Standing Ovation Speeches

Maid of Honor Speech or Toast: How to easily write a great maid of honor speech for your sister or friend

 

If you are looking for tips and ideas to help you write a lovely maid of honor wedding speech for your friend or sister on her wedding day, then you shouldn’t worry anymore because in this easy-to-follow guide, I am going to share with you…

• How to easily write a heartfelt maid of honor toast for your sister or friend

• How to model your maid of honor wedding speech after excellent maid of honor speech templates

• What to include and what not to include so you don’t embarrass your sister or best friend

• What you should say if you are a Christian or a very religious person

…plus a whole lot more like…how long should your maid of honor wedding speech be?

 

Let’s Start With This One

 

Being a maid of honor can be a truly memorable and exciting experience for any woman.  Inspite of it being a big blessing, it can be a very tasking endeavor if put your whole heart and soul into helping the bride plan a memorable wedding.

Just think about it. From making sure the bridesmaids dresses are ordered in a timely fashion, to planning the wedding reception, to picking a dress that suits the occasion, to giving a speech at the reception, you really have a lot to make sure the day goes without a hitch.

But none of that leaves a favorable impression than standing up in front of the couple’s  family and friends to talk about your bonds of friendship and wish her and the groom a lifetime of happiness.

 

How To Gather Ideas For Your Maid Of Honor Wedding Speech

To make the writing process fairly easy, you first have to pick ideas from well-written maid of honor speech samples.

Having said, let’s look at two examples right away. Afterward, we will analyze the second example bit by bit and distill everything down into actionable tips that can help you to write a beautiful maid of honor wedding toast.

 

Ok, here are those examples.

 

Maid Of Honor Speech Template/ Example For A Sister

 

I would like to thank Wedding Forward for sharing this example.

 

Hello there, everyone. I’m Wendi, the maid of honor and sister of the bride. Being a sister grants me special privileges, like allowance to call Elizabeth ‘Liz’, which I’ve been doing forever and can’t bring myself to stop now. As I’ve known Liz her entire life, I wanted to say a few words on her and Dillan’s special day.

 

It’s amazing that Liz and I survived childhood. Yes, we often fought like cats and dogs, putting our parents through a bit of grief. But even when we got along, we were apt to find ourselves in trouble. Like the time I tried to teach Liz to ride a bike… sorry about that sprained arm, sister. Or when we’d squeeze ourselves into the dryer, or jump from the balcony onto a pile of pillows, or make those delicious mud pies… topped with poison berries we found in the shrubs.

 

 

I even used to take advantage of Liz’s giving nature, and ask her to walk to pick me up a Blizzard from the Dairy Queen two miles away. Which she totally did. Thanks, sis.

 

We made it through childhood alive. Since Liz is my little sister though, it was hard to see her as an adult for a long time. In fact, I remember the day she stopped being a kid in my eyes, and it was a lot more recently than you might think. Back when both of us lived in Seattle, I was working at a Starbucks inside a grocery store, and Liz was training to be an EMT.

 

 

 

She used to come in and joke with me and order drinks – wait no, she only ordered one drink, a triple-grande-nonfat-vanilla-latte — before her shift started. Those days sort of blend together (not unlike her latte) in a montage of goofiness, with one exception: the day we heard a commotion at one of the checkout stands.

 

Liz ran over to the line to see what was going on. She ran back and asked me for a cup of water, which I gave her, and then she scurried away. She ran back and asked me for a piece of candy, which I gave her, and then she scurried away again. Liz came back again and asked if I could call her work to tell them she’d be late, and she scurried away again. I called her boss and said, “Liz is going to be late, she’s saving someone right now.”

 

Which was totally true. Liz was in the middle of making sure a pregnant woman who had fainted was okay. She eventually came and picked up her triple-grande-nonfat-vanilla-latte and went off to work. After Liz left, the manager of the store came over to me, and told me, “Please thank your sister for me. That was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.”

 

At that moment I realized Liz was not just my sister, and no longer a kid. Liz was – and is – someone who can help people in the most scary of times. She can stop everything, stay calm, and save the day. Liz is a superhero.

 

And I know Liz is bringing her superhero powers to her marriage, too. She’s bringing her eagerness to make others happy. Her aptitude for sharing. Her sense of humor. Her naturally kind disposition. And most of all, her ability to love with her whole heart, selflessly and for the benefit of everyone around her.

