Father Of The Bride Speech

When I think back to my wedding day one of the moments that remains fixed in my memory is how I embarrassed myself when it came to making my wedding speech. I was young and full of self confidence. I was convinced that I didn't need to plan or prepare a grooms wedding speech. How wrong was I?
I stood up, looked at the assembled guests all looking at me and my mind went completely blank. I mumbled something about thanking everyone for coming and promptly sat down again. I had failed completely. I had let myself down and, no doubt, disappointed my new wife.

Many years later my daughter announced she was getting married. I was of course absolutely delighted and thrilled for her but deep inside I felt fear. I knew I would be expected to make a speech and I had not done any public speaking since that disastrous day of my own wedding. I was scared of letting my daughter down on the biggest day of her life.

I was determined not to fail or embarrass my daughter and I started planning months in advance. I searched online for advice about making speeches. I wrote down little thoughts as they occurred to me and I practiced speaking in front of a mirror.

Slowly a speech came together and when I finally had what I thought was a decent speech I practiced reading it out loud until I almost knew it off by heart. I printed it out in large letters with plenty of clear space between the lines so I could easily refer to it and find my place by glancing down at it on the table in front of me. I felt I had done everything I could to make the speech go well and while I was still very nervous and still concerned that I might mess up, I knew I was properly prepared and as ready as I could be to make the most important speech of my life.

Come the big day the wedding was wonderful. I doubt there was ever a father more proud to be giving away his daughter but we were fast approaching the moment when my wedding speech would be heard by all the assembled guests. Finally the moment of my speech arrived and I stood up.

I had planned for this moment, I had written the speech well in advance and I had read it out loud many times this was my chance to prove myself and wipe out the embarrassment of my own disappointing wedding speech. I surprised myself with my own confidence once I stood up. I glanced around the room and launched into my speech. I glanced down at my notes occasionally but it was just to remind me as I knew it all pretty well by now. The speech appeared to go down quite well and I managed to get a few laughs along the way so I sat down feeling I had done OK and felt satisfied that my efforts had been worthwhile.

Later in the day I was quite taken aback to have people come up to me and say what a good speech I had made. I was thrilled and delighted that I had not let my daughter down on her big day and actually done rather well. I did have a surprise later when one friend of my new son-in-law came up to me and asked me where I had learned to speak like that.

He told me I had managed to get the tone just right, appearing so natural with just the right amount of emotion and that I had put the amusing anecdotes in just at the right places to keep people amused and interested. He thought I was a regular public speaker who was experienced at public speaking and speech writing. He was shocked when I told him what a challenge it had been for me and how the emotion had been entirely genuine. I am not sure he really believed me but it did prove an important point.

Anyone can do a good job of public speaking with the right preparation. Plan ahead and get some tips and advice from a book from the public library or buy an online guide to how to make wedding speeches. The cost is minimal when you think how expensive the wedding will be and being prepared is the secret to having the confidence to give a good wedding speech.

Make copious notes when you think of things you might mention. Write and rewrite your speech and practice. I did it successfully and so can you.