be each other’s keeper because there’s nothing you can’t achieve if you value each other deeply.

 

Did you notice how I spiced up that example with the lines of the poem above?

Again, you can end by proposing a toast if you have nothing at all to say or the other recommendations won’t work for you.

 

Here are some heartfelt quotes from movies and television series you can use to end your matron of honor speech.

 

“Never lie, steal, cheat, or drink. But if you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love. If you must steal, steal away from bad company. If you must cheat, cheat death. And if you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away”

― Will Smith

“Love is passion, obsession, someone you can’t live without. If you don’t start with that, what are you going to end up with?” – Meet Joe Black

“I love you very much, probably more than anybody could love another person.” – 50 first dates

“They say when you meet the love of your life, time stops and that’s true. What they don’t tell you is that when it starts again, it moves extra fast to catch up.” – Big Fish

The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds.” – The Notebook