 

Liz, I know Dillan is going to make you so happy, and I know in return you’ll do the same for him. I love you both and wish you all the best in your long lives together.

To the happy couple!

 

 

Now, let’s look at the next example:

Maid of Honor Speech Example/ Template for a Best Friend

 

I would like to thank Vow Muse for sharing this example.

 

If you haven’t had the chance to meet me yet, my name is Maggie. Martha and I have been best friends for about 10 years. We met in high school gym class, and we couldn’t stand each other at first. As you can see, things eventually changed for the better.

 

When she first asked me to be her Maid of Honor I felt flattered. But as the big day approached, she also told me to give a speech and a toast. I’m kind of the shy type and tried my best to get out of it. But, as Dan can tell you, it’s almost impossible to tell my friend No and get away with it.

 

I never had a friend like Martha. But she has been like a sister to me for all these years. We have similar tastes, we like similar clothes… I knew Martha had found the one when Dan walked into her life. Well, I’m fine with that – she saw him first!

 

Actually, you could see that it was love at first, second, and third sight. He is her Prince Charming and it seems to me he gives her all she needs – a strong arm, a sympathetic ear, and his credit card.

 

I can’t imagine anyone else but him to be her one and only. They say that anyone can be passionate, but it takes a real pair of lovers to be silly. Well, together, Martha and Dan are two of the goofiest people I know.

 

For many years, they have been through thick and thin, and have shared many memories. I wanted to tell you both how absolutely spectacular you look today. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a better-looking couple. I wish you two all the love and happiness in the world. How blessed you are to celebrate your love on this beautiful day.

 

I know you will have challenges as all relationships do. But you know what’s great about love and relationships and marriages? it is learning to grow together. Caring and sharing, and lots of tenderness. And maybe a bit of patience.

 

I know there are many happy years ahead for you. Let’s all raise our glasses to the bride and groom, and wish them a lifetime of love and happiness!

 

 

The Three Main Parts of Your Speech

Having read both pieces, let’s quickly move on by breaking down the first example bit by bit so you can figure out what goes into writing a great maid of honor speech or toast.

 

I don’t know if you have a great memory. But, do you remember what your High School English teacher said about the composition of essays?

 

Do you remember him saying way back in the good old days that essays have three main parts? You seem to be smiling which seems to suggest that you know the answer.

 

If you are having these answers: introduction, body, and conclusion’’ in your mind, then your memory is like a camera lens! Congratulations! All speeches (including those you read above) have an introduction, body or outline and a conclusion or ending.

 

Let’s Start With The Introduction Or Opening Remarks

 

Your introductory remark is also known as the hook. It serves two primary purposes:

• To engage the wedding guests
• To set the pace for the rest of your presentation
• It can help ease nervous tension if you start on the right note.

 

Now, let’s go back to the first example and cull the excerpts of the introductory remarks so we can learn a thing or two from it.

 

Here you go:

‘’ If you haven’t had the chance to meet me yet, my name is Maggie. Martha and I have been best friends for about 10 years. We met in high school gym class, and we couldn’t stand each other at first. As you can see, things eventually changed for the better. When she first asked me to be her Maid of Honor I felt flattered. ‘’

 

 

I know you can just close your eye and simply come up with that example. But if you probe deeper, you will realize that all introductions have certain key points that the writer probably overlooked.

 

Do you have any idea what they are? If you scroll back up and read it once more, you will notice these elements running through it:

 

• Short self-introduction and the maid of honor’s relationship with the bride.

 

Well, not everything was captured in that extract though. It actually goes beyond that.  Maggie could have also added these core components too:

 

1. Thanking everyone for coming.
2. Mentioning some personalities who have had a tremendous impact on the life of the bride. If you are the bride’s sister, you can use this opportunity to thank people like your own mom and dad and other relatives you know.
3. Here, you also thank the bride for asking you to be her maid of honor.

 

Here’s A Second Part of the Maid of Honor Wedding Speech

You might think that’s all there is about introductory remarks. There’s also another part that captivates and engages the audience. Thus, giving an air of expectation that your maid of honor wedding speech won’t be like the ones they usually hear at most wedding venues.

 

Here’s how Maggie wrote hers.

‘’… I have been best friends for about 10 years. We met in high school gym class, and we couldn’t stand each other at first. ‘’

 

I don’t know why this happens. But most maids of honors begin their speeches by stating where they met the bride and how many years they have been friends. That’s pretty standard anyway.

