25 Sister of the Bride Speech Examples: From Funny to Sentimental

I’ll be honest – when my sister asked me to give a speech at her wedding, I panicked. I spent weeks overthinking it, wrote like six different versions, and still wasn’t sure if I’d completely embarrass myself up there. Sound familiar?

Here’s what I learned the hard way: the “perfect” speech isn’t about having the most poetic words or the funniest jokes. It’s about keeping it real and not rambling for ten minutes about inside jokes that only make sense to you two. According to ToastWiz, the sweet spot is 3-5 minutes, and anything over 7 minutes risks losing your audience completely. Trust me, I found this out the embarrassing way during my first attempt.

I’ve put together 25 different sister of the bride speech examples because, let’s face it, not every sister relationship is the same. Maybe you’re the protective older sister, the admiring younger one, or maybe your relationship is… complicated. Whatever your situation, there’s probably something here that’ll work for you.

TL;DR

• Don’t pick a speech style just because it sounds impressive – pick what actually fits your relationship and comfort level
• If you’re super close and have great memories, go heartfelt. If you’re nervous or the wedding’s formal, keep it short and sweet
• Funny speeches are risky – make sure your stories won’t mortify anyone (run them by someone first)
• Story-driven speeches are memorable but you need to actually be good at telling stories
• Practice out loud, even if it’s just to your mirror or your dog
• It’s okay to get help if you’re really struggling – this is important and you want to get it right

Quick Resources:

• Write your speech stress-free with the Maid Of Honor Speech Generator

• Explore all our wedding tools

Things You Really Need to Think About First

Okay, before you dive into picking a speech style, you need to figure out a few important things. I know it’s tempting to just grab a template and call it done, but trust me – spending five minutes thinking about this stuff will save you from potential disaster.

Take the stress out of writing with our free Maid Of Honor Speech Generator

What’s Your Sister Relationship Actually Like?

Be honest here. Are you the protective older sister who’s always looked out for her? The younger one who’s always looked up to her? Maybe you’re twins who’ve shared everything, or… maybe your relationship has been rocky and you’re still figuring things out.

Your speech needs to match your actual dynamic, not some idealized version you think sounds better.

Sister Relationship Type	What Usually Works	What to Include	What to Avoid
Protective Older Sister	Advice-focused, talking about her growth	How proud you are, why you approve of her partner	Making it sound like you’re giving permission
Admiring Younger Sister	Heartfelt, role model stories	How she’s inspired you, specific examples	Putting yourself down to build her up
Twin/Close Age Sisters	Funny stories, shared experiences	Partnership moments, mutual support	Inside jokes that exclude everyone else
Distant/Reconnecting Sisters	Simple, focused on the present	Positive recent memories, hope for the future	Bringing up old drama or conflicts

If you’re the protective type, you can totally do the advice thing, but don’t make it sound like you’re finally giving her permission to get married. Yikes.

Younger sisters – the “she’s always been my role model” approach works great, just don’t spend the whole time putting yourself down to build her up. You both matter here.

Who’s Going to Be Listening?

This is huge and something I definitely didn’t think about enough the first time. Your audience isn’t just your sister – it’s everyone from your 85-year-old grandma to her college friends to her new in-laws who barely know your family.

That hilarious story about her dating disasters? Her friends might love it, but her new mother-in-law might not find it so charming. I learned this lesson when my friend Jessica made a joke about her sister’s “experimental phase” in college that landed with a very awkward silence.

Also think about how formal the wedding is. Black-tie evening affair? Maybe skip the story about the time she got food poisoning at summer camp. Casual backyard party? You have more room to be relaxed and spontaneous.

For more tips on nailing the delivery part, check out this wedding speech guide – it’s got some solid advice on the actual speaking part.

How Do You Feel About Public Speaking? (Be Honest)

Look, there’s no shame in admitting that talking in front of people makes you want to hide under a rock. I’d rather hear a heartfelt two-minute speech from someone who’s clearly nervous but genuine than a five-minute speech where someone’s obviously dying up there.

