how to write a wedding speech for best friend

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The Ultimate Guide To Creating The Perfect Best Friend Wedding Speech

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It’s easy to panic if you’ve been tasked with giving a best friend wedding speech, especially if you’re not good at public speaking. However, no need to worry; with the right tips and a bit of guidance, giving a wedding speech for a best friend would be no trouble at all.

Read on to get helpful writing techniques and guides in delivering your speech in the best way possible.

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Best Friend Wedding Speech Examples

Something else that can guide you in delivering the best wedding speech is examples to show you how the outline works. So, here are some best friend wedding speech examples to show you just how you can put those words together in honoring your best friend on their special day.

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Emotional Wedding Speech for Best Friend

From the first giggle-filled sleepovers to being your wingwoman in love, our journey has been a rollercoaster of joy. Today, as I stand by your side, my heart swells with pride and love. Your love story isn’t just a chapter; it’s a masterpiece, and I’m grateful to be a part of it. Here’s to the friend who found her happily ever after. May your days be filled with the same laughter and love you’ve given me throughout the years. Cheers to your beautiful forever!

Best Friend Wedding Speech Funny

Here’s to my partner in crime, my confidante in chaos, now tying the knot! Our friendship survived questionable haircuts and fashion faux pas, so I’m confident your marriage can handle anything. As you embark on this adventure called wedded bliss, remember: a successful marriage is just like a successful prank – it takes careful planning, a dash of spontaneity, and a partner who’s always ready to laugh. May your love story be the ultimate comedy, filled with inside jokes and a lifetime of shared laughter. Cheers to the bride and groom – let the hilarity ensue!

Heartfelt Best Friend Wedding Speech

Hello everyone! My name is _, I am the best friend of the bride. They say that good things happen to good people. And today, we can see this for ourselves! I have known the bride since childhood and the groom for about 5 years. And I think they are just made for each other! They had found their balance; she had found her calm, and he had found his fire. _ is without a doubt one of the most amazing people I know; she is kind and loving, funny and fierce. So I can confidently say that I am very lucky to have such a friend. _, I want to thank you for loving my girl. There is no one who can do it as well as you. For the newlyweds! Be happy!

Maid of Honor or Best Friend Wedding Speech

Good evening ladies and gentlemen! For those who don’t know me – I’m _, the bride’s best friend. I am honored to be here today and, in general, to be her friend. Her warmth and generous nature draw people to her. She is brave and full of love. This is the kindest person I know, and I am sure that _ will be able to make her happy for many, many years. They are so similar! Don’t you think? Both in their appearance and in personality! This is truly one of those unions that were made in heaven! Let’s raise our glasses to this beautiful couple! You are perfect! Cheers!

Friendly Best Man Wedding Speech

Hi all! My name is _, I am the best friend of the groom. What is love? It is a short word, easy to spell, difficult to define, and impossible to live without. I’m just incredibly happy that _ was able to find such a beautiful girl, and today we are all here at their wedding, celebrating their love! When we were 9 years old, we promised each other never to get married. Haha. _, do you remember? And here we are, and today I am happy as ever, oh, I already said that, sorry! Be happy, my dear, you have a long and interesting life ahead of you! Enjoy it! Cheers!

How to Write a Wedding Speech for Best Friend

It’s always an honor to be asked to give a short wedding speech for a best friend on their special day. However, if you have difficulty writing or giving speeches, you can use these practical steps as a guide.

• Introduce yourself: Introducing yourself is a great way to start since not everyone there might know who you are. It’s also the polite thing to do. You should also acknowledge the guests and thank them for being there.
• Say some words about the wedding and the newlyweds: Talk about the couple, their love, perhaps the story of how they met and what they mean to you.
• Say some words about your friend: There will no doubt be lots you would want to say about your friend. However, it’s a good idea to compress it to a memory or story that expresses more about their character, also something that you can connect to their relationship and to their partner.
• Add a joke or a quote: If you have any good best friend wedding speech quotes, this would be a good time to interject them. You could give one or two, not to make your speech too long.
• Say congratulation words: End your speech with your well wishes for the couple and a toast if possible.

Dos And Don’ts For Wedding Toast Speech For Best Friend

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• Start with an introduction: It’s the polite thing to do, but also not everybody might know who you are.
• Welcome the newlyweds and the guests: Welcome everyone, and thank the guests especially for taking the time to be there for the celebration.
• Share stories about your best friend: You know them more than most, so this would be a good time to highlight their good qualities. If you’d like to give a funny best friend wedding speech you could include a hilarious memory here.
• Say something nice about your friend’s partner: If you have any anecdotes about how they met, you could include that too.
• End with good wishes for the couple: Say some inspiring words. Then, you can add a toast as well.

Don’ts:

• Do not introduce bad memories: This is a day to celebrate with your friend and their family. If you have any bad memories or even any disagreements, this is not the place to bring that up. Focus on the happiness and love of the day. Everything else can come afterwards.
• Don’t overshare: Be careful what you share. Some things are too personal to tell to a crowd. Choose to share what you know your friend would be comfortable with and the guests will be happy to hear. Don’t share any stories that would make anyone uncomfortable.
• Do not make costly jokes: Jokes are only great when they are in good humor. Keep your jokes clean and try to strike a balance. Do not allow your jokes cross the line from funny into offensive. Light humor is always best.
• Don’t make your speech long and boring: The perfect timing for a speech is between three and five minutes. So, don’t make your speech too short that the message gets lost. But don’t allow it get so long that the audience begins to get bored and distracted.
• Do not mention any exes: Whether it’s your friend’s exes or their partner’s. This is not a good time to mention them. Exes belong in the past. Focus on the present, on the couple and on their joyous celebration.

What should I say in my best friend’s wedding speech?

Share heartfelt stories and memories, express your joy for the couple, compliment each person’s qualities, and offer best wishes for their future together.

What is an example of a short wedding speech for a friend?

“To love, laughter, and a lifetime of happiness! I’ve seen these two create countless beautiful moments together, and I couldn’t be happier for them. May your journey be filled with endless joy and unforgettable adventures. Cheers to the newlyweds!”

What do you say at your friend’s wedding?

Express your happiness for the couple, share stories that reflect their love, highlight their positive qualities, and offer genuine well-wishes for their marriage.

There is no need to worry or fret if you have been asked to give a best friend wedding speech. With the right tips and guidance, you can improve your writing techniques and create a wedding speech that your friend will be proud of. Once you’re done writing a speech that you are sure of, delivering it on that day will be a like a walk in the park.

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Best Friend Wedding Speech: Nailing the Ultimate Toast of a Lifetime

Standing by your best friend as they tie the knot is an incredibly special experience. As the best man or maid of honor, your role includes delivering a heartfelt and memorable speech at the wedding reception.

Crafting the perfect speech can feel daunting, but with some planning and a few personal touches, you’ll undoubtedly create a moment your friend will cherish.

Begin by reflecting on your shared memories with the couple and why this day is so meaningful to them. Then, include anecdotes showcasing your best friend’s character and relationship with their spouse. By incorporating these personal stories , your speech will weave a narrative that resonates with the guests and provides a glimpse of the love story you’ve had the privilege to witness firsthand.

As you embark on this journey of crafting the perfect best friend wedding speech, keep in mind that authenticity is critical. Speak from the heart, and don’t be afraid to let your emotions show; this is a celebration of love and friendship.

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How To Prepare the Perfect Speech for Your Best Friend’s Wedding

You’ve been asked to write your best friend’s speech at their wedding, and you’re panicking about how to write the perfect speech for them?

Worry not, if you’re looking for a way to make your best friend burst into tears knowing what a great friend they have, then you’re at the right place .

In no time, you’ll be able to master your writing techniques and give them the wedding speech she’s looked for all her life.

If you’re also stressing about the perfect gift , then here’s why you shouldn’t , and besides all of the reasons that were mentioned, this wedding speech is the best gift you can offer.

Wedding speeches are very important, especially in entertaining people and enhancing the ceremony, when asked 81% of the guests say that what they remember the best is the entertainment .

So if you want to save your best friend’s special day with an incredible speech, get writing, immediately.

4 steps to write the perfect best friend’s speech

●       Introduce yourself.

●       Speak about the wedding and the now married couple.

●       Use some funny flashbacks of your friendship.

●       Send them your love and congratulations and propose a toast.

Introduce yourself

.The first important step in creating this speech is to actually introduce yourself, you might find this quite obvious, but it’s important.

It’s easy to start talking without reminding people who you are in the first place, and as you already probably know, weddings can be very crowded.

So maybe at least 50% of the people that are present , don’t know you are, and the same goes for you.

So introduce yourself, and how you’re actually close to the married couple , and let the words start flowing.

Speak about the wedding and the now married couple

Introducing yourself is being off to a good start, but it’s not enough, now it’s time to build the base of your speech, and it’s by talking about the wedding.

Talk about how sweet the ceremony looks like, and how suitable these love birds are for each other, maybe come up with a story of how they first met, or how they fell in love.

Let the people that are present , share the same raw emotions that you feel, this way your speech will seem honest, and most importantly real.

If you can’t go on with this step and find it too hard to transfer your feelings, then a custom essay writing service by EduBirdie might help you, they’re specialized in helping students or people in need of writing skills to receive the help they deserve.

College can be hard, but researching and writing can be harder, which is why EduBirdie help student meets talented writers to finish their essays for them for a reasonable price.

Use some funny flashbacks of your friendship

This is a way to lighten the mood after the emotional roller coaster you took them in with the last step.

You can use a flashback from the wedding preparation, how it was stressful, but was also a fun ride for both of you and your best friend.

You can speak about your role and how you helped at the wedding , which by the way, if you haven’t figured out yet, here’s a guide to help you.

Or, if you have been friends since your childhood or high school , you can speak about an adventure you two had that has left an eternal stamp in your memory.

Send them your love and congratulations and propose a toast

You’ve gone through every phase, the emotional phase and the funny phase , and now it’s time to end your speech, but with class.

For this one, you’ll need to speak about your feelings for the new-wed couple, how much you love them, and how much you wish the best for them .

This way, you can share your final emotions before you end them with a beautiful quote to break a toast such as this :

“Where there is love there is life.” – Mahatma Gandhi

If you still don’t know how to break a toast correctly, then this guide will help you avoid any type of mistakes.

Needless to say that if you want to see your best friend proud of you, now more than ever, then these are the steps to take to write an unforgettable wedding toast for your best friend, because the most precious gift, is friendship, which you have offered.

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The Ultimate Guide to Crafting a Heartfelt Wedding Speech for a Friend

• Posted by by Rosie Liliy

If you’ve agreed to give a speech at your best friend’s wedding, it can be intimidating to know how to approach it. You want to ensure your friend loves it while entertaining the wedding guests. So, how can you make the perfect wedding speech for your friend?  

You can make the perfect wedding speech for your friend by focusing on what makes them and their partner great, keeping the speech short so that you don’t lose anyone’s attention, and using a style, such as humorous or serious, that you can pull off with confidence.

In this article, I’ll explore these and other tips to help you write a wonderful wedding speech for your best friend’s big day so that the wedding guests and, most importantly, your best friend will remember it for all the right reasons . 

1. Start With a Short Introduction 

Even if many people at the wedding know that you’re the BFF of the bride or groom, you should always introduce yourself, or some people might feel lost during your speech, which will cause your speech to lose some effect. 

Tailor your introduction to the type of speech that you’re giving. For example, if your speech is humorous, you could introduce yourself in a humorous way by saying, “I’m the bride’s bestie and the married couple’s new third wheel!” 

Once you’ve introduced yourself, so everyone knows who you are, you can launch into your speech. It can be useful to think about the person who delivered a speech before you , as this can give you a good opening into your speech. You could also just thank them for their speech. 

Remember, you don’t want to take up too much time talking about yourself and how you know the couple. The bulk of the wedding speech needs to be about them.  

2. Use Personal Memories 

What makes a great best friend speech at a wedding is to fill it with emotion . You want people listening to feel what you’re feeling, whether that’s amusement, love, or nostalgia. To make your wedding speech memorable and emotional, you should include memories shared with your friend. 

For example, “Beth and I have known each other since middle school. As her best friend, I’ve always been her shoulder to cry on when she’s experienced heartbreak. Seeing her and Matthew start a relationship, get engaged, and get married, I know the only tears she’ll splatter on my shoulder are happy tears.” 

If you haven’t been friends for many years, you could talk about the experience of helping your friend during their wedding preparations and the funny or sentimental memories that were made along the way. 

3. Avoid Oversharing 

While it’s good to include shared memories in your best friend’s speech, it’s never a good idea to overshare by including memories that are embarrassing for your friend. For example, you shouldn’t include anything your friend told you in private, as you don’t want to expose them on their wedding day! 

If you’re not sure if you should include a story that you and your best friend share, it’s a must to first run it past someone else to get their objective opinion. You can read your speech to a mutual friend to gauge their reaction. If they look horrified or like they’re cringing at any point, you should take note and make adjustments to your speech, so you don’t offend anyone.

4. Choose the Style

There are many tones you can adopt when writing a wedding speech, such as: 

• Sentimental/sappy 

You can also choose to have a blend of the above. It’s important to think about what style you would like to use and ensure it feels comfortable . Don’t try to write a funny wedding speech if you’re not usually a humorous person or don’t feel confident when telling jokes. 

