Father of the bride speech: What to say (uk guide)

The father of the bride traditionally speaks first at a UK wedding, after the meal. He welcomes guests, thanks anyone who has helped or hosted, shares a few words about his daughter, formally welcomes her partner into the family, and finishes by toasting the couple.

This guide covers what to include, what to leave out, length, and a worked example you can adapt.

What the father of the bride covers

1. Welcome guests on behalf of the family.
2. Thanks: anyone who travelled far, anyone who hosted or helped, and the venue if it feels right.
3. About your daughter: one or two short stories, not a life history.
4. Welcome to her partner: a sincere line bringing them into the family.
5. Advice or a wish for their marriage, kept brief.
6. The toast: ask the room to stand and raise a glass to the couple.

Length

Aim for 5 to 8 minutes spoken, roughly 700 to 1,000 words. Anything over 10 minutes loses the room.

Opening lines that work

• "On behalf of [partner's name] and me, welcome. Thank you for being here on the most important day of our daughter's life so far."
• "They warned me that being father of the bride means writing a cheque and giving a speech. I am told the speech is the easier of the two."
• "I have known [bride's name] all her life. I have never been prouder of her than I am today."

A short worked example

Good afternoon. On behalf of [wife's name] and me, thank you for being here. Some of you have travelled a long way, and it means a great deal to us, and to [bride] and [partner], that you are here.

I would like to thank everyone who has helped today happen: [name people briefly]. I would also like to remember those who could not be with us, but who are very much in our thoughts.

[Bride] was a determined child. At three she insisted on dressing herself, even when the result was wellies, a tutu, and her brother's swimming goggles. She has been quietly setting her own course ever since. We could not be prouder of the woman she has become.

[Partner], you make our daughter happy. That is the only test that mattered to us, and you have passed it from the day we met you. Welcome to the family.

My only advice is this: be kind to each other, especially on the days that feel hardest. Everything else follows from that.

Please stand and raise your glasses: to [bride] and [partner].

What to leave out

• Long stories that need explaining. If it does not land in two sentences, cut it.
• Anything about previous relationships.
• Inside jokes that exclude most of the room.
• A second toast to absent friends if the best man is giving one later.

Delivery

• Print large type, double-spaced, on cards you can hold steady.
• Read it aloud three times before the day. Time it.
• Pause after the jokes. Do not race the laughs.
• Look up between sections. Eye contact carries more than perfect phrasing.

Related speeches reading

The father of the bride opens the speeches. To see how the rest of the running order fits together, read our guide to the order of speeches at a wedding. If your daughter is marrying her groom, he typically speaks next: see our groom's speech tips. To talk through speech timings on your day, you can arrange a viewing and walk the room where they will be heard.