In this blog post, we explore the etiquette and heartfelt ways for the bride and her family to convey their thanks at the wedding.

To My Beloved Daughter

Today, my beloved daughter becomes an adult and gets married. Truthfully, even yesterday, the reality of my daughter leaving home didn’t fully sink in. But now, standing here, looking at you in your white wedding dress as I read this letter, the word “marriage” finally resonates deep within my heart. Above all, I sincerely thank everyone here today who has come to celebrate our daughter’s wedding.
Truthfully, this letter wasn’t hastily written for today. It’s a letter I wrote long ago, when you were very young, back when we were poor and leaned on each other to get by. I wrote it imagining the day you would marry someday. Back then, it felt like a distant dream. Now, reading it aloud before so many people, my heart swells.
My dearest daughter.
Dad remembers what I was like when I was around four years old, long before you were born. We lived in a shack back then. My memories are hazy from being so young—or perhaps I deliberately forgot what I didn’t want to remember. But even now, thinking back on those days in that cramped, leaky room we shared, huddled together like shrimp, relying on each other’s warmth to sleep, feels so incredibly warm. That happiness, you know, poverty could never take away.
When you were about four, you begged us to move to a two-story house. “Climbing up to the fourth floor is too hard,” you said. Hearing that, Dad couldn’t say a word for a moment and swallowed his tears inside. That single sentence from your young mouth resonated deeply within him. Right then, Dad resolved: ‘I will not leave this child with painful memories. I will ensure only warm things remain in this child’s memories.’
Those times were truly difficult, yet they were also when we loved each other most deeply. Poverty existed, but so did family laughter, and at the end of every grueling day, you were always there. Your very existence made Dad dream of a better tomorrow, and that dream ultimately brought us to where we are today.
Now, the father from those days is reading this letter while looking at you, now an adult. You in your wedding dress are more beautiful than any flower in the world. Seeing you like this, I suddenly reflect on how much love I’ve given you over the years. Sometimes I’m sorry I couldn’t fully express that love, and there were days when I was too caught up in the world to comfort you, but your smile alone always gave me strength again.
I’ve done my best to raise you to be happy. And seeing you stand there now, with such a happy face, I feel that all those days were never in vain. I was inadequate and clumsy, but the fact that I still live on in your laughter fills me with nothing but gratitude.
Now you are about to embark on a new journey. Marriage isn’t just about living with someone you love; it’s about carrying each other’s lives together. As you live, there will be moments you don’t understand, times that are hard to endure. In those moments, I hope you remember me and don’t lose your center. Now, it won’t be me, but your husband who will be your windbreak. With him by your side, I believe you can weather any storm.
My beloved daughter, I sincerely congratulate you on your marriage. And to my son-in-law, ○○○, I am truly delighted to welcome you. I ask that you cherish and love my daughter wholeheartedly. If you lean on each other, sometimes reaching out a hand to walk together, no trial will be frightening.
Once again, I extend my deepest gratitude to all family and friends gathered here today, and to our cherished guests. In this moment, as my daughter takes her first step into a new life surrounded by your blessings, there is no greater joy for me as her father.
My beloved daughter, when you smile, Daddy is the happiest man in the world. Now, I hope that smile blooms alongside your husband.
Daddy will always love you. Truly, I love you so much.

