The Bride's Heart

To start out your father of the bride speech, begin by thanking all of the guests for sharing in this most wonderful day, then continue by taking a moment to mention any special guests such as grandparents or the groom’s parents.

A few anecdotes from your daughter’s childhood is always a nice touch, as well as talking about how happy she is with her new husband, or what a stunningly beautiful bride she is.

Closing the speech should include some well wishes for the new couple, bits of advice, or some happy thoughts in general about the joys of marriage. You may want to thank everyone again, and thank your daughter and son-on-law for allowing you to be a part of this special day of love.

As far as how long the speech should be, 10 minutes is the maximum, while five minutes is about the ideal length for keeping all of the guests interested and entertained. While writing out your speech, the word length should be under 1,000 words in order to stay within the 10 minute time frame.

Don’t be worried or embarrassed about tearing up or shedding a few tears during your speech. This is to be expected and merely shows how much you care about your daughter.

On the other hand, if you do happen to be the type of guy who has no trouble showing emotion in public, remember this isn’t the Academy Awards, your daughter should be the only center of attention today. Likewise, a speech that doesn’t sound too scripted or overly formal is always best.

In conclusion, just remember that your father of the bride speech should be warm and sentimental, lighthearted with a touch of humor, all the while conveying to your daughter how much you love her, and how happy you are for her and your new son-in-law.

Do you need more inspiration ? Check out these examples of father of the bride speeches.