The father of the bride makes the first speech

In some ways the father of the bride has the hardest time of all when making his speech – it is usually a very emotional time for him and he is talking about someone who is very special to him.

It’s also the first speech at a wedding, and this in itself can make it more stressful than for any of the other speakers. However, knowing what to say and preparing in advance can make it a much easier experience…

Thank the guests

The bride’s father should start his speech by thanking everyone for attending. He can also thank the people working at the function (caterers, photographers etc.).

Talk about the bride

A larger part of his speech should be about his daughter, saying how proud he is of her, how wonderful she was as a child, and fulfilling it was to raise her. He can also mention something that happened as a child – this can simply be one of those moments when children say something perfectly innocently which turns out to be very funny.

Welcome the groom into the family

The father of the bride should then turn his attention to the groom and welcome him as a member of his family and say a few words about his achievements. He may wish to give a few tips on how to have a happy married life – giving examples of how they helped him. Finally he should propose a toast to the couple wishing them a happy married life.

The father of the bride’s speech can contain some humour, as it helps to keep guests interested.

And that’s’ all there is to it!