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It's hard to describe someone you love in a few minutes. Yet that's just what father of the bride speeches should do. Added to that they must welcome guests and a daughter's in-laws and say a few words about the groom and, of course, his own wife. It's a tall order and it calls for a professional approach.
Some people have words at will and can give a wonderful off-the-cuff speech. For most people though it's a tough challenge and the earlier they start preparing the speech the better it will be. Women are normally better than men at remembering childhood incidents so it is a good idea to ask the bride's mother to remind him of how the bride ran away from home when she was three or always smuggled her puppy into bed when nobody was looking. Once a mother and father start discussing these memories many more will surface and he will have the basic information he needs for his speech.
It is not difficult to write a gracious welcome to the guests and it can be only a sentence or two long. He might begin his speech by saying he has always wanted to be a toastmaster and welcome guests and those at this particular wedding are very special guests indeed.
The same applies when welcoming the bride's new in-laws although, preferably, he should say something personal. He might mention the fact that his daughter's new mother in law makes wonderful apple pies and he hopes she will teach the bride to make them for him! He might say that as the bride's father-in-law is a keen gardener he hopes he can get some hints and some cuttings from him. Those little personal comments make a big difference in the father of the bride speeches.
Naturally he will want to say a few words about the groom and they should express the fact that he is happy his daughter has found someone to love her as much as he does himself. He may choose to give a little advice on how to get on with a wife by saying "Yes dear" at all times.Alternatively, he may give some more serious advice by advising the couple to be tolerant of each others friendships and that good manners help make a good marriage.
He will speak of his pride in his daughter and her accomplishments. He will mention her childhood and her growing years and a good father of the bride speeches ensure that all those present feel they know her characteristics, hobbies and personality a good deal better when the speeches are finished. He may choose to mention his own marriage and his own wife and hope that the couple, in turn, will be blessed as he has been blessed. Naturally he will say how beautiful his daughter looks on her special day. A bit of humour will certainly add to the speech.
Finally the bride's dad will toast the happy couple and wish them a lifetime of happiness together. If he can find a personal toast or a relevant poem or saying it will end his speech on a memorable note. Overall the core message of father of the bride speeches is that they express love for the bride.
Niamh Crowe
Copyright Speechwriters 1994-2007
marketing@speech-writers.com
Tel. +353 1 8333599
Niamh Crowe started her speech writing career with father of the bride speeches. That was 20 years ago. To date she has written thousands of different speeches like bride speeches, birthday speeches and farewell speeches etc.
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