Handy Maid Of Honor Speech Tips.

There are a few things to do (and not to do) to ensure your Matron of Honor Speeches is a roaring success. Before you make what is hopefully a brilliantly successful Bridesmaid speeches, you had better get the basics right. There are a few questions that need to be answered first.

There are several areas you need to cover. The most important thing is to be clear in your own mind how you are going to play it. What are these areas?

1/ Should I use humor?
2/ How long should the Maid of Honor Speech be?
3/ How should it relate to the other speeches?
4/ How should I deliver it?

One of the big challenges facing a maid of honor is out of your control. It's the running order of the speeches. You are well down the pecking order and much of what you wanted to say may well have been said already. Make sure it "fits" in with the rest of the speeches.

1/. Is it good idea to try and be humorous?

Are you funny (I mean do other people find your story telling funny)? You may want to use a humorous speech but find that the previous one caused offence and people are not in the mood for another attempt just right now. In this case you may need a back up, toned down speech. Keep the emotion but miss out some of the funny (let's face it, embarrassing) content.

You may have to face the fact that your sense of humour may be wrong for the guests or family. Someone may have humiliated the couple already. If you carry on regardless, you may be rubbing salt into the wounds.

2/ What's The Best Length For A Maid Of Honor Speech?

It may be best to have a very short, straight to the point speech ready, just in case everyone is totally fed up with listening to speeches.

3/ Your speech must go alongside the previous ones.

Just giving your prepared speech regardless of preceding ones could be problematic. You could be interrupting the smooth flow of the ceremony if you present your prepared speech as is without taking into account what went before. Who knows, someone may have stole your best jokes or stories?

I don't mean say the same things. I mean keep in tone with the rest (except when all the others have bored the pants off everyone)

4/ The delivery. When even the most well laid plans can fail.

Have little, if any alcohol before your turn. It's too easy to say the wrong thing which you can never take back afterwards.

Many people recommend a couple of drinks beforehand to make you less nervous before your speech. Fine but there is a thin line between being loosened up and drunk as a skunk! I've often told a story of a Maid of Honor who was "well oiled" by the time it came to deliver her speech. Trying to deliver it without notes she froze (literally). Whilst all the guests thought she was pausing for effect and waited for something very poignant, she had forgotten her lines (and most likely, where she actually was!). After the best part of a minute, the Bride's father realised what was happening and put her out of her misery.

Just remember, what seems funny after a couple of drinks can be mortifying when watching the wedding DVD in the cold light of day (time and time again). I really recommend playing it safe. It's going to be a very long day when there will be plenty of time for drinking later on. My advice is to get your Bridesmaid speeches out of the way first.