Mother of the Bride Speech: Examples, Ideas and Writing Tips

The mother of the bride speech can be an incredibly difficult thing to write; as such, don’t feel overwhelmed. Instead of writing this speech yourself, search for samples of the biggest and best speeches to get an idea of its structure. Then, use those structures as a model for your own. That being said, below you’ll find samples of both the best ideas and great content.

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How to Write a Mother of the Bride Speech

Keep true to yourself when writing your mother’s speech, advised Betsy Dawn of The Wedding Planning Guide.
Additionally, wedding and event planner Jesse Reing recommends making a list “a maximum of five points” throughout your speech to help you organize your thoughts. In addition, she adds, “These can include feelings about the couple, childhood memories, anecdotes from when you met your now-in-law, comments on the wedding itself or good wishes for the future.” Additionally, Ring explains that having an outline of points to refer to will help fill in gaps and create transitions, while also keeping a sense of preparedness in case nerves over.

Mother of the Bride Speech Example

Here is the general outline you’ll follow to write your speech:

Introduce Yourself
Thank the Guests
Talk about your Daughter
Talk about your new Son or Daughter-in-Law
Explain Why Their Marriage Makes You Happy
Close with a Wish for the Couple
Practice Reciting the Speech

Part #1: Introduce Yourself

It’s crucial to start your mother of the bride speech by introducing yourself, even if many guests are already aware of who you are and your relationship with the couple. Do not make the assumption that everyone knows you. Here are some examples of how to begin your speech:

EXAMPLE:

Good evening, everyone. My name is [name] and I’m the mother of the bride.
Hello, for those of you who haven’t met me yet, I’m [name]—the mother of the bride.
Greetings, everyone. My name is [name] and I’m the proud mother of the beautiful bride.
Welcome to all of you, especially those whom I have not yet met. I am [Name], the mother of the bride.

Starting with a straightforward introduction of yourself sets the tone for the rest of your speech. By stating who you are, the guests will understand your connection to the couple and the purpose of your speech.

Additionally, if public speaking makes you nervous, starting with a simple and factual line can help you build confidence. When you say something as basic as your name, you are less likely to feel nervous and unsure.

Part #2: Thank the Guests

Next, thank the guests for attending the wedding.

In many cases, the parents of the bride act as the “host” of their daughter’s wedding. That means it’s also your responsibility to thank everyone for coming to the event you organized.

EXAMPLES:

Thank you for being here to celebrate the happy couple and this joyous occasion.
Thank you for traveling from near and far to witness my oldest daughter and my new son-in-law becoming husband and wife.
Thank you for taking the time to join us here in Hawaii to celebrate Diane and Jake getting married.
On behalf of my husband, Paul, and myself—we’d both like to thank you for joining us as we celebrate the beautiful bride and groom.

As shown in the first example, you can keep this section simple and straight to the point.

However, if this is a destination wedding, it’s nice to touch on the extra effort that the guests had to put in to make it to the wedding. You can do this by mentioning how far they traveled or by noting the location of the wedding.

Also, if there’s another parent figure in your daughter’s life, you can choose to include them in this section as someone who also wants to thank guests.

Part #3: Talk About Your Daughter

It’s time to move on to the heart of the mother of the bride speech. After you’ve completed the opening remarks such as introducing yourself and thanking the guests, it’s time to talk about your daughter.

This can be one of the most difficult and intimidating aspects of writing your speech. To make the process easier, try the “pen to paper” exercise. Simply write for 15 to 30 minutes without lifting your pen, using a stream of consciousness and without editing your thoughts.

Once you’re done, review your notes and highlight any ideas that you’d like to include in your speech. To get started, consider these questions that can lead to great stories about your daughter:

What was she like as a child? Did she have any funny school reports or odd nicknames? How has she changed?
Who was her first celebrity crush and how does it compare to her partner?
What did she want to be when she was a child and what does she do now?
Did she start planning her wedding as a child?
What does she do that always makes you laugh?
What is her worst or weirdest habit?
Are there any memorable moments from your first holiday abroad, school play, or day of university? Have there been any arguments with siblings that have become household legends?
How did she and her partner meet? When and how did she tell you about them?
Do they share any unusual hobbies together?
How do they tolerate each other’s quirks?
Did her partner ask for your permission? What was your initial reaction and response?
If they have children, how did you feel when she became a mother? What advice have you given her?

You can use several of the ideas that you’ve written down. To see how this works, consider the following example.

BRAINSTORM NOTE:

Kim is so determined.

EXPAND ON THIS BRAINSTORM NOTE:

When Kim was eight years old, she desperately wanted a Power Wheels Barbie Jeep. She wrote Santa Claus for three years straight pleading for that Jeep. Christmas morning came and our living room floor was covered in the shredded red and green paper but there was no Jeep in sight. I was so worried Kim was going to sulk all morning, sad that Santa had not answered her letter. Instead, she ran to the hall closet to put on her jacket and shoes.

I asked her where she was going and she said to me, “Well, if our neighbor’s living rooms look like ours, they are going to need a cleaning service to help clean it up!”

She marketed herself as an elf and asked for donations as she cleaned up around the Christmas trees of our neighbors. That and a few lemonade stands later, Kim bought the Jeep herself and was cruising down our driveway the following summer.

