Parent toasts: father and mother of the bride or groom

A toast from a parent is usually short, warm, and personal: a welcome, a memory or two of your child, a kind word for the person they married, and a toast to the couple. Pick the guide that fits you for full examples and a fill-in template.

Guides for parents

• Father of the bride speech3 examples, a template, and what to include
• Mother of the bride speech4 examples, including one from a stepmom, and what to do if both parents speak
• Father of the groom speech4 examples, a template, and when he usually speaks

Mother of the groom? The mother of the bride guide works well with small changes: welcome the guests, share a memory of your son, and welcome his spouse into the family.

What most parent toasts include

• A welcome and thank-you, especially if you are hosting.
• One or two short stories about your child that show who they are.
• A warm word for their new spouse and their family.
• A toast to the couple to close. Two to four minutes is plenty.