Maid of Honor Speech: How to Write & Deliver 2025

A great maid of honor speech lasts 3-5 minutes, balances humor with heart, and ends with a clear toast. The formula: introduce yourself, share one meaningful story about the bride, acknowledge how the partner has changed her life, and raise your glass. Focus on specific memories that reveal character—not generic praise—and aim for 60% heartfelt sentiment, 40% gentle humor¹².

Quick Reference: Maid of Honor Speech Essentials

Speech Length by Region

Maid of honor speech expectations vary across English-speaking countries¹³⁴.

In the UK, maid of honor speeches weren't traditionally part of the wedding—only the father of the bride, groom, and best man spoke³. Today, chief bridesmaid speeches are "on the rise" but remain optional. For more on speech timing, see our guide on reception order of events.

Speech Structure

Opening (30-60 seconds)

Include:

• Introduce yourself and your relationship to the bride
• Thank the couple for the honor
• One warm opening line to connect with the room

Skip: Starting with a joke before establishing who you are. Build warmth first⁴.

Middle (2-3 minutes)

Focus on 1-2 specific stories that reveal character, not generic praise¹².

Four-part framework:

1. Your history (30-45 sec): How you met, what drew you together
2. The defining story (60-90 sec): One story showing her character
3. The couple's story (45-60 sec): When you noticed the partner was different
4. Partner acknowledgment (30-45 sec): Welcome them and thank them for what they bring

Closing (30-60 seconds)

Structure:

1. Advice, wisdom, or wishes for the couple
2. Clear invitation: "Please raise your glasses"
3. Toast: "To [names]—[specific wish]. To [names]!"

Circle back to your opening story if possible—it creates a satisfying arc⁴.

What to Include

Must-Haves

• Your relationship to the bride—why your perspective matters
• One specific story—not generic "she's amazing" but a real moment
• Genuine compliment to the bride that goes beyond surface level
• Acknowledgment of the partner and what they bring to her life
• Clear toast at the end¹²

Nice-to-Haves

• How the couple met (from your perspective)
• What she said about the partner early on
• Her reaction when she got engaged
• A piece of advice or meaningful quote
• Quick thanks to hosts (especially in UK tradition)³

What to Avoid

Never Mention

Common Mistakes

• Inside jokes nobody else understands—the whole room should laugh with you
• Stories that drag—keep anecdotes to 60-90 seconds maximum
• Forced humor—if jokes aren't your strength, sincerity works better¹
• Making it about yourself—you're the narrator, not the protagonist
• Winging it—the maid of honor speech has "the most chance of running off the rails" without preparation²
• Reading from phone—use note cards instead for better audience connection

Regional Traditions

United States

The maid of honor typically speaks after the best man in the traditional order, though some couples place her speech last. Speeches are expected at most weddings, running 3-5 minutes with a casual, personal tone. Humor is appreciated but not required¹.

United Kingdom

The chief bridesmaid speech is not traditional—historically, only the father of the bride, groom, and best man gave speeches³. However, maid of honor speeches are increasingly common and, when given, tend to be more formal than US counterparts. The speech comes after the best man if included. In the UK, the role is called "chief bridesmaid" if unmarried or "matron of honor" if married.

Australia

Australian weddings have no fixed speech order, giving flexibility for the maid of honor to speak before or after the best man⁴. Length runs 3-5 minutes, with experts noting that the sweet spot is "long enough to tell a meaningful story and share some laughs, but short enough to keep everyone's attention"². The philosophy: be genuine rather than performative.

Canada

Blended approach varying by region. Eastern provinces lean toward UK formality; western provinces favor US casualness. The maid of honor speech is generally expected but with flexible timing. When uncertain, aim for a heartfelt 4-minute speech that works across traditions.

Sample Speech Template

[OPENING—30 seconds]

Good evening, everyone. I'm [Name], [Bride]'s maid of honor and
[relationship—best friend, sister, cousin] of [X] years.
Thank you, [Bride] and [Partner], for trusting me with this moment.

[Warm opening about what the bride means to you]

[MIDDLE—2-3 minutes]

I met [Bride] [specific time/place]. What struck me immediately
was [character trait].

[One specific story that reveals her character—keep it to 60-90 seconds]

When [Bride] met [Partner], I saw something change. She [specific
observation about how she was different]. I knew then this was real.

[Partner], thank you for seeing what I've always known—that
[Bride] is [specific quality]. Welcome to our circle.

[CLOSING—30 seconds]

Please raise your glasses with me.

To [Bride] and [Partner]: May your love grow deeper with
each passing year. To [Bride] and [Partner]!

For more inspiration on expressing friendship, explore our collection of friendship messages for wedding cards.

Delivery Tips

Before

• Start writing early—at least 2-3 weeks before the wedding²
• Practice 5+ times out loud—silent reading doesn't prepare you for speaking¹
• Time yourself—nerves cause rushing, so add buffer content
• Prepare note cards with bullet points, not full script
• Get feedback from someone who knows the bride

During

• Eye contact—scan different sections of the room
• Speak slowly—20-30% slower than feels natural
• Pause for reactions—let laughter or emotion settle
• End clearly—raise glass visibly, deliver toast, take a sip

Managing Nerves

• Box breathing: 4 counts in, 4 hold, 4 out, 4 hold
• Arrive early to familiarize yourself with the space
• Limit alcohol—one drink maximum before speaking
• Remember: audiences want you to succeed
• Have a reset phrase: "Let me back up" buys recovery time if you lose your place

Final Checklist

Weeks before:

• Draft complete speech (400-600 words)
• Time at 3-5 minutes when spoken aloud
• Get feedback from someone who knows the couple
• Remove any stories the bride wouldn't want shared

Days before:

• Memorize opening and closing
• Create note cards for middle section
• Practice 5+ times out loud

Wedding day:

• Limit alcohol before speaking
• Review notes once before speeches
• Box breathing before standing
• Deliver with eye contact and clear toast

Sources and References