A Father's Sentimental Wedding Speech

The father of the bride or groom's speech is one of the most eagerly anticipated parts of a wedding reception. It is a chance for the father to express his love, pride, and hopes for his child's future. While it can be a daunting task, with a mix of emotions involved, a well-crafted speech will leave a lasting impression on the couple and the guests. The key to a great speech is confidence, and this can be achieved through practice. The ideal length is between 3 to 7 minutes, with a clear and organised structure. The speech should include an introduction, anecdotes, a welcome to the new spouse, words of wisdom, and a toast to the couple.

Welcoming the guests

Introduction and Greetings

Start by introducing yourself and welcoming all the guests to the wedding. You can say something like:

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I am [your name], the proud father of the bride. On behalf of my partner and our family, I want to extend a warm welcome and express our deepest gratitude for joining us on this joyous occasion."

Thank the Guests

Express your appreciation for their presence and support. You can thank them for travelling from near and far, and also acknowledge those who have contributed to the wedding, such as the wedding planner, staff, bridesmaids, and ushers. Here's an example:

"We would like to thank all of you who have travelled from near and far to be here today. Your presence means the world to us. We are also grateful to our friends and family who have supported us and made this day possible."

Recognize Special Guests

Take a moment to recognize and welcome any special guests, such as close family members or friends who have travelled from overseas. You can say something like:

"We would like to give a special welcome to those who have joined us from afar, including [name special guests]. We are so happy to have you here to share in this celebration."

Set the Tone

Your welcome sets the tone for the rest of the speech and the reception. Use this opportunity to make the guests feel comfortable and excited for the festivities. You can crack a light-hearted joke or share a fun anecdote about the bride to break the ice. For example:

"For those who don't know me, I'm [your name], and I have the honour of being the father of the bride. I must warn you, my sense of humour can be a bit quirky, so brace yourselves for some dad jokes!"

Express Gratitude to the Bride's In-Laws

Take a moment to welcome the bride's new in-laws and express your gratitude for their presence. You can say something like:

"We are thrilled to welcome the groom's wonderful parents, [parents' names], into our family. We feel so fortunate to have gained not only a son-in-law but also amazing extended family members."

By following these suggestions, you can create a warm and engaging welcome for the guests, setting the right tone for the rest of your speech and the wedding reception.

Thanking the guests and family

Welcoming and Thanking the Guests

Begin by welcoming everyone to the wedding and expressing your gratitude for their presence. You can also thank those who have travelled from far or contributed their time, support, and resources to make the day possible. If there are people who provided moral or financial support, be sure to acknowledge them as well. It's also a nice touch to thank the wedding planner, staff, and all the vendors who have worked tirelessly to make the day a success.

Remembering Absent Family Members

Take a moment to remember and honour any family members who could not be present or are no longer with you. Keep this section upbeat, but it's a thoughtful way to acknowledge those who are missed.

Thanking the Bride's New In-Laws

As the father of the bride, it's customary to thank the parents of your daughter's new spouse. Express your gratitude for welcoming your daughter into their family and acknowledge the role they played in raising such a wonderful person.

Thanking the Wedding Party

Don't forget to thank the wedding party, including the bridesmaids and ushers, for their support and contribution to the day.

Thanking the Happy Couple

While this section may come later in your speech, you can express your appreciation for the couple choosing to host such a wonderful celebration and for allowing you to be a part of it.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of my wife/partner and our family, I want to extend a warm welcome and express our deepest gratitude for joining us on this joyous occasion. We are incredibly thankful to all of you who have travelled from near and far to be here today. Your presence means the world to us. We also want to acknowledge and thank those who have supported us along the way, whether it be morally or financially.

A special thanks to the wedding planner, staff, and all the vendors who have worked tirelessly to make this day unforgettable. We also want to thank the bridesmaids and ushers for their dedication and support.

And to the happy couple, thank you for allowing us to share in this special day. We are honoured to be a part of it and are so grateful for the love and joy you have brought into our lives."

Remember to adapt these examples to fit your personal circumstances and the dynamics of the couple's family. This will help create a heartfelt and meaningful moment in your speech.

Sharing fond memories of the bride/groom

Funny stories

Share some light-hearted, entertaining stories about the bride/groom's childhood. For example, you could talk about the time they tried to run away from home, only to make it to the end of the street, or how they always asked for extra ice cream, no matter how many times you said no. You could also mention their obsession with a particular hobby or interest, like their love of animals or their passion for art.

Embarrassing tales

While you don't want to embarrass the bride/groom too much, a slightly embarrassing story can be a fun way to highlight your special bond. Just make sure it's something they won't be too mortified by! For instance, you could share a story about the time they came home a little tipsy from their first grown-up party or how they always forgot to pack their underwear when they went on holiday.

Special memories

Think about the moments that shaped the bride/groom into the person they are today. Perhaps they showed exceptional determination and resilience during a difficult time, or maybe they have a heart of gold, always putting others before themselves. Share these memories with the guests to give them a glimpse into the bride/groom's unique character and personality.

Poignant moments

Reflect on the special bond you share with the bride/groom. Talk about the adventures you've been on together, the late-night heart-to-heart conversations you've had, or the tea parties you attended when they were little. These memories will add a touch of nostalgia and warmth to your speech.

Achievements and accomplishments

Share some of the bride/groom's achievements and accomplishments that you're most proud of. Whether it's their academic success, their dedication to a particular cause, or their ability to always lend a helping hand, let the guests know about the things that make you burst with pride.

Remember to keep your stories and memories relevant to who the bride/groom is today. Choose anecdotes that showcase their unique qualities and the person they've become. And most importantly, speak from the heart – your love and pride for the bride/groom will shine through!

