How to Write a Father of the Bride speech – A Step-by-Step Guide [2024]

Your daughter’s wedding day is a momentous occasion, a day that you have always dreamed of! It is also one that involves your active participation. 

From walking the bride down the aisle to delivering the Father of the Bride Speech and the father-daughter dance, you have many responsibilities on this special day. 

Like most fathers, you may be nervous about the much-anticipated Father of the Bride speech. There may be many questions in your mind—how do you compress the memories of a lifetime into a short speech? Should you be serious or humorous? How do you make it memorable? 

Fortunately, the experts at Best for Bride know a thing or two about this demanding task. Read on for the complete guide on how to write a Father of the Bride speech. 

Essential Steps to Writing a Fantastic Father of The Bride Speech

The best way to tackle the task is to break your speech down into smaller parts and work on just one aspect at a time. 

Here is a basic outline of what your speech should contain. Of course, you can always add or remove sections as you wish.

• Introduce yourself
• Welcome and thank the guests
• Talk about your daughter
• Talk about your son-in-law
• Words of wisdom
• Toast the newlyweds

Let us now look at each of these sections in closer detail. 

Introduce yourself

Begin your speech by briefly introducing yourself. Keep it short and crisp. Add a joke or quote to catch everyone’s interest and relax the mood if you are comfortable. 

Welcome and thank the guests.

Formally welcome all the guests and thank them for their presence. Give a dedicated shout-out to the groom’s parents and anyone else who deserves it. 

Talk about your daughter.

Every bride eagerly looks forward to hearing her father speak about her on her big day. So, use this opportunity to convey your unending dedication, pride, and affection for your daughter. 

Make it enjoyable by taking a trip down memory lane. Include heart-warming incidents from the past where your precious girl made you smile. Mention her achievements and tell her how proud you are of the woman she has become. This is also the chance to include any interesting or funny anecdotes to entertain the guests but not embarrass your daughter. 

Talk about your son-in-law.

Acknowledge the groom and formally welcome him into the family. 

Make him feel special by sharing details of the excellent impression he has made on you and why you think he will be a good partner for your little girl. 

You can also share exciting incidents during their courtship or interactions with him. 

Words of wisdom

After communicating all that has been, it is time to look to the future. Of course, everyone expects dad to impart wisdom to the newlyweds. So, use this opportunity to advise the couple. 

You could share your own experiences of what makes a happy marriage. Or you could give general life advice. 

Make it humorous if you wish, but not embarrassing or frightening. Keep it short to prevent anyone from feeling bored. 

Toast the newlyweds

Conclude your speech by wishing the newlyweds a happy and prosperous future. 

Try to make your conclusion as personalized as possible, and your toast will linger in the guests’ minds for a long time. 

Now that we have gone through the basic outline of the speech let us look at a few pointers to take your speech to the next level. 

Tips to Make Your Father of the Bride Speech More Memorable

Get inspired

Did you know that a bit of research can go a long way in helping you create a fantastic speech?

Browse the internet, and you will find plenty of examples. Use these as a starting point and find inspiration to create your speech. 

If you are not confident in your speech-writing abilities, you can always seek professional help. Professional writing services experts can do the hard work for you and create the perfect Father of the Bride speech based on your requirements.  

Get the timing right.

If you are nervous, you may want to keep it brief. However, if you are a natural on the stage, you may find it difficult to stop talking. 

When planning the length of your speech, your aim should be to convey your message engagingly. 

The ideal length of a speech is five to seven minutes. Shorter addresses will be quickly forgotten, while longer ones can become tiresome. So, keep your toast short and sweet. 

Add humour only where appropriate

Humour is an easy attention-grabber. However, it is not easy to inject humour seamlessly. 

Not everyone has the talent for it. So, if you aren’t good at it, don’t push it. You do not want to look like you are desperately trying to make people laugh. 

If humour is not your forte, create a strong impression with a heart-warming speech. Should you decide to add a few jokes, be brief and discrete since you don’t want to make anyone upset.  

Let your emotions through

The day your daughter gets married is the celebration of a lifetime. It is natural to feel emotional or overwhelmed. Embrace these feelings whole-heartedly. 

Let your daughter know how much you love and care for her. It is OK to genuinely admit how difficult it is to let your daughter go. It may even become one of her fondest memories of the day.  

Edit and practice till you are perfect

It is nearly impossible to come up with the perfect speech in one try. First, prepare the rough draft and read it aloud. Then, make necessary changes and fine-tune it several times until it sounds perfect. 

You need not memorize it since you can carry notes to the venue. But practice it several times till the sequence comes to you quickly. It will help you appear more confident and make eye contact with the couple and guests during the speech. 

Summary: Father of the Bride Speech

1. Introduction:

• Start with a warm and heartfelt greeting to the guests and acknowledge the importance of the occasion.
• Introduce yourself as the father of the bride and express your joy and pride in being there to honor your daughter.

2. Share Memories and Stories:

• Recall memorable moments and experiences you’ve shared with your daughter throughout her life.
• Include anecdotes that highlight her qualities, achievements, and the special bond you share.
• Keep the tone light, humorous, and sentimental, evoking emotions from the audience.

3. Welcome the Groom and His Family:

• Extend a warm welcome to the groom and his family, expressing your excitement to welcome them into your family.
• Share positive remarks about the groom, emphasizing his qualities and how he complements your daughter.

4. Reflect on the Bride’s Journey:

• Discuss your daughter’s growth and transformation over the years, from childhood to adulthood.
• Mention her accomplishments, personal growth, and how she has become a remarkable individual.

5. Express Gratitude:

• Thank everyone who contributed to the wedding, including family, friends, and vendors.
• Express gratitude to your own family for their support and love.

6. Special Tribute:

• Dedicate a portion of the speech to paying tribute to the bride’s mother or any other special family members who may not be present.
• Share a heartfelt message or memory about their impact on the bride’s life.

7. Address the Couple’s Future:

• Offer advice and well wishes for the couple’s future together.
• Share words of wisdom, love, and encouragement as they embark on this new chapter in their lives.

8. Toast:

• Conclude the speech with a heartfelt toast to the newlyweds.
• Raise your glass and invite guests to join you in celebrating the couple’s love and future happiness.

FAQ – Father of the Bride Speech

What should the bride’s father say during his speech?

Welcome the guests, tales and praises about your daughter, a welcome to your new son-in-law or daughter-in-law, words of advice, and a toast to the new pair are all part of a typical father of the bride speech.

How lengthy should the bride’s father’s speech be?

Six minutes. Keep it brief. Even if you’ve been looking forward to this day for years, keep your toast brief and sweet. The best length for a speech is roughly five or six minutes, with three minutes being the very minimum.

What’s the best way to conclude the father of the bride’s speech?

Your father of the bride’s speech should finish with a toast, as is customary. Please join me in standing and raising your glasses to the happy couple on their wedding day. The toast does not have to be appropriate. It should be no more than the length of the speech.

At the rehearsal dinner, does the father of the bride give a speech?

The Father of the Bride or the Father of the Groom traditionally delivers the rehearsal dinner speech. The Maid of Honor, Best Man, Bride, and Groom may offer short remarks or toasts at the rehearsal dinner, although it is not required.