Being the father of a woman about to be married an be an emotional rollercoaster. Fathers frequently are torn between feeling glad for their daughters and a bit melancholic about her becoming an adult! Add to that all of the responsibilities (financial and otherwise) that the father of the bride has, and it can be quite an overwhelming time. Fathers of the bride would do well to take these suggestions when their daughters become engaged.
When your daughter becomes engaged, it can be a wake up call that she is an adult, not a child. You will be less shocked at the sight of your daughter in a strapless wedding gown with sophisticated bridal jewelry if you can bring yourself to realize that she’s no longer a child. Every daughter remains her daddy’s girl, no matter how mature she gets! A wedding is a wonderful reason to stroll down memory lane with your daughter remembering all the fun times you had while she was growing up. Don’t hold her back, even though you may be a little sad to let her go.
The bride’s father has always had certain things for which he was responsible. Since olden times, it was expected that a man would finance his daughter’s wedding ceremony and reception. It is common for the bride and groom to help pay for their own wedding nowadays, but the bride’s dad often ends up paying the lion’s share anyway. Before the wedding planning gets underway, figure out a budget. Whether you intend to pick up the whole tab for the wedding or contribute just a set amount, it will help your daughter plan a beautiful wedding if she knows what she can realistically spend.
Another tip for the bride’s father is to mark the occasion with a special piece of bridal jewelry for your daughter. You can believe that the jewelry you give your daughter for her marriage will become very special to her. Ideally the bridal jewelry gift will be something she can wear on the wedding day, so ask her opinion about what she might like or get advice from someone who has seen her wedding dress. You might wish to take her out shopping so she can make her own choice of bridal jewelry. It would be a wonderful way to spend some time alone with your daughter.
Dads who are sentimental should get ready for the wedding. Any father who thinks he will be overcome by seeing his daughter as a bride for the first time should try to see her well before the ceremony begins. Some fathers will even attend the final fitting at the bridal salon so that they will not be overcome by emotion at the wedding ceremony. The father-daughter dance at the wedding reception is another moment when emotions tend to run high for fathers. Dance with your daughter at home several times so you don’t feel so emotional during the father-daughter spotlight dance at the reception. Misty eyes are one thing, but if the father of the bride starts weeping at the reception, people may start to think that you hate the groom!
Remember that you will be expected to give a toast during the wedding dinner. A great toast is warm, humorous, and above all, short. Include a few words about how glad you are that your daughter found such a great guy. Indulge in the joy of your daughter’s wedding day, because it is a very special day indeed.
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