My best friend asked me to be her maid of honor....and I really really do not want to give a speech. I'm very shy and she is having 500 people at her wedding and i could barely give a speech when i was in school to a class of 20 people!! My question is...how bad would it look if i didnt give a speech? I mean I told her how i felt and she didn't really say anything. I'm her Maid of Honor and her aunt is her Matron of Honor, and I'm sure her aunt will say something. So does that make it look less bad if I don't say anything? Are there Maids of Honor who didnt give speeches? Any responses would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!!
2007-02-28 15:29:32 · 9 answers · asked by . 3 in Family & Relationships ➔ Friends
Tphi and Sami both gave good answers. Instead of giving a "speech" tell a story about how you met and maybe your first meeting of her fiance/new husband. Giving a speech can be scary, but remember you're speaking on something you know very well, your best friend. Keep it short and be sure to wish them happiness at the end. Even if you only got up and said, "Mary (or whatever your friend's name is), I love you and am so happy for your and Bob (or whatever his name is). I wish you every happiness." And that's it, you'd have done a nice thing. My tip to people who are afraid of public speaking is to look at people's hair line, instead of in their faces. It appears you are making eye contact, but doesn't seem to make you as nervous. However, be sure to look your best friend in the face.
One last thing, at my own wedding, my Maid of honor was REALLY nervous. She had her husband give the speech for her. He started out by saying, "Adrienne is sure to cry, so I'll speak for both of us...." He had his arm around her and it was very sweet.
I will also say that it isn't required for the maid of honor to make a speech, so if you talk with the bride, I'd clarify if she expects of you. Ask something like, "Mary, are you anticipating I'll make a toast or short speech at the reception?" If she says, no, you're off the hook. If she says yes, accept gracefully. Don't make her feel guilty by saying, "but you know I hate to speak in public". Just accept it and do your best. If you are sincere, it doesn't really matter what you say or how you say it. Some of the sweetest speeches I've seen are where the speaker cries. Best of luck to you.
2007-03-01 05:09:34 · answer #1 · answered by Susan B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask your friend straight out if she wants you to give a speech. She maybe ok with you not uttering a word.
But if she says she really expects you to say something, you can get creative instead and videotape a speech... pepper it with some pictures of you and your friend, talk about your memories and why you are such good friends (she did ask you to be her Maid of Honor, so I'm thinking you've been friends for some time now), the video could show a couple of seconds of you actually speaking and the rest can be just a slideshow of your pics together.
2007-02-28 15:40:05 · answer #2 · answered by Sami Q 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Being your best friend, she knew you were shy before she asked you...so she had to take that into consideration...maybe you could do something else for her, instead of the speech...like give her something that means a lot to both of you on her wedding day....or at one wedding, the maid of honor did like a PowerPoint with pictures and facts that played throughout the dinner...good luck with whatever you choose!
2007-02-28 15:37:11 · answer #3 · answered by Ms. B 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Funny you ask that. My mother recently got engaged and asked me to be her maid of honor. i was initially nervous at first, but if this person has enough love for you to choose you out of everyone they know to be their maid of honor, id say that you should at the very least give a speech to let that person know how special they are to you. heres a tip look at the couple while you give the speech. and drink moderately. have fun. oh and it will look pretty bad if you dont give a speech
2007-02-28 15:39:16 · answer #4 · answered by Nina_Bruja-des 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you can't get out of doing it, can you READ it as if it were a letter to your best friend who has meant so much to you over the years? Or how about if you go find a really mushy card that contains a long poem - - - like the ones by Emily Matthews and read it? Of course you'd have to say something to this effect to give credit to the author: "I find that this poem by Emily Matthews conveys how I feel at this moment as I celebrate with my best friend upon her wedding day."
2007-02-28 15:58:02 · answer #5 · answered by TPhi 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have been to weddings wear the maid of honor never uttered a word. It should work!! If she is your friend then, she knows your personality.
2007-02-28 15:33:44 · answer #6 · answered by sjlova86 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Exclusive Wedding Speeches For All - http://Speech.findpolo.com
2015-11-18 06:07:28 · answer #7 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
GIve it, people are depending on you
PS stop being a chicken.
2007-02-28 15:33:57 · answer #8 · answered by Scpwnz 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I gots the layrngitis!
2007-02-28 15:35:45 · answer #9 · answered by ♣Ally♣ 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