It’s better to choose a style that matches your personality so that you can pull off the wedding speech with confidence.  

5. Think About How You Want Your Friend To Feel 

When writing a wedding speech for your friend, you shouldn’t just focus on the style that matches your personality but also think about how you want your friend to feel. Do you want them to feel entertained and happy or sentimental? Here are some ideas to consider: 

• Use words to express your friend’s kindness or humor. 
• Share memories that you and your friend have shared.
• Share how important your friend and friendship are to you. 
• Tell stories that celebrate your friend as a wonderful person. 
• Celebrate your friend’s marriage by sharing stories about the couple. These can be inspiring, for example, if they’ve overcome challenges together.  

6. Include Your Friend’s Partner 

Even though you’ll focus on your friend during your speech, you should also include your friend’s partner. If you don’t know them well, you can include some short stories or observations that you’ve seen about their relationship. For example, you could mention: 

• A story revealing how compatible they are: Maybe they both love running so much that they do it every morning at sunrise, or they finish each other’s sentences because they think in similar ways. 
• What you’ve seen about the partner’s character: Maybe you’ve noticed how your friend’s partner is always positive, and you find it uplifting. Or, you could share a funny story of what happened when you met. 
• How happy you are to know them: Simply telling your friend’s partner that you’re welcoming them into the family is a heartfelt sentiment that will make them feel as celebrated as your best friend.  

7. Keep Your Wedding Speech Focused

If you’ve got tons of stories to share about the happy couple, you might end up with a messy speech that waffles on. Try to maintain focus, as this will ensure the speech is memorable and the audience doesn’t lose interest. 

To do this, a good tip is to choose between one and three stories that reveal the aspects of the couple you love. Keep the stories succinct so that they don’t become too long. Focus on the main points of the story based on what you’re hoping to achieve from the audience, for example, if you want them to feel nostalgic or have a good laugh. 

To ensure your speech remains focused, it’s useful to write an outline for your wedding speech. Here’s an example of a typical outline. 

• Introduction. Introduce yourself and then talk about how you know your friend and/or the couple. 
• Between 1-3 stories. These can be funny or sentimental memories or stories that reflect the couple’s personalities. 
• Advice or encouragement. This can include quick, practical advice to the couple on their marriage . You can use a thoughtful or inspiring quote here. Alternatively, you can make a joke. 
• Make a toast. The perfect ending to your wedding speech involves making a toast to the happy couple. 

8. Celebrate the Happy Couple 

When sharing stories about the couple, it’s always a good idea to feature how the bride and groom came out as the heroes . After all, this is their special day, and you’re there to celebrate them! 

Here are examples of stories that achieve this: 

• “When I first saw Jess and Mark together, I knew that they were onto something good. Anyone who knows Jess knows that she’s got the brightest glow in the room that is instantly uplifting. But when she’s around Mark, she becomes even brighter. This is why we all love being around you both. Alone, you’re both intriguing, but together, you’re powerful! “ 
• “Jess and I are sisters, and we’ve always been close, but since I’m her big sister, I was always super-protective of her, especially when she started dating in her teens. We’ll never forget the time a guy came to pick her up, and I refused to let her go because he was 10 minutes late. Now I can sigh in relief, knowing my sister has found a man who treats her well and is always punctual.”     

9. Keep It Short 

No one has ever gone to a wedding and wished the speeches were longer, even if they were highly entertaining. Guests want to spend time socializing, talking, and dancing, so you don’t want to make them feel bogged down by a long speech. Ideally, make your wedding speech no longer than five minutes , or else you risk losing your audience. 

If you’ve got a lot to say within that short amount of time, have some notes written on cue cards. This will ensure you don’t forget anything or waste time trying to remember what stories to share with the guests. 

However, avoid having the entire speech written down on a sheet of paper, as this will be untidy. 

10. Give Them Some Encouragement

While you don’t want to give too much advice to the happy couple, a sentimental touch could be to give them words of encouragement. 

Earlier, we featured the tip of adding encouragement to your speech. You can do this in various ways. Here are some examples: 

• “Make sure you cherish each other, and especially your differences.” 
• “Tell each other you love each other every morning.” 
• “Never go to bed angry.” 
• “Think about your vows and remind each other of them.” 

Encouragement and advice that’s relatable to the wedding guests will also strike a chord with them and make your speech memorable for everyone present.  

11. Consult With Other Speakers

Although your speech will be unique from the speeches delivered by other speakers at the wedding, you don’t want your speech to stick out like a sore thumb or not fit in with the overall sentiment. So, it’s a good idea to get in touch with other people who will be speaking at the wedding so you can see what they’re going to be talking about. 

You could even brainstorm with each other, so you don’t share the same stories . And chatting with other people who will be giving wedding speeches will help you ensure your speech isn’t too long or short.  

12. Choose Appropriate Humor

Whether or not your wedding speech is humorous, you can still inject some jokes into your speech to entertain the audience. But, you need to be careful when using humor because if you go too far or say something inappropriate, it could offend people. Here are some tips to keep in mind: 

• Don’t use too many jokes. You don’t want the speech to become all about how funny you are, as you should be focusing on celebrating the happy couple. A good tip is to use a joke when you start your speech, as this can help to relax and intrigue your audience, and then keep your jokes to a minimum. 
• Keep your jokes clean. Since you’re giving a speech at a wedding, your audience will likely be filled with people of all ages, so you have to be careful not to make any inappropriate jokes. 
• Avoid inside jokes. While it might be funny to share inside jokes you and your friend share, bear in mind that other people might not find them funny. So, it’s a good idea to run any inside jokes past an objective person to gauge if they’re funny and relatable or should be left out of your wedding speech. 
• Don’t use jokes from the internet. While it can help to search for jokes on the internet to brainstorm humorous elements for your wedding speech, you don’t want to copy jokes online because these will have been heard and shared many times, making your speech less original. 

Final Thoughts 

Standing up at your best friend’s wedding and giving a speech is the perfect opportunity to celebrate their special day. Some tips to make it a memorable and sentimental speech include: 

• Share personal memories with your friend. 
• Choose a style that works with your personality, such as humor. 
• Keep your speech no longer than five minutes.  
• Plan your speech so that it’s focused on what you want to achieve.

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Rosie Liliy

Hey there, lovely couples and fellow wedding fanatics! I’m Rosie, the managing editor at Magical Day Weddings, and I’m here to make your wedding planning journey a blast! As a lifelong lover of weddings, I’ve dabbled in everything from DIY decor to event planning. I believe that every love story deserves to be told in a way that captures its essence. From heartwarming vows to tear-jerking speeches, I’m here to help you create unforgettable memories on your journey to “I do!”

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Crafting the Best Wedding Speech for Your Best Friend: A Step-by-Step Guide

Need assistance with your wedding speech? Discover the first AI-powered wedding speech generator! Craft the perfect speech for your special day with ease. Simply provide your email here and say, 'I want to use the AI-generated wedding speech maker.' Let's make your moment unforgettable

Standing up to give a wedding speech for your best friend can feel like a tall mountain to climb. You want to honor this huge day in their life perfectly. This guide will walk you through how to craft an unforgettable speech that captures the heart and humor of your friendship .

Get ready to make them laugh, cry, and remember why they chose you as their bestie!

Key Takeaways

• Start your best friend's wedding speech by deciding its vibe, length, and goal .
• Make sure to focus on your friendship and include the new spouse in your message.
• Use your own voice in the speech and get feedback from another friend .
• Share funny memories and heartfelt wishes for the couple.
• End with a warm toast celebrating their future together.

Tips for Writing a Best Friend Wedding Speech

When writing a best friend wedding speech, it's important to determine the vibe, length, and goal of your speech. Focus on your best friend and include their new spouse in your speech.

Keep the tone reflective of your voice and consult with another friend for feedback.

Determine the vibe, length, and goal of your speech

Think about the feeling you want to bring to your speech. It could be funny, emotional, or a mix of both . Stick with what feels true to your friendship. Decide how long your toast should be; aim for a few minutes so you can say everything important without losing people's attention.

Set clear goals for your talk. You might want to make everyone laugh, tell a touching story, or just celebrate your best friend's new chapter in life. Keep it sincere and from the heart – that way, you'll connect with everyone listening.

Focus on your best friend

When delivering your best friend's wedding speech, putting the spotlight on your friendship is crucial. Share heartfelt anecdotes and memories that showcase the bond you share with the couple.

Incorporate personal experiences and inside jokes to make the speech genuine and relatable.

Remember to express your admiration for their relationship while highlighting what makes your best friend so special to you. Using phrases like "I've always known them as" or "One thing I love about my best friend is" can add depth to your speech, making it a heartfelt tribute rather than just another toast.

Include the new spouse in your speech

When crafting a wedding speech for your best friend, it's crucial to include the new spouse in your address. Acknowledge their role in your friend's life and express your happiness for their union.

Using anecdotes involving both of them can help demonstrate the significance of their relationship and how they fit into yours.

Ensure that you mention the impact the new spouse has had on your best friend’s life as well as how they have enriched each other. Avoid making comparisons or excessive praise, instead keep it genuine and heartfelt.

Keep the tone reflective of your voice

Craft your wedding speech in a way that truly represents who you are and how you speak. Use your own style and personality to convey your heartfelt message to the newlyweds and the guests.

Incorporate anecdotes, humor, or sentimental moments that reflect the unique bond you share with your best friend and their partner. By staying true to yourself, you'll deliver a genuine and memorable speech that resonates with everyone present at the special occasion.

Be authentic when crafting your wedding speech , ensuring that it mirrors your natural tone of communication. Incorporate personal touches into the speech by infusing it with sincerity, warmth, and familiarity from start to finish using words and expressions uniquely identifiable as yours as this will create an endearing connection between you, the couple and those in attendance.

Consult with another friend

Seek advice from another friend to gather different perspectives and insights.

Share your speech draft with them and ask for their honest feedback .

Take their suggestions into consideration to refine and improve your wedding speech.

Crafting a Killer Speech for your Best Friend

Introduce yourself and your connection to the newlyweds, share heartfelt memories of your friendship, and end with well-wishes and a toast. This will help you create a memorable wedding speech that truly celebrates your best friend's special day.

Introduce yourself

Begin your best friend wedding speech by introducing yourself to the audience, sharing your name and how you know the newlyweds . It's important to let everyone know who you are, your relationship with the couple, and why you're giving the speech.

Use this opportunity to establish a connection with the audience and set the stage for your heartfelt tribute to your best friend on their special day.

Speak about the wedding and the newlyweds

Begin by acknowledging the significance of the wedding day and expressing joy for the newlyweds' union. Share heartfelt sentiments about the couple's love , respect, and commitment to each other.

Highlight a memorable moment from their relationship that showcases their bond and captures the essence of their special day, using humor or emotion to engage with the audience. Execute it in a way that resonates positively with everyone present at this cherished celebration.

Crafting a genuine speech about your best friend’s wedding is paramount. Emphasize why this day is significant not only for them but also for those who have gathered to celebrate their love.

Share funny flashbacks of your friendship

Recall the time when you and your best friend couldn't stop laughing during a silly mishap or an inside joke. Let the audience in on these lighthearted moments , showcasing the bond you share with your best friend.

Infuse humor and joy into your speech by sharing amusing anecdotes that embody the essence of your friendship while aligning with the overall celebratory atmosphere of the wedding reception.

As part of crafting a killer speech for your best friend, reminiscing about funny memories offers a delightful interlude amid heartfelt sentiments, adding depth to the emotional journey of your relationship.

Send your love and congratulations

Express your heartfelt congratulations to the newlyweds and share your genuine love for them. Share how you're excited to see their journey together and how you'll always be there for both of them, offering support and guidance whenever they need it.

Use this opportunity to communicate your joy for their union and express your hope for a lifetime of happiness together as a couple.

Deliver a warm-hearted toast that reflects the unique bond you share with your best friend and celebrate the love they have found in each other. Emphasize that their lives are now intertwined, and that you can't wait to witness all the beautiful moments they will share as a married couple.

Propose a toast

Raise your glass and propose a heartfelt toast to the newlyweds, expressing your warmest congratulations and best wishes on their special day. Use this moment to share an inspiring message of love and happiness, highlighting the unique bond between your best friend and their partner.

Emphasize the significance of this joyous occasion while capturing the essence of their beautiful journey ahead as a married couple. Take advantage of this opportunity to convey genuine emotions and sentiments, leaving a lasting impression on the bride, groom, and all those in attendance.

Let your words resonate with sincerity, celebrating the love that unites two hearts in matrimony.

As you raise your glass in tribute to the newlyweds, evoke nostalgia by reflecting upon cherished memories shared with your best friend. Express gratitude for being part of this milestone event while offering blessings for a lifetime filled with laughter, prosperity, and unwavering companionship.

Examples of Best Friend Wedding Speech Goals

Craft a speech that reflects your genuine feelings for the couple and showcases your bond with your best friend. Share heartfelt anecdotes that highlight the unique qualities of the newlyweds. Incorporate humor to keep the audience engaged and create an uplifting atmosphere. Express your optimism and well wishes for their future together, while also acknowledging the significance of their commitment. End with a memorable toast that captures the essence of your friendship and celebrates their love .

Dos and Don'ts for a Best Friend Wedding Speech

Do share heartfelt and genuine sentiments about your best friend and the newlyweds, adding a personal touch to the speech.

