Photo: Courtesy of Buena Vista/Courtesy Neal Peters Collection
It's not uncommon for the father of the bride to look a little bit lost on the day of his daughter's wedding. After all, he's not part of the bridal party helping the bride get ready, and he's probably not invited to participate in his future son-in-law's last hours of freedom. But that doesn't mean the FOB isn't important! There are plenty of ways dads can make a difference on their daughter's big day — here are three easy ones.
1. Do everything the bride and MOB don't have time do
After you make sure your wedding clothes are good to go, ask your daughter and your wife how you can help. Has lunch been ordered for the bridal party yet? Does anyone need to be picked up from the airport last minute? Did the bride forget anything at home? Use the downtime before the ceremony to help tie up any loose ends.
2. Prepare your toast in advance
Going on the assumption that it's possible you will have a few drinks before the very special toast you're expected to give the bride and groom at the reception, it's not a bad idea to prepare your speech in advance. Consider jotting a few key points on a note card.
See More: The 20 Best Father-Daughter Dance Songs
3. Play host at the end of the night
Even if you didn't contribute financially to the wedding itself, try to make sure to thank all the guests who attended and say goodbye when they leave. Usually, the bride and groom are still dancing the night away when the older family members head out. Help your newly-married kids and say goodbyes for them so they're not obligated to give up their last hour of fun.
Owner of Weddings in Vieques, a destination-wedding planning company off the coast of Puerto Rico, Sandy Malone has helped countless couples plan their big day since 2007.