My friend Sarah knew she’d be too nervous for anything long or complicated, so she went with what she called the “three key points” approach: what she loves about her sister, what she loves about her sister’s partner, and her wishes for their future. It was maybe 90 seconds, but everyone said it was perfect because it felt real and confident.

If you’re comfortable being funny and have good timing, great – but if you’re not naturally a performer, don’t try to become one for this speech. Work with what you’ve got.

What’s the Wedding Timeline Like?

Are speeches happening during dinner while people are eating and chatting? Keep it shorter. Is there a dedicated moment where everyone’s paying full attention? You have more flexibility.

Small wedding where everyone knows both of you? You can include more specific details and memories. Huge wedding where half the people don’t know your family? Stick to more universal themes that everyone can relate to.

25 Sister of the Bride Speech Examples Across 6 Categories

Alright, here’s the good stuff. I’ve organized these into six different categories because not everyone’s going for the same vibe. Some of you want to make people cry (in a good way), some want to get laughs, and some just want to get through it without fainting.

Heartfelt and Sentimental Speeches

These are for when you want to get emotional and you’re okay with probably crying a little. They work best if you have genuine, meaningful memories to share and you’re not afraid of getting choked up.

1. The Childhood Memory Speech

“Hi everyone, I’m Sarah, Emma’s older sister. clears throat Okay, so when Emma was seven, she insisted on ‘marrying’ her teddy bear in our backyard. She made me be the maid of honor then too – apparently I’ve been practicing for this role my whole life. Even at seven, she knew exactly what she wanted: all her favorite people together, lots of flowers, and someone who loved her exactly as she was. Watching her with Michael today, I realize that little girl knew what she was talking about. She just had to wait for the right person to show up.”

This works if you have a specific childhood memory that actually connects to who she is now. Don’t force it if you don’t have something genuine.

2. The Protective Sister Speech

“Hello everyone, I’m Jessica, and I’m the big sister who’s been looking out for Rachel her whole life. When she first told me about David, I’ll admit I was… skeptical. Nobody was good enough for my little sister, you know? But then I watched David stay up all night with her when our dog was sick. I watched him support her crazy career change without question. And most importantly, I watched him make her laugh until she snorted – which, trust me, is not easy to do. That’s when I knew he wasn’t just good enough – he was perfect for her.”

Perfect if you’ve always felt protective and you want to acknowledge that while celebrating how her partner has earned your approval.

3. The Growth and Transformation Speech

“Hi everyone, I’m Maria. I’ve watched my sister Lisa transform from the girl who was afraid of ordering pizza over the phone into this confident, amazing woman standing here today. Growing up, she was the one who hid behind me at parties, who practiced conversations in the mirror before making phone calls. But here’s what I always saw that she didn’t – underneath all that shyness was someone with the biggest heart and the most genuine soul. The first time I met Jake, something magical happened. Lisa didn’t disappear into the background like she used to. Instead, she just… bloomed.”

This works beautifully if your sister has really grown and changed, especially if her partner played a role in that growth.

4. The Shared Dreams Speech

“Good evening, I’m Lisa. My sister and I used to stay up way too late talking about our dream futures. We planned elaborate careers, perfect weddings, houses next door to each other forever. Some details changed – she became a teacher instead of a veterinarian, and David definitely wasn’t named ‘Prince Charming’ in our childhood plans. But the important parts came true. She found someone who makes her laugh every day, supports her dreams even when they’re crazy, and loves her exactly as she is.”

5. The Unconditional Love Speech

“Hi everyone, I’m Jessica. I want to talk about unconditional love, because my sister taught me what it looks like. It’s staying up all night helping with a last-minute project you don’t understand. It’s defending someone even when they’re completely wrong. It’s choosing to love someone through their worst haircuts and questionable life choices. pauses And trust me, we’ve both had some questionable choices. When I see her with Ryan, I see that same unconditional love reflected back to her, and honestly, it makes my heart so full I might cry. Again.”

