Father of the Groom Rehearsal Dinner Toast Ideas

For many, being asked to give a toast is an anxiety-inducing experience. Most people don’t have a whole lot of public speaking experience, and it gets even worse when you realize you also have to write it. Even your dad may need a hand with his father of the groom speech at the rehearsal dinner!

Watching your son get married is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and it’s important that the toast you give represents this special moment in time. Keep reading for a bunch of father of the groom rehearsal dinner toast ideas and tips for the perfect toast.

Giving a Toast as Father of the Groom

A toast at a wedding or rehearsal dinner is when a loved one, like a family member or friend, of the couple getting married gets up at the party and speaks a bit on the couple, or the individual in the couple they’re closest with, telling stories and honoring them in front of the whole room.

Being asked to give a toast may feel like a huge responsibility on your shoulders, but it’s important to remember that it’s something you’re doing for your friend or loved one. It’s more about them than it is about you! As a result, your toast may include personal stories and memories about the couple.

 

The Role of the Father of the Groom

Thankfully, being the father of the groom is one of the least intense roles in a wedding. Unlike the bride’s parents, who are usually expected to hand out a pretty chunk of change, and the groomsmen and bridesmaids, who have parties and showers to keep track of, the groom’s parents tend to take more of a backseat in the wedding process.

Other than a toast, the father of the groom is generally expected to walk down the aisle with the mother of the groom, and to host the rehearsal dinner. Other than that, he is generally free to dance and mingle as he pleases!

 

Father of the Groom Rehearsal Dinner Speech Ideas

There are two places where a father of the groom may be asked to give a toast– the rehearsal dinner and the wedding reception.

Obviously, the rehearsal dinner is a smaller get-together with just the wedding party, after the rehearsal of the ceremony. And the wedding reception is obviously the big day itself.

For a rehearsal dinner toast, you have more license to be funny, personal, and even a little extra embarrassing. Since it’s with a smaller and more intimate group, you can also be more heartfelt without the risk of getting some eye rolls from distant relatives.

Keep reading for rehearsal dinner toast ideas for the father of the groom.

 

Beautiful Quotes for Rehearsal Dinner Toasts

This quote is a lovely way to acknowledge the way that your soon-to-be daughter-in-law is truly the perfect match for your son.

This quote from famous romance novelist Nicholas Sparks is a nice way to impart some lovely wisdom from your long life of relationships.

This is a cute little nod to the intimacy of fatherhood– be sure to reference your son’s favorite cereal growing up to really get the point across!

Reference America’s favorite funnyman, Will Ferrell, by nodding to the old internet struggles of your son’s childhood– he’s not wrong, either!

 

Funny Father of the Groom Toasts

One foolproof way to give a great toast is to be funny! Everyone loves to laugh, and as father of the groom, getting the room going is a great opportunity. A few good jokes to include, with more here:

• “To the two secrets to a long-lasting happy marriage: Here’s to a good sense of humor –and a short memory!”

 

• “Before we raise a glass to the newlyweds, I’d like to share a Pauline Thomason quote with you: ‘Love is blind – marriage is the eye-opener.’ To the happy couple!

 

• “[BRIDE] and [GROOM], before I finish, I’d like you to turn to face each other. You’re now looking into the eyes of the person who is statistically most likely to murder you. To the bride and groom!”

 

• “Before we raise our glasses to the happy couple, I’d like to make a toast to wives and lovers everywhere – may they never, ever cross paths!”

 

Use the Intimate Atmosphere

Another way to celebrate the unique experience of the rehearsal dinner is to help create a homey, intimate atmosphere. This is best done by speaking purely and honestly from the heart, showing all of your son’s loved ones what a special relationship you have.

There’s nothing wrong with getting a little emotional, dad! Since you may be less intimidated by the familiar faces at the rehearsal dinner, tap into some stories about your son that make you really think about how much you love him.

Your child is only getting married once (hopefully!), so there’s never been a better time to just let it all out.

 

Share a Family Story

One of the most obvious routes for a father of the groom toast is to share some good old family stories. This is a fun experience for family members that are there, as it sends them happily down memory lane, as well as for friends and the bride’s family, because they get to hear about the groom when he was young.

Don’t be afraid to get a bit embarrassing! It’s good practice for a marriage for the groom to learn to laugh at himself. Maybe you have a funny story about him as a toddler, or an embarrassing photo from the blunder years. Sharing a hilarious and mildly embarrassing story is a great route.

 

Get Everyone Excited for the Wedding

Obviously, the rehearsal is partially meant to be a time to get excited for the coming wedding. You can play into this by talking about how excited you are for the wedding in your speech and making jokes about the “big day”.

Not only will this build some excitement for the days ahead, it’ll also emphasize the importance of the new step that your son is taking in his life. Getting married is a massive life choice, and as a father, you want to honor how significant that is with a kind comment about the big day. 

 

Consult Formal Scripts for Wedding Toasts

If you’re a little too nervous to go in deep, you can try out a more formal script that you can either look at or memorize. While you may be worried that this will be seen as a cop-out, it can be a good thing. The following script outline is pretty short and easy to memorize, and it comes from Exampletoasts.com:

• Quick joke
• Thank the bride and her parents
• Talk about son’s accomplishments, personality, and goals
• Discuss bride’s compatibility with son and congratulate them

When you quickly follow this format, your speech is sure to go well.

 

Traditional Words of Wisdom

If you’re looking for more conservative keynotes to make in your toast, you can look toward traditional blessings, Bible verses, and other quotes. This sweet little poem is a great way to create a sweet moment.

For the Irish family, read out this cute traditional poem to bring a sweet feel to the toast.

If your family are Christians, this blessing will not leave a dry eye in the house.

This food-themed Italian blessing is one that will surely bring about a hearty laugh!

 

Consider the Venue 

As far as more technical things, the way that you say your speech is somewhat dependent on the venue.

For example, in a small rehearsal space, like an intimate room at a restaurant, you probably won’t need a microphone or to speak extra loudly. In a larger space, especially outside, a microphone or the ability to project might be quite helpful!

You also want to be mindful of being in public, like if you’re at a large restaurant full of other people, they don’t necessarily want to hear your toast over their pasta. It’s good to know the venue planned beforehand, so you can practice the toast like you’re already there.

 

Toasting with a Partner

You may also be asked to give your toast with another person, like the groom’s mother. If this is your plan, you’ll need to be mindful to write your toast in a format that works for both of you. This is an opportunity to be extra funny– you can implement cute banter into the speech!

For example, you may both tell an embarrassing story about the groom from your own perspectives. You may also joke about what you thought when you first met the bride. Toasting with a partner is a great opportunity, especially because it takes some of the pressure off of you.

 

More About Toasts

Here at Yeah Weddings, we’re here for all of your wedding needs. From more advice on writing the perfect toast to rehearsal dinner ideas, keep reading more from us to learn the ropes of every aspect of wedding planning.

Make sure to consider the father of the groom when planning your rehearsal dinner! The groom also may give a speech – if you’re the father of the groom, make sure to see what the groom is going to say so that your speeches are different!