Speech at a wedding

Some bucket list items sneak up on you—the kind you don’t exactly plan for, but suddenly you’re standing there, holding a bouquet, helping a bride into her dream dress and preparing to say a few words that (hopefully) won’t make you cry before the guests do.

This post checks off two things from my list:✔️ Assist a bride with her wedding prep✔️ Give a speech at a wedding

And I owe it all to my lovely friend Kathleen—who trusted me enough to be part of her big day (and also to stand up and say words in front of a lot of people 😅).

Day One: The Warm-Up

On Friday, we had the civil ceremony. It was sweet, intimate, and the perfect little warm-up with close family and a few friends. You could already feel the love, but the main event was clearly still loading…

Day Two: The Real Deal

On Saturday, it was time for the full wedding magic. I arrived early with another one of Kathleen’s close friends, and we were among the first to get to the venue—aside from the parents. And let me tell you: the location was gorgeous. The kind of place Pinterest dreams about at night.

Kathleen had her own bridal suite—a cozy room decked out with plush sofas, a huge makeup mirror, little snacks, a bottle of bubbly, and of course: a white robe that said BRIDE in sparkly letters.

(Because yes, she deserved full main character energy.)

As she got her hair and makeup done, you could see the mix of excitement and stress on her face. Kathleen has always known what she wants, and this day had been carefully crafted in her mind for a long time. She looked radiant—even before the dress went on.

Behind the Scenes of the Big Day

While Kathleen got pampered, we ran around like honorary bridesmaids with a mission:

📸 Took photos of the dress

🌸 Checked on the flowers

🛏️ Prepped the couple’s room

✔️ Made sure things looked and felt just right

There was definitely a buzz of stress in the air, but the venue staff handled everything like pros. And when Kathleen finally stepped into her dress—wow. The stress melted away. She looked stunning. I’m talking "cover-of-a-bridal-magazine" level stunning.

Speech Mode: Activated

While she went off for the couple’s photos, my own little anxiety monster kicked in—because it was almost speech time. I don’t usually mind public speaking, but this wasn’t just any speech. It was her speech. It had to be meaningful. Personal. From the heart.

So I did the only thing I could: practiced it a few times, reminded myself not to ugly cry, and then just let it go. It was her day. It wasn’t about perfection—it was about love.

The Ceremony

The ceremony was outside, in a sun-kissed garden space that looked like it had been ripped straight out of a wedding mood board. Flowers, a little aisle, sunshine (despite the forecast!), and smiling faces all around.

Then came the moment.

I took a breath, stood up, and locked eyes with Kathleen. That’s what grounded me—just talking to her. The rest melted away. It wasn’t about impressing anyone, it was about speaking from the heart. And honestly? I’m proud of how it turned out.

Once I sat back down, I could finally breathe—and soak in the magic.

Dinner, Dancing, and Dessert Goals

The rest of the evening was just as perfect. I was even invited to sit at the main table (casual flex). The dinner was amazing—but that dessert? LIFE. CHANGING.

The bride and groom’s first dance? Called it: Ed Sheeran. (Some things are just meant to be.) Then the rest of us hit the dance floor and never looked back. We danced the night away, made memories, and probably embarrassed ourselves just enough to make it fun.

To Kathleen and Kenneth:

Thank you for letting me be part of such a beautiful day. Thank you for trusting me with makeup room chaos, speech nerves, and everything in between. You two are absolutely perfect together—and now your love story is part of mine too.