Humorous and Light-hearted Speeches

These use humor to celebrate your sister while keeping things fun. But here’s the thing – they’re actually the riskiest because jokes can fall flat or accidentally embarrass someone. Proceed with caution.

My friend Jessica wanted to do the embarrassing stories thing, but she was smart about it. She made a list of ten funny memories, then ran them past our mom and her sister’s best friend first. They helped her eliminate anything that might actually mortify her sister and kept only the stories that showed her quirky, lovable personality.

6. The Embarrassing Childhood Stories Speech

“Hi everyone, I’m Katie, and I have 25 years of potentially embarrassing stories about Lisa. Don’t worry, Lisa – I promised I’d only share the really good ones. grins Remember when you practiced your wedding dance with our golden retriever Max for three months before you even had a boyfriend? Or when you made me help you create a ‘Future Husband Requirements’ list at age 12 – which included ‘must love pizza’ and ‘cannot be afraid of spiders’? Tom, I’m happy to report you’ve exceeded all expectations, especially after we tested that spider thing last month.”

The key here is choosing stories that are funny but not actually embarrassing. Focus on quirky, endearing moments rather than things that would genuinely mortify her.

7. The Sister Rivalry Speech

“Good evening, I’m Amanda. Growing up with Sarah meant everything was a competition. Who could eat cereal faster, who could stay up later, who could make Mom laugh harder. I’m proud to say I won most of these contests… except for the most important one. Sarah found the better husband. pauses Congratulations on finally beating me at something that actually matters!”

8. The Fashion Disasters Speech

“Hi everyone, I’m Sarah, and I’ve been my sister’s unofficial fashion consultant since we were kids – which explains why she sometimes looked like she was dressed by a colorblind circus performer. We went through the purple sequin phase in middle school, that unfortunate period where she thought socks with sandals were ‘European chic’… shakes head But here’s what never changed – her beautiful smile and kind heart. Mark, you’re getting someone with impeccable taste in partners, even if her shoe collection still confuses me.”

9. The Dating History Speech

“Hello, I’m Rachel. I’ve watched my sister navigate the dating world for years. There was the guy who collected vintage lunch boxes, the one who spoke only in movie quotes, and that memorable fellow who brought his mother on their second date. pause for effect But through all of these… learning experiences… my sister never settled. She knew what she wanted, and she waited for it. And clearly, the wait was worth it.”

Craft the perfect funny or heartfelt speech with our Maid Of Honor Speech Generator

Seriously, be super careful with this one. Only mention past relationships if they’re genuinely funny and your sister is completely comfortable with it. When in doubt, don’t.

10. The Inside Jokes Speech

“Hi everyone, I’m Kelly. My sister and I have about a million inside jokes that make absolutely no sense to anyone else. Like why we call pizza ‘triangle happiness’ or why we both crack up whenever someone mentions Tuesday. I know, I know – we’re weird. But here’s what I love about watching her with Chris – they’re already creating their own ridiculous language. I caught them having a ten-minute serious conversation about ‘purple elephants’ last week. Welcome to the family weirdness, Chris!”

Wisdom and Advice-Focused Speeches

These work if you’re older, married, or just have life experiences that give you some credibility to offer advice. Don’t try this approach if you’re 22 and single – it’ll come off weird.

11. The Life Lessons Speech

“Good evening, I’m Amanda. As the older sister, I’ve always felt responsible for teaching my sister important life lessons. I taught her how to ride a bike, how to apply mascara without poking her eye out, and most importantly, how to recognize true love. The lesson was simple: find someone who sees your quirks as features, not bugs. Someone who laughs at your jokes even when they’re terrible, and who chooses to love you every single day. Mark, you’ve clearly mastered this lesson.”

When you’re doing a wedding speech for your sister that focuses on wisdom, make sure you’re drawing from actual experiences, not just things that sound good.