 

But if you want your maid of honor wedding speech to be unique, you should start on a rather different tone. I am happy to share with you a few tips and ideas for starting your maid of honor speech with a bang.

 

First, if you really have an amazing singing voice, you can start with a parody of a well-known song every can sing along to as these wonderful ladies have done.

 

 

 

Second, if you want the opening lines of your maid of honor wedding toast to be hilarious, you may start with a funny story about when and how you became best friends.  

 

You may also mention her nickname and explain how she got it if there’s a story about it. Or simply use an joke that you think will make the wedding guests laugh out loud.

 

Third, you can make your speech funny by learning a few phrases if you have guests coming from another country and then incorporate them into your maid of honor wedding speech. 

For example, if the groom is Spanish and his family is coming from say Spain. Then, you can possibly ask him or the bride to educate you on how to greet and introduce yourself and practice it a bit before addressing the overseas guests in Spanish.

 

If you use this approach, you will endear yourself to the audience and end up making lots of new friends. You never know what will happen if you are still single and looking for love. You might be lucky if you just give it a try!

 

 

Fourth, you can strike a sentimental tone by using a few witty lines about friendship or marriage. Now, I am going to share with you some touching quotes and show you how you can modify them to give your maid of honor speech a sentimental touch.

 

Quotes For A Friend

1. ’’Anything is possible when you have the right friend to support you ‘’- Dan Jean
2. A friend is someone who overlooks your broken and admires the flowers in your garden
3. “Don’t make friends who are comfortable to be with. Make friends who will force you to lever yourself up.” — Thomas J. Watson

 

Quotes for a Sister

1. A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves—a special kind of double.”
   —Toni Morrison
2. “I’m the big sister. I want to make sure she has everything, even if I don’t have anything. It’s hard. I love her too much. That’s what counts.”
   —Venus Williams
3. “Sisters make the best friends in the world.”
   —Marilyn Monroe

 

Let’s see how to use quote the first quote to write a very brief example.

''Anything is possible when you have the right friend to support you ''- Dan Jean

 

Here you go:

 

I once read a quote that says that anything is possible when you have the right friend to support you. I got to understand that better when I met Emily a decade ago when we were both High School students.

 

Fifth, if you are from a strict religious home or are a Christian, you can start with a prayer even before you deliver your speech.

 

Now, let’s move to the next part of your delivery:

How to Write the Body or Outline of Your Maid of Honor Speech for Your Sister or Friend

 

 

As you know, writing the body is like taking a leisure stroll through your community. It’s very easy to do that. But I am always appalled when I review speeches and see great ideas scattered all over the place.

Do you know why this always happens? It’s because most speech-givers generally have an idea of what to say. But have great difficulty organizing their thoughts and feelings into very meaningful words.

 

To make sure your ideas flow very well, you should have a plan and stick to that plan from the start to the end.

How then do you craft such a workable plan? You can do that with one or more of the following ideas or techniques. So get a notepad and pen and write down answers to these questions. 

• Do you remember a little story about your friendship with the bride? If so, then please write down the highlights of your friendship.

• Do you recall where you first met her? If you are older sister or even a sister, you can mention how you felt when your little sister came into your life.
• How did you meet her? State what drew the maid of honor to your side for the very first time. If you are a sister, you can bring out the influence she’s had on your life.

• Again, mention how your friendship began to develop. If you are a sister, you can share things you have in common and how that deepened your love for each other.

• You may mention any misunderstandings or differences you have had and how it was resolved. If she’s the peace maker, you can mention and state why that’s a plus for her going into marriage.

 

If you choose to share anecdotes about your sister or friend, then you should write about the groom. If you don’t know the groom very well, just express your delight that he’s taking her to be a wife.

 

If you know him like the back of your hand, then you can probably add these details to your maid of honor wedding toast.

• How you met him
• Your first(s) impression of him
• How has their friendship blossom over the years?
• Mention his beautiful traits and indicate why you think he would be a great husband and dad. If you are a sister, you can thank him for marrying your beloved sister and welcome him into your family.
• You may also touch on how they complement each other.

 

This is what I want you to right now. Please jot down ideas about the groom or your brother-in-law and the bride using the tips I just shared with you.

