what to say about parents in wedding speech

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How to thank your parents in your wedding speech.

By Tansey Tang

You’ll be expressing your appreciation for all of your guests at your wedding, and there are some very special people you shouldn’t miss out. Here’s how to properly thank your parents in your wedding speech!

Y our wedding day is finally here, and all the months of hard work and planning have paid off when you see the loving and excited faces gathered to celebrate you and your milestone. Your heart is so full and bursting with appreciation for the dear ones surrounding you, and your wedding speech is the perfect opportunity to express your thankfulness for their presence and their help. Besides thanking the people who cried with you, laughed with you, and worked through the night DIY-ing with you, you’ll also want to set aside a few minutes to honour your parents and in-laws.

Saying thank you to your parents at your wedding isn’t just about thanking them for any financial or logistical help with your wedding; it’s about publicly expressing your gratitude for all they’ve done for you. Thanking your new in-laws is also a respectful way to address them for the first time. Being from our typically reticent Asian culture, you may feel uncomfortable expressing your appreciation to your parents, especially when you’ll be doing so on stage. We put together some tips and sample ways to say thank you to your parents and in-laws during your wedding speech.

How Long Should the Thank You Speech Be?

Your thank you speech to your parents will likely be part of your wedding speech, where you have many special people to appreciate, such as your guests, your bridal party, your siblings, and anyone who has played a part in putting your wedding together. To avoid losing attention, you’ll want to keep your speech concise—about 5-8 minutes long each if the both of you are taking turns to speak. Your thank-yous to your parents is a key component of your speech, but probably won’t take very long.

What Should You Include in Your Thank-You Speech to Your Parents?

Your wedding is a big milestone, where you officially leave the household to form a new family of your own. You’ll want to thank your parents for all they’ve done in bringing you to this new chapter. You could express your gratitude for their unconditional love and support, acknowledge their hard work or appreciate their cooking, mention some values they’ve taught you to live by, or reminisce about some childhood memories that you’ll cherish. You could also talk about their role model characters or their example as a loving married couple, and how you hope to follow in their footsteps. If they contributed financially to your wedding, be sure to thank them as well, and appreciate any help they offered through the planning.

How Should You Thank Your In-Laws in Your Wedding Speech?

Your wedding speech is a great opportunity to let your new in-laws know how happy you are to be marrying their son or daughter. Thank them for raising a wonderful person, sliding in compliments about your partner, and win bonus points if you can relate them back to your in-laws. Express your appreciation at their efforts to welcome you into their family, and acknowledge any contribution your parents-in-law made to your wedding, whether it was financial or with the planning and organisation. Tell them how much you look forward to being part of their family.

Parent Thank-You Speech Examples

Writing a speech isn’t an easy thing to do, but you don’t need to be completely original! Here are some wedding thank-speech examples you can draw inspiration from.

To your parents:

Mum, Dad, thank you for your love and support through the years. You’ve done everything you could to give us a memorable childhood, and always guided and supported us in achieving our dreams. From you, I learned that failure is simply an opportunity to learn and try again, that being kind to people matters more than being right, and that love means forgiveness and selflessness. Growing up, you’ve shown us a beautiful example of what a great marriage looks like, and Liz and I can only hope to follow in your footsteps as we begin our new chapter together.

To my parents, thank you for working so hard to bring us up. All the home-cooked meals, the weekend family time, and even the time you spent tutoring us over our homework—I appreciate everything you’ve done to give Jie and I such a wonderful childhood. As we grew older, you never failed to lend a listening ear, cheer us on, or give us sound advice as we navigated forks in our life paths. As I celebrate this milestone today, I want to thank you for your love and support that led me here.

To your in-laws:

Pa, Ma, thank you for raising such a fine young man that today, I am proud to call my husband. Daniel is so smart, caring, hardworking, and thoughtful, and that can only be a reflection of how you’ve brought him up. Thank you for always inviting me over for such delicious meals, and for welcoming me so warmly into your lives. I’m so excited to officially become part of your family.

To my new mum and dad, thank you for welcoming me into your family. Thank you for entrusting your beautiful daughter into my care. Liz is truly the ideal woman—she’s patient, supportive, strong, and so talented at what she does. I will everything in my power to give her the happiness she deserves. As we begin building our new life together, we couldn’t be more grateful to have your love and support.

Wedding Thank You Speech Tips

Now that you’ve overcome the challenge of finding the right words to say, it’s time to make sure you deliver your wedding speech well. Familiarise yourself with your speech, then practise delivering it in front of your mirror or friends, or record yourself, to see if there are areas in which you could improve your delivery. While it’s perfectly fine to read off a script, practising your speech beforehand will help you sound more natural on stage. Speak more slowly than you normally would, and make eye contact with your audience as much as you can. The most important tip? Speak from the heart!

Credits: Feature image from Ming Tong and Daryl’s Sustainable Wedding with Gold Accents at Botanico at The Garage by Bottled Groove Photography

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Published on: 4 July 2022

Category: Weddings 101

Tagged in: Wedding Speeches

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Perfect Short Wedding Speech Examples To Guide You

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Wedding speeches are a long-time tradition of weddings. And, if you have an important role at a wedding, such as best man, father of the bride or maid of honor, you would be expected to give a speech. While the thought of giving a speech might be nerve-wracking, it might comfort you to know that the best speeches are short and sweet. So, don’t feel any stress or pressure, because short wedding speeches are not only the best, they are easy to deliver.

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For your inspiration, we’ve put together a guide as well as some short wedding speeches examples to help you on your way to give the best wedding speech.

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Short Wedding Speeches Examples

Bride’s wedding speech.

“ Hello, everyone! Thanks for sharing this special day with us. A big shoutout to my amazing parents for making my dream wedding a reality. To my incredible groom (name), your joy fills my heart every day. I’m beyond grateful to have you as my husband, and today marks the start of countless joyous celebrations together. Cheers to love and a lifetime of happiness!”

Groom’s Wedding Speech

There are many ways to give groom short wedding speeches. Use this example as a guide to inspire you when writing your own.

“Hello, everyone! Thank you for celebrating this special day with us. A big thanks to our parents for making today possible. Today is beyond special, and we’re overflowing with gratitude. To my love, you’ve been my rock and best friend. Thank you for accepting me, flaws and all. I promise to be there for you always and to love you forever. Cheers to a lifetime of love and joy together!”

Father’s of the Bride Wedding Speech

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us on this special day. As (bride’s name)’s father, I’m overjoyed and grateful. Today, we gain a son and a supportive family. Thanks for making our dreams come true. I’m confident that (name of groom) will bring endless happiness to my daughter. Here’s to love, security, and many more joyous days ahead! Cheers!”

Father’s of the Groom Wedding Speech

“Thank you all for being here to celebrate with us. I am the happiest man today welcoming a new daughter into my family. Also, I am grateful to her family as well for being the best in-laws ever and supporting us in putting all of this together. I could not have asked for a better day for them, and all I can say is that I wish them the best. To you both, may this day be the beginning of a long and fruitful journey together. My wife and I love you both. Once again, thank you all. Cheers.

Wedding speech for mother of the bride

“Hello everyone. Thank you all for being here. My heart is full today, as you all must know. Watching my daughter take this important step in her life has made me very happy. We are all so happy to support them both in starting this new chapter in their lives. I have dreamed of this day so much; I am grateful to finally be able to see it. (Groom’s name) has been an excellent son-in-law and I am beyond happy to welcome him into our family. I am extremely proud of my daughter and happy to give her to someone who loves her just as much as we do. As we celebrate with you two today, may the sounds of celebration never leave you. All our love.”

Wedding speech for the mother of the groom

Another one of our short simple wedding speeches examples for the mother of the groom.

“Warm greetings to you all. I appreciate the time that you have taken to join us in celebrating (bride and groom). From the day my son introduced me to (name of bride), I have grown to love her as my own daughter, and it has been a joy to watch them grow in love with each other. I used to have a lot of anxiety about my son’s relationships in the past, but when I met (bride), I knew that he had met his match. I am happy to celebrate you both today in not just your union, but the union of our families too. Much love to you both. Cheers everyone!”

Best Man Speech

“Ladies and gentlemen, if I could have your attention, please. Today, I stand beside an extraordinary couple, [Couple’s Names], on their special day. To [Bride’s Name], you look absolutely stunning, and [Groom’s Name], well, you clean up pretty well too! Here’s to a lifetime of laughter, love, and countless adventures. May your journey together be as incredible as this celebration. Cheers!”

Maid Of Honor Speech

Ladies and gents, let’s talk about the dazzling duo we’re celebrating today, [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name]. To my gorgeous bestie, you’ve found your lobster! And to the lucky guy who snagged her, good luck – you’re stuck with us now! Here’s to a love that’s as endless as the dance floor tonight. Cheers to the newlyweds!

One-Line Wedding Speech Examples

Crafting the perfect wedding speech is an art. Here are five examples that blend sentiment, humor, and celebration for your inspiration.

Today, we not only witness the union of [Couple’s Names] but also the merging of two hearts that beat as one. Here’s to a love story that transcends time and space.

As I stand before this extraordinary couple, I can’t help but marvel at the love between [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name]. Today, we celebrate not just a wedding but a promise of forever.

In the grand storybook of love, [Couple’s Names] have written a chapter filled with laughter, tears, and endless love. Here’s to turning the page to a beautiful new beginning.

To [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name], may your marriage be the masterpiece of a lifetime, painted with strokes of joy, understanding, and boundless love.

As witnesses to the love between [Couple’s Names], let us raise our glasses to a journey that begins today and unfolds into a lifetime of shared dreams and cherished moments.

A toast to love and laughter—here are five heartfelt expressions for raising your glass to the happy couple.

To the couple, may your love be as timeless as the vows you share today and as joyous as the celebration we’re all a part of!

Here’s to love, laughter, and a happily ever after for [Couple’s Names]. May every day be an adventure filled with shared dreams and endless love!

To [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name], may your journey together be as sweet as the cake we’re about to devour! Cheers to a lifetime of love and happiness!

Let’s raise our glasses to [Couple’s Names], whose love story is as enchanting as today’s setting sun. May your love glow brighter with each passing day!

A toast to [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name], may your marriage be as perfect as today’s weather, and your happiness as everlasting as the memories we’re creating!

How To Write a Short Wedding Speech

With this guide, you can create short and sweet wedding speeches that will just flow organically. Write a killer speech that would be easy to read and will convey your love for the couple perfectly.

• Remember who is in the audience: Whether you are giving short wedding speeches as the best man or groom, it is important to keep your audience in mind. Introduce yourself and acknowledge them. Focusing on the audience and engaging them will help you speak from the heart.
• Avoid alcohol: While getting some liquid courage can be tempting, it is best to lay off the alcohol until after your speech. Alcohol could turn short funny wedding speeches into something long and nonsensical. This is because you might slur or forget your words under the influence, and this is something you absolutely do not want.
• Use note cards: Although you are not encouraged to read out your short wedding rehearsal dinner speech completely, note cards are encouraged. With these cues, you can glance at your notes from time to time to help you remember your lines and keep you on track. The audience might not even notice, and your speech would be better for it.
• Structure your story: Structure your speech in a way that focuses on the bride and groom. Fine one, two or three points about them that you can elaborate upon and stories in which they are the hero. This will keep your message in the right direction, and you can be sure to end on a positive note.

In the next part, we have a list of some of the best short wedding speeches that can help inspire you to write your own.

Example of a Short Wedding Toast

“Cheers to [Couple’s Names]! May your days be filled with love, laughter, and countless joyous moments. Here’s to a lifetime of happiness together!”

How to Make a Short and Sweet Wedding Speech

Focus on key points like expressing happiness for the couple, sharing a brief anecdote, and offering a toast. Keep it concise, heartfelt, and light-hearted for impact.

Is a 1 Minute Wedding Speech Too Short?