In conclusion, crafting the best wedding speech for your best friend involves careful consideration and thoughtful reflection. The practical tips and step-by-step guide provided offer an efficient and effective approach to writing a memorable speech.

How will you apply these strategies to create a heartfelt and engaging wedding toast? Consider the impact of expressing genuine sentiments and sharing personal anecdotes in your speech.

Additional resources are available to further enhance your speechwriting skills , ensuring that you deliver a truly remarkable tribute to your best friend's special day. Let's make this wedding toast one that leaves a lasting impression on the couple and guests alike!

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43 Best Friend Wedding Speeches To Try At Your Next Wedding

Your best friend getting married is like a fantasy come true. It’s something that has crossed your mind a few times. For some, it’s unimaginable owing to the stuff you’ve been through together, you can’t imagine them being able to bag a lover. These feelings may make you not wait to give a speech at their wedding. 

In this article, we’ll show you tips on writing a speech for your best friend’s wedding and the different kinds you can write.

Tips On Writing A Best Friend Wedding Speech

Like all other speeches, a best friend’s wedding speech has tips on how to write it perfectly. We have discussed some of these pointers below, which will make your speech meaningful and ear-catching.

1. Start with a personal introduction

This is where you introduce yourself and how you know your best friend. You can mention how you two met and the relatable moments that led to the upcoming marriage.

2. Keep it short and sweet

Nobody likes a lengthy speech, especially at a wedding with more fun activities awaiting the guests. Your speech should be short but full of emotion and meaning. The funny parts should also be relatable to the wedding and the newlyweds.

3. Share a story

This will surely make your speech interesting. It, of course, should be related to the wedding or the couple. You can pick a funny scenario your best friend went through in order to impress their fiance or when you two used to imagine your weddings playfully.

4. Express Gratitude

This is important to show how you don’t take the moment for granted. You could thank God, the guests for showing up, the couple for letting you give a speech, and the audience for giving you an ear.

5. Include your best Friend’s spouse in the speech

As you mention much about your beloved best friend, remember to dwell on their spouse. Some people get carried away talking about their best friend only, which could make the spouse feel left out and give a notion that you may not want them with your best friend.

You can mention stories where the spouse is involved and mention their name when you mention your best friend.

Funny Maid Of Honor Wedding Speeches

It is very easy for the maid of honor to be funny because she may know the bride well. A funny speech will be easy for her to compose.

Below are some of the examples:

1. “If things don’t work out between you, at least she now has another option in the house.”

2. “This moment promises to bring together two of your favorite things: laughter and love.”

3. “Here’s wishing you don’t regret this decision in the morning.”

4. “You may not be able to plan for everything, but at least with a marriage, there will be one less surprise in life.”

5. “The couple have been together for a long time; it’s about time they made it official.” 

6. “May the love you have, be as sweet and everlasting as your wedding cake.”

7. “You’ll never have to worry about getting lost in the crowd with your spouse.”

8. “Without further ado, I give you the bride and groom. Now, let’s get this party started.”

9. “I present the happy couple due to public demand.”

10. “When the bride and groom first met, she asked if I thought he was too good-looking for her. Silly, right? He’s not even good looking”

11. “And here I am, watching you make it official. I can’t help but feel proud.”

12. “Life’s journey isn’t meant to be traveled alone.”

13. “You may have said ‘I do’ today, but I’ve always seen you two as a ‘we.’

Short Best Man Wedding Speeches 

The best man can be short, which is also a good choice. His speech can also be captivating, compressing all his feelings, wishes, and advice into a few phrases.

This can be tough owing to the much you may have to say, but it can be done.

1. “I’ve seen many weddings, but none as beautiful as this one. Congratulations!”

2. “May you experience more joy than you can imagine in your life together.”

3. “You make an incredible couple, and I know the future holds great things for you both.”

4.”It’s been an honor to witness such a beautiful union. May your love continue to grow.”

5. “I wish you both a beautiful journey into married life.”

6. “A wedding is the start of an amazing adventure. May your path be lined with joy and love.”

7. “You two have found a love so strong that it will last lifetimes. Congratulations!”

8. “To the most wonderful couple I know, may your wedding be the start of a lifetime of happiness.”

9. “The two of you are a great example of true love. May your marriage be filled with love and joy.”

10. “Wishing you an eternity of happiness, joy, and laughter. Congratulations!” 

11.”Wishing you all the best as you start a new chapter together. Have a blessed journey!”

12.”Many blessings to you both, and may your marriage be filled with love and light.”

13. “To two amazing people on their special day, congratulations and best wishes!”

14. “It’s my honor to share in this moment and wish you all the happiness in life.”

15. “Wishing you both a lifetime of joy, love, and laughter. Congratulations!”

16. “Sending so much love and best wishes for your beautiful life together.”

17. “Wishing you a lifetime of joy and happiness. Congratulations!”

18. “Here’s to an amazing journey ahead. Wishing you all the best on your wedding day!”

19. “You two make the perfect pair. Wishing you all the best in your life together.”

Touching Best Man Wedding Speeches

You can also choose to go in this direction. This will mean really tapping into your feelings and putting them down. This should make some of the guests shed a tear.

1. “I have known him since we were kids, and in that time, I have watched him grow. Today, he is courageous and strong, and I am proud to call him my friend.”

2. “We have seen each other through thick and thin, and now we are here to witness this momentous occasion.”

3. “I have known him since he was a young boy, and I am proud of the man he has grown to be. He is strong, kind, and loving, and I am honored to be his best man.”

4. “I have always been a big believer in the power of love, and today’s union proves that it can truly stand the test of time.”

5. “I still remember when they first met — it was like something out of a fairy tale. She captured his heart, and he embraced her with love.”

6. “They can make it through anything together, as long as they stay true to each other.”

7. “It’s an honor to be here today, celebrating the union of two beautiful souls who are truly meant for one another.”

8. “I have enjoyed watching their love grow and blossom over the years, and I am so happy to see them finally make it official.”

9. “It was always clear that they were meant for each other. Wishing them all the best as they embark on this new journey together!”

10. “Their relationship is an inspiration to us all. Wishing them a lifetime of joy and happiness.”

11. “It’s an honor to be here today, celebrating the union of incredible people. May they live happily ever after.”

Your best friend’s wedding is a lifelong memory that will be cherished for a long time, so make your speech legendary. These tips will surely do that for you, simply pick out the style you would like to write it in.

It is also polite to give the couple a wedding gift, and some examples are the personalized name bride bag for the bride to keep, even after the wedding. It is a bag with her new surname printed on gold script vinyl. It is elegant and sleek, perfect for the bridal party and honeymoon.

Another is the custom wooden ring box where the two can store their rings. It is made of dark brown wood, making it look rustic and elegant. It is also engraved with the couple’s initials and wedding date, making it act as a keepsake for the wedding.

Vincent Otieno

Vincent Otieno is a passionate jewelry enthusiast and writer at Getnamenecklace, an e-commerce store dedicated to offering exquisite jewelry and thoughtful gifts for your loved ones. With a keen eye for detail and a deep appreciation for the art of gift-giving, Vincent curates a collection that celebrates the beauty of craftsmanship and the joy of making family moments unforgettable.

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How To Write A Wedding Speech: The Ultimate Guide For Do’s, Don’ts, and Delivery PART 1/3: Do’s

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How To Write A Wedding Speech: The Ultimate Guide For Do’s, Don’ts, and Delivery PART 2/3: Don’ts

• best man speech
• bridesmaid speech
• how to write a wedding speech
• wedding planning
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how to write a wedding speech dos

Someone you love is getting married, and you’ve just been asked to give a speech at the wedding. What an honor! But also, if you’re not used to giving speeches, what a nightmare! Public speaking can be scary , which is why many people prefer to avoid it. But when your bestie asks you to make a speech at his or her wedding, it’s time to rally. But now you’re wondering if you even know how to write a wedding speech! What makes some wedding speeches fun and memorable, and what makes others cringy and fall flat? We’ve got you. We’ve put together the ultimate guide for how to write a wedding speech, focusing on things you definitely should do, things you definitely should NOT do, and then how to deliver your killer wedding speech like a pro.

If you’re wondering how to write a wedding speech, here are a few “Do’s” to keep in mind.

• Start planning early
• Introduce yourself and how you know the bride and groom
• Thanks to hosts, guests, and wedding party; congratulate the couple
• Make it personal
• Think of 3 traits with 3 stories
• Talk about the couple
• Have a beginning, middle, and end
• Consider your audience
• Keep it short and sweet
• It’s okay to be simple and meaningful

1. Start planning early

If you don’t know how to write a wedding speech but the bride just asked you to give one, this is not a time to procrastinate. Public speaking is one of the number one fears many people have, so it’s likely you’ve avoided giving too many public speeches before this. And unless you’re a performer or a veteran improv comedian, you might not do too well winging this one. If you get nervous in front of an audience (as most of us do), the best defense against freezing up when you take the mic is being prepared. 

As soon as you know you’ve been asked to give a speech at the wedding, begin jotting down notes immediately. Whenever you’re inspired by a thought of the couple or remember an anecdote that might be worth retelling, make note of it. This will help to give you a pool of ideas to draw from when you start writing down the speech.

Begin gathering ideas and writing the speech a couple of weeks to a month before the wedding. You’ll need time to edit, fine-tune it, and make it concise. And as wedding showers, bachelorette parties, and other wedding festivities begin, you might find there are entertaining stories from these events you want to add as well. If you want to write it all at once, you can do that too. However, make sure to sleep on it and come back with fresh eyes. You don’t want just “okay,” you want your speech to be heartfelt and meaningful.

You will also want to begin early to give yourself time to practice and rehearse your speech plenty of times.

2. Introduce yourself and how you know the bride and groom

No matter how large or small the wedding is, it’s likely you will not be familiar with many of the guests on one or both sides. And they won’t be familiar with you either. So don’t leave them guessing! 

Make sure when you start to write a wedding speech to introduce yourself and mention how you know the couple. This will help them understand the context of your speech, which will also help it to be more well-received. 

3. Thank hosts, guests, and wedding party; congratulate the couple

It’s also courteous to take this time to thank the hosts and other members of the wedding party for all the hard work that went into the event, and to thank guests for being there to support the newlyweds, especially those who had to travel far. 

It’s also a good time to officially congratulate the newlyweds and offer them your personal well-wishes for their future. It is imperative that you don’t forget this part, because they are the whole reason you’re there and giving a speech!

4. Make it personal

Whether you are the maid of honor, the best man, father of the bride, or just a friend, you were asked to give a speech because of your close connection and relationship with either the bride or groom (or both). 

And since you know your friend as well as you do, you probably have plenty of stories to share; so the next tip for how to write a wedding speech is don’t hesitate to make it personal and share those stories! This will also help guests get to know the other half of the couple they might not know as well or are just meeting for the first time. And those guests who do know them will love hearing some entertaining stories they might not have heard yet.

5. Think of 3 traits with 3 stories

If you’re finding it difficult to come up with anything, a useful approach for how to write a wedding speech is to think of 3 positive defining traits or qualities of the bride or groom and recount three stories or examples that illuminate a time they exhibited these traits. These stories could be comedic, heartwarming, or both. Just make sure they are relevant and entertaining!

6. Talk about the couple

If you’re the maid of honor and have been chatting up the bride for the whole speech, part of how to write a wedding speech is to make sure at some point it circles around to the groom, too, and to the two of them as a couple.  

Recount the time you met him, or how you remember talking about him with the bride in the beginning stages of their relationship. If you don’t know the groom all that well, talk about how good they are as a couple and about how happy he makes her. 

And If you’re not a fan of the groom, this is not the time to air your grievances. Always keep it positive. 

7. Have a beginning, middle, and end

All good speeches have a good flow and take the audience along with it. 

Don’t let your speech fall flat or jumble together in a haphazard confusion of disconnected anecdotes. Give it the structure of an overarching theme, with a beginning, a middle, and an end. 

We are not talking about a novel here, just make sure there is a direction to where the speech is going, and that the destination, end, or sentiment is achieved. It doesn’t need to be Charlie Chaplin in The Great Dictator, but a three-act structure does help keep you grounded. Most people also follow a story easier when there is a clear direction for a story or speech. 

8. Consider your audience

The next thing to keep in mind when considering how to write a wedding speech is to make sure you consider who your audience is. 

This is not the bachelor or bachelorette party. There will be a wide range of people present from children to the elderly, and from close friends of the bride and groom to casual acquaintances and coworkers. Make sure your speech is free of any crudeness that might not be fit for such a varied audience. Also, this isn’t the time to take a shot at any of the religious cermonies.

Be considerate and keep it positive and use language everyone can relate to. 

9. Keep it short and sweet

You want your speech to be meaningful and memorable; but the wedding is not about you, and yours is not the only speech. 

No one ever complains about a speech being too short, but they do begin to grumble if it runs on too long. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind when figuring out how to write a wedding speech is to keep your speech between 2-5 minutes long. Any longer than 5 minutes and you’ll lose everyone to thoughts of cake and whether or not to Cupid Shuffle later. 

10. Add humor

Don’t be afraid to be funny! Another tip for how to write a wedding speech is that if you’ve got a lighthearted, creative, joking side, use it and add humor to your speech! Everyone likes to be entertained. 

