After all those years watching your daughter grown up, each and every moments and milestones is precious; from the first step into the day she graduated and finding the best man. And now, you found yourself on her wedding and about to give wedding speech. As a mother, you would be protective to your daughter, as you are the one who watched your daughter grew up from the crib to the white wedding dress. So this speech is not just a speech. It is The Speech; something that coming from one’s heart, packed with experience and memories of thick and thin.

Here are a few pointers to make your speech memorable:

• Be prepare that your speech will be the opening for the events. Usually, speech from the bride’s mother side is optional, but if your husband has passed away or by some reason unable to come, it yours to do. Ask the MC or someone who is familiar with the wedding etiquettes to determine when you will hold your speech.
• Welcome the groom’s whole family into yours and then the guests, family friends and relative. Express your happiness about this. If your husband is deceased and I’m assuming that you are taking his role, the opening line could be like this:”On the behalf of our big family (mention your daughter’s name, the new husband’s name, your deceased husband & your other children) we welcome you (groom’s family name) into ours.” And then, express your gratitude to the guest fro coming, throw in some jokes or anecdote but don’t make it a long and winding list of thank you.
• Praise your daughter and how radiant she looks together with her (new) couple / husband and throw in some praise about how superb the wedding is to appease those who responsible with the wedding arrangement. Add a cent or two about the maid of honor as she was the one who partly responsible with the wedding arrangements.
  
• Share some stories about the experience of watching your daughter grow up, all the high and the low and share all great stories with the guest; make it humorous and emotional but don’t embarrass her too much.
• Tell her some of your experience in married life; pull a leaf for your wisdom book and tell her of your good advice regarding married life, especially how to pertaining a happy one. Throw in some comment about how proud her father would be if it wasn’t a touchy subject.
• Give a heartfelt welcome to the guest; guide them through the menu and choice of beverages, dance and music.
• Raise your glass and invite for a toast to the happy bride groom, add some of your wishes of their happiness. And then you can introduce the groom and recognize his toast.

When delivering your toast always rise from your seat so that the audience could see you well enough seen from the distance and don’t forget to make an eye contact with your lovely daughter. Keep and stay calm and don’t get nervous, and keep your hands folded or at your side. Unnecessary hands movement might distract the guest from your speech.

Stay away from proverbial land mines; embarrassing your daughter or touching some delicate subject about long-forgotten family feud and controversies is a big no-no; it’s embarrassing and makes the guest uncomfortable. If necessary, you can ask someone (your daughter or someone you are close with) to determine whether it is already a thumb-up. And last but not least, don’t make it lengthy and long; a short but effective speech is always the best.

If you think having a guide book which tells you the ABC of wedding speeches might help. It might sound vain, but it is your daughter wedding, having extra cost for a speech book is hardly unacceptable. One that I personally recommend is Wedding speech For You: Mother of the Bride Speeches.

It is one of the most comprehensive guides which tell you the basic of speech delivery. And not just advice to overcome your stage fright, this book also gives you guidance and example of at least 20 completed speeches you could modify for your own use.