A daughter getting married can be both exciting and a little traumatic for a father of the bride, after all, some young man is taking his place as the most important male in her life.

Therefore, it’s only natural, when a father is asked to speak at his daughter’s wedding, that the toast be as perfect as possible; not only one he’s proud of but one that his daughter will cherish forever.

Traditionally, the father of the bride gives the first speech at the wedding reception. It’s often also called the welcome toast, and has more of a heartwarming rather than a funny tone.

If you want to write a flawless father-of-the-bride speech for your daughter take time to sit and write the speech prior to the wedding.

Since this will be the first toast, it’s important to be engaging so you capture everyone’s attention.

Here’s my simple guide to the perfect speech:

My top tip

Don’t get overwhelmed with traditional speech etiquette. Your main duty is simply to welcome the guests, pay a warm, heartfelt tribute to your daughter and welcome your new son-in-law to the family. Don’t get caught up in thanking friends and family who travelled from far; too many thank yous can easily become annoying.

Six simple steps

1. Make a clear introduction by introducing yourself and your family to the guests and welcome everyone by thanking them for their presence.

2. Share your pride by mentioning some special moments for you and how much you cherish your daughter’s achievements. Share some stories about your daughter that will ideally illustrate her personality.

3. Tell her how proud you are of the woman she’s become while paying tribute to the woman she is now.

4. Formally welcome the groom to your family. You can mention how you felt about him when you first met him and how you’ve grown to love him and his family. Try to also mention the groom’s parents, too. It’s key to acknowledge your daughter’s new parents-in-law, while welcoming your new son to the family.

5. You’ve covered the past and present, now impart some of your wisdom to the happy couple. This could be about maintaining a healthy marriage or living a happy life as they move on to the next chapter. Speak about the shared future of the newly-weds.

6. Conclude your speech with a toast to the married couple. Traditionally, it’s to the “health and happiness of the happy couple” but put your personal spin on it, something that genuinely reflects the character of the couple.

With a bit of effort, you can make sure your father of the bride speech will be remembered.

Here’s an excerpt from one of my favourite wedding movies that sums up how some fathers feel.

“George: You have a little girl, an adorable little girl who looks up to you and adores you in a way you could never have imagined. I remember how her little hand used to fit inside mine, how she used to love to sit on my lap and lean her head against my chest. She said I was her hero. Then the day comes when she wants to get her ears pierced and wants you to drop her off a block before the movie theatre. Next thing you know she’s wearing eye shadow and high heels. From that moment on you’re in a constant state of panic. You worry about her going out with the wrong kind of guys, the kind of guys who only want one thing, and you know exactly what that one thing is because it’s the same thing you wanted when you were their age. Then she gets a little older and you quit worrying about her meeting the wrong guy, and you worry about her meeting the right guy. And that’s the biggest fear of all because then you lose her.”

— Steve Martin as George Bank — Father of the Bride