Maid of Honour Speeches

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Need help with your maid of honour or bridesmaid speech? Email us or call our office on 0207 118 1600

Maid of Honour & Bridesmaid speech writing help

The Maid of Honour (or Bridesmaid) speech is becoming an increasingly popular part of the wedding day. The days of three identical speeches from three men in matching suits are giving way to a new wave of female wedding speakers – and rightly so!

But a Maid of Honour speech comes with its own unique set of challenges. Unlike the father of the bride, groom, or best man, whose roles are more clearly defined,  the Maid of Honour has no set time, toast, or agenda, which makes it both a challenge and an incredible opportunity.

When should the Maid of Honour speak?

In most cases, we recommend the maid of honour speaks last. The male speakers often follow a natural rhythm, and there’s no need to interrupt that flow. Speaking at the end allows for:

• A smooth handover from the best man (who can give you a warm introduction)
• Reassurance that all formal thanks have already been made
• A relaxed audience who’ve had dinner, drinks, and a laugh… setting the stage for you to shine!

What to include in a Maid of Honour speech

As Maid of Honour, your speech should focus on the bride, but be careful not to repeat what her father or new husband may have already said. We suggest chatting with them beforehand to understand the tone and stories they plan to share.

Your speech should:

1. Reflect the bride from your unique perspective as her closest friend
2. Highlight qualities that make her not only a wonderful person but also a great partner
3. Be personal, meaningful, and relevant to her new life
4. Ideally, end with a memorable toast — tailored to the couple and the occasion

What to avoid in a Bridesmaid’s speech

It’s tempting to fill your speech with inside jokes and memories, but keep in mind the entire room is listening. This isn’t a Thelma-and-Louise special – try to show the bride in a way the whole audience can connect with.

Avoid:

• Overlapping with other speeches
• Over-thanking (the groom and best man will likely cover this)
• Listing the bride’s CV or achievements in detail
• Turning the moment into a tearful tribute — keep the mood upbeat and celebratory

How long should a Maid of Honour speech be?

We recommend keeping it to five minutes or less. That’s enough time to be meaningful, but short enough to hold the room’s attention, especially if you’re the fourth speaker!

Tone and delivery tips

This is a feel-good part of the day, so your tone should reflect that. Keep things light, joyful, and audience-friendly. You’re not just honouring your best friend – you’re entertaining a room full of guests who’ve had a long day. Think of your speech as part of the celebration, not the ceremony.

Writing tips for a great Bridesmaid or Maid of Honour speech

There are no strict rules, but the best maid of honour speeches are:

• Brief
• Clear
• Personal
• Relevant

Need help getting started? We offer bridesmaid speech writing services tailored to you and the couple. We’ll guide you through the process with a simple questionnaire to draw out the most meaningful content — whether you want help writing the speech from scratch or editing what you’ve already written.

What should I include in a maid of honour speech?
It’s important that the maid of honour speech includes a warm introduction of who you are and your relationship with the bride, tells some great personal stories that highlights her character, acknowledges her partner and the couple as a unit, and ends with a clear, heartfelt toast. Great Speech Writing will make sure the tone remains authentic, inclusively respectful for all guests, and focused on celebration rather than embarrassment.

How does Great Speech Writing support a maid of honour who feels unsure what to say in their speech?
When you work with us, we begin by chatting about your friendship with the bride, the tone you prefer and any anecdotes you’d like to include. Our writers then craft a draft tailored to you, refine it collaboratively until it sounds natural in your voice, and offer guidance on pacing and delivery. That way you step up feeling prepared, confident and genuine.

Why should someone choose Great Speech Writing rather than writing their own maid of honour speech?
Writing your maid of honour speech can be daunting because you want the tone just right and the content meaningful. Great Speech Writing brings professional experience in balancing humour and sentiment, crafting structure, and avoiding common pitfalls like over-long speeches or awkward jokes. With our help you deliver something polished yet personal, honouring the bride and the moment without feeling like a rehearsed script.

What key mistakes does Great Speech Writing help maid of honour clients avoid?
We will help you steer clear of issues like starting with needless disclaimers, sharing private inside jokes the audience won’t understand, dwelling excessively on the past, or neglecting to acknowledge the couple together. We guide you to keep the speech inclusive, well-paced, and focused on celebration, so you deliver a memorable address that adds to the day’s joy rather than distracting from it.

How long should a maid of honour speech be? How can it best be structured for impact?
At Great Speech Writing we typically aim for a duration of around five to ten minutes, giving you enough time to make an impression without losing attention. The structure we follow includes: introduction and thanks, a meaningful anecdote about the bride, recognition of the couple, and a concluding toast. We also advise you on vocal pace, natural breaks and how to finish strongly so your moment lands just right.

Ready to get started?

We’ve written maid of honour and bridesmaid speeches for weddings around the world and would love to help make yours stand out.

Call us on 0207 118 1600 or email us to find out how we can help you write a speech that’s warm, witty, and totally unforgettable.