Father of the Groom or Mother of the Groom Speech (Toast) At Engagement Party
Below are simple tips and ideas to help you write a memorable father or mother of the groom engagement party speech.
It goes without saying that the two great moments in every parent’s life are when their child is born and when they get married.
It seems only yesterday that your son was born and I hope you felt extremely excited and proud to be the parents of that cute and adorable baby boy.
The years have flown by and now your son has grown into a very wonderful young man and he is all set to embark on a new life with that special woman he simply can’t live without.
I am pretty sure that it’s always been your hope and prayer that the one he will be married to will be someday who loves and cherish him as much as you do. Well, his wedding is months or even years away. But I am certain that when he told you of his engagement you were so overjoyed.
Traditionally, the father of the bride speech is the host of the wedding. But in some cultures, the parents of the groom, particularly his father hosts the engagement party.
Well, whether, you or the father of the bride speech hosts the party, you might have to give a short speech or toast at your son’s engagement party. Giving a father or mother of the groom engagement party speech shouldn’t scare the hell out of you because it’s easy to give a great toast at his party.
Before you start to write your speech, you should think before you write. But some folks write before thinking about what they have written. When that happens, you will end up with a sub-standard presentation.
Your son, family, and friends will be counting on you to come up with the best toast. Regrettably, if you failed to impress your audience some time ago when you were asked to speak before a small crowd, memories of that encounter will come back to kind of haunt and taunt you. Leaving you with the impression that you can’t make headway.
If you dwell on that feeling too long, you will be held captive by your own thoughts and you might think you are not well equipped to handle this task.
Instead, you have to leave the past in the past and confront this new ‘’assignment’’ by constantly envisioning yourself speaking confidently before your family and loved ones no matter what is going through your mind.
If you keep dwelling on that, you will be empowered from within to make an amazing engagement toast or speech for your son, even if you are as nervous as a stubborn goat in a den of lions.
Having said that, let us now look at how to get the right ideas for your engagement speech toast for your son.
Before you jot down your thoughts, you first have to figure out what goes into making a successful father or mother of the groom engagement party speech.
Video speech examples can give you tons of ideas that can inspire you to come up with a memorable dad or mom of the groom engagement party speech for your son.
By the way, here are two videos you can watch and learn from.
Engagement Party Speech Video Example #1
Engagement Party Speech Video Example# 2
I hope you enjoyed watching both video clips. Well, let us look at how it was written example in detail. After we have read it, we will break it down step by step so you can figure out how best you can write a great engagement party speech for your son.
Here you go:
Engagment Party Speech Sample/Example For Your Son
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, I am Don and the father of John.
Thanks for coming to be with us on this beautiful day. It means a lot to see you all here.
As a child, he had loved to play soccer. I remember when he was 2, he would wear my boots and jog around the house and fall in the process.
Once he sprained his leg but that didn’t slow him down after he had surgery. It was no surprise when he was called to be a part of the soccer team while in high school.
In college, I was proud to accompany his team to an intercollegiate soccer event where he led his team to win the trophy at stake.
After the competition was over, I saw him with his girl who was glowing with youth and beauty.
When I asked him about who she was, his eyes got really big and very characteristic of him, he began to bite his fingers.
He stammered and said: ‘’’ Sheeeee is my coach. ‘’ I remember saying to him: ‘’ Really? Your coach? She doesn't look like one! ‘’
I took that with a pinch of salt until John finally told me two months later that she was going out with her.
I have known Sara for a few years and I can tell you that she is smart, fun to be with, polite, and respectful of the elderly.
She balances our son so well. Unlike Sara, John can really talk. My wife and I always refer to him as Mr. Supreme Court because of this attitude. So, Sarah. You have been warned!
But we all know that in every relationship, women have the final word.
That being said, we are looking forward to seeing them get married soon.
My advice to both of them as they prepare for marriage is to always work hand in hand to achieve their goals and dreams.
I know their ultimate decision to get committed to each other is just the beginning of beautiful things to come in the years ahead.
