Speech material: Great mums!

Wedding speech material for you to adapt, for super mums

By the father of the bride

'I stand here today, a proud father and a proud husband. I've already said how beautiful my daughter looks. But none of us would be here today without the great organisational skills, not to mention diplomatic abilities of my wonderful wife. The fact that she can arrange all of this and still look as young and beautiful as the day I married her is one of the reasons I love her so very much. Thank you, sweetheart.'

'Ladies and Gentlemen, many of you have kindly commented to me on how beautiful Lisa looks today and I can only agree wholeheartedly. There is, of course, an explanation for this: she doesn't carry any of my genes, just those of my beautiful wife. So please be upstanding and drink a toast to the other belle of the ball, Lucy.'

By the groom

'Ladies and Gentlemen, the first time I set eyes on Katy's mum, I wondered why Katy hadn't told me she had a twin sister. It was quite obvious where Katy gets her looks (quite where her temper comes from, I don't know!) But I would like to say a big thank you to Katy's mum for supporting us through the traumas and tribulations of planning this wedding. Please be upstanding and drink a toast to Katy's mum...'

'As some of you know, my mum brought me up single-handedly after my dad died. I think she did a reasonable job (!) and I would just like to say: thanks mum. I know I wasn't the easiest child (though I still don't think they should have expelled me for that little misunderstanding involving the school cat and a firework). Mum has stuck by me through countless such traumas -- in fact she's probably delighted to get me off her hands! So these (flowers in hand) are for you.'

By the best man

'Matt's mum has always been my kind of lady. None of my other girlfriends made me cakes when I went round to their houses. They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach and she certainly knew how to pull my heart strings.'

'After my mum died, I used to spend most of my time round John's house after school. There was always a place at the table laid out for me, and a warm welcome from his mum. I can still smell her chocolate cake even now. Thanks Mrs Smith, or should I say mum?'

By the chief bridesmaid

'Gill's Mum has always been a special mum, and not just to Gill. Whenever us kids were in trouble, it was always Gill's mum we turned to. She sorted out no end of problems, from cut knees to broken hearts, because the boy next door wouldn't let us play with his dog. She's no different today. Even at the hen night, she was busy making sure we all got home safely in taxis from the nightclub, and let me tell you, there can't be many mums who can boogie the night away like she can!'

'As chief bridesmaid, I would just like to say a special thank you to Justine's mum. Justine and Jamie will tell you they organised the whole thing, but we all know what hopeless liars they are! Justine's mum has been the inspiration and the guiding light for much of what has happened today, not to mention chief-shoulder-to-cry-on when the bridesmaids' dresses didn't fit and my little nephew Jake decided to add some colour to the veil with his new felt-tips!'