Father Of The Bride Speeches

If there is dancing at the wedding, you will be expected to have a "father-daughter" dance at the reception.

Here are some suggestions I found about making the speech:

1. Start your father of the bride speech telling briefly who you are, not everybody knows that – think about collegues or friends of the bridal couple or the family members of the groom. Tell how long you know them.

2. Welcome and thank the wedding guests for coming and sharing this day if you are the host and there is no master of ceremonies. Especially thank the guests who have come a long distance.

3. Mention some humorous incidents this wedding day so far, and highlight some beautiful moments in your father of the bride speech. One sentence each will do.

4. Wish all a happy day or night.

SPEECH TOPICS ABOUT THE BRIDE

5. Compliment the bride in your father of the bride speech – say that she looks like a beautiful, elegant or lovely bride.

6. Tell the guests about your daughter, emphasize the very special relationship the two of you have. Talk about your love and pride. Let her know how much you care about her. Avoid cliches and talk affectionately. Tease a little bit as father of the bride, make funny remarks of her character, job, study, hobbies, passions, skills or achievements. But be a gentleman.

7. Tell some little silly stories about the bride.

8. Reflect on her prewedding years.

9. Tell about how you and your partner saw her growing up.

10. Tell about your hopes for her. Tell how she has surpassed or maybe foiled the expectations of you and your partner. But be gentle when you come up with the ups and especially the downs in a father of the bride speech! For instance, don’t mention previous boyfriends.

11. And conclude this part of your father of the bride speech with telling how proud you are of her.

ABOUT YOUR NEW SON IN LAW IN A FATHER OF THE BRIDE SPEECH

12. Tell funny stories about your daughter and the groom.

13. Tell how the groom was introduced for the first time to you, how you all first got to know him. That will always work in a father of the bride speech.

14. Tell what your first impressions were. Describe his looks.

15. Tell about the interests you share, about your relationship, about the things that have surprised you.

16. Tell what you have learned from him.

17. Tell how he makes your daughter happy.

18. Tell about his character, job, study, hobbies, passions, skills or achievements.

19. Conclude this chapter of your father of the bride speech with welcoming the groom into your family. Tell that you are delighted he has become a part of your family.

20. Welcome the joining together of your family and the family of your new son in law.

21. Tell you are looking forward to get to know each other better. Mention something both families have in common.

THE THANK YOU’S IN A FATHER OF THE BRIDE SPEECH

22. You as father of the bride has to thank in your speech everyone who made this wedding a succes, thank them for their generous help.

23. Thank the mother of the bride and also maybe the mother of the groom for their efforts in organizing the wedding.

24. Mention the maids of honor/bridesmaids, say how beautiful they look and thank them for their efforts in supporting your daughter.

25. Thank the clergyman, clergywoman or minister.

26. Thank anyone – familymembers and friends – who have helped with the wedding and reception.

27. Thank the florists by saying everything in the church, the town hall and in this room look wonderful.

28. Thank everybody who made any financial contribution to the wedding – do this part of your father of the bride speech with humorous remarks.

29. If your partner has passed away, then now say a few words in her memory. Tell she should say the same warm things about the couple. Welcome to the bride and groom on her behalf too. And then look forward in this wedding speech, this is a happy day!

THE END OF A FATHER OF THE BRIDE SPEECH

30. End your father of the bride speech with a loving toast to the bridal couple. Toast to the health of the bride and groom. Wish them success and happiness in the future. Something like this: Ladies and gentlemen, please be upstanding and raise your glasses, please join me in the traditional toast, I give you … the bride and groom!

Final tip: Mix in now and then some public speaking speech topics with words of wisdom about marriage itself and what it means. Refer to what your own father in law said at your own wedding in his father of the bride speech.
References :
http://www.speech-topics-help.com/father-of-the-bride-speech.html

By Proud to be 51 on Jul 12, 2010

Well as far as the reception goes, you generally welcome your guests, thank them for coming, and toast the bride and groom. You generally have a special dance with your daughter when it is time and maybe even with your wife.

