Father of the Bride Speech: 30 Examples, Quotes & Toasts

As well as jokes and humour, no father of the bride speech is complete without some heartfelt words – and that’s where these emotional father of the bride quotes and toasts come in.

Whether you pepper some emotional dad quotes into the body of your father wedding speech, or end with a tear-jerking father of the bride toast, it’s important to include some sentimental words about your daughter (as well as the slightly embarrassing stories, of course).

But if emotional quotes for father of the bride speeches don’t come naturally to you, and you have a bit of writer’s block when it comes to deciding what to say, our edit of father of the bride quotes and toasts is sure to help. We also tapped up expert speechwriters for their take on father of bride speeches.

30 Best Father of the Bride Speech Examples

With opening lines, quotes to include in your speech and emotional toasts to end on, simply skip to the section you need – or browse them all to find some of your favourite emotional father quotes that’ll have the entire room reaching for the tissues.

• Opening Lines for the Father of the Bride Speech
• Sentimental Lines for the Father of the Bride Speech
• Light-hearted Quotes for the Father of the Bride Speech
• Toasts for the Father of the Bride
• Closing Remarks for the Father of the Bride Speech
• How to Give a Father of the Bride Speech: Expert Guide
• Father of the Bride Speech Template

Opening Lines for the Father of the Bride Speech

• “Thank you all for joining us today to celebrate [BRIDE’S NAME] and [PARTNER’S NAME]’s beautiful marriage. We are so incredible grateful and happy to have you here.”
• “Being the father of the bride today has made me feel more pride than I ever thought a person could feel.”
• “It’s said that when your children find true love, parents find true joy, and that couldn’t feel truer as I stand here today.”
• Welcome, family and friends, to the wedding of my beautiful daughter [BRIDE'S NAME] and [PARTNER'S NAME]. I can't explain how proud I am to be standing here today." 

Sentimental Lines for the Father of the Bride Speech

• “Of all the amazing qualities you possess, my favourite of all is that you always make those around you smile.”
• “When you and I shared that moment earlier – that glint in your eye as I walked you down the aisle – just know that’s a moment I will cherish forever.”
• “Despite having [X] years to prepare a father of the bride speech, I’m still left standing here today, speechless at how beautiful she looks.”
• “Of all the things I have done in my lifetime, being your father and caring for you is by far my biggest achievement yet.”
• “Seeing your daughter looking so happy and so radiant is a truly amazing experience, but it’s tinged with a little sadness because it’s also the moment you realise, she is all grown up.”
• “There’s no relationship quite as special as the one a father has with his daughter, but if any bond was going to top ours, it’s the one you have with [PARTNER’S NAME].”
• “A father holds his daughter’s hand for a short while, but he holds her heart forever.”
• “Now my daughter begins a new chapter and there will be another person she turns to for love and protection, but I want her to know that, as her father, I will always be there for her.”
• “[BRIDE’S NAME] and [PARTNER’S NAME], your life together is just beginning, and it will take many turns along the way. You’ll have your glory days, and you’ll have your sad days. However, if you have each other, you will have all you need.”
• “I don’t know what the future holds for you – and I know that 20 years from now, many things would have happened that we can’t predict. But whatever happens, and wherever you go, your mum/dad and I know you’ll always have each other’s love, and you’ll always have ours.”
• “To my daughter. Today [BRIDE’S NAME] is the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen since her mother [X] years ago.”
• “To [PARTNER’S NAME], the day you asked me for my daughter’s hand in marriage was the day I finally stopped worrying about who will look after her when I no longer can.”

Light-hearted Quotes for the Father of the Bride Speech

• “I have to commend my daughter’s impeccable taste. Now is the time when I’m supposed to officially welcome [PARTNER’S NAME] into our family, but the truth is, you’ve been part of this family since the day we met you.”
• “I know [DAUGHTER’S NAME] will be an amazing partner, and I know that because if she is anything like her mother, she’ll still be making you smile 50 years on.”
• “Raise your glasses to both [PARTNER’S NAME] and me, as we’ve each gained something on this fine day. [PARTNER’S NAME] has gained a wife and companion – I gain the reassurance that my daughter will have someone incredible by her side for the rest of her life.”
• “And here’s to the groom, a man who keeps his head even as he loses his heart!”