This doesn’t mean you should scour the internet for generic wedding-themed jokes, but if you’ve got some good original material to use that helps relate a story about the bride or groom in a comedic way, do it. As long as you’re not making fun of the couple but having fun with them, jokes are great. Or you can even poke fun at yourself to illuminate a higher quality in your bestie. It’s all about making the newlyweds shine. 

If you’re creative and have other talents, use them! If you are musical, bust out your instrument and/or vocal cords and make the speech in the form of a song! Use props, and get the other guests involved! The newlyweds will feel special because you created something for them, and the guests will love joining in the fun.

11. It’s okay to be simple and meaningful

If entertaining isn’t your thing, that’s okay! Don’t force it – just be yourself. It’s okay to be simple and meaningful with your speech. Always keep in mind when you go to write a wedding speech that what’s important is that you are genuine and speak from the heart.

Hopefully, you found these tips for how to write a wedding speech helpful, and can start writing today! And stay tuned to our blog for the next part in this ultimate guide for how to write a wedding speech where we highlight a few things you should definitely avoid.

Love this content and want more? Read more about weddings on our blog ! Involved in the wedding planning process and the bride is still looking for a venue ? Give us a call today and we’ll help you find the perfect place!

Jennings Trace

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Raise a Glass to Friendship: How to Write the Perfect Best Friend Wedding Speech

Delivering a wedding speech at your best friend's wedding can be a daunting task. Here's how to knock it out of the park.

When it comes to wedding speeches, the best man or maid of honor is usually expected to deliver a heartfelt and memorable speech. As the best friend of the couple, you have the unique opportunity to share your personal memories and anecdotes about the couple, and offer words of wisdom and congratulations. However, writing the perfect best friend wedding speech can be a daunting task. In this article, we will provide some tips and tricks for crafting a speech that will leave a lasting impression on the happy couple and their guests.

Start by brainstorming ideas.

Think about your favorite memories with the couple and what makes their relationship special. Jot down any anecdotes or inside jokes that come to mind. You can also think about what you admire most about the couple and what qualities they possess that make them a perfect match.

Keep it personal.

Since you are the best friend of the couple, your speech should be personal and heartfelt. Share your own experiences and feelings about the couple, rather than relying on generic quotes or advice.

Make it engaging.

Keep in mind that the audience will be made up of people of all ages, so try to include something that will appeal to everyone. Use humor and storytelling to keep the audience engaged, but also be prepared to get a bit emotional.

Keep it concise.

While you want to share as many memories and anecdotes as possible, it's important to keep your speech concise. Try to keep your speech to around 5-7 minutes.

Practice, practice, practice.

Rehearsing your speech is essential to delivering it with confidence and ease. Practice in front of a mirror, or even better, in front of a friend or family member.

Remember to follow these points:

• Start by brainstorming ideas
• Keep it personal
• Make it engaging
• Keep it concise
• Practice, practice, practice

With these tips in mind, you'll be able to write and deliver the perfect best friend wedding speech. Remember to speak from the heart, and the happy couple and their guests will be touched by your words.

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How To Write A Perfect Speech For Your Best Friend’s Wedding

It is a great honor for a friend to ask you to make a speech at his wedding. What they are saying is that they trust you to make the moment memorable. Here are professional writers for hire to help you make the speech unforgettable.

Whether you are writing the speech or have hired a professional writer, you have to develop the outline. The work of the writer is to present your ideas in an interesting manner to spice the wedding. The writers will give you confidence to make the presentation especially if you are doubtful of writing a good speech. 

Here are the best insights on how to write a perfect wedding speech for your friend’s occasion. 

Know your friend

Out of the tens of guests invited for the reception, you have the special privilege of speaking. The friend trusts that you know him well enough to capture his words to his guest. Notice that many brides and grooms do not speak. They leave you to talk on their behalf. You must have an idea of what the bride or the groom may want to say on his special occasion. 

Being a wedding, you are not going to talk about the latest technology innovations or visit to Mars. Rather, your content will center on the couple. Know what they like, their journey of love, aspiration for the future, and overall personality. It helps you to capture their thoughts in a humorous manner. Specifically, you will avoid giving a generic speech that cannot relate to the friends or their life. 

Consider the audience 

A wedding reception features a lot of people. There are parents, family members, workmates, former schoolmates, mentors, and mentees, among others. You may even be making your speech in the middle of a church service. Review the guest list before preparing the speech. It will help you to make a befitting presentation.

The audience will dictate the words you use. While you might have a deep relationship with the friend to the point of knowing his personal life, some of the details might not be palatable to the audience. Further, remember that the audience is looking for a memorable moment from your presentation. The speech must, therefore, resonate with their expectations. 

Make it personal

Avoid a generic speech. Address your friend based on what you know in his past and expectations of the future. Mention incidents your friend can remember, as long as they are not embarrassing. 

A personal speech helps the guests to understand the side of your friend that they may not know. Remember that you were chosen because you are unique and close. Share that experience with the family, colleagues, and friends of the friend. Such incidents ignite dialogues and will be remembered long after the wedding is over. 

It’s about the couple

Some friends are only known to one party and not the other. Do not run the risk of focusing on your friend and ignoring his or her spouse. By the time you were chosen, you must know the bond that exists between the two. Dig into their history to find points of intersection. Talk about common things so that one does not feel left out by the other. 

Sometimes it is difficult to know as much about one as you know about the other. Reflect what you know on to his or her partner. For instance, you may say that your man loves dancing, so you should also practice to keep the marriage happy. In such a case, whether you know that the partner can dance or not is irrelevant. You have looped the partner into the dancing life of the man.

Use note cards

The best wedding speeches are not read. They are impromptu. However, you can run out of ideas or fail to deliver a crucial point. Note cards will keep you on track. Write the main points on a card and only refer to the notes when talking and make your improvised speech from these guides. 

Do not go into details with the cards. You may leave them with a friend to remember the occasion. Make the speech as lively as possible. 

Keep it short and sweet

A wedding reception is not a chance to present an academic paper. You are only allocated a few minutes to pass a message and allow the program to continue. It is not a time to give the life history of the friend or the spouse. Choose a few words that will capture the mood of the day and give your friend something to remember about his marriage. 

A wedding speech must end on a high. People should not be compelled to clap. They should clap involuntarily as you leave the podium. Add a spice of fun to the speech so that you bring down the roof by the time you finish the speech. 

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How to Write—And Deliver—The Perfect Wedding Speech

By Shelby Wax

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If one of your nearest and dearest is tying the knot, it’s possible you may be asked to give a speech during the wedding festivities. And while having an opportunity to share your love and memories at a major milestone event is an honor, there’s no denying that it’s a big ask—especially if public speaking isn’t your forté. A wedding speech presents a unique challenge: There’s no set formula for how the speech should play out, but it often requires sentimentality, a touch of humor, and the good sense to know when to wrap it up.

Are you a member of the wedding party that wants to (or has been asked to) give a toast at an upcoming celebration? Read ahead to learn how to write and prepare for your big moment.

Who Gives a Wedding Speech?

First off, it’s important to make sure that the couple definitely wants you to give a toast at their celebrations. Traditionally, the maid of honor, best man, and parents of the couple will give a speech at the wedding. However, the couple should explicitly ask these guests well in advance to give a speech so they have plenty of time to prepare. They may also choose additional wedding party members to give toasts at the reception or pre-wedding parties; but if the couple has not asked you to give a speech, do not prepare one. Speeches are carefully placed into a wedding timeline so the day will stay on schedule, and an additional five minutes could cut into strategically timed moments of the celebration.

The to-be-weds also have the right to curate the day as they wish, and occasionally at a rehearsal dinner or welcome party, the couple may open the floor to additional toasts. But if this doesn’t happen, grabbing the mic unexpectedly for an off-the-cuff speech (especially after a few glasses of wine) will not be appreciated.

How to Write a Wedding Speech

If you are asked to give a toast, it’s important that you don’t just wing it. “First, recognize that speechwriting is a creative process,” shares Allison Shapira, founder and CEO of Global Public Speaking . “Give yourself plenty of time to be creative (i.e. not the night before, when you already have so much to stress about). Wait for your most creative time of the day, and turn off any distractions. Spend some unrushed time thinking about your relationship to the couple, and what you’d like to say.”

While there’s no exact template to follow, there is a good basic formula to adhere to. “The framework I recommend for a wedding speech is: story, message, blessing,” she shares. “Tell a heartwarming story, share the message or value behind that story, and then offer a blessing or wish for the couple based on that message.”

“Typically, we advise our speakers to try to bring the audience on a journey where you initially try to make them laugh, then get to the real depth of the speech and earn some tears, then bring the whole speech full circle with a deep insight or story about the couple that ends with a funny final punch,” shares Steven Greitzer, CEO and founder of Provenance , an AI company that specializes in helping write personalized wedding vows, ceremonies, and toasts. “It’s important to have a good balance of humor and sentimentality because, if it’s a full roast, it can feel like you’re just doing a standup comedy show for your own benefit and it could lack substance. Or, if it’s too overly emotional, it can get heavy and perhaps a bit too somber for a wedding celebration.”

When choosing a story, Shapira recommends reading the room. “It should obviously be good-natured, without making anyone look bad. And, it all depends on the family dynamics,” she says. “What one family considers good-natured, another family could consider scathing. Choose someone in the audience whom you think could give you some helpful feedback, and practice the speech with them in advance.”

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By Audrey Noble

Greitzer adds that it's important that both members of the couple are highlighted in the speech. “Great anecdotes showcase who each person was before meeting, their synergy together, and their individual and collective growth,” he shares. If you don’t know one member of the couple very well, don’t be afraid to get creative. “One of the best speeches I’ve seen was from a bridesmaid who hadn’t really been able to spend too much time with her best friend’s fiance because of the pandemic,” Greitzer shares. “She creatively read texts she found in her phone that gave her a hilarious timeline of her friend falling in love.”

If you’re still not sure where to begin, consider giving an AI platform a try to help you form your toast. “The Provenance tools guide speakers to create unique, and personal ceremonies, vows, and toasts without the stress. It’s a partner in your brainstorming process; a way to help you verbalize what you were trying to say—but faster,” explains Greitzer. “Instead of being some outdated, mad-libs-style template, the expert-curated prompts inspire special stories and insights, ultimately weaving your responses together into a custom, editable first draft.”

A final writing tip from Shapira? “I definitely recommend creating an outline but do not recommend writing the speech out word for word. When we script the entire speech, it sounds too formal,” says the public speaking expert. “I recommend first brainstorming the content, rearranging it into a logical structure, then drafting a general outline which you can bring with you to the event. While it may look better to simply give the speech ‘from the heart,’ the stress involved in trying to memorize your speech is simply not worth it.”

How to Deliver a Wedding Speech

Writing a wedding speech is half the battle—next comes your performance. It’s important that your toast has a good flow, feels natural, and doesn’t drag on. Here’s where the idiom “practice makes perfect” rings true. Shapira advises giving yourself a few weeks of rehearsal to make your speech feel authentic and fluid. Her recommendations? “Read your speech out loud and make sure it stays within the time you have allotted. Read it to someone else and get their feedback. Record it and watch it back. We use a tool called AMPLIFY to get AI-based feedback.” She adds, “Don’t memorize the speech, but do read it out loud and make sure it sounds like your voice.”

The ideal length of a toast is between two to four minutes, which translates to around 500 to 1000 words on a page. Still, Greitzer notes, “The perfect length for the wedding toast complies with whatever length the couple wants it to be. Many guests don’t realize that long speeches can impact the whole evening’s timeline and affect the caterer, DJ, and so much more.”

While it’s now common to see toasts being read off a phone, both experts agree that it’s much better to print out your speech. “Reading off of a phone comes with the risk of distractions from notifications, a weird backlight that can affect the color of your face in photos, finicky technical difficulties, and having that annoying sound interference with the mic,” says Greitzer. (You also should make sure your speech is legible with a large font and wide spacing so you can easily find your place.)

The final hurdle of giving a wedding toast is getting over your nerves. “Find a quiet place right beforehand to center yourself (perhaps the bathroom or a corner of the room), pause and breathe, and remind yourself why you care about the couple,” recommends Shapira. She also adds—perhaps unsurprisingly—that it’s best to hold back on alcohol consumption ahead of the toast. “No one expects a perfect or professional speech; they want a unique, authentic message. The speech isn’t about you—it’s about the couple. Once you reframe the fact that the center of attention isn’t on you, you can relax.”

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How to Write a Wedding Speech

Last Updated: March 19, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Jenny Yi . Jenny Yi is the Founder of Chloe+Mint, an award-winning full service event planning company that specializes in wedding planning, design and floral design. Jenny has been in the industry for over 5 years, and also works closely with notable brands and celebrities on branding and events. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 603,415 times.

For most people, their wedding day will be among the most important days of their lives. As such, it is customary for a close friend or loved one to deliver a speech congratulating the newlyweds on their union. This can be a nerve-wracking prospect if you’re the one called upon to give a speech in front of a big, expectant crowd. As the speechwriter, it will pay off to make sure that you’re organized, keep it concise and practice extensively beforehand.

Things You Should Know

Professional wedding planner Jenny Yi says the wedding speech should be “impactful, short, and sweet.” Explain how you know the bride and groom, share a quick backstory on how they met, then wish them well as a couple.