No, a 1-minute wedding speech can be perfect. A concise speech ensures guests stay engaged and leaves a lasting impression. Focus on the essentials – expressing joy, sharing a quick story, and toasting the couple.

Not many people are trained public speakers, but it is hard to go wrong with short wedding speeches. Allow these tips and examples to guide you in making the best wedding speeches ever.

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How To Write A Wedding Speech: The Ultimate Guide For Do’s, Don’ts, and Delivery PART 1/3: Do’s

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How To Write A Wedding Speech: The Ultimate Guide For Do’s, Don’ts, and Delivery PART 2/3: Don’ts

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how to write a wedding speech dos

Someone you love is getting married, and you’ve just been asked to give a speech at the wedding. What an honor! But also, if you’re not used to giving speeches, what a nightmare! Public speaking can be scary , which is why many people prefer to avoid it. But when your bestie asks you to make a speech at his or her wedding, it’s time to rally. But now you’re wondering if you even know how to write a wedding speech! What makes some wedding speeches fun and memorable, and what makes others cringy and fall flat? We’ve got you. We’ve put together the ultimate guide for how to write a wedding speech, focusing on things you definitely should do, things you definitely should NOT do, and then how to deliver your killer wedding speech like a pro.

If you’re wondering how to write a wedding speech, here are a few “Do’s” to keep in mind.

• Start planning early
• Introduce yourself and how you know the bride and groom
• Thanks to hosts, guests, and wedding party; congratulate the couple
• Make it personal
• Think of 3 traits with 3 stories
• Talk about the couple
• Have a beginning, middle, and end
• Consider your audience
• Keep it short and sweet
• It’s okay to be simple and meaningful

1. Start planning early

If you don’t know how to write a wedding speech but the bride just asked you to give one, this is not a time to procrastinate. Public speaking is one of the number one fears many people have, so it’s likely you’ve avoided giving too many public speeches before this. And unless you’re a performer or a veteran improv comedian, you might not do too well winging this one. If you get nervous in front of an audience (as most of us do), the best defense against freezing up when you take the mic is being prepared. 

As soon as you know you’ve been asked to give a speech at the wedding, begin jotting down notes immediately. Whenever you’re inspired by a thought of the couple or remember an anecdote that might be worth retelling, make note of it. This will help to give you a pool of ideas to draw from when you start writing down the speech.

Begin gathering ideas and writing the speech a couple of weeks to a month before the wedding. You’ll need time to edit, fine-tune it, and make it concise. And as wedding showers, bachelorette parties, and other wedding festivities begin, you might find there are entertaining stories from these events you want to add as well. If you want to write it all at once, you can do that too. However, make sure to sleep on it and come back with fresh eyes. You don’t want just “okay,” you want your speech to be heartfelt and meaningful.

You will also want to begin early to give yourself time to practice and rehearse your speech plenty of times.

2. Introduce yourself and how you know the bride and groom

No matter how large or small the wedding is, it’s likely you will not be familiar with many of the guests on one or both sides. And they won’t be familiar with you either. So don’t leave them guessing! 

Make sure when you start to write a wedding speech to introduce yourself and mention how you know the couple. This will help them understand the context of your speech, which will also help it to be more well-received. 

3. Thank hosts, guests, and wedding party; congratulate the couple

It’s also courteous to take this time to thank the hosts and other members of the wedding party for all the hard work that went into the event, and to thank guests for being there to support the newlyweds, especially those who had to travel far. 

It’s also a good time to officially congratulate the newlyweds and offer them your personal well-wishes for their future. It is imperative that you don’t forget this part, because they are the whole reason you’re there and giving a speech!

4. Make it personal

Whether you are the maid of honor, the best man, father of the bride, or just a friend, you were asked to give a speech because of your close connection and relationship with either the bride or groom (or both). 

And since you know your friend as well as you do, you probably have plenty of stories to share; so the next tip for how to write a wedding speech is don’t hesitate to make it personal and share those stories! This will also help guests get to know the other half of the couple they might not know as well or are just meeting for the first time. And those guests who do know them will love hearing some entertaining stories they might not have heard yet.

5. Think of 3 traits with 3 stories

If you’re finding it difficult to come up with anything, a useful approach for how to write a wedding speech is to think of 3 positive defining traits or qualities of the bride or groom and recount three stories or examples that illuminate a time they exhibited these traits. These stories could be comedic, heartwarming, or both. Just make sure they are relevant and entertaining!

6. Talk about the couple

If you’re the maid of honor and have been chatting up the bride for the whole speech, part of how to write a wedding speech is to make sure at some point it circles around to the groom, too, and to the two of them as a couple.  

Recount the time you met him, or how you remember talking about him with the bride in the beginning stages of their relationship. If you don’t know the groom all that well, talk about how good they are as a couple and about how happy he makes her. 

And If you’re not a fan of the groom, this is not the time to air your grievances. Always keep it positive. 

7. Have a beginning, middle, and end

All good speeches have a good flow and take the audience along with it. 

Don’t let your speech fall flat or jumble together in a haphazard confusion of disconnected anecdotes. Give it the structure of an overarching theme, with a beginning, a middle, and an end. 

We are not talking about a novel here, just make sure there is a direction to where the speech is going, and that the destination, end, or sentiment is achieved. It doesn’t need to be Charlie Chaplin in The Great Dictator, but a three-act structure does help keep you grounded. Most people also follow a story easier when there is a clear direction for a story or speech. 

8. Consider your audience

The next thing to keep in mind when considering how to write a wedding speech is to make sure you consider who your audience is. 

This is not the bachelor or bachelorette party. There will be a wide range of people present from children to the elderly, and from close friends of the bride and groom to casual acquaintances and coworkers. Make sure your speech is free of any crudeness that might not be fit for such a varied audience. Also, this isn’t the time to take a shot at any of the religious cermonies.

Be considerate and keep it positive and use language everyone can relate to. 

9. Keep it short and sweet

You want your speech to be meaningful and memorable; but the wedding is not about you, and yours is not the only speech. 

No one ever complains about a speech being too short, but they do begin to grumble if it runs on too long. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind when figuring out how to write a wedding speech is to keep your speech between 2-5 minutes long. Any longer than 5 minutes and you’ll lose everyone to thoughts of cake and whether or not to Cupid Shuffle later. 

10. Add humor

Don’t be afraid to be funny! Another tip for how to write a wedding speech is that if you’ve got a lighthearted, creative, joking side, use it and add humor to your speech! Everyone likes to be entertained. 

This doesn’t mean you should scour the internet for generic wedding-themed jokes, but if you’ve got some good original material to use that helps relate a story about the bride or groom in a comedic way, do it. As long as you’re not making fun of the couple but having fun with them, jokes are great. Or you can even poke fun at yourself to illuminate a higher quality in your bestie. It’s all about making the newlyweds shine. 

If you’re creative and have other talents, use them! If you are musical, bust out your instrument and/or vocal cords and make the speech in the form of a song! Use props, and get the other guests involved! The newlyweds will feel special because you created something for them, and the guests will love joining in the fun.

11. It’s okay to be simple and meaningful

If entertaining isn’t your thing, that’s okay! Don’t force it – just be yourself. It’s okay to be simple and meaningful with your speech. Always keep in mind when you go to write a wedding speech that what’s important is that you are genuine and speak from the heart.

Hopefully, you found these tips for how to write a wedding speech helpful, and can start writing today! And stay tuned to our blog for the next part in this ultimate guide for how to write a wedding speech where we highlight a few things you should definitely avoid.

Love this content and want more? Read more about weddings on our blog ! Involved in the wedding planning process and the bride is still looking for a venue ? Give us a call today and we’ll help you find the perfect place!

Jennings Trace

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How to Write—And Deliver—The Perfect Wedding Speech

By Shelby Wax

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If one of your nearest and dearest is tying the knot, it’s possible you may be asked to give a speech during the wedding festivities. And while having an opportunity to share your love and memories at a major milestone event is an honor, there’s no denying that it’s a big ask—especially if public speaking isn’t your forté. A wedding speech presents a unique challenge: There’s no set formula for how the speech should play out, but it often requires sentimentality, a touch of humor, and the good sense to know when to wrap it up.

Are you a member of the wedding party that wants to (or has been asked to) give a toast at an upcoming celebration? Read ahead to learn how to write and prepare for your big moment.

Who Gives a Wedding Speech?

First off, it’s important to make sure that the couple definitely wants you to give a toast at their celebrations. Traditionally, the maid of honor, best man, and parents of the couple will give a speech at the wedding. However, the couple should explicitly ask these guests well in advance to give a speech so they have plenty of time to prepare. They may also choose additional wedding party members to give toasts at the reception or pre-wedding parties; but if the couple has not asked you to give a speech, do not prepare one. Speeches are carefully placed into a wedding timeline so the day will stay on schedule, and an additional five minutes could cut into strategically timed moments of the celebration.

The to-be-weds also have the right to curate the day as they wish, and occasionally at a rehearsal dinner or welcome party, the couple may open the floor to additional toasts. But if this doesn’t happen, grabbing the mic unexpectedly for an off-the-cuff speech (especially after a few glasses of wine) will not be appreciated.

How to Write a Wedding Speech

If you are asked to give a toast, it’s important that you don’t just wing it. “First, recognize that speechwriting is a creative process,” shares Allison Shapira, founder and CEO of Global Public Speaking . “Give yourself plenty of time to be creative (i.e. not the night before, when you already have so much to stress about). Wait for your most creative time of the day, and turn off any distractions. Spend some unrushed time thinking about your relationship to the couple, and what you’d like to say.”

While there’s no exact template to follow, there is a good basic formula to adhere to. “The framework I recommend for a wedding speech is: story, message, blessing,” she shares. “Tell a heartwarming story, share the message or value behind that story, and then offer a blessing or wish for the couple based on that message.”

“Typically, we advise our speakers to try to bring the audience on a journey where you initially try to make them laugh, then get to the real depth of the speech and earn some tears, then bring the whole speech full circle with a deep insight or story about the couple that ends with a funny final punch,” shares Steven Greitzer, CEO and founder of Provenance , an AI company that specializes in helping write personalized wedding vows, ceremonies, and toasts. “It’s important to have a good balance of humor and sentimentality because, if it’s a full roast, it can feel like you’re just doing a standup comedy show for your own benefit and it could lack substance. Or, if it’s too overly emotional, it can get heavy and perhaps a bit too somber for a wedding celebration.”

When choosing a story, Shapira recommends reading the room. “It should obviously be good-natured, without making anyone look bad. And, it all depends on the family dynamics,” she says. “What one family considers good-natured, another family could consider scathing. Choose someone in the audience whom you think could give you some helpful feedback, and practice the speech with them in advance.”

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Greitzer adds that it's important that both members of the couple are highlighted in the speech. “Great anecdotes showcase who each person was before meeting, their synergy together, and their individual and collective growth,” he shares. If you don’t know one member of the couple very well, don’t be afraid to get creative. “One of the best speeches I’ve seen was from a bridesmaid who hadn’t really been able to spend too much time with her best friend’s fiance because of the pandemic,” Greitzer shares. “She creatively read texts she found in her phone that gave her a hilarious timeline of her friend falling in love.”

If you’re still not sure where to begin, consider giving an AI platform a try to help you form your toast. “The Provenance tools guide speakers to create unique, and personal ceremonies, vows, and toasts without the stress. It’s a partner in your brainstorming process; a way to help you verbalize what you were trying to say—but faster,” explains Greitzer. “Instead of being some outdated, mad-libs-style template, the expert-curated prompts inspire special stories and insights, ultimately weaving your responses together into a custom, editable first draft.”

A final writing tip from Shapira? “I definitely recommend creating an outline but do not recommend writing the speech out word for word. When we script the entire speech, it sounds too formal,” says the public speaking expert. “I recommend first brainstorming the content, rearranging it into a logical structure, then drafting a general outline which you can bring with you to the event. While it may look better to simply give the speech ‘from the heart,’ the stress involved in trying to memorize your speech is simply not worth it.”