12. The Marriage Advice Speech

“Hello everyone, I’m Jennifer, the sister who’s been married for eight years, which apparently makes me an expert now. laughs When Claire asked me for marriage advice, I panicked. What could I possibly tell her that she doesn’t already know? Then I realized – I should share what I’ve learned from watching her. Claire has this amazing ability to turn ordinary moments into adventures. She finds reasons to laugh at inappropriate times and believes every problem has a solution if you just think creatively enough. My advice? Keep doing exactly what you’ve been doing.”

13. The Family Values Speech

“Hi everyone, I’m Sarah. Our family has always believed that love isn’t just a feeling – it’s a choice you make every day. Watching my sister with David, I see that choice being made over and over. When she’s stressed about work, when he’s dealing with family drama, when they’re both tired and cranky – they choose each other. They choose kindness, patience, and partnership. That’s what makes marriages last.”

14. The Strength and Resilience Speech

“Good evening, I’m Lisa. My sister has always been the strongest person I know, even when she doesn’t see it herself. She’s faced challenges that would break other people, but she always finds a way through. When our dad was sick, she organized his entire care plan while working full-time. When she lost her job, she turned it into an opportunity to pursue her dream career. Now, watching her build a life with Michael, I see that same strength channeled into love. They’re going to weather any storm together.”

15. The Future Hopes Speech

“Hello everyone, I’m Rachel. I want to talk about the future – not because I’m psychic, but because I know these two. I hope my sister and Tom always remember to laugh together, especially when life gets serious. I hope they travel to all those places they’ve pinned on their dream board. I hope they’re still holding hands when they’re 80. But mostly, I hope they always see in each other what we all see today – two people who are absolutely perfect together.”

Story-Driven and Narrative Speeches

These build around one main story or theme. They can be really memorable, but you need to actually be good at telling stories. If you’re not naturally a storyteller, maybe pick something simpler.

Find the right story style for your speech using our Maid Of Honor Speech Generator

16. The How They Met (From Sister’s Perspective) Speech

“Hi everyone, I’m Emma, and I was actually there the night my sister met her future husband – though none of us knew it at the time. We were at that terrible karaoke bar downtown, and Sarah had just finished absolutely murdering a Beyoncé song when this guy approached our table. Instead of the usual pickup line, he said, ‘I think you might be the only person who could make that song worse than I did.’ That was Jake. And instead of being offended, Sarah laughed so hard she snorted. I knew right then that anyone who could make my sister snort-laugh was worth keeping around.”

This sister of the bride speech example works great if you were actually there for key moments in their love story.

17. The Transformation Story Speech

“Good evening, I’m Jessica. I want to tell you about the day everything changed for my sister. It was three years ago, and Lisa had just gone through a really rough breakup. She was convinced she was destined to be alone forever – dramatic, I know. Then she decided to take that pottery class she’d been talking about for years. On the first day, she showed up covered in clay within five minutes and somehow managed to break a piece that was supposed to be unbreakable. The instructor – who turned out to be David – just smiled and said, ‘Well, that’s a new record.’ The rest, as they say, is history.”

18. The Family Integration Speech

“Hello everyone, I’m Rachel. I want to tell you about the day I knew Tom was officially part of our crazy family. Our family has… traditions that don’t make sense to outsiders. We have ‘Pancake Wednesdays’ that happen on random Saturdays, and we play this board game where we make up ridiculous questions about each other. The first time Tom joined Sunday dinner, he showed up with just a bag of marshmallows. Just marshmallows. When my mom asked why, he said, ‘I figured if this goes badly, at least we can make s’mores and pretend it was planned.’ That’s when I knew he got our weirdness and was ready to add his own brand of chaos.”

19. The Overcoming Challenges Together Speech

“Hi everyone, I’m Amanda. I’ve watched my sister and Mark face some real challenges together. Last year, when Sarah’s mom was in the hospital and Mark was dealing with job stress, I watched them support each other in ways that honestly took my breath away. They took turns being strong when the other needed to fall apart. They figured out how to be a team when everything felt impossible. That’s when I knew their love was the real deal – not just for the good times, but for the hard, messy, beautiful parts too.”