Congratulating the couple

Formal Wishes

If you've been invited to a formal wedding, or you've selected an elegant wedding card, a formal wedding message is always appropriate. Formal wedding wishes bring a touch of sophistication to your speech, no matter the attire.

• "Wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness."
• "Your wedding day will come and go, but may your love forever grow."
• "May the years ahead be filled with lasting joy."
• "May the true love you share today grow stronger as you grow old together."
• "Congratulations on a beautiful beginning to married life."
• "May your joining together bring you more joy than you can imagine."
• "May today be the beginning of a long, happy life together."
• "May the love and happiness you feel today shine through the years."

Casual Wishes

If you don't feel comfortable with formal wedding sayings, then go with something short, sweet, and relaxed. It's completely fine to work a more casual wedding message into your speech, no matter the recipient.

• "Wishing you lots of love and a lifetime of happiness."
• "Here's to a long and happy married life!"
• "Wishing you the best—today and always."
• "So happy to celebrate this special day with you both!"
• "Let the adventure begin!"
• "Wishing you a wonderful life together."

Funny Wishes

Go ahead and include a funny wedding wish in your speech if you're confident it will make the happy couple laugh. Just be careful—what might easily come across as a joke in conversation could be taken the wrong way in a speech. As a rule of thumb, avoid jokes that are sarcastic, insulting, or snarky.

• "Thanks for inviting us to eat and drink while you get married. Congrats!"
• "You two make almost as good a team as [their favourite sports team]."
• "Our marriage advice: Love, honour, and... scrub the toilet."
• "Congratulations—your wedding successfully made me sob like a baby."
• "Is someone cutting onions? No, those would be my happy tears."

Inspirational Wishes

Inspirational wedding wishes should get the happy couple excited for their bright future together. It's also sweet to reflect on how special your past has been with one or both members of the couple and how your relationship with them has shaped you.

• "Your love inspires me—here's to my favourite couple."
• "You've come so far, and your future together is so bright. Happy wedding day."
• "I can't wait to see how the rest of your love story unfolds."
• "May every day together see your love grow deeper."
• "Today is just the beginning—it gets even better."

Religious Wishes

If the couple is religious, then this might be the best option. Religious wedding card messages can mention God, tell them of your prayers, or relay Bible verses about love and marriage.

• "May your marriage be blessed!"
• "Wishing you a marriage as strong as your faith."
• "Sending you prayers for unending love and happiness."
• "Love is the greatest blessing."
• "God bless you both on this day with a lifetime of shared love and joy."

Wishes for Friends

When writing a wedding card for friends, you can go very general or very personal—it's completely up to you and the type of message you want to convey.

• "I'm so happy to call you both my friends. Congratulations!"
• "Of all the big life events we've celebrated over the years, today tops the list. Congrats!"
• "Thank you for inviting me to share this day with you and your family. Best wishes."
• "So thrilled to celebrate this wonderful day with you both."
• "Best wishes for a long and happy life together."
• "May you bring each other as much happiness as your friendship has brought to my life—and more!"
• "We've had so many laughs together! May you always make each other find humour and happiness in the little things."

Wishes for Family

When writing a wedding card for family, you can go very general or very personal—it's completely up to you and the type of message you want to convey.

• "Congratulations on your marriage and welcome to the family!"
• "So happy [name] has found the one. Welcome to the family!"
• "We're delighted to share this day with you both."
• "May your love story continue with each and every passing year."
• "What a wonderful day for our family and especially you two. May the joy you feel today last a lifetime."
• "Today, we added one more member to our family, and we couldn't be happier. Best wishes to you both in this next chapter."
• "What a wonderful addition to our family. We're so happy to share in your celebration. Congratulations!"
• "We couldn't be happier to call you both family. Best wishes for a long and happy future together."

Offering advice and well wishes

Sharing Words of Wisdom

Pass on some words of wisdom to the newlyweds, drawing from your life experiences. Offer insights about love, marriage, and building a strong, lasting relationship. Share your thoughts and best wishes for a long and happy marriage. Here are some examples:

• "As you begin this new chapter together, my wish for you is to always cherish and respect one another. Remember to communicate openly and be each other's biggest cheerleaders."
• "May your love be modern enough to survive the times and old-fashioned enough to last forever."
• "Remember that a successful relationship is not about finding a person you can live with, but finding a person that you can't live without."
• "May your love continue to grow and flourish. May you always find happiness and joy in each other."
• "Laughter is the secret ingredient to a happy marriage. Keep making each other laugh, and your love will always shine bright."

Imparting Advice

Offer some advice to the newlyweds, drawing from your experiences and lessons learned. Here are some examples:

• "Never stop embracing your inner child. Laugh together, play pranks, and find joy in the little things."
• "Nurture your love like a garden. Plant seeds of trust, water it with patience, and watch it bloom into a beautiful oasis of love and happiness."
• "Never underestimate the power of small acts of kindness. Embrace empathy, forgiveness, and patience in your journey."
• "Don't lose sight of the importance of cherishing one another. Treasure every moment and celebrate your successes."
• "Embrace the silly moments, laugh at each other's quirks, and never take yourselves too seriously."

Well Wishes

Share your heartfelt wishes for the couple's future together. Here are some examples:

• "May your lives be filled with an abundance of love, laughter, and countless beautiful memories."
• "May your marriage be filled with endless happiness, love, and beautiful memories."
• "May your love grow deeper and stronger with each passing day."
• "May your days be filled with endless love, laughter, and shared dreams."
• "May your life together be filled with joy, love, and all the blessings that come with it."

Frequently asked questions