Wedding Speech Help!!

[stitch&ariel]

Hi All

I am hoping that some of you may be able to help me! My best friend is getting married and as the only bridesmaid I have been asked if I can give a speech. I am really excited about this and really want to do her proud but I have no idea where to start!

Does anyone have any experience of writing a speech for something like this and have any tips to share? How long should I make it?

Also I wanted to try and put a quote relating to love or marriage in there and so I googled them and found loads of sites but didn't see anything that seemed 'right' so if anyone has any quotes they love and would like to share that would be appreciated!!!

 

[Handbag Lady]

You make it as long or short as it needs to be to say what you want to say.

I'd start off listing things. Things you like about your friend, the funny moments, when she was there for you, when she met her husband...it will come together from these notes.


I'll have to get back to you about quotes. I have never found any that suited "my" bride.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards.
~Benjamin Franklin



I like this one!

 

[CoP Luv]

My best friend gave a wedding speech a few months ago for her old roommate and her new husband. To keep it light, she brought a "Suvival Gift" for the DH on how to live with his new wife. It included things that she noticed that her old roommate liked or needed (ie - she loved getting post-it notes with nice, inspriring words and kept them up on her bathroom mirror so my Best Friend gave him a pack of post-its).

It was a great speech and wasn't that long (that's the important part!).

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Well I'll tell you what not to say. Don't say everyone expected the groom to end up with some other woman that's sitting right there instead of the bride, don't say that even though the groom is a shrimp he makes a ton of money so it's okay, don't say that everyone is taking bets and the odds aren't looking great for it making it through the first year. I guess some people are trying to sound funny. It doesn't work, stick to how they met, what makes them a good couple and wish them well.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Yes, I totally agree with PP, keep it short!!!

 

[Wishing on a star]

The bridesmaid at my nephew's wedding did such an incredible job, she was one of the highlights!

Don't be afraid to get personal (just not too personal, of course)

As the BFF, the bridesmaid recanted memories of the bride, and the moment when she knew, before the bride even admitted it, that Heather, the bride, had met 'the one'. Everyone was laughing and applauding by the end!~

Sit for a minute and go down memory lane and daydream in your mind... What comes to you that makes you smile!!! What makes you happy!!! Why are you, personally, happy to see your friend marry this guy?

Like the other poster had mentioned...
Take a few notes, and go from there.

 

[Wishing on a star]

PS: about those quotes....

Unless something really hits you and has a perfect place in what you want to say, then I wouldn't try to make a big deal of having some serious fancy quote.

You are the BFF, not officiating the ceremony.

You will be better off to take a light, personal approach... not anything like Shakespeare or Scriptures.

Now, if you can remember, verbatim, that after their first meeting your friend said something about her now Fiance such as "Him??? NO WAY!!" or, "OMG, I'm going to marry him one day...." Now, those would be the types of quotes you could use.