In traditional weddings, the father of the bride walks her down the aisle and hands her off to the groom. If this seems old-fashioned, that is because it is. The practice dates back to the days when women were the property of their father, and he gave her away in exchange for a dowry.
The History and Meaning of the Walk Down the Aisle
Today, the act of the father walking their daughter down the aisle is seen as a way to show support for this next chapter in life. It's looked at as less of a "giving away" and more of a "letting go."
What Are the Duties of the Father of the Bride? The traditional roles of the father of the bride include travelling to the wedding with the bride, walking the bride down the aisle, 'giving her away' at the altar and giving a father of the bride speech.
During the reception it is customary for the father of the bride to make a short speech, thanking the guests and those that have helped with the wedding planning, and talking a little about his daughter and new son-in-law. At the end of the speech the father of the bride usually proposes a toast to the happy couple.
As the father of the bride or groom, one of the biggest roles you have on your child's wedding day—besides escorting them down the aisle—is to give a toast. The dad's speech is a beloved tradition that sets the tone for the festivities ahead (whether that's the rehearsal dinner or the remainder of the reception).
The father of the bride should traditionally thank guests for coming and participating in the wedding, thank anyone who has contributed to the cost of the wedding, compliments and praises the bride and welcomes the groom into the family and ends with a toast to the newlyweds.
In traditional weddings, the father of the bride walks her down the aisle and hands her off to the groom. If this seems old-fashioned, that is because it is. The practice dates back to the days when women were the property of their father, and he gave her away in exchange for a dowry.
What Should A Father Of The Bride Speech Include? A traditional father of the bride speech includes a few key elements such as welcoming the guests, anecdotes and compliments about your daughter, a welcome to your new son-in-law or daughter-in-law, words of advice and a toast to the new couple.
The Father of the Bride speech shouldn't be more than ten minutes long with 6 to 8 minutes being the sweet spot. (For the average speaker that's around 900 to 1,200 words.)
Father-Daughter Dance FAQs
Most brides have the father-daughter dance right after their first dance with their spouse. If you don't want to have it after the first dance, other good times to squeeze it in are following the toasts and before the cake cutting.
While in some families and cultures, the parents do give a tangible gift to the bridal couple, other families and cultures feel the wedding itself is enough. This means it is completely your choice.
Dad can wear a tie, bow tie, and/or pocket square that complements what the groomsmen are wearing, or he can choose to coordinate his accessories with his partner's attire. "The father of the bride should feel free to experiment with accessories," continues Men's Wearhouse.
From walking down the aisle first to last, the traditional order is: Mother of Bride, Mother of Groom, Grandparents of Bride, Grandparents of Groom, Groom, Officiant, the Wedding Party, Maid of Honor and Best Man, Ring Bearer, Flower Girl and lastly the Bride and her Father.
If the mother of the bride is taking part in the wedding processional, she is traditionally escorted by a close male relative like a son or brother or may enter alone. If the parents are divorced, she may be escorted by her partner. In some cases, a groomsman or best man will escort her down the aisle.
The wedding party members may walk down the aisle individually or in pairs. They will take their places on either side of the altar, starting with the farthest away from the couple. The lead attendants (or best people) would walk last and stand closest to the couple at the altar.
If you are including these, the order should go: father of the bride, groom, bride, bridesmaids/maid of honour, best man. But honestly, you can pick an order for your wedding speeches that works for you!
If you're unsure of how to end your father of the bride speech, a toast is a crowd-pleaser. Offer up your congratulations and invite everyone to toast to the happy couple. Remind your daughter that you are proud of her, that you love her, and that you're so happy for her that she found someone who treats her well.
The father of the bride does not need to give a toast. There are many weddings where the bride's father is not present or where there isn't even a bride. You can ask any of your parents to say a few words.
“Of all the amazing qualities that you possess, my favourite of all is that you're always making my daughter smile.” “When you and I shared that moment earlier, that glimpse of the eye as I walked you down the aisle – just know that's a moment I will cherish forever.”
Introduce Yourself
We advise beginning your speech with a little introduction, explaining that you are the father of the bride - and perhaps even a little joke to break the ice. Perhaps something like, "Without all of you here today, it wouldn't be the same…but it would be cheaper.”
There is a religious tradition that sometimes accompanies the father of the bride giving away the bride. As the father and bride approach the end of the aisle, the officiant will ask, “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” The father will then answer, “I do.”
Loving fathers who provide praise, support, and unconditional love give their daughters the gift of confidence and high self-esteem. Daughters who have these traits grow into happy, and successful adults.
While it is traditional (although not obligatory) for the mother and father of the bride to receive a thank you gift from the newlyweds on the big day, a little memento from the bride's parents to their daughter is also becoming more popular.