I had the pleasure of writing my first Maid of Honor speech at the end of October for my brother’s wedding, and it was a roller coaster. As someone who gets nervous writing speeches and speaking in public for such a momentous occasion, I researched all of the tips and tricks for writing the best Maid of Honor speech.
Consider the Length
The length of the speech is tricky! Make it too short, and you come off as nervous or inconsiderate. Make it too long, and it becomes a punch line about the night later on. It’s important to become familiar with your speech so that you are able to know the timing of it. Some of the best speeches are about 5-7 minutes long!
Consider the Tone
As a wedding photographer, I’ve seen a lot of variations of speeches. Maid of Honors will do an entire rap, some cry their entire speech, and some expose old stories that make the audience laugh and the bride blush. Well-written speeches mix all of those elements into one speech.
Consider your Couple
I think the greatest piece of advice I have is to write a speech that comes from the heart. What do you want the couple to know about themselves? What do you want the couple to feel after they hear the speech? How does their story tell a greater story about love?
Just before the wedding, I also reached out to friends on Instagram, and here’s what you said that really helped…
- “Have a little wine ahead of time, and then raise that glass to the lucky couple! And remember, your entire audience loves you and supports you one hundred percent so you can’t possibly go wrong.” – Joann Moritz Photography
- “Be yourself and let it come from the heart” – Germaine
- “Take a deep breath!” – Liz
Summary
Ultimately, I learned that writing a speech requires thoughtfulness, and having the courage to say the speech is a matter of speaking from my heart. I was so nervous! At the end of the day, the goal was to celebrate their love.
I would love to photograph you saying your speech! Contact me here.
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