How to Deliver a Wedding Speech

Writing a wedding speech is half the battle—next comes your performance. It’s important that your toast has a good flow, feels natural, and doesn’t drag on. Here’s where the idiom “practice makes perfect” rings true. Shapira advises giving yourself a few weeks of rehearsal to make your speech feel authentic and fluid. Her recommendations? “Read your speech out loud and make sure it stays within the time you have allotted. Read it to someone else and get their feedback. Record it and watch it back. We use a tool called AMPLIFY to get AI-based feedback.” She adds, “Don’t memorize the speech, but do read it out loud and make sure it sounds like your voice.”

The ideal length of a toast is between two to four minutes, which translates to around 500 to 1000 words on a page. Still, Greitzer notes, “The perfect length for the wedding toast complies with whatever length the couple wants it to be. Many guests don’t realize that long speeches can impact the whole evening’s timeline and affect the caterer, DJ, and so much more.”

While it’s now common to see toasts being read off a phone, both experts agree that it’s much better to print out your speech. “Reading off of a phone comes with the risk of distractions from notifications, a weird backlight that can affect the color of your face in photos, finicky technical difficulties, and having that annoying sound interference with the mic,” says Greitzer. (You also should make sure your speech is legible with a large font and wide spacing so you can easily find your place.)

The final hurdle of giving a wedding toast is getting over your nerves. “Find a quiet place right beforehand to center yourself (perhaps the bathroom or a corner of the room), pause and breathe, and remind yourself why you care about the couple,” recommends Shapira. She also adds—perhaps unsurprisingly—that it’s best to hold back on alcohol consumption ahead of the toast. “No one expects a perfect or professional speech; they want a unique, authentic message. The speech isn’t about you—it’s about the couple. Once you reframe the fact that the center of attention isn’t on you, you can relax.”

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Home » Wedding Messages » Thank You » Wedding Thank You Notes to Parents (25+ Examples)

Wedding Thank You Notes to Parents (25+ Examples)

After the wedding and celebrations you are faced with having to thank those who attended and helped. Writing wedding thank you notes can be tough – both for the time it takes and knowing what to say.

One of the most important people to thank are your parents. They will have been so helpful in arranging the wedding and supporting you both before the big day.

But what do you say in a wedding thank you note for parents?

If you’re struggling then the following wedding thank note examples should help you to find the perfect words. Use them to really let your parents know how grateful you are.

Short Wedding Thank You to Parents

• Thank you for your love and support. We appreciate you so much and all you did for our wedding.
• Mom and Dad, thank you for the amazing amount of hard work you put into making the wedding so perfect. We will be forever grateful.
• There was never a time when you didn’t believe in us. We can’t tell you how much it meant to us and still does. Thank you both so much.
• We’ve been on such a journey but your love and support has never been in doubt. Thank you mom and dad.
• I can’t believe how much you did to make sure our wedding went ahead. You are the most amazing mom and dad ever and I love you more than I can say.
• You have been more generous than we could have ever imagined. Thank you for helping to make our wedding dreams come true.
• Thank you to the best parents in the world! Our wedding was the stuff of dreams and we are overwhelmed with happiness.
• You have given us strength and wisdom when we needed it most. Having you as parents is the greatest joy in the world. Thank you.
• You helped out with everything in the lead up to the big day and we won’t forget it. Thank you mom and dad.
• The hard work you put in to ensure we could have such an amazing wedding will be treasured by us forever. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

SEE MORE: 15 Wedding Thank You Card Wording Examples

Example Wedding Thank You Notes for Parents

Dear Mom and Dad,

There is no way we could have had the dream wedding we always wanted without your support. Both financially and in the planning you were instrumental in making our wedding a day of pure happiness. We don’t know how to express our thanks but please know we will always be grateful.

**********************

To my wonderful parents,

Thank you mom and dad for everything you have done to make the wedding so special. You have shown us nothing but support and helped to make our dreams come true. We are so grateful to have you as part of our lives.

Dear mom and dad,

I am so grateful for the guidance and help you provided leading up to my wedding. I’m not sure I could have got through it without you both. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Your loving son/daughter,

From the day we met you showed us nothing but encouragement and love. That all accumulated on our wedding day which you played a pivotal role in making happen. We can’t thank you enough for all you did and hope to be able to repay you one day.

With so much love,

To mom and dad,

Thank you for giving us the gift of a truly special day. Your support meant our wedding could be what we had always envisioned but never thought could really happen. We will never forget all you did and forever be grateful.

We love you both with all our hearts.

Dear mother and father,

Having you by our sides as we got married was a blessing. We are so thankful for you being in our lives and for the support you have given us both before and during the wedding.

We are so happy you were a part of the special day and thank you for everything.

You were an integral part of our wedding and we couldn’t have been happier about it. Thank you for being there, helping with the planning and making memories that will last us a lifetime. We hope you enjoyed the day as much as we did.

Thank you for your continuous support as we embark on this exciting new chapter of our lives. It was your generosity that allowed us to have such a magical wedding and we are delighted with how it turned out. Thank you doesn’t seem like enough but know we will always appreciate all you did.

Dearest mom and dad,

We can’t express our gratitude enough for making our wedding so memorable. You bright laughter, joy and tears to an already emotional day! It was wonderful having you there and we wouldn’t have been able to do it without you. Thank you so much.

To my loving parents,

Thank you for being by my side throughout the most important day of my life. It was like I’d planned as a little girl and your helped make it all come true. I cannot thank you enough. I love you both so much.

SEE MORE: Wedding Thank You Wording for Guests Who Didn’t Attend

How Do You Write a Thank you Note to Parents of the Bride?

This is just a little note to say how grateful we both are for your support and guidance. You have made our special day complete and we feel so much warmth towards you. Our wedding is the culmination of years of love and to celebrate that in front of not only friends but most important family like parents means everything to us.

We are so thankful.

I am the person I am because of you. You have been with me through thick and thin and I know you will always be by my side with support, no matter what. I can only hope my marriage is as good as yours has been.

Parents are the ones you can count on to have your back. They are with you through all the highs and there to comfort you through the lows. You have always been my rock and it was the greatest joy to have you see me get married. Thank you for being there and playing such an active role. I love you guys.

Nothing I say can ever truly thank you for what you have done for me mom and dad. No one has supported me like you and it has lead me to this – my wedding. I’m happier than I could have ever thought and having you see me wed the man of my dreams is all I would have ever wanted. Thank you for being the best parents anyone could wish for.

Thank you mom and dad for making my wedding so special. You were a key part of the planning and arrangements and we couldn’t have done it without you. You made a very stressful time much easier and me and my new husband are eternally grateful.

SEE MORE: Thank you Notes for Bridesmaids (19 Examples)

We hope these example wedding thank you notes to parents have helped you to write your own and let your parents know how important they were on such a big day.

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How To Appreciate The Bride’S Parents For The Wedding

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You could express your gratitude for their unwavering love and support, recognize their labor of love or appreciation for their cooking, mention some principles they’ve instilled in you, or recall some cherished childhood memories.

At your wedding, you’ll thank all of your guests, but there are a few particularly special people you shouldn’t leave out. How to properly thank your parents at your wedding is shown here!

Your big day has arrived, and you can see that all your preparation and planning over the past few months has paid off as you look around at the happy and loving faces gathered to commemorate your achievement. Your wedding speech is the ideal way to acknowledge the loved ones who are by your side and to express how grateful you are for their support. Your heart is overflowing with gratitude. You’ll want to set aside some time to pay tribute to your parents and in-laws in addition to thanking the people who shared your joys and sorrows, laughter, and late-night DIY projects with you.

Not only should you publicly express your gratitude for all your parents have done for you, but you should also thank them for any financial or practical assistance with your wedding. Another polite way to introduce yourself to your new in-laws is to express your gratitude. Being from our typically reserved Asian culture, you might feel awkward thanking your parents, especially if you’ll be doing it on stage. For your wedding speech, we’ve put together some pointers and examples of how to express gratitude to your parents and in-laws.

How do you thank the families at a wedding?

“We want to express our appreciation for joining us in celebrating our wedding. Thank you for coming, for your kind words, and for your thoughtful gift. We are eager to continue building memories with you in the future. ” Your attendance at our wedding added a lot of love and made it even more special.

Apart from your invitation, nothing is more important than thanking your guests for attending. Thank-you cards are typically sent to your guests a month or two after your wedding and are a lovely way of thanking them for attending and sharing your wedding day with you. Thank-you cards are an important element of your wedding stationery. Furthermore, it is an opportunity to express gratitude for any gifts they may have given.

Wording for gift cards, invitations to weddings, and save the dates.

Letterpress thank-you cards come in two different varieties. The first and most common choice is to have a flat card that is printed with little text and lots of space for you to handwrite a personal message. This is the conventional method of writing thank-you notes, and in some cases, it is the only suitable approach. Because each card can be customized, these are excellent for thanking your guests for their attendance on the big day and any gifts they may have given.

How do you wish parents well on their daughter’s nuptials?

Your daughter is a wonderful young lady who has lived her life to the fullest. My congratulations are for you both, and my best wishes, love, and blessings go out to the young lady for all she has accomplished in life. May she live a happy and joyful life.

What should you give your parents as a wedding thank-you gift?

To help you narrow down your options, we’ve compiled a list of the top wedding presents for parents that are sure to please. Music for the parent dance dot. Wedding photo album that is personalized. dot. wine subscription for three months. dot. Wine bottle with custom etching. dot. A wedding picture in a frame dot. Bamboo Plant in the Form of a Heart dot. A meaningful family tree print.

To aid you in navigating and appreciating life’s most important moments, we have included third-party products. We might receive a commission if you buy something after clicking one of our links.

We urge couples to take the time to find something equally meaningful for their biggest supporters: their parents, just as it is customary to give your wedding attendants thank-you gifts. After all, your parents have supported you from the beginning, providing advice, direction, and encouragement. Therefore, there is no right or wrong way to express gratitude for everything; a thoughtful gift can be just as special as a sentimental one if it is given from the heart. We’ve compiled a list of the top wedding presents for parents that are sure to please to help you focus your search.

Create priceless keepsakes out of the special parent dances you’re planning. Custom prints of family photos and lyrics to parent-child dance songs are created by this Etsy artist. Select the size and frame that you want, then fill out the form. The outcome is a sentimental wedding gift that will touch their hearts.

How do you say thank you to the bride’s parents?

Giving them a special gift at your wedding reception, such as unique place settings just for them, is another way to say “thank you.”. Create thank-you notes. Receiving a handwritten note or letter of gratitude is always a welcome surprise. dot. Help Them To Return The Favor. dot. Send them a lasting gift for the garden. Cached.

This article contains wonderful advice from our friends at Truly Experiences. View the wedding of Janna and Seb in the header photo, created by Lucy of Lasting Impressions.

A wedding is a celebration of love and commitment, and it requires extensive planning. In the months leading up to your special day, you and your partner choose locations, decide on décor, and organize the ceremony.

Your parents, however, are usually working very hard behind the scenes to make sure everything goes as planned. When you want to say something special and sincere to your parents, it can be challenging to find the right words of appreciation. We’ve compiled a succinct list of suggestions to help you when you want to express your gratitude for your loved ones.

What is the most effective way to express gratitude to your parents?

Spend time with your parents. This is one of six ways to show your appreciation. dot. Let’s party together. aid in the home. dot. Respect your parents. dot. Declare your love for them. dot. Give something.

Our parents have nurtured, guided, and supported us over the years. It can be challenging to want to express our gratitude in our actions and to find the right words to express our gratitude. Giving your time, helping out, and being a listening ear are all ways to show your parents how much you appreciate them and how much you care about them.

Our parents recognize and respect the busy schedules we all lead, but make plans to get together frequently, making the dates you set in your calendar just as significant as any work or date night meetings. You can invite them over to your house or take them out to a favorite coffee shop or the city’s botanical gardens. Unusual questions about their lives should be posed to them.

