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Father of the bride speech

A free father of the bride speech template for the wedding breakfast, with who to thank and a timer. It works for a step-parent or a mum giving it too.

The father of the bride speech is usually the first speech at the wedding breakfast, and the longest: seven to nine minutes is common, which is about 800 to 1,050 words. It is a welcome, a thank-you, a few true things about the person you are proud of, a word for their partner, and the toast.

The template works for a step-parent, a mum giving the speech, or a parent of either half of the couple. Write it below, free and with no account. You see your minutes as you type, you can practise it out loud with a timer, and you can print A6 cue cards.

How to write a father of the bride speech in 5 steps

  1. Check the order and your slot. Ask the couple or the toastmaster when you speak, how long you have, and whether it is before or after the meal. You are usually first.

  2. Choose two short stories. Pick one from when they were small and one from recently. Seven to nine minutes holds two stories, a welcome and the thank-yous.

  3. Fill in the template. Answer the questions in the writer, or fill the brackets yourself. You get a first draft with a welcome, your stories, a word for their partner and the toast.

  4. Add your thank-yous. Thank the guests who travelled, the other family and anyone who helped. Keep it to the names that matter, and keep each one short.

  5. Practise out loud and print A6 cards. Run it with the timer, cut what runs long, then print A6 cue cards in large type. Bring them to the wedding breakfast, with your phone as a backup.

Examples, by length and tone

The examples for this page are being read through before we publish them. The template, the questions and the writer on this page work now.

The template, with timings: Father of the bride speech template

Six parts, about eight minutes in all, which is the middle of the usual range for this speech.

About 8 minutes at the wedding breakfast, the first speech. Written for any couple; a step-parent or a mum giving it can use it too.

  1. Welcome and thanks to the guestsabout 50 seconds

    Good afternoon, everyone. For those who don't know me, I'm [your name], [Name]'s [dad / stepdad / father].

    [Welcome the guests, and thank the people who travelled furthest].

    [Say who is hosting the day, and thank anyone who has helped pay for or plan it].

  2. About [Name]about 180 seconds

    [A memory of them as a child or a teenager: where, what happened].

    [A story from their grown-up life that you are proud of].

    [The thing about them you are proudest of, and why].

  3. Someone who is not here (only if you want a line)about 20 seconds

    [One gentle line about someone who is not here today].

  4. Welcoming [Partner's name] and their familyabout 100 seconds

    [Partner's name], [what you noticed when you first met them].

    [What you have seen them do for your child, and what that means to you].

    [A welcome to their family, in a sentence].

  5. Your adviceabout 60 seconds

    [A piece of advice from your own marriage or your own life, kept to two sentences].

  6. The toastabout 50 seconds

    Please be upstanding, and charge your glasses. To [Name] and [Partner's name].

The questions that fill it in

  1. How would you like to introduce yourself? Dad, stepdad, father, or just your name.
  2. Who do you want to welcome and thank? The travellers, a grandparent, the whole room.
  3. Who is hosting, and who has helped? Say it plainly. Skip it if it is not needed.
  4. What is a memory of [Name] growing up? One scene, with a place in it.
  5. What is a recent story you are proud of? Something they did, not something they won.
  6. What are you proudest of? Something about who they are.
  7. What did you notice when you first met [Partner's name]? Their first Sunday lunch at your table.
  8. What advice do you want to give? Two sentences from your own life.

Questions people ask

What is the order of speeches?
At a traditional UK wedding breakfast, the father of the bride speaks first, then the groom, then the best man. Many couples now add the maid of honour, the bride or others. The toastmaster, or the venue host, introduces each speaker.
How long should a father of the bride speech be?
Seven to nine minutes is the usual range, about 800 to 1,050 words at a calm pace. All the speeches together should come in under forty minutes, so ask the couple what they would like.
Who do I thank?
The guests for coming, especially anyone who travelled, the other family, anyone who helped plan or pay for the day, and the wedding party. Keep it short: a long list of names loses the room.
Do I toast the bride and groom, or the couple?
Use what suits them. Most speakers say the two names: 'Please be upstanding and raise a glass to Alex and Sam.' Ask the couple if there is a form of words they prefer.
What if I am the stepfather, or mum is giving the speech?
The template works for either. Change the opening to say who you are and how you know the couple, and keep the rest. A parent of either half of the couple can use it too.
Can I mention someone who has died?
Yes, with one gentle line, if the couple are happy with it. It is a place in the speech, not a eulogy. The template offers an optional part, and you can leave it out.
Do I speak before or after the meal?
Traditionally after the meal, before the toast to the couple. Some weddings have speeches between courses, so ask the toastmaster or the venue how the wedding breakfast is planned.

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