Father of the Groom Speech
“Speech went very, very well. Quite a few tears and laughs in all the right places. Will use you again without a doubt. Great job.” – Peter M
Need help with your father of the groom speech? Email us or call our office on 0207 118 1600
Father of the Groom speech writing support
Traditionally, the only parental speech at a wedding came from the father of the bride, or occasionally a close family friend. The father of the groom was often expected to stay in the background, or only speak when there was no father of the bride present.
Thankfully, that’s changed. More and more fathers of the groom are now stepping forward to speak – but that also raises a key question: What exactly should you say?
How to avoid repetition and find your own voice
The challenge lies in navigating a speech that is:
- Warm and welcoming, without repeating what the father of the bride has said
- Personal and heartfelt, without covering the groom in the same way the best man will
- Sincere, funny, and memorable — without sounding overly sentimental or trying too hard
In short: it’s all about being relevant, original, and appropriate.
Planning your Father of the Groom speech
When preparing your father of the groom wedding speech, we recommend thinking in reverse. Rather than writing down everything you want to say immediately, imagine having just delivered your speech. Ask yourself:
- What do you want the guests to be saying about it?
- What balance do you want between humour and sincerity?
- How can you avoid clichés and stand out, without knowing what the other speakers will say?
We can help you answer these questions through our tailored speechwriting process.
How our wedding speech writing service works
To help create a speech that feels personal and polished, we’ll start by sending over a customised questionnaire designed specifically for fathers of the groom. It’s a great way to reflect on the people, stories, and tone that matter most.
From there, we can either:
- Arrange an interview with a member of our writing team (in person or via phone/Zoom), or
- Use your responses as a starting point for feedback, structure, or a full draft.
Some clients come to us with a rough draft for editing, while others prefer that we write the speech from scratch and collaborate on revisions. We’re happy to work either way.
What should I include in a father of the groom speech?
At Great Speech Writing, we might typically recommend that a father of the groom speech opens with a warm welcome, thanks the guests, then shares a few meaningful anecdotes about your son and a positive note on his partner. You should also welcome the new daughter- or son-in-law into your family and raise a heartfelt toast. Our writers ensure your personal voice comes through and the speech feels genuine and polished.
How does Great Speech Writing work with a father of the groom?
Firstly, we’ll gather all your stories and thoughts. From your responses our professional writers craft a tailored draft that fits your style and story. You review and refine it with our support until the final version truly reflects you. We help with structure, tone and delivery to give you confidence on the day.
Why should someone choose Great Speech Writing rather than writing their father of the groom speech themselves?
Writing as a father of the groom means balancing pride, warmth and inclusivity often under emotional pressure. Our writers have a wealth of experience in structuring and phrasing speeches that avoid clichés and ensure focus. We help you avoid common pitfalls like long-winded anecdotes, missing key thanks or forgetting to address both families. The result is a speech that honours the occasion and resonates with the audience.
What key mistakes do fathers of the groom make in their speeches?
Many and varied! Great Speech Writing guides you away from mistakes such as focusing too heavily on your son’s childhood without tying in his partner, repeating what another speaker has already said, or neglecting to welcome the new family member. We also ensure your thank-yous are appropriately placed and your toast lands at the end. That way your speech stays tight, inclusive and memorable.
How long should the father of the groom speech be? How is it structured?
We generally aim for a speech of around five to 10 minutes. That’s long enough to share your message while holding guests’ attention. We structure it into an introduction and thanks, anecdotes about the groom, acknowledgment of the bride or partner and both families, and then a concluding toast. We also provide guidance on pacing so your delivery feels natural.
Get in touch
Every wedding speech is different – and we believe yours should sound like you, at your very best.
There’s no obligation to move forward after your initial enquiry. Once we understand what you need, we’ll outline the process and next steps clearly.
If you’d like to discuss how we can help with your father of the groom speech, please feel free to call us on 0207 118 1600 or email us, we’d love to hear from you.
