Bridal showers, much like other pre-wedding events, are cherished moments for the bride-to-be to bond with her loved ones. They’re a pivotal occasion for close friends and family to share their heartfelt messages and well-wishes with the bride. A heartfelt bridal shower speech or toast can be the highlight of the event.
Thoughtful bridal shower speeches typically include a short explanation of your relationship with the bride, an anecdote, and an expression of gratitude to the bride herself, the planners of the event, and the guests. You may also include a short personal introduction and mention the things you like about the bridal shower.
Below are 10 samples of a speech you can make at a bridal shower, immediately followed by instructions for writing your own speech. Additionally, some things to keep in mind as you prepare for your speech are also enumerated.
Examples of a Bridal Shower Speech
1. Hi, everyone! I hope all of you are having a wonderful time at Nina’s bridal shower so far. For those who don’t know who I am, my name is Lea, and I am Nina’s sister. On behalf of the amazing group of planners, I am so excited about all of the activities we have in store for you.
Today is all about Nina, celebrating the love and joy she gives us all and helping her prepare for the next chapter of her life. Before we begin, I would like to ask everyone to raise a glass to my sister and join me in wishing her a healthy and strong marriage. To Nina!
2. I want to say thank you to all of our dear guests who made it here to celebrate with us. It is truly heartwarming to see so many people come together to show Simone how much love and support she has by her side. For those of you who don’t know me, I am Kayla, Simone’s best friend.
Before we proceed with today’s fun activities, I want to thank the following people for their invaluable help and effort in putting together today’s itinerary: (names of people who organized the event and their roles). Most of all, I want to take this opportunity to honor my best friend. I have known her for many years now, and she has always been kind, virtuous, and thoughtful. Today’s shower is a celebration of our admirable and lovely bride-to-be. Cheers!
3. Good afternoon, everyone. For those of you wondering who I am, I am Morgan, and I have been best friends with Heather for many years now. We bonded over our love for traveling; my fondest memory with her was going to another friend’s bachelorette party in Las Vegas and getting lost while playing scavenger hunt.
She is the most resourceful, adaptive, and jolly person I know, to the point where getting lost did not feel scary at all. I am so honored that she trusted me enough to let me be her maid of honor. So, with that said, join me as we wish Heather and Lucas a wonderful marriage.
4. Hi, everyone! First and foremost, thank you all for giving your time and effort in making Amy’s bridal shower a success. My name is Luna, Amy’s cousin and sister from another mother. When she first asked me for help, I was a little intimidated; after all, I am the eldest and only married bridesmaid in the bridal party, so I was nervous I won’t connect with the others.
However, Amy took the time to properly introduce me to everyone else and break the ice; before we knew it, we were already a tight-knit group of friends. As a result, planning this bridal shower couldn’t have been less stressful and more fulfilling. My little story goes to show just how thoughtful and caring Amy is, and I’m so happy that she gets to share her untiring love with Jason for the rest of their lives. I look forward to making new memories with you and welcoming you to the married club! Cheers!
5. Hello, everyone! First of all, I want to appreciate Gina and Emelie for hosting today’s event, Laurie and Lisa for their help in planning, and Gemma for her skills in decorating. For those who I haven’t met yet, my name is June, and I go way back with our beautiful bride-to-be, Rue. I first met her during kindergarten, and from the moment we played together during recess, I knew I had found a lifelong friend.
Rue and Carter first met in high school, and even though so many people believe that high school sweethearts don’t last, they are a testament that true love wins against all odds. I have seen their love grow bigger, stronger, and brighter over the years, and I cannot be any happier to witness them profess their love in front of God.
Rue, I just want to say thank you for being there for me our entire friendship. As you enter married life, I promise to be the friend you need, want, and deserve. I love you so much! Everyone, let’s raise a glass to make a toast for the happy couple. Cheers!
6. Hi, everybody. My name is Karla, and I want to make a speech about my friendship with Catherine. She has been my best friend since high school; we were both members of our school’s theater company. I came to admire her for her passion, patience, and drive to achieve her goals.
But what’s really special about her is that she doesn’t step on anyone or leave them behind. She helps them to the best of her abilities. Catherine, it has been such a pleasure and privilege to be your best friend for more than a decade now. As you enter the next chapter of your life, just know that I will always be by your side. To new memories, more blessings, and fulfilling marriage. To Catherine!
7. Good afternoon, everyone! Before we end today’s shower, I just want to make a speech. First of all, my name is Samantha, Sarah’s big sister. I want to say a huge thank you to Karen, Bea, Nora, Laura, and Melanie for the awesome job of planning today’s event; and a huge thank you to you, our dear guests, for spending your day with us.
To take a quote from my favorite movie, “It doesn’t matter if the guy is perfect or the girl is perfect, as long as they are perfect for each other.” It may sound clichéd but trust me when I say that Sarah and Josef are truly a perfect match; I’ve never seen anyone so in love and happy to be together. I wish them nothing but the best for their married life. Everyone, let’s raise a glass to our beautiful and kind bride-to-be, Sarah!
8. Hello, everyone. My name is Lily, Isabelle’s sister. As the Indian proverb goes, “It is love that makes the impossible, possible.” Over the years, I have seen Isabelle at her best and worst, through the ups and downs. I have watched her relationship with Samuel prosper at times and dip at others.
