So you’re the father of the groom–congratulations!! You get to dress up all fancy-like, eat cake, ingest alcohol, dance like no one’s watching, and otherwise have a spectacular time. You also get to make a toast, a traditional part of wedding day fanfare. Wedding toasts of any kind do not have to be long–in fact, the shorter and sweeter they are, the better. Too many people have droned on and on, whether drunkenly or not, and the results have ranged from cringeworthy to hilarious, though maybe not on purpose.
The toast is arguably one of your biggest responsibilities as the father of the groom, and perhaps the biggest if you and your wife/partner are not paying for the honeymoon. (Hey, most parents of the groom don’t pay for the honeymoon these days, as many couples prefer to do their own thang.) Make your toast a wonderful, memorable part of your son’s Big Day.
What Are Some Great Father Of The Groom Toast Examples/Tips?
I’m the father of the groom, and I’m panicking about my toast. I am not much for speaking in public, and I don’t want to embarrass myself, my son, or his new wife. Any ideas for making a great FOTG toast? Please help!
Our Answer
First of all, take a deep breath. Your toast does not have to be long. It does not have to be complicated. All it needs to be is from the heart. If you are worried about speaking in front of others, practice your toast in front of a mirror, then graduate to practicing in front of your friends and family. You can also get friend and family feedback to further help your toast-writing efforts.
Take a few deep breaths prior to your toast to help you relax. Forget about being nervous–these are your closest friends and family, after all! They are all there to support you and enjoy your words.
With these ideas in mind, here are a few short-and-sweet toast examples to get you started:
“Congratulations on this next phase of your journey together. May you always remember why you love each other and enjoy one adventure after another.”
“Much love and many blessings to you both! Now let’s eat, drink, and be merry!”
“There are few things in life as special as finding the perfect connection with your fellow imperfect human. Congratulations on your marriage, and may each day be a blessing filled with love and laughter.”
“Congratulations to my wonderful son on marrying his best friend and soulmate. [Bride’s name], I am so happy to have you as my daughter-in-law and the newest member of our family. My boy could not have found a more perfect woman to share his life with. Congratulations again!”
“Here’s to a wonderful life together. May you cherish each day and always appreciate what brought you together. I wish you all the love and happiness in the world.”
Other Experts’ Answers
“The father of the groom can say something simple, such as, ‘I want to congratulate you on your first day of your amazing marriage journey. I believe that you two will have an incredible life together.’ He traditionally welcomes the groom’s new spouse and family into his family during his toast. He may also thank the spouse’s parents for raising him or her. A toast that includes wit, humor and personal memories is encouraged. Many fathers include a lessons-learned theme, advice to the new couple or another moving topic in their speeches.
The speech should be unique and given from memory whenever possible. The speech giver should consider the audience, including ages, culture and familiarity, when creating it. Inappropriate material should be avoided. Three to five minutes is the ideal amount of time for the speech to last. The father of the groom’s speech traditionally follows the father of the bride’s speech.” –Reference.com
“The toast can be made simpler by following a basic speech template. Sticking to the following structure will help to ensure that you do not unintentionally disrespect any family members, guests or the newlyweds. Your toast should adhere to this simple structure:
- Introduction
- Spotlight on the groom
- Spotlight on the bride
- Talk about the two as a couple
- Thank everyone for their help
- Add in a motivational quote
- Propose the toast
You can incorporate your own humor or jokes, but use caution and carefully and consider how everyone may take these jokes. Most importantly, make sure your jokes are not making fun of or putting down the newlyweds in anyway.” –EverAfterGuide.net
“To keep your marriage brimming,
with love in the loving cup,
Whenever you’re wrong, admit it;
Whenever you’re right, shut up!”–Ogden Nash, American poet
“[Groom] and [bride], while you have loved and cared for one another for a long time, today makes it official: you are now a married couple! I give you all of my congratulations and I hope that you feel the outpouring of love and support for the both of you that is in this room today.
The two of you are surrounded by people who are all so happy and thankful to be able to be a part of your special day. I think I speak for everyone here when I say thank you, and I hope that we have all helped in one way or another to make your wedding a day to remember.” –Luvze.com, ‘Father Of the Groom Speech Examples’
More Helpful Information:
Ultimate Guide To Writing & Delivering A Great Wedding Speech Or Toast
Father Of The Bride & Groom To-Do’s
Wedding Toasts & Wedding Speeches
Wedding Etiquette Advice