How to Write a Great Mother of the Bride Speech for Your Daughter's Big Day

Your daughter's wedding day is arguably one of the most special events you'll get to experience as a mom. And, what better way to welcome your daughter's new spouse into the family than with a thoughtful mother of the bride speech during the reception? If you're asking the question, 'does the mother of the bride give a speech?,' the answer is yes—but writing a wedding speech for your daughter doesn't need to be intimidating. Besides, we all know moms are practically superheroes. So when the time comes for your speech, it's no surprise that you'll deliver by exceeding expectations (on top of nailing the rest of your mother of the bride duties). But if you struggle with public speaking or you're having trouble crafting the perfect speech, know that you're not alone. We're outlining everything you need to know about mother of the bride speeches so you can happily toast to your little girl (turned beautiful bride!) and her partner on their special day. Our first tip? Make sure you're wearing waterproof makeup—happy tears are bound to be shed.

In this article:

Printable Template | How to Write | Examples | Tips | FAQs

Printable Mother of the Bride Speech Template

Bookmark this template to make sure you check all the boxes when writing your mother of the bride speech.

Design: Natalie Romine

How to Write a Mother of the Bride Speech Step-by-Step

Still feeling stuck on your mother of the bride speech? Stick to this simple, six-step template, courtesy of Hester Parks, an award-winning event planner and founder of Park Avenue Events based in Atlanta, Georgia. Fill in the blanks by adding your own personal details and you'll be good to go.

1. Introduce yourself.

It's pretty clear that most people will know who you are, but you'll still want to start your speech by introducing yourself. Start with a simple hello or other greeting, then share your name and specify that you're the mother of the bride.

2. Thank the guests for coming.

Mind your manners and remember to thank everyone for coming out to celebrate this joyous occasion, especially those who have traveled from out of town or went to great lengths to be present.

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3. Share a heartfelt message about your daughter.

Here's your chance for a little humble brag. "Talk about how proud you are of her and how amazing she has turned out to be," says Lauren Smith, founder of EventSmith Planning and Productions in Houston, Texas. You can also share an anecdote or memory about your daughter—talk about something you love doing together or reminisce on a cute story from her childhood.

4. Talk about your daughter's partner.

Now is the perfect time in your mother of the bride speech to officially welcome your new son-in-law or daughter-in-law to the family. Share what you love about them, why they're the perfect match for your daughter, and how happy you are that they're in your life.

5. Speak about the couple's relationship.

After you've spoken about each of them individually, it's time to talk about your daughter and her partner—and why they make a great match. You could share a memory from when you first saw them together or talk about how you've watched their relationship grow and flourish.

6. Close with a toast to the newlyweds.

Finally, ask all of the guests to raise their glasses in honor of the newly married couple. Remember to congratulate both of them (not just your daughter) and wish them well.

Mother of the Bride Speech Examples

Decide if you want to give a speech that feels classic, funny, short and sweet—or all of the above. Then, use these mother of the bride speech examples to fill in the blanks for your own speech.

Touching Mother of the Bride Speech Example

"Hello everyone and welcome—I'm [insert name], Casey's mom. I want to thank you all so much for coming out to celebrate Casey and Rory's wedding day. On behalf of our entire new extended family, we're incredibly thrilled and eternally grateful to ring in this joyous occasion with you. My heart is full of love, gratitude, and appreciation for our friends, family members, and loved ones who came from all over to attend the wedding.

While Casey's father and I raised her to be strong and independent, we couldn't be more thrilled for her that she's found her real-life fairytale with Rory. Rory, you are kind, gentle, empathetic and comforting, and I couldn't have wished for anything more. More importantly, you embody everything and more I could have hoped for in a husband for my daughter.

I've been dreaming of this day since Casey was a little girl when she'd dress up in her favorite princess ballgowns, reminisce about her very own Prince Charming and watch Cinderella on loop for hours on end. Looking back, I can't help but smile at these precious memories. However, I wish I knew then how quickly time flies by—and if I could offer you and Rory one piece of advice, it would be to cherish every moment by living life to the fullest. Don't sweat the small stuff. Don't go to bed angry or sad. Don't waste one second worrying about something that's not important in the bigger picture. The reason is simple: Life is too damn short.

Casey, I'm so proud of the beautiful young woman you've grown into. I'm not sure what I did to deserve you—or how you ended up turning out so wonderful, but I couldn't be happier for you as you take this next step. I can't wait to celebrate many more happy occasions with you and Rory. Everyone, please join me in raising a glass to the handsome couple. Here's to a lifetime of love, health and happiness."