Sample Speeches

Writing a Meaningful Speech

• The best man and maid of honor are usually each asked to make a short speech on behalf of the wedding party. After that, the microphone is sometimes turned over to whoever would like to say a few words.
• Saying your name and briefly summarizing your history with the bride or groom will be enough. Don’t talk about yourself too much. Remember, the focus of your speech is the married couple.

• Use jokes judiciously to break the initial tension and keep the crowd relaxed. Try not to let your speech turn into a stand up comedy routine.
• Keep your humorous stories and remarks appropriate. There will be people of all ages in your audience, including children.
• Funny stories might include a funny story about the bride and groom's meeting, or an anecdote about one of them as a child.

• Sharing unique memories or stories is much more effective than simply complimenting the bride or groom because it is a more personal touch.

• If you decide to use a quote for this segment of the speech, make sure it is short, relevant and not a cliche.

• Acknowledging the people who helped make the wedding festivities possible will make you appear humble, as well as making them feel appreciated.
• Express your gratitude in a couple sentences. There’s no need to go on and on thanking every person individually by name.

Making Sure You're Prepared

• Treat your speech like you would a school assignment. Compose several drafts, check it for errors and have a friend proofread it to make sure it sounds good.

• Familiarize yourself with the order of presentation if multiple speeches are to be given.
• Don’t spend the entire ceremony fretting over your speech. If you’re sufficiently prepared, you won’t need to give it a second thought until it’s time for you to deliver it.

• Know your speech word for word, but try not to sound like you’re simply reciting it from memory. Pace yourself and give every passage emphasis, emotion and clarity.

• Put your entire speech on a couple note cards rather than a several large sheets of paper. Not only will this look better, it will help you keep your speech at the appropriate length.
• Only look at your notes if you draw a blank or forget the next part. This will allow you to keep your eyes up and engage your audience. Even the most riveting speech will be a bore if the person giving it is reading off a note card the whole time.

Giving the Speech

• Take a few slow, deep breaths. Think about what you’re saying and shut out all other distractions. Imagine that you’re giving your speech to one person instead of a room full of people.
• Have a drink or two if it helps your nerves. Just don’t have too many—you want to be focused and clear-headed when it’s time for you to take the floor.

• It’s perfectly okay to give a short speech. Simply say a few kind words, raise a toast and hand back the microphone.
• Speak slowly and deliberately. It’s easy to start chattering too fast when you’re nervous. By talking slower than you feel like you need to, you’ll probably be going at just the right speed.
• People who are underprepared or extremely anxious tend to talk aimlessly. Avoid this by sticking to what you’ve written and look to the crowd for cues about when their attention is evaporating.

• Take a moment to speak to the bride and/or groom directly.
• It’s normal to get a little choked up! As long as you can finish your speech, there’s no need to worry. It may even be flattering, as it will show the people you’re talking about how much you truly care.

• It’s customary for the best man or groomsmen to toast the bride, and the maid of honor to toast the groom.

Expert Q&A

• Keep quotes to a minimum, as other people's words can distract from what you're trying to say yourself. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1
• If you're stumped on how your speech should flow, approach it the way you would a story: give it a beginning, middle and end. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
• Ask an honest, objective friend to give you feedback on your speech after you've finished writing it. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• Never use a premade template you find on the internet to write a wedding speech. Your speech should be a product of your own unique thoughts, feelings and experiences. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 1
• Don't drink too much before delivering your speech. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 1
• Leave out especially embarrassing or offensive anecdotes. These are usually considered bad form. You're supposed to be honoring the married couple, not getting a laugh at their expense. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 3

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2110745/Lost-words-Top-tips-write-winning-wedding-speech-deliver-like-pro.html
• ↑ https://www.theknot.com/content/wedding-toasting-tips-for-the-maid-of-honor
• ↑ https://www.presentationmagazine.com/the-structure-and-etiquette-of-wedding-speeches-1041.htm
• ↑ http://www.artofmanliness.com/2008/07/22/how-to-write-deliver-good-best-man-speech/
• ↑ https://www.theknot.com/content/wedding-toasting-tips-for-the-maid-of-honor/
• ↑ https://finley-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/content/dam/doe/sws/schools/f/finley-h/localcontent/how_to_write_a_speech.pdf
• ↑ https://mediacenter.toastmasters.org/2014-07-01-10-Tips-for-the-Perfect-Wedding-Toast

About This Article

To write a wedding speech, start by introducing yourself and explaining how you know the bride and groom. Then, share some fond memories, like stories from when you were kids or how you met. Next, offer well-wishes to the bride and groom, such as wishing them health, happiness, and prosperity. Alternatively, try opening with a joke or funny anecdote, but make sure that your remarks are appropriate for everyone in attendance. Finally, briefly thank everyone for coming and for making the celebration possible. For tips on how to memorize your speech so that it doesn’t sound rehearsed, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Write a Wedding Speech (with Examples)

by Ryan Hart | Updated on September 22, 2023 | Post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Writing a wedding speech can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially if you’ve never given one before. You want to make sure you honor the couple, entertain the guests, and avoid any embarrassing mishaps.

But don’t worry, with a little guidance , you can write a memorable wedding speech that will leave everyone feeling touched and inspired.

In this article, we’ll provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to write a wedding speech, along with examples to help you get started.

Whether you’re the best man, maid of honor, or a close friend or family member, we’ve got you covered. We’ll cover everything from how to structure your speech, to what to include, and even tips on how to deliver it with confidence.

What is a Wedding Speech?

A wedding speech is a way for family members and friends to honor the newly married couple, share their thoughts and memories, and wish them a happy future together.

It is a chance to express your gratitude for being part of their special day and to thank them for inviting you to share in their joy.

Wedding speeches are typically given at the rehearsal dinner , the day before the wedding, and toward the end of the reception dinner on the wedding day.

The best wedding speeches are heartfelt, sincere, and personal. They should reflect your relationship with the couple and your feelings towards them. A good wedding speech should be short, sweet, and to the point. It should not be too long, as it may become boring and lose the attention of the audience.

Knowing Your Role

When it comes to writing a wedding speech, it’s important to know your role in the wedding party. Here are some tips on how to approach writing your speech depending on your role:

Father of the Bride’s Speech

As the father of the bride , your speech should be heartfelt and emotional. Share stories about your daughter and the joy she has brought into your life. Welcome the groom into your family and express your love and support for the newlyweds.

Maid of Honor’s Speech

As the maid of honor, your speech should focus on the bride and your relationship with her. Share some funny stories or heartfelt moments that highlight her best qualities. Be sure to also thank the groom and his family for welcoming you into their lives.

Best Man’s Speech

As the best man, your speech should focus on the groom and your relationship with him. Share some funny anecdotes or stories that highlight his best qualities. Be sure to also thank the bride and her family for welcoming you into their lives.

Mother of the Bride’s Speech

As the mother of the bride, your speech should be heartfelt and emotional. Share stories about your daughter and the joy she has brought into your life. Welcome the groom into your family and express your love and support for the newlyweds.

Father of the Groom’s Speech

As the father of the groom, your speech should focus on the groom and your relationship with him. Share some funny anecdotes or stories that highlight his best qualities. Be sure to also thank the bride and her family for welcoming you into their lives.

Mother of the Groom’s Speech

As the mother of the groom, your speech should be heartfelt and emotional. Share stories about your son and the joy he has brought into your life. Welcome the bride into your family and express your love and support for the newlyweds.

Structuring Your Speech

When it comes to giving a wedding speech, structuring it properly is key. This will help you stay on track and deliver a memorable speech that hits all the right notes. Here are some tips on how to structure your wedding speech:

The opening of your speech is crucial as it sets the tone for the rest of your speech. Start by introducing yourself and your relationship to the couple. You can also thank the couple for inviting you to be a part of their special day.

If you’re nervous, it’s okay to start with a joke or a light-hearted anecdote to break the ice. Just make sure it’s appropriate for the occasion and doesn’t offend anyone.

The body of your speech is where you can share your thoughts and feelings about the couple. This is where you can tell a story or anecdote about the couple that highlights their love for each other.

You can also offer some words of wisdom or advice for the couple as they embark on this new journey together. This can be a great opportunity to share a quote or a poem that resonates with you.

The closing of your speech should be short and sweet. You can end with a final thought or sentiment about the couple and their future together. You can also thank the couple and their families for including you in their special day.

If you’re giving a toast , make sure to raise your glass and offer a heartfelt congratulations to the couple.

Example Wedding Speeches

Maid of honor speech example:.

Hello, everyone! I’m beyond thrilled to be here today as the Maid of Honor for these two incredible people. You know, when [Bride’s Name] asked me to be her Maid of Honor, my first thought was, ‘Does she really know me? Is she sure about this?’ But here I am, and I couldn’t be happier!

[Bride’s Name] and I have shared so many laughs, tears, and unforgettable moments over the years. We’ve been through thick and thin together. And when she introduced us to [Groom’s Name], it was like the missing piece of the puzzle just clicked into place.

Now, [Groom’s Name], I have to say, you’ve really brought out the best in [Bride’s Name]. You’ve filled her life with so much love, laughter, and joy. And I can’t thank you enough for that.

To the newlyweds, may your love continue to grow stronger with each passing day. May your journey together be filled with adventure, kindness, and endless inside jokes that only you two understand. And may your love story be as beautiful and inspiring as the two of you are.

So let’s raise our glasses to [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name], to love, laughter, and a lifetime of happiness! Cheers!"

Best Man Speech Example:

Hey, everyone, I’m honored to be up here as the Best Man for this fantastic couple. Now, when [Groom’s Name] asked me to be his Best Man, I was like, ‘Really? Me?’ But then I remembered all the adventures, mishaps, and laughter we’ve shared over the years, and I thought, ‘Yep, I’m the guy for this job!’

[Groom’s Name] and [Bride’s Name], you two are a perfect match. I’ve watched your love story unfold, and it’s been a privilege to witness the love and respect you have for each other.

[Groom’s Name], you’ve always been there for me through thick and thin, and I have no doubt you’ll be there for [Bride’s Name] in the same way. And [Bride’s Name], you’re not just gaining a husband today, you’re gaining the best partner in crime you could ever ask for.

So, here’s to [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name], to a lifetime of adventure, love, and laughter. May your journey together be filled with joy, shared secrets, and lots and lots of dancing. Cheers!"

Best Friend Speech Example:

“Hello, everyone! Wow, what a beautiful day to celebrate the love between [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name]. I’m not the Maid of Honor or the Best Man, but I am a close friend, and I’ve been lucky enough to witness the magic of their love story from the beginning.

[Bride’s Name], we’ve been through so much together – from school crushes to college shenanigans. And when you introduced me to [Groom’s Name], I knew he was something special. He brings out the best in you, and together, you make an incredible team.

[Groom’s Name], you’re not just gaining a wife today; you’re gaining an amazing friend and confidant in [Bride’s Name]. You two complement each other in the most beautiful ways.

So, here’s to [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name], to a love that’s as strong as it is genuine. May your journey together be filled with laughter, support, and all the adventures you can dream of. Cheers!”

Family Member Speech Example:

Good evening, everyone! My name is [Your Name], and I am [Your relation to the bride and groom]. I’m thrilled to be here tonight to celebrate the love and commitment of [Couple’s names].

When they asked me to give a speech tonight, I was a little nervous. I mean, what do you say about two people who are so perfect for each other? But then I remembered something that [Bride’s name] once told me: “ Love isn’t about being perfect , it’s about being perfectly imperfect together.”

And that’s exactly what these two are. They’re imperfect in all the right ways, and that’s what makes them so perfect for each other. So here’s to [Couple’s names], two imperfect people who are perfect for each other. Congratulations, you two!

Close Friend Speech Example:

Hello, everyone! My name is [Your Name], and I am [Your relation to the bride and groom]. I’m honored to be here tonight to celebrate the wedding of [Couple’s names].

When I first met [Bride’s name], I knew she was something special. And when she introduced me to [groom’s name], I knew he was the one for her. These two have been through thick and thin together, and they’ve always come out stronger on the other side.

And that’s what love is all about, isn’t it? It’s about being there for each other through the good times and the bad. So here’s to [Couple’s names], a couple who knows that love isn’t just a feeling, it’s a commitment.

Incorporating Personal Touches

When it comes to giving a wedding speech, it’s important to make it personal and meaningful. After all, you’re speaking in front of the couple’s nearest and dearest, and you want to make sure that your words come straight from the heart.

One way to do this is to incorporate personal touches into your speech. This can be anything from a funny story about the couple to a heartfelt message about your own relationship with them.

When choosing what to include in your speech, think about what makes the couple special. What are their unique qualities and what do you love about them? What are some of the key moments in their relationship that have brought them to this point?

Once you have some ideas, consider how you can weave them into your speech in a way that feels natural and authentic. Here are a few tips to get you started:

• Keep it short and sweet: While it can be tempting to go on and on about how much you love the couple, it’s important to keep your speech concise. Aim for around 3-5 minutes, and focus on the most meaningful moments and messages.
• Use specific examples: Instead of making general statements about the couple, try to use specific examples that illustrate their qualities and personalities. This will make your speech more engaging and memorable.
• Get personal: Don’t be afraid to share your own experiences and feelings about the couple. Whether it’s a funny story about how you first met or a heartfelt message about what they mean to you, your personal touch will make your speech more meaningful.
• Practice, practice, practice: Finally, make sure to practice your speech ahead of time. This will help you feel more confident and comfortable on the day, and ensure that your words come across as genuine and heartfelt.

