“When my daughter declared she planned to marry the groom I thought I had better carry out some background checks. So I went to his local police station and asked if he was well behaved. The sergeant behind the desk was very reassuring. Apparently they never had any bother with him whenever he expended the night there.”
Somehow you may get away with very corny jokes at a wedding; jokes that would fall very flat at any other venue. Perhaps it is that often times half the crowd doesn’t know the other half. Or perhaps it is that everyone is attempting very hard to be polite, and make it a happy day for the bride and groom. But really, I think it’s often times more likely that most guests have already had “one too many” and will laugh at anything that’s said, even a very modest try at humor.
The father of the bride traditionally has a particular place at weddings. Most likely this is because he was ordinarily expected to be the host and foot the bill for the reception in times past. Shades of another tradition in a good deal of cultures and older times of paying a dowry, and the daughter leaving home to live with the groom’s family, I suppose. The bill is often times disseminate around a little more widely amidst the families these days. But it is still a wrench for a father to see his pretty daughter leave home to live with her new partner. It’s the public “giving your daughter away” tradition that makes it even worse. Many a father of the bride has secretly quickly wiped away a tear or two at his daughter’s wedding.
This special place for the bride’s father from time to time means he gets the role of master of ceremonies for his daughter’s wedding, and ought to step in from time to time and say a few words to keep the occasion moving along. Sometimes this role goes to the best man, to another guest who is an capable speaker, or even to a professional entertainer, if the budget stretchings that far.
Whether or not he is the master of ceremonies, the father of the bride is ordinarily expected to give a short speech at the reception. The pattern is somewhat well traditionalisti by tradition:
1. A few opening lines, perchance with a good deal of humor to get everyone’s attention.
2. Thanks to the guests for coming and to the supportive humans behind the institution of the event.
3. Some remarks with regards to the day so far, such as flattering remarks directed to the ladies.
4. A few personal remarks with regards to how it feels to be father of the bride.
5. A few affectionate words on the bride.
6. Perhaps a heap of comment on how the romance started and blossomed into the marriage.
7. A welcome to the family for the groom.
8. Some remarks on the couple’s plans, a few words of wisdom and advice, and best wishes for their future together.
9. A toast (or two), to the couple and their future, and perchance to mention absent relatives and friends.
10. A few closing lines, ofttimes as the host wishing every one a pleasant time for the remainder of the festivities.
Putting together a successful speech comes easy to some, but it may be a big support to get a in a professional manner prepared draft and checklist to work off. After all, giving a father of the bride wedding speech may only occur once or twice in the lives of most fathers. And there are few things worse than being told afterwards by the bride’s mother that you altogether forgot to mention Aunty Mildred’s hard work icing the wedding cake!
