As Father of the Bride, and wedding host, your speech is generally first cab off the rank.
You will have certain conventions that generally fall to you. As the “opening act” your job is to welcome the guests and to set the tone for a relaxed and joyous event – “to kick things off” so to speak.
With just a little forethought, and by following a few simple rules, you can easily create a wedding day speech that totally rocks and leaves your gorgeous daughter inspired.
What makes a great Father of the Bride speech?
Simple, really!
The Father of the Bride speech will typically be warm, affectionate, and sprinkled with humour – not too much though.
Look at it this way. You have four roles to fulfill:
- Welcoming host
- Proud and loving father to the bride
- Proud and optimistic father-in-law to the groom
- To propose the toast to the bride and groom
The formula is simple enough, just make sure your speech covers all four.
Firstly, the welcoming host
These days it is unusual that the Father of the Bride foots the bill for the entire wedding. Even so, someone needs to take the role of host and that usually falls to Father of the Bride.
Your speech should officially welcome the guests to the wedding, particularly any that have gone out of their way to help in the months preceding, or who have travelled long distances to be there.
Next, the proud and loving father
Your guests love to hear you talking about your daughter and, no doubt, this should be the main feature of your speech. Have two or three stories from your daughter’s growing up years; recall treasured moments both funny and sweet.
If you’re struggling for a starting point, ask yourself:
- What was she like as a baby? What events were happening around the time of her birth?
- What where some of the things she treasured as a little girl?
- What funny little habits did she have? What quirky expressions? What stories stand out for you about her childhood? Do any of these tell us about the woman she has become?
- What do you love or admire most about her?
- What hopes do you have for her for the future?
Believe me, regardless of whether your guests are hearing these stories for the first time, or where there to share your stories during her growing up years, this is exactly the part of the speech they love and enjoy.
Conclude with how proud you are of the woman she has become and how beautiful she is on her wedding day.
Then, the proud (and optimistic) father-in-law
Although most of your speech will be focus on the bride, protocol dictates that you will publicly welcome your new son-in-law to the family and give him the “seal of approval”.
Yes, you may have your reservations, but this is just not the time – so not even a hint.
If he’s “a top bloke” – even better.
Take a moment to recount some short story about the groom: perhaps the first time you met him, or a quality you admire. Include something about how well suited the couple are; or about the happiness you know they share.
Finally, the toast
Ask your guests to charge their glasses as you propose toast to the bride and groom.
That’s it!
By the end of the Father of the Bride speech the guests should:
- feel they know the bride a little better and understand some of what made her the woman she is today
- know that you are proud of and happy for your daughter and new son-in-law
Now settle back and enjoy the wedding celebrations.
Like some help writing a Father of the Bride speech?
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