How to Give a Memorable Best Man or Maid of Honor Speech

Finally! Your best friend is getting married, and they asked you to be their best man or maid of honor. And you couldn’t be more excited and more thrilled and more honored. Except that, this means you have to give the best man or maid of honor toast, which makes your heart beat faster and your palms a little sweaty. A speech? In the middle of a giant crowd? What on earth can you say?

Before you break out into cold sweat, we’re to tell you to take a deep breath and relax. It’s not the end of the world. If you don’t know where to start and what to say for the best man/maid of honor speech, we’ve got some tips that may help you:

1. Prepare in Advance

If you know you’re going to be the best man or maid of honor and are required to give a speech, don’t wait until it is too late to make your speech. If you wait until the wedding reception to jot down notes about what to say, you may end up rambling instead of delivering a touching, memorable speech. Give yourself enough time to write and practice what to say, so you can be confident on the wedding day.

2. Grab the Attendees’ Attention Right Away

You want your speech to be something everyone will listen to and something that will honor the couple. Start with a heartfelt or funny story about the bride, if you’re the maid of honor, or the groom, if you’re the best man. It will grab the guests’ attention and set the tone for your speech.

3. Keep it Short, Sweet, and Positive

In general, you should aim for a speech that is three to five minutes long. You want it to be something fun and interesting and not something that will make the guests doze off or lose interest.

Zoom in on the positive aspects of the bride and groom and their relationship together. While you can make things funny and witty, steer clear of anything that could be seen as negative or inappropriate.

4. Be Personal

Share a personal story about the bride or groom (or both) that shows their unique qualities and illustrates your relationship with them. Personal anecdotes will make your speech more unique and heartfelt.

If you have had a chance to observe the couple together before their wedding, you can highlight how you have observed them around each other. You can also share stories of your experiences with them.

5. End with a Toast

Before you end your speech, invite everyone to raise their glasses and drink to the couple. With them the best for their future together.

Giving the Best Man/Maid of Honor Speech

Giving the best man/maid of honor speech is an honor and a unique opportunity to celebrate with the newlyweds on their special day.

Prepare ahead of time, share heartfelt stories, and just be yourself. Keep our tips in mind, and you’ll be able to deliver a memorable speech that the couple and guests will love and appreciate.