You’ve just given your little girl away, you’ve spent all the money you’ll ever have in your life, and if that’s not enough, you’re now expected to give a speech – the Father of the Bride Speech, to be exact. This is brutal, but it’s something you’ve got to do, so you may as well make the best of it!

This is a great opportunity to honor your daughter, and at the same time welcome your son-in-law to the family. Your father of the bride toast should be sincere, and make your daughter proud. That doesn’t mean to say that it can’t have some funny parts, too, but overall it should be pretty serious and kind.

Here are a few tips for a great father of the bride speech that will make your daughter proud, and help create as wonderful and lasting memory of her wedding day.

• Speak from the heart. Say what you want to say, not what someone tells you to say – it will mean so much more to your daughter.
• Let people know who your daughter is. Many people there will be friends of the groom’s family, and might not even know your daughter. When you get done with your speech, these people should know her, and those that already did should know her better.
• Make eye contact with your daughter. Not only is this intimate and special, but it will help your nerves if there are a lot of people there, or you’re terrified of public speaking.
• Keep it short! These people are there to party and celebrate – the last thing they want to hear is a long boring speech. Plus, it will make your speech giving much easier.
• No off-color jokes or language. It’s ok to add in a little humor – after all, this is a joyous occasion – but make sure you don’t say anything offensive.
• Give a few words of advice to the newlyweds. Be sincere – possibly talk about areas where you struggled as a young married man, and how you overcame those struggles. Make this count – they’ll remember it for the rest of their lives!
• Offer a toast. A father of the bride toast is a great way to end your speech, and gracefully sit down. Present the new groom and bride, they’ll get a round of applause, and you can bow out.

Keep in mind that looking over examples of other wedding day speeches can help you organize your thoughts and feel much more confident in creating your own. Click here to visit a site where you can get many examples of father of the bride speeches, and more. You’ll have no trouble at all, and it will be a fun and memorable experience!