\’Not another speaker at a wedding, we\’ll never get to the bar or the dance floor\’, I hear you say. Yes, sometimes you will see and hear the Bridesmaid, usually the Chief Bridesmaid speak at a wedding. She is either a sister, sister-in-law, relation or very close friend of the Bride who feels she wants to speak about the Bride and Groom in her own way, in her own words. The audience don\’t expect her to speak and when she is called upon to speak by the Bestman, there can be a negative reaction. Not to her as a speaker or to her speech content, but the fact that she is now one of up to 5-6 people speaking, making the whole \’Speeches\’ rather long. If you are a Bridesmaid at a wedding, Chief or not, you can write and deliver a short speech that will be different to the other speakers content and that the audience will enjoy, especially the Bride and her Groom. \’Different\’is key. Speeches with the same or similar content can be frustrating and boring for the audience, so it is important to have original, unique, personal content. Consider the following:
- Address dignitaries i.e. , Rev. Fathers, Sisters, Ladies and Gentlemen and any special guests
- Say how happy you are to be Bridesmaid
- Talk about Bride, relationship to you, what she means to you
- Compliment both Bride and Groom on how well they look
- Talk about Bride and Groom as a couple
- Recall memories / stories you have about Bride
- Mention other Bridesmaid/s
- Mention Groomsmen
- Mention Brides other friends, who may also be friends to you (if applicable)
- Final wish / hope for the future
Your speech should be no longer than five minutes and cover some or all of the above. Remember that you are a speaker and this is a speech that the audience is not expecting to have to listen to. So you need to ensure some entertainment and humour if possible. If you are not a naturally funny humourous person, then there is no need to try to be. The audience want to see and hear you as being authentic and being yourself. If you try to be otherwise, they can switch off very quickly. One sure way of entertaining the audience, is by telling / sharing past stories / experiences that you have had with the Bride. These can be sourced from your times growing up together, during school / college years, working together, holidaying together, living together, playing sports together and speaking to other people who know the Bride well. Telling stories that don\’t over-embarrass or upset the Bride (or Groom) are always recommended. Have everything you want to say on paper in front of you. You may have rehearsed it to memory or you may just want to read it out, which by the way is perfectly fine (except the stories of course). Even deciding to read it out, needs practice in the usual way. Look forward to delivering your speech and speaking about a person who means a lot to you. You might never get the chance again…