“Above all, he's a support system.” But beyond being a firm foundation for the bride, dads traditionally have a few responsibilities to take care of before, during, and after their daughter's big day. (Yes, moms aren't the only ones who have a checklist of special wedding day tasks.)
For many brides their father is an integral part of their life, but a bride's father often has a minimal role on her wedding day. Traditionally, he has two brief assignments: to walk his daughter down the aisle and to give a toast (which usually follows the best man's) come the reception.
In traditional weddings, the father of the bride walks her down the aisle and hands her off to the groom. If this seems old-fashioned, that is because it is. The practice dates back to the days when women were the property of their father, and he gave her away in exchange for a dowry.
While in some families and cultures, the parents do give a tangible gift to the bridal couple, other families and cultures feel the wedding itself is enough. This means it is completely your choice.
A ring dish or jewelry box is a great wedding day gift. Many ring dishes and jewelry boxes can also be personalized with the bride's new name and wedding date to make it a keepsake she will never forget. If you want to give a really generous gift, you could gift a piece of jewelry with the ring dish or jewelry box.
During the reception it is customary for the father of the bride to make a short speech, thanking the guests and those that have helped with the wedding planning, and talking a little about his daughter and new son-in-law. At the end of the speech the father of the bride usually proposes a toast to the happy couple.
While traditionally the bride's parents were responsible for hosting (and paying for) the entire celebration, today many couples join both sets of parents in contributing.
Mention The Bride's Mother And New In-Laws
Even if you're divorced from her mother, a line or two acknowledging her part in your child's life will be very well appreciated.
Congratulations to our beautiful daughter on her big day! Wishing you all the best in life, that you may succeed in everything your heart desires, and that your love brings you joy and comfort no matter where life takes you. Congratulations, my dear, for finding your one true love.
The Welcome Toast
This first toast is most often made by the parents (or father) of the bride and should combine both a toast to the happy couple and a welcome message to the guests. If you would like the parents of the groom to speak, they should do so following the parents of the bride.
While it is traditional (although not obligatory) for the mother and father of the bride to receive a thank you gift from the newlyweds on the big day, a little memento from the bride's parents to their daughter is also becoming more popular.
As the father and bride approach the end of the aisle, the officiant will ask, “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” The father will then answer, “I do.” But if that gives you the ick, go ahead and change it! Here are five alternatives to that question and answer you can use at your wedding ceremony.
Remember, there's no rule to say that the father-of-the-bride or best man has to give a speech. Equally, we've witnessed amazing speeches given by friends, grandparents and flower girls!
While you have so much to say about the bride, remember to mention and acknowledge their new spouse, too. Take this time to welcome them into your family and share what it means to you. You can also share some anecdotes of their relationship and what stood out to you most.
The traditional wedding speech order goes father of the bride, groom, best man and other toasts. "In same-sex weddings, it is also common for both partners to speak but sometimes only one does," explains Marc.
The mother of the bride is traditionally escorted by her son if she has one. Otherwise, any close male relative, the best man, or a groomsman walks with the mother of the bride during the procession.
The father of the bride should traditionally thank guests for coming and participating in the wedding, thank anyone who has contributed to the cost of the wedding, compliments and praises the bride and welcomes the groom into the family and ends with a toast to the newlyweds.
So here's how it breaks down. On average, the bride's parents usually spend 44 percent of the overall budget, while the couple contributes 43 percent and the groom's parents pop for about 12 percent.
Depending on their relationship with the bride, wedding guests typically give between $50 – $150 when making a monetary gift. As parents of the bride, it's standard to give significantly more. However, you should first consider what is financially comfortable for your budget.
According to a recent survey by The Knot, on average, parents contribute to 51% of the wedding budget, while couples cover the remaining 49% percent.
The father of the bride speech usually begins by thanking the wedding guests for attending and acknowledging his daughter's new parents-in-law, while welcoming his new son or daughter-in-law to the family. It's traditionally a speech that's a bit more heartwarming rather than funny, like the best man speech.
Most brides have the father-daughter dance right after their first dance with their spouse. If you don't want to have it after the first dance, other good times to squeeze it in are following the toasts and before the cake cutting.
Billy asks Ingrid to go to Greece with him so that they can end the marriage with a bang. They then kiss, and we know they will stay together for the long term because Billy has finally seen the error of his patriarchal ways. What did you think of the HBO Max film Father of the Bride (2022) and its ending?