Short Mother of the Bride Speech Example

"Thank you all for joining us today. I'm [insert name], Marianne's mom, and I couldn't be more thrilled to be celebrating her marriage to Jeremy. Watching Marianne grow up, I loved [blank] about her and dreamed that she would someday find a partner who [share a quality of your daughter's partner that you admire]. Jeremy, we couldn't have asked for someone better to love our daughter, and we're so blessed to welcome you into our family. I'm filled with joy for you both and wish you every happiness for this next chapter in your story. Cheers and congratulations!"

Funny Mother of the Bride Speech Example

"As Lauren's slightly older sister—just kidding!—I want to thank you all so much for coming out to celebrate Lauren and Chelsea's wedding day. As her mom, I want to start by telling you all a story about Lauren from way back in the day. [Share a slightly embarrassing but funny childhood or teenage memory about your daughter that sums up her personality.]

They say a mother's love is like no other, and oh boy, it was at that moment that I fully understood the meaning of the phrase. I knew that Lauren would someday need to find a partner who could lovingly accept her not only at her best, but also in moments when [make a reference to the funny childhood story you told earlier]. When I first met Chelsea, I could see that Lauren had found her perfect match after all—someone who understands and embraces Lauren's [share a quirky trait about your daughter] as much as (if not more than) we do. Chelsea and Lauren, I'm so grateful that you've found each other, and I have loved watching your relationship grow. Everyone, please raise your glass and join me in congratulating the newlyweds. Here's to many more years of happiness, health and excitement!"

Mother of the Bride Speech Tips

You've got the mother of the bride speech basics, now it's time to start writing your own. Keep these tips in mind, including what not to say in a mother of the bride speech.

When in doubt, speak from the heart.

If you're worried that nerves will get the better of you during your mother of the bride speech, remind yourself that the speech doesn't need to be overly complicated. Speaking from the heart will be more than enough to get your message across—and your daughter will be able to feel your emotion, which is what it's really all about.

Include light humor but avoid inside jokes.

Many wedding planners we spoke to warned that making jokes during your MOB speech could be hit-or-miss depending on the context of the joke, as well as the delivery. However, Elyse Dawn, a Chicago-based wedding planner for 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!"

Most importantly, you should avoid inside jokes that wouldn't make sense to the larger crowd. Although it might seem cute to include a reference that only your daughter would understand, it could end up feeling uncomfortable or awkward for the rest of the room.

Write down your thoughts and practice out loud.

To help you organize your thoughts, Jesse Reing, wedding planner and founder of Events by Jesse in New York, New York, recommends writing down the main points you want to make during your mother of the bride speech. "These can include feelings about the couple, childhood stories, anecdotes from when you first met your now-in-law, comments on the wedding itself, or well-wishes for the future," says Reing. "Having an outline of points to refer to will help fill in the gaps and create transitions, while also having a sense of preparedness in case nerves take over."

It's also a good idea to practice your speech at least once before the wedding, especially if you don't have a lot of experience with public speaking. Read it to yourself out loud to get comfortable and familiarize yourself with what you want to say.

Steer clear of sensitive topics.

Your mother of the bride speech should be a highlight reel—not an in-depth account of your daughter's life or the ups-and-downs of her relationship. Avoid mentioning any topics that might feel uncomfortable or touchy, like past flames, future grandchildren or the stressful times she went through while wedding planning. Keep it lighthearted, positive and focused on the couple.

End the speech by toasting to the future.

Congrats! You've officially written your speech for your daughter's wedding, and now it's time to bring it home. Congratulate the couple on a beautiful relationship so far, and conclude with a sentence or two about all the happiness you wish them as they begin their new chapter.

Mother of the Bride Speech Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time writing a mother of the bride speech, it's expected that you've got questions—and we've got answers. Here's the who, what, when and why.

When does the mother of the bride give her speech?

"Typically, the mother of the bride speaks at the wedding reception after cocktail hour and before dinner is served," says Katelyn Peterson, founder of Wedding Words, a wedding vow and speech writing service. Alternatively, the mother of the bride can give her speech during the rehearsal dinner instead, depending on the couple's wishes.

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 (phew!). Aside from potentially giving a special shoutout to your partner—especially if the two of you helped your daughter and her partner plan the wedding—you can also mention your new in-laws and their family, says Peterson.

How long should a mother of the bride speech be?

According to wedding planner Fátima Falcon of Momentos Weddings and Events in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico: "There is no doubt that listening to the speech of the bride's mother 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," says Karen Riley Love of AMI Beach Weddings in Anna Maria Island, Florida. She adds that two to three minutes is the "perfect" amount of time for the mother of the bride speech.

Samantha Iacia contributed to the reporting of this article.