What the Maid of Honor Needs to Know About Giving a Toast

Keeping it short, sweet, and sincere will make your maid-of-honor speech spectacular.

By Nancy Mattia

July 28, 2017

Credit: We Are The Mitchells

It's the season for maids of honor everywhere to put words to paper (ink or digitally) and make a toast. Whether you last made a speech in high school or you regularly speak to a crowd, you'll want your toast to hit all the right notes. Here's how to do it.

HOW TO WRITE A MAID OF HONOR SPEECH THAT EVERYONE WILL RAISE A GLASS TO

Remember to start with an I.D. and a thank you.

If the emcee didn't introduce you, do it yourself, and mention how you know the bride and groom and for how long. Then thank the guests for coming to the wedding. It's a nice way of making them feel part of the toast.

Keep your tone heartfelt.

You and the bride are obviously very close. Telling a story about her that's sweet, sentimental, and short would be perfect.

Mention both the bride and groom.

While your focus will be on the bride, don't forget to mention the groom-your first impression of him, how you've grown to love him, or something else that's warm and personal.

Get the crowd laughing.

You don't have to be Melissa McCarthy to use humor to great effect. There's no better way to win the crowd over than with a short, amusing anecdote. Just remember that there's a fine line between funny and embarrassing. Don't cross it even if you're sure your favorite college story is a winner. The bride's relatives don't want to hear any anecdote involving her underwear.