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Original poster

Dad of bride speech ( make it short& sweet)

16 replies

juless77 · 03/08/2023 19:52

Can anyone give tips or sites to go to for a dad of the bride speech ....Hubby is not one to speak in front of people even if he knows them so wants to keep it short and sweet but effective if that makes sense any one any advice ? thanks

OP posts:
GeorgeSpeaks · 03/08/2023 20:07

The nicest speeches I've seen go like this:

  1. anecdote about bride when a baby and a child
  2. anecdote about her as a difficult teenager
  3. anecdote about her going out into the big wide world and how proud you were.
  4. anecdote about when you first got wind of the groom and when you first met him, joke about how he didn't come across well but then turned out to be great.
  5. anecdote about how it was revealed they were getting married and how pleased you were.
  6. your best wishes for their future.

Drink.

Cookerhood · 03/08/2023 20:10

Try ChatGPT as a starting point, then adapt? Often starting is the difficult but, editing is easier. The outline above it pretty much what DH used & it worked well.

magnolia1997 · 03/08/2023 20:32

Thank everyone for coming.
Say how proud you are of dd
Congratulate new son-in-law on his excellent choice (everyone laughs).
Raise a toast.

This is basically what my dad did who had never spoken to a group of people before - everyone sensed he was nervous and you could sense them rooting for him.

SoonToBeinSpotlight · 04/08/2023 00:38

Say nice things about your daughter . Sounds obvious, but my dad gave a hilarious speech which didn't mention me...... that always cut a bit, especially as he brought it up frequently to congratulate himself over how many Vj people laughed...... Blush

toomuchlaundry · 04/08/2023 00:42

He doesn’t have to do a speech if he doesn’t want, he could just congratulate the happy couple and thank everyone for coming. No-one wants to listen to long speeches

DreamItDoIt · 04/08/2023 08:47

Why don't you do the speech together, whilst traditional fotb speeches are very old fashioned imo.

MBailey99 · 04/08/2023 08:53

Just a couple of anecdotes and keep it short. Long speeches are great if they're genuinely moving or funny. But most aren't.

AuntieMarys · 04/08/2023 08:54

Why don't you do the speech?

MariaVT65 · 04/08/2023 08:56

Yes if he doesn’t feel comfortable with a speech, can you do it? Or would the bride do it? My dad wasn’t at my wedding so I did a speech instead :)

Rocknrollstar · 04/08/2023 09:03

Nothing embarrassing and perhaps mention the mothers and grandmothers as well. Keep it short and tell the bride she looks beautiful.

JussathoB · 04/08/2023 09:08

magnolia1997 · 03/08/2023 20:32

Thank everyone for coming.
Say how proud you are of dd
Congratulate new son-in-law on his excellent choice (everyone laughs).
Raise a toast.

This is basically what my dad did who had never spoken to a group of people before - everyone sensed he was nervous and you could sense them rooting for him.

This
Keep it simple.
People are usually happy if speeches are less than five minutes.
Resist pressure to tell long funny anecdotes or jokes. Some people can do this successfully but most of us can’t. It can also backfire.

Original poster
juless77 · 04/08/2023 12:37

I’ve got mine sorted I’m not as shy as hubby x

OP posts:
YorkshireIndie · 04/08/2023 12:43

A nice anecdote, a joke - do not try to one up the groom. The worst speech was were the FOB talked about his affairs

Lastnightschips · 05/08/2023 17:10

He could do what my dad did - didn’t realise he was supposed to do a speech (and yes, he’s been to plenty of weddings including three of his own) until about a month before the wedding, then stood up, said ‘well everyone’s said what I was going to say’, then basically said congratulations and sat down. Granted we’re not super emotional in my family but we have a good relationship so at least one funny story about how great I am would’ve been nice! It’s not even like he hates public speaking, he actually likes it. Mystifying.

TheWomanTheyCallJayne · 05/08/2023 17:12

I remember my brother’s fil starting his very short speech with ‘I think I’m known as a man of few words’ then just did a thank you or two and a congrats and it was great.
My brother then said ‘and I’m a man of even fewer words’ and did the same.
Far better than our wedding where the best man rambled on.

Manthide · 05/08/2023 20:12

Neither me or dh are great at public speaking - and I think dd2 was a bit worried what dh would say so she got dd1 to give the speech. She had everyone in tears laughing.
Dd2 returned the honour when dd1 got married - though dd1 thinks her speech was funnier ( dd2 does get nervous).
No one commented on either occasion on the lack of the father of the bride speech. He also didn't give either of them away.

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