Joanna Marie O. Santos
August 16, 2023

Everyone caught up in the latest entertainment news would know that Arjo Atayde and Maine Mendoza’s wedding was the talk of the week. The intimate celebration of marriage made headlines, with netizens sending well-wishes to the newlyweds. Even the groom’s mother's wedding speech was gushed about. 

Sylvia Sanchez made guests at the reception tear up as she gave the best words and wishes for her son- and daughter-in-law, and shared an anecdote of her sacrifice as a mother. Only those with a heart of stone wouldn’t love a sentimental and heartfelt wedding speech. 

Being a lady of honor is a true pleasure, but with that role come duties you must perform. One of them is delivering a flawless speech to a crowd of friends and family members. Here’s a guide to help you write the perfect speech that the bride and groom, and everyone else in the room, will cherish. 

How to Write the Perfect Wedding Speech 

Wedding bells are ringing, and you’ve been given the pleasure of being the lady of honor by your closest friend. Your wedding speech should entertain the audience, give support to the wedding couple, and include fond memories you share with them. With these tips, grab your lady-of-honor pen and paper–it’s time to start writing your perfect speech. 

_{Photo: via Women Getting Married}

1. Write Your Speech Early

Waiting until the night before the wedding to prepare your speech is a bad idea. Give yourself enough time to write the speech so you can go through it over and over again, and correct the mistakes. You don’t want to be stumbling over the words during your lady of honor moment!

2. Create A Rough Outline

An outline would be the skeleton of your speech. You might have too many thoughts you want to include in your speech, so it would help you organize them better if you create an outline. Jot down lines and ideas you don’t want to miss, and you can start composing your speech from there. This way, you will have a concise speech in your hands. 

3. Start With A Memorable Line

The first line of your speech should catch the audience’s attention. Be as creative, entertaining, or funny as you want. It can even be a song lyric or movie quote that means something special to the couple, a lighthearted line everyone can relate to, or a joke that will bring a chuckle or two. Whichever it is, be sure that you start your speech with something that will win everyone’s attention.

4. Keep It Short And Sweet

The night is not about you. Don’t speak for too long–you might lose the audience’s interest. Three minutes is the perfect length for a wedding speech, so be sure to fit everything you want to say within that time frame.

5. Share Happy Memories

What should be the content of your speech? Pick happy memories you’ve had with the bride and groom to share. Tell engaging, fond, and positive anecdotes that illustrate your bond and friendship. 

6. A Toast At The End

The night is about the newlyweds, so your speech should be about celebrating their love and marriage. Give your sincere wishes and support to the couple at the end. Write a positive and cheerful conclusion, or you can end with a heartfelt and emotional message.

Write from the Heart

Is there really such a thing as “perfect speech”? Your best friend has picked you as her lady of honor, so she trusts you to be by her side during the wedding preparations and the most important moment of life. Your speech should emphasize your love and friendship. It’s up to you whether you want to do an inspiring, sentimental, emotional or funny speech. Bottomline is, you should write from the heart, and everyone who hears them will cherish your words. 

There are a lot of anecdotes about awkward and embarrassing wedding toasts, and you don’t want yours to be another one in the compilation. You might not be the type who typically enjoys giving out speeches, but with enough preparation, you won’t have anything to be nervous about. Practice, and be sincere and confident in your delivery. The “perfect” wedding speech is one that is special to the people it’s written for.