Father of the groom speech writer

The father of the groom often speaks at the rehearsal dinner, or briefly at the reception. His speech is lighter on hosting duties and heavier on welcome: thank the bride’s family, share a story about your son, and welcome his new spouse.

  • 3–5 mintypical length
  • 390–650words at 130 wpm
  • 5 partsthanks · your son · the change · welcome · the toast
  1. 1 Occasion
  2. 2 Your memories
  3. 3 Edit & rehearse

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Typical for this occasion: 3–5 minutes.

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Father of the groom speech0 words · 0:00

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The structure of a father of the groom speech

Tap each part to see what it does and where it sits in this sample. The bar shows how the sample divides its time: the story gets the most room, the ending the least.

1. Thanks

Thank the bride’s family, the hosts and the guests.

In this sample: 25 words, about 0:12 spoken, 18% of the speech.

Sample father of the groom speech139 words · 1:04

Good evening. I’m Richard, Ben’s father. Before anything else, thank you to Aisha’s parents, Farah and Omar, for welcoming our whole noisy family so generously.

At nine, Ben took apart our kitchen radio to see where the voices lived. He never got it back together, but he could name every part. He has always needed to understand how things work, including, eventually, how to put them back.

When he met Aisha, I noticed something new. He stopped trying to figure everything out and just started enjoying it.

Aisha, you are clever, kind and the only person who has ever beaten him at chess twice in a row. We are thrilled to have you in our family.

Please join me in a toast: to Ben and Aisha, and to a marriage that works beautifully, whether or not anyone understands how.

How to write a father of the groom speech, step by step

  1. Confirm when you are speaking: rehearsal dinner or reception.
  2. Thank the bride’s family first.
  3. Tell one story about your son.
  4. Welcome the partner with a specific compliment.
  5. Close with a toast; keep it under five minutes.
Do✓
  • Thank the other family
  • Keep the story affectionate
  • Welcome the partner by name
  • Keep it brief
Don’t✕
  • Compete with the father of the bride
  • Tell long childhood sagas
  • Reference the costs of the wedding
  • Forget to rehearse

Father of the groom speech questions

Does the father of the groom give a speech?

Traditionally he hosts and speaks at the rehearsal dinner. Many couples now include him at the reception too. Ask the couple what they would like.

How long should the father of the groom speech be?

Three to five minutes, about 400 to 650 words. At a rehearsal dinner, two to three minutes is often enough.

What should the father of the groom say?

Thanks to the bride’s family and guests, a story about your son, a welcome for his spouse, and a toast. That’s the whole speech.