Toasts for the Father of the Bride

• “Fathers – be your daughter’s first love and she’ll never settle for anything less. Here’s to my daughter’s high standards and the incredible partner who’s met them!”
• “To the happy couple – neither of you will be perfect, but you can be perfect together.”
• “There are two lasting bequests we can give to our children… one is roots. The other is wings. Cheers to both!”
• “As Dr Seuss once said, ‘You know you’re in love when you don’t want to fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.’ So please, raise a glass to a life filled with less sleep and a dreamier reality.”
• “Before I take a seat, I have one last task – and it’s a task that is both an honour and a privilege. Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses and join with me in wishing the newlyweds a long, healthy and happy future together. To the happy couple!”
• “A toast: may all sweethearts become married couples, and may all married couples remain sweethearts.”

Closing Remarks for the Father of the Bride Speech

• “I don’t think any amount of preparation can ever leave you feeling ready to give your daughter away, but if I had to choose a person to hand her to, I would choose you every time.”
• “May your love be modern enough to survive the times and old-fashioned enough to last forever.”
• “Here’s to the past, for all that you’ve learnt. Here’s to the present, for all that you share. Here’s to the future, for all that you’ve got to look forward to.”
• “A successful marriage is not about finding a person you can live with, but finding a person that you can’t live without, and I know you’ve found that with each other.”
• “To you both, may you always prioritise each other and remember what’s important.”

How to Give a Father of the Bride Speech: Expert Guide

What is a father of the bride speech?

A father of the bride speech in the UK can be just about anything you want it to be. Though typically a handwritten speech, it could also be a song, a poem or a reading – it’s all up to the person delivering the speech to decide what would best suit the happy couple on their wedding day. 

Traditionally, the father of bride speech is given during the wedding reception toasts, either at the beginning or end. It will often contain a bit of marriage advice for the newlyweds alongside some anecdotes and happy memories, as well as some words of welcome to the bride’s new spouse.

Over the years, speeches for the father of the bride have become more personalised and tailored to suit the style and tone of the person delivering it. Each one is completely unique!

How long should a father of the bride speech be?

“All wedding speeches ought to be delivered within 10 minutes, at a conversational speed while leaving pauses for laughter,” explains Heidi Ellert-McDermott, founder of Speechy and author of The Modern Couple’s Guide to Wedding Speeches.

“Too short, and people feel short-changed (especially the bride in this case!), but too long and guests will be checking their WhatsApp messages underneath the table.

“At Speechy, we aim for 1,000-1,200 words for father of the bride clients. That’s enough time to thank everyone for coming, tell a couple of great stories to entertain the guests, pay tribute to their daughter’s partner and drop a huge love bomb onto the bride.

“Remember, you don’t need to list all of your daughter’s achievements or run through her life story – your job is to highlight the things that really matter, and that’s her character and the qualities that make her truly unique.”

How do I write a father of the bride speech?

“Don’t sit down and try to write an emotional father of the bride speech from scratch – it’s a big task to do in one sitting,” says Heidi. “I recommend spending some time gathering the speech 'ingredients' first – maybe gather the family together and reminisce over some old photo albums.

“Are there any stories that stand out from her youth? What are her quirks and guilty pleasures? How does she make you laugh? Use all your sources to gather the best possible material to work with.

“The trick to making your speech entertaining and meaningful is to ditch all the clichés and Googled gags if they don’t mean anything to you or to her. Real life observations are the secret to making your father of the bride speech humorous and genuinely heartfelt,” she adds.

What should a father of the bride speech include?

“There are certainly a few things to tick off when it comes to what the father of the bride speech should contain, but don’t get carried away with all the old-fashioned etiquette advice that still lurks online,” says Heidi.

“Yes, welcome the guests and quickly acknowledge the distances people may have travelled but don’t resort to name-checking half the guest list! It’s dull to sit through and a waste of your word count.

“Certainly don’t bother thanking the venue, suppliers or anyone who has been paid for their services, unless you especially want to. The thank-yous are actually the newlyweds’ job, so don’t steal their limelight!

“Do ensure you pay tribute to your daughter’s spouse as well as her. And acknowledge their parents too by welcoming them to the family. It’s also important to pay tribute to your daughter’s mother, whether or not you’re still together, and the role she had in your daughter’s upbringing.

“You may want to raise a toast to the ‘dearly departed’ but I recommend doing this towards the end rather than starting with it,” she adds.