Addressing the Audience

When it comes to giving a wedding speech, one of the most important things to keep in mind is your audience. After all, you are speaking to a room full of people who are there to celebrate the happy couple, so it’s important to make sure your speech is engaging, entertaining, and appropriate for the occasion.

First and foremost, you want to make sure your speech is inclusive of everyone in the audience.

While you may have a close relationship with the bride or groom, it’s important to remember that there are likely guests in attendance who may not know you or the couple as well. Make sure to introduce yourself and provide some context for your relationship with the couple.

It’s also important to consider the tone of your speech. While it’s okay to inject some humor and lightheartedness into your speech, you want to make sure it’s appropriate for the occasion.

Avoid making any jokes or comments that could be perceived as offensive or inappropriate.

If you’re addressing parents or family members in your speech, make sure to acknowledge their role in the couple’s lives and express your gratitude for their support.

Similarly, if you’re speaking as the best friend of the bride or groom, take some time to reflect on your friendship and share some heartfelt memories or anecdotes.

Keep in mind that you’re speaking to a room full of people who are there to celebrate the happy couple, so make sure your speech is a reflection of that joy and excitement.

Delivering the Speech

Now that you’ve written your wedding speech, it’s time to deliver it. Public speaking can be nerve-wracking, but with a little preparation, you’ll be able to deliver your speech with confidence. Here are some tips to help you deliver your speech like a pro:

• Practice, practice, practice. Rehearsing your speech will help you feel more comfortable with the material and reduce your nervousness. Practice in front of a mirror or with a friend to get feedback on your delivery.
• Take deep breaths. If you feel nervous before your speech, take a few deep breaths to calm your nerves. This will help you relax and deliver your speech more effectively.
• Speak slowly and clearly. When you’re nervous, it’s easy to speak too quickly or mumble your words. Make a conscious effort to speak slowly and clearly so that everyone can hear you.
• Make eye contact. Look at your audience as you deliver your speech. This will help you connect with them and keep their attention.
• Use body language. Gesturing and moving around can help you convey your message more effectively. Just be sure to avoid any distracting movements.
• Don’t be afraid to pause. If you need a moment to collect your thoughts or take a breath, don’t be afraid to pause. This will help you deliver your speech more effectively and give your audience time to absorb your message.

With a little preparation and practice, you’ll be able to deliver a wedding speech that will be remembered for years to come.

Dealing with Nervousness

It’s completely normal to experience nervousness when giving a wedding speech. After all, you want to do your best and make a positive impact on the happy couple and their guests. Here are a few tips to help you manage your nerves and deliver a memorable speech:

• Practice, practice, practice : The more you practice your speech, the more comfortable you’ll feel delivering it. Practice in front of a mirror, with friends or family, or even record yourself and listen back to it.
• Focus on the positive : Instead of dwelling on your nerves, focus on the positive aspects of the experience. You have the opportunity to share your love and well-wishes with the couple, and that’s something to be proud of.
• Breathe deeply : Deep breathing can help calm your nerves and give you the energy you need to deliver your speech. Take a few deep breaths before you begin, and continue to breathe deeply throughout your speech.
• Visualize success : Visualize yourself delivering a successful speech. Imagine the audience laughing at your jokes, nodding in agreement with your sentiments, and giving you a standing ovation at the end.
• Project confidence : Even if you don’t feel confident, projecting confidence through your body language can help you appear more confident to your audience. Stand up straight, make eye contact, and speak clearly and slowly.

By following these tips, you can overcome your nervousness and deliver a wedding speech that you and the happy couple will remember for years to come.

Tips for a Memorable Speech

Writing a wedding speech can be intimidating, but with the right tips and tricks, you can deliver a memorable speech that will leave a lasting impression on the newlyweds and guests. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Tell the Couple’s Story

The most memorable speeches are the ones that tell a story. Start by brainstorming some memories or anecdotes about the couple that you can weave into your speech.

Think about the moments that defined their relationship, the challenges they’ve overcome, and the things that make them unique. By sharing these details with the audience, you’ll create a speech that feels personal and heartfelt.

Keep it Short and Sweet

While it’s tempting to share every detail about the couple, it’s important to keep your speech short and sweet. Aim for a speech that’s no longer than five minutes. This will give you enough time to share your message without losing the audience’s attention.

Practice Makes Perfect

The key to delivering a great speech is practice. Start by writing down your speech and then practice delivering it in front of a mirror or with a friend. This will help you get comfortable with the material and ensure that you’re able to deliver it confidently on the big day.

Focus on Friendship and Happiness

Weddings are all about celebrating love, friendship, and happiness. Make sure your speech reflects these themes by focusing on the positive aspects of the couple’s relationship.

Share stories that highlight their love for each other, their friendship, and the happiness they bring to each other’s lives.

Use Humor Wisely

Humor can be a great way to lighten the mood and engage the audience, but use it wisely. Make sure your jokes are appropriate for the occasion and that they don’t overshadow the message of your speech. Remember, the goal is to celebrate the couple and their love, not to steal the show.

Now that you’ve learned the basics of writing a wedding speech, it’s a good idea to read some real speeches to see how it all comes together.

Look for examples of speeches online or in books. Watching or reading other people’s speeches can give you inspiration and a better understanding of how to make your speech unique and special.

You might also want to check out books or articles about public speaking and storytelling, as they can help you improve your delivery and engagement skills.

And remember, it’s always a good idea to review some tips on wedding etiquette to make sure your speech is respectful and fitting for the occasion.

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A Step-by-Step Guide to Nailing Your Maid of Honor Speech

• Chapelle writes articles for The Knot Worldwide. She covers all things wedding-related and has a personal interest in covering celebrity engagements and fashion.
• Before joining The Knot Worldwide, Chapelle was an editorial intern for Subvrt Magazine.
• Chapelle has a degree in English writing from Loyola University New Orleans.

As a wedding party member, you'll likely be asked to speak at the wedding. In fact, giving a maid of honor speech is one of the most important maid of honor duties to complete on the big day. You may be a gifted orator, which means writing (and giving) a speech will be a breeze. But if the thought of speaking in front of a crowd makes you a little nervous, don't panic. With the help of Heidi Ellert-McDermott, professional speech writer and founder of Speechy , we've provided you with everything you need to know about the matron of honor speech. Learn what to say, how to say it and exactly how to get rid of any nervous butterflies. Use these tips, template, outline and more to write a perfect maid of honor speech that'll bring the house down.

In this article:

Printable Template | How to Write | Examples | Tips | FAQs

Printable Maid of Honor Speech Template

For those looking for a quick and simple reminder of how to write a maid of honor speech, bookmark this template. You could even save it as your phone or laptop wallpaper while you're writing to keep you on task.

How to Write a Maid of Honor Speech Outline

So, how do you write a matron of honor speech? It helps, but you don't need to be a professional speechwriter to write a special toast for the newlyweds. Use this guide to create a heartfelt message that'll make everyone laugh, cry or both.

1. Reflect on your relationship with the couple.

Think about your relationships with each person in the couple. This is your time to write down any personal moments you shared with them. These moments can bring some tears or laughs, but they show the wedding guests how you know the happy couple. Maybe you and one of the newlyweds went on an epic trip to Europe together. Or you and the newlyweds have known each other since high school and have plenty of silly and embarrassing stories from that time. No matter which memory you choose for your maid of honor speech, pick your favorite (appropriate) story and have fun with it.

2. Celebrate the couple's relationship.

Another part of your matron of honor speech should be dedicated to the couple's relationship. You can talk about when they first met, when you knew they were in love, or how you knew they were meant to be. If some details are a little fuzzy, talk with the other honor attendants or close friends of the couple to help refresh your memory. Overall, you want to paint a picture of how the couple was when they first met, how they've grown together and why they complement one another.

3. Avoid taboo topics.

There are certain topics you shouldn't have in your maid of honor speech. It doesn't matter how you try to deliver it. These taboo subjects are liable to offend someone:

• Negativity about marriage in general.
• Past relationships.
• Previous marriages/divorces.
• Drinking, drugs, gambling.
• "Adult" humor or any other mention of sex.

Remember, you don't want to cause any drama. Keep the focus of your speech on uplifting the happy couple and celebrating their love for one another.

4. Add jokes—but not too many.

Feel like you have a comedic gift? Consider adding some jokes, one-liners or funny marriage quotes to your maid of honor speech. Ensure you don't use any inside jokes or references only you and the newlyweds would understand. Your speech should be something every wedding guest can appreciate and laugh at. This also means your jokes shouldn't be too harsh or bring up any taboo wedding speech topics we previously listed.

Be deliberate about where you put your jokes and spread them out. You want them to add comedic relief to a sentimental toast, not seem like a stand-up routine. Start your speech with a funny opening line so the guests can laugh and get an idea of what kind of person you are—plus, laughs give you time to overcome any nerves you might have.

5. Create your maid of honor speech outline.

Get creative and personalize your maid of honor speech as much as you want. A customized script is much more endearing for guests. But when it comes down to it, a great wedding toast will include the following remarks:

• Start with an introduction—along with an explanation about your connection to the happy couple.
• Next, give a word of thanks to the couple for inviting you to be part of their special day.
• Say one or two personal anecdotes, like a favorite memory, joke or sweet sentiment that most guests will understand.
• Provide encouraging advice or a thoughtful quote about the newlyweds' future.
• Finish with a closing remark and an invitation for guests to raise their glasses.

Maid of Honor Speech Examples

Need more than a maid of honor speech template to help you? Then choose your favorite sample maid of honor speech below and use it to help get your creative juices flowing.

Funny Maid of Honor Speech

Hello! For those of you who haven't had the chance to meet me yet, my name is [Your Name]. [Newlywed's Name] and I have been best friends since high school, which means we've been on each other's top eight friends list for a while. That's for my old Myspace users out there.

Typically, public speaking makes me beyond nervous, but I knew I had to make a speech for one of the most important people in my life. I've known [Newlywed's Name] for a long time and have appreciated every special moment we've shared over the years. [Newlywed's Name] has a beautiful soul, and I'm so happy that [Newlywed's Name] has found someone who complements it.

As everyone probably knows [Newlywed's Name] isn't a shy person, so the fact that [Newlywed's Name] would always giggle and blush whenever referring to 'the hot coworker' and I knew something special was going to come out of it. I've gotten to know [Spouse's Name] really well over the years, and I can honestly say [Spouse's Name] is one of the most genuine and caring people I've ever met.

Everyone aims to find their one true love, their soulmate, the person that's going to love and cherish them for the rest of their lives. And that moment came for [Newlywed's Name]...when they met me 18 years ago. But in all seriousness, I wish you and [Spouse's Name] a long and wonderful marriage. Congrats to you both, and I hope you find a lifetime of happiness together. Cheers!

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Maid of honor speech for best friend.

Good evening everyone! I thought the most nerve-wracking part of being a maid of honor was giving the speech, but fixing [Newlywed's Name] shoe malfunction before the wedding ceremony is high on the list.

I think I've calmed down by now, so I'll continue. My name is [Your Name], and I've known [Newlywed's Name] since college. We sat next to each other one time in an eight A.M. Spanish class and have been inseparable ever since. We've known each other for so long I would consider us siblings now, and I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful person in my life.

[Spouse's Name] is charming, intelligent, thoughtful and to quote [Newlywed's Name] after their first date, 'sooo cuteee.' I consider myself a top-notch wingwoman and matchmaker, but even I couldn't have picked a better person for [Newlywed's Name] to fall in love with. Anyone can take one look at them together and see that they're a perfect example of 'meant to be.'

I'm honored that you both have not only chosen me to be a significant part of your big day but also a significant person in your lives. I'm excited to watch you two enjoy this new chapter in your lives as a married couple. I love you both so much!

Maid of Honor Speech for Sister

Hello everyone! If you couldn't tell already from our almost identical faces, I'm [Bride's Name] sister. We're only two years apart, so we've always been really close. We would do everything together, like that one time we got gum stuck in our hair on the same day and spent hours combing peanut butter into each other's hair to help get the gum out. Unfortunately, this didn't work out, and we had to chop a lot of hair off.

Regardless of all the trouble we've got ourselves into, I can't imagine sharing such fun memories with anyone else. I've always looked up to [Bride's Name] and continue to think of her as a great role model to me and many others. I feel so happy and proud to call [Bride's Name] my sister.

[Spouse's Name], you've come into our lives seamlessly, and I've never seen my sister happier. You're such a funny and loving person, and to this day, every time my sister talks about you, she gets giddy. I really do think you guys are perfect for one another, and I can't wait to see how you grow even more as life partners.

Everyone raise your glass to congratulate [Bride's Name] and [Spouse's Name]. May each day be full of love and laughter!

Maid of Honor Speech for Cousin

Shout out to Ellert-McDermott for writing the passionate maid of honor speech below.

Ladies and gentlemen, friends and family and all you lucky souls who scored an invite to the wedding of the century. My name is [Your Name], and I have the pleasure of being the maid of honor today, or as I like to call it, the 'official party planner, the emergency dress fixer and human tissue dispenser.'