What to include in the speech:
Thank guests and family for being there and supporting your daughter/son-in-law.
Thank his family (usually)
Say something special about your daughter and her new husband, that is basically what is traditional.
Not to be rude but I WOULD NOT thank EVERYONE (florist, clergyman, caterers) in my speech. It gets too long and boring, plus takes away the focus of your daughter/son-in-law. I went to wedding once where someone did this and his speech was over 30 minutes, we were bored to tears.
I would instead try to make a point to go around to the individual people who participated and helped and briefly thank them as well. Just remember you act as the host, basically.
Some fathers act like a master of ceremonies( its time to eat, dance, etc.), but only if there is no DJ or other person to act in that fashion

Don’t stress, things will flow naturally, but you sound like a great dad to put such thought into this. You daughter is quite lucky in a day and age when most fathers don;t even want ot stick around, she has one that wants to make sure her special day is just right. Good for you!
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By juleeann0621 on Jul 12, 2010

I think that being there for your daughter is very important. She’s probably nervous, and if you are close, and can stay calm when others get upset, that is really valuable.

Additionally, if you help schmooze the guests– especially the ones you know, but also meet guests from the other side, and make sure everyone is happy, that’s good. Make sure people don’t drink too much.

Your speech should be sentimental, but also gently funny.

Karen
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By Karen F on Jul 12, 2010

Well at the reception you just need to include yourself in the reception line, if they have one… a lot of couples have it while the guests ore on their way outside the church after the marriage.
The father of the bride normally makes the first speech at the reception, after the food has been served, before entertainment begins.
Just say what comes naturally when you think of your daughter, e.g. the many times she encountered scrapes, bruises, cuts that you thought you would only be able to soothe, the times she reached out to me and I didn’t understand, the woman she has become and the perfect partner she has chosen for herself, etc., don’t be embarrassed, this is your daughters special day, make it as more special as you can. Don’t hold anything back!!!
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By mak on Jul 12, 2010

WOW, they all are really really freakin wrong. espically that first lady, I mean no offence.

All you richie uppidy people really dont know how to do things. if you go though this big proccess with like 30 steps, the richie people yall are around will just talk about you behind your back about your horibally long speach.

tell them you love you daughter,,, tell them your happy for her,,, if applicable tell them you like the dude. and thank people for comming.

dont think about it and make a plan for this reason

if you do… it wont be from your heart.

think about it a few minutes before you go up. your heart will spill out in 2 or 3 minutes and your daughter will cry.

if you go the way of that first lady, she will cry,,, out of embarrassment after your 20 minute mono log about who you are and how you know everyone…

your heart in 3 minutes, is worth a full world more than your mind in 30.
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By Mike on Jul 12, 2010

If you are the HOST then you should . .

Greet and welcome your guests at the door, if possible

Help any senior citizen or disabled person to their table (or ask someone else to help them)

If asked, tell the guests where the gift table is located

If asked, tell the guests where the coat room and restrooms are located

Tip the bar tender BEFORE he puts out a tip jar (inappropriate). The bar tender should be tipped at least $1 per person so your guests are treated respectfully during the reception. Bring CASH, do not write a check

Introduce yourself to all of the wedding service providers and vendors (banquet manager, DJ, photographer, videographer, etc). You should make sure they are given something to eat and you should make sure they have eveything they need (an extension cord, a place to put their equipment, etc). Offer them lots of iced tea and soda, do not encourage them to drink alcohol (they are your paid employees for the evening).

Make sure all those people that are supposed to receive "a tip" have been taken care of. The Bride and Groom should write a Thank You note and enclose the dollar amount before their wedding day. Usually the Best Man or the HOST hands out these Thank You envelopes.

If forgotten, tip the Coat Room ladies.

Do not hang out at the bar, you should circulate and socialize with your guests during the cocktail hour and/or during dinner and/or after dinner. Make your guests feel welcome!

Ask the ladies who did not come with a date to dance or just sit and talk with them for a few moments. Make them feel special.

Find out if you are supposed to dance with your daughter, and when (so you are there and not in the bathroom).

Dance with your wife or date, and treat them respectfully.

If there is a problem, try to resolve it "out in the hallway" or away from your guests.

Maintain a positive image and a dignified image at all times . . your guests should not see you doing anything that you will regret later on (over drinking, dancing on the tables, singing with the band if you can’t sing, etc)

Find out if you are supposed to give a welcoming toast before dinner or a speech later on. Will someone be handing you a microphone? Find out where you should give the toast. At the head table? In the center of the reception room?

A toast should always be SHORT and SIMPLE . .
"Ladies and gentlemen, I take great pleasure in proposing a toast to the Bride and Groom. Mary and John, here are three things that I wish for you: warm moments that are shared together . . a thousand tomorrows filled with love and respect . . and a lifetime of hopes and dreams that come true. Best wishes to Mr and Mrs John Edward Smith!"

Have a great time! Enjoy this memorable day!

Answered by: A Certified wedding specialist / A Profesisonal bridal consultant / A Wedding ceremony officiant
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By Avis B on Jul 12, 2010