So, Your Daughter Is Getting Married: Wedding 101

If there was ever a time a man is going to need a tissue, it’s the moment his daughter says “I do.”

Even the toughest guys find it hard to hold back a tear on their little girl’s big day. Let’s face it as days go; they don’t come more emotionally charged than this one! But with big occasions comes significant responsibility. Today’s the day you give your daughter away, and you want to get it right. Long before you sending the wedding invitations, you’ve got a lot of preparing to do.

In days gone by, you would have been expected to foot the entire bill for your girl’s nuptials. But thankfully, traditions don’t always stand the test of time. The average wedding in the Uk costs around twenty thousand pounds, so it’s more common to make a donation towards the final price. Even then, it could still cost you a pretty penny; that’s for sure!

One of the first things you have to think about is what you are going to wear. You’ll probably have your outfit dictated by your daughter and her husband to be. If you’re lucky, you’ll be earning top quality clobber from somewhere fancy like Deo Veritas. If you want to be comfortable, then it pays to go for quality gear. If you’re usually dressed in a more casual style, then you might enjoy getting suited and booted for the day. It’ll be a real thrill for everyone to see you looking so smart for a change. If you’re normally a well-dressed sort, then go to town with accessories. These kinds of opportunities don’t come along too often.

Photo by Kate Hiscock
Photo by Kate Hiscock

Apart from giving your girl away to her future husband, you’ve got another big responsibility to think about on this auspicious day. Yep, you guessed it, we’re talking about your speech. The Father of the Bride speech is a highlight of any wedding breakfast. If after dinner speaking isn’t your bag, you might be dreading it. Don’t go on for hours; you’ll bore the guests. Keep it reasonably short and snappy. Try and use a few light-hearted anecdotes. Avoid mentioning ex-partners or anything the blushing bride may find embarrassing. If you’re still not sure what to say, why not ask a friend who is good with words? They might be able to help you polish up the perfect speech.

To make sure your time in the spotlight goes well, you can follow a standard sort of template for writing it up. Introduce yourself, and welcome everyone to the wedding. Thank them for making it along, and do be sure to make a special mention of the bride’s mom and the groom’s parents as well. Don’t be afraid to tell a few jokes. Be sure to make sure your daughter knows how proud you are of her, too. You also should seize this opportunity to welcome your new son in law into the family. Say a little about him. If you have a good relationship, you might be able to get away with a little gentle ribbing. As such an important figure in your girl’s life, you should try and pass on a little wisdom as a parting shot. If you’re divorced, resist the urge to make witty remarks about your ex-wife. This isn’t the time or the place!

Finally, raise a toast to the happy couple, asking the guests to stand up and join you. Enjoy your drink – you’ve earned it!

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michael

I work as a full time hair stylist but love writing about life. I hope to become a full time writer one day and spend all my time sharing my experience with you!

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