Father-of the-bride speeches should be memorable for all the right reasons. It can be touching or lightly humorous, and is often a combination of the two. Here’s everything you ever needed to know about the father-of-the-bride speech.
Speech Tips
Traditionally, the father-of-the-bride speech comes first, followed by the groom and finally the best man. The speeches come after the wedding breakfast and finish with the toasts to the happy couple. The speech doesn’t need to last more than just a few minutes and is often simply filled with amusing anecdotes of your daughter’s childhood. Add in a mention of how she met her new husband and how he has been welcomed into the family.
If the thought of making a speech in public is a little daunting, please do remember that you will only be standing up before mainly friends and family, and everyone there will want you to feel comfortable. Just relax, you don’t have to be a stand-up comic on the day, you can leave that role to the best man and just say what you feel.
The most enjoyable speeches come straight from the heart, with honesty and sincerity. It’s also good to remember to –
- Speak slowly so everyone can hear what you are saying.
- Use cue cards to remind you of each main point you want to cover but don’t read your speech word for word if you can help it.
- Practice your speech in front of an audience before the big day.
- Be sober – it will not help you to have that extra drink to ‘calm your nerves.’
- Keep it short – ten minutes is enough.
You can read 10 Rules for Successful Father of the Bride Speeches and perfect your speech structure so that even if you choose to ad-lib on the day, you will have a good idea of what you want to say. You might also want to look at the 7 Speech Sins to Avoid!
The father of the bride speech is also made on behalf of the bride’s mother. If she has died, then this may be the moment to say a few words in her memory. You could be very modern and have a mother of the bride speech instead or as well.
Sample Speech Template
Here’s a simple father of the bride speech you could stand up and deliver. It has everything you need to say and is touching and humorous in just the right amounts. All you need to do is change the names in italics and add in anything else you want to say such as personal anecdotes about your daughter:
‘This is an important day for me… a special day when we welcome John into our family. I am overwhelmed by how many of you came today, and some have travelled a great distance to be here. I want you to know how much my wife/husband/partner and I appreciate you all being here to share this day with us.
I have looked forward to this day for years. Jane makes a stunning bride, and we all know she is a kind and wonderful girl, just as John is a good man, who has already impressed us with his thoughtfulness and unshakeable love for our daughter. I wish them every happiness for the future. If they are even half as happy as my wife/husband/partner and I, then they will be very happy indeed.
Marriage is an important commitment and it takes more than just falling in love to make a marriage work. It needs patience and compromise, and I should know – I’ve been patiently compromising for years!
Seriously, it is wonderful to be able to celebrate with friends and loved ones. and Julia and I are so excited for Jane and John as they embark on this adventure called life together. You will no doubt face some challenges along the way, but if you both pull together and are always kind to each other, you will get through anything and enjoy many, many happy, joyous times together. Our only advice to you both is to always put the other one first and to talk about everything openly and honestly. If you both do that, you will always be happy.
Ladies and gentlemen, please be upstanding. I give you… the bride and groom.’
Speech Creator and Check List
And finally, you can use the Speech Creator to build your own personalised speech by simply adding in the names of your wedding party, or write your own using our handy Check List for your Speech.
