Sub Title: [Maid of honor Speech]
**Disclaimer:**
I am such a cry baby, especially on weddings, so I decided to write down my speech to make sure I wont forget a thing on this special day. I gave the printed copy to Jackie.
When Jackie asked me to be her maid of honor, I had mixed emotions because standing up in front of a large crowd makes me nervous, but it is a great honor to be her maid of honor.
I met her 7 years ago, but we felt like we'd been friends since kindergarten! Jackie has one of the most genuine, compassionate hearts I've ever met. She's bubbly, hilarious, and more like a sister than a friend. We've been there for each other during some of our toughest moments. We've shed many tears, but we've also laughed a lot more. We've shared food, sleepovers, out-of-town trips, every secret we've ever had, watched movies together, held hands on ice skating rinks, and cried over trivial matters over the years, and I'm a better person for knowing her. We are inseparable during our People Support days. We talked about life, we laughed together, and we laughed at each other! It's always a good time when I'm with her. She exudes a cheerful spirit that is contagious. There are times when we don't need to say anything to understand each other; a simple smile or nod suffices.
She taught me that we can be an incredible person with a huge heart and still laugh at things that we shouldn't. And she is correct; it is what makes you human. And fun. We talk a lot about change in certain aspects of our lives—at work, in love, and in our most recent look. She's one of those people who makes me happy. I learned a lot from her, and my two favorites are:
When you find The One, be willing to compromise.
Love is always worth it.
Wear PINK!
After Jackie and Aris met, I knew there was something there. She appeared to be happier than I had ever seen her, and I thank you, Aris, for seeing the goodness in her soul. Thank you for showing her so much love and compassion. I'm at ease knowing that you'll look after my best friend. It's reassuring to know that someone could and would stand beside her. I know I didn't lose my best friend; rather, I gained another wonderful friend.
I am not yet married, but I believe that to have a marriage that is full of simple, everyday joy, you must make an effort to be kind and grateful. Make each other laugh, and don't forget to do little things for each other just because. Learn to be curious, to keep asking questions, and you'll discover new ways to love and understand the person who pours your coffee every morning. Invest in the smallest details because they can contain the most magic.
Make the most of both your time together and your time apart. You fell in love with someone who had their own life, and while nothing is more special than the life you're creating together, it's also crucially important that you continue to grow as a person. Bringing your best self to the table is a gift you can give to someone you care about. Treat yourself
well.
Of course, there is work. Accept it as part of the work of honoring a decision. Love may not be a choice in and of itself, but committing to that love is, and it comes with great responsibility. When you have eternal love, it is your responsibility to be patient, thoughtful, and to live each day as part of a team.
Above all, have fun, embrace adventure, and keep respect at the top of your priority list. Maintain the same standard for yourself as you would for your other half–nothing more, nothing less. You’re not always going to be perfect,
and it’s not always going to be easy, but if you stay present and you embrace
change and you don’t hog all the covers–literally or figuratively–then you’re
far more likely to live out the love you promised each other when you said “I do.”
My final piece of advice is to never forget why you're all together today and how far you've come. It's no longer about your individual pasts, but about your future life together. Accept, celebrate, and unconditionally love one another.
Let us all raise a glass to the newlyweds. The first step is to get together; staying together is progress; and working together is success. I hope you remember that love is not about staring at each other, but about gazing in the same direction together.
xx
Ash
