7 Father of the Bride Responsibilities (2024)

FAQs

What is the father of the bride supposed to do? ›

Traditionally, he has two brief assignments: to walk his daughter down the aisle and to give a toast (which usually follows the best man's) come the reception. But if he wants to do more for the bride—especially on the wedding day—he certainly can.

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.

Traditionally, the father of the bride is financially responsible for the wedding. Nowadays, that's not always the case, and that's okay. Sometimes the bride and groom will contribute, as well the parents of the groom. Even if you're not paying for the wedding, offer to help deliver payments to the vendors.

Consider gifting your daughter a piece of personalised jewellery, such as a necklace, bracelet, or ring, with her name, initials, or wedding date engraved on it. Every time she wears it, she'll be reminded of the love and care you put into choosing this special keepsake for her.

Traditionally speaking, the father of the bride is usually responsible for covering the cost of an entire wedding—but these days, anything goes and couples can choose to pool from multiple resources when financing their celebration.

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.

Yes, it's traditional for the parents of the bride to give her a gift on her wedding day, such as jewelry, money, or something sentimental. This is a way for parents to show their love and wish her well as she starts her new life.

Otherwise, a dark suit (navy, charcoal, or black) and solid tie will keep his look traditional and formal enough for almost any wedding (if your dress code is black tie attire, stick to a tux). Match any of these looks with a crisp white dress shirt, or a bibbed tuxedo shirt for a very formal tuxedo look.

Remember, there's no rule to say that the father-of-the-bride or best man has to give a speech. Equally, we've witnessed amazing speeches given by friends, grandparents and flower girls!

Bottom line: There's no hard-and-fast rule on how much cash to give as a wedding gift. Wedding experts advise starting at $100. From there, you may want to adjust up to $500 based on factors such as your relationship with the couple, your budget and the cost of your attendance at the wedding.

What should a father say at his daughter's wedding? ›

Tell your daughter you love them.

Express how much you love and cherish your daughter. Remind them of how you've treasured your relationship together and how you think that relationship may be evolving or staying exactly the same.

Your daughter's wedding day is a hectic but beautiful occasion and many parents want to give the bride something special to remind her just how much she is loved. If you decide to give your daughter a gift on her wedding day something personal that can be treasured as a keepsake is one of the best things you can give.

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.

Father Wedding Attire Trends

We find that the majority of fathers choose a suit or tuxedo different from the groom and groomsmen. This helps them stand out and feel special. Our experience has shone us that upwards of 80% of fathers will chose a different tuxedo or suit style than the groom and groomsmen.

Traditionally, the bride's family assumed most of the financial costs associated with a wedding, including the wedding planner, invitations, dress, ceremony, reception, flowers, photography, and music.

Traditionally, the father of the bride will escort his daughter down the aisle during the ceremony. This signifies the bride's father giving away his daughter to her new husband. During the ceremony, the father of the bride sits to the left of the aisle with the mother of the bride.