Particularly when they are teenagers and young adults, encourage your kids to stay in touch with your parents. Invite your parents to family birthday celebrations, and plan a family celebration for their wedding anniversary with a special anniversary gift. A graduation, passing a driving test, finishing a significant college project, or any other significant event should also be mentioned.

What is a sample thank-you note for parents?

I can never express my gratitude to you enough for always being there for me. You know how much I love you, mom, but I never really express it. Even though I tell you often enough, you mean the world to me. No matter how much we argue or how much I annoy you, I will always love you, mom, and I will do so until the day I die.”.

Seeing your parents smile while knowing that you are the reason for that smile is the most beautiful thing in the world.

There is no way to fully appreciate everything our parents do for us. They don’t expect much from us besides love, but a sincere expression of gratitude or an occasional thank you will make them feel appreciated.

In order to help you express your love and gratitude for your parents, we have gathered a list of thank-you quotes.

How do you congratulate the parents of their successful daughter?

A Little More Formal “Congratulations on your well-deserved success. Sincere congratulations go out to you. Please accept my sincere congratulations on your success. Congratulations and best wishes for your upcoming journey! I’m so happy to see you succeeding.”.

One of life’s greatest joys is witnessing a loved one achieve something they have been striving for, whether it be a race victory, a dream job secured, a new home, a significant promotion, or a small victory. Sending a congratulations card with a warm, handwritten message is a perfect way to honor that person and recognize their achievement.

For a variety of occasions and recipients, you’ll find ideas and advice in this guide about personal messages. By what they say and how they say it, our ideas have been arranged. Feel free to read the whole guide or jump straight to the ideas that work best for you and the person you’re congratulating.

Oh, and if you’re looking for something a little more particular, we also have pointers and suggestions particular to wedding congratulations, baby congratulations, and graduation congratulations.

Does the bride give a gift to her parents?

You might be wondering, “Do you have to get your parents wedding gifts?” and the answer is yes.

Giving wedding thank-you gifts to your parents and other close family members is a considerate way to express your gratitude. Giving them a special gift is a heartfelt gesture they won’t soon forget, whether they financially supported your wedding or provided emotional support and encouragement. Given that, you might be pondering the appropriateness of wedding presents for parents. We address all frequently asked questions in this article, such as how much money to spend and when to give gifts. Let’s get right to your FAQs!

The answer to your question, “Do you have to get your parents wedding gifts?” is yes. It’s customary to give gifts to your parents and parents-in-law before, during, or right after the wedding. It’s a wonderful way to thank them for all the wedding planning help they’ve provided—not to mention all the support and love they’ve given you throughout the years. The choice is ultimately up to you; however, since the parent dynamics of each couple vary, go with your gut.

As the big day draws closer, we are aware that wedding planning can become quite hectic. As a result, it’s easy to forget about or put off buying parents’ gifts. That’s why it’s important for couples to think about what kinds of gifts they might want to give with plenty of time before the big day. Even more so if you’re looking for personalized gifts or items they can use on the wedding day, we advise starting to think about gifts at least a few months before the nuptials. The main point is that you shouldn’t stress about parent gifts in the weeks leading up to your wedding. Instead, you could turn your attention to more urgent issues, like sorting through RSVPs and finalizing arrangements with vendors.

How do you wish the parents of the bride well?

Your daughter is a wonderful kid, and she has done everything in her life in a great way. I want to congratulate both of you on her wonderful achievement in life and send her lots of good wishes, love, and blessings.

What do you tell the bride’s parents?

Express your appreciation for their efforts to welcome you into their family and acknowledge any contribution your parents-in-law made to your wedding, whether it was financial or with the planning and organization. Tell them how much you look forward to being part of their family.

At your wedding, you’ll be showing all of your guests how much you appreciate them, but there are a few people in particular you shouldn’t leave out. Here’s how to properly thank your parents in your wedding speech:

Your wedding day has finally arrived, and you can tell that all your preparations and months of work have paid off when you see the happy and loving faces gathered to commemorate your special day. Your wedding speech is the ideal chance to express how grateful you are for everyone who is close to you and who has helped you. Your heart is overflowing with gratitude for everyone. You’ll want to set aside some time to honor your parents and in-laws in addition to saying “thank you” to the people who have supported you through your joys and sorrows and late-night DIY projects.

Saying thank you to your parents at your wedding isn’t just about thanking them for any financial or logistical help with your wedding; it’s about publicly expressing your gratitude for all they’ve done for you. Thanking your new in-laws is also a respectful way to address them for the first time. Being from our typically reticent Asian culture, you may feel uncomfortable expressing your appreciation to your parents, especially when you’ll be doing so on stage. We put together some tips and sample ways to say thank you to your parents and in-laws during your wedding speech.

Do you send your parents wedding thank-you cards?

Yes, according to etiquette, you should send thank-you notes to anyone who has given you a gift, whether it was at your wedding, bridal shower, bachelorette party, or elsewhere. Another thoughtful action is to thank anyone who hosted or assisted with the planning of an event.

Wedding thank-you cards: Just when you’ve wrapped up your celebrating and are getting used to that new second ring on your finger, you realize you have this one last thing to do as newlyweds. While the task is often viewed as a chore, it’s important to remember that this is a special way to take time out and thank those who spent your special day with you.

According to etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore, thank-you notes are always appropriate and never go out of style. “Sending thank-you notes is appropriate etiquette to let your family and friends know that you received the gift, that you and your spouse appreciate the gift, and how you plan to use the gift.”.

Check out our suggestions for thank-you card etiquette before beginning to handle that stack of cards.

Do parents receive wedding thank-you cards?

Additionally, Ms. Whitmore suggested sending cards of appreciation to the bride and groom’s parents. “The bride can earn brownie points by writing the thank-you note to the groom’s parents, and vice versa,” she added.

What is a short message of gratitude to parents?

Dear parents, I love you both a lot and appreciate your effort and love in bringing me up to be a better individual. I am very lucky to have you both as my parents, and I thank God for giving me you. You two have been my best friends and teachers throughout my life, mom and dad. Thanks.

What do you say to your bride’s parents on your wedding day?

We sincerely appreciate your love and support, as well as the fact that you were present for our special day. Our wedding wouldn’t have been the same without you. I will always cherish the heartfelt toast you gave. All of us in the family are eager to create a future together.

One of the last items on your wedding to-do list will be sending a thank-you card to your parents. Thank-you notes to parents for a wedding from the groom and bride will help you express your gratitude for their assistance, love, and support. But how do you craft the perfect heartfelt message for your parents without dealing with writer’s block along the way?

There are many reasons to send your parents a wedding thank-you card. It’s crucial to thank your parents at your wedding, whether they are helping with time, money, support, or just being totally awesome as usual. Create a thoughtful thank-you message by highlighting your gratitude and appreciation for their ongoing support.

At your wedding and in general, you can never express your gratitude to your parents enough for all that they have done for you. Notes to parents on wedding day are an acknowledgement of their limitless love and sacrifices towards making the big day successful. Here are some sample thank-you notes to parents for the wedding.

How do you thank the bride’s parents after the wedding?

How to Thank Your Parents After Your Wedding 1) A parent album There’s truly no better way to thank mom and dad than a luxury book filled with images of friends and family on such an important day. 2) A wine club membership. This is honestly one of the better gifts I’ve seen a bride give her parents! dot. 3) A print that is side by side.

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Wedding Speeches – Don’t Forget to Thank Your Parents

Home » Relationships » Weddings » Wedding Speeches – Don’t Forget to Thank Your Parents

Not having the ability to write well is no excuse to turn down an opportunity to deliver a wedding speech. If you are the best man, you definitely have to utter those words that will captivate the audience. Well, perhaps not captivate, but at least hold their attention. And if you want to make them laugh by cracking a joke or two, that’s fine. There is, however, a fine and fragile line between funny and crude. Don’t even go there. The wrong speech could destroy the entire ceremony. Embarrassing the bride or groom or anyone in the reception is out of taste.

Who’s expected to say a speech in a wedding? Nowadays there is no set rule as to who should be given this task. Anyone can be asked to speak, but tradition dictates that these people are expected to offer a few kind words:

• Bride’s father

Speech by the Bride’s Father

If there is any doubt as to a speech potentially hurting the feelings of a person, or make that person feel uncomfortable, then change your speech and start from scratch. In their attempts to be funny, some fathers tend to reveal details that have no place in a wedding ceremony.

For instance, what was this father thinking when he uttered these words about his daughter?

“Ladies and gentlemen, good evening. I have to say how relieved my wife and I are that Sue has finally decided to get married to such a fine young man. She was such a tomboy growing up and so terribly masculine that my wife and I swore we had a lesbian for a daughter. She didn’t go for all the feminine stuff that young women typically like, she was always spending her allowance on sneakers and mountain bikes and male clothing gear and we were afraid that she just might go for a sex-change operation.”

Ladies and gentlemen, would you have fidgeted in your seat and wished that someone would shut the old man up?

If you heard this wedding speech in a reception, would you not feel sorry for the bride? Would it make the groom uneasy because he had not been aware that his wife was an all-out tomboy in her youth?

As the wise say, a joke can produce a chuckle or it can sting.

What is the bride’s father supposed to say?

Think “terms of endearment.” A father who respects his daughter will show her only in a positive light. His speech, however, need not focus on the bride alone. He can include these elements:

• Words of welcome to all, with special mention to the groom’s parents and the bridal entourage. If he is aware that there are people from out of town, he should thank them for making this special trip;
• Praises and compliments to the groom. He should express the family’s satisfaction and happiness about having him as part of the family;
• A quote or two would be nice. A popular one is that about how the parents should give roots and wings to their children. Roots would refer to the permanence of the family home and wings so they could go out to the world and lead their own lives. If a quote is called for – say as an introduction for the main speech – then every effort must be made to find unique ones that have not been used over and over again, no matter how eloquent the quote is. A woman once remarked that she had been to a hundred weddings in her life and she would always wager a bet that a particular quote would be uttered, and she was right 6 times out of 10. Be sure you include the author of the quote;
• The conclusion of the speech takes the form of a toast when he asks everyone to raise a glass to the bride and groom and wish them love and happiness.

Speech by the Best Man

The best man attracts a lot of attention in a wedding reception because he represents the groom and is supposed to have intimate knowledge about him. Naturally, when he delivers his speech, the guests will want to hear something light but personal about the groom: how they met, how long they’ve known each other, his quirks, his delightful traits, what he likes to eat. A humorous anecdote is certainly appropriate, the kind that does not brew enmity between two brothers or two best friends.

The best man can also propose a toast to the bride and groom at the end of his speech.

Speech by the Groom

The groom has to show his humorous side because by making everyone laugh, people will see that he’s the type who can also make his wife laugh. Again, terms of endearment for his parents, the bride’s parents, for his bride, for his best man and for the wedding party are appropriate. He can also directly address the remarks of the best man, but he should allocate a few minutes talking about his bride. He could speak of her qualities, and what initially attracted him to her.

Essentially, the groom – as the gentleman par excellence – is supposed to thank everyone present in the reception, beginning with his new wife (“thank you for choosing me and not Jim, Roger, Pete, Henry or Jack”), his parents (“thank you, mom and dad, for the education and the guitar lessons and the car keys whenever I needed to take off), parents of the bride (“thank you for welcoming me into the clan, and for not objecting to the wedding), his best man and the bridesmaids, and all the other people who have made the ceremony and reception a success.

Wedding Speeches- Do’s and Don’ts

For participants who will be delivering speeches or toasts during the reception, here are a few tips. Beginning with the “dos” –

• Do make it brief (five minutes for a speech and one to two minutes for a toast);
• Do maintain eye contact. Engage your audience and not speak at or to them, as one expert recommended. Eye contact is important so that no one feels excluded or forgotten. A sweeping glance of the hall, left to right and back again, helps;
• Do pay attention to your body language – don’t let your body contradict your words. This means that if you say “how wonderful it is to be here today, I’m enjoying every minute of it”, your body has to show that you mean it. If your posture belies nervousness and your hands are twitching and your face is somewhat distorted, then people won’t believe you;
• Do inject humor, but do it with finesse;
• Do thank everyone and mention special thanks to those who have played a role in the wedding.

