I'd love my mum to give a speech on the wedding day but she's nervous. Any advice?
Firstly, reassure your mum that we work with lots of mothers (both of the bride, and increasingly, the groom's) so it's no longer unusual to see a mum on the mic. Whether your mum is standing in for your father, speaking in addition to him or your dad isn't part of the picture, we generally find mothers have a lot to say!
In terms of getting your mum excited at the prospect of delivering a speech, rather than dreading it, send her a few blog posts to show her how simple writing her speech can be. There's lots of helpful templates and speech examples online that will give her inspiration and increase her confidence. Writing a mother of the bride speech is similar to a father's. Brainstorm ideas (and get other family members involved), pick out the best stories and then pull it all together.
A good wedding speech is always under 1,300 words but there's really no minimum, so make sure your mum doesn't feel undue pressure to fill up her ten minutes on the mic. Sometimes just one or two anecdotes will be all a mum really needs to sum up a lifetime of love. Generally, a mother of the bride speech should...
Get the audience smiling (ideally laughing along)
Provide an insight into the bride's younger years
Pay a heartfelt tribute to the woman she is today
Welcome her partner to the family and express your joy in the union
Raise a toast to their future life together
My top tip for feeling more confident on the day is to make sure you have some early humour scripted into the speech. It doesn't have to be a one-liner worthy of Peter Kay, just something a bit fun and jovial. Once you get everyone laughing, you'll immediately feel more relaxed.
Remind your mum that she doesn't need to be formal or stuffy. Maybe suggest she exploits your siblings or her trusted friends to help her work on those crucial ice-breakers. Of course, she can find plenty of ideas online but ideally, you don't want any cut and paste gags. Is there any fun to be had in the wedding venue, or how long it took you to plan your wedding? Maybe she can utilise some self-deprecating humour and add a funny line about having the public speaking skills of a wheelie bin!
Once your mum's convinced she's written a good speech, she'll naturally feel more confident about delivering it. Ultimately, make sure she knows that no matter what she says, you'll be very proud of her.
New app launches to simplify one of marriage’s biggest admin headaches
Changing your name after marriage can mean updating details with countless organisations, from banks and subscriptions to official documents and employers. New app Name Change Navigator aims to make the process easier, guiding newlyweds through each step from one platform. Founded by Rebecca Dainton, Head of Product at Flutter UK & Ireland, the app was created to reduce the stress and mental load associated with name changes. It supports a range of naming journeys, including traditional surname changes, double-barrelling, blended surnames and other choices following marriage, civil partnership, divorce or personal identity changes. The launch comes as younger generations increasingly rethink traditional naming conventions, with technology offering a more streamlined approach to this often-overlooked part of newlywed life.
READ ARTICLE
Are Brits risking their finances by avoiding the pre-wedding money talk?
For many couples, talking about money can feel far less romantic than talking about the wedding itself. But as more Brits prepare to tie the knot — and with stronger legal rights on the horizon for unmarried couples — new research suggests we may be leaving some important financial conversations until it's too late. From avoiding money talk on first dates to steering clear of prenups, the findings reveal a nation surprisingly reluctant to discuss how to protect their finances, even when differences over money are already putting relationships under strain. Two thirds of Brits (66%) say they would not get a prenuptial agreement before marriage (48%) or have already opted against one (17%) - compared to 42% in both France and Spain. New findings from Europe's second largest neobank, bunq, reveal that Brits are markedly more resistant to prenuptial agreements than their continental neighbours – despite Britain's reputation as the less romantic nation.
READ ARTICLE
Couples could legally get married anywhere - legal comment
The UK Government has unveiled a new consultation to reform the wedding laws in England and Wales which is exploring how wedding ceremonies are conducted, particularly looking at wedding venues. The proposals are seeking to modernise the outdated legislation in this area which will eventually provide couples with greater freedom to decide where and how they will get married. At present, when a couple gets married, they need to have their legal ceremony in a licensed building or a registered place of worship. The existing laws have a further requirement that couples must ensure the individual officiating their wedding ceremony is either an authorised religious minister or a civil registrar.
READ ARTICLE
7 Ways to Make Your Wedding Memories Part of Your Home
As weddings become increasingly personal, couples are moving away from cookie-cutter celebrations and towards details that tell their own story. British Vogue has identified intentionality, personalisation and nostalgia as defining themes for 2026 weddings, while The Knot is highlighting the rise of keepsakes and deeply personal touches. But there is an interesting part of the wedding story that receives far less attention: what happens to those meaningful details afterwards. Here, founder Kate Legodi of Coeur et Maman, specialists in conservation-quality printed photo mounts, shares her advice...
