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MOH Speech Help

emarston1emarston1 member
5000 Comments Combo Breaker
in Wedding Etiquette Forum
I am the MOH in my best friend's wedding in about a month and I need to start writing my speech.  Problem is, I have no idea what to write (not to mention I haven't actually written a speech since my freshman level COM class in college.)  You always hear the MOH speech is usually pretty bad:  filled with the story of how the couple met, followed by some crying, and then a cheesy quote about deep oceans of love or something equally cliche.

Any ideas on what to include?  Or if not, what have you liked/not liked in past MOH speeches that you've heard?  Anything to stay away from?

A little background:  I've known the bride since we were 6 growing up in MN.  She moved away senior year of highschool and since then we've seen each other only every couple of years but have remained very close.  I've never met the groom and won't until the rehearsal.  She's also my MOH in May.  She LOVES romantic comedies and the like so I'd like to include a line from one of her favorite movies but I'm not sure how to incorporate it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks ladies!
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Re: MOH Speech Help

  • BioGirl21BioGirl21
    100 Comments
    Well, my MOH decided to have her speech be a Mad-Lib and got half of the words from me and half of the words from DH. Don't do that.
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  • LoopysevenLoopyseven member
    5000 Comments Fifth Anniversary 5 Love Its
    LOL @ BG - that sounds like a disaster... 
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  • LoopysevenLoopyseven member
    5000 Comments Fifth Anniversary 5 Love Its
    Sorry Mars, I'm not a big help.  My SIL (and MOH) had something written, but she "um'd" a lot.  But she also talked about how she'd always wanted a sister and now she was getting one, in the best way possible, and about how H (her brother) lights up when I walk into a room so that's how she knows it's the real thing... It was sweet. Not sure how this helps you though.
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  • ootmother2ootmother2 member
    Tenth Anniversary 5000 Comments 25 Love Its First Answer
    most of the MOH speaches I've heard were done too broadly for anyone at the reception to "get " the jokes.

    Seriously, if it's not funny to the world in general, don't use it!
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  • Beachy730Beachy730 member
    5000 Comments Fourth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    My MOH was my aunt so she's been around my whole life.  Her speech was about me growing up, and how I would always prefer being in a uniform over a dress, and then she tied that in to how happy she was that I found a man that appreciates that. 

    The best speeches to me are ones that are relatively quick, heartfelt, and with some humor. 
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  • srkropfsrkropf member
    500 Comments
    My advice is to pick a theme/purpose for your speech. You can follow the typical speech format: intro, three points, conclusion. Start with something, go into three 'instances' and then tie it together and end with "to the bride and groom" You mention she likes romantic comedies, what about picking a 'lesson' from three of her favorites and using that.

    I'm a future speech and debate teacher, so writing speeches is so my thang! Hope this helps!
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  • shoegal715shoegal715
    500 Comments
    edited November 2010
    I agree with the OP - most MOH speeches are pretty bad.

    I was at a wedding once and the speech was very well done. No notes, it was short, very heart felt, but not too mushy.  It was the bride's sister and her last line was: 

    I'd like to make a toast to my beautiful sister, Julia, and her new husband Paul. Paul, I hope you have as much fun growing old with Julia, as I did growing up with her. Cheers.
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  • emarston1emarston1 member
    5000 Comments Combo Breaker
    Thanks ladies!  You've given me a lot to think about.  I'm just thankful that I have a while to work on this...

    @shoe - that is such a cute line!
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  • mica178mica178 member
    5000 Comments Fourth Anniversary 5 Love Its
    From what I remember, the BM speech is usually the funny anecdotal one and the MOH speech is more sentimental.

    When I did my speech, it went: how I know bride, funny (but still PG) story of bride from pre-groom days, something sweet about bride now that she knows/loves groom, then toast.  Keep it short, sweet and easy for people who don't know your inside jokes to follow.

    And I love shoegal's last line.
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  • cherbeincherbein
    100 Comments
    I've heard some really sweet speeches and some really bad ones.  One MOH was a few sheets to the wind and talked more about how herself and her wedding from a few years back than about the bride and groom.  I like the suggestion of pulling in the romatic comedies if that's something she really likes.  I have a similiar best friend who I have known since I was 5 and I can not see her for two years due to grad and med school insanity and then talk to her on the phone and its like it was yesterday.  Such friends are precious and you are truly blessed to have that in your life.
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