Begin by thinking about the purpose of the speech. The father of the bride speech is typically a chance for the father to express his love and pride for his daughter, and to welcome the groom and his family into the bride's family. It is also an opportunity to thank the guests for attending and to share some memories or anecdotes about the bride and groom.
Start by brainstorming some ideas. Think about the most important moments in your daughter's life, and what you want to say about her and the groom. Make a list of the key points you want to make in your speech. For example:
How proud you are of your daughter and the person she has become
How much she means to you and your family
How happy you are to welcome the groom and his family into your family
How confident you are in their future together
Begin by writing an opening that will grab the attention of the audience. This could be a quote, a joke, or a heartfelt statement. For example:
"I may be the father of the bride, but today I feel more like the father of the groom. My little girl has found the man of her dreams and I couldn't be happier for them both."
"As the father of the bride, I have just one request for the groom: Treat my daughter with the same love and respect that you have shown her today, and I'll be a happy man."
"I have been looking forward to this day for a long time. The day my little girl would find the love of her life, and I am honored to stand here today to witness the beginning of their journey together."
Introduce yourself and your relationship to the bride. This is your opportunity to explain who you are to the guests who may not know you. For example:
"Good afternoon everyone, my name is John and I am the father of the beautiful bride, Sarah."
"I am the proud father of the lovely bride, and I am honored to be here today to share this special occasion with all of you."
Share some anecdotes or memories about the bride. These could be from her childhood, or from more recent times. The key is to make the anecdotes personal and meaningful. For example:
"I will never forget the day she was born, I was just so in love with her from the moment I saw her. And now, seeing her grown into the beautiful and accomplished woman she is today, I couldn't be more proud."
"I remember when she was just a little girl and she would put on shows for us in the living room. I never would have imagined then that she would be standing here today, getting married to the man of her dreams."
Welcome the groom and his family into the bride's family. Express your happiness at the union of your daughter and the groom, and your confidence in their future together. For example:
"I am thrilled to welcome [groom's name] and his family into our family today. I know that together, my daughter and [groom's name] will accomplish great things and build a wonderful life together."
"To [groom's name], I want to say that I am honored to have you as my son-in-law. I have no doubt that you will make my daughter incredibly happy and I wish you both all the love and happiness in the world."
Thank the guests for coming to the wedding, and acknowledge any special guests who have traveled a long way to be there. For example:
"I would like to take a moment to thank all of you for being here today to share in this special day with us. We are so grateful to have you all here to celebrate the love and commitment of our daughter and son-in-law."
"A special thank you to those who have traveled from far and wide to be here with us today. Your presence means so much to us, and we are so grateful for your support."
Close your speech by wishing the couple happiness and love in their marriage, and inviting the guests to join you in toasting the bride and groom. For example:
"So, to my daughter and son-in-law, I wish you all the happiness and love in the world. May your marriage be filled with joy, laughter, and endless love. Cheers to the happy couple!"
"And now, let us raise a glass to the bride and groom. May your love continue to grow stronger with each passing day. To Sarah and [groom's name]."
Practice your speech several times before the wedding day, and make sure to speak clearly and at a comfortable pace.
On the wedding day, be sure to have a glass of water handy, and remember to speak from the heart. Speak with feeling and sincerity, it will make your words more powerful and heartfelt.
If you're looking for help preparing a father of the bride speech - reach out!
Mark Westbrook
Speaking Coach