Ah, the father of the bride speech, the moment when dads everywhere are expected to gracefully combine their love, wit, and a sprinkle of tears into a five-minute masterpiece. It's the ultimate balancing act, like walking a tightrope while juggling flaming torches. But fear not, fellow fathers! Today, I'll be your guide to crafting a heartfelt speech that your daughter and the wedding guests will remember for years to come.
1. Preparation is key
Whether you consider yourself a consummate public speaker or the thought of giving a speech scares the living daylights out of you, the number one tip I can give is to fully prepare your speech before the big day. Several times I've seen a Father of the Bride stand up with nothing but a microphone between them and 100 guests, and attempt to wing it. Inevitably they forget to mention someone important or get their daughters birth year wrong. So write down your speech and practice it as much as possible. Rehearse in front of a mirror, your pet goldfish, or even your spouse. The more you practice, the more confident and natural you'll appear on the big day. Another benefit of rehearsing the speech is it will seem less like you're reading something and you might even enjoy the moment a bit more.
2. Stay sober!
If there's one thing that I've seen that is guaranteed to ruin a Father of the Bride speech it's when the Father in question has had one too many beverages beforehand. Now I'm not saying don't have a drink or two to settle the nerves, in fact if you are a drinker then a bit of Dutch courage is a good shout. But the next five minutes are going to involve reading or remembering a lot of key information and being plastered certainly won't help with that. This is one of the reasons I always advise couples to have their speeches before the wedding breakfast - once your speeches are out of the way you can make full use of the table wine!
3. Keep It Short and Sweet
The key to a great Father of the Bride speech is brevity. Nobody wants to hear an hour-long monologue, no matter how much they love you. Aim for a speech that lasts around five minutes, leaving enough time for others to share their well-wishes. This is not the time for a This Is Your Life presentation of everything your beloved daughter has done and achieved since their entrance into this world. By all means share a touching or hilarious anecdote or two, but keep them short and sweet.
4. A Dash of Humour
Everyone knows it's the Best Man who needs to bring the laughs, but injecting a bit of humour into your speech is an excellent way to connect with the audience and create a relaxed atmosphere. Share funny anecdotes or embarrassing childhood stories, just remember to keep it tasteful and avoid any jokes that might make your daughter blush or cause your wife to give you "the look."
5. Emotion in Motion
While humour is important, it's equally important to tug at those heartstrings. The father-daughter bond is a treasure trove of emotions, and this is the perfect opportunity to let them flow. Share heartfelt stories, express your love and pride, and don't be afraid to let a tear or two escape. If you're worried about getting emotional, take a sip of your drink whenever you start to get that lump in your throat.
Crafting a stellar father of the bride speech is no easy feat, but with a little humour, a touch of emotion, and a whole lot of practice, you'll have the audience eating out of the palm of your hand. Remember, this is your moment to celebrate the beautiful bond you share with your daughter, and to officially welcome her new partner into the family. So, take a deep breath, sip some liquid courage (within reason, of course), and deliver a speech that will be remembered for years to come.
Ben Hewis is a Wedding Videographer working in Essex, London and the home counties. If you would like to find out more about his work or contact him about filming your wedding then head to this site's homepage.
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