Delivering A Serious and Sober Maid of Honor Speech

While the best man's speech is often funny though it doesn't have to be) the maid of honor's speech is often times more serious. Particularly if you are the type who simply can't pull off humor, or if you are uncomfortable with humor in a public setting, a serious speech can be just the ticket. So long as the speech is emotionally genuine, a serious and sober speech can be just as engaging - if not more so - and be long remembered by the audience and family for its quality and sincerity.

"First off, on behalf of the Biltmore family, I would like to welcome you here today. Your presence makes this day even more special for Sally and George, and it is sincerely appreciated."

This introduction thanks the audience for their attendance, something that may be particularly appreciated in an instance in which many or most of the guests had to travel or come in from out of town. This may have been a particular element that the family requested the maid of honor to include, as she does it on behalf of the family.

"For those of you who don't know me, I am Maria, Sally's friend from college. We have spent the last four years together, and I can honestly say that I have learned as much from you as I have from school. You never judge people, you are selfless and put others before yourself, you help when help is needed and you're passionate about life. These are lessons we could all stand to learn, but some that it would seem you have mastered. "

This section of the speech addresses the bride directly, speaking to her positive traits. While this isn't strictly anecdotal, it does speak to the maid of honor's history with the bride, their personal relationship, and the bride's character. Speaking to the positive character traits is a tasteful direction in which to take the speech, and often the opposite direction that the best man's speech goes in.

"Sally - you have been an amazing friend to me, and I will most definitely miss having you in my life, and in my apartment. When I needed someone to talk to, you were there, and this is my chance to tell you how thankful I am. They say that friends are the family that we choose, and I am so glad to have you as my friend. I want you to know that I will always be here for you, and for George - a great guy with a great sense of humor. "

This section of the speech begins to draw the speech to a close and bring it toward the toast. It focuses on the relationship, thanks the bride again for being in the maid of honor's life, and even makes reference to the groom. It's alright not to make to much mention of the groom, as the maid of honor's speech is really one that is directed toward the bride, and is about the friendship between the two. Extolling the virtues and positive character traits of the bride is also a common element, but feel free to use this speech to only speak to the bride. The groom gets his own speech from the best man, after all!

"I will bring this speech to a close now, and I know that I'm not the best person to give advice, but there's a saying which goes: God gives us the ingredients for our daily bread, but expects us to do the baking. Well, the same goes for marriage. You have all the pieces of a happy life, but it's up to you to put them together. Marriage is work, but it's joyful work, it's happy work, and it's worth it, I believe. "

This is the introduction to the toast - a lead in "pre-toast" as it were. This often includes advice, whether in the form of a traditional saying, something written specifically for the event, or some other piece of wisdom. This isn't the toast itself, but sets the stage for the toast which is about to follow.

"Please raise your glasses....

To Sally and George, please live life to its fullest. This is the first day of the rest of your life, so go forward together, and never want for anything. "

This toast is a combination of two traditional toasts, but matches the tone of the speech very well. It's important in making a toast, which is really the culmination of your speech, that the toast, whether written specifically for the occasion, or traditional, matches the tone. If the speech has been funny, such as in the case of the best man's speech, the toast can bring it back to end on a serious note, or use one of the more light-hearted traditional toasts. If the speech has been more serious, however, a toast such as the one in this example is more appropriate.