As the groom’s father, you’re one of the few who have seen your son from childhood to adulthood. Now that he’s tying the knot, he deserves to receive the most heartfelt message on the big day.
How do you craft the best speech when you’re the father of the groom? My guide offers all the tips you need and some short father of the groom speech samples. Make everyone cry, laugh, and raise their glasses.
How Long Should a Father of Groom Speech Be?
The most incredible wedding speeches last only a short time and do not bore the audience. It should only fall between 4-6 minutes.
A wedding reception comprises different parts, from toasts to dinners, games, and performances. That said, your speech should maintain the desired schedule.
You can still be an impactful father who gives fantastic expert advice in a few minutes. Prepare your speech in advance to ensure the length is adequate and will not lose the crowd’s attention.
Brainstorm dinner speech sample topics, only share essential stories, and keep the thank yous concise.
Father of the Groom Speech Quotes
Want to add notable quotes about marriage to your speech? Try these quotes.
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Inspiring Quotes about Marriage
- “A successful marriage is an edifice that must be rebuilt everyday.” -Ogden Nash
- “A man in love is incomplete until he is married. Then he’s finished.” -Joey Adams
- “There is no remedy for love but to love more.” -Nanette Newman
- “Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but looking outward together in the same direction.”
Dad Jokes for Father of the Groom Speech
You can never go wrong with a classic dad joke.
- “What an emotional day it’s been for everyone. Even the cake is in tiers!”
- “I have a dream – oh, sorry, wrong speech!”
- “Without all of you here today, it wouldn’t be the same…but it would be cheaper.”
- “Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered today to celebrate something rare and magical. I am talking about the open bar.”
- “My son and I have the same humor. If you don’t like my following jokes, blame him.”
Well Wishes to the Newlyweds
- “Here’s to a life full of affection, patience, and happiness.”
- “We’re so happy for you!”
- “Today is just the beginning. And we all look forward to celebrating this season with you.”
- “It’s an honor to celebrate your love.”
Tips for Father of the Groom Speech
It can be tough to organize your thoughts and ideas, but hopefully, these tips can help you get started.
Tip #1: Follow an Outline
Your son’s wedding day is a special moment in his life. You want to make your speech as memorable as possible. But how do you fit all the funny stories and advice on their family and future life within a limited time?
Most speeches require an outline so the speaker can focus on the common theme and cover the essential aspects. It also organizes everything logically.
Essays and speeches usually include an introduction, body, and conclusion. When writing a speech as the father of the groom, follow these essential parts.
Introduction
- Introduce yourself as the father of the groom.
- Welcome the guests.
- Briefly congratulate the couple.
Body
- Talk about your son. It can be about his childhood and aspirations.
- Talk about your new daughter or son-in-law. Discuss when you realized she was right for your son. Welcome them into the family.
- Show what you’re most excited about in the marriage.
Conclusion
- End with a toast for the couple.
Tip #2: Introduce Yourself
Do not let your excitement about sharing dad jokes, an embarrassing story, or favorite memory prevent you from introducing yourself to people. Not everyone might know you on the wedding day.
The happy couple will have friends who do not know you. Your daughter or son-in-law’s relatives may also not be familiar with your face.
Aside from stating your name in public speaking, it also helps to share your relationship with the couple. It can be as simple as “Good evening, everyone. My name is Harry, and I’m the father of the groom, Jerry.”
If you are attending a same-sex wedding, be clear on which of the two grooms is your son. Tell the people the name of your son. For example, you can say, “My name is Charles, Patrick’s father.”
Tip #3: Thank the Guests
Wedding speeches also express gratitude to the guests for attending this heartfelt moment. Fathers are usually considered hosts of weddings. And hosts are responsible for thanking everyone.
As an incredible father, don’t forget to make eye contact while thanking the guests for coming to the special occasion. Look at the different sides and corners of the room to make everyone feel included. If you look too much at one table, the rest of the audience might feel out of place.
You can thank the guests by saying, “I would like to thank everyone in this function hall for being here to celebrate one of the biggest moments in Jane and William’s lives.”
Tip #4: Communicate Details About Your Son
Talk about your son before focusing on the married couple. As a devoted father, you must be knowledgeable about your son’s journey through life.
This is your chance to share your memorable moments with everyone at the wedding party. You can also show you’re a funny father by inserting clever jokes. Let people know the admirable qualities of your son that will make him a fantastic husband.
Once you have prepared a specific story, use the theme to transition to his partner and the marriage.
Here’s a short example:
Archie is a highly ambitious man who always gets what he wants. At six years old, he had already known that he wanted to be a doctor, specifically a cardiologist. He would bring his toy stethoscope everywhere and playfully give us physical examinations. Now, he’s working hard to finish his medical internship. At eleven, Archie already knew the type of woman he wanted to marry. He told his mother, “I want a bright, beautiful, and sophisticated lady,” which perfectly describes her now-wife, Meg.