You all know [Bride's Name] as this gorgeous, successful, brilliant person you see before you today, but I know her as my little cousin. And I don't care how many promotions she gets, how many exotic countries she visits or how married she gets, that's who she'll always be to me. Yes, the girl who, for several years, ate nothing but chicken nugget sandwiches and had a special tree she liked to wee behind when we visited Grandma.

Being the only girls in our tribe of siblings, we quickly became best friends and partners in crime. We loved playing dress-up, but rather than pretending to marry our Prince Charmings, we'd pretend to be lawyers or scientists. And we wonder why no one wanted to hang out with us.

Our geekiness lasted well into our teens and developed into a mild addiction to One Direction, "Glee" and astronomy. We'd spend hours staring into our telescopes, wondering what we would say when we became the first astronauts to land on Mars. Sadly, that dream never came to fruition, but [Bride's Name], as we all know, did become a lawyer—an incredibly successful one at that.

But seriously, watching [Bride's Name] achieve her dreams has been a delight because she's quite simply one of life's special people. I feel incredibly lucky to have been blessed with such a fun-loving, wise and caring cousin––a special type of friend who's duty-bond to be in my life forever.

I always knew that [Bride's Name] deserved to be loved by someone special, and I'm delighted to say that person is [Newlywed's Name]. I've had the privilege of getting to know [Newlywed's Name] well over the last three years, and I must say, you're a brave soul for marrying into our family and having to cope with our crazy Christmas traditions. But I think you've figured out our secret. The louder we are, the more we like you. And just to clarify, we like you very much.

You have a kind heart, a wonderful wit and you're willing to dance to One Direction after we've had a few beers. I can also see how much you love my cousin. I can see that you 'get her;' that you know just how she likes her coffee, that you understand her sarcasm is a sign of affection and that you appreciate how intelligent she is even if she insists on watching "Selling Sunset" at every opportunity she can.

You're an incredible couple, and I've no doubt your love will continue to grow with every passing day. As your maid of honor, I couldn't be happier for you, and I look forward to sharing more happy memories with you guys in the future. And with that, everyone please join me in a toast to the happy couple and a life filled with love and laughter.

Short Maid of Honor Speech

I would like to quote the famous American author, Mark Twain, who once said, 'To get the full value of joy, you must have someone to divide it with.' This perfectly explains why [Newlywed's Name] and [Spouse's Name] have always radiated so much joy since they've met each other.

I do not doubt [Newlywed's Name] has found the person they will spend the rest of their life with. You both make a beautiful couple and may you continue to get the full value of joy out of life with one another.

Congratulations, [Newlywed's Name] and [Spouse's Name]!

Maid of Honor Speech Tips

Completing your matron of honor speech is a big accomplishment, but the work doesn't stop when you write the closing line. The right delivery is what makes it. Here are confidence tips for your maid of honor speech and other speaking engagements.

Don't procrastinate.

We recommend you start writing your maid of honor speech at least two months before the wedding day. As an honor attendant, you're expected to attend and plan numerous prewedding events, like dress fittings, the bach party and the rehearsal dinner , which means you won't have much time to write as the wedding day approaches. Also, it doesn't hurt to write a few drafts and ask someone you trust to edit your work. By preparing in advance, you'll be able to focus on writing a toast you're excited to read in front of a crowd and not have to worry about leaving a wedding event early so you can go home and write.

Add stories, not adjectives.

"Adjectives are just white noise in wedding speeches. Describing the newlywed as 'kind,' 'fun' or 'beautiful' is nice but doesn't really add much. Illustrate their characteristics and qualities by sharing the evidence of them in action," Ellert-McDermott, author of "The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches," says.

Be true to yourself.

This is the time to open your heart and share a few favorite memories or silly stories that capture your relationship with the newlyweds. So don't feel pressured to write a maid of honor speech that sounds overly professional. A great maid of honor toast is about speaking honestly and naturally, so write how you generally speak. Don't forget this isn't the time to use inappropriate language since you'll be speaking to the couple's nearest and dearest. Your writing should feel like a natural extension of the way you talk. A genuine speech from the heart is impactful.

Remember to mention the partner.

"Yes, the focus of your speech is your friend and your relationship with them, but don't forget what the day's actually about. Try to make your tribute to their partner seem like more than a cliched afterthought," Ellert-McDermott advises.

Write it down.

Yes, you're expected to make an amazing speech, but that doesn't mean you must memorize it. Writing the entire speech word for word or just jotting down bullet points of your speech's outline can work wonders for your confidence. We suggest you read your maid of honor speech on index cards instead of reading it off your cell phone. Phones are more convenient, but the phone screen light that washes over your face as you're reading your speech distorts wedding photographs. To avoid ruining any wedding images, write your speech down instead. ( Psst. People say handwritten notes boost brain activity and optimize memory.)

Practice in front of an audience.

Practicing your speech is just as important as writing it. As with any public speaking gig, you'll become more comfortable with the material as you practice it. Read your toast aloud a few times to catch any spelling or grammar errors. This will also help you find a rhythm—you'll know exactly when you want to pause for reactions and emphasize certain points, which is key for staying within a designated time frame. You can also read your words to another wedding party member for feedback. When the time comes to stand up in front of the crowd, you'll be grateful for the pre-performance audience.

Stay calm, cool and collected.

Whether this is your first time giving a wedding speech or you're a pro, it's normal to feel a little nervous beforehand. Take a few deep breaths to calm your nerves and collect your thoughts. Speak slowly and clearly, and remind yourself that guests are excited to hear what you're saying. As nerve-wracking as it might feel to give a big speech at your loved one's wedding, their heartfelt reaction to your words will make your efforts worth it. As soon as your speech is over, you'll be free to celebrate with the newlyweds and the rest of the wedding party.

Don't forget to smile.

"Because they're nervous, speakers often forget to smile as they deliver their speech, but it's a simple and effective way to create a good vibe in the room. A smile is literally infectious, so make sure it looks like you're actually enjoying your time on the mic," Ellert-McDermott says. Putting on a soft smile also helps the photographer capture stunning pictures of you killing your speech.

Maid of Honor Speech Frequently Asked Questions

Delivering a unique maid of honor speech can seem daunting, but we're here to help you take the stress out of it. Here are answers to common questions regarding the maid of honor speech.

Does the maid of honor have to give a speech?

It's expected for a maid of honor to give a speech, especially if the other honor attendants are planning on giving one, but it's not required. Giving a maid of honor speech can be a fun experience, but it isn't for everyone. If public speaking makes you nervous, you can express yourself in other ways, like through song, dance or by creating a sweet love story presentation about the happy couple.

How long should a maid of honor speech be?

In addition to the matron of honor speech, there might also be a best man speech , toasts from the couple's parents or even a thank-you message from the newlyweds. Since there are several speeches to fit in with meal courses, dancing, games and additional reception activities , keep your salutations short and sweet. Aim to make your maid of honor speech a minimum of four minutes and at most six minutes—Ellert-McDermott suggests anything between 700 and 1000 words.

Wedding guests will be excited to hear your well-wishes and funny stories, but a long MOH speech can lose the wedding guests' interest (especially if it's full of too many personal inside jokes). A four-minute speech gives you enough time to speak about the couple's love story, offer a personal anecdote or two and finish with encouragement for married life.

How to Start a Maid of Honor Speech

"Like every other speaker, the maid of honor should say a quick hello and introduce themselves to the guests. They should explain how they know the bride and try to add some humor early on too. Tailor your speech to suit the style of the wedding. Is it a rock n roll affair or a traditional bash with children present? Consider your audience and decide if 'ladies and gentlemen' is necessary or overly formal (generally, it's the latter)," Ellert-McDermott notes.

How to End a Maid of Honor Speech

"Towards the end of the speech, the maid of honor should reiterate their joy in seeing their friend getting married. They may refer back to special memories they share with the bride and explain why she is such a great friend to them. The final few lines should be about wishing the couple well in their future life together and proposing a toast to them both," Ellert-McDermott suggests. Here is an example of a personal maid of honor toast ending from Ellert-McDermott:

Here's to a lifetime of drinking mojitos and dancing on tables. To Sophie and Taylor.

When does the maid of honor give a speech?

If the couple is following the traditional wedding speech order , the maid of honor gives her speech after the newlyweds' parents. Typically, following the maid of honor is the best man. That wedding speech order isn't for everyone since a couple's wedding party size and reception timeline impact the order too. Also, sometimes couples opt to have all the wedding speeches delivered during the rehearsal dinner. So check with the to-be-weds about the order to confirm your spot in the toast lineup.

What to do if there are multiple maids of honor?

If you are one of the multiple maids of honor , you and the others should keep your maid of honor speeches to three to five minutes long. Before delivering your speeches, we suggest you and the other maids of honor go over them together to make sure they aren't too similar (and if they are, to adjust accordingly). If you and the other maids of honor have a close relationship, want to create only one speech or you don't want to give your speech alone, consider doing a joint maid of honor speech. By doing a combined speech, you have more opportunities to be creative, like setting each other up for jokes or performing a heartfelt song together.

Wedding Speech Guide: What to Say, When to Say It & How Long

Even if you’re not the type to get stage fright, giving a wedding speech can be daunting. But giving a wedding toast or speech is also a true honour bestowed only upon a select few. And the memory of your speech will most definitely stay with the newlyweds for years to come, so it's worth making it a good one! Giving wedding speeches is a great way to share your experiences and feelings about the couple, as well as offer wedding wishes for their future together. Writing and giving a wedding speech or toast can be one of the most difficult parts of the wedding planning process, but it is also one of the most enjoyable.

Have you been tasked with preparing a wedding speech? How To Hold The Best Wedding Speeches And Toasts? Whether you’re the best man, the maid of honour, the bride’s mum or the bride herself, the following tips should help you prepare a wedding speech that will leave smiles on everyone’s faces.

How many wedding speeches are customary?

First, let’s talk about  who  gets to give a speech at a wedding. Whilst it would be lovely to have the couple’s closest friends, siblings and other important people share a few words during the wedding reception, you don’t want the wedding speeches to drag on and keep guests away from the dance floor. The key speeches at a wedding reception are typically those from:

• the parents of the bride
• the parents of the groom
• the best man
• the maid of honour
• the newlyweds

If there are others who you’d like to hear from, there’s always the rehearsal dinner for additional speeches. The atmosphere will be less formal and more intimate and will be ripe for funny wedding speeches. If you’re the bride or the groom, this is also a great opportunity to make a ‘thank you’ speech.

What is the best wedding speech order?

In traditional Australian weddings, the father of the bride typically gives the first speech, welcoming guests and expressing the family’s appreciation to everyone who showed up for the couple’s big day. The bride’s parents traditionally give the first toast as they’re usually the people hosting the wedding.

The groom then takes the mic to thank the father of the bride for the toast and to express his gratitude to the guests, his new bride and the bride’s parents. The groom's wedding speech ends with a toast to the bridal party.

After the groom’s speech, the best man takes over and responds to the groom’s speech, thanking him on behalf of the bridal party. The best man wedding speech usually includes a few funny stories about the groom and ends with a toast to the bride’s parents.

The father or the mother of the bride then thanks the best man, welcomes the groom into the family and shares some stories about the bride or the couple. This is often one of the most tear-jerking and highly anticipated speeches at the reception. This speech ends with a toast to the groom’s parents.

The next speech is usually given by the father of the groom. He responds to the toast from the father of the bride and raises a glass to toast the bride. The groom’s mother or another close family member may also share a few words.

After the speeches from the family members, the best man or the master of ceremonies (MC) reads letters, emails or messages from family members or guests who couldn’t make it to the wedding. The MC then wraps up the speech portion of the reception by thanking the guests and everyone involved in organising the wedding festivities.

Nowadays, it has become customary for the maid of honour to also share a few words, usually an anecdote or two about the bride. And whilst traditionally the bride, as the guest of honour, would just be sitting back and taking this all in, it has also become quite common for her to propose a toast and thank her parents, in-laws, guests and bridal party.

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How to Write a great wedding speech

Public speaking can be nerve-wracking. At such an intimate event, you want your speech to be fun and memorable (in a good way)! Follow these tips on how to write a wedding speech that’s heartfelt, entertaining and unforgettable:

1. Keep it short

Even if you’re the bride’s or groom's best friend or parent, no one wants to sit through a 30-minute monologue detailing every single thing you have ever done with them. The cardinal rule of wedding speeches is that you should keep it as close to 2 minutes (for short/medium-length speeches) or 5 minutes (for long ones) as possible. Any more than that and people will start to get restless, which will take away from the fun mood that you’re trying to achieve.

2. Try to avoid insensitive comments

This should be easy enough, but some people do say things that are just inappropriate and out of line. Awkward examples could be making jokes about how someone looks or telling a story about something embarrassing one of the newlyweds did when they were younger. You can (and should) add humour to your speech, but you shouldn’t make anyone feel uncomfortable.

3. Rehearse your speech

This is an absolute must. Weeks or months before the wedding, write down your speech and practice giving it whenever you have some free time. Try doing it in front of your friend or partner, and ask them to give their feedback about the content, length and delivery. Practising will give you extra confidence and help your speech flow smoothly during the reception.

4. Keep it simple

The best speeches say exactly what needs to be said, and nothing more. If you’re not the type to make jokes and try to entertain your audience, that’s perfectly fine. Keep it short and sweet. As long as you’re speaking from the heart, your speech will come across as genuine and meaningful.

