Father of the Bride Speech: How to Write One, With Examples

It doesn’t seem like five minutes since you were in the hospital (or possibly the pub) celebrating the arrival of your little girl. Now she’s all grown up, there’s a ring on her finger and you’ve been handed a microphone. The father of the bride speech is the thing everyone, your daughter included, will remember about you on the day, so it’s worth getting right. We normally spend our time on this site telling best men how to roast the groom. This page is for the dads: what goes in a father of the bride speech, how long it should be, a simple structure to follow, three full example speeches you can borrow from, and what to do if you’d rather hide in the car park than speak.

What a father of the bride speech should include

Traditionally you’re up first, which makes you the host and, as far as the speeches go, the warm up act. The best man is the one expected to deliver the laughs, so nobody is waiting for you to go for the jugular. People will be happy with sentiment from the father of the bride. That said, there are a few jobs the speech has to do:

• Welcome everyone and introduce yourself. Most people know who you are (being the oldest one dressed to match the groom narrows it down) but not necessarily your name. Thank the guests for coming.
• Thank the people who matter. Her mum first. Tradition has it that dad speaks, but she has two equally proud parents, and a few kind words are appreciated even if the two of you are not on good terms. Then the groom’s parents for welcoming your daughter into their family. Keep the list short.
• Talk about your daughter. The main event. Her birth, the child she was, the woman she has become, what makes you proud. Real examples, not a list of adjectives.
• Welcome the groom. One or two things you genuinely like about him, why the two of them work, and a welcome to the family.
• Fatherly advice and the toast. Endorse the decision and raise a glass to the bride and groom.

One rule on tone: you have to be gentler than the best man. Jokes about the bride’s quirks (hyper organised and has to have everything just so, or chronically late) are fine. Jokes about her shortcomings are not. Never stray far from “laugh with” and never wander as far as “laugh at”.

How long should a father of the bride speech be

Six to eight minutes is the figure usually quoted and it’s a good target, particularly if you dislike public speaking or don’t feel you have much to say. Seven to ten is fine too. But a lot of “facts” about speech length are just opinions. “Nobody ever left a wedding complaining the speeches were too short” is true, but no one ever said The Godfather would have been better at under an hour either.

Our view: let the quality of your material decide the quantity. If you have the stories, the emotive tributes and the words flow, nobody minds ten minutes or slightly more. Ten to twelve is about as far as you’d push it. And a read through at home is always quicker than the speech on the day, once you add the laughs, the pauses and the bit where you have to compose yourself.

Father of the bride speech structure (a simple template)

No law says you have to do it this way, but this order covers everything expected of you and leaves room for your own stamp. Each part should merge into the next rather than jump.

1. Introduction. Welcome everyone, say who you are, a bit of self deprecation. If you’re nervous, say so, or make a joke of it. A generous crowd gets kinder still when you show your self effacing side.
2. Thank yous. Her mum, the groom’s parents, anyone else who has played a big part in her life. Thank people for what they’ve done for your daughter, because that leads straight into the main part.
3. Your daughter. The day she was born and how it felt. What she was like as a child (the daft ideas, the parent lies she believed, the “out of the mouths of babes” moments). What she has achieved and who she has become. Two or three short stories, not twenty.
4. The groom. How you met him, how he won you round, why they make a good couple.
5. Advice and toast. Fatherly advice, a call back to something from earlier if you can, then “to the bride and groom”.

Before you write a word, answer a few questions. What has your daughter achieved? What sort of child was she and what sort of woman has she become? What makes you proud of her? Which memories do you share? What did you think when you first met the groom? Jot the answers down, then be ruthless about what makes the grade. If a theme runs through your notes (always late, always looking after other people, always known her own mind), that’s the thread that ties the speech together.

Father of the bride speech examples

A simple father of the bride speech example

Short, traditional and does every job on the list. About four to five minutes once you add your own stories.

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to this very special occasion. For anyone who really hasn’t paid any attention today, let me introduce myself. I’m (Name) and I’m the father of this beautiful bride. Or, as far as the speeches go, the warm up act. On behalf of my daughter and her new husband, thank you all for coming and sharing in their happiness. It really makes the day even more special for them to have you all here.

Although today is all about the bride and groom, there are a few other people to mention who have been a big part of these celebrations. Firstly, (Groom’s parents) and the rest of his family, for welcoming (Bride) into the (Surname) clan. I know she thinks a lot of you and I’m grateful for how you’ve treated her. Thank you also to my wife (Name) for being a wonderful mum to our girl. Tradition has it that I’m the parent who gets to speak today, but I know she is every bit as proud as I am and wants (Bride) to know how much she is loved.

