So only a week to go for my best friend Linda’s wedding. I’ve been asked to give a speech at the Rehearsal dinner. At first, I squealed with delight and started to dream of the most extravagant and creative way to toast my friend’s wedding. I even spent three nights in a row till 2 am watching youtube videos of bridesmaid’s speeches. My first idea was to do a Dr. Seuss style poem. Scratch that. Then I tried a Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Style song. Scratch that as well. I actually got quite frustrated trying to think of something that would show how much I adore them. I realised that my song writing poem making qualities would never be able to show how heartfelt I wanted it to come across. (Also I couldnt really imagine wearing sunglasses and rapping in a Reiss dress!) I’ve finally decided that I will put all my effort and energies to making a heartfelt speech.

Along the way, I did some research into how to write a fantastic bridesmaid’s speech. I collated a few tips I thought I’d share.

1. Introduce yourself with your name, your relation to the bride and how long you have known the bride. This is particularly helpful at a large wedding with lots of different guests.

2. Be careful with your humour. Traditionally, the father of the bride, the groom and the best man made speeches at weddings (hmm… how patriarchal is that?) but the trend is now to have bridesmaids who act as the bride’s spokesperson. Whilst guests expect the best man to be the unofficial stand up comedian, the bridesmaid’s speech is meant to be emotional and nostalgic. I think there is something about men that always want to make fun of each other whilst women never want to put their friends down in public.

3. Be nostalgic and regale the guests with stories from the bride’s childhood, college years,the time she met her groom, and even how he proposed. My best friend has the SWEETEST story of how her fiance chose her engagement ring. He asked her to come to the mall to see some jewellry. When she entered the store, the salesman rushed over and said ‘Sir, shall I show you the ring you’ve been looking at.’ The poor guy got so embarrassed he ignored the salesman. My friend immediately understood what had happened but ignored the salesman. The ignorant salesman was about to continue his salespitch when another salesperson walked over and gave him a tight squeeze to shut up.

4. Highlight some of the bride’s characteristics. Your speech could centre around 1. The bride 2. Your relationship with her 3. Her relationship to the groom

5. If you are married, highlight some of the benefits of being married (e.g. always having a valentine’s date!)

6. Compliment the groom as well! Dont forget the man she chose.

7. And finally, remember to mention how lucky she is, how beautiful she looks, how happy she is and how honoured you are to be part of the wedding and to be able to give them this speech.

I thought I’d end my wedding on this poem I copied off the internet (feel free to share – I will consider it good karma)

Heres to your friendship

Your love and laughter

To finding each other

and happily ever after!