20. The Full Circle Moment Speech

“Good evening, I’m Lisa. This story starts 15 years ago when my sister and I were bridesmaids in our cousin’s wedding. We were teenagers, and Sarah spent the entire reception talking about her dream wedding. She wanted dancing under string lights, peonies everywhere, and all the people she loved most in one place. Standing here tonight, looking around at the string lights, the peonies, and all of your beautiful faces, I realize that sometimes dreams really do come true exactly as we imagined them. She just forgot to mention she’d need the perfect partner to share it all with. Lucky for us, she found him.”

Short and Sweet Speeches

Perfect if you’re nervous about public speaking or if it’s a formal wedding where brevity is appreciated. These pack emotional punch into a compact format.

Not sure what length works best? Use our Maid Of Honor Speech Generator to find your fit

21. The Gratitude Speech

“Hi everyone, I’m Kate, and I’m not great with big speeches, so I’ll keep this simple. My sister Amy has always been the person I call when I need to remember what’s good in the world. She’s the one who sends me funny memes when I’m having a bad day, who remembers my favorite coffee order, and who somehow always knows exactly what to say. When she told me about Ryan, her whole face lit up in a way I’d never seen before. And when I met him, I understood why. He has the same kindness in his eyes that she does, the same terrible sense of humor, and most importantly, he looks at her the way she deserves to be looked at. Amy and Ryan, I love you both. Cheers.”

22. The Simple and Sincere Speech

“Hello everyone, I’m the sister who’s terrible at long speeches, so here are three things about my sister that make her perfect for marriage: she’s patient enough to teach me how to parallel park five times, she’s generous enough to share her Netflix password, and she’s wise enough to choose someone who makes her as happy as she makes everyone else. Cheers to the happy couple!”

23. The Toast-Focused Speech

“Good evening, I’m Sarah, and I’ll keep this short because I know you’re all eager to get to the dancing. My sister found her person, her person found her, and we’re all here to celebrate that beautiful fact. To love, laughter, and happily ever after – cheers!”

Modern and Contemporary Speeches

These acknowledge how relationships work in 2024 – dating apps, long-distance, social media, all that stuff. Perfect if you’re younger or if their love story is very much of this era.

24. The Social Media Era Speech

“Hi everyone, I’m Jessica, and I’ve literally watched my sister’s relationship unfold through Instagram stories, Snapchat updates, and way too many couple selfies. But behind all those perfectly filtered moments, I’ve seen something real and beautiful. I’ve watched them support each other’s dreams through FaceTime calls, navigate long-distance periods with creative date nights, and create a love that’s authentic even in our digital world. Plus, they give me hope that true love can survive even the most embarrassing tagged photos from college.”

When you’re creating a wedding speech for your sister in today’s world, it’s totally okay to acknowledge how modern love stories actually unfold.

25. The Pandemic Wedding Speech

“Good evening, I’m Rachel, and this wedding almost didn’t happen – thanks, 2020. We’ve postponed, replanned, and pivoted more times than I can count. But watching my sister and David through all of this chaos showed me something incredible. When everything else was uncertain, their love was the one constant. They proved that it doesn’t matter if you’re planning a 200-person celebration or a backyard gathering – what matters is that you’re choosing each other, no matter what the world throws at you.”

This acknowledges the unique challenges couples have faced recently while celebrating their resilience.

Speech Examples for Complicated Family Situations

Some sister relationships are… complicated. Maybe you weren’t always close, maybe there’s been drama, or maybe your family situation is just different from the typical examples you see everywhere. Here are some approaches for trickier situations.

If you’re dealing with challenging family dynamics during wedding planning, this guide on mastering bridesmaid group chat dynamics has some good insights into navigating complex relationships.

