Father of the Bride tips for the day
What do you need to do when your daughter shows up with a diamond and a fiancé? What is the role of the father of the bride? Your role is exactly what your daughter and her mother decide it will be, right? Not necessarily, but that may be close. Fathers sometimes feel a little like a fifth wheel through the wedding planning process. But if you stay involved, keep communications flowing, and keep committed to making the experience positive, it will be.
The Ceremony
The wedding itself can be a big challenge for a dad. The monumental nature of the event can be overwhelming. Coming to the final realisation that your daughter will be part of a new life and a new family can be tough.
The tradition of the father giving away his daughter has its underpinnings from the days of betrothals and arranged marriages. Today, a father walking his daughter down the aisle is still a well-accepted and touching part of the ceremony. It will seem like you, Dad, are putting your daughter literally and figuratively into the arms and care of another man. It is a wonderful gesture of confidence in your new son-in-law, and should be done graciously.
The Reception and After
Following the ceremony you as father of the bride will play the role of the host at the wedding reception. This is an opportunity for friends and family to call on the bride and groom and their families to offer congratulations and best wishes. The reception is also an opportunity to offer gifts to the new couple as they begin a new life and a new household together.
Usually the mother of the bride has been very involved in the planning of the wedding reception and she tends to be a little stressed about every detail. Be sympathetic, but enjoy the reception. You can chat with friends as they attend, and you may well meet many new people who are friends of the groom and his family.
One very popular tradition at weddings is for the bride and groom, and then the bride and her father to dance. If you can dance well, then this is not a problem. But if you are not used to social dancing, this can be a pretty awkward moment. Rather take some time ahead to time to practice a few easy dance steps.
Once the wedding and all the festivities are over and your daughter and new son-in-law have gone off to start a new life together, the reality of it all sets in. A father of the bride's next challenge is to work to become a great father-in-law to his daughter's new husband and to adapt to his new role in his daughter's life.
