Father of the Bride: Speech and Duties

• ISBN13: 9781845284008
• ISBN10: 1845284003
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-08-15
• Publisher: How to Books Ltd

Summary

Weddings have come a long way since the first etiquette books were written. Today families come in such variety that more and more couples are sensibly throwing etiquette to the wind and relying instead on their own common sense. So where does the father of the bride fit into all of this? There are so many ways you can help, both emotionally and practically. You'll find that one of your responsibilities - apart from walking your daughter down the aisle and making a speech - is ensuring that the chaos of wedding details, and any family feuds or financial stress, don't ultimately get in the way of making your daughter's wedding day the happiest time in her life. This will be a big day for you, too, with the speech playing an important part in the proceedings. You'll want to get it just right so that you speak from the heart but enliven sentiment with humour, and your speech is remembered for years to come - for all the right reasons. This book is packed with valuable tips and advice about: - Conveying just the right messages to your daughter and her husband-to-be - Understanding what is traditionally expected of you - Keeping everyone calm and defusing any pre-wedding tensions and conflicts - Making a memorable speech - Helping everyone have a great time! AUTHOR BIOG: John Bowden is a lecturer in communication skills. He has written several books on weddings and speech making and has appeared on BBC radio and television as an expert in these subjects. John lives in Somerset with his wife Paula.

Author Biography

John Bowden is a lecturer in communication skills. He has written several books on weddings and speech making and has appeared on BBC radio and television as an expert in these subjects. John lives in Somerset with his wife Paula.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xi
Congratulations!
She's Engaged!	p. 3
Daddy, I've got something to tell you ...	p. 4
How close are you to your daughter?	p. 5
What kind of father are you?	p. 6
Daughters aren't all alike either	p. 9
Your Future Son-in-Law	p. 15
Being asked for your permission	p. 15
Holding your tongue	p. 16
Not making comparisons	p. 17
Being open minded	p. 18
But he didn't even ask me	p. 20
Meeting the family	p. 21
Duties and Responsibilities
Being a Fab FOB	p. 25
Meeting the groom's family	p. 26
Funding the wedding?	p. 26
Being helpful and supportive	p. 31
Four parties and a wedding	p. 36
Family Matters	p. 40
Happy families?	p. 40
Dealing with your (former) family	p. 41
Remembering the children	p. 45
Money Saving Strategies	p. 49
Finding the middle ground	p. 49
General advice	p. 50
Offering Useful Advice	p. 54
Legal advice	p. 54
Financial advice	p. 59
The Big Day	p. 63
Pre-wedding tasks	p. 64
Ceremonial duties	p. 67
Reception responsibilities	p. 69
Post-reception reflection	p. 76
Making a Memorable Speech
Preparing Your Speech	p. 81
Getting the tone right	p. 81
Saying it your way	p. 82
Conveying emotion	p. 83
Saying it with humour	p. 86
Offering some words of wisdom	p. 89
Adding a sparkle to your speech	p. 89
Weaving in a couple of quotations	p. 94
Beginning and ending in style	p. 94
Keeping it flowing	p. 97
Preparing your script	p. 99
Putting it all together	p. 100
Rehearsing your speech	p. 108
Delivering Your Speech	p. 110
Finding your style	p. 110
Giving out the right non-verbal messages	p. 113
Thinking positively	p. 114
Making fear your friend	p. 115
Great Speech Material	p. 119
Quotations	p. 119
Poems, readings and blessings	p. 127
Toasts	p. 139
Sample Speeches	p. 9
traditional and emotional	p. 141
more modern and humerous	p. 145
short and sweet	p. 148
second marriage	p. 149
second marriage	p. 152
divorced or separated natural father	p. 154
stepfather	p. 155
Resources	p. 159
Planning a wedding	p. 159
Church weddings	p. 159
Civil ceremonies	p. 159
Civil partnerships	p. 160
Specific faiths and cultures	p. 160
Wedding suppliers	p. 161
Advice on finance	p. 162
Making your speech	p. 163
Index	p. 165
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