I still remember the day (Bride) arrived. It was the day my life changed forever and the first step on the road to today. (Add one short memory of her as a child here. What she was like, something daft she said or did, something that showed early signs of who she is now.)

I’m sure (Groom) will understand what I mean when I say (Bride) has always been a focused woman who knows her own mind. And as I’ve watched her grow up, that has been a good thing. Whether it was her studies at school, caring for others in her job or her new hobby of baking perfect looking, delicious cakes, everything (Bride) does she throws herself into with a determination to be the best she possibly can. As a parent, that’s all you ever want to see your child do.

So it takes quite a man to win (Bride’s) heart, but in (Groom) I think she has met her match. He has a great sense of fun, he would do anything for (Bride), and he has earned our complete trust to be her husband. (Groom), you have been an important part of this family for some time, but I am delighted to officially welcome you to it today.

I’ve no doubt (Bride) and (Groom) are two people who were made for each other. They make a great team, they value the same things in life, and whenever you see them together it’s obvious they are madly in love.

So that’s about enough from the warm up act, other than to pass on a little fatherly advice, as is tradition. Marriage is always about give and take, and occasionally about biting your lip. Remember that and you are set for a long and happy life together. Everybody, please raise your glasses. To the bride and groom!

A funny father of the bride speech example

Same skeleton, more jokes, all of them in “laugh with” territory. The lateness theme runs the whole way through and pays off in the toast, which is the call back technique in action.

Good afternoon everyone. For those who haven’t worked it out, I’m (Name), father of the bride, and the oldest man in the room dressed to match the groom. I’m also the warm up act, so if you’re waiting for the proper jokes, the best man is over there and he’s had three pints already. On behalf of (Bride) and (Groom), thank you all for coming. Some of you have travelled a long way, some of you have bought hats, and all of you have made this day even more special for them.

A few thank yous before I get going. To (Groom’s parents), for raising a lovely lad and for welcoming (Bride) into your family. And to my wife (Name), who did all the hard work of bringing up our girl while I took the credit. Tradition says dad speaks, but she’s every bit as proud as I am, and quite a lot better at this than me.

I still remember the day (Bride) finally arrived, a week overdue. That was officially the last time she was late for anything, anywhere. Even then she arrived quickly, after a very short labour, while I was still parking the car. Luckily she couldn’t speak yet, otherwise I’d have been given a very stern telling off for my punctuality.

That set the tone. (Bride) has always known her own mind. When she was little she wanted to be a hairdresser, and whenever the adults weren’t watching she would take the kitchen scissors to the other children’s hair and completely butcher a perfectly good style. (Add one or two more quick stories here: the daft ideas she had, the parent lies she believed, the things she said that embarrassed you in public.)

But she grew up, and she grew up well. (Her achievements, her job, what she is like with other people.) Everything she does, she throws herself into with a determination to be the best she can be, and as a dad that makes you prouder than you can say. Especially out loud, in a room full of people, with your wife watching to see if you cry.

Then along came (Groom). Most dads take a while to come round to their daughter’s choice of partner, and when I found out (Groom) was a Manchester United fan, I have to say I wasn’t impressed. The car didn’t help either. But I quickly warmed to him. He has a great sense of fun, he would do anything for (Bride), and he is the best thing that has ever happened to her. (Groom), you’ve been part of this family for a while now, but today it’s official. Welcome aboard. You’ve at least gained someone who’ll be on your side when the football is on.

Which brings me to the fatherly advice. Marriage is about give and take, occasionally about biting your lip, and, in (Groom’s) case, about never ever letting (Bride) near your hair with a pair of scissors. Remember that and you’ll be fine. Ladies and gentlemen, to the bride and groom!

A short father of the bride speech for a shy dad

If public speaking is your idea of hell, say so and lean into it. The crowd will be on your side within ten seconds. This one runs two to three minutes, does every job, and gets you back in your seat.

Good afternoon everyone. I’m (Name), (Bride’s) dad. I’ll be honest, I’d rather be doing almost anything than standing up here with a microphone, so I’m going to keep this short and I’d be grateful if you’d all be kind. On behalf of (Bride) and (Groom), thank you for coming. Having you all here means the world to them.

Thank you to (Groom’s parents) and his family for making (Bride) so welcome. And thank you to (Name), her mum. I get to speak today because that’s the tradition, but we are both as proud as it is possible to be.