TIE THIS STORY TO MARRIAGE:

Kim is the most determined woman I know. When someone else—not even Santa Clause—didn’t make her dream come true, she worked hard and used her determination to make her dream a reality on her own. That’s why I know her marriage will be a successful one…because she’s determined to make it that way. Come any challenge or bump in the road, she will face it head-on with determination and with Jake by her side.

Can you see how the brainstorming exercise will assist you, based on the example provided? By taking a simple idea and transforming it into a more detailed and specific story, you can effectively convey how that tale relates to the couple’s marriage.

Part #4: Talk about Your New Son or Daughter-in-Law

Despite being the mother of the bride, it’s important to also talk about your new son or daughter-in-law. This is your opportunity to welcome this person into your family and show guests how you feel about him or her.
Let’s have a look at an example to see how you can address your daughter’s spouse in your speech.

CHARACTER TRAIT:

Your daughter’s partner is considerate.

STORY TO SHOW TRAIT:

When I first met Josh, he invited my husband and me to dinner at this adorable Italian restaurant on the water. He had talked to our daughter before the dinner and learned how much we love chocolate gelato and he picked out this restaurant because they were known for their gelato.

EXPAND THIS TRAIT TO A BIGGER IDEA:

That seemingly simple gesture showed me what a very thoughtful and considerate man Josh is. I feel confident in my daughter’s decision to spend her life with Josh because I know she’ll be with a man who puts her needs and desires first.

Do you see how you take one character trait and expand on that by telling a specific story and then connecting that story to the larger concept of marriage? This is the formula you can use to talk about your daughter’s partner within your mother of the bride speech.

Part #5: Explain Why Their Marriage Makes You Happy

Having selected and emphasized anecdotes about your daughter and her spouse, it’s time to express why their union in marriage brings you happiness.

In this section, concentrate on conveying the emotions that you observe in the couple and the reason why it brings you delight.

EXAMPLES:

As a mother, all I’ve ever wanted for Michelle is to see her happy. I’ve never seen my daughter more full of joy than when she’s with Manny.
Marriage is about support, understanding, and love. This is why I know Jenny and Luis will have a wonderful and lasting marriage and why I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Luis into our family.

Part #6: Close with a Wish for the Couple

Every successful mother of the bride speech needs a strong closing. The best way to accomplish this in your toast is to close with a wish for the couple.

Here are some examples:

Everyone please raise your glass. Cheers to my new son and to my daughter—the most beautiful bride.
I wish you both a lifetime of happiness, laughter, and a love that only continues to grow with each wonderful year you two share together.
May your marriage be full of dreams realized, support for each other, and never ending love.

Part #7: Practice Reciting the Speech

With your speech now composed, it’s time to practice delivering it.

Completing the writing process only constitutes half of the challenge. The other half lies in feeling confident and comfortable when delivering the speech in front of the audience.

To be fully prepared for this moment, I suggest practicing your speech three to five times prior to the event.

This will give you the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the delivery and rhythm of your speech. By doing so, you will be able to confidently recite an exceptional mother of the bride toast.

FAQs about Mother of the Bride Speech

How Long Should a Mother of the Bride Speech Be?

The bride’s mother’s speech is one of the most anticipated moments of the wedding.

However, short and sweet speeches are ideal. Brevity and preparation are the keys to success, 2 to 3 minutes is the “perfect” amount of time for the mother of the bride speech.

When does the mother of the bride give a speech?

While every wedding is different, the mother of the bride usually delivers the speech following the father’s speech during the wedding reception. When the father is deceased or unable to attend, the mother of the bride will start the wedding toasts by going first.

How do you write a mother of the bride speech when you don’t know the groom?

Focus on personal anecdotes from your daughter regarding how the two met or when they knew that they had found “the one.”

Who does the mother of the bride thank in her speech?

While you should certainly thank everyone for coming at the beginning of your speech, you won’t need to individually name-drop every single attendee . However, Peterson says, “A special mention of the new in-laws is nice.”

Mother of the bride speech jokes

We spoke with many wedding planners who warned that wedding speech jokes can be hit or miss depending on context and delivery. However, Elyse Dawn of The Wedding Planning Guide says: “We think jokes in a mother of the bride speech can be a great touch, as long as it’s tasteful! And of course — it helps if it’s funny!”

What NOT to say in a mother of the bride speech?

First thing’s first: Peterson recommends avoiding cliche phrases. (For example, “And always remember to say these three little words…I am sorry.”) She also advises steering clear of any mention of future grandchildren. For all you know, the couple could experience fertility challenges. Or, perhaps they don’t want to have children.

Additionally, Peterson advises leaving out any mention of challenges or stressful times during the wedding planning phase. “No bride wants to be reminded of the frustration she felt while planning her big day.”

You’ll also want to avoid inside jokes, says Elyse Dawn. “Most of the guests won’t get it and will feel left out and probably won’t think it’s funny.”

Tips for giving a mother of the bride speech

Prepare to get emotional.
Be funny.
Be wary not to steal thunder from other people’s speeches.
Don’t forget the new in-laws.
Remember it’s not a CV.
Relax into it.
Ask her friends.

If you’re looking for that perfect mother of the bride outfit, check out our selection of gorgeous mother of the bride dress designs.

Here is our expertly curated ultimate speech checklist.