And the don’ts:

• Don’t read your speech notes verbatim. This is one way where the groom “loses” it. We’re speaking of audience connection. The most effective way to connect with your guests is to NOT read your notes;
• Don’t neglect the wisdom that it pays to practice with a friend, or in front of a mirror, or to record your speech and play it back. It’s an excellent way to receive feedback about which parts of the speech and delivery can be improved;
• Don’t say anything that might embarrass anyone;
• Don’t give the impression that you’re rushing to end your speech. Take a few breaths, take meaningful pauses;
• Don’t forget to smile (especially if you have a smile like John Travolta);
• And this is the BIG DON’T: don’t drink excessively before it’s your turn to give a speech, otherwise you’d make a fool of yourself, embarrass your party, and land on a stretcher.

If you’re organizing your wedding reception, avoid asking too many people to do a speech or a toast because you don’t want your guests to feel that they’re in a seminar or conference. Part of the reason people attend weddings is to have a good time, not to listen to long winded praises and clichés!

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28 Best Examples of Wedding Speech for Mother of the Bride for Inspiration

As the mother of the bride, giving a speech at your daughter's wedding is a cherished opportunity to share your love, joy and wisdom on this special day. It's a chance to offer heartfelt congratulations to the newlyweds and to express your own happiness and pride as a mother. Alongside the speech inspiration, we present our stunning collection of mother of the bride dresses that will complement your role and make you shine throughout the celebration.

28 Examples of Wedding Speeches for the Mother of the Bride

To inspire you to create a touching and memorable speech, here are 28 best examples of wedding speech for mother of the bride:

• "To my dear daughter and her beloved partner, it brings me immense joy to be standing here as your mother, watching you both start a new chapter in your lives. Seeing the love and care you have for one another fills my heart with pride and happiness. I have watched you grow into a strong, independent woman, and I am so happy that you have found someone who complements you so well. [Share a personal anecdote about your daughter or the couple.]
• "Dear family and friends, I am beyond honored to be standing here today as the mother of the bride. My daughter has always been a shining light in my life, and to see her so happy and in love warms my heart. I have watched her relationship with [partner's name] grow into something truly special, and I am grateful that they have found each other. [Share a memory or story about your daughter and her partner.]
• "Good evening, everyone. It is a privilege to be here as the mother of the bride on this special day. Seeing my daughter so beautiful and happy fills me with pride and love. She has grown into a kind, thoughtful, and caring woman, and I am confident that she and [partner's name] will have a bright and happy future together. [Share a personal anecdote or memory about your daughter.]
• "To my lovely daughter and her wonderful partner, it is an honor to be standing here as your mother on this special day. I have watched you both grow into loving, kind-hearted individuals, and I am grateful that you have found each other. I know that your future together will be full of love, joy, and laughter. [Share a heartfelt story or memory about your daughter and her partner.]
• "Dear family and friends, it is with great joy that I stand here today as the mother of the bride. My daughter has always been an inspiration to me, and to see her so happy and in love brings me immense happiness. [Share a personal story or memory about your daughter and her partner, and express your admiration for the couple.]
• "To my beautiful daughter and her partner, I am thrilled to be standing here today as your mother, witnessing your love and commitment to each other. I have watched you both grow into strong, independent adults, and I am proud of the people you have become. [Share a personal story or memory about your daughter and her partner, and express your admiration for the couple's love and commitment.]
• "Good evening, everyone. I am the mother of the bride, and I am so grateful to be here today to witness my daughter and her partner start their lives together. Seeing them so happy and in love fills my heart with joy. [Share a personal story or memory about your daughter and express your admiration for the couple.]
• "To my dear daughter and her partner, it is an honor to be standing here as your mother on this special day. I am so proud of the person you have become and the love and care you have for one another. [Share a heartfelt story or memory about your daughter and her partner, and express your admiration for their relationship.]
• "Dear family and friends, it is a privilege to be standing here as the mother of the bride on this special day. My daughter and [partner's name] have a love that radiates throughout the room, and I am grateful to be a part of their journey. [Share a personal story or memory about your daughter and her partner, and express your admiration for their love and commitment.]
• "To my lovely daughter and her partner, I am filled with joy and pride as I stand here today on your wedding day. Seeing you both so happy and in love brings warmth to my heart. [Share a personal anecdote about your daughter or the couple.] From the moment I met [partner's name], I knew that they were the perfect match for my daughter. Together, you two complement each other in a way that is truly beautiful. [Share a memory or story about the couple.] I am grateful that my daughter has found someone who loves and cares for her as much as [partner's name] does, and I know that your future together will be filled with endless love, laughter, and happiness. Congratulations to the happy couple!"
• "To my darling daughter and her partner, it is an honor to be standing here today as your mother. When I look at you both, I see the perfect embodiment of love and commitment. You both have come so far together, and I am grateful to have witnessed your journey. [Share a personal story or memory about your daughter and her partner, highlighting their love and commitment.]
• "Dear family and friends, it is a privilege to be standing here today as the mother of the bride. My daughter and her partner have a love that is truly unique and special. [Share a personal story or memory about the couple, highlighting their unique qualities that make their love special.]
• "To my beautiful daughter and her partner, it brings me immense joy to be standing here as your mother on this special day. Seeing the two of you together reminds me of how important it is to find someone who truly complements you. [Share a personal story or memory about your daughter and her partner, highlighting the qualities that make them perfect for each other.]
• "Good evening, everyone. As the mother of the bride, I am proud and overjoyed to be here today witnessing my daughter and her partner start their new life together. I have seen their love grow stronger each day, and it fills me with happiness to know that they have found their soulmate. [Share a personal story or memory about your daughter and her partner, highlighting the moments when you saw their love grow stronger.]
• "To my dear daughter and her beloved partner, it is an honor to be standing here as your mother on this special day. The love and respect that you have for each other is truly admirable, and I am grateful to have seen your relationship grow into something truly special. [Share a personal story or memory about your daughter and her partner, highlighting their mutual love and respect.]
• "Dear family and friends, I am the mother of the bride, and I am so proud and happy to be here today celebrating my daughter and her partner's love. Watching them grow into the people they are today has been a privilege, and I know that their future together will be full of happiness and love. [Share a personal story or memory about your daughter and her partner, highlighting the moments when you saw them grow into the people they are today.]
• "To my lovely daughter and her partner, I am honored to be standing here today as your mother, watching you both start your new life together. Your love is a true inspiration, and I am grateful to have witnessed your journey. [Share a personal story or memory about your daughter and her partner, highlighting the moments when their love inspired you.]
• "Good evening, everyone. As the mother of the bride, I am filled with joy and happiness seeing my daughter and her partner start their new life together. You both are an amazing couple, and I am grateful to have seen your love grow and flourish. [Share a personal story or memory about your daughter and her partner, highlighting the moments when you saw their love grow and flourish.]
• "To my beautiful daughter and her partner, I am thrilled to be standing here as your mother, watching you both start a new chapter in your lives. Your love is a true inspiration to us all, and I am grateful to have witnessed your journey. [Share a personal story or memory about your daughter and her partner, highlighting the moments when their love inspired you.]
• "Dear family and friends, it is an honor to be standing here today as the mother of the bride, celebrating my daughter and her partner's love. I have watched them grow into the amazing couple they are today, and it fills me with joy to see them starting their new life together. [Share a personal story or memory about your daughter and her partner, highlighting the moments when you saw their love grow and mature.]
• "To my dear daughter and her beloved partner, I am grateful to be standing here as your mother on this special day. Your love is a true testament to the power of commitment and trust, and I am proud to have witnessed your journey. [Share a personal story or memory about your daughter and her partner, highlighting the moments when their commitment and trust inspired you.]
• "Good evening, everyone. As the mother of the bride, I am honored and overjoyed to be here today witnessing my daughter and her partner's love. They are an amazing couple who complement each other in every way, and I am grateful to have seen their love grow stronger each day. [Share a personal story or memory about your daughter and her partner, highlighting the moments when you saw their love grow stronger.]
• "To my beautiful daughter and her partner, it is a privilege to be standing here as your mother, celebrating your love and commitment. You both have found something truly special in each other, and I am grateful to have witnessed your journey. [Share a personal story or memory about your daughter and her partner, highlighting the moments when you saw their love and commitment shine through.]
• "Dear family and friends, I am the mother of the bride, and I am filled with pride and happiness seeing my daughter and her partner start their new life together. Their love is a true inspiration to us all, and I am grateful to have seen their relationship grow into something truly special. [Share a personal story or memory about your daughter and her partner, highlighting the moments when you saw their love inspire others.]
• "To my lovely daughter and her partner, I am honored to be standing here today as your mother, watching you both start a new chapter in your lives. Your love is the perfect embodiment of strength and resilience, and I am grateful to have witnessed your journey. [Share a personal story or memory about your daughter and her partner, highlighting the moments when their strength and resilience inspired you.]
• "Good evening, everyone. As the mother of the bride, I am thrilled and overjoyed to be here today celebrating my daughter and her partner's love. Their journey together has been filled with love, laughter, and joy, and I am grateful to have witnessed it all. [Share a personal story or memory about your daughter and her partner, highlighting the moments when you saw their love bring joy and laughter into their lives.]
• "To my dear daughter and her beloved partner, it is an honor to be standing here today as your mother, watching you both start your new life together. Your love is a true inspiration, and I am grateful to have been a part of your journey. [Share a personal story or memory about your daughter and her partner, highlighting the moments when you felt privileged to be a part of their journey.]
• "Dear family and friends, it is a privilege to be standing here today as the mother of the bride, celebrating my daughter and her partner's love. They are an amazing couple who have overcome many challenges together, and I am proud to have witnessed their journey. [Share a personal story or memory about your daughter and her partner, highlighting the moments when you saw their strength and perseverance in the face of challenges.]

In conclusion, a mother-of-the-bride speech is a beautiful and meaningful way to celebrate the love and joy of your daughter's wedding day. With these 28 best examples of wedding speeches for the mother of the bride, you can find inspiration to create a speech that expresses your love, pride, and support for the newlyweds. Whether you choose a heartfelt, lighthearted, or poetic speech, the most important thing is to speak from the heart and share your genuine emotions with those you love. So take inspiration from these examples, and create a speech that will touch the hearts of everyone in attendance and leave a lasting impression on your daughter and her new spouse.

As you prepare for your role as the mother of the bride, we understand that finding the perfect dress is essential. Our collection of elegant mother of the bride dresses at Ever-Pretty is designed to enhance your elegance, confidence, and radiance on your daughter's special day. Each dress is carefully crafted with high-quality fabrics and attention to detail, ensuring both comfort and style throughout the celebration.

Whether you prefer classic and timeless designs, modern and chic styles, or something in between, our collection offers a wide range of options to suit your personal taste and the overall wedding theme. From flattering silhouettes to intricate embellishments, our dresses are created to make you feel beautiful and special on this momentous occasion.

Don't just take our word for it—here are some testimonials from our satisfied customers who found their dream mother of the bride dress:

"I felt like a queen in my mother of the bride dress from Ever-Pretty. The attention to detail and the quality of the fabric were exceptional. I received countless compliments throughout the wedding day. Thank you for making me feel truly special." - Sarah "I was amazed by the wide range of options available in the mother of the bride dress collection at Ever-Pretty. I found a dress that perfectly matched the wedding theme and made me feel elegant and confident. The fit was impeccable, and I couldn't have been happier with my choice." - Emily

Discover the perfect mother of the bride dress to complement your role and make a lasting impression on your daughter's wedding day. Visit our website to explore our stunning collection, read more customer testimonials, and find your dream dress. Make this momentous occasion even more memorable with a dress that reflects your style and personality.

