In this blog post, we’ve compiled and organized the messages of gratitude, blessings, and advice that brides and their parents share at weddings.

To My Beloved Daughter (A Letter from the Bride’s Father)

Today, my beloved daughter comes of age and is getting married. To be honest, even as recently as yesterday, it didn’t really sink in that my daughter was getting married, but as I prepare to read this letter I wrote for her here today, the reality of her marriage is suddenly hitting me.
First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of you who have gathered here today to celebrate our daughter’s wedding.
Actually, the letter I’m about to read for my daughter wasn’t written recently. It’s a letter I wrote when she was little—back when we were poor—as I imagined the day she would get married, and now I find myself sharing it here.
My dear daughter, when I was four years old, I lived in a shack. But I’ve been told I don’t remember those days vividly. Perhaps I didn’t want to remember them.
But I do remember when you were four years old, you kept begging us to move to a two-story house. You said it was too hard to climb all the way up to the fourth floor, and it broke my heart so much that I had to swallow my tears.
Since I have no memories of being four years old, I hoped you wouldn’t remember those days either. We even slept curled up in a tiny room with a leaky roof, but I was happy because we were together.
Before you were born—before I loved you this much—I worked hard, and even the hardships brought me joy. The more I loved you, the more I had to dream of a better future.
Thinking back on those poor days, to my beloved daughter: By the time I give you this letter, you’ll be standing before me in a white wedding dress, looking absolutely beautiful, won’t you?
I worked so hard hoping my daughter would be happy—aren’t you a little embarrassed by who I’ve become? My beloved daughter, thank you so much.
More than all the years I spent striving to be a father who wasn’t poor, living my life surrounded by my daughter’s charm and smile has felt like a dream, and I’m so grateful for your existence.
I want our daughter to be happier than anyone else in the world. You’ve grown so much, my daughter.
As you go through life, there will surely be times when harsh storms make things difficult for you and your husband. I don’t know how long I can continue to be your shield, but from this moment on, I feel even more reassured knowing that you have your husband by your side, not just me.
My beloved daughter, I sincerely congratulate you on your marriage. And you must be happy.
And to my son-in-law, ○○○, I hope you will love my beloved daughter dearly.
I would like to once again express my gratitude to all the family members, relatives, and guests who have graced this wedding with your presence.
Date, Month, Year From your loving Dad, ○○○

May your married life be filled with love and care (Acknowledgments from the Bride’s Father)

It’s a pleasure to meet you all. I am the father of the bride, Ms. ○○○. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our family members, relatives, and friends, as well as the bride and groom’s friends and colleagues, for taking the time to join us despite your busy schedules.
Today marks the wedding of my one and only daughter. I knew a day like this would come someday, but before I knew it, I found myself standing here. Perhaps that is why, as a father, I am filled with a mix of emotions today.
It feels like only yesterday she was born, yet here she is, all grown up, having found a wonderful partner and getting married in front of so many people. As a parent, I feel a sense of relief that I’ve fulfilled my duties, yet I also feel a touch of sadness.
As she is my only daughter, I raised her with the utmost care and affection. Because of that, she has many shortcomings. However, I am deeply grateful to my in-laws and the groom for loving such a daughter of mine.
As a father, I didn’t do much for my daughter while raising her from childhood. I’m naturally a reserved person, so I wasn’t very good at expressing my love, nor did I take care of her as well as other fathers might. To my daughter, whom I feel so sorry for, I want to take this opportunity today to tell her how sorry I am and how much I love her.
I believe that the two of them will now live their lives cherishing and loving one another for the rest of their lives, just as they promised before you all today. There will be difficult days ahead, but I’m confident they will weather them and overcome them together. I would be grateful if you would all pray for the bride and groom’s future to be filled with happiness.
While the past has been important, the time ahead will be even more crucial, as they will now be building and taking responsibility for their own family. Just as the saying “once married, out of the family” has become a thing of the past, I will always do my utmost to support them from behind the scenes.
A wife must respect her husband, and a husband must love his wife. Just as everything goes well when the family is harmonious, I hope they will cherish and love one another for the rest of their lives, always keeping in mind that family is the most important thing.
Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the distinguished guests who have joined us here today to offer your warm congratulations.
Thank you. [Month] [Day], [Year] Father of the Bride, ○○○

I Hope She Becomes a Beloved Daughter-in-Law and Wife (A Word of Thanks from the Bride’s Mother)