John and Sarah, you both have been through a lot in this journey and I can only hope and pray that you will experience more blessings now, on your wedding day, and the years after that. Always remember in your walk together that the best is yet to come. God bless you and we wish you the very best in the months ahead.
Without further ado, please raise your glass to my wonderful son and his soon-to-be wife.
Cheers!
Now, let us see what went into writing this father or mother of the groom engagement party speech.
Let’s take it step by step by first looking at the introductory remarks. Here’s a snippet of it so we can be guided as to how to write one.
‘’ Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, I am Don and the father of John.
Thanks for coming to be with us on this beautiful day. It means a lot to see you all here.
As a child, he had loved to play soccer. I remember when he was 2, he would wear my boots and jog around the house and fall in the process. ‘’
As you can see from the example above, the introduction of such toasts has two parts to it: expression of gratitude as well as a gist of what your message will be about.
After you have mentioned your name and your relationship with the groom and bride, you then proceed to thank people who have been a blessing in your son’s life.
Action/Writing Tip: You can thank your wife or his mom, parents of the bride, the groom’s grandmother or grandfather, siblings, and so on.
Additionally, you can express gratitude to persons who have helped plan the engagement party.
After expressing gratitude, you can start with a bang by talking about your son.
The opening remarks can help you break the ice, bond with the audience, and give them something to smile about too.
I am happy to share with you some tips for starting on a bright note.
First, you can start by sharing how excited you are for the bride and groom on their engagement day.
Second, you can briefly share how you have seen their love grown and blossomed over the years.
Third, you can give an account of how you felt when your son was born. If it has a funny twist to it, your opening remarks will be very memorable.
Fourth, you can start with a heartfelt quote about love. Here are some witty lines you can use.
''Love is the master key that opens the gates of happiness.” — Oliver Wendell Holmes
“Engagement marks the end of a whirlwind romance and beginning of an eternal love story.” — Rajeev Ranjan
‘’Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.” — Aristotle
‘’Love is the expansion of two natures in such fashion that each includes the other, each is enriched by the other.” — Felix Adler
“The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart.” — Helen Keller
I can use the underlined quotes to show you how you can start strong. Are you ready? Ok, let’s see how it is done.
Here’s a short engagement party speech example for a son.
Dan and Melinda’s engagement brings to mind a quote by Helen Keller that goes like this: The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard but must be felt with the heart.
That’s true you know because Dan and Melissa have proved beyond a shadow of doubt over the years they have been together that love is the best gift of the heart.
Did you see that? You may use any of those quotes to come up with a classic opener.
By the way, let us shift our attention to…
How To Write The Content Or Structure Of Your Engagement Speech For Your Son
Before we get started, let us look at parts of that example to make your writing of the body a cinch.
‘’ ….Once he sprained his leg but that didn’t slow him down after he had surgery. It was no surprise when he was called to be a part of the soccer team while in high school.
In college, I was proud to accompany his team to an intercollegiate soccer event where he led his team to win the trophy at stake.
After the competition was over, I saw him with his girl who was glowing with youth and beauty. ‘’
There are a few things you should really consider before you piece your thoughts together into a very coherent piece.
First and foremost, you have to pick a speech style that’s unique to you. I know you have been to so many weddings and have heard some really outstanding speeches.
It can be tempting to mimic the style of a presentation you have heard if it was so good. I remember there’s a video clip going viral on the internet that’s still a hit. It never gets old no matter how many times you watch it.
Some fathers are actually copying that example. Even though it is a great piece, you shouldn’t in anyway toe the line of those copycats. You should express yourself in a way that expresses who you are since there’s no one like you.
Depending on who you are, you can choose to write in a witty style, intelligent, dramatic, tender, poetic, rhythmic, narrative, and even funny. By the way, I always find that most fathers or mothers of grooms find solace in delivering a mixture of sentimental and funny speeches.
If you want to dwell extensively on your son, you can share a few stories about his life.
Answers to the following questions can be really helpful in coming with a short speech.
- What was his childhood or early years like?
- What was he like when he was growing up?
- Do you remember any fond memories you want to add to your message?
- When did the bride come into his life?
- What challenges have they been through that you wish to share?