May you become a beloved daughter-in-law and wife

Hello. I am ○○○, the bride’s mother.
First, I sincerely thank everyone who took the trouble to come despite the inclement weather to celebrate the wedding of the groom and bride. There is an old saying: ‘A wedding on a rainy day brings lifelong happiness.’ On a day like today, those words resonate deeply.
The heart of a mother sending her young daughter off to marriage is filled with excitement, yet also with worry and anxiety. Her father’s heart must have been even more complex and profound. To those feelings, first and foremost, I offer my deepest gratitude to my in-laws for warmly welcoming my daughter. To repay the love you show her, I promise to cherish and love my son-in-law as if he were my own son.
The night before the wedding, lying side by side with my husband in bed, we looked back on the past and shared many stories. Though my husband is usually quiet, that night, perhaps overwhelmed by his emotions as a father, he spoke more than usual. The time since she was first conceived, her first day of kindergarten, the excitement of running home after winning first place at her elementary school sports day, her middle and high school entrance ceremonies, and the day she was accepted into university… The past 27 years flashed before our eyes like a galloping horse.
Throughout it all, our daughter grew up sincerely and kindly, without a single rebellious moment. She is a treasure beyond words, a source of immeasurable gratitude to us. Thanks to our in-laws, who cherish her like their own daughter and embrace her with warmth, our hearts are at ease. And our son-in-law, ○○○, who treasures and loves our daughter more than anyone in the world. His dependable and trustworthy presence makes us feel as if we’ve gained a reliable son, something we never had before.
I still vividly remember when our son-in-law first came to greet us at our home, eating the food I had prepared with such care and relish. Just as the saying goes, ‘Good fortune comes to those who eat heartily,’ his warm and deeply impressive demeanor opened the door to our hearts.
Of course, this bittersweet feeling runs deeper than anyone else’s, but now the two of them stand before a new beginning. Looking forward to the brighter, more beautiful future ahead, my heart swells with emotion and fresh feelings at the thought of our family growing by one. Now, the two of them must walk together as one on the paths they’ve each walked in their own lives. Understanding and caring for each other, walking together through laughter and tears—that is the journey of marriage.
As someone who has walked this path before, and as a wife approaching 30 years of marriage, there is something I truly want to convey. A truly beautiful and peaceful home is built only when a husband sincerely loves his wife and a wife deeply respects her husband. I sincerely hope you become a couple who never lose respect and affection for each other.
Finally, I would like to express my deepest gratitude once again to everyone who has come today to bless the future of the groom and bride. Your warm congratulations and support will be a great strength as these two build a beautiful home together.
Thank you.

May you live leaning on each other

Hello.
I am deeply grateful to all the family and friends, company colleagues, and friends who have come here today to bless my daughter’s future and sincerely congratulate the couple on their marriage.
Today, a gentle autumn rain is falling. There’s an old saying that a wedding on a rainy day brings a long and happy marriage. May this rain be a blessing for the couple, and may good fortune always accompany them in their future life. I sincerely hope they cherish and care for each other, and spend their entire lives together with love.
The moment my lovely daughter first uttered “Mommy, Daddy” is still vivid in my mind. The day she took her first steps, the day she wore her school uniform for the first time and entered school—all these moments remain vivid in my memory, as if they were yesterday. Yet time truly flies. Before I knew it, she graduated from school, stepped into society, and now, having found her life partner, she is getting married, bringing home a dependable son-in-law.
At that moment, my heart as a father felt incredibly complex. To be honest, I was a bit cold toward my son-in-law, perhaps because I felt a pang of sadness, as if my daughter was being taken away. But I hope you understand that all those feelings ultimately stemmed from a father’s genuine love for his daughter.
Looking back, there’s still so much I haven’t done for my daughter. I’ve always been quiet and reserved, rarely saying “I love you,” and even when there was cause for celebration, I believed silently watching over her was best rather than showing it outwardly. But now, looking back, I regret those days when I couldn’t even offer such small expressions, and that makes me feel even more sorry. Now, my role is gradually diminishing, and I trust my son-in-law will steadfastly protect my daughter as her husband.
Because she’s my youngest daughter, I’ve cherished and doted on her more than the others. Honestly, I worry she might make mistakes now that she’s married. My wife always reassures me, “She’ll do just fine, don’t worry so much,” but a doting father’s heart just can’t let go easily.
As they build their life together, they will surely have many joyful and happy days. Yet there will also be times when they feel weary and exhausted, perhaps even tempted to give up. But it is precisely in those moments that leaning on and trusting each other becomes most crucial. As someone who has walked this path before, if there’s one thing I must share, it’s this: the harder the world becomes, the greater the strength found in mutual faith and trust.
The ones who truly embrace me and stand by me to the very end are not friends, but family. And from this day forward, you two will become that closest family. Whatever challenges come your way, I believe that by always trusting and leaning on each other, together you can overcome any difficulty.
Through this beautiful wedding ceremony, I wish the couple a future filled with warm love and happiness. Once again, I sincerely congratulate you on your marriage.
Thank you.

