And Now The Bride’s Father is Going to Give His Father of the Bride Speech
If you’re the father of the bride, you will invariably be called on to speak. What’s more, you’re not allowed to mention any of the things that will really be going through your mind, such as how much the wedding is costing you, what you might think of the groom’s family, or how annoyed you are to have to wear a tuxedo for your daughter’s third marriage. No, the father of the bride is allowed to speak of only two things, as a general rule: What marriage is and how it can last, or how thrilled you are to welcome your new son-in-law.
If you aren’t qualified to speak on the former, and can’t muster up more than a few short sentences on the latter, you can still make a decent father of the bride speech. For example, bringing a sweet picture of the bride as a child is always appropriate. (It has to be one she approves beforehand.) Tell the story of how she won your heart, even as a little girl, and how you completely understand how someone else could be so smitten with her.
You might also speak about what you are proud of her for, what she means to you as a daughter, and how she always made you proud. These are things which everyone will always remember, and they are things the bride will love to hear. It’s her day, so make it a kind speech. You might also mention causes she’s worked for, or is passionate about.
In the end, your job is not just to tell everyone how great she is, but to show what she means to your family, so everyone can see how much her starting her own family also means to you. After you’ve said that, tell her you’ll always be there for the couple, and sit down, letting them have the stage again. It’s hard to see your daughter married, but they will always remember that you were there for them. (And if it doesn’t work out, she’ll always remember you were kind on her wedding day anyway.)