The bulk of the wedding speech for dad should be about the bride – entertaining the guests with a few little stories and making sure she feels thoroughly loved. Plus, it’s always worth mentioning how gorgeous she looks!

Who does the father of the bride thank?

“The father of the bride should welcome all the guests and, later, thank the new in-laws and the mother of the bride for her contribution to bringing up such a wonderful daughter,” reiterates Heidi.

Should the father of the bride give a toast?

Typically a father of the bride does toast to the happy couple at the end of his speech, but it’s completely up to you.

“Remember, no one has to give a toast or a speech – there could be a million reasons why a dad might not want to speak at his daughter’s wedding, or why his daughter would prefer him not to,” says Heidi.

“Like most aspects of a modern wedding, there are no strict rules on who gets time on the wedding mic.”

Father of the Bride Speech Dos & Don’ts

Do… establish a storyline. “Your speech should go beyond a string of compliments, thank yous and scattered stories,” says Heidi. “It needs to tell a story that draws people in, establishes a theme and builds to a memorable conclusion.

Do… nail the message in the last line. “Your final paragraph should wrap up the central message of your speech. Think of it like storytelling: you begin by setting up what you’re going to share, then tell the story, and finally wrap it up by reinforcing what you’ve said.

"A great trick used in comedy is the ‘call-back.’ This involves mentioning something early in the speech, perhaps casually, and then referring back to it later for impact.

"For example, in his short father of the bride speech, a father once began by recalling how his daughter used to insist on wearing mismatched socks as a child, saying it was her 'creative touch'. Toward the end of the speech, he toasted the happy couple and playfully advised the groom – if you ever find mismatched socks in the laundry, just remember, it’s her creative touch!

"A call-back is a simple, but highly effective way to make your speech feel polished and clever!’"

Do… practice! “As well as writing your speech, you need to deliver it, so in the run up to the big day, read it out loud so you’re familiar with the flow and rhythm of it,” says Heidi. “Record yourself on your phone and play it back as often as possible. The goal is to get so familiar with it that it becomes second nature, like a song you can’t help singing along to.”

Do… use your notes. “Memorising your wedding speech might seem impressive but it’s really not essential. And after spending weeks perfecting your speech, why risk delivering a half-baked version of it?”

Don’t… use overused phrases. “The spotlight should be on celebrating your daughter’s individuality, so focus on what truly sets her apart,” says Heidi.

Don’t… resort to cheesy icebreakers. “Draw on the reality before your eyes instead,” says Heidi. “Everyone has their own quirks, so take a fresh look at your daughter. Notice those little habits that make her who she is. Does she insist on wearing flip-flops, even in the middle of winter? Does she binge-watch old rom coms when she’s stressed? Or maybe she has an unexplained obsession with collecting houseplants?

"These personal observations will show you truly understand her, and they’ll add a light-hearted touch to your speech that’ll get a laugh from everyone."

Father of the Bride Speech Template

Following a clear structure can sometimes help when it comes to writing your father of the bride speech. Try using this example of a father of the bride speech to get you started:

Opening

The first part of your speech should focus on introducing yourself, welcoming everyone and saying a few thanks. “Resist the usual wedding waffle,” says Heidi. ‘Keep it real, relevant and original. For example, let’s say the bride is an adrenaline junkie:

“As [BRIDE’S NAME]’s dad, I’ve spent the last [X] years watching her jump off things, race through things and generally defying gravity and safety advice, and my blood pressure – which is all good training for the terrifying ordeal of delivering this speech.”

Acknowledge the happy couple

Once you’ve introduced yourself, it’s time to turn your attention to your beautiful daughter and her new spouse. Pay tribute to your daughter with stories and anecdotes, welcome her partner to the family and also acknowledge the new in-laws, too.

Closing remarks and toast

Now is the time to end your speech and raise a toast to the newlyweds. Ensure your speech ends on a heartfelt note before raising your glass and asking everyone to join you.

“So, let’s raise a glass to a woman who has never taken the easy path, always followed her heart, and now begins her greatest adventure yet ­– with someone brave enough to keep up. To [BRIDE’S NAME] and [PARTNER NAME]”

Want even more father of the bride inspiration? Check out these brilliant father of the bride speech examples. You might even find some funny dad wedding speeches!