Father of the Bride Speech with Good Quotations

Ladies and gentlemen, family and friends, good evening.

I am Kate’s father and formerly her number one fan. I think that now I am her number two fan after Steven.

First of allow me to extend a warm welcome to all of our guests.

In particular, I would like to express gratitude that we are blessed with family from San Francisco, New Zealand, Germany and Panama. I am well aware that international travel in this day and age is about as comfortable as a root canal so I appreciate your efforts.

It has been a bizarre experience for me to look at my beautiful daughter in her wedding gown. Her beauty, her grace, her smile have mesmerized me for many years and she was always able to get her way with me. She was after all – daddy’s little girl.

I’ve had to pinch myself a few times just to make sure that this is all actually happening.

A short twenty seven years ago, Rebecca and I exchanged vows in ‘balmy’ Madison Wisconsin. It was the middle of February and I’m not sure what made me more nervous – the wedding or the fact that I didn’t think my car would start. We never imagined that our own journey would lead us to the wedding of our daughter.

My mind raced with dozens of fond memories of Kate. Everyone knows that she is a talented teacher and a fabulous cook. It’s my job to fill in the stuff that you don’t know. I can see Kate is starting to get nervous.

As a child, she was unquestionably the wildest bundle of energy I have ever come across. “Tell me story, drive me to soccer practice, tell me another story, build me a dollhouse, drive me to clarinet practice…the list went on and on. However, I could never say no to her requests because I adored her. This is probably my first piece of advice to Steven – never say no to Kate. My second piece of advice is – continue to adore her the way you do today.

It is like the old saying – “A woman has the last word in any argument. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.”

Steven, I am absolutely thrilled to call you my son in law. I never had a son and I look forward to many years of male bonding. I know that it is cliché to say this – but you are an ideal match for Kate. You’re grounded and level headed and I’m positive that you will steer the family ship toward health and prosperity.

There is an old saying that “if you want a good wife, marry a woman who has been a good daughter.” Steven, I can wholeheartedly say that you have married a wonderful daughter.

I would now like to conclude my speech with a toast. Please rise and join me in a toast.

“When children find true love, parents find true joy. Here’s to your joy and ours, from this day forward.

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