Weddings are special occasions and being asked to speak at the reception is quite an honour. As the Maid of Honour, this is a precious moment for you to make the happy couple shine even brighter by relating happy memories, telling the tale of their love, and wishing blessings upon the new marriage. For heritage themed weddings, such as a Scottish wedding, there are a few extra areas to cover when preparing the speech.
Do Some Research
Look up the history of Scottish weddings to get an idea of traditions, both old and new. Becoming familiar with the culture will make the speech writing easier and flow more naturally, rather than trying to wing it. It will also answer all those questions about kilts, bagpipes, and the importance of Scottish clans. If planning to say a toast or blessing at the end of the speech, look at Scottish poets and writers for inspiration. Robert Burns, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Sir Walter Scott are famous Scottish poets with many quotable lines to choose from. Also consider adding a Scottish wedding blessing at the end of the toast.
Try Out the Speech
Write the speech out and give it a test run in front of a mirror or a friend. Work on the speech until you are comfortable with it, and consider any advice given from friends and family. They may have suggestions or ideas that have not yet been thought of. When the speech has been tweaked and perfected enough, practice speaking it aloud until it is memorized and runs smoothly. Keep the notes in the event of memory loss due to nerves. This will make you feel more confident and will also be handy if someone else decides to use the same poetry quotes as you.
Have a Backup Quote
Chances are that a Scottish wedding blessing will be used by another speech-giver, so have some back up quotes written down with your notes in the event that this it happens. During the search for quotes, look for more obscure lines throughout the literature, something that is recognizable yet not too popular. If nothing stands out or feels right for the speech, do not be afraid to quote Shakespeare or other classic writers of romance, even if they are not of Scottish decent. It will be better than repeating the same quote as the speaker who just handed over the microphone.
With a simple knowledge of Scotland’s history and traditions of weddings, a good selection of various quotes and poems, and an organized speech with room for last minute changes, giving a Scottish wedding speech will be no harder than giving a regular wedding speech. Keep in mind that the purpose of your speech is to favor the bride and groom, to make them happy on their special day, and to wish them well. Enjoy yourself, and let the words come from the heart. Do all of these things and you will speak successfully as the Maid of Honor.