We will do our best to be happy

Hello, everyone.
We sincerely thank all of you who attended our wedding today and blessed our new beginning together.
When we first decided to prepare a ‘wedding without an officiant,’ it felt a bit unfamiliar and made us a little anxious. But thanks to that, we feel it’s become even more meaningful, allowing us to express our honest feelings and share words of gratitude we couldn’t normally convey directly in this place.
What impressed me most when I first met my husband was that he had no airs whatsoever. He communicated informally with his colleagues and was always courteous to everyone. Another important thing I came to realize over time was that despite his many strengths, he always acted with humility. These qualities were the most important elements of the ideal partner I had long dreamed of, and they naturally drew me to him.
Our courtship wasn’t long, and preparing for marriage was a hectic time, so my shortcomings probably showed. Yet, whenever that happened, my husband always offered warm understanding and tender support. These days, I’m learning from him how to express my feelings to someone I love. Thanks to him, my heart is more peaceful than ever, and I believe all this change is because of my husband.
I want to sincerely thank my husband for being by my side, helping me keep this warm and stable heart for the rest of our lives. And I extend my deepest gratitude to my husband’s mother for raising such a wonderful person. Thank you so much for always treating me with such kindness and caring for me so warmly. From now on, I will also treat you as my most precious family member and do my very best to make you happy.
Furthermore, I take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to my parents and maternal grandmother, who made me who I am today. Thanks to their unconditional love and nurturing, I was able to meet such a wonderful person and achieve the precious fruit of marriage. Thank you for making it possible for us to celebrate such a happy day as today.
Finally, I would like to once again express my gratitude to everyone who took time out of your busy schedules to be here and celebrate our beginning. We will carry your warm hearts deep within us, and we promise to respect and cherish each other, doing our utmost to live happily together.
Thank you.

A Companion Like a Friend

Hello, I am the bride, ○○○.
Today, the rain is pouring down and the weather is rather gloomy, yet I sincerely thank everyone for taking the time to join us despite the conditions. It is said that rain on a wedding day symbolizes blessings for the couple’s future. Perhaps that is why today’s rain feels especially meaningful and significant.
While sending out invitations and sharing our wedding news, I reflected on how I often neglected to check in with dear friends and family, using busyness as an excuse. Despite this, I am deeply grateful for the heartfelt congratulations and support so many of you have sent. To everyone here today, my gratitude is beyond words—I am deeply moved. I sincerely thank our elderly relatives who traveled far and started their journey early this morning. My husband and I will greet you shortly.
My husband and I met as seniors and juniors in college and have shared a long journey together. We built memories through various activities during our school days, and even after graduation, when we walked our own paths, we remained steadfast pillars of support for each other. He is the one who stood by me through joy and hardship, guiding me forward; the one who always warmly steered me in the right direction so I wouldn’t lose my way. That person is now my husband. The trust and friendship we built over so many years naturally blossomed into love, and at some point, the conviction that “I could spend my whole life with this person” took root in my heart.
Our love wasn’t a dramatic, fiery romance, but instead, we take pride in our trust, loyalty, and sincerity towards each other, which we believe are stronger than anyone else’s. We want to continue respecting and cherishing each other as we do now, walking together like friends on life’s long journey.
I also extend my deepest gratitude to both sets of parents. Thank you for always welcoming me with warmth and cherishing me like your own daughter. To repay your love and care, I will strive to learn earnestly and become a good daughter-in-law, though I know I have much to learn. I humbly ask for your continued guidance and kind understanding.
Above all, I sincerely thank my own parents, who raised me with love to bring me to this day. Thanks to my father and mother, who always loved me unconditionally and believed in me, I stand here today. Especially since my father showed me such great expectations and affection, I will now repay him by becoming a more mature wife and daughter. I will carry my parents’ love deep in my heart and strive to live even more diligently from now on.
Once again, I sincerely thank you all for blessing this moment where we two become one. Your warm congratulations and prayers will be a great strength for our future. We reaffirm our commitment to cherish and love each other, to spend our lives together with sincere hearts, and conclude our greetings.
Thank you.