- What do you look forward to them achieving together when they eventually get married?
If you have answers to those questions, then you can simply put your thoughts together to form a short story.
Now, let’s see...
How To Write The Ending Of Your Engagement Speech For Your Son
First and foremost, let us look at the concluding remarks from our extracted example to guide us along the way.
‘’ My advice to both of them as they prepare for marriage is to always work hand in hand to achieve their goals and dreams.
I know their ultimate decision to get committed to each other is just the beginning of beautiful things to come in the years ahead.
John and Sarah, you both have been through a lot in this journey and I can only pray and hope that you will experience more blessings now, on your wedding day, and the years after that. Always remember in your walk together that the best is yet to come.
God bless you and we wish you the very best in the months ahead. ‘’
Since the future bride and groom have yet to start building their lives together, you can share what you look forward to as they plan their wedding.
Do you remember any advice someone gave you prior to your own wedding back in the day? If you do, you can share it with the guests and the planning process will be much better and easier.
What’s more, you can share some practical tips for navigating any problems in their relationship without explicitly alluding to those challenges. For example, if they are navigating any long-distance relationship, you can share practical tips for making their relationship work.
After all, it is going to be a great delight if those ideas help them in the long run.
You also can simply wish them well in the months or years ahead. Here are a few well-wishes you can use to wrap up on a memorable note.
- May your life be blessed with countless gifts of love and fondness for each other in the years ahead. I wish both of you a life full of joy and happiness!
- Make promises of being together both during joy and happiness, as today is a special day for your two souls to get bonded together in love and harmony. Congratulations to you both!
- Grab onto the bond of love that will form today tightly forever, so that love can make it through any difficulties you will face in your marriage. Blessings are all I have to give you on this special day.
- The news of your engagement has made my heart so happy. What a joyful announcement! You make a wonderful couple. May the two of you be blessed as you begin the journey that will lead to a lifetime together.
- I’m so happy you have found love and inspiration in each other. All the very best wishes for engagement with the wedding plans and have a lovely life together. Remember the best is yet to be.
Finally, you can end your speech with a nice toast. Once again, I am happy to share with you some wedding quotes from movies that can help enrich your speech.
“I love that you get cold when it’s 71 degrees out. And that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I absolutely love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you’re looking at me like I’m nuts.
I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it’s not because I’m lonely, and it’s not because it’s New Year’s Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” – When Harry Met Sally
You made me a man, by loving me… If you can promise me anything, promise me that whenever… you lose complete faith that you’ll try to see yourself through my eyes… You made my life, but I’m just one chapter in yours… Don’t be afraid to fall in love again. Watch out for that signal, when life as you know it ends.” – PS I Love you
''I would rather spend one lifetime with you, than face all of the ages of the world alone.” – The Lord of the Rings
''It’s not going to be easy. It’s going to be really hard. We’re going to have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, you and me, every day… Picture your life for me 30 years from now… What’s it look like? If it’s with him, go. Go! If I thought that’s what you really wanted. But don’t you take the easy way out.” – The Notebook
Ok, please watch me as I write a short piece of advice with the underlined words.
Being engaged doesn’t in any way mean you have to come to the end of the road. It’s rather the start of the journey. I have been here before and I can tell you that it’s not going to be so easy planning for your wedding and ultimately your marriage. Well, once you face difficulties, just work hand in hand and imagine what your future will be like and the memories you are going to make together with your own kids.
Got it? That’s how it is supposed to be done. You just have to do likewise.
Why not give them some words of encouragement from the bible if you are known for that or both of them are Christians. I really like these bible verses.
Proverbs 3:5-6
New International Version
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Psalm 128
New International Version
Psalm 128
A song of ascents.
1 Blessed are all who fear the Lord,
who walk in obedience to him.
2 You will eat the fruit of your labor;
blessings and prosperity will be yours.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
around your table.
4 Yes, this will be the blessing
for the man who fears the Lord.
5 May the Lord bless you from Zion;
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
6 May you live to see your children’s children—
peace be on Israel.
The second bible quote can actually be used to convey your well-wishes.