It is your son’s wedding day. It is no doubt a proud moment for you. Since you provided a lot of guidance for your son to get to this point in his life, it is often appropriate to give a speech. As the father of the groom, you can choose one of two places to give your speech. You can choose to give it at the rehearsal dinner, which is commonly hosted by the groom’s family. Alternatively, you can give your speech at the wedding reception. If you do this, make sure the wedding coordinator and the bridal party are aware you plan to make a speech. Once you decide to make a speech, here are some do’s and don’ts to follow.
Do’s
One thing you definitely want to do is keep the speech brief. That doesn’t mean you have to set a time limit or cut yourself short. But you don’t want to talk for a long period of time. This isn’t a sermon or a graduation speech. There are a lot of things going on at a wedding and other people want to give speeches. Therefore, keep your speech short but heartfelt.
You also want to inject a little humor. The father of the groom speech is going to be more serious than the speech given by the best man. However, you don’t want to make it all serious. Use a funny opening line or say a funny story in the middle of the speech. If you make the audience laugh, you will ease your nerves as well as make your speech that much more memorable.
Another thing you want to do is talk about how important your son is to you. This may seem obvious, but make sure you say something special that he will always remember. After all, it is your son who is about to get married.
Don’ts
The first thing you don’t want to do is forget to thank everyone. If you are at the rehearsal dinner, thank the bride’s family and all of the visitors from out of town for sharing in the big day. If you give your speech at the wedding, do the same. Remember that the guests are there to celebrate your son’s wedding, so it is appropriate to thank them.
Another thing you don’t want to do is embarrass your son. That doesn’t mean you can’t share a funny story or anecdote from his childhood. If you do this, it might be a good idea to let him know beforehand. As you remember, your son is going to be under a lot of pressure on his wedding day and the night before. Don’t tell a story that will humiliate him.
Don’t give a speech if you are drunk. This is your day to celebrate as well, and you should feel free to have drinks and enjoy yourself. However, give your speech before you start drinking. If you are too intoxicated, you run the risk of talking too long, saying something inappropriate, or embarrassing your son. These are all things you want to avoid. The timing of your speech is very important, so don’t do it late in the night when you had more than a few drinks.
Lastly, don’t forget to hug your son and new daughter-in-law. This is the perfect way to end your speech. When you conclude your speech, ask everyone to raise their glasses and toast. After that, hug both the bride and groom.
Remember that your speech shouldn’t be about you, it should be about you being happy for your son and his new wife. That is why keeping the speech brief and lighthearted is the key to a successful father of the groom speech. That doesn’t mean you can’t cry or show emotion. After all, it is hard to hold back those tears at a time like that. Speak from your heart, and you will give a great speech.