But as we all know, God does not give us challenges He knows we cannot overcome. It is Isabelle and Samuel’s strength, resilience, and love for each other that brings them here today, only a few weeks away from their wedding. Everyone, join me in wishing for the bride and groom-to-be a flourishing, formidable, and long-lasting marriage. Cheers!
9. Hi, everyone. I hope all of you are having a great day so far! Firstly, I would like to introduce myself. I am Sophie, Margaret’s best friend. We have known each other since we were babies because our mothers were neighbors and would organize playdates all the time.
Growing up, I always saw Margaret as a role model and inspiration. She has always been so passionate about her interests, well-rounded, generous, and good-hearted. That’s why I am so happy to see so many of you here celebrating with us today, whose lives have also been touched by our dearest Margaret. Thank you all for coming, and I hope you enjoy the activities we have planned for you today.
10. Good day, everyone! Before everything else, I want to extend my gratitude to Claire, Alexandra, Leanne, Kim, and Taylor for planning this event beautifully and making sure that our bride-to-be gets an unforgettable bridal shower. My name is Betsy, Eliza’s younger sister. More than a sister, she has been my best friend, motivator, biggest supporter, and most of the time, a good influence.
As her special day approaches, I want to wish her good health, fortune, and resilience, not only as a married woman but also as an individual. Always remember that your friends and family are here to love and support you unconditionally. Everyone, thank you for coming, and let us raise a glass to Eliza and her husband-to-be, Tim!
How to Write a Speech for a Bridal Shower
What to Include in a Bridal Shower Speech
For any speech, there’s a format to help you organize your thoughts. There are typical elements included in a bridal shower speech to make it deeply personal and touching:
- A short personal introduction. Introduce yourself and maybe offer a quick bridal shower toast to set the mood.
- Your connection with the bride. This section can include touching bridal shower speeches from the mom to the daughter, the bride’s sister, or any close relation, highlighting the depth of their bond.
- Things you like about the bridal shower. Compliment how the bridal shower is planned, organized, and decorated. Thank the hosts and the planners for their effort and dedication.
- A story with the bride. Talk about a special or defining moment you shared with the bride. This can be a story about your relationship with each other or her relationship with her partner.
- How you feel about the bride. You can express your emotions and well-wishes for the bride-to-be.
You do not have to include everything listed above; similarly, you can include things not included in the list. At the end of the day, your speech should be genuine and come from the heart.
What Not to Include in a Bridal Shower Speech
To reiterate, what you write in your bridal shower speech should be heartfelt, sincere, and sentimental. With that said, there are topics you should avoid so as not to dampen the event’s mood.
- Anything you think would be too personal.
- Anything the bride told you in confidence.
- Mentions of past relationships.
- Problems in the current relationship.
Reflect Deeply
Before you can draft your speech, set aside some time to be introspective about your relationship with the bride. Reminisce on old memories, revisit past adventures, and evaluate your thoughts and wishes. Doing this will allow you to write a more genuine and authentic speech. If it would help, write down the essential points you want to make in your speech as you reflect.
Draft, Revise, Practice
Once you know what you want to say, it is time to put them into words. Starting a draft can be intimidating. However, as it is your first draft, you do not have to worry too much about the construction and flow of words. Type or write what you want to say, and once you have written everything, only then should you go through your words and revise.
Look for any grammatical errors, inconsistencies, unfitting word choices, and other semantic issues. Concurrently, determine if the rhythm of your speech feels awkward or stunted in some aspects. Reading your draft out loud can help with this step.
Before you finalize your speech, it might help if you indicate the intonation of each sentence. You can also insert a symbol between words or sentences that would signify a pause or emphasis. These tips can improve the way you deliver your speech.
Things to Remember for a Bridal Shower Speech
Consider Your Guests
As you prepare, think about its appropriateness with respect to your guests. If the bridal shower will be composed of close friends and relatives around your age, you can incorporate some jokes and risqué remarks in your speech. If the guests are of different generations and beliefs, it might be a bad idea to make those types of jokes.
Likewise, do not insert an anecdote or reference that few to no guests will understand. Adding things like an inside joke only you and the bride can understand will make the guests feel awkward and excluded.
How Long a Speech Lasts
Similar to the length of a wedding vow, it is ideal for bridal shower speeches to be short. A bridal shower speech should only last around three minutes; five minutes is considered the maximum amount of time.
When the Speech is Given
Bridal shower itineraries usually allot around 30 minutes for the making of toasts and giving of speeches. However, the placement of this timeslot is flexible. Some save the speeches after the bride-to-be has opened her gifts, while some prefer to do it beforehand. The time for toasts and speeches can also be before the meal or bridal shower cake is served. Although not so common, you can also place this timeslot between bridal shower games.
Who Gives the Speech
In truth, anyone invited to a bridal shower can make a speech if they volunteer to do so. However, here is a list of people who usually say some words to the bride.
- The hosts of the bridal shower
- Mother of the bride
- Sister of the bride
- Maid of honor
- Best friend
- Bridesmaid
- Mother of the groom
- Close relative
At the end of a bridal shower, the bride can also say a few words of gratitude and appreciation for everyone’s attendance and gifts.
Final Thoughts
Making a speech at a bridal shower is a chance for you to express your love, support, and admiration for the bride-to-be. It is also a way to let her see the positive impact she leaves on the people in her life. This validation will give strengthen her self-value and self-esteem, thus helping her mentally and spiritually prepare for married life.