You may write as many stories you can possibly remember about the couple. Then, pick the most interesting ones and use them to write a rough first draft which you can edit for clarify.

 

Let’s now look at…

How to Write The Ending of a Maid of Honor Toast

 

It’s not uncommon for the overwhelming majority of wedding speakers to toast the couple. While there’s nothing wrong with that, you can go a step further to make your closing lines very entertaining with any of these simple but really effective ideas.

 

First, you can gift the bride and groom a unique and heartfelt gift. What can you give the couple that will make them remember your kindness for years to come? You give this a try and the bride and groom will appreciate your thoughtfulness.

 

Now, let’s look at...

How to Write Ending of a Maid of Honor Speech Toast

 

It’s not uncommon for the overwhelming majority of wedding speakers to toast the couple. There is nothing wrong with that of course.  But if you want to make your speech every enjoyable, then you should try to come up with new ways of wrapping up.

 

Well, here are some proven but rarely used tips you can use to climax your speech.

 

First, you can gift the bride and groom a unique and heartfelt gift. What can you give the couple that will make them remember your kindness for years to come? You better give this a second thought and  give it a try.

 

Second, you can also conclude with a quote. Quotes like the one below can be a perfect ending to a very lovely maid of honor toast.

‘’ I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”

Most maids of honor do this....have you considered it yet? It would help you deliver your wedding speech for your friend or sister. This is the chance to prove to the bride that you really love her.

We can help you make your friend or sister proud and the wedding guests say great things about your speech.

Here’s what one nervous person called Glen sent over after the wedding was over. 

Hey Dan, I just wanted to thank you once again for the speech you wrote with me. My goal was met afterward, I was told by many "what a beautiful speech" and received a standing ovation. I couldn't have done this without you. God Bless Dan!- Glen, U.S.A

Want to know how he did just that? He got on board our wedding speech program and one of our talented speech consultants helped him out.

Want to get on board? You should by first filling out this short form.

Ok, Is This Offer For Me?

• Yes, if you are expecting nothing less than a very special, beautiful, unique, and memorable speech.

• Yes, if you are overwhelmed by the pressures of work and don’t have the time to put together a very meaningful speech, so you can have peace of mind

• Yes, if you want the bride, your friends or siblings, her family,  your family, children, friends, and wedding guests to shower you with very sincere compliments…just imagine how you will feel

• Yes, if you are not good with words and you feel you’re not a natural writer and you are struggling to find the right words but still want to give a great speech.

• Yes, you get so scared anytime you’re asked to say something before an audience and you really want to save yourself from any form of embarrassment on her big day.

• Yes, if you are not too eloquent or not too sure if you are on the right track.

• Yes, if you absolutely hate speaking in public or feel this is not your thing but you want to make your friend or sister feel very proud

• Yes, if you have a day or less to the wedding and you are worried that you might make some horrible mistakes

• Yes, if you are a good speaker but you still want someone to look over or review what you've come up with!

Wedding not too far away? Or happening in less than 24 hours? Trust me, we can deliver! it doesn’t matter if your speech is today, tomorrow, next week, next month, next year,... we can make things work for you 

Just imagine leaving your entire presentation in the hands of skilled wedding speech consultants who will take away your pain of spending hours thinking hard and long about what to say and what not to say.

Also, envision being patiently guided to say something that will leave a favorable impression on the mind of your listeners.

And also imagine the thrill and feeling of excitement and pride you’re going to experience when the audience leaps onto their feet and scream and shouts and even sing your praises.

Won’t you love that? I hope you do...

Ok, I am Interested, What’s the Cost?

You simply pay what you want after you’ve got your beautiful speech.

Why? As you know, the current health and economic crisis have caused severe hardships for most people.

Precious lives have been lost, jobs wiped out and families displaced, leaving everyone wondering what the future holds.

Yet, some couples are still getting married and family and friends still have to give their speeches like never before. 

Nonetheless, not everyone could afford our services even before the pandemic suddenly hit us.

So, we have dropped our normal rates so you can simply pay what you want after you have got your beautiful speech.

Please note: When life gets back to normal, this offer will be scrapped for good.

So, please take advantage of it now even if her big day is in the future.

Even though we are going through this crazy time, if you do a poor job at it, your speech will be captured on video, and the bride, your friends and family, and other viewers will forever remember what you said and would not attribute your poor performance to the fact there was a deadly disease in town.  