Hello. I am ○○○, the bride’s mother. I am deeply grateful to all of you who have come to celebrate the wedding of the bride and groom despite the inclement weather.
There’s a saying that getting married on a rainy day means a lifetime of happiness, and I think that’s true. It’s true that as a mother sending my still-young daughter off to her new home, my heart is filled with anxiety and worry. I imagine her father’s feelings of sadness are even stronger.
First, I’d like to express my gratitude to my in-laws for loving my daughter, who has many shortcomings. In return, I promise to treat my son-in-law just as I would my own son.
The night before my daughter’s wedding, my husband and I lay in bed together, chatting quietly about many things. While I felt a mix of emotions, I think my husband, as her father, felt an even greater blend of relief and bittersweetness.
The past 27 years flashed before my eyes like a series of snapshots—from the moment I first became pregnant with her, to the day she started kindergarten, to the day she ran home excitedly after winning first place in a race at her elementary school sports day, and all the way through her enrollment in middle school, high school, and college.
Over the years, my daughter has been a diligent and kind girl who never once rebelled, and as her mother, I am so grateful that she has grown up to be such a lovely and beautiful young woman.
It’s true that she’s endlessly beautiful simply because she’s my daughter, but I’m relieved that my in-laws have treated her with the same love and care as their own daughter, even though it must have been difficult for them.
And my son-in-law, ○○○, who loves our daughter more than anyone else in the world. He’s such a reliable man that it feels like our family—which has no sons—has gained a new son, and my heart is already overflowing with emotion.
When he first brought his fiancée home, I was so pleased to see him eating the meal I’d prepared with such an appetite. As the saying goes, “Eating heartily brings good fortune.”
Though I feel a mix of bittersweet emotions, I’m filled with new feelings today because these young people have such a bright future ahead of them, and because our family has grown.
Until now, you’ve each lived your own lives, but from now on, you must understand and cherish one another as you walk through life together.
As someone who’s been married for 30 years, I’d like to offer this advice: a beautiful family can only be built when the husband loves his wife and the wife respects her husband. I hope you’ll always be a couple who cherish, love, and respect one another.
And once again, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of you who have gathered here today to celebrate the marriage of the bride and groom.
[Date] [Month] [Year] Mother of the Bride, ○○○

A Companion Like a Friend (Bride’s Thank-You Speech)

Hello, everyone. I am the bride, ○○○. Thank you to everyone who has come here today despite the inclement weather. I hope the old saying that “rain on your wedding day means a happy marriage” turns out to be true.
As I sent out the invitations and shared the news of our wedding, I reflected deeply on how I had been too neglectful of the precious people around me, using busyness as an excuse. Nevertheless, I am truly grateful that you have all offered your sincere congratulations and joined us here today.
I would like to thank my elderly relatives who traveled from far away and arrived early this morning. My husband and I will come to greet you shortly.
My husband and I met as senior and junior classmates in college and have spent a long time together. We participated in various club activities while in school, and even after graduation, as we each pursued our careers, we’ve been a great source of strength for one another.
He’s always been by my side through both happy and sad times, and he’s always guided me so I wouldn’t lose my way. That’s why I naturally came to believe that I’d like to spend the rest of my life with him.
Although this isn’t a marriage born of a whirlwind romance, I believe we’ll build a stronger life together than anyone else because of our deep trust, love, and loyalty.
I hope we can continue to treat each other like friends for the rest of our lives, just as we have until now.
Mom and Dad! Thank you so much for loving and cherishing me. I’ll do my best to look out for everyone just as much as you’ve loved me. I know I’m far from perfect and have much to learn, so I hope you’ll be generous in your forgiveness and teach me a lot.
Finally, I want to tell my parents—who raised me with love and devotion to bring me to this day—that I love them so, so much. I know very well that my father, in particular, doted on me and had high expectations for me. I’ll work even harder to live well now that I’m married, so please watch over me.
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you once again for blessing us on this day as we become one. I would be even more grateful if you would pray that we may build a loving home together.
We promise once again to cherish and love one another, and to stand together with sincere hearts. Thank you. [Month] [Day], [Year] Bride ○○○

I will be a daughter-in-law like a daughter and a wife like a friend (Bride’s Thank-You Speech)

Hello? I am Bride ○○○. I would like to thank all the family members and relatives in attendance today, as well as my coworkers and friends.
After discussing it with our parents, we decided to have a wedding without an officiant. While sending out wedding invitations to share the news, I reflected deeply on how I had been neglectful toward those around me, using busyness as an excuse. So, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all of you who are here today, to my parents, my in-laws, and my husband.
First and foremost, I’d like to thank both sets of parents for readily agreeing to this unprecedented wedding without an officiant.
And since I might have remained a spinster for the rest of my life if it weren’t for him, I feel both deeply sorry and grateful to my husband for making it possible for me to stand here today in my wedding dress. I want to tell him that I’ll do my best from now on.
To be honest, I’m not confident that I’ll be a perfect daughter-in-law, daughter, or wife. However, I am confident that I can be a daughter-in-law who is like a daughter and a wife who is like a friend.
When my husband proposed to me, I made one promise: I told him I would never let him go without breakfast. I found out later that my mother-in-law really loved that promise.
Even after we’re married, I’ll do my best to be a daughter-in-law who is deeply loved by my mother-in-law.
To my parents, I’m so sorry that I wasn’t always the most obedient daughter. They say you become an adult when you get married, and I feel like I’m finally coming to my senses now. Now that I’m married, I will build a harmonious home with my husband and show even greater filial piety to my parents, who raised me so well.
I’d like to take this opportunity to say “I love you”—words I’ve always been too shy to say—to my in-laws, my parents, and my husband.
And I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has joined us today to celebrate our wedding. We promise once again to cherish and love one another and to stand together with sincere hearts. Thank you. [Month] [Day], [Year] Bride ○○○