I will be a daughter-in-law like a daughter, a wife like a friend

Hello. I am the bride, ○○○.
I sincerely thank our family, relatives, colleagues, and dear friends who took the time to attend our wedding today.
We chose to have a wedding without an officiant. Before making this decision, my husband and I discussed it thoroughly with both sets of parents, and they all graciously gave their permission. While sending out invitations and preparing for the wedding, I deeply regret not properly conveying my heartfelt feelings to the precious people around me, often using busyness as an excuse. I realize I even neglected my own family. So today, I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone here celebrating us, to both sets of parents, and to my husband.
Above all, I am profoundly grateful to both sets of parents for willingly allowing us to have a wedding without an officiant. Your respect for our decision and your warm support make this occasion feel even more meaningful. I also want to express special thanks to my husband. Honestly, if it weren’t for him, I might never have found my way to marriage. Because of him, I can stand here today in my wedding dress, and for that alone, I am always filled with gratitude and overwhelming emotion. During our time together, feelings of apology and gratitude have intertwined, but now I reaffirm my commitment to live as a better wife and a steadfast companion.
Truthfully, I don’t believe I can be the perfect daughter-in-law, daughter, or wife. But I am confident I can be a daughter-in-law as affectionate as a daughter and a wife as affectionate as a friend. When my husband first proposed to me, I promised him with a heart full of emotion: “I will never let you go without breakfast.” I later heard that my mother-in-law loved that promise very much. Hearing that gave me a good feeling, a sense that even after marriage, I could be a daughter-in-law who is cherished by her mother-in-law.
I also want to tell my parents. I know you must have felt a deep sense of loss sending your daughter off to marry. I’m filled with nothing but regret for not being affectionate enough or expressing myself well all this time. Preparing for marriage has gradually helped me understand what it means to become an adult. Now, building a new family with my husband, I will live a life repaying the love my parents have given me.
These are words I’ve been too shy to say before, but today, I absolutely want to convey them.
To my in-laws, my parents, and my husband, I want to say I love you all with all my heart. I also sincerely thank everyone who took precious time out of your busy schedules to celebrate our marriage.
Moving forward, we will cherish and respect each other, living as a couple who truly love one another. We will walk together with the same sincere love we had at the very beginning.
Once again, thank you to everyone who joined us today.
Thank you.