If you're in need of more examples of wedding speeches, the following content may be helpful to you.

• 10 best examples of wedding speech for brother for inspiration
• 17 Best Examples of Wedding Speech for Father of the Bride for Inspiration
• 15 Best Examples of Maid of Honor Speeches for Inspiration
• Comprehensive Resource List of Wedding Vows 2023 For Him & Her

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Mother-of-the-Bride Speech Examples and Writing Tips

Here's how to write and deliver the perfect toast on this special day.

Photo by Bokeh Company

In This Article

Raise your glasses to the moms taking the mic at wedding receptions to give their very own mother-of-the-bride speech. While we know moms are basically superhuman creatures with an endless array of skills and abilities, public speaking can be a feat to shake even the heroes among us—not to mention the added flood of mixed emotions that will be present throughout the day.

Delivering a heartfelt speech to a crowd of family members and newly minted in-laws will surely have you feeling a bit nervous, and we can't dismiss the act of finding the right words to convey everything you're feeling in the first place. But rest assured, mamas, we've got a guide to help you ease your minds and fortify your wits. We tapped three experts—wedding planners Amy Abbott and Paulette Alkire and Kylie Carlson, CEO of Wedding Academy Global —to walk you through the process of giving a pro-level mother-of-the-bride speech.

Meet the Expert

• Amy Abbott is a wedding planner and the owner of Amy Abbott Events , a Los Cabos–based wedding and event planning company that designs celebrations throughout Mexico.
• Kylie Carlson is the CEO of Wedding Academy Global , an educational service that offers certification training for the wedding industry.
• Paulette Alkire is the lead wedding planner at Chalet View Lodge , a full-service wedding venue, boutique resort, and spa in Graeagle, California.

Below, find expert tips that will help you write—and deliver—the perfect toast on your son or daughter's big day.

Mother-of-the-Bride Speech Template

Just as all moms are unique, and no two mother-daughter relationships are alike, your mother-of-the-bride speech will be entirely personal to you and the bond you share. However, there are a few components that should be present in your toast. Here's a general outline to help you get started.

Acknowledge your guests.

Every great speech should start with a few words of gratitude for the people who have gathered to partake in the celebration with you. You can mix this into a full greeting to welcome guests if you are the first speech on the schedule of events.

Welcome your new son- or daughter-in-law.

No mother-of-the-bride speech would be complete without a warm welcome to their daughter's new partner. Abbott explains that a good way to honor your new son-in-law or daughter-in-law is to make it clear that you feel you're gaining a new family member and that they are welcome. You should also nod to how they have changed or complemented your daughter for the better.

Choose happy memories to share.

As you choose memories, focus on positive, happy moments. Telling a story that highlights how your daughter overcame something unpleasant or embarrassing shouldn't be shared on their wedding day.

Never mention your daughter's previous relationships or marriages, and don't talk about unfulfilled dreams. Only bring up the best memories of your daughter's life.

Highlight one or two big accomplishments.

Theoretically, the guests should already know what the bride does for a living. Reciting every success they've ever had, in detail, is completely unnecessary. You should, instead, express how proud you are of their accomplishments and highlight one or two.

Mother of the Bride Speech Tips

Here are our experts' best tips for writing and delivering your mother-of-the-bride speech.

Write your thoughts down on paper.

This momentous occasion is probably not the best time to wing it. Whether you use bullet points or an outline, make sure you pen everything you want to tell your daughter in your speech to avoid leaving out anything special. “Start the process informally by simply writing down any and all things you want to make sure to include, from fond memories to advice on love for the newlyweds. As you lay it out on paper, you’ll see that an organic flow may come together quickly,” says Carlson.

Remember to pause and breathe.

If your nerves are starting to get to you, you might start speeding through your speech; to combat this, take a deep breath and remember that it’s alright to take a pause. “Many people forget just how powerful a pause can be. If your nerves are getting to you, take a moment to gather yourself before continuing. Most guests will take this silence as you giving them a moment to fully receive the last bit of sentiment you shared. Center yourself by making eye contact with the bride, breathe, and continue,” says Alkire.

Don't feel pressured to be funny.

Sure, humor is great—but if you're not a naturally funny person, don't push your limits on your daughter's most important day. Just be your sincere and honest self. The rest will follow, and your daughter will love it.

Practice your speech beforehand.

Write your mother-of-the-bride speech well in advance of the wedding so you’ll have plenty of time to practice it. “Try giving the speech out loud on your own, run it by a few trusted friends or family members, and then set it aside for a bit. This gives you time to return to the speech in a week or two with a fresh perspective," says Carlson.

Increase the amount of time you practice your speech in the month before the wedding, advises Carlson. No matter what the speech, the calmest of presenters are always the most practiced.

Avoid inside jokes.

You might have some amazing inside jokes that will make your daughter laugh, but no one else will find them funny. "Avoid inside jokes to keep the speech inclusive of everyone listening," says Alkire.

Keep it short and sweet.

You're talking about your daughter, and we know you could probably go on about how amazing they are for hours, but a good rule of thumb is to limit your speech to three to five minutes.

Don't worry about crying.

This is one occasion that indisputably warrants tears—if you're afraid of getting choked up during your delivery, just remember no one will judge you for it. In fact, most people will think it's incredibly sweet and you just might make them need a tissue, too.

Olivier Truan Photography / Getty Images

Get Brainstorming!

Now that you have a slew of tips for writing your mother-of-the-bride speech, here are some questions to ask yourself to get the brainstorming process started.

• Which of your daughter's qualities do you really want to highlight?
• What's one of the best memories you have of raising your daughter?
• When did you first know that their partner was "the one"?
• What advice do you wish you'd heard from your mom on your wedding day?
• What about their new marriage makes you the happiest?

Mother-of-the-Bride Speech Examples to Make Your Own

Does the mother of the bride give a speech? For these women, the answer was a resounding “Yes!” Get inspired with these actual toasts from loving moms.

Today is your wedding day. It's something a mother wishes and waits for from the time her daughter is born until she walks down the aisle.

"When Jewel was young she surrounded herself with lots of friends, some of whom are here today. They know our basement was always full with high school friends, just as your wedding is full of yours and Jason's friends today.

Time doesn't stand still; it is fleeting and it is amazing how quickly it passes. Like time, Jewel has never stood still. It seems like she is always running after one adventure after another. When her sister Mindy ran a marathon, Jewel had to keep up, so she started running. Mindy was content to say she checked a marathon off her bucket list, but Jewel had to keep on running, competing in a triathlon, and then an Ironman. Even getting her engagement ring was a race, a scavenger hunt adventure but still a race. This one she and Jason won together. Partners all the way.

Jewel and Jason, now it is your turn to embark on your own journey as a couple, to experience life with a loving partner. As you find your own route through life, remember to cherish each other. We know that through all the twists and turns of the road, you will support and care for each other with true love.

As you celebrate this wedding day, know it is not the best but the first of many blessed events in your lives together. We're thrilled you two have found the one for you. We wish you both joy, laughter, and love—from our hearts to yours.”— Eileen Roth

Thank you all for coming. I’m a strong mom, I have a strong daughter, and after this, I know I will need a strong drink.

"I would like to welcome Steve, and his parents Helen and Larry, and all of his wonderful, huge family into our family. I will not begin to mention all his brothers and sisters lest I forget one.

Steve: You are an amazing young man that I have grown to know and love. I met you after I fell skiing and I had cracked my ribs. I was on morphine and I was very happy...so please note that I am not always that crazy. Steve, when you asked to take me to lunch at my office, I knew that something was up. And it was—you asked to marry my daughter and we both cried. You have such a kind heart.

Adrienne: You are a strong, smart, and beautiful woman. I’m going to take this opportunity to apologize for the many things that I did with and to you while you were growing up. I’m sorry for many of them but not really for others, as they may have helped make you who you are today.

• I am sorry for always giving you peanut butter for lunch every day...as we found out later that you were deathly allergic to peanuts.
• I am sorry for dragging you to all the boys’ hockey and baseball games; however, you and Alysse retaliated by dragging them to all your dance recitals.
• I am sorry for the overkill of health foods—especially quinoa. But on the bright side, you have become a fabulous cook. (And have now married a cook).
• I am sorry that I made you follow me down the black diamond ski hills...but you have become a great skier.
• I am sorry for taking you on all those crazy adventures—an impromptu helicopter ride; a million Walk of Life events; travel to England, Wales, California, Boston, Chicago, New Orleans...but hey, they were lots of fun.
• I am sorry I made you watch all-night episodes of Gilmore Girls.
• I am sorry for eating bags of BBQ chips...actually, that was just me.
• I am sorry for taking you to so many dance workshops and involving you in many choreographies...but wow, you have become an accomplished dancer, actress, and teacher.

So, as a tribute to your dancing, I offer a musical toast to you and Steve. And the music is to ‘New York, New York’...the place where Steve proposed to you.”— Barbara Kennedy

“I want to thank everyone for being here celebrating Kayleigh and Adam; the Hodgins family, our family, and friends who have become family—welcome. Kayleigh’s father, her Derd, and I are tickled pink to host this beautiful evening.

As most of you know, Kayleigh faced physical challenges as a newborn and toddler but with every year, grew stronger and even more delightful. As she got older, she excelled in basketball and show choir, and happily graduated from FIDM. She then embarked on what promises to be a fulfilling career.

Kayleigh—it always has been and always will be an honor and absolute joy to be your mom. You light up any room just by being in it.

As a parent, you, of course, want your child to succeed in life—both personally and professionally. But one of the most satisfying rewards is seeing your child experience true love and happiness, which she has absolutely found with Adam. Thank you, Adam, for loving our girl, we’re thrilled you are part of our family.

Please join me in a toast to the bride and groom—congratulations! We all wish you the best for everything this new journey has to offer.” — Marla White

While every wedding is different, the mother of the bride typically delivers their speech during the  wedding reception  following the father of the bride's speech. In some instances—whether the father is deceased or unable to attend—the mother of the bride will kick off the wedding toasts by going first.  

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

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Groom’s Mother Told Her Wedding Date Is ‘Disrespectful’ Due to Family Death 30 Years Prior

“Am I the a------ for thinking she is out of line since she waited until after we put all the deposits down to say something?” a bride-to-be asked on Reddit

Ljupco/Getty

A bride’s mother-in-law-to-be waited until after the couple paid deposits on their wedding venue and other services to request she change the date.

On April 9, a Redditor shared a post about the situation on the “Am I the A------?” subreddit, revealing that she and her fiancé, both 25, just got engaged after seven years of dating, and have been actively planning their special day with their families — including the groom’s mother.

“We have been very open with discussing the wedding and dates and what we want for the wedding,” the Redditor, user @SMR52398, wrote. “When we announced the wedding date she had no issue she didn't say a thing.”

Then, months after putting deposits down on everything for their nuptials — including the venue, food, DJ and photographer — the groom’s mother told the couple that the chosen date has a significant meaning to her and asked them to change it.

Claudia Casal/Getty

Recalling the moment her mother-in-law decided to break the news, the user wrote, “Actually during one of the photography zoom [meetings] discussing our engagement photos idea, she texted me and said, ’Why did you pick that date for your wedding my daughter died two days before that.’ “

"Mind you she was in the room we [were] doing the meeting,” she wrote. “I didn't say anything and just brushed it off.”

According to the user, her mother-in-law-to-be “lost her first child almost 30 years ago to SIDs,” which she calls a “horrible thing and i would never want that to happen to anyone.”

The Redditor and her fiancé had both remembered the anniversary of the death, but “thought since the wedding was not on the actual anniversary it would be fine,” she added.

"Also later on I found out it was my Uncle's birthday (who was like a father to me) and he past [sic] away 10 years ago,” she said, noting that instead of chasing the date to honor her uncle, she will be celebrating him with his alcohol of choice: Jim Beam, at the event.

And, “His wife and sons all supported me and were the ones that told me that,” she added. “That was his birthday. So I became even more attached to that date.”

