Co-Maid of Honor Speech
I intend for this blog to be a collection of my writing. To that end, here is the speech I wrote (and gave) for my one sister’s wedding in the spring of 2022. I gave it the night before the wedding at the Rehearsal Dinner.
Speech for Molly & Nate, May 2022
Hi, everyone. I’m SO happy to be here with all of you. I am going to say a few words about Molly and Nate, just to set the tone for the weekend and get us even more excited for tomorrow.
As you all know, Molly, Katie, and I share a birthday, May 3rd. I want to tell you the story of one of my favorite birthdays we had together. I was turning 25 and they were turning 20. We were in NYC for the weekend with Cassidy, Lauren, Mom, and Aunt Di. That night, as the clock struck midnight on May 3rd, Molly, Katie, and I (and our friends) were jogging through a NYC subway, carrying our high heels in our hands.
We were TERRIFIED of our Mom being awake when we got back to the hotel, so we were rushing. We knew she would NOT be happy with us. We were not 100% sober. And somehow, at midnight, as we were waiting for the train, we met a subway jazz band standing behind us. And someone in our group tells them it’s our birthdays. I distinctly remember having to convince them that all three of us were born on the same day. And then, they broke out into “Happy Birthday” on their instruments. Me, Molly, and Katie looked at each other and started laughing…like, Is this really happening? We’re being serenaded by a jazz band at midnight in the subway…while freaking out about trying to get home to Mom??…Well, YEP. And so, we gave up our worries and started dancing. My favorite picture from that night is of me twirling Molly around in a circle as she laughs hysterically.
From this, and so many other birthdays together, the three of us have grown a bond of not just sisters, but the closest friends. So you can imagine how important it is to me that Molly and Katie both find the PERFECT partners…men who honor and love them.
And as all of you here KNOW, Nate is that man for Molly. Nate worships her.
And not only that, but Molly and Nate are the perfect match. I’m going to take some time to spell this out for you…even though you might already know.
When I think about Molly growing up, a few memories come to mind. And as I was talking with Liz, Nate’s sister, we were cracking up at how similar these two have always been.
Molly, as you all know, was a math major at U of M. Now I think we should’ve seen this coming, because she was obsessed with the time and being on time in elementary school. Some of you probably remember the little blue watch Molly wore on her tiny wrist. She would not go anywhere without it. And it HAD to be set to the exact right time. If it was even a few seconds off, she would cry until my parents would reset it. Katie and I would laugh so hard at her, which of course only made her angrier. It was hilarious. And it would happen every few days.
Then, I’m talking to Liz and she tells me that Nate ALWAYS had to be on time. Growing up, he couldn’t stand being late to his hockey and baseball practices. Which was the same for Molly, she couldn’t STAND us being even a few minutes late. Katie and I got a kick out of her making sure Mom was on time to places.
Also in elementary school, Molly decided she didn’t want to wear the stuff my Mom bought for her. She preferred Alex’s clothes, our cousin…like, all of them…she would borrow his shirts, shorts, everything. She decided to be a tomboy before it was popular. And she didn’t care what Katie or I wore, or what anyone may have thought. She just did her thing.
Liz told me about a similar phase of Nate’s, his “cool phase” in middle school…where he would only wear pajamas out in public. He thought it was a fashion statement.
But in all seriousness, both Molly and Nate have a confidence, intelligence, and goofiness that I love. They are quirky and hilarious. And unfailingly kind. When my partner met them for the first time this year, she told me after how they BOTH made her feel comfortable right away. And that’s how they are with everyone: welcoming, warm, and gracious.
This is why I was so happy I was to meet Nate when Molly introduced us to him in college. First of all, she talked about him more than any other guy I’ve heard her talk about. Even when they were just friends. That’s when Katie and I knew something was up, that she might like like him.
And then when I met him, the first thing I noticed was how sweet he was to both her and her roommates. If they needed anything, Nate was the first to help. Because if they are Molly’s people, Nate is going to watch out for them.
Liz told me this goes way back: growing up, Nate would always make sure both she and Mike got home safely. And he still does. That’s just the man that Nate is: he loves so openly and genuinely. And as Molly and our grandma have pointed out, he is just like our Papa – so smart and yet humble; and so genuinely kind and selfless.
From what I’ve seen, the entire Cowdin family has these traits…and so it probably makes sense to you how overjoyed I am that my sister is marrying Nate tomorrow. I get teary every time I think about the way that he loves her. And the way that she loves him.
Molly, I love you with my whole heart. I could not be more excited for you and Nate to begin this next chapter together. I admire your passion, drive, wit, humor, and so many other things about you. Even though you’re my little sister, I look up to you. And I thank you for always showing up for me like a best friend.
Nate, I can’t wait to have you as a brother. You know that you are already family to all of us. I love you both so much, cheers!