Congrats on being your sister’s Maid of Honor (or Man of Honor)! I hope you’re looking forward to this special occasion.

It’s perfectly fine if you have some nerves about giving your wedding speech. As someone who has given speeches in front of thousands of people, I get how it’s natural to feel a little nervous before giving a speech.

With a little bit of preparation and a lot of heart, you’ll be able to give the best Maid of Honor speech possible. Follow the 10 tips below, and I guarantee you’ll deliver a Maid of Honor speech that will make your sister feel special, make her spouse feel welcome, and make the wedding guests feel emotional and engaged.

👉 5 Maid of Honor speech examples

How do you write the perfect Maid of Honor speech?

Remember, there’s no wrong way to write your Maid of Honor speech. Do what feels authentic to you.

If you aren’t sure where to start, here’s a basic template we recommend for writing your Maid of Honor speech:

• Theme: What’s the main message that ties your speech together?

• Opening: Welcome and thank your guests. Introduce yourself.

• Key Idea 1: (Past) Tell the guests a story that highlights a good quality about your sister.

• Key Idea 2: (Present) Tell the newlyweds a story that symbolizes their relationship or what makes them a good match.

• Key Idea 3: (Future) Tell the newlyweds how you’re looking forward to the future, and share advice.

• Closing: Raise a toast to the newlyweds.

You don’t have to follow this template exactly, but it’s a great starting point you can build from!

10 tips for writing your Maid of Honor speech

Here are 10 tips that will help you craft the best Maid of Honor speech your sister and her spouse will remember for a lifetime:

1. Don’t wait until the last minute.

2. Make it personal.

3. Share defining moments of your relationship.

4. Compliment the spouse.

5. Thank the guests.

6. Balance the wit and emotion.

7. Keep it short.

8. Use props.

9. Practice makes perfect.

10. Have fun!

Tip #1: Don’t wait until the last minute.

First things first: Give yourself plenty of time to prepare. Start working on your speech at least 3 weeks before the wedding day, if possible. If you wait until the last minute, you’ll feel rushed and stressed.

To make the most of your preparation time, use a notebook or the Speeko app to jot down any ideas that come to mind. Inspiration can strike at any moment—whether you’re at home, at work, or out with friends. If you write down your thoughts as they come, you’ll have a large pool of ideas to use for inspiration.

Tip #2: Make it personal.

Your sister-sister relationship is your greatest asset when writing your Maid of Honor speech. Consider personal stories and anecdotes that highlight your favorite qualities of your sister. Talk about how you’ve always been there for each other over the decades, no matter what.

Speak from the heart, and your sister will feel loved and appreciated. Everyone in your audience will sense it as well.

Tip #3: Share defining moments of your relationship.

You have a distinct viewpoint on the bride and her life. After all, you are her sister! Talk about how she was able to overcome obstacles and inspired you to be a better person. You can even share a secret between you and your sister—as long as your sister wouldn’t mind!

Include specific examples of how your sister’s friendship has impacted your life over the years. You could, for example, discuss a time when her sense of humor helped you get through a difficult time.

Ask yourself these questions to brainstorm story ideas:

• How have you and your sister grown together throughout your lives?

• What unique qualities do you have that make you the perfect Maid of Honor?

• What fond memories do you have of your sister?

• What have you learned from your sister over the years?

• How has your sister been an inspiration to you?

• What have you always admired about your sister?

• How has your sister supported you throughout your life?

After you’ve gathered a few stories, consider potential themes you can weave throughout your speech.

Tip #4: Compliment the spouse.

You’ll want to say positive things about your sister’s spouse in your speech. Talk about how your sister’s spouse has influenced her life and how grateful you are to have them as part of your family. Feel free to share a funny or touching story about them. Just make sure the story is appropriate for the occasion!

Tip #5: Thank the guests.

This is a minor but critical detail that will make a significant difference. Begin your speech by thanking everyone for coming to the wedding and sharing this special occasion with your sister and her partner. Thank them again at the end of your speech for their support and love.

Tip #6: Balance the wit and emotion.

A good Maid of Honor speech is both humorous and heartfelt.

You don’t have to try to be a stand-up comedian, but you should include some humorous touches. You’ll put the audience at ease and create a welcoming atmosphere if you can make them laugh.

Include emotional moments as well. These will contrast nicely with the humorous parts of your speech and will keep your audience interested. A mix of funny and touching moments can help you develop a good story arc in your speech.

Tip #7: Keep it short.

While you want to make your Maid of Honor speech personal and engaging, keeping it short and sweet is essential. You don’t want to bore the guests or take up too much time during the reception. Aim for a speech that is between 3 and 5 minutes long. Remember, it’s better to leave the guests wanting more than wishing the speech was over.

Tip #8: Use props.

Adding a prop to your Maid of Honor speech can be a great way to engage the guests and make your speech more memorable. Consider incorporating photos or videos of your sister and her spouse throughout the years, or bring along a sentimental object that holds special meaning to your sister. However, make sure that your prop doesn’t take away from the focus of your speech.

Tip #9: Practice makes perfect.

The key to delivering a great Maid of Honor speech is practice. You can follow Speeko’s template to prepare, write, and organize your speech. Once you’ve organized your speech, rehearse it over and over again. Try recording yourself with Speeko so you can see how you come across. Speeko will give you A.I. feedback on your public speaking skills, like if you’re speaking too fast or too monotone.

Another helpful method is to practice in front of friends or family members. Ask them for honest feedback on your delivery and content. And the more you practice, the less unknown there is to fear. You’ll ease those nerves and feel confident on the big day.

Tip #10: Have fun!

The ending of your Maid of Honor speech is just as important as the beginning. End with a heartfelt blessing that will leave your sister and her spouse feeling loved and appreciated. Consider ending your speech with advice for the newlyweds, a memorable quote that embodies their love story, or a callback to the theme of a story you told earlier in your speech. Be sure to end your speech with a smile and a toast to the happy couple.

What are good Maid of Honor speech examples?

Here are 5 examples of Maid of Honor speeches for a sister. Consider how each speech incorporates the tips above, and think about what you like about the examples you can use for your Maid of Honor speech!

Speeko for wedding toasts

Tap into the power of A.I. coaching to unleash your full speaking potential. Use Speeko’s Wedding Toasts course to prepare, write, and organize your Maid of Honor speech. From gathering your stories to using humor, you’ll strengthen your skills and receive invaluable feedback on key areas of your speaking style.