The Blended Family Speech

“Hi everyone, I’m Maria, and I became Sarah’s sister when I was twelve and she was ten. We didn’t choose each other initially – our parents did that for us when they got married. But over the years, we chose each other every single day. We chose to share secrets, to fight over the bathroom, to protect each other from our parents’ questionable music choices. Sarah, you taught me that family isn’t about blood – it’s about showing up, caring deeply, and choosing love even when it’s complicated. David, you’re gaining a whole chaotic, beautiful, chosen family.”

The Long-Distance Sister Speech

“Good evening, I’m Amanda, and I’ve been Sarah’s sister from 3,000 miles away for the past five years. We’ve maintained our relationship through FaceTime calls, care packages, and an embarrassing number of text messages. But distance taught us something valuable – the people who matter most will always find ways to stay connected. Watching Sarah with Mark, I see that same commitment to making love work despite obstacles. They’ve navigated different cities, crazy work schedules, and all the challenges that come with building a life together. If they can make it through all that, they can make it through anything.”

The Sister Who Overcame Addiction Speech

“Hello everyone, I’m Lisa, and I want to talk about second chances. Five years ago, my sister was in a very dark place, fighting battles that most people couldn’t understand. But she fought her way back to us, to herself, and to the incredible woman standing here today. Recovery isn’t just about getting clean – it’s about rebuilding trust, relationships, and hope. Watching Jennifer with Chris, I see all of that hard work paying off. She’s learned to love herself, which means she can truly love someone else. Chris, thank you for seeing my sister’s strength, not just her struggles.”

Figuring Out Which Style Actually Fits You

Not every speech style works for every situation. Let me break down which examples work best for different relationship dynamics, comfort levels, and wedding vibes, so you can pick something that’ll actually feel authentic.

Speech Category	Best For	How Long	Risk Level	Prep Time Needed
Heartfelt & Sentimental	Close relationships, people who don’t mind crying	3-5 minutes	Medium (you might cry)	High – need real memories
Humorous & Light-hearted	Confident speakers, casual weddings	3-4 minutes	High (jokes might bomb)	Very High – story vetting needed
Wisdom & Advice-Focused	Older sisters, married people	4-5 minutes	Low	Medium – life experience helps
Story-Driven & Narrative	Natural storytellers, intimate settings	4-6 minutes	Medium (complexity)	High – need strong narrative skills
Short & Sweet	Nervous speakers, formal events	1-3 minutes	Very Low	Low – simple structure
Modern & Contemporary	Younger couples, tech-savvy families	3-4 minutes	Low	Medium – cultural relevance

Emotional Impact vs. Your Comfort Level

The childhood memory and transformation speeches will probably make people cry (in a good way), but they require you to be okay with getting emotional too. If you’re someone who cries during toilet paper commercials, maybe consider the shorter, more structured options.

My friend Maria wanted to do the growth and transformation speech because it perfectly captured her sister’s journey. But during practice, she realized she got too choked up at the part about her sister overcoming shyness. She rewrote that section to be less detailed and more celebratory, which helped her stay composed while still honoring her sister’s growth.

Funny speeches feel emotionally safer, but you need to be confident your jokes will actually land and that your sister will appreciate the approach. If you’re not naturally funny, don’t try to become a comedian for this one speech.

Story-driven speeches create the most memorable moments, but you need to actually be good at telling stories. If you usually lose people halfway through your anecdotes, stick with simpler structures.

Matching Your Speech to the Wedding Vibe

Black-tie evening wedding? Go with something more polished and structured. The wisdom-focused speeches or elegant story-driven options work great for formal settings.

Casual outdoor wedding? You have more flexibility for humor and personal anecdotes. The embarrassing childhood stories or inside jokes speeches can really shine in relaxed atmospheres.

Small intimate gathering? Everyone probably knows both of you well, so you can include more specific details and inside references.

Huge wedding where half the people don’t know your family? Stick to more universal themes that everyone can relate to.

Family Dynamics Reality Check

If your family situation is complicated – blended families, past conflicts, whatever – avoid speeches that reference “always being close” or “perfect family moments.” Focus on growth, forgiveness, and new beginnings instead.