I will be a wife who never lets my husband go hungry (Bride’s Thank-You Speech)

Hello, everyone? I am ○○○, the happiest bride in the world today. Although I feel shy and embarrassed speaking in front of all of you like this, I’d like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the people who are most precious to me.
First of all, I’d like to sincerely thank our family, relatives, coworkers, and friends who are here today to celebrate our marriage.
While preparing for the wedding, my husband and I had so many differences of opinion that we even joked about whether we’d actually be able to pull off the wedding. But when I thought about who else but me could help my groom escape his life as a confirmed bachelor, I realized there was no one else.
I am always grateful to my husband for understanding and supporting me with such a generous heart. To my steadfast, dependable, and wonderful husband—who made it possible for me to stand here today as the most beautiful bride in the world—I want to say how sorry I am, how grateful I am, and that I’ll do my best from now on.
To be honest, I’m not confident I’ll be a perfect wife. But I will keep my promise not to be the heartless wife who leaves my husband hungry in the morning.
When my husband first proposed, he promised that while life might bring hardships, he would never make me face them alone, and I promised him that I would at least never let him go hungry.
No matter what worries I have or what trials come our way, I will never face them alone. And I’ll share the happy moments with him as well.
Mother-in-law, father-in-law, and my own mother and father—you trust me, don’t you? Through this occasion, I’d like to say the words “I love you”—words I’ve been too shy to say before—to my parents, my in-laws, and my husband.
I’d also like to express my sincere gratitude to all of you who have joined us today to celebrate our marriage. We promise once again to cherish and love one another and to walk this path together with sincere hearts. Thank you. Date, Year Bride ○○○

I’ll Do My Best to Be Happy (Bride’s Thank-You Speech)

Hello, everyone. I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to all of you who have attended our wedding today and blessed our future together.
When I first announced that we would have a wedding without an officiant, you must have been quite taken aback. However, I actually saw this as a positive opportunity to express my gratitude to those around me whom I hadn’t been able to thank properly before.
When I first met my husband, I was really impressed by how he wasn’t authoritarian, interacted with his employees on an equal footing, and treated everyone with courtesy. As time went on, those qualities became even more impressive to me.
During our fairly long courtship and the fast-paced wedding preparations, my flaws must have come to light, but it felt so heartwarming that he understood them all.
I’m learning from my husband how to treat the person I love. It’s also thanks to my husband that my heart has become so much more at peace these days.
Thank you, my husband, for making it possible for me to live the rest of my life with this same sense of peace and happiness.
I’m also deeply grateful to my mother-in-law for raising such a wonderful husband, and for loving and caring for me even though I’m not very good at anything. I’ll do my best to care for my mother-in-law with even more devotion than I feel in my heart and to make her happy.
Finally, Mom, Dad, and Grandma, thank you for raising me with so much love all these years, allowing me to meet such a wonderful person and get married.
With the support of everyone here celebrating our marriage today, we will do our very best to live happily together. Thank you. [Month] [Day], [Year] Bride ○○○

May you rely on one another as you go through life together (Family Representative · Father of the Bride)

Hello. I would like to thank all our family members, relatives, coworkers, and friends who have gathered here today to wish my child a happy future and celebrate her wedding.
It’s drizzling lightly today. Just as the saying goes that “rain brings prosperity,” I hope the two of you will always cherish, care for, and love one another.
It feels like just yesterday when my lovely daughter was born, spoke her first words, took her first steps, and started school. Time flies like a rushing stream. That daughter graduated from school, found a job, and became a confident member of society, and now she’s brought home a reliable young man, announcing her intention to marry.
For a moment, as a father, I felt as though my daughter was being taken away from me, and I may have been a bit harsh toward my son-in-law at first, but I hope you’ll understand that it all comes from a father’s love for his daughter.
I’m sorry there are still so many things I haven’t been able to do for my daughter. As a reserved father, I never properly expressed that I “love her,” and even on occasions worth celebrating, I tended to watch quietly rather than make a big fuss.
Back then, I thought that was the best I could do, but now that she’s right beside me, I feel even more sorry that I can’t even do these simple things for her.
Now, her husband will surely take better care of her than I ever did. Since she’s my youngest daughter, I feel like I spoiled her too much, raising her to be nothing but sweet, so I can’t help but worry—out of an old man’s anxiety—that she might make mistakes once she’s married. Every time I worry like this, her mother tells me, “Don’t worry,” but as a dad who’s completely smitten with his daughter, my worries keep getting the better of me.
As you go through life, there will be days when things get tough and you’ll feel like giving up. My advice, as a father and someone who’s been through life before you, is that during those times, you must trust and rely on each other even more.
When the world gets tough, it’s not friends but family who will be there to support you. And now, the bride and groom will be each other’s closest family.
I hope that whenever you face difficulties in the future, you’ll trust and rely on each other to overcome them. I sincerely congratulate you both on your marriage today. Thank you. [Month] [Day], [Year] On behalf of the family, ○○○