While plagiarism is never acceptable, quoting clever people in your wedding speech is a great way of super-charging your speech with a bit of extra wit. The wedding speech experts at Speechy have curated the best fathers of the bride quotes for their father of the bride speech guide, and explain how best to use them.
Using quotes is a great way of adding some gravitas to your speech (and the only legitimate way of exploiting other people’s hard work!) but don’t get lazy with them. Use the quotes as an addition to what you want to say, rather than a substitute for your own words. Write your speech first, then see if a quote or two can make it better.
How to Use Quotes Well: 5 Tips
Tip #1: Make the quotes meaningful. Think about the books you’ve read together, the films you’ve watched and the music you’ve both sung along to over the years. Do any of these lend themselves to a great quote? Guaranteed, your daughter will love your speech more if it brings back fond memories.
Tip #2: Don’t just use quotes for the sentimental bit. Quotes can also add humour where it’s needed.
Tip #3: Don’t overload your speech with quotes. Use two, maximum, as a general rule—one at the top and one towards the end.
Tip #4: Quote recognisable names (or at least provide some context). It’s good to quote people that you’ve actually have heard of (or at least respect after you’ve looked them up on Wikipedia). You’ll find there’s loads of great quotes by people you’ve never heard of, but do you really want to qualify them by saying they were written by a ‘relationship consultant’?
Tip #5: Add a back ref. Put the quote into a personal context, or make it humorous with an ‘ad lib’.
Touching Father of the Bride Quote Examples
#1: “I am nothing special; just a common man with common thoughts, and I’ve led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect I have succeeded as gloriously as anyone who’s ever lived: I’ve loved another with all my heart and soul; and to me, this has always been enough.”
Nicolas Sparks, The Notebook.
This quote, although originally used in a romantic context, also works brilliantly in defining a father’s relationship with his daughter.
#2: “I knew when I met you an adventure was going to happen.”
A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh.
That moment you met your daughter for the first time, summed up by a honey-munching bear.
#3: “The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart.”
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
A great one if you read this classic together when she was young.
Featured above: Rosanna & Andy’s Georgian Manor Wedding
Humorous Father of the Bride Quote Examples
#1: ‘’Now, remember! As far as anyone knows, we’re a nice, normal family.’’
Homer Simpson, The Simpsons
Address this to your daughter when you’re welcoming your son-in-law to the family. E.g. “In the words of one of the greatest 21st century thinkers, Homer Simpson, ‘Remember (daughter)! As far as anyone knows….’”
#2: ‘”Everyone should have kids. They are the greatest joy in the world, but they are also terrorists. You’ll realise this as soon as they’re born, and they start using sleep deprivation to break you.”
Comedian Ray Romano
A good opening line to get you in to the childhood stories.
#3: “Love is a lot like a back-ache: it doesn’t show up on X-rays, but you know it’s there.”
Comedian George Burns
One that the older generation might appreciate!
Marriage Advice Quote Examples
#1: “A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.”
Author Mignon McLaughlin
Rather sweet. Completely true.
#2: “It doesn’t matter if the guy is perfect or the girl is perfect, as long as they are perfect for each other.’’
Good Will Hunting
Robin Williams nails it.
#3: “When marrying, ask yourself this question: Do you believe that you will be able to converse well with this person into your old age? Everything else in marriage is transitory.”
Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche
Those philosophers are romantic sorts really.
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The Classic Wedding Quote Examples
#1: “I love being married. It’s so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.”
Comedienne Rita Rudner
It’s a classic but it still gets a laugh from all the married folk.
#2: “A good marriage would be between a blind wife and a deaf husband.”
Philosopher Michel du Montaigne
Not exactly P.C. but potentially accurate.
#3: “Never go to bed on an argument. Stay up and fight.”
Comedienne Phyllis Diller
We never tire of this one. And follow her advice every night.
Featured above: Jessica and Ed’s Super Stylish Wedding at Clevedon Hall
Speechy are a team of ex BBC scriptwriters who create amazing wedding speeches for people in need. Check them out if you want to make your speech a little less ordinary.
For more on wedding quotes, you’ll find some funny, romantic, and meaningful quote examples here.