If there’s been family drama or you’re still working through issues with your sister, don’t pretend everything’s always been perfect. It’ll sound fake and make everyone uncomfortable.

Large extended families with diverse backgrounds need content that doesn’t exclude people. Too many inside references can make significant portions of the audience feel left out.

When You Might Need Some Extra Help

Look, sometimes these examples are a good starting point, but you need more support to actually pull this off. Maybe you’re dealing with complicated family stuff, maybe public speaking makes you want to hide under a rock, or maybe you just want to make sure you nail this once-in-a-lifetime moment.

There’s no shame in getting help. This is important, and if you have some budget and you’re really stressed about it, there are people who literally do this for a living.

For more structured approaches to wedding speeches, check out these wedding speech templates that can give you additional frameworks to work with.

Type of Help	What You Get	Good For	Rough Cost
Speech Writing Help	Custom content, structure guidance	People who struggle with organizing thoughts	$200-500
Delivery Coaching	Practice sessions, confidence building	Nervous public speakers	$150-300
Full Package	Writing + coaching + emotional support	High-stress situations, complex family stuff	$400-800
Day-of Support	Backup assistance, last-minute help	People with severe anxiety	$100-200

Bridesmaid for Hire has worked with tons of sisters in all kinds of situations – they’ve seen it all. They can help you figure out which of these examples actually fits your situation, customize it with your real memories and relationship dynamic, and practice until you feel confident.

The thing is, they’re not trying to replace your voice with something generic. They help your genuine feelings come through with more confidence and polish. Your sister’s wedding speech is a once-in-a-lifetime moment, and having professional support can make the difference between a good speech and one that everyone remembers for all the right reasons.

If you want to explore more comprehensive speech guidance, their wedding speech coaching services provide personalized help for creating and delivering memorable toasts.

Whether you need help choosing between these examples, customizing content for your specific situation, or just having someone to practice with who understands wedding dynamics, professional support can turn speech stress into speech success.

Final Thoughts (And a Reality Check)

Here’s the Here’s the thing – your sister asked YOU to give this speech because your voice matters to her. Not because you’re the most eloquent speaker or because you’ll deliver something that goes viral on TikTok. Because you’re her sister, and that means something.

Whether you pick one of these sister of the bride speech examples or create something totally different, the most important thing is that it feels like you. Don’t try to sound like someone else or use words you’d never normally say. People can tell when you’re being fake, and it’s awkward for everyone.

You don’t need to write the speech that gets shared on social media or quoted in wedding magazines. You just need to speak from your heart about someone you love. Even if you stumble over a word or get choked up, those moments often make the speech more memorable, not less.

If you’re reading this the night before the wedding… first, take a deep breath. Second, pick one of the shorter examples and customize it with just a few specific details about your sister and her partner. Don’t try to write something elaborate at the last minute.

A few practical things:

• Practice out loud, even if it’s just to your mirror or your dog
• Have a backup plan if you get too emotional (ask someone to finish for you, or just wrap up with “I love you both”)
• Keep it shorter rather than longer – nobody ever complained about a speech being too brief
• If you’re nervous, write your key points on index cards as backup

Remember, everyone in that room is rooting for you. They want you to succeed because they love your sister too. You’re not performing for critics – you’re talking to family and friends who are already on your side.

Most importantly, your sister will remember how you made her feel more than every specific word you said. She’ll remember that you stood up there, despite being nervous or emotional, and celebrated her happiness. That’s what matters.

For more wedding speech examples across different relationships and situations, check out this collection of wedding speech examples that covers toasts for every wedding role.

And if you need more comprehensive guidance on all your maid of honor responsibilities beyond just the speech, the ultimate maid of honor guide has you covered for everything from planning to the big day.

Whether you choose one of these sister of the bride speech examples or create something uniquely your own, trust yourself. You know your sister better than anyone else in that room. You’ve got this.