Maid of Honor Speech: Examples, Template and How to End It

Hi everyone, I’m Jenna. I have the huge honor of being Tessa’s maid of honor today. I first met Tessa seven years ago, when we both started teaching at a middle school in Columbus. We were the new kids, our classrooms shared a wall, and on the very first day, Tessa slid a note under my door that said, “Lunch? I brought too many cookies.” I knew right away she was my kind of person. We’ve eaten lunch together almost every school day since—though, for the record, I still think she brought exactly the right number of cookies.

Tessa is, to put it simply, unstoppable. She says yes to everything, usually before she’s figured out how it’s going to work. She once signed up for a half-marathon before she owned running shoes. She taught herself Portuguese from YouTube videos just so she could talk with Rafael’s grandmother. And if you haven’t heard her laugh yet, don’t worry—you will. No one ever has trouble finding Tessa in a crowd.

I met Rafael at a trivia night, and before I even sat down, he asked how my sixth period was going with “the kid who keeps bringing the lizard.” This was before he’d even met me, but he already knew my students by name, just from what Tessa had told him. I learned pretty fast that Rafael is the calmest person in any room—especially if that room is full of teachers after a long day. He listens, he remembers, and he’s the only person who can get Tessa to slow down—sometimes.

I have so many memories with Tessa, but a couple stand out. Our first week of teaching, a bat flew into my classroom during sixth period. I froze, the kids screamed, total chaos. Suddenly, Tessa walks in, cool as ever, with a recycling bin and a solar system poster. She traps the bat, lets it out the window, and goes right back to teaching fractions like nothing happened. For the rest of the year, the kids called her Batwoman, and honestly, the name stuck. Then, a few years later, my dad was in the hospital in Cincinnati for two months. Every Sunday, Tessa drove down with soup. She taught herself gin rummy just to keep my dad company while I finally got some sleep. That’s the kind of friend she is—always showing up, always fearless.

But Tessa has always been the brave one for everyone else. Rafael, you’re the first person she lets take care of her. After she broke her ankle at mile 11 of that famous half-marathon, you carried her up three flights of stairs to her apartment every single day for six weeks. That’s love—and also a great leg workout.

Tessa and Rafael are perfect together. She’s the loudest laugh, he’s the calmest voice. Together, they’re cooking their way through his grandmother’s handwritten recipe notebook, one Sunday at a time. I checked this morning—they’re on recipe 41 out of 112. Please keep inviting me over for leftovers.

I want to thank Tessa’s mom, Carol, for hosting today, and also for all the extra cookies over the years. And a huge thank you to Rafael’s parents, Paulo and Fernanda, who came all the way from Lisbon. We’re so happy you’re here.

My advice to you both: keep saying yes to each other. Finish that recipe notebook. And Rafael, if a bat ever gets into your house, just let Tessa handle it.

(Raise your glass) To Tessa and Rafael—may your love always be fearless, and your kitchen always full. Cheers!

Hi everyone. For those who don’t know me, I’m Sasha, the maid of honor and Noor’s best friend, all thanks to a beginner salsa class in Toronto. Eight years ago, Noor and I were the only two people who showed up without dance partners. We never did learn to salsa, but I walked out with a lifelong friend who still can’t tell left from right on the dance floor.

Noor is fiercely loyal and brutally honest. If you’ve ever had a haircut disaster, Noor is the one who’ll tell you. But she’ll also be the one dragging you back to the salon before you can even feel embarrassed. That’s Noor—direct, but always on your side.

I actually worked with Evan for three years before I introduced him to Noor. He’s the only person I know who reads entire emails before replying. I thought, Noor needs someone who actually listens. Also, someone patient enough to hear her passionately defend Montreal hockey in a room full of Leafs fans.

That brings me to their first date. I thought I was being clever setting them up at a Leafs vs. Canadiens game. I forgot Noor is a die-hard Canadiens fan and Evan practically lives at the Leafs arena. She spent the whole night cheering for the wrong team—right in the middle of the Leafs section. By the second intermission, she called me with popcorn in her hair and said it was the worst date ever. Five years later, I’m still waiting on my finder’s fee.

But somehow, it worked. Noor talks, Evan listens. They argue about hockey all winter and make up every spring. Their dog is literally named Habs because Noor won a bet. That’s love and compromise, right there.

Thank you to Samira and Khalid for hosting tonight, and to Evan’s family for driving all the way from Halifax. (Raise your glass) Here’s to Noor and Evan—the only couple who can turn a hockey rivalry into a happy marriage. Cheers!