You might be surprised to hear this, but if you’re a dad, you’re almost certainly going to give a speech when one of your children ties the knot. You might expect it with your daughters, but it is now becoming common to deliver a “father of the groom” speech, too. Rather than being bothered by this, you should take it as a compliment that your services are in such high demand. At the same time, you should proceed with caution, knowing that the audience at the reception hall will expect a lot from you. This is especially true if you are delivering a father of the bride speech. Indeed, the two most anticipated speeches are the father of the bride’s and the best man’s. That means that a lot of people are expecting to be entertained and to learn something about your daughter through this speech. This is your opportunity to tell them how you feel and to give her a lasting, positive message about her marriage.

Now, what goes into a father of the bride or father of the groom’s speech isn’t exactly a science. However, there are a number of components that all speeches of these type should contain; and there is a general format they should follow. In the remainder of the book, I will provide you with a number of templates that you can use to construct your own speech. I personally suggest that you pick one, fill in your details, and then spend some time altering it significantly, so that it makes your tone and style.