5. Give it structure

When you sit down to write your speech, keep in mind that it should have a beginning, middle and end. No matter how short your speech is, it should flow naturally and not be a jumble of anecdotes.

6. Make it personal 

You probably have a lot of stories about the couple, so share them! Maybe you were there when they met or during another important milestone in their relationship. Their guests will love hearing about those romantic moments! Or maybe you have an entertaining story about the bride or the groom — if it’s about a positive trait of theirs, go ahead and include it in your speech. Just make sure the story is relevant and flattering to the person you’re talking about.

7. Address the couple equally

Even if you don’t know one of the newlyweds as much as the other, make sure you include both of them in your speech. Talk about their relationship together, not just about your memories with one of them.

8. Write it down

If you’re nervous about giving a speech, it’s perfectly fine to write down what you’re going to say and read from a piece of paper or a notecard. Avoid reading from your phone (or a tablet) as the glow on your face will make for some bad photos. But if you  do  plan on reading from your phone, make sure there’s enough battery and put it on aeroplane mode so you don’t get a call whilst making your speech.

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Tips for brides and grooms

The pressure is on to write and deliver a speech that’s heartfelt but not maudlin and that takes into consideration everyone who played a part in putting the wedding together.

When it comes to making the perfect speech for your wedding, both the bride and groom should ensure their thank you's are in harmony. This is no mean feat because there is a long list of people who have helped out with the build-up to this day, so it can be hard work remembering who has done what. Additionally, if you've been planning the day for some time, it can be difficult to know what aspects of the planning process to mention.

How do you nail it? Write down all of the key people involved in bringing this event together: from helping with preparations to financial backing, and those who have supported you through any difficult times. This will be useful as a friendly way to remember their contribution, but also you can use it as your speech notes so that you don't forget anybody important.

For Wedding Speech Examples, the groom wedding speech is towards the end of the wedding reception. This is an opportunity to thank people such as his best man, parents and in-laws, plus anyone else who has been instrumental in helping with the wedding planning. It’s also customary for him to express his appreciation to everyone who has travelled long distances to attend the wedding, and those who have provided special gifts. Lastly, it is also an opportunity for him to publicly thank his bride - and this can be done in a range of ways whether it’s through an anecdote or simply thanking her for making their special day even better.

Meanwhile, the bride speech typically takes the opportunity to thank everyone who has helped her organise her special day, including those who have contributed financially. It's also a chance for her to express her appreciation for all the family and friends that have come along to show their support. She may even take this moment to let them know how lucky she is to be marrying such an amazing man!

Tips for writing funny wedding speeches

Writing funny speeches for weddings is hard. It’s better to let the humor flow into the speech naturally rather than force it. However, if you’re inclined to deliver a funny wedding toast, here are some tips:

1. Be respectful

Spending the whole speech slagging off your best man's terrible jokes can actually be quite disrespectful to the bride and groom. It might seem like easy material but it's not especially kind.

2. Use personal stories

If you do have some truly hilarious jokes, fantastic one-liners or even a really good story to tell about your brother or sister (and it's not too embarrassing!), then you could certainly include it in a wedding speech. It can be excellent fun for the friends and family who know the person on their special day. Just don't overdo it! Try out any new material as well-worn friendly banter beforehand. Remember that wedding speeches should highlight something positive; just talking about how awkward they were at school will probably make them feel uncomfortable.

3. Use self-deprecating material, but with tact

Material that makes fun of yourself can be an excellent way to build rapport with other members of the wedding party (particularly if they have known you forever). The important thing in funny wedding speeches is not to seem arrogant or mean-spirited towards others; laughing at yourself can be a great way to make your audience laugh too!

4. Keep your jokes appropriate

A friendly or humorous speech doesn't mean that you use rude material. This is particularly important at wedding speeches when the whole room may consist of family members (including kids) who wouldn't necessarily appreciate that kind of humour. It's also worth keeping in mind that people tend to remember weddings more than other big events; it's best not to risk upsetting anyone with inappropriate comments.

5. Don’t make the speech about you

This may seem strange but it's important to remember that wedding speeches aren't always a chance for comedians to show off their comedic skills; sometimes they're just an introduction. If you can keep friendly whilst still getting across your own personality, so much the better!

6. Keep your speech short!

Keep wedding speeches short and sweet; friends and family don't want you up there for ages, making them feel guilty about sloping off down the pub! Funny does not necessarily mean long – try having lots of little funny moments rather than one BIG joke at the end (which doesn't always go down well).

Time to write the perfect wedding speech

A wedding speech is one of the best gifts you can give a newlywed couple, and the effort you put into writing and practising one will definitely be worth it. We hope these tips come in handy as you sit down to pen your wedding toast!

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90 Wedding Gift Message Ideas for the Happy Couple

Here's exactly what to write in a wedding note to the couple based on your relationship.

Photo by Niki Marie Photography

In This Article

When you attend a wedding, you know that it's customary to bring a present . Most attendees bring a cash gift on the day of the celebration—and they typically tuck the money (or check!) into a card. You shouldn't, however, simply sign your name and slip your envelope into the card box. Since it's an honor to receive a wedding invitation, you should take some time to think about what the couple of the hour truly means to you and pen your feelings accordingly.

Finding just the right sentiment to include in your wedding note to a couple can be tricky in theory, but it doesn't have to be in practice. Use your relationship as a starting point. Is your son or daughter tying the knot? You'll likely want to mention how proud you are to witness their every milestone—including this wedding. If you're headed to a coworker's nuptials , on the other hand, a funny pun about a "merger" might work. And if you're simply looking for a straightforward, traditional message? You can't beat, "Congratulations! I'm so honored to be part of your special day."

Whatever you write, remember that the message is just as important as the present. If you've chosen and wrapped your gift (or prepared to send it via the mail or via their wedding registry) and you're ready to write a card or note, we have dozens of ideas; we'll help you find the perfect words to use as you wish the newlyweds well. Ahead, find 90 ideas for what to write in a wedding card—from sweet and sentimental ideas to religious options, quotes about love , and more.

DESIGN BY MEHROZ KAPADIA

Traditional Wedding Wishes

Whether you know the couple well (maybe their family members or your best friends) or you know them from work or just recently met them, you can't go wrong with writing a sweet, traditional wish in the gift card.

• "May your love grow stronger each and every passing year."
• "Your wedding day will come and go, but may your love forever grow."
• "Here's to a lifetime full of happiness and love."
• "Cheers to the happy couple!"
• "Wishing you a life full of love and joy."
• "Thank you for inviting me/us to celebrate your marriage. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness!"
• "Congratulations! Cheers to both of you and wishing you a life of love and joy."
• "Wishing you a lifetime of wedded bliss!"
• "Wishing you both a happy and prosperous future!"
• "I wish you both a fulfilling marriage and a lifetime of joy."
• "Cheers to the beginning of forever!"
• "I'm honored to have witnessed your special day. Thank you for including me, and congratulations!"
• "Wishing you a long and happy marriage."

Religious Wedding Wishes

If you met the couple through a religious capacity or know that the couple's faith is at the heart of their union, you'll likely want to pen a message that speaks to their beliefs.

• "May your marriage be blessed, always!"
• "Love is the greatest blessing—cherish and cultivate it."
• "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." —Ephesians 4:2
• "I have found the one whom my soul loves." —Song of Solomon 3:4
• "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." —1 Corinthians 13:13
• "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 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." —1 Corinthians 13:4-8
• "Through love serve one another." —Galatians 5:13
• "A cord of three strands is not easily broken." —Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
• "And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." —Colossians 3:14
• "Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created." —Esther 4:14

Casual Wedding Wishes

If you know the couple well (perhaps they are your best friends or a close family member), you can be casual while maintaining a sentimental, happy tone.

• "We/I are/am so happy for the two of you!"
• "We/I can't wait to see the two of you do life together!"
• "Cheers to the rest of your life as partners!"
• "You guys did the damn thing. Thanks so much for inviting us along!"
• "We/I love you so much! Congratulations—we/I are/am so happy for you!"
• "Lots of love to you both!"
• "Wishing you both the very best, today, tomorrow, and every day."
• "Huge congrats to you both!"
• "Congrats on getting hitched, you two!"
• "A huge congrats on finding your soul mate!"
• "Enjoy every moment of this beautiful day!"
• "Marriage looks good on you both!"

Love Quote Wedding Wishes

Whether the happy couple enjoys great literature, film, TV, or music, this is a great time to write a famous quote about love as part of your well-wishes.

• “He's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” —Emily Brontë,  Wuthering Heights
• “To you, I'll give the world.” —“Songbird” by Fleetwood Mac
• “You should be kissed, and often, and by someone who knows how." —Margaret Mitchell,  Gone with the Wind
• "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."  —When Harry Met Sally
• "My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep. The more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite." —William Shakespeare,  Romeo and Juliet
• "Take my hand/Take my whole life too/For I can't help falling in love with you." — "Can't Help Falling in Love With You" by Elvis Presley
• “'Why do we have to listen to our hearts?' the boy asked. 'Because, wherever your heart is, that is where you will find your treasure.'"  — Paulo Coelho,  The Alchemist
• “You have been the last dream of my soul.” —Charles Dickens,  A Tale of Two Cities
• "I could hold you for a million years/To make you feel my love" —"Make You Feel My Love" by Adele
• "Some day, when I'm awfully low, when the world is cold/I will feel a glow just thinking of you and the way you look tonight." —"The Way You Look Tonight" by Frank Sinatra
• "To me, you are perfect." — Love Actually
• "You don't marry someone you can live with, you marry the person you cannot live without." — P.S. I Love You
• "If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you." — Winnie-the-Pooh  by A.A. Milne

Inspirational Wedding Wishes

If the love shared by the newlyweds inspires you, that's a perfect sentiment to include in your wedding gift card!

• "Your love inspires me every day. Wishing you both the best!"
• "Your future together is so bright. Congratulations!"
• "Your love is truly one-of-a-kind."
• "You two are the ultimate power couple. Cheers to you both!"
• "I/we can't wait to see what your future holds!"
• "Following your heart always leads to a lifetime of love."
• "Never forget what brought you two together. We're so happy for you!"
• "Marriage takes hard work, but I have no doubt that you two will do anything it takes to thrive. Congratulations!"
• "Cherish every moment together and you'll have a lifetime of bliss!"
• "You two were simply made for each other."
• "Congratulations on this huge life milestone."

Wedding Wishes for Your Son or Daughter

The day has finally come—your baby is all grown up and ready to tie the knot. It might seem impossible to put your feelings into words, but these sentiments might serve as a good starting point.

• "From the moment I first held you in my arms, I knew you were special—and I am overjoyed that you have someone who knows it, too."
• "I have anticipated this day since you were born. I'm so proud of the woman/man you have become."
• "You will always be my baby, but it brings me such pride to see how much you have grown."
• "I can remember when you used to hold onto my hand so tight—though it's bittersweet for me, I'm overjoyed that you now find comfort and support in [spouse's name's] arms."
• "You will know how this feels someday, when you sit down to write your own child's wedding card. I love you endlessly, immensely, and irrevocably."
• "I've been proud of your every accomplishment. Today, we're adding another one to the list."
• "I know that you have what your mother and I have—a never-ending love that knows no bounds. I couldn't be more thrilled for you."
• "As you embark on the adventure that is marriage, know that you will always have a safe place to land with me."

Wedding Wishes for Family Members

If you're celebrating a new marriage in the family, this is the perfect time to welcome the new family member and say congrats.

• "Congratulations to you both, and welcome to the family, [name]!"
• "We're so happy that our family is getting bigger. Welcome, and congratulations, you two!"
• "I am so lucky to have you both as my family. Congratulations!"
• "This is such a special day for our family. We are so happy for you both!"
• "Today, we add a new member to our family, and we all couldn't be happier!"
• "It's been such a blessing to watch your love blossom over the years. Congrats!"
• "I'm so excited to have a new [brother-in-law/sister-in-law]!"
• "Cheers to extending our family tree!"
• "You fit right in with our family. Congratulations and welcome!"

Wedding Wishes for Friends

If either or both of the newlyweds are your close friends, feel free to add in an anecdote to personalize the wedding card—or use one of these tried and true wishes for friends.

• "I am so happy that my two best friends get to spend the rest of their lives together."
• "We are so lucky to be celebrating the love of two of our best friends!"
• "I hope you each bring each other as much happiness as your friendship has brought me. Congrats, friends!"
• "Here is to a life full of friendship and love!"
• "I'm so lucky for all the memories we've shared together. Watching the two of your get married is one of the very best memories of them all!"
• "Seeing the two of you together brings me so much joy. I'm so happy for you!"
• "The two of you light up every room you walk into. Congrats on tying the knot!

Wedding Wishes for Coworkers

If you've just celebrated a coworker's wedding, here are some sweet ideas for the wedding gift card.

• "Congratulations to you and wishing you both all of the best!"
• "Thank you for inviting me to be a part of your special celebration. Congrats!"
• "I'm so happy for you both. Congratulations!"
• "Congratulations on the merger! Wishing you all the best as you take this next step."
• "Congratulations. Now enjoy some well-deserved time off for your honeymoon!"
• "Wishing you and your partner a lifetime of joy."
• "Congratulations to you both and your families. The rest of your life starts today!"

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