The mother of the bride speech.

It's a hand-off. You're walking your daughter from one family into another — formally, in front of everyone — and welcoming someone new into yours.

1. Welcome — thank guests, briefly.
2. Your daughter — who she's always been, one detail.
3. The day she met them — when you knew this was the one.
4. The partner — welcome them by name.
5. Toast — raise glasses, sit down.

""On behalf of John and me — welcome. To everyone who's travelled to be here, and everyone Sarah has somehow collected from every chapter of her life.""

""They warn you, when you have a daughter, about a day like today. They don't warn you that you'll be this happy.""

""I had written a long speech. Then I saw Sarah walk down the aisle and most of it left my head, so I'm going to keep this short and tell you what's actually true.""

One detail. Not five. The room remembers specifics, not lists.

"When Sarah was small, she used to sit at our kitchen table and make lists of everyone she loved. Her dad. Me. Her sister. The dog. The dog's friends. The whole list. She has always loved widely and out loud — and today, we get to watch her formally add Tom to that list."

This is the line their parents will quote forever. Make it specific.

""Tom — the first time you came to lunch, you brought flowers for me and a bottle for John and a packet of crisps for the dog. You'd thought about every one of us. We've watched you keep thinking about her every day since. Welcome to the family.""

• If they come, let them. Pause. Breathe.
• Don't apologise — the room loves you for it.
• Have a tissue on you. Not in your handbag at the back.
• Mark a 'slow down' note on your cue cards at the section you know will land hardest.

""Sarah, my darling — we have loved being your mum. Tom, we love that we get to be yours, too. Please raise your glasses. To Sarah and Tom.""