Mother of the groom speech writer
A mother of the groom speech is usually short and full of warmth: a thank-you to the bride’s family, a glimpse of the boy you raised, and a welcome for the person he chose.
- 2–4 mintypical length
- 260–520words at 130 wpm
- 5 partsthanks · your son · now · welcome · the toast
- 1 Occasion
- 2 Your memories
- 3 Edit & rehearse
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Already have a speech? Paste it here and ask for feedback, a shorter version or a stronger ending.
The structure of a mother of the groom speech
Tap each part to see what it does and where it sits in this sample. The bar shows how the sample divides its time: the story gets the most room, the ending the least.
1. Thanks
Thank the hosts and the bride’s family.
In this sample: 23 words, about 0:11 spoken, 19% of the speech.
Hello everyone, I’m Janet, Luke’s mum. Thank you to Hannah’s family for such a beautiful day and for making us feel at home.
Every Mother’s Day since he was five, Luke has made me a card with a terrible joke inside. Last year’s was about a cheese. I won’t repeat it.
He is still that boy who wants to make the people he loves laugh, and I have never seen him laugh more than he does with Hannah.
Hannah, you have taught him to cook, to plan ahead and to finally answer his phone. We love you, and we are so happy you are family.
Please raise your glasses to Luke and Hannah, and to a lifetime of bad jokes and good dinners.
How to write a mother of the groom speech, step by step
- Thank the bride’s family first.
- Choose one small memory, not a life story.
- Connect it to who he is today.
- Write a warm welcome to the partner.
- End with a wish and a toast.
- Keep it short
- Speak from the heart
- Name the partner and their family
- Practise aloud
- Suggest you are losing your son
- Share embarrassing baby stories
- Overlap with the father of the groom
- Improvise the whole thing
Mother of the groom speech questions
Does the mother of the groom give a speech?
It is optional. She may speak at the rehearsal dinner, which the groom’s family traditionally hosts, or give a short toast at the reception.
How long should it be?
Two to four minutes, roughly 250 to 500 words.
What’s a good opening line?
Introduce yourself and thank the bride’s family in one breath: “I’m Janet, Luke’s mum, and I want to start by thanking Hannah’s family for today.” Simple and gracious.