So you have the great honor of being a MOH, yet are tasked with the difficult and formidable act of giving speech. Not only do you have to get up and speak in front of a huge audience, but you also have to write it. I mean actually write from your heart. I am not sure which was more intimidating to me… If you can’t already tell I am an absolute perfectionist, so I had to really knock this out of the park. I cheered for the Denver Broncos for three years and would dance in front of 78,000 people no problem, but speaking in public was not my forte- especially when your twin sister invites just shy of 400 people to her wedding.
I perused the inter-webs to get inspired, I got on Pinterest, I asked friends who were former MOH’s, but I was drawing up blanks. I wanted this to be purely original and authentic, yet not too long. I didn’t want to cry but I wanted it to pull at heartstrings. I wanted to make people laugh but questioned if I would hear crickets… Let’s be honest, we have all attended weddings where you think to yourself, “girl, put the mic down,” and I most certainly didn’t want to be that.
Lizzie and I were both co-maids-of-honor in our best friend’s wedding a few months before, but this time I was solely on my own. The three of us were obsessed with Spice Girls growing up, so naturally we re-wrote a Spice Girl’s song and actually sang our entire speech! Now I may be slightly biased, but the crowd LOVED it. I mean everyone’s faces lit up and although I have never felt more vulnerable, I had my twin sister by my side the whole time. Now I was on my own. Could I actually write my own speech without the guidance of my best friend?
After much ongoing debate in my head, I sat myself down, poured a glass of pinot noir, and put on my favorite Pandora station, Ludovico Einaudi. The silliest thing is that I teach mindfulness everyday in my classroom but had gotten so worked up that I forgot how to calm myself down by using the strategies I teach my nine year-olds on a daily basis. So I did just that. I refocused, I took a few deep breaths, and I wrote.
As I mentioned in my previous post, my twin has an very real obsession with Disney and princesses, so I started there. I discussed how each princess has taught us a life lesson that I find valuable to the contribution of marriage advice. After getting some silly advice out of the way, I spoke from the heart. I spoke to my sister about how she and I had always been the two peas in our own pod and that we have always had this special bond, but that bond was officially changing as of that day. I spoke to Frankie to welcome him to the family… and of course, I ended with a flash mob that embodied a compilation of all Lizzie’s favorite songs that each represented a different chapter in her life.
I sent videos for months teaching the bridal party the dance moves, and even looped Frankie in so that in addition to the already surprise flash mob, he could surprise her by joining in the fun. Their wedding was a modern day, real-life ball complete with an enchanted forest and grand chandeliers. If you were to envision the ballroom in Beauty and the Beast, that pretty much summarizes the romantic scene that was their reception. The flash mob ended with Be Our Guest, which couldn’t be more fitting for this couple. Lesson learned that speaking from the heart and being 100% authentic was the key to giving my speech. I suppose the pinot didn’t hurt either…. Check out my speech below:
“There are a plethora of incredible Disney movies that have taught us valuable life lessons over the years. In fact, a few Disney princesses have helped me compile a list of marriage advice that I feel is appropriate to share with you today:
Ariel teaches us that you should always be yourself and to never hide what your prince loves most about you! Although learning that mermaids weren’t real was quite possibly the worst day of my life, don’t ever hide that tail!
Cinderella teaches us to never try to be someone you’re not, because at the end of the day your Prince Charming will love you simply for being you. But hey, let’s not underestimate the power of a killer shoe. I mean, who knows, without that glass slipper they may have never lived happily ever after!
Mulan teaches us that honesty is the best policy. So in other words, don’t fake becoming a man to get Frankie’s attention!
Snow White teaches us to never forget your friends. The 7 dwarfs were there for her when she needed them the most before she fell in love; so although I am short, don’t forget about me! Oh, and don’t take apples from strangers!
Finally, Belle teaches us to always give relationships room to grow. Beast allows Belle to leave, putting her happiness above his own, and won her heart over because of it. Frankie, I know you will always put Lizzie’s happiness above your own because that is just who you are, but please take time to still shave your face and trim your mane too!
For the few of you who may not know me, I am Katie, the bride’s twin sister. Today marks a major life change for the Bhappu Family Four- Pack. You see, Lizzie and I have a bond unlike anything else. We have always done everything together- sharing birthdays, interests, friends, our study abroad experience, and even waiting every Christmas morning to open our “matching presents” slowly so the other one would not see what the other had gotten! We even decided to attend the same university together, because we couldn’t imagine sharing the experience without our other half! But today, one of us is taking her own path… without the other, so please forgive me if I get a little choked up.
Lizzie and I have been best friends for as long as I can remember. Literally, before we came into this world! In thinking A LOT about today, I’ve tried to come up with a way to articulate the bond that I have with her, and it’s proven to be quite impossible. Even though we are sisters purely by chance, she is my best friend by choice. There truly are no words that even come close to expressing the connection she and I have. Simply put, we are two halves to a whole. As we’ve gotten older, we have noticed that people have come and gone, but perhaps the best thing has been that we are sheltered in the knowledge that we always have each other.
I wish everyone could experience what it’s like to have such a special person in his or her life. That’s why today is so exciting for me! Lizzie, you will now have two such people in your life. You are the first to travel beyond our tiny circle of two, and form a completely different kind of forever pair. What an honor to share that with Frankie. You are creating your own unique and beautiful bond that is born of the love that you two have built. Today is a day that you get to call your very own! It is also the day that our life paths have halted, and you get to continue on your path with the most incredible guy I know.
Now, enough talk about you, and time talk about Frankie… Ever since I was a little girl, I always wanted a brother. But not just a brother, a BIG BROTHER! I never understood why Santa couldn’t just make that happen. Well, fast-forward twenty years when Lizzie made a wish and you came true. You see, Lizzie isn’t just gaining a husband, but I am finally getting the “big brother” I always wanted. And although my dad always joked that Lizzie was his son he always wanted, I’m pretty sure he is ecstatic to actually welcome a REAL boy into our family! I’m Batman and you’re Robin…No, seriously, he will tell you the same thing! What I love most about you is your sense of humor. I love when you and I dive into the silliest tangents that last for hours and make Liz crazy, and that we can bring it up days, weeks, or even months later and still laugh until we cry like it was the first time! Frankie, I’d like to be the first to welcome you to the Bhappu- Family- Five- Pack. You are now my sister’s other half and I cannot wait to watch you both as you continue writing your love story.
So, before I get too emotional… I’d like to welcome the incredible Kudla family into our own. I feel so fortunate to be gaining you as family! Lizzie, if I haven’t told you a million times already, you look absolutely beautiful tonight. You will always be my best friend, but sometimes I feel like I can’t quite put it into words. So, when in doubt, dance it out…You two sit back, relax, and BE OUR GUEST!”