“Meanwhile my mother-in-law [knew] the day we decided the date and didn't say anything until after we put all the deposits down,” she said. “Am I the a------ for thinking she is out of line since she waited until after we put all the deposits down to say something?”

The wife also noted that her mother-in-law-to-be is not funding the wedding — she and her fiancé are paying for it “with a little help here and there from my parents and the in-laws.”

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All of the top-voted posts responding to the bride were supportive, agreeing that she is “NTA,” or not the a------, in the situation.

"You've pick [sic] a date which is not the anniversary of the death of you [sic] mil's child, and you gave fair notice of the date so people could feed in, and now the date is locked in by deposits,” the top-voted response read. “You are NTA for sticking to the plan.”

Replying to the post, another Redditor agreed, pointing out how much time there was to change the date before deposits were made.

“I understand too well how losing a child can impact a person. Here’s the thing: MIL had ample opportunity to speak up,” the user said. “She chose not to. Then, when the date was set and deposits were in, she decided to say something.”

They continued, “So to me, this looks an awful lot like she orchestrated this drama where she is the victim. Has she done this in other instances? Where she makes someone else’s moment about herself? I wouldn’t be surprised. I would be prepared for her to try continue to bring attention to herself over this. I could even envision a wedding speech where she makes reference to the ‘situation.’ “

“To me, this absolutely reeks of someone who likes to be the center of attention,” the user finished, adding, “I would proceed with caution.”

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• International

Parents of Michigan school shooter sentenced

By Antoinette Radford and Maureen Chowdhury , CNN

Parents of school shooter sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison. Here's what happened in court today

From CNN staff

The  parents of the teenager who killed four students  in the 2021 school shooting in Oxford, Michigan, were each sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison Tuesday, weeks after being convicted of manslaughter.

James and Jennifer Crumbley, who each had faced up to 15 years in prison, have already been imprisoned for more than two years since their arrest in a Detroit warehouse days after the shooting. Though they were tried separately, their sentencing took place together in an Oakland County courtroom.

They are the first parents to be held criminally responsible for a mass school shooting committed by their child as the nation continues to grapple with the scourge of gunfire on campus and mass shootings.

Here's what everyone said in court today:

• Several family members of the four students killed in the shooting delivered emotional victim impact statements before the judge handed down the sentencing. The mother of Justin Shilling said "the ripple effects of both James and Jennifer's failures to act" to prevent their son from carrying out the deadly shooting " have devastated us all ." The father of Hana St. Juliana said the Crumbleys continue to deflect blame , adding his daughter's death "destroyed a large portion of my very soul."
• Jennifer Crumbley began her statement to the court on Tuesday by expressing her condolences to the victims and their families. She also said a previous statement that she made on the stand in her own defense  during her trial in Februar y was "completely misunderstood." Jennifer Crumbley previously said, “I’ve asked myself if I would have done anything differently, and I wouldn’t have.” Now, before sentencing, she said if she knew her son was capable of the crimes committed, her answer would have "absolutely been different."
• James Crumbley apologized to the victims , something he said he had not been able to do yet. He said he was not aware his son was planning a school shooting, and he asked the judge, "sentence me in a fair way."
• Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald urged the judge to exceed the sentencing guidelines for the Crumbleys and to consider the "devastating impact of their gross negligence that was foreseeable." In separate pre-sentencing memos, the attorneys for the parents asked for them  to be sentenced  to less than five years in prison.
• Judge Cheryl Matthews said the decision should be a deterrent to try to stop school shootings in the future. She pointed to James and Jennifer Crumbley's lack of action, saying, “These convictions confirm repeated acts or lack of acts that could have halted an oncoming runaway train."

Crumbley case sets a precedent on who can be held accountable for a mass shooting

From CNN's Celina Tebor

The historic trials, and stunning verdicts, of James and Jennifer Crumbley  tested the limits of who can be held responsible for a mass shooting.

The prosecution of both parents, and an uptick in other criminal prosecutions and civil lawsuits tied to mass shootings, indicates attorneys are increasingly seeking to hold responsible people — and companies — who didn’t pull the trigger .

Prosecutors over the past few years have been slowly, but steadily, expanding the notion of who can be held accountable for a mass shooting, CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig, a former federal and state prosecutor, said last month.

While he cautioned each case rests on its own merits, "we’ve seen groundbreaking prosecutions of parents and security personnel," he said, "and I’d expect that trend to continue."

The question remains whether prosecution of non-shooters will be effective in reducing the number of mass shootings in the United States. But undoubtedly, it has expanded prosecutors’ tool boxes, according to Ekow Yankah, law professor at the University of Michigan.

“It gives different prosecutors something to aim at – it gives them a new theory, it gives them something to try,” he told CNN. “It gives prosecutors who are frustrated, are facing a devastating crime, a mass shooting that’s hurt their community, some set of actions that they can take.”

Read about some other high-profile prosecutions of non-shooters in recent years.

Prosecutor says she is disappointed James and Jennifer Crumbley did not express remorse

From CNN’s Nicki Brown 

The lead prosecutor in James and Jennifer Crumbley's criminal trials said it was "disappointing" that the parents didn't express remorse.

"Feeling bad is natural, and we don't dispute that they feel bad ... that's not what's important to victims of crime," Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said to reporters after the Crumbleys' sentencing Tuesday. "What they want and need most of all is remorse, which means acknowledgment of the wrongdoing and some sort of reconciliation or apology for that — and that didn't come."

The prosecutor said she didn't think that the case would set a precedent for parents of other school shooters.

"There's a difference between precedent-setting and rare, and this is really a rare set of facts, it really is," McDonald said. 

"Most of us know that you have to exercise reasonable care at least to prevent other people from the dangers that you know are foreseeable," she added.

She said her team did the "absolute best" they could, and the victim's families know that.

"It's really hard ... to remark about how hard we work and how hard it's been when you're looking in the eyes of these parents every day, who get up in unbelievable pain and grief and see this play out every day and they still go on," she said. "And so, my focus is there."

James and Jennifer Crumbley each sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison

James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of the teenager who killed four students in a 2021 school shooting in Oxford, Michigan, were each sentenced Tuesday to 10 to 15 years in prison, respectively, weeks after they were convicted of manslaughter.

They will receive credit for 858 days already served.

Sentence for Crumbleys should be a deterrent, judge says

From CNN's Elise Hammond

The judge presiding over the sentencing of James and Jennifer Crumbley said the decision should be a deterrent to try to stop school shootings in the future.

"Opportunity knocked over and over again, louder and louder, and was ignored," Judge Cheryl Matthews said. "No one answered and these two people should have and sure didn’t."

She said she is "aware of my job in this situation” and promised not to be “swayed by public opinion” when handing down the sentencing decision.

Talking to the families in the courtroom, Matthews said she could never understand the pain they are experiencing, but reassured them, “I saw what you saw and I heard what you heard” during the trials.

Prosecutor urges judge to consider the "devastating impact" of the Crumbleys' "gross negligence"

From CNN's Nicki Brown

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald urged Judge Cheryl Matthews to exceed the sentencing guidelines for James and Jennifer Crumbley, asking the judge to consider the "devastating impact of their gross negligence that was foreseeable."

"I want to be clear, remorse does not sound like, 'I feel really bad.' I'm sure they do. I don't dispute they feel bad, I don't dispute they have grief. That's not the kind of remorse and accountability these victims are looking for," McDonald said in court Tuesday.

She continued, addressing the judge:

"When fashioning a sentence, it is absolutely critical that you listen and consider the impact of what that gross negligence caused. So we're asking you to exceed the guidelines because I believe all of the factors pursuant to the case law, with the necessary consideration of the impact of these crimes, justifies you to do. We're asking you, the people are asking you, to consider the devastating impact of their gross negligence that was foreseeable."

James Crumbley apologizes to the families of his son's victims

From CNN's Antoinette Radford

James Crumbley, the father of Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley, addressed the courtroom, opening his statement by apologizing to the victims, something he said he had not been able to do yet.

"I want to say I can't imagine the pain and agony ... for the families that have lost their children and what they are experiencing and what they are going through. As a parent, our biggest fear is losing our child or our children, and to lose a child is unimaginable. My heart is really broken for everybody involved," he said.

"I really want the families of Madisyn Baldwin, Hana St Juliana, Tate Myre and Justin Shilling to know how truly sorry I am, and how devastated I was when I heard what happened to them," Crumbley said.

Crumbley added that he was not aware his son was planning a school shooting, and he asked Judge Cheryl Matthews to "sentence me in a fair way."

Jennifer Crumbley says previous statement made in court was misinterpreted

From CNN's Maureen Chowdhury

Jennifer Crumbley began her statement to the court by expressing her condolences to the victims and their families.

"I sit here today to express my deepest sorrows for the families of Hana, Tate, Madisyn, Justin and to all those affected on November 30, 2021," she said.

Crumbley said that a previous statement made on the stand was "completely misunderstood."

When she took the stand in her own defense during her trial in Februar y, she had said, “I’ve asked myself if I would have done anything differently, and I wouldn’t have.”

On Tuesday, Crumbley said that she did not foresee the actions of her son and therefore would not have done anything different, and that is how she interpreted the question.

"With the benefit of hindsight and information I have now, my answer would be drastically different," she said.

Crumbley added that if she knew her son was capable of the crimes committed, her answer would have "absolutely been different."

 Father of Hana St. Juliana says Crumbleys "choose to blame everyone but themselves"

James and Jennifer Crumbley continue to deflect blame, the father of a victim of the 2021 Oxford High School shooting said at the Crumbleys' sentencing Tuesday.

"The defendants, through their choices, through their indifference and gross negligence, enabled their son to murder my daughter Hana and three other children," Steve St. Juliana, the father of Hana St. Juliana, said in a victim impact statement Tuesday.

"They chose to stay quiet. They chose to ignore the warning signs. And now, as we've heard through all of the objections, they continue to choose to blame everyone but themselves," he said.

Steve St. Juliana said his daughter's death "destroyed a large portion of my very soul."

"I will never think back fondly on her high school and college graduations. I will never walk her down the aisle as she begins the journey of starting her own family. I am forever denied the chance to hold her or her future children in my arms," he added.

St. Juliana said his position on the Crumbleys' sentencing evolved throughout the trial as the defendants' "defiance" increased. "Hana, Madisyn, Tate, and Justin are the ones who have lost everything — not the defendants," he said before requesting the parents receive the maximum possible sentence.

Buck Myre, the father of victim Tate Myre, gave his impact statement following Steve St. Juliana. He was the last person to give an impact statement.

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What was said during James and Jennifer Crumbley's sentencing

What was said during James and Jennifer Crumbley's sentencing Tuesday in Oakland County Circuit Court.

James Crumbley , father of Oxford High School shooter: "My heart is really broken for everybody involved. I understand my words are not going to bring any comfort. I understand that they're not going to relieve any pain. And quite frankly, they probably just don't believe me. However, I really want the families of Madisyn Baldwin, Hana St. Juliana, Tate Myre, and Justin Shilling to know how truly sorry I am and how devastated I was when I heard what happened to them. I've cried for you and the loss of your children more times than I can count."

Nicole Beausoleil , mother of victim Madisyn Baldwin: “While your son was hearing voices and asking for help, I was helping Madisyn pick out her senior classes. While you were purchasing a gun for your son and leaving it unlocked, I was helping her finish her college essays. When you left without hesitation and not taking him home, I was worried if she’d be OK driving in her first snowfall of the season and if she brought a coat.”

Oakland Circuit Judge Cheryl Matthews : "I'm very aware of my job in this situation, very aware of my job, to not be swayed by public opinion, by media, by any of those different things. I can't and will not pretend to understand the pain the families are experiencing, but I did sit through these trials with you. I saw what you saw. I heard what you heard."