So, please take advantage of it now even if the wedding day is in the future by simply paying what you want after you get your beautiful speech.   

Oh Ok, How Then Do I Get Started Since I Want To Get On Board Right Away?

Ok, here’s how it works

All you have to do RIGHT NOW is to click on this link to receive an easy-to-fill-in questionnaire via email. Check your email a few hours after you’ve submitted your request for your questionnaire.

So,

1)CLICK HERE  NOW TO GET STARTED NOW TO GET YOUR GREAT SPEECH NOW BY FILLING OUT THIS QUESTIONNAIRE---you only pay after your beautiful speech has been delivered. So, you can have peace of mind!

2. After that, we will send you a very short questionnaire to fill out via email! You only have to check your email a few hours after you have made your request.

3. Then, you fill out the questionnaire sent through your email, and please have it sent back to us…

4. We will confirm receipt of it…If something is not too clear, we will ask you to clarify….
5. If not, we will send you a wonderful draft in a couple of hours if this on very short notice….If not, after a few days
6. Then, you look it over and tell us if you are okay with it or you want to amend or revise it till you are happy with it--although we always get it right even with the first draft
7. Then, you pay for it.

Just a reminder of what you pay after it’s duly completed.

You simply pay what you want after you’ve got your beautiful speech.

Why? As you know, the current health and economiccrisis have caused severe hardships for most people.

Precious lives have been lost, jobs wiped out and families displaced, leaving everyone wondering what the future holds.

Yet, some brides are still getting married and asking their friends or siblings to give maid of honor speeches. 

Nonetheless, not everyone could afford our services even before the pandemic suddenly hit us.

So, we have dropped our normal rates so you can simply pay what you want after you have got your beautiful speech.

Please note: When life gets back to normal, this offer will be scrapped for good.

So, please take advantage of it now even if her big day is in the future.

Even though we are going through this crazy time, if you do a poor job at it, your speech will be captured on video, and the bride, your friends, friends and family, and other viewers will forever remember what you said and would not attribute your poor performance to the fact there was a deadly disease in town.  

So, please take advantage of it now even if the wedding day is in the future by simply paying what you want after you get your beautiful speech.   

Please note: Your speech draft comes with a proven and simple tip to master your speech or remember your speech just as you want it without carrying a paper with you.

Just see what someone said about that great tip that's proven to calm your nerves and help you speak with purpose, poise, and clarity!

''Hi Dan,

The speech went very well, I modified it a bit and practiced it as you suggested (great advice).  Thanks for all your help and if I need a prepared speech again I’ll definitely contact you.

All the best,

Matt''

Please note: Don’t fill out this form if you’re a dishonest individual. This offer is for a limited time.

So, CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED NOW TO GET YOUR GREAT SPEECH NOW BY FILLING OUT A QUESTIONNAIRE---you only pay after your beautiful speech has been delivered. So, you can have peace of mind and not lose money. The risk is on us!

You don't have to worry about paying our per speech for now.

Forget about money and let’s write something for you. We believe in the values of honesty and integrity and we think you should be happy with our work first.

So, Here Are The Benefits You Get When You Get On Board!

• A great speech written by our wedding speech consultants that reflects what you want to say exactly

• We coach you on how to use your voice to make your speech very exciting.

• We show you a simple but often overlook strategy to rehearse your speech even if you have a very poor memory. This method is used by great speakers like Obama and was used by Abraham Lincoln and his compatriots

• The most effective way to get your entire speech into your head without memorizing your speech. Guaranteed to help you even if you have a very poor memory or your memory is like a goldfish…most of our clients still wonder where we got this idea from. This ensures that you don't read off a sheet of paper...

Just see what someone said about that great tip that's proven to calm your nerves and help you speak with purpose, poise, and clarity!

''Hi Dan,

The speech went very well, I modified it a bit and practiced it as you suggested (great advice).  Thanks for all your help and if I need a prepared speech again I’ll definitely contact you.

All the best,

Matt''

• Ways to include humor in your speech and what it takes to do so

So, CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED NOW TO GET YOUR GREAT SPEECH NOW BY FILLING OUT A QUESTIONNAIRE---you only pay after your beautiful speech has been delivered. So, you can have peace of mind and not lose money. The risk is on us!

Remember, you have to see your speech first before you pay. So, you can relax and let us sweat it out at our expense!

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