Tip #5: Mention Your New Daughter or Son-in-Law
Being a fantastic father means acknowledging your new daughter or son-in-law. Aside from mentioning how they would make a wonderful couple, try recalling meaningful memories with your son’s spouse. Perhaps it was a funny moment when you first met.
This section of the father of the groom speech also includes your new child-in-law’s distinct qualities and characteristics. Consider the example below.
I remember the first time I met Ashley. My son brought her to our vacation house during the summer of 2016 to introduce her to us. She was flexible, friendly, and easygoing with everyone. Ashley helped my wife, Dina, cook steak. She chatted with my children like they’d known each other for a long time. And in the evening, she drank beer with us. From that moment on, I knew she would be able to give Archie a happy life.
Tip #6: Explain Why Their Marriage Makes You Happy
Your amazing speech should also show a feeling of excitement for your son and daughter-in-law’s successful marriage. This section is essential because many from the audience might want to know what you think about marriage.
Ask yourself, why are you happy that they married? Is it because they are wonderful people who are perfect for each other? Do you see yourself and your wife in them?
You can also share a fond memory with the couple in this part. Tell the newlyweds that this is an exciting time for them and that you wish them a blessed life. Consider the example below.
Archie’s goal-driven attitude and Ashley’s adventurous personality complement each other. I am happy you have found each other and can live a lifetime of happiness and love.
Tip #7: End On a Wish for the Couple
Your 10-minute speech will not be complete without ending it with an inspirational toast or wish for the newly married couple. Once you’re done giving fatherly advice and sharing family stories, the final part of the traditional wedding speech order is your desires for the two.
Here are some examples of wishes you might have for the couple.
- May you be blessed with beautiful children and a happy home.
- May your happy marriage be full of love and laughter.
- I’m thankful that I now have two sons in the family. I love you both.
Tip #8: Practice Reciting Your Speech
The perfect match deserves a perfect speech. Whether you’re delivering it at rehearsal dinner or the dinner reception, practicing it before the big day is crucial. Read it out loud and check for errors. Are you giving cliched advice? Is it too long?
Writing your whole speech on paper will help you memorize it and rehearse your non-verbal cues. Do not read it off your phone or table because it will look distracting and tacky, especially when the wedding photos go out.
Read it before a few trusted people, and ask for their recommendations. They might catch errors that your eyes didn’t. You also want multiple copies of the speech in case you lose one.
Tip #9: Make Sure There’s a Microphone
Wedding parties almost always have microphones so everyone will hear the speaker’s perfect toast. Without one, people will not clearly understand your funny jokes, inspiring stories, and well wishes for the couple. You will also be forced to adjust your tone and volume.
Tip #10: Use a Professional Speech Writer
If you don’t feel like writing your own speech, you can hire professional wedding speech writers who produce custom speeches. They can give you examples of speeches and wedding toasts for inspiration and transform your thoughts into words.
Samples of Father of the Groom Speech
Here are some examples of father of the groom toast or speech.
- Finding an exceptional person with whom you’ll share amazing moments can be challenging. But [groom] and [groom/bride] have made it look so easy. Their love is rare, and their entire marriage is a huge blessing in life.
- My heart is happy to see a deep affection and care you have for each other. I am thankful for witnessing my son finally find the one for him. May your marriage be prosperous and faithful.
- I raised my son to be the perfect gentleman, so [bride] is lucky! But you know who’s luckier? My son, for having found an understanding yet an assertive woman. You mean the world to [groom] and the rest of the family. Thank you for making my son happy.
- [Bride] and [groom], both of you know I have been married for thirty years. And while I know all about the downsides of marriage, I can tell you how everything is so worth it. When we’re with the right person, all the positives outweigh the negatives.
- Good evening, everyone! My name is [name], [son’s name] ‘s dad. Thank you for coming to witness this special day.
- [Son], I love you so much. I know you learned a lot from me growing up, but I also learned a lot from you. I learned that kids sometimes give better advice than parents. My son is intelligent, hardworking, and thoughtful, so we all trusted him. He was the pillar of our family, and I know he would be the same in his marriage.
- Today, I welcome [partner] into our family with open arms. Like my son, you are intelligent, persevering, and full of love. I know you will share a happy life.
- Both of you are two extraordinary individuals, but together, you are perfect. And while you have loved and cared for each other for six years, you only made it official today. Congratulations on now being a married couple. I pray that both of you love and support each other for the rest of your lives.
Father Knows Best
Giving a father of the groom speech is a great honor and an opportunity to share your best wishes for your son and his partner.
The hardest part about speechwriting is figuring out where to begin. But I hope this post helped you brainstorm and outline! Keep your speech no more than six minutes, and share a few stories with the audience. And don’t forget to close with a toast!