I will be a wife who never lets her husband go hungry

Hello. I am ○○○, the happiest bride in the world today. While it feels a bit awkward and shy to share my story in front of all of you like this, I want to take this opportunity to express the gratitude I’ve been longing to convey.
First, I sincerely thank our family, relatives, company colleagues, and friends who took the time to celebrate our wedding today. Honestly, while preparing for the wedding, my husband and I often disagreed, and I worried whether we could even pull off this ceremony. We’d jokingly say, “Is this marriage even possible?” But every time, I thought to myself, ‘If not me, who else could save this groom from his bachelor days?’ Amidst the laughter, I truly resolved, ‘I must marry this man.’ What began as a joke has now become a reality, and for the husband beside me at this very moment, I feel nothing but gratitude and warmth. Thanks to his constant generosity and dependable heart, understanding and protecting me, I believe I can stand here today.
I want to take this moment to express my gratitude, my apologies, and my love to my husband, who made it possible for me to stand here as the most beautiful bride in the world. To him, steadfast and trustworthy, I want to promise to do better from now on, and to pledge to always be by his side with a grateful heart.
Truthfully, I don’t believe I can be a ‘perfect wife’. But one thing is certain: I am confident I will never be the kind of heartless wife who lets her husband go hungry in the morning. When my husband proposed to me, we made one promise to each other. He said, “Life will surely bring hardships and difficulties. But I’ll never leave you alone.“ I replied, ”Then I promise I’ll make sure you never go hungry.” It may sound like an ordinary exchange, but that promise we made then remains firmly rooted in my heart to this day. No matter what worries arise, no matter what difficulties come our way, I will never bear them alone. I want us to share both the joyful and the difficult times, becoming each other’s steadfast support.
And today, I also want to express my deepest gratitude to my parents and my in-laws. I’m truly happy to finally be able to say “I love you,” something I was too shy to properly express before. Parents, and parents-in-law, thank you sincerely for believing in us and supporting us. We will strive to live well, so we may never bring shame to your hearts.
Finally, I extend my deepest gratitude once more to everyone who has joined us today to celebrate our marriage. In your blessings, we pledge to cherish and love each other, always standing together with sincerity. Thank you so much for being here with us at this new beginning.
Thank you.

May our married life be filled with love and care

Hello. I am the father of today’s bride, Miss ○○○. I sincerely thank all the family, relatives, and friends and colleagues of the bride and groom who took precious time out of your busy schedules to be here with us today.
Today is the wedding of my daughter, who is so precious to me. I always knew this day would come, yet standing here now, it still feels unreal. It’s hard to believe I’m standing here as her father, and my emotions are truly mixed. It feels like just yesterday she was born, and now she has met a wonderful person. Amidst the blessings of many, she is embarking on a new chapter in life and is now ready to fulfill her responsibilities as a wife in a family. While I feel a sense of relief that my role as a parent is somewhat complete, it is also true that a wave of sadness washes over me.
As our only daughter, we cherished her dearly. We had our shortcomings, and there were times when our hearts ached as parents. Yet, seeing her begin a new life with her beloved today, sharing this joy with so many, fills me with sincere gratitude. I extend my deepest thanks to my in-laws and my son-in-law, who truly cherish and love my daughter. It is thanks to all of you that my daughter stands here today.
Throughout her upbringing, a sense of inadequacy weighed heavily on my heart, knowing I hadn’t done enough for her. As a father whose reserved nature often prevented me from properly expressing my love, I want to say what I’ve never been able to say until now: “My daughter, I’m so sorry, and I’m truly grateful. And I love you more than anyone else.” I hope these words reach deep into her heart.
Now, these two children have promised to cherish and love each other, pledging to spend their entire lives together. I believe in that promise and am confident they will walk their future path together. Of course, life may bring difficulties at times, but if they lean on each other and pool their strength, they can overcome any crisis together. I ask you all to send your warm support and prayers so that these two may walk a happy path together.
While every moment has been significant, now is the time for them to build a new family and live with responsibility toward each other. This is no longer an era where the phrase ‘once married, they become outsiders’ holds unquestionable truth. As parents, I believe our role now is to cheer them on in their lives and serve as steadfast supporters, offering guidance and help when needed. I will do my utmost for them.
Above all, ‘family’ is paramount. A happy home is built on mutual respect: the wife honoring her husband, the husband cherishing his wife, and both living with consideration for each other. The love and harmony that stem from the family are the most powerful driving force to overcome any hardship. No matter what trials come their way, I sincerely hope they will always support and love each other, remembering that family is the most precious thing.
Finally, I would like to express my deepest gratitude once again to everyone here today who has blessed the couple’s future. Your encouragement and warm hearts will be a great strength to the bride and groom. I pray that the bride and groom’s future path will always be filled with love and happiness, and I wish peace and joy to all of your families as well.
Thank you.