(Bride), I’m not someone who finds it easy to talk about how I feel, but today I get a free pass, so here goes. From the day you were born you have made me proud. (One short memory, or one thing she has achieved, in a sentence or two.) You have grown into a kind, (adjective) woman and watching you do that has been the best thing in my life.

(Groom), I liked you from the first time we met, even if I didn’t say so. You make her happy, and that’s all a dad can ask for. Welcome to the family.

So, before my voice goes, please stand and raise your glasses. To the bride and groom!

Want more full speeches to pinch a structure from? Our best man speech examples are written for a different job, but the openers, call backs and toasts all transfer.

Father of the bride speech jokes and opening lines

You don’t have to be funny. But you have known the bride as a helpless baby, a wilful child and, for years, someone too young not to say the first thing that came into her head. That is a comedy goldmine, and it all being a long time ago gives you licence. Lines and devices that work for a dad:

• “I’m (Name), father of the bride. Or, as far as the speeches go, the warm up act.”
• “Being the oldest one dressed to match the groom narrows it down a bit.”
• “(Bride) finally arrived a week overdue. That was officially the last time she was late for anything, anywhere.”
• “Most dads take a while to come round to their daughter’s choice of partner, and when I found out (Groom) was a Manchester United fan, I have to say I wasn’t impressed.” (Swap in the rival team or the death trap boy racer car he turned up in.)
• The greatest hits. Pick one trait everyone knows about and rattle through her best examples. Missed an exam because she was late? Held up a plane checking in six bags? Three quick one liners beat one long story.
• Twist a well worn quote. “Never go to bed on an argument, because you’ll get twice as mad when (Groom’s) snoring keeps you awake.”
• Her favourite band. If she loves the Beatles, marriage is a Long and Winding Road, but as long as you don’t dwell on Yesterday, All You Need is Love and You Can Work it Out. (We know. Artistic licence.)
• The call back. Set something up early (the scissors, the lateness, the football team) and bring it back in the toast.

Leave out the clichés: “even the cake is in tiers” was brilliant once. And go easy on “losing a daughter, gaining a son” unless you mean it. If you don’t much like the groom, don’t lie and don’t leave him out, both get noticed, especially by his parents. Talk about how happy he makes your daughter, find one genuine good point and build on it. Positive, and you mean it, more or less. For more on the comedy itself, our pages on how to be funny and best man speech jokes are aimed at the lads, but the mechanics are the same.

Tips for a nervous dad

The biggest cause of a bad father of the bride speech isn’t nerves, it’s the belief that because you know your daughter so well you can wing it. You can’t. That way lies a long, rambling speech. The fix is preparation, which happens to be the best cure for nerves too.

• Practise, practise, practise. Then practise some more. Out loud, so you hear which lines read well but sound odd spoken.
• Do a run through for someone. Your wife, a friend, anyone honest. They are exactly who will be in the room on the day.
• Take notes up with you. Cue cards or a printed copy, so a blank moment has a way back. Just don’t sound like you’re reading a script. Newsreaders literally read, and it never sounds like it. Sir Trevor McDonald is the man to aspire to.
• Remember who you’re talking to. The opposite of a tough crowd. Everyone wants to like what you say, and most of them have been drinking since the ceremony.
• Two drinks, maximum. A couple of settlers is fine. Any more and Dutch courage becomes Dutch disaster.
• If you’re nervous, say so. The room softens instantly.

More in our pages on conquering speech nerves and public speaking.

Need a hand writing it?

You’ve got one shot at this, there’s a lot to cover, and distilling a lifetime into ten minutes takes some doing. If you’d rather hand it over, our speech writing service writes father of the bride speeches as well as best man ones. Oliver and Alex have written hundreds of wedding speeches and know what works.

1. Fill in a questionnaire. The basics, plus questions about you, your daughter and the memorable moments you’ve shared as she’s grown up.
2. Have a call with your writer. A real human, the same one who writes your speech. An informal chat about your answers, early thoughts on structure, and timings.
3. Get your speech by the agreed date. Most people are delighted with the first draft. If not, amendments are part of the service right up to the day, as far as “rip it up and start again”. Still unhappy? Full refund.

It’s £299, the deadline is whatever you tell us (two years away or this weekend), and it will sound like you, not a greetings card. Nobody needs to know you had help.

If you’re not the only parent speaking, our mother of the bride speech page covers how to share the job, and the order of wedding speeches explains where you fit in on the day. The speech hub has the rest. And if the blank page wins, our speech writing service is there for dads as much as best men.