The father of the bride speech is a highly anticipated part of a wedding reception where the father of the bride addresses the all the guests and offers words of congratulations, gratitude, and well wishes to the newlyweds. It’s no wonder that many fathers of the bride get a little nervous at the thought of delivering a speech to their nearest and dearest, so let’s have a closer look at all you need to know about writing and delivering a brilliant father of the bride speech.
What is a father of the bride’s speech?
The father of the bride speech is usually the first speech of the evening, during the wedding reception. It’s a heartfelt expression of love for the bride, offering advice to the couple, and welcoming the groom into the family. This speech gives the father a special moment to show support for his daughter and express gratitude to the guests for sharing in the celebration. It’s a beautiful opportunity to highlight the bond with the bride and extend warm wishes to the newlyweds.
How should I write the perfect father of the bride speech?
There are three key stages to crafting the perfect Father of the Bride speech – preparation, content and delivery and we are here to walk you through each step.
Preparing the father of the bride speech
Planning and preparation are crucial for delivering a successful father of the bride speech. It allows you to organise your thoughts and ideas, and to structure the speech in a way that flows naturally and makes sense to the audience. It also gives you the chance to tailor the speech to the audience, so that it’s appropriate and relevant to the guests.
By taking the time to plan and prepare for the speech, you can ensure your words are well-received and that the speech is a memorable and meaningful part of the wedding celebration.
When it comes to researching and gathering information for your wedding day, let’s have a look at some tried and tested ways to help you begin your speech writing journey.
- Start early – The earlier you start preparing for your speech, the more time you’ll have to think about what you want to say and how you want to say it.
- Talk to your daughter – Your daughter will be a great source of inspiration and material for your speech. She can tell you about the special moments and memories she shares with you and her partner, and give you an insight into their relationship.
- Talk to your future son-in-law – It’s also a good idea to talk to your daughter’s partner and get to know them better. You could ask them about their thoughts on marriage, future plans with your daughter and what they love about her.
- Find wedding speech inspiration – Look back at old family albums, videos, and pictures: It can be a great source of inspiration for the speech and can even be incorporated into the speech itself.
- Check out other father of the bride speech examples – There are countless examples of father of the bride speeches that you can look at for inspiration, just be sure not to directly copy any work you find.
By doing this, you will be able to gather a wealth of material that you can use to craft a heartfelt speech that truly captures the love and affection you have for your daughter.
As the father of the bride, what should I include in my wedding speech?
Writing a father of the bride speech can feel daunting, but it’s actually straightforward. There are a few key elements to include, and most speeches follow a familiar structure. Focus on these essentials, and you won’t go wrong.
Typically, a father of the bride speech includes the following:
- Well wishes for the newlyweds – Start by congratulating the couple on their marriage.
- Personal anecdotes and memories – Share personal stories and memories of your daughter that show your guests more of her character and upbringing.
- Expressions of pride – Let your daughter know how proud you are of the person she has become and how much you love her.
- Welcome the groom into the family – Formally welcome the groom into your family, and express your happiness that he will be a part of your daughter’s life.
- Thank the guests – Show your gratitude to the guests for being a part of the special day.
- Offer words of advice or wisdom for the couple – Share any words of wisdom or advice you have for the couple as they begin their life together.
- Toast to the couple – End your speech by raising a toast to the couple and wishing them a lifetime of love.
Father of the bride speech examples
It’s important to make the father of the bride speech your own and not rely wholly on just one source of inspiration.
To get you started, here a few examples of quotes that you could include in your father of the bride speech. You’ll find longer examples here.
- “I’ve always known that my daughter would find someone special, but I never imagined she would find someone as amazing as [partner’s name].”
- “I’m so grateful to have [partner’s name] as an in-law. He has not only won my daughter’s heart, but mine too.”
- “To my beautiful daughter, [bride’s name], I couldn’t be happier for you on your special day”.
- “You have grown into an amazing woman, and I am so proud of the person you have become.”
- “I want to welcome you to our family. You have brought so much love and happiness into our daughter’s life, and we are grateful to have you as part of our family.”
- “A wise man once said, ‘The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.’ And that is exactly how [bride’s name] and [partner’s name] make each other feel.”
Should I write a funny father of the bride speech?
Some people wonder whether a father of the bride speech should be funny. It really depends on your personality and the tone of the wedding. Humor can help lighten the mood and keep the audience engaged, but it’s important that it feels natural and appropriate.
If you’re naturally inclined toward humour and feel comfortable, adding a few jokes can work well. However, an entertaining speech doesn’t have to rely on humor. Focus on preparation, practice, and authenticity – tailoring your speech to your personal style and relationship with your daughter.
Speech delivery
Delivering your speech well shows your love and support for your daughter. The father of the bride speech is typically one of the first speeches of the reception, and it sets the tone for the rest of the event. A well-delivered speech can help to create a positive and excited atmosphere that will be enjoyed by all the guests.
Practise your father of the bride speech
Practicing your father of the bride speech is crucial as it helps you become more confident with both the content and delivery. Rehearsing allows you to spot areas for improvement and make adjustments, ensuring a smoother, more polished speech when the big day arrives.
Beat the nerves
Giving any speech, especially at a big event like your daughters wedding, can be nerve-wracking, but there are some things you can do to help calm your nerves and deliver your speech with confidence.
- Prepare thoroughly: The more prepared you are, the more confident you will feel. Practise your speech out loud and in front of friends and family.
- Use positive visualisation: Close your eyes and picture yourself delivering your speech with confidence and ease. Imagine the guests clapping and enjoying your speech.
- Take deep breaths: Before you begin your speech, take a few deep breaths to help calm your nerves. This will also help to steady your voice and slow down your heart rate.
- Speak slowly: If you’re feeling nervous, it’s easy to rush through your speech. Speak slowly and clearly, and pause between sentences to give yourself time to gather your thoughts.
- Make eye contact: Make sure to make eye contact with different members of the audience. This will help to engage them and make them feel more included in your speech.
- Practice, practice, practice: Did we mention… practice?!
A well-crafted and delivered father of the bride speech can set the tone for the celebration, create a bond with the guests, and leave a lasting impression. Putting in the effort to prepare will ensure everything goes smoothly on the big day. The key ingredients are preparation, practice, and confident delivery. By following these guidelines, you’ll deliver a heartfelt, meaningful, and unforgettable speech that will be cherished by everyone.
Need Tips & Advice?
If you’re searching for guidance on writing a Father of the Bride speech, you’ve found the right spot! As the father, your daughter’s wedding is an incredibly special occasion. Did you ever imagine this day when you first held her in your arms?
Now it’s here, and you’ll (traditionally) be the first to speak. But don’t stress! Follow these tips to deliver a memorable toast. If your daughter is also speaking, share our examples for writing her wedding speech!
1) Welcome the guests:
It is your job to welcome everyone to the reception and acknowledge all those who have financially contributed to the wedding (probably best not to mention actual sums!). It is also a good idea to give a special welcome to the guests who came from other states, and maybe even from abroad, to be there and thank them for participating in the celebration.
2) The thank you’s:
Thank everyone who helped put this wedding together, the ushers, the bridesmaids, even the staff! You can also thank the special people in your daughter’s life, who helped raise her and make her who she is today! Take a trip down memory lane and remember your loved ones.
3) Praise the bride:
Every father-daughter relationship is unique. Some are filled with humour and playful banter, while others are more sentimental. Your speech should reflect that. This part requires the most planning, so break it down into sections: share stories from her childhood, highlight her personal, academic, and professional achievements, and most importantly, express how proud you are of the incredible woman she’s become. Don’t forget to mention how beautiful she looks on her wedding day!
4) Welcome the new additions to your family:
You should also welcome the groom and his parents into your family. Many Fathers also take this opportunity to tell the groom what he has got himself into: this is the funny part of your speech, where you can joke about the bride. Talk about your daughter’s adorable little quirks and lighten the mood after the more emotional part of your speech.
We also think it’s a nice touch when the Father of the Bride talks about the groom – whether that be the first time you were introduced, or when the groom asked for your daughter’s hand in marriage, or just some funny moments or nice traits. Want to help your future son-in-law out? Send him our tips to the groom: writing your wedding speech!
5) A word of wisdom:
Finish with some advice to the newlyweds. This is a great time to mention your personal marriage experience and what you’ve learnt about love and family. If you don’t want to go down that route, then carefully chosen quotes about love and marriage can be just as effective. Whatever you decide to say, make sure to do so clearly and calmly, as the audience want to hear from you! We find that gesticulating when talking can ease the nerves too.
6) The toast:
End your speech by asking everyone in the room to stand up and toast the newlyweds!
And here is our Final Tip:
Don’t act the Alpha Male and threaten to hunt down the groom if he misbehaves! This never sounds as funny to the groom…
Sneaky tool: Calculate how long your speech will take to read – http://readtime.eu!
