How to Write a Father of the Bride Speech

Learn how to craft the perfect father of the bride speech with our step-by-step guide, including expert tips, examples, and a handy checklist to ensure your speech is heartfelt, memorable, and impactful.
Table of Contents
  1. Intro

If you're a father looking forward to your daughter's wedding day, you've likely imagined—or perhaps even worried about—this moment since she was just a little girl. Now that the big day is finally here, you'll be expected to give a touching father of the bride speech, a key highlight of the wedding reception. Be sure to have a tissue or two ready for what will undoubtedly be an emotional experience. To help you craft a memorable tribute, we've put together some examples and tips to guide you through the process. Plus, we've created a straightforward checklist that you can save or print to ensure you cover all the important points.

How to Write a Father of the Bride Speech Step-by-Step

On your daughter's wedding day, emotions are sure to be running high, which can make delivering a heartfelt toast challenging. To help, we've gathered expert advice on public speaking and wedding speech writing, ensuring you create an authentic and moving father of the bride speech that will captivate the audience.

  1. Start with a warm welcome.
    Open your speech by introducing yourself as the bride's father (or father figure), and include your name.
  2. Express gratitude to the guests.
    Thank everyone for being part of this special day. You can also mention how much you've been looking forward to this moment, especially if you were involved in the wedding planning.
  3. Reflect on your relationship with your daughter.
    Share meaningful memories from the past that highlight your daughter's unique qualities and the person she has become. This is a chance to express your love for her and the enduring bond you share. As wedding planner Lynne Goldberg suggests, remind her that although she's starting a new chapter in her life, you'll always be there for her.
    If you're unsure what to talk about, consider writing about your emotions when you first learned you were going to have a daughter, your favorite moments together, and the times you've felt particularly proud of her.
  4. Welcome your daughter's partner into the family.
    Be sure to include your daughter's partner in your speech. Reflect on how you felt when they first met and how your affection for them has grown over time. Speak directly to your new in-law and share something special about your connection with them.
  5. Discuss the couple's relationship.
    Take a moment to talk about the relationship between your daughter and her partner. Highlight something positive you've noticed about their partnership and congratulate them on taking this significant step. You can also offer a few words of encouragement or share your best piece of marriage advice.
  6. Raise your glass for a toast.
    Conclude your father of the bride speech by inviting all the guests to join you in a toast to the newlyweds.

Father of the Bride Speech Tips

Now that you know the basics, it's time to start writing your own father of the bride speech. Here are a few final tips and some common wedding speech mistakes to avoid:

  • Begin with an anecdote or heartfelt comment.
    The start of your speech sets the tone, so try to grab the audience's attention with a short story about your daughter or a heartfelt remark about how proud she makes you. Whether you share a funny moment from wedding planning or a cherished memory from her childhood, your personal touch will resonate with guests.
  • Avoid sensitive or embarrassing topics.
    Steer clear of any awkward or potentially uncomfortable memories or mishaps that might embarrass your daughter, her partner, or the wedding guests. This includes references to past relationships, future grandchildren, or any other personal topics. Also, avoid jokes about the cost of the wedding or clichés like "gaining a son."
  • End with a brief and sweet message.
    When wrapping up your speech, keep it short, sweet, and sentimental. A simple toast to the couple or a wish for their future together is a perfect way to close.

Father of the Bride Speech FAQs

If you're new to writing a father of the bride speech, here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • How long should the speech be?
    A good father of the bride speech typically lasts between three to ten minutes, with the sweet spot being around six minutes. Start more formal, and gradually become more emotional as you speak, but try to avoid going over ten minutes to keep your audience engaged.
  • When should the father of the bride give the speech?
    The speech is usually delivered at the start of the reception, just before dinner is served. Alternatively, you could give the speech right before the father-daughter dance, ending with the line, "My beautiful daughter, may I have this dance?"
  • Who should the father of the bride thank?
    Thank the guests for attending, particularly those who traveled from out of town. You might also want to acknowledge your wife or partner, your new in-laws, and anyone who played a significant role in planning the wedding. However, keep the thank-yous concise to avoid losing the audience's interest.

Now, it's time to start crafting your own father of the bride speech—one that will be remembered and cherished for years to come.

Learn how to craft the perfect father of the bride speech with our step-by-step guide, including expert tips, examples, and a handy checklist to ensure your speech is heartfelt, memorable, and impactful.
Get Started NowGet Started with provenance
Open article

Everything You Need to Know About Working With a Professional Wedding Vow Writer

If you know you want to share personalized sentiments during your ceremony but aren't sure where to start, this could be a great solution.
Open article

How to Overcome Fear and Get Better at Public Speaking for A Wedding

Public speaking can be a daunting task, and it's natural to feel nervous or even fearful when you're standing in front of a crowd. This is especially true when it comes to giving a speech at a wedding, as you want everything to be perfect. But fear doesn't have to hold you back. With a few simple strategies, you can overcome your fear and become a confident and engaging public speaker. Here are some top tips for getting better at public speaking and overcoming fear, so you can deliver a heartfelt and memorable speech at your wedding.
Open article

The Dos and Don'ts of a Killer Maid of Honor Speech

The maid of honor speech is an important part of any wedding reception. It's an opportunity to celebrate the couple, share memories, and express your love and support for the couple. However, it can also be a nerve-wracking experience, especially if you're not used to public speaking. To help you deliver a memorable and heartfelt speech, we've put together a list of the dos and don'ts of a maid of honor speech.
Open article

How to Decide if Your Wedding Speech Jokes Are Appropriate — And Also Good

As you'll know if you paid attention in high school English, Shakespearean comedies all end in a wedding. Weddings, so full of hope and effusive emotion, seem to be the only logical conclusion to the farce and blunders of these comic heroes.
Open article

How To Write an Epic Best Man Speech

As the best man, your traditional role is to serve as the primary attendant of the groom, or whichever partner chose you for this role. You may have certain organizing responsibilities, such as planning the bachelor party, and on the big day or at the rehearsal dinner, you’ll be expected to give a speech. While the focus of this speech should be on the groom, it should also show love and recognition to both partners and to the couple as a unit.
Open article

How To Write a Stellar Maid of Honor Speech in 2024

Your traditional role as Maid of Honor is to serve as the main “attendant” of the bride, or whichever partner chose you for this role. While your duties may extend to a number of activities, from dress selection to planning the bachelorette, your speech at the rehearsal dinner or reception is central. While the focus of this speech should be the bride, it should also show love and recognition to both partners and to the couple as a unit.
Accept cookies? View our Privacy Policy for more information.