Jennifer Crumbley , mother of Oxford High School shooter: "When I was on the stand, I was asked if I would've done anything different. I was horrified to learn my answer 'I would not have' was completely misunderstood. That answer is true because my son did seem so normal. I didn't have a reason to do anything different. This was not something I foresaw. That was the intention of my answer and how I interpreted the question. With the benefit of hindsight and information I have now, my answer would be drastically different."

Reina St. Juliana , older sister of victim Hana: “You caused the most cruel thing I could ever imagine. You guys made loving Hana so painful. There is no existing punishment or rehabilitation could ever be enough.”

More: After historic convictions, James and Jennifer Crumbley get maximum prison sentence

Shannon Smith , Jennifer Crumbley's attorney: "The narrative that has been made public is to make Jennifer Crumbley sound like a monster, to vilify her, to make her sound like a horrible mother, an evil person. The truth is it's an effort to put her in a category of 'other,' to say this is not something that could happen to any of us. And it is. It is something that could happen to any of us."

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald : "Remorse does not sound like, 'I feel really bad.' I'm sure they do. I don't dispute they feel bad. I don't dispute they have grief. That's not the kind of remorse and accountability these victims are looking for. What that looks like is 'We messed up. We should've done this and we didn't. And we are very sorry.' That has not happened."

Jill Soave , mom of victim Justin Shilling: "It is devastating and heartbreaking that it doesn’t appear that either of you cherished or even wanted your son. But I wholehearted cherished and wanted mine."

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Biden Announces Student Debt Relief for Millions in Swing-State Pitch

During an appearance in Wisconsin, President Biden said 10 million borrowers could see debt relief of at least $5,000. The plan could help rally support among young voters.

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Biden Announces New Plan for Student Debt Relief

President biden announced a large-scale effort to help pay off federal student loans for more than 20 million borrowers..

Today, I’m proud to announce five major actions to continue to relieve student debt for more than 30 million Americans since I started my administration. And starting this fall, we plan to deliver up to $20,000 in interest relief to over 20 million borrowers and full forgiveness for millions more. [applause] I will never stop to deliver student debt relief and hardworking Americans. And it’s only in the interest of America that we do it. And again, it’s for the good of our economy that’s growing stronger and stronger, and it is, by freeing millions of Americans from this crushing debt of student debt. It means they can finally get on with their lives instead of being put — their lives being put on hold.

By Michael D. Shear

Reporting from Madison, Wis.

President Biden on Monday announced a large-scale effort to help pay off federal student loans for tens of millions of American borrowers, seeking an election-year boost by returning to a 2020 campaign promise that was blocked by the Supreme Court last year.

Mr. Biden’s new plan would reduce the amount that 25 million borrowers still owe on their undergraduate and graduate loans. It would wipe away the entire amount for more than four million Americans. Altogether, White House officials said, 10 million borrowers would see debt relief of $5,000 or more.

“While a college degree still is a ticket to the middle class, that ticket is becoming much too expensive,” Mr. Biden said during a speech to a small but enthusiastic audience filled with supporters. “Today, too many Americans, especially young people, are saddled with too much debt.”

Mr. Biden announced the plan in Madison, Wis., the capital of a critical swing state and a college town that symbolizes the president’s promise to make higher-education affordability a cornerstone of his economic agenda.

But it is a promise he has so far failed to achieve, largely because of legal challenges from Republicans and other critics. They accuse Mr. Biden of unlawfully using his executive authority to enact a costly transfer of wealth from taxpayers who have not taken out federal student loans to those who have.

Officials did not say how much the new plan would cost in coming years, but critics have said it could increase inflation and add to the federal debt by billions of dollars.

Mr. Biden said his new effort would help the economy by removing the drag of enormous debt from people who would otherwise not be able to buy a home or pursue a more economically sound future.

“We’re giving people a chance to make it,” Mr. Biden said. “Not a guarantee. Just a chance to make it.”

Mr. Biden’s announcement was a presidential do-over. In the summer of 2022, he put in motion a plan to wipe out $400 billion in student debt for about 43 million borrowers. That was blocked by the Supreme Court , which said he exceeded his authority. In the months since, Mr. Biden has waived small amounts of debt using existing programs. But now he is attempting a larger effort closer to the scale of his first try.

The original plan relied on a law called the HEROES Act, which the administration argued allowed the government to waive student debt during a national emergency like the Covid pandemic. The justices disagreed after Republican attorneys general and others challenged the debt waiver plan.

The new approach is different.

For months, Mr. Biden’s Education Department has been developing regulations using a long process authorized by the Higher Education Act. Instead of an across-the-board waiver of debt, the new approach targets five groups of borrowers: those whose loans have ballooned because of interest; borrowers who have been paying for decades; those who have economic hardship; people who qualify for existing debt relief programs but have not applied; and people whose loans come from schools that have since been denied certification or have lost eligibility for federal student aid programs.

Administration officials said because the new approach is based on a different law, it is more likely to survive the expected challenges. They said lawyers for the White House and the Education Department have studied the Supreme Court ruling and have designed the new program to make sure it does not violate the principles laid out by the justices.

But lawyers for those who oppose the approach are likely to argue that waiving the debt is unfair to those who already paid back their loans or never took out college loans in the first place. That argument helped sway the justices in the last case.

Neal McCluskey, the director of the Center for Educational Freedom at the Cato Institute, called the new plan “dangerous policy” that is unfair to taxpayers and would cause colleges and universities to raise their prices.

“The Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the authority to enact law, and the Supreme Court has already struck down a unilateral, mass student debt cancellation scheme by the Biden administration,” he said. “It would stick taxpayers with bills for debts other people chose for their own financial advancement.”

The legal challenges will likely take months to resolve, and that could leave the debt relief plan in limbo as voters go to the polls in November to choose between Mr. Biden and former President Donald J. Trump.

Members of Mr. Biden’s administration fanned out across the country on Monday to talk about the new plan, betting that it will rally support among voters who were disappointed that the court blocked the first one, which would have eliminated up to $20,000 in debt for tens of millions of borrowers. Vice President Kamala Harris held a round-table discussion with a teacher, a nurse and a social worker in Philadelphia. Miguel A. Cardona, the education secretary, spoke in New York City.

“We need you to stay in these jobs doing this work,” Ms. Harris said in the library of an elementary school. “And you shouldn’t have to make a decision about whether you serve or are able to pay your bills.”

But beyond the threat of legal action, the president faces steep obstacles just because of the calendar. The new plan has not yet been published in the Federal Register, which will kick off a required, monthslong public comment period before it can take effect. Officials said on Sunday only that they hoped some of the provisions would begin going into effect in “early fall” of this year.

Administration officials hope that the president’s supporters will give him credit for trying, even if many of the borrowers do not end up seeing any relief before they go to the ballot box. Andrew O’Neill, the legislative director for Indivisible, a liberal advocacy organization, praised Mr. Biden’s announcement.

“Progressives have led the fight for student debt cancellation, and Joe Biden has responded,” he said in a statement. “More than 30 million folks will now get relief from Biden’s programs. That’s a huge deal.”

White House officials have been scrambling for months to respond to the anger about student loans among the president’s base. In one poll released last month, more than 70 percent of young people said the issue of student loan forgiveness was “important” or “very important” to them as they make their decision in the 2024 election campaign.

Officials said the five groups of people targeted in the new plan will address most of the egregious issues that some borrowers have with their student loans.

People whose loans have grown beyond the amount they originally borrowed because of interest would have up to $20,000 of that interest wiped away, leaving them to repay only the amount they originally borrowed. People making less than $120,000 a year, or couples making less than $240,000, would qualify to have all of their interest forgiven.

Officials said that 23 million people would most likely have all of their interest-related balances waived from that provision.

About two million borrowers who already qualify to have their student loans waived under existing programs have not applied for relief. Under the new rules, the Education Department would be authorized to cancel the debt for those people without their having to apply.

People who took out federal student loans for undergraduate degrees and began repaying them more than 20 years ago would automatically have the debt canceled under the new plan. Graduate students who borrowed money and began repaying 25 years ago would have their debt canceled.

Officials said that about 2.5 million people would qualify under that rule.

People who borrowed money to attend colleges that have since lost their certification or their eligibility to participate in the federal student aid program would have their debt canceled. Officials did not say how many people that would affect. And people who are especially burdened with other expenses — such as high medical debt or child care — could apply to have their student loans forgiven.

Officials did not estimate how many people might qualify for what they called the “hardship” programs.

Nicholas Nehamas contributed reporting from Philadelphia.

Michael D. Shear is a White House correspondent for The New York Times, covering President Biden and his administration. He has reported on politics for more than 30 years. More about Michael D. Shear

Our Coverage of the 2024 Election

Presidential Race

The democratic party is unifying around a blunt message on abortion, solely blaming Donald Trump for the country’s shift, ahead of Kamala Harris’s   trip to Arizona,  where Democrats hope to keep Republicans reeling.

Trump and Mike Johnson, the G.O.P. speaker, at odds over many issues, are making a common cause on “election integrity,”  ahead of Johnson’s trip to Mar-a-Lago.

​​Price pressures aren’t easing fast enough to guarantee the interest-rate cuts President Biden had hoped to see , so his message is evolving as he casts Trump and Republicans as uninterested in the actual policy work  of fighting inflation and as barriers to his own proposals.

The political prediction markets — which allow traders to place bets on the outcome of the November election — show that the presidential race is tight, giving Trump an even chance of winning the election . So far, it appears the market doesn't care either way.

Trump’s penchant for bending the truth has been well documented, but a close study of how he does so reveals a kind of technique to his dishonesty .

Primaries in three Mid-Atlantic House districts will test whether the battle cry of “save democracy” will be enough  even for Democratic voters who have many other concerns.

In Arizona’s crucial Senate race, Ruben Gallego, who has long embraced his progressive background, is striking a moderate tone .

Lawyer fatally shoots former daughter-in-law, fellow attorney at Las Vegas law firm

A lawyer fatally shot his former daughter-in-law, as well as a fellow attorney, during a deposition at a Las Vegas law firm Monday morning, two sources familiar with the investigation said.

The shooter opened fire at the Prince Law Group office in Summerlin during a deposition of his son, whom he had been representing, the sources said Monday afternoon.

The other lawyer was representing his own wife, who was the former daughter-in-law of the shooter and opposing counsel, the sources said.

The alleged gunman died after he turned the gun on himself, according to the sources. His son survived.

The sources characterized the shooting as targeted and domestic-related.

The incident occurred about 10 a.m. at the fifth-floor law office on West Charleston Boulevard near Pavilion Center Drive, Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill said at a news conference. Responding officers found the three people with gunshot wounds, police said Tuesday. They were pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel. 

"The suspect was not killed by my police. We believe he took his own life," he said, adding that there was no further threat to the public.

The Clark County coroner's office on Tuesday identified the deceased people as Ashley Prince, 30; Dennis Prince, 57 and Joseph Houston, 77.

Ashley Prince and Dennis Prince died from multiple gunshot wounds, the coroner said, ruling each death was a homicide. Houston died by suicide, according to the coroner.

Robert Eglet told NBC News that the attorney who was slain was his former law partner and that they had known each other for 30 years. The pair “were close friends for a very, very long time," Eglet said.

“He was a very good guy. He was one of the finest trial lawyers in the state of Nevada. It’s tragic, and it’s senseless," he said.

Eglet said his friend specialized in medical malpractice cases.

There are businesses adjacent to the law office where the shooting occurred, McMahill said. First responders evacuated the building and followed an active-shooter protocol, officials said. Hundreds of people were evacuated, police said.

The suspect's vehicle was being investigated, McMahill said, adding that police were trying to shore up a motive.

"We have a theory at this point, but I cannot release any of that information until we've confirmed that information," he said.

A law office on the fifth floor did not answer a call seeking comment Monday afternoon. Police said they were using nearby Red Rock Casino as an assistance center.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at  988lifeline.org . You can also visit  SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources  for additional support.

Andrew Blankstein is an investigative reporter for NBC News. He covers the Western U.S., specializing in crime, courts